The Wayans Brothers are officially back in Scary Movie business after being “stripped” of their franchise following the 2001 sequel. Scary Movie 6 hit the 2026 movie schedule last weekend, bringing back not just Marlon and Shawn Wayans, but Regina Hall and Anna Faris as well. It was well-received, too, taking the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office. This success came despite negative reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes shows just how much audiences disagreed with the critics.

The disparity between critics and moviegoers is apparent when you look at the Rotten Tomatoes scores — 24% on the Tomatometer vs. 68% on the Popcornmeter. The reviews pointed to outdated humor, tired weed references and the lampooning of several movies with “okay-ish” jokes and gags that fell “flat.” RT’s audience comments, however, show that the humor was a hit with much of the ticket-buying crowd, as they said:

• I laughed so much my stomach hurt, it was nonstop laughing from the start to the end credits. – Liz
• This is by far the hardest that I’ve laughed at a movie in a very long time. – Berto
• LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! FOR THE FANS. THEY DID NOT FAIL! WAYANS FOR LIFE! – Xavier B
• it's like the scary movie franchise is back in top form having brought the Wayans family back into the mix! I can't remember the last time I [laughed] so hard so constantly through a movie! bring your tissues because [there] absolutely will be tears of laughter! – Antonio
• If you are a fan of Comedy especially Waynes Bro brand of comedy you will love it. Not for the overly sensitive. – Sal

That last comment is a big one, because you can tell from Scary Movie’s trailer that you shouldn’t go into this movie expecting to not feel personally attacked by one thing or another. Honestly, anyone familiar with the Wayans Brothers’ comedy should know that anyway.

In fact, being able to laugh at ourselves in the politically charged climate that we live in is exactly what some audience members liked most about Scary Movie. More reactions included:

• The world needed this. – Devoid
• What we need in 2026!!!!!! Most of the movie had me crying tears of joy 😂 it’s good to see this humor when the world is so chaotic. This movie will make you laugh at yourself! So glad the OG cast came back as well! – Logan
• Loved every minute. Stayed true to the OG Scary Movies and made fun of so much. In this day and age we all need to lighten up and laugh more. – Erik S

The critics may have the platform to give their opinions, but moviegoers speak with their money, and they spoke loud and clear this weekend, giving Scary Movie the best three-day opening of any film in the franchise with $55 million.

This continued a trend of success for the horror movie genre after the low-budget YouTuber-helmed hits Backrooms and Obsession stole headlines from big studio releases like Star Wars’ The Mandalorian and Grogu and Masters of the Universe.

Will Scary Movie be able to maintain its audience in coming weeks? Will the positive word-of-mouth advertising attract new and repeat viewers? We won’t have to wait long to find out.

It would appear that the Wayans family has another hit on its hands, as Scary Movie opened to big numbers this past weekend. The sixth installment in the long-running horror parody franchise not only marks a new chapter in the franchise but also the Wayans’ return to the IP. Although the OG film was originally conceived by brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans and directed by their brother, Keenen, the family soon lost creative control of the property. Now, Marlon is getting real about having their creation “stripped” away from them.

Shawn Wayans initially had the idea to do a film that spoofed slasher movies and, in time, he recruited Marlon and some of their writing partners to draft up a script. That eventually resulted in 2000’s Scary Movie, which scared up $278 million worldwide at the box office against a reported $19 million production budget. The film’s success spawned Scary Movie 2, which was released in 2001 and grossed over $141 million globally against a $45 million budget.

Both of those hit parody films were distributed by Dimension Films, which fell under the umbrella of the Bob and Harvey Weinstein-led Miramax. During a recent interview with Variety, Marlon recalled that he and his brothers requested raises for a threequel in the growing franchise but were only offered deals for lower sums. The brothers rejected the offers and, as Marlon explained, they were eventually thrown for a loop when Miramax announced a third film in the franchise was being made:

Marlon Wayans claimed the Weinsteins stole the idea for that third movie from him and his brothers and, on top of that, the White Chicks star asserts that he and his brothers are still owed compensation. When asked if the Weinsteins went through with their own movie plans in a sneaky way, Wayans had this to say:

Scary Movie 3 hit theaters in 2003, grossing $220 million worldwide on a reported $45-48 million budget, while 2006’s Scary Movie 4 earned $178.7 million globally against a $40 million budget. 2013’s Scary Movie would only gross $78 million worldwide on a $20 million budget and, notably, that film doesn’t include beloved characters like Anna Faris’ Cindy Campbell and Regina Hall’s Brenda Meeks.

While later installments in the franchise were successful, the Wayans’ creative touches were arguably missed by fans as were the characters played by Marlon and Shawn, respectively, Shorty Meeks and Ray Wilkins. Luckily, the family was opening to return for this latest installment after being contacted by Miramax’s CEO, as Marlon explained:

The Wayans’ decision to return for this “reboot” seems to be paying off, as the 2026 movie schedule entry has already earned $106 million on a $30 million budget. Early on, Marlon hyped up the number of recent horror movies that would be skewered in the film, mentioning Sinners, Longlegs and more as possible contenders. The eventual trailer for Scary Movie confirmed those parodies as well as gags based on Weapons, The Substance and M3GAN.

It’s unfortunate that the Wayans had to watch as the franchise they birthed moved on without them. However, I’d argue that that hardship is what makes their return to the series – along with co-writer Keenen Ivory Wayans – that much sweeter. On that note, check out Scary Movie in theaters now, and stream the previous installments using a Paramount+ subscription.

There’s been a bit of a resurgence in the spoof genre in recent years, with films like The Naked Gun and Fackham Hall, and with 13 years having passed since the last offering in the Scary Movie franchise, it seems like an appropriate time to bring the horror parody series back. Reviews are in for the Wayans Brothers’ Scary Movie 6, as it hits the 2026 movie schedule on June 5, and I'm shocked that critics' reaction to the new movie is that most of the jokes aren't funny.

The sixth installment of the Scary Movie series drops the number from its official title, much in the same way that Scream 5 was just called Scream. The movie brings back much of its cast from the first two movies, including Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell. Regina Hall returns as well, along with Marlon and Shawn Wayans and many others. Kim Newman of Empire rates the movie 2 out of 4 stars, writing in his review:

David Rooney of THR says the movies that Scary Movie is spoofing may be different, but the jokes are all the same — and many more of them fall flat than inspire laughs from the audience, according to Rooney. The critic concludes:

Witney Seibold of SlashFilm rates it 2.5 out of 10, admitting that there are some genuinely funny moments in Scary Movie 6, but the legacy sequel is otherwise a “puerile trash fire.” The movie aims to be offensive, Seibold writes, complaining about issues like gender identity rather than making any sort of statement about the subjects they’re lampooning. The critic says:

Eric Goldman of IGN acknowledges in his review of Scary Movie 6 that while the jokes miss more than they land, it’s nice to see the Wayans family back in the franchise — especially with OG stars like Anna Faris and Regina Hall. Goldman gives the movie a “Mediocre” 5 out of 10, writing:

For Alison Foreman of IndieWire, seeing the Wayans reclaim their franchise is reason enough to make it out for the upcoming horror movie, but the movie in some ways reads less like a parody of movie culture and more like a representation of what Hollywood executives think modern horror is. Foreman continues:

There are so many movies from the past 13 years that the Wayans Brothers could choose from to spoof, and along with a Weapons gag, Scary Movie parodies everything from The Substance to Get Out to Sinners and even KPop Demon Hunters. If you liked the early offerings in this franchise, don’t let any negative reviews stop you from seeing this one.

However, with a critics score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, don’t go in expecting anything high-brow either. Scary Movie hits theaters Friday, June 5.

What we know about Scary Movie 6 s that it is officially hitting the 2026 movie release calendar on June 5, 2026, and the long-running parody franchise is gearing up to take aim at a whole generation of upcoming horror movies. And based on what Marlon Wayans is saying, one of the genre’s biggest modern filmmakers might already be part of that conversation. According to the longtime funny man, Jordan Peele reached out about the upcoming parody flick, and it's for the exact reason I'd hoped.

Wayans recently revealed in a TikTok video that Jordan Peele actually reached out to him about potentially spoofing his movies in the upcoming sequel. And honestly, that is amazing. The franchise star explained that he hears from alot of directors and the reason why is hilarious. Wayans explained:

The Scary Movie franchise is returning after more than a decade away, and this time it’s diving straight into the modern horror boom. Based on the first trailer, the long-awaited sequel is taking shots at everything from newer hits to long-running tropes, with nothing off-limits. That includes so-called “elevated horror,” a space Peele has helped define over the past several years.

What makes this even better is how Wayans describes the approach behind the humor. In that same TikTok, he explained that the goal isn’t to tear down the films being parodied, but to have fun with them in a way audiences and creators can both enjoy. The comedian and actor continued:

That idea has always been part of what made the best of the Scary Movie films work. They were chaotic and over-the-top, but they also came from a place of familiarity. The jokes land because the audience knows the source material. And clearly, filmmakers know it too.

Now, the fact that directors are actually suggesting their own movies for parody says a lot. It shows how the franchise has evolved, but also how open filmmakers are to being the butt of the joke. And honestly, that’s kind of a badge of honor. Getting parodied by South Park or Saturday Night Live is already a cultural milestone, and now, with Scary Movie back, that list just got even better.

At this point, nothing’s officially confirmed about which films will make it into Scary Movie 6, beyond what’s already been teased (and sadly, left out) in the trailer. But Jordan Peele might already be getting his wish. The footage includes a clear Get Out reference, with Wayans’ character Shorty being pulled into the sunken place. So yeah, it looks like Peele is officially getting the parody treatment.

Scary Movie 6 lands in theaters on June 5, 2026. While you wait, you can revisit the first two in the franchise, which feature the Wayans family, streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription.

There are some movies that, for better or worse, stick with us forever. Requiem for a Dream — a raw and traumatic exploration of addiction that happens to be one of the best movies of the 2000s — is definitely one of those. The psychological drama that was adapted from the equally devastating book is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and after reading Jared Leto’s tribute, my pupils are dilating over how fast time has flown.

Requiem for a Dream is one of those films that you remember exactly where you were the first time you watched it (and for many, that first time is the only time). Jared Leto, who stars as Harry Goldfarb, posted a touching video on Instagram to mark the film’s quarter-century milestone, as you can see below:

The clip shows Harry and his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) high out of their minds, expressing their love for one another as they lay head-to-head. The camera spins as it zooms out of the shot, showing the couple’s literal downward spiral. Jared Leto says in the caption that he knew the Darren Aronofsky’s film was going to have an impact, writing:

Jared Leto isn’t the only one who has remained affected by the movie for 25 years. His co-star Marlon Wayans, who played his best friend and fellow heroin addict/dealer Tyrone, has also spoken recently about Requiem for a Dream, which is just one of the sexually explicit movies you can stream on Peacock.

Marlon Wayans noted the 25th anniversary of the film while promoting his latest psychological nightmare, HIM, which he says isn’t nearly as damaging as the 2000 book-to-screen adaptation. In fact, Wayans says we can count him as one of the one-and-dones, as he says he will never watch Requiem for a Dream again.

I understand this point of view, especially Marlon Wayans’ suggestion that it might be the most powerful “Don’t Do Drugs” PSA ever created. However, personally, I have partaken in multiple rewatches of this film, and I was shocked to realize that 25 years had passed.

That’s a long time for as often as this film still gets quoted in my household. Ellen Burstyn’s reading of, “I’m old!” from her epic monologue as Harry’s mom Sara Goldfarb has gotten particularly heavy use as the years have passed, as well as Harry’s preceding accusation: “You on uppahs?” We may also be known to break into a Tappy Tibbons chant anytime our kids mention juice, and I fear they may think “Join Us In Creating Excellence” is a more universal acronym than it is.

It certainly says something about a movie when it can still elicit a reaction in people who may have only seen it once, decades ago, proving Jared Leto’s instincts were definitely right when he saw something special in the Requiem for a Dream script. If you want to dive back into that nightmarish world in honor of its 25th anniversary, the movie is available to stream with a Peacock subscription.

Director Justin Tipping’s new horror movie HIM could be described as a visuals-first cinematic experience. The story of a young star quarterback who gets the opportunity to train at a facility operated by his idol after suffering brain trauma from an assault, the film is designed as a trip into a psychedelic hell, and it is rife with creepy imagery and dark symbolism. Perfectly exemplifying this are the staples in the protagonist’s skull that look like the laces of a football… and yes, people on set, including co-star Marlon Wayans, did try and “grab the ball,” so to speak.

To be honest, my curiosity about this simple aspect of HIM is something I’ve wondered ever since noticing the surgery staples in the first preview footage I saw from the film, and while it’s a bit dumb, I felt compelled to ask about it when I had the chance to sit down with stars Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans earlier this month during the Los Angeles press day for the movie. Thankfully, I felt a bit justified in asking the question when Withers confirmed that more than one person on set felt it was amusing to view his head as sporting equipment. The actor said laughing,

In the film, Tyriq Wither’s Cameron Cade has dedicated almost his entire life to football, as his father not only encourages him to love the sport at a young age, but he convinces him that he is destined to become the Greatest Of All Time a.k.a. The Goat. His being is dedicated to playing the game, so it ultimately becomes entirely appropriate that his physical being would reflect that.

And as for Marlon Wayans’ behavior: can anyone say they are really surprised? He has spent decades establishing a very goofy reputation, and that means that it’s spectacularly easy to imagine him putting his palm to Tyriq Withers’ head and start yelling, “Hut hut!”

HIM features some extreme visuals and a totally bonkers ending, but upon its release it has gotten a mixed reaction from critics. Wayans has personally gone to bat for the vision of the movie, however, and he believes that it will be properly appreciated in time.

Also starring Julia Fox, Jim Jefferies, and Tim Heidecker, HIM is now playing in theaters everywhere, awaiting you to form your own opinion on its specific brand of terror – and to learn about all of the features heading to the big screen in the coming months, check out our 2025 Movie Release Schedule.

The best movies are those that end up having a profound emotional impact on the audience… but this can have some notable consequences: if the emotional impact is too profound, what you have is a great movie that can really only ever be stomached a single time. In the modern era, Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem For A Dream is a title that stands out in this specific category – and it’s not just the film-going public that can’t watch it more than once. That’s also the opinion shared by Marlon Wayans, who plays one of the principal roles in the feature’s ensemble.

This October (specifically on October 6) will mark the 25^th anniversary of Requiem For A Dream first arriving in theaters, and given this milestone event, I felt it proper to bring up the film when I had the chance to sit down with Wayans during the recent Los Angeles press day for his new horror movie HIM. As captured in the video above (where he is paired with co-star Tyriq Withers), he explained that he is very proud of the work he did on Requiem, but the experience making it left him with the feeling of needing to take a shower, and he has no intention of ever seeing the finished work ever again. Said the actor,

Like Marlon Wayans, I too have only ever seen Requiem For A Dream once (it was in college, and it left me depressed for a full week), but I won’t soon forget his role. He plays Tyrone, the best friend of Jared Leto’s Harry and both a heroin dealer and user. They have aspirations to get clean and live decent lives, but the mix of addiction and criminality ultimately ruins ever chance they have at happiness. Tyrone’s miserable fate is a prison sentence where he suffers withdrawal and extreme abuse.

One can argue that it’s not even the worst outcome for any of the characters (that “prize” goes to Ellen Burstyn’s Sara, who sees a pill addiction drive her to psychosis and hospitalization), but you can understand why that’s not a cinematic experience that Marlon Wayans is excited to repeatedly revisit, right?

Of course, part of what makes Requiem For A Dream such a standout title in Marlon Wayans’ career is the fact that it’s a deviation from his work in comedy – which is what he is best known for. The Darren Aronofsky film shares that in common with HIM, which is a psychedelic nightmare set in the world of professional football, and Wayans personally made that connection during my interview. That being said, he doesn’t see his latest movie as being that same kind of “one time only” feature. He continued:

Also starring Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, and Jim Jeffries in addition to the aforementioned Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers, HIM is now playing in theaters everywhere, having placed second at the box office during its opening weekend.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for HIM. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

“Go big or go home” is a common expression among athletes, and it’s appropriately applied to the finale of director Justin Tipping’s new film HIM as well. The whole movie is rather insane – as brain-damaged quarterback Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) spends a nightmarish week with his idol Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) in a training compound trying to prove he has what it takes to become the Greatest Of All Time – but that insanity most definitely peaks in the third act. Cameron comes to a full understanding of what’s really at stake in the whole business, and his response to it all is rather… over the top.

As any normal audience member would, I watched HIM’s ending with wide eyes and a slacked jaw when I saw it earlier this month, and it left me impressed to the point that I felt compelled to ask the stars of the film about it when I spoke with them during the recent Los Angeles press day. Tyriq Wither spoke about the surprising conditions and the work that went in, and Julia Fox, who plays Isaiah’s wife Elsie, divulged her thoughts about her character’s personal motivations. But before we dig into that material, let’s first do a recap of what happens in the new horror movie’s final scene.

What Happens At The End Of HIM

At the end of HIM, Cameron Cade finally starts getting answers to many, many questions – and some are answers to questions he didn’t even know to ask. After a week of training with Isaiah, he discovers that becoming the greatest of all time isn’t something that is earned, but rather it is bestowed. He is part of a very specific and designed plot to succeed the man he has long idolized as the quarterback for the San Antonio Saviors, and the first hurdle is battling and killing Isaiah – beating him to death with a helmet.

This act is followed by a blood-covered Cameron walking outside and finding himself attending a daylight ceremony that is attended by Tom (Tim Heidecker), his agent, Elsie White, and the masked ownership of the San Antonio Saviors – not to mention a bunch of creepy, faceless cheerleaders. Our protagonist comes to understand not only that his father had a deal with the owner of the Saviors to raise his son as a star QB, but that the attack that left him brain damaged was orchestrated so that no other team in the league would draft him. The response to this is unhinged and exceptionally gory violence, as Cameron proceeds to slaughter everybody, with the coup de grâce being Tom getting into the middle of a pentagram and exploding as jets fly overhead.

They say “no guts, no glory” – and there are definitely a whole lot of guts.

Tyriq Withers Discusses His Experience Filming That Bonkers Final Scene

As captured in the video at the top of this article, I used the last question in my recent interview with Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans to ask the former what it was like shooting that crazy scene. He explained that a lot went into it, but he noted that the complexity of it all also gave him the ability to become hyper-focused – which ultimately works for his performance, as one can see pure drive in Cameron Cade’s eyes on screen as he executes a swath of people who have successfully manipulated his entire life.

As Withers explained, however, one fun bit of trivia about the HIM ending scene concerns the weather on the day. Cameron is shirtless during the sequence, and the general desert environment of the movie sells all of the action happening in heat – but it might surprise you to learn that it was actually a bit chilly out. Said the actor,

As for Marlon Wayans sitting beside him, he was unable to resist making a joke at his co-star’s expense:

I suppose that’s something that Tyriq Withers can now put on his resume? Maybe under “Special Skills”?

Why Julia Fox Doesn’t Think You Should Judge Elsie Too Much For Her Choices

One of the more surprising players at the end of HIM is Elsie White. Throughout the film, she comes across as one of the nicer, more normal people whom Cameron encounters during his week of training with Isaiah (her use of jade eggs in her vagina notwithstanding), but she shows off some very different colors in the final scene. Despite the fact that her husband has just died, her priority is finishing the larger mission and getting the star quarterback to sign on the dotted line to play for the San Antonio Saviors.

Curious about this revelation, I asked about Elsie’s true face when I spoke with Julia Fox during the HIM press day, and she offered justification for why the character makes the decisions that she ultimately makes. She explained that there was a full backstory for Elsie White that we don’t learn about on screen, and it’s a history that led her to look out for herself while knowing that nobody else would:

You might call that selfish, but Julia Fox more sees Elsie as someone who is operating in pure survival mode. She continued,

Julia Fox has justifications for the role that Elsie plays in the manipulation of professional football… but that justification is certainly not registered by Cameron, as she winds up just as dead as everybody else in the finale of HIM.

Should you care for a second round watching the movie, HIM is now playing in theaters everywhere. To discover all of the features still set to be released between now and the end of the year, including all of the treats arriving in time for Halloween Season, check out our 2025 Movie Release Schedule.

Horror fans have eaten well this year with titles like Sinners, The Monkey, and Weapons having ruled the 2025 movie slate. Still, early reviews should have been an indication, HIM, the newest horror movie from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, may not crack many year-end favorites. Marlon Wayans, never shy about defending his work, offered a refreshingly measured response, adding perspective and reminding fans of something.

Instead of clapping back or blaming the critics, Wayans took the opportunity to put his career in context. Over on Instagram, the comedian-actor shared a carousel of screenshots of several of his most poorly reviewed films and their Rotten Tomatoes scores—White Chicks (15%), Scary Movie 2 (13%), and A Haunted House (10%). The movies were trashed by critics but went on to become fan favorites, and yes, legitimate cult classics, hailed as some of the best works of the Wayans family. In the caption, Wayans didn’t just defend HIM—he defended the idea that reviews don’t always capture a movie’s legacy:

All things considered, it’s a balanced answer, and honestly? A welcome one. Wayans doesn’t dismiss reviews outright, but instead he calls their work important, even shaping the film industry as a whole. However, he draws a line between critique and consensus. The actor's vast filmography is a great reminder because critics panned most of his comedies, yet they remain fan-favorites, despite many think they're cult classic that actually sucks. However, that doesn't stop the Wayans brothers’ flick from being endlessly quoted and memed decades after its release.

That’s the heart of the Little Man star’s argument: film is subjective, and sometimes audiences and critics simply diverge. He’s leaning into the idea that time is the ultimate critic. What might look disposable in the moment can end up defining a generation’s humor or taste years later. It’s a solid point, albeit I’m not totally sure if I agree with his take on this particular movie.

HIM has all the ingredients for a striking horror story. The flick tells the story of Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), a rising quarterback whose career nosedives after a violent run-in with a fan. When things look bleak, his idol, Isaiah White (Wayans), offers to train with him at a remote compound. However, the mentorship quickly takes a sinister turn. Isaiah's charm devolves into manipulation, drawing Cam into a dangerous spiral. It certainly has the makings of a horror hit!

Many critics argue the Justin Tipping-helmed film favors style over substance, which likely fueled its rough audience reception. In CinemaBlend’s review of HIM, my colleague Eric Eisenberg praised the “great ideas” and “fascinating style,” but ultimately felt the movie came up empty. Still, I admire Wayans’ confidence in the movie's legacy. He knows that most critics didn’t like the movie (which sits at 29% on Rotten Tomatoes), but he’s urging fans to judge it for themselves instead of letting scores set expectations.

That said, audience response hasn’t been glowing either. The Popcorn Meter is only 57%, which is better than the critics’ score but nothing to celebrate. Still, I agree with Wayans in that those curious to see the movie and make up their own mind should head to their nearest theater.

As for Marlon Wayans’ next big project, he’s targeting recent horror heavyweights—name-checking Sinners, Longlegs, and more—for the upcoming Scary Movie 6, which is slated for the 2026 movie calendar.

October is quickly approaching, which means we can expect plenty of spooky offerings to hit the 2025 movie calendar. We’ve already feasted this year on films like Sinners, The Monkey and Weapons, and next on the list of upcoming horror movies is HIM. Coming from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, this falls into the too-rare-for-my-liking subgenre of sports horror, and the critics are here to share their thoughts ahead of its release.

The story is centered around up-and-coming football player Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers, who also starred in this year’s I Know What You Did Last Summer), who goes to train at the isolated compound of football legend Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). In CinemaBlend’s review of HIM, Eric Eisenberg says there are a lot of great ideas, and the style is fascinating, but it lacks substance overall. He rates it 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

David Ehrlich of IndieWire gives it a C-, calling HIM one fumble after another. The critic says writer/director Justin Tipping wants “all of the glory of a championship season without so much as breaking a sweat.” Ehrlich continues:

William Bibbiani of The Wrap agrees, saying that Marlon Wayans’ performance could have saved this movie if the screenplay were half as clever as it thinks it is. Instead, what we get is boring and predictable, the critic says, writing:

Siddhant Adlakha of IGN also praises Marlon Wayans but writes that ultimately, HIM is a “disappointingly scattered attempt at social horror.” Adlahka rates this one a “Bad” 4 out of 10 and says:

Kristy Puchko of Mashable says HIM is a mixed bag that fumbles its finish with an “infuriatingly anti-climactic” final showdown. However, it does offer rich performances, unnerving scares and some food for thought in terms of sports, race, religion, and masculinity. Also, Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers are a “sensational team,” Puchko says. In her words:

While HIM leaves many critics wanting, the fault seems to lie with the script, rather than the performances. The Jordan Peele-produced flick may have garnered lower scores — 32% so far from 34 critics on Rotten Tomatoes — but it sounds like there’s still plenty to like, if more sports horror is what the team doctor ordered.

If you want to check this one out, HIM hits theaters on Friday, September 19.

Rebooted franchises, as well as new horror movies, have been reigning supreme for a while. With that inundated market, it’s not all that surprising when the Scary Movie franchise resurfaced to revel in all the material. Now, ahead of Scary Movie 6’s 2026 movie calendar premiere, co-creator Marlon Wayans name drops some killer titles they’re pulling from. After learning Longlegs and Sinners are just two flicks from the list, just know I’m dying to watch this already.

In the off chance you aren’t familiar, the parody franchise Scary Movie was created by brothers Marlon and Shawn Wayans in 2000. While the family was only attached to the first two films, the debut was by far their best of any movies by any Wayans Family member. Last fall it was announced the pair are returning to write and produce the sixth installment, and fans have been hyped ever since.

Ahead of the actor-comedian’s present thriller, Him, premiering September 19 on the 2025 movie releases he chatted with ComicBook.com about the genre. Naturally, the staple parody franchise (which he and his brother originated) was a topic of conversation. With it, Scary Movie 6 was also covered. But while it’s still in development, the White Chicks star teased what he could, including his love of the world, along with some A+ titles:

I was pretty excited without the taunt because the Wayans Brothers were attached to SM again (they parted after 2). Having the family returning gave me enough trust in the new installment. But, I didn’t even consider the amount of material they’d have to work with! Outside of some of these recent and classic excellent horror movies he mentioned, like Sinners, Heretic and the Jordan Peele-verse, there’s 20ish years worth of material available.

After the sixth movie was announced, fans got to work with pitches of their own. Nothing has been off the table, either, ideas for Nosferatu to a Weapons gag for SM6 have bounced around online more recently. Personally, I’d love to see a great blend of continuing franchises like the aforementioned, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream, come face to face with new age horror. Oh, to be a fly in that room–the possibilities are endless.

What will Scary Movie 6 dive into and how will classic characters like Brenda Meeks fit in? I’m certainly not sure, but like I said, I’m so ready for its June 12 2026 premiere. Fingers crossed that Marlon Wayans continues to tease some more plans for the film while continuing to share what major horror flicks actually enter the script. Until then, catch the first two movies of the franchise with a Paramount+ subscription.

Producer Jordan Peele has an eye for culturally relevant horror, whether he’s behind the wheel or not. For his 2025 movie schedule entry Him, director/co-writer Justin Tipping is in control, in a story that looks to be blending football, body horror, and some witchcraft in the mix. But even with such chilling visuals, one performance in this upcoming horror movie cut me to the core, and I can’t wait to see more of what’s to come.

Playing the character of Isaiah White, who is described as “a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar” in this project’s synopsis, Marlon Wayans doesn’t tip into over-the-top energy in the small peek Universal Pictures has shared here.

As he offers young quarterback Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) the chance to bounce back from a gnarly injury, you hear White offering a pep talk that sounds like your usual training montage pump-up. At least, until we pivot into the stuff that probably impressed the audience at Universal's 2025 CinemaCon panel, which is where this clip may have made its debut.

That quickly turns to moments alternating between stoicism and pure histrionics, with some creepy vocal distortion finding its way into the mix as well. Which, if you know Marlon Wayans’ filmography, is familiar territory that he’s making a welcome return to.

Most people cite Wayans’ comedic work, with the Scary Movie franchise and White Chicks as his claims to fame. However, his chops as a comedian who’s great in dramatic roles, as seen in pictures such as Requiem for a Dream, or even action pictures like G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, are nothing to sleep on.

The push and pull of Him’s teaser shows that off rather brilliantly, as we’re shown the temptations and the pitfalls of sporting fame. All the while Tyriq Withers’ Cameron is being constantly asked by Marlon Wayans’ character how much he’s willing to sacrifice. It’s practically a bargain with the devil when the Atlanta star finally shouts “Everything!”; which allows Wayans to coolly scale back to an icy calm, knowing he’s won.

Putting together the picture's title with that gigantic symbol on the gridiron during Him's teaser title card, we might be able to get away with omitting "practically" from the equation entirely. That's right: I'm saying that Marlon Wayans could either be a servant of, if not the Devil himself in Him.

Unless the gigantic heartagram, the Faustian nature of the central pitch, and the title potentially standing for "His Infernal Majesty" - similar to the Swedish rock band of the same name - are just red herrings. Maybe it's just the cultural diet of some of the best horror movies ever talking here. Taking that promise, and crossing it with a cultural examination of college football that feels like Get Out meets Ballers, is certainly a way to get my attention.

And with all of our eyes on the screen at this moment, let’s start counting the days until Him makes its theatrical debut, on September 19th - just in time for football season! As for those of you who thought this was Jordan Peele's upcoming 2026 movie, you can find information on that still mysterious project elsewhere.

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for years now, with some of the best horror movies returning to theater with new sequels. And since that's continuing with a variety of upcoming horror movies, it makes sense that the Scary Movie franchise might also return to poke fun at the genre. It turns out the Scary Movie reboot is bringing ack some OG talent behind the scenes, and I'm hyped.

What we now about Scary Movie 6 is very limited, but those of us who grew up with the spoof franchise are definitely hyped to see how it'll poke fun at the current state of horror. Luckily for those fans like me, Deadline has revealed some thrilling news about the developing project. Namely that Wayans brothers, who create and wrote the original movies, will be back for the next film. Miramax boss Jonathan Glickman offered a comment about this new deal which reads:

Well, that's exciting. The first two Scary Movies are arguably the best of the franchise, and that is largely thanks to the contributions by the Wayans brother. Keenen Ivory Wayans wrote and directed that pair of projects, while Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans both starred in the film and contributed as writers. And now all three of them will help bring the spoof franchise back to theaters.

For their part, the Wayans brothers issued their own statement to Deadline about returning to Scary Movie, which they created years ago. It reads:

Clearly there's a ton of excitement about the next Scary Movie film. Hopefully we get to learn more about its plot and casting sooner rather than later. After all, there's a ton of contemporary horror movies to spoof from the years since the franchise was last seen in theaters.

While Scary Movie fans are no doubt thrilled that the Wayans brothers will be back for a new installment, there's a bigger question that fans are desperate for information about. Namely if we'll get to see Anna Faris and scene stealer Regina Hall back as Cindy and Brenda respectively. That pair of comedians lead the cast of the entire franchise, to hilarious results. And it just wouldn't be the same without them.

Hopefully we get more casting information sooner rather than later, but this is definitely an exciting update. Scary Movie doesn't currently have a release date, but it's expected to arrive next year. For now, check out the 2025 movie release dates.

I love the Wayans’ family, and I honestly don’t think they get enough credit for how wide their impact was/is, despite writing, producing, and starring in some of the best '90s movies centered on Black characters.

Of course you have In Living Color, and the potency of their stellar cast (which of course included Jim Carrey, who’s one of my, and many others, most important actors), but their influence extends much further than that.

Members of the Wayans’ family have individually starred in multiple movies, but this list concerns films with direct connections to the family. So, without further ado…

12. Dance Flick (2012) 

Directed by Damien Dante Wayans, and starring multiple members of the Wayans’ family, Dance Flick actually isn’t terrible as long as you know the movies that it’s parodying. Flicks like Footloose, Flashdance, Bring it On, etc, all get nods, and the cast is enthusiastic enough. 

However, when it comes to their parody films, Dance Flick just seems the least inspired. And, it’s not like I don’t love dance movies - I actively miss the Step Up series, for instance. But, out of the few parody films they’ve done, this just feels like the weakest.  

11. Little Man (2006)  

Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, and starring (as well as co-written by) Shawn and Marlon, Little Man is pretty bad, but I enjoy it all the same. It’s about a diminutive jewel thief (Marlon Wayans) who poses as a baby in order to retrieve a diamond. But, he ends up getting adopted, and actually enjoys being a baby. 

Yes, that’s the actual plot. The gag wears thin rather quickly, and a lot of the jokes are pretty lame, but I still like it since it almost feels like a The Wayans Bros. (one of my favorite Black sitcoms) reunion, as it stars Shawn, Marlon, and John Witherspoon, and that alone makes it better than Dance Flick.  

10. White Chicks (2004) 

Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and starring Shawn and Marlon again, White Chicks is an early 2000’s movie that probably wouldn’t be made in today’s climate. That’s because Shawn and Marlon don whiteface as they play two undercover FBI agents who foil a kidnapping plot. 

White Chicks is only marginally better than Little Man, as most of the jokes center around two Black dudes playing into all of the rich white girl stereotypes that you might expect. There are a few humorous scenes, many of which involve Terry Crews, but overall, the Wayans’ crew have exhibited sharper wit.  

9. A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994) 

Written and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, A Low Down Dirty Shame is part comedy, part action film, and it doesn’t handle either particularly well. The film centers around Shame (Keenen Ivory Wayans), a private eye who is out to clear his name after a botched takedown of a drug kingpin ended up getting many of his partners killed. 

What makes the movie work, though, is his relationship with his assistant, Peaches, played by Jada Pinkett Smith. They play off of each other’s energy, and the film is fairly quick-paced, so even if it’s not the best, at least it’s mostly engaging. 

8. Mo' Money (1992) 

Directed by Peter Macdonald, but written by (And starring!) Damon Wayans, along with his brother, Marlon, Mo’ Money is an odd movie in the Wayans’ filmography. It involves a con man (Damon Wayans) trying to win the heart of a woman he just met (Stacey Dash, of Clueless-fame), and he attempts to go straight…sort of.

Because that’s the thing, Mo’ Money often doesn’t know whether it wants to be a drama or a comedy. I think it does a more effective job than A Low Down Dirty Shame in carving out an identity for itself (the jokes are a little better, for instance), but not by much.  

7. Major Payne (1995)  

Directed by Nick Castle, but starring Damon Wayans, front and center, I have a lot of fond memories of Major Payne. The story of a military man who wants to kill, kill, kill, but can’t because there aren’t any current wars at the moment, Major Payne gets discharged, but finds civilian life too hard. Fortunately, he’s given a bunch of youth cadets to train to win a competition, and he learns to love them in the process. 

Mayor Payne is really silly, and Damon Wayans is hilarious. The film honestly wouldn’t work without him, and his ridiculous performance is one for the ages. I just wish everything else around him was nearly as good.  

6. Blankman (1994)  

Directed by Mike Binder, and starring Damon Wayans as Blankman, as well as David Alan Grier as Other Guy (which still makes me laugh), Blankman is utterly ridiculous in the best sort of way. Think Kick-Ass (which is getting rebooted, believe it or not), in that he's a makeshift superhero, but the film doesn’t have a serious bone in its body. 

The story concerns a nerd in long johns who fights crime, only to get the attention of the mob on his tail. It’s full of silly gadgets, and jokes every five seconds or so, and I love this movie. I can understand how people might think that it’s not very good (the plot is pretty predictable), but this, Howard the Duck, and Big Trouble in Little China were usually on repeat in my household.  

5. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) 

Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans (In his directorial debut), the film’s plot is kick started when a man finds that his brother died from overdosing on gold chains. Yes, you read that right. Because I’m Gonna Git You Sucka is a parody film, this time riffing on blaxploitation films of the ‘70s. 

The plot really doesn’t matter, as the gags come fast and furious. The thing is, though, unlike a lot of their other parody films, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka doesn’t so much parody any one film. Instead, it parodies an entire genre. This makes it feel more like it’s poking fun at stereotypes in general, which works, but not as well as some of the Wayans’ family's more film-specific parodies. It’s still pretty funny, though.  

4. Hollywood Shuffle (1987)  

Directed by Robert Townsend, but co-written by Keenen Ivory Wayans, Hollywood Shuffle is about an aspiring Black actor (Townsend) who struggles to find roles since he’s often seen as not being black enough. The film is told in comical vignettes (my favorite is a section where Townsend starts turning into Eddie Murphy), and it’s successful at showcasing the more race-based side of Hollywood. 

I was actually considering leaving Hollywood Shuffle off this list since it’s much more a Robert Townsend film than a Wayans family film, but this movie, and Eddie Murphy’s Raw, were really the jumping off point for the Wayans’ family (plus, Keenen Ivory and Damon are both in it), so, I thought I’d include it here. It’s really sharp and funny, and gives off serious American Fiction-vibes, but decades prior.  

3. Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood (1996) 

Another parody film – this time of gangster films of the ‘90 – Don’t Be A Menace…is my favorite of theirs. Once again, the plot is mostly inconsequential. What makes this one shine so much, though, is just how out there the comedy gets for this one. 

Some of the films it parodies are South Central, Juice…pretty much all of the films referenced in the title! But, what makes this one more effective than I’m Gonna Git You Sucka is that it’s ten times funnier if you’ve actually seen those movies. 

Shawn and Marlon are at their funniest (And Bernie Mac as well, in a short scene!), and I would put this at the top, if not for two other movies. 

2. Scary Movie 2 (2001) 

When I ranked all five Scary Movies, I put Scary Movie 2 at number 2, and I stand by that decision. The story centers on the surviving characters from the first movie going to a haunted house, and that’s pretty much it. 

This one focuses on supernatural movie parodies this time, and since it uses both then-modern horror, like The Haunting remake and What Lies Beneath, as well as classic horror, like Poltergeist, and The Amityville Horror, all the jokes still hold up extremely well today. This movie definitely gets some of the Wayans’ family's biggest laughs.  

1. Scary Movie (2000)  

Here’s the thing. The original Scary Movie feels much more dated than Scary Movie 2, since its references were very of the moment when it came out (one of its best gags references the “Whaz-up?” Budweiser commercials), but every single line of dialogue is so funny, it doesn’t even matter. 

Parodying slasher movies in this first film in the franchise, Scary Movie is almost abstract at times with its gonzo humor. Anna Faris makes for a perfect Jennifer Love Hewitt stand-in, and all of the actors are on their A-game with this one. Twenty-four years later, and it still makes me belly laugh.

What’s your favorite Wayans’ family movie? 

We see it quite often – comedians and comedic actors cut their teeth performing stand-up or appearing on beloved sketch comedy shows before knocking everyone’s socks off with a remarkable and remarkably emotional dramatic role. Sometimes, these earn the actors and actresses Academy Awards or at least their first Oscar nomination for unforgettable performances that make us cry as much as they once made us laugh.

That being said, here are 32 examples of people known for their comedy being great in dramatic roles…

Robin Williams

Even before Robin Williams earned a much-deserved Oscar for his performance in Good Will Hunting, the comedian proved time and time again that he was more than capable when it came to dramatic roles. In fact some of Williams’ best movies like Dead Poets Society and Awakenings showed early on what he could achieve in a less comedic capacity. And let’s not forget his frightening turns in One Hour Photo and Insomnia.

Jim Carrey

After being an almost guaranteed box office draw in the mid 1990s, Jim Carrey showed he was more than just an over-the-top slapstick comedian with roles in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. However, Carrey’s most notable dramatic turn, and probably his best overall performance can be found in 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Eddie Murphy

For years, Eddie Murphy was well-known for beloved comedic roles in classics like Coming to America, 48 Hrs., and Beverly Hills Cop, but he’s also displayed a more dramatic side over the years. At the top of this list is Dreamgirls, the 2006 musical drama that saw him take on the role of James “Thunder” Early, a performance that should have earned him an Oscar.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is an all-time great comedian who has made audiences laugh with her stand-up specials and various film and TV projects for the better part of the past 40 years. During that time, Goldberg has also given us some of the richest and most nuanced dramatic performances like her take on Celie Harris Johnson in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, which earned her a Golden Globe and numerous other accolades.

Adam Sandler

When he wants, Adam Sandler can stand toe-to-toe with just about any living actor. Though he’s mostly known for his various comedies like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and the Grown Ups movies, let’s not forget his outstanding dramatic performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, and Uncut Gems. Watching Sandler in the Safdie Brothers’ 2019 crime thriller is like watching a completely different actor.

Steve Carell

Around the same time Steve Carell was making us fall over with laughter with his portrayal as Michael Scott on The Office, he was also giving audiences some of the best dramatic performances in movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Foxcatcher. Even since then, Carell has continued to steal the show with heart-wrenching turns in Beautiful Boy and Last Flag Flying.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx made a name for himself as one of the funniest comedians on the planet in the early ‘90s thanks to shows like In Living Color and The Jamie Foxx Show, which he followed up with some truly great movies in the final decade of the 20th century. But in 2004, Foxx showed off his dramatic chops in Michael Mann’s thrilling Collateral and the must-watch music biopic, Ray, a performance that earned him an Oscar.

Aubrey Plaza 

To some, Aubrey Plaza will always be remembered for her hilarious portrayal of April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, but the comedian has given some commanding dramatic performances over the years as well. Movies like Emily the Criminal and Black Bear, as well as the second season of The White Lotus, have shown she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Melissa McCarthy

Okay, Melissa McCarthy may be one of the funniest comedic actors on the planet right now, but let’s not overlook her gripping portrayal of literary fraudster Lee Israel in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me, a movie that saw her hold her own with Richard E. Grant. That’s not nothing.

Will Ferrell

Though Will Ferrell’s dramatic roles still have the comedian's unique style of humor, his performances in Everything Must Go and Stranger Than Fiction are still worth bringing up. He’s less manic and a tad bit quieter in these two movies, but that charm is still there, which really messes with your head.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller has shown over the years that he can do more than play the lovable loser in movies like Meet the Parents, detestable villains in Dodgeball, or caricatures of models in Zoolander. In fact, he’s given quite a few outstanding dramatic performances in everything from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to the gutting Permanent Midnight.

Mo'Nique

In addition to being a prolific comedian with multiple stand-up specials including The Queens of Comedy, as well as having a lead role on the long-running sitcom, The Parkers, Mo’Nique is also an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA winner thanks to her lights out performance in the 2009 drama film, Precious. 

Bette Midler

Bette Midler has made us laugh ourselves out of our seats countless times over the years, but her performance as Cecilia Bloom in Beaches has been making everyone cry for decades now. It’s impossible to listen to “Wind Beneath My Wings” without thinking of that masterful dramatic turn.

Richard Pryor

Legendary stand-up comedian Richard Pryor had a series of comedies with frequent collaborator Gene Wilder at the height of his career, but the comic also gave a dynamic dramatic performance in Paul Schrader’s 1978 crime film, Blue Collar. The movie, which showed the actor’s range, also featured Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto. Talk about a cast.

Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin, an actress who continues to thrive decades into her career, is best known for performances in comedies like 9 to 5, shows like Grace and Frankie, and various stand-up specials and Broadway productions. But Tomlin can also pull off dramatic roles like her Academy Award-nominated performance in Nashville, her feature film debut.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks is wonderfully hilarious in movies like Finding Nemo, Broadcast News, and so many others, but his trademark happy-go-lucky and funny sensibility and charm went out the window with his bone-chilling portrayal of Bernie Rose in Drive. Ice cold.

Marlon Wayans

Here’s something wild to think about: Marlon Wayans played the stereotypical stoner Shorty in the parody horror flick Scary Movie and Tyrone in Darren Aronofsky’s devastating drama Requiem for a Dream in the same year. During the latter film’s development, the star of The Wayan Bros., the comedian had to go through five auditions.

Kristen Wiig

Some of Kristen Wiig’s best movies are those that lean more towards the dramatic side of the spectrum, with Mother, The Skeleton Twins, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty all coming to mind. This isn’t to say her comedic work isn’t great, as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is legitimately one of the funniest movies of the 2020s.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel, through shows like Freaks & Geeks and How I Met Your Mother, has shown time after time that he’s undeniably hilarious. However, through work in movies like The End of the Tour and the 1999 dramedy SLC Punk, the actor has proven he can handle more dramatic performances as good as the rest.

Steve Martin

On top of being the all-time best SNL host, Steve Martin is also one of the most prolific actors of our time. But in addition to all of that, the actor, writer, musician, and what we can assume is a generally good hang, Martin can also pull off more dramatic roles. This can best be seen in the 2005 romantic drama, Shopgirl, which was based on one of his novellas.

Maya Rudolph

Two years after her Saturday Night Live tenure came to an end, Maya Rudolph gave a passionate and beautiful performance in Sam Mendes’ 2009 dramedy, Away We Go. The role, which saw her play the pregnant wife trying to find a place to settle down, allowed the comedic actress to play a more grounded, and sincere character.

Goldie Hawn

In 1991, Goldie Hawn took on the role of Adrienne Saunders in Damian Harris’ psychological thriller, Deceived, which saw her play the wife of the manipulative Frank Sullivan (John Heard in a devilish role). Though the movie wasn’t all that well-received, Hawn was still masterful in it, showing a great deal of range in the process.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen has given one wonderfully funny performance after another for nearly the past quarter-century, but the actor and writer behind movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express can handle his own when it comes to drama. Danny Boyle’s 2015 biopic, Steve Jobs, saw the comedian portray Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, which required him to go head-to-head with Michael Fassbender’s tech CEO in some extremely intense scenes.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart made the jump to serious drama in The Upside in 2019, an English remake of the french film, The Intouchables. However, this wouldn’t be a one and done type situation for the comedian. He would give another emotional performance in the 2021 Netflix drama, Fatherhood, in which he played a widower trying to raise his daughter in the wake of his wife’s sudden passing.

Jack Black

After dipping his toes in the drama waters with his charming performance in The Holiday, Jack Black played his darkest role yet in the 2011 crime biopic, Bernie. In Richard Linklater’s movie, Black took on the role of mortician Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede, who was later convicted of murdering his friend and millionaire Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLane). 

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick is best known for her starring roles in musical comedies like the Pitch Perfect franchise and the Trolls animated movies, but the comedic actress has also given commanding dramatic performances. This includes the likes of Up in the Air, 50/50, Alice Darling, and A Simple Favor, all of which show her dynamic range.

Awkwafina

If you look at Awkwafina’s best movies, you’ll see a lot of great comedies like Crazy Rich Asians, Ocean’s Eight, and Quiz Lady. However, you’ll also find Lulu Wang’s 2019 drama, The Farewell, which saw the comedian pull off a whole range of emotions throughout its story. In fact, she even won a Golden Globe for her performance.

John Lithgow

John Lithgow has had a remarkable career full of great comedies, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and Shrek, but he’s also given some impressive dramatic performances throughout his career. Be it shows like Dexter and The Crown or a list of movies that includes Killers of the Flower Moon, Terms of Endearment, and Interstellar, the decorated actor has always been able to pull off some impressive feats.

Jerry Lewis

One-half of Martin and Lewis with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis was one of the funniest names in show business throughout his career, be it with his Vegas shows or various movies like The Nutty Professor and The Ladies Man. But Lewis also gave a terrific dramatic performance in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, which saw the legendary comedian play a late night TV host kidnapped by an obsessed fan (played by Robert De Niro).

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her take on Rachel Green in the landmark sitcom, Friends, but the actress has since taken on some rather dramatic roles that worked quite well. One of the most notable is the 2014 drama, Cake, which saw Aniston take on the role of a woman coming to terms with the death of her son.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill spent the better part of the 2000s appearing in comedies like Superbad, Grandma’s Boy, and Accepted, but he started to take more dramatic roles in the 2010s. One of the most promising was his part in 2011’s Moneyball, which saw him play Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) incredibly intelligent (and sometimes awkward) assistant to great effect.

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan is lights out in comedies like the Night at the Museum movies and Tropic Thunder, but he was equally as good in the 2013 drama film, Philomena, which saw him take on the role of a journalist helping a woman (played by Judi Dench) track down the son she was force to give up for adoption decades earlier.

Each of these comedians found a way to turn audience expectations on their head and give us some all-time great dramatic performances. It’s safe to say we’ll never forget some of these beloved, and wonderfully emotional roles and the people who brought them to life.

Superhero movies have been a constant in the world of modern Hollywood, and the genre reached its peak popularity with the explosion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With such a storied history, there are obviously going to be stories of actors who didn’t make the cut. But believe us when we tell you the actors on this list who almost played major superhero roles are quite the collection of characters.

Burt Reynolds - Superman - Superman (1977)

A bunch of big name actors turned down the role of Clark Kent/Superman when it came time to make 1977’s Superman feature film. Among those who skipped this early era of cape action is the legendary Burt Reynolds. The decision seemed to work out in the end, as that same year saw Smokey and the Bandit become one of his most iconic hits.

Demi Moore - Supergirl - Supergirl (1984)

Early in her career, Demi Moore had a chance to become a part of the Superman franchise. She auditioned alongside Brooke Shields for the lead in Supergirl, though Helen Slater would eventually win the part. Moore then almost played the supporting role of Lucy Lane but passed, as she was about to go from being on General Hospital to starring in the Brat Pack era of films, including About Last Night…

Pierce Brosnan - Batman - Batman (1989)

There are quite a few actors that have done the dance of fate with both superhero movies and the James Bond movies. One of the most surprising, besides Burt Reynolds turning down 007, was Pierce Brosnan testing for Tim Burton’s Batman. Brosnan admitted he blew it, especially since he criticized the wardrobe choices of Bruce Wayne’s darker alter-ego.

Annette Bening - Catwoman - Batman Returns (1992)

Annette Bening was almost Catwoman, believe it or not. The original choice for that role in Batman Returns, Bening seemed set to be a part of the film. That is until the actress found out she was pregnant and had to bow out of the part. It’s ok though, as Burton found a more than willing successor in Michelle Pfieffer, who practically signed on after reading half of the script. 

Marlon Wayans - Robin - Batman Returns (1992)

Marlon Wayans is the Bobby Bonilla of the superhero movie world. Just as Bobby continues to be paid not to play for the Mets, Wayans still gets royalties for not playing Robin in Batman Returns. Due to the roster of characters in Tim Burton’s 1992 sequel being trimmed, Wayans never took flight as the hero.

Dougray Scott - Wolverine - X-Men (2000)

Out of the 13 actors that almost played Wolverine in X-Men, Dougray Scott was the one that got the closest. Scott was actually cast in the iconic pre-MCU film and was so close to getting to pop those Adamantium claws. If he hadn’t suffered injuries and scheduling conflicts from the tail end of Mission: Impossible II, we would've seen different Logan in action. 

Rachel Leigh Cook - Rogue - X-Men (2000)

Brace yourself for a weird loop of coincidence. She’s All That star Rachel Leigh Cook turned down the role of Rogue in 2000’s X-Men. Who did the role end up going to? Academy Award winner Anna Paquin… the actor who gave Cook's character that memorable makeover in the aforementioned teen comedy. Maybe Paquin has some mutant career powers that nobody’s ever noticed before. As for Cook, she eventually admitted that she totally blew it by passing on this classic adventure.

Leonardo DiCaprio - Spider-Man - Spider-Man (2002)

James Cameron’s unmade Spider-Man movie would have gone in some wild directions. Perhaps what fans discuss most is the fact that if he were to have made the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio would have been his Peter Parker! While that’s not the most shocking aspect, especially if you’ve actually read the script, it’s certainly something that feels pretty interesting considering where Cameron and DiCaprio’s careers would go after that point. 

Kate Winslet - Elektra - Daredevil (2003)

There was a wide net cast when looking to fill the role of Elektra in 2003’s Daredevil. Lucy Liu, Salma Hayek and even Katie Holmes were all considered; as was Titanic alum Kate Winslet. Considering her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio almost played Spider-Man for James Cameron, could Winslet have also been considered for Mary Jane Watson had that movie gotten off the ground? 

Ashley Judd - Catwoman - Catwoman (2004)

Development hell can wreck a movie before it ever shoots a single frame. Michelle Pfieffer's intended Catwoman spinoff, for example, eventually mutated into a standalone film. And somewhere in-between Pfieffer’s variant being iced and Halle Berry’s infamous final product being made, Ashley Judd was meant to play the character in the early aughts. According to the Daily Haggis, Judd dropped out in favor of a stage play; which was probably the better move.

Cillian Murphy - Batman - Batman Begins (2005)

Beginning his stint as one of the actors in the most Christopher Nolan movies, Cillian Murphy played Scarecrow in Batman Begins and was a menacing presence to behold. And yet, the Irish actor initially tried out for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman; going as far as doing screen tests in and out of the Batsuit. While it was admitted that he wasn’t a good fit for the lead role, Nolan did use Murphy’s audition to cast him as Dr. Jonathan Crane; and the rest was history.

Tom Cruise - Iron Man - Iron Man (2008)

You knew this was coming. When the MCU fired up its arc reactor in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. was there front and center to make Iron Man a mega hit. Of course, the studio needed to be convinced that Downey was the way to go, as there were powers that be who wanted the Mission: Impossible daredevil as the lead. Cruise turned down the part, while at the same time the Tony Stark we knew and loved had enough people in his corner to make it happen. 

Emily Blunt - Black Widow - Iron Man 2 (2010)

It’s time to revisit one of the cruelest villains ever: contractual obligations! Back when Iron Man 2 was getting into gear, the then up-and-coming Emily Blunt was offered the role of Natalie Rushman… who was eventually revealed to be Natasha Romanova, the Black Widow. Unfortunately, this was the first of Blunt’s two Marvel passes; with this part going to Scarlett Johansson after Emily had to fulfill her obligation to star in 2010’s Gulliver’s Travels. 

Daniel Craig - Baldur The Brave - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

The worlds of James Bond and superhero culture have collided before, thanks to Daniel Craig’s rumored Thor casting being debunked. What isn’t as sketchy is the claim that Craig almost played Baldur the Brave in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And if you need anyone to further firm up this claim, just ask Elizabeth Olsen, who actually saw Craig’s costume after it was designed.

Joe Jonas - Spider-Man - The Amazing Spider-Man (2011)

One of the greatest heartbreaks in Joe Jonas’ career as an actor is still that time he almost landed the lead role in The Amazing Spider-Man. Jonas recalled his Marvel auditions as well as the tragic turn the situation took when Andrew Garfield landed the role, and it’s hard not to feel for the dude. Then again, Jonas may have dodged a bullet, considering where that series went.

John Krasinski - Captain America - Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

One of the hot prospects for the casting of Captain America was appropriately a man who’s clearly cut out for the role of an American boy scout -- John Krasinski. Though The Office star failed to secure the bag as Steve Rogers, he did go on to play the similarly patriotic lead of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. Oh yeah… and he was a Multiversal Reed Richards in Doctor Strange 2 as well. 

Morena Baccarin - Maria Hill - The Avengers (2012)

Joss Whedon sure does have a deep bench of talent he loves to pull from. Firefly alum Morena Baccarin knows that fact, as she auditioned for The Avengers to play the role of Maria Hill. Though she stayed in the extended MCU family through Deadpool, Baccarin admitted she tanked the audition because she didn’t get Hill’s character on the page.

Jamie Dornan - Superman - Man of Steel (2013)

Mr. Kent will see you now. If history shook out a bit differently, maybe Henry Cavill would've played the lead in Fifty Shades of Grey, and Jamie Dornan would have been the Man of Steel lead that kicked off the DC Extended Universe. But that’s not the multiverse we live in, as we’re now wondering if these two will be competing for another massive pop culture role: that of James Bond.

Amanda Seyfried - Gamora - Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

If it wasn’t for Amanda Seyfried questioning whether or not Guardians of the Galaxy would be the first Marvel movie to bomb, she might have accepted the role of Gamora. However, it’s those doubts that kept her out of James Gunn’s 2014 blockbuster; a fact that Seyfried admits she was “very wrong” about.

Glenn Howerton - Star-Lord - Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

It’s more than an implication that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Glenn Howerton was almost cast as Star-Lord. It’s been pretty much confirmed by James Gunn that Howerton would have been his next choice, had Chris Pratt not signed on. The only thing more interesting is how “the Golden God” himself wasn’t considered to play Adam Warlock.

Lindsay Lohan - Scarlet Witch - Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)

Back in the days of her docu-series Lindsay, this Mouse House graduate thought her manager cost her a role in an Avengers movie. Well, if the timing of that 2014 project was any indication, the whispers of Lindsay Lohan being up for the part of Scarlet Witch just may have been true. 

Olga Kurylenko - Wonder Woman - Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

If there are two stars that need to be interviewed together about their careers, it’s Gal Gadot and Olga Kurylenko. Apparently, they both competed for lead roles in Quantum of Solace and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice; with Kurylenko ultimately getting the Bond experience and Gadot snagging the Lasso of Truth.

Asa Butterfield - Spider-Man - Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Remember that time the world was convinced Asa Butterfield was the new Spider-Man? It happened, and the Sex Education lead apparently did test for the role in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Though his bid was unsuccessful, it’s hard not to admit he’d have made a good candidate had Tom Holland not eventually landed the role.

Emma Roberts - Harley Quinn - Suicide Squad (2016)

Apparently, the world has Fox’s now defunct shriek-com Scream Queens for taking Emma Roberts away from Suicide Squad. Roberts chose that TV gig over becoming the living embodiment of mayhem, leaving the role wide open for Margot Robbie to accept, and own, the role of Harley Quinn for years to come.

Josh Brolin - Batman - Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Ben Affleck had some stiff competition for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’s Caped Crusader; and Josh Brolin was one of those competitors. But just as those hopes of Bryan Cranston as Lex Luthor and Timothy Dalton as Alfred didn’t pan out, Brolin lost the gig. With that, another major "what if" casting scenario was created.

Ryan Gosling - Doctor Strange - Doctor Strange (2016)

Yes, it’s true: Ryan Gosling took a meeting back in the Phase Three days of the MCU. The Mickey Mouse Club alum was considered to play Dr. Steven Strange himself. It’s hard to tell which missed opportunity is the more intriguing what if: this, or Gosling’s failed attempt to make a Haunted Mansion movie with Guillermo del Toro.

DeWanda Wise - Maria Rambeau - Captain Marvel (2019)

Getting cast in a superhero movie like Captain Marvel, only to have to bow out, has to be a painful feeling. DeWanda Wise is another case of such history in action, as she was supposed to play Maria Rambeau opposite Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers. But then, commitments to Season 2 of Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It forced Wise to exit, with Lashana Lynch taking her place shortly after.

Sean Young - Catwoman - Batman Returns (1992)

Sean Young really wanted to be Catwoman in Batman Returns. No, seriously, the Blade Runner actor had such a desire to be cast in the role, that details reported via CBR saw a Warner Bros exec talking about how she burst into his office, in a Catwoman costume of her own design, to try and impress him and Michael Keaton. Needless to say, it didn’t work.

David Duchovny - Batman - Batman & Robin (1997)

There was a bit of a holding pattern between the success of Batman Forever and the accelerated timeline to make Batman & Robin. In that chaos, Val Kilmer exited the role, and a new Bats needed to be found. The X-Files' David Duchovny was one of the candidates considered, but the spooky man lost out on the role to George Clooney. A fate that Mr. Clooney still apologizes for, to this very day.

Armie Hammer - Batman - Justice League: Mortal (2007)

Tax rebates! That’s what caused the cancellation of George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal, which was pretty far along in pre-production for a movie to be given the axe. With Armie Hammer cast as Batman for this big blockbuster, the Caped Crusader scored yet another intriguing “what if…” when the curtain fell.

Anne Hathaway - Black Cat - Spider-Man 4 (2011)

If Spider-Man 4 had actually happened, it could have been a hell of a sight. With folks like John Malkovich cast, the next intended Sam Raimi-helmed movie could have been a return to the heights of Spider-Man 2. And in that pocket of alternate reality, Anne Hathaway probably didn’t play Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, as she would have played a feline of a different stripe: Felicia Hardy herself, Black Cat. 

Christina Aguilera - Invisible Woman - Fantastic Four (2005)

Prepare for quite possibly the most bizarro alternative casting on this list. Amid development on 2005's Fantastic Four, Sean Astin himself wanted to direct the First Family of Superheroes. And as Astin revealed to Collider, he wanted Christina Aguilera to play Sue Storm a.k.a. the Invisible Woman. There’s got to be a “Genie In A Bottle” joke here somewhere, but we just can’t see it.

As you can see, the world of alternate comic castings has led to some stranger than-fiction-possibilities, near misses and truly heartbreaking passes. You can bet that so long as Marvel, DC, and any other comic company is keeping the pedal to the medal to make more superhero movies, there will be even more of these tales to come along in the years to come.

When it comes to the history of superhero movies, there are plenty of alternate scenarios that could’ve occurred had events played out a bit differently. Nicolas Cage, for instance, was going to play the Man of Steel under Tim Burton’s direction, but the Superman film was canceled. And Emily Blunt turned down two major Marvel roles – Black Widow and Peggy Carter. Those are interesting facts, for sure, but there’s another intriguing one I want to talk about. Once upon a time, Marlon Wayans was going to play Robin in Burton’s Batman Returns. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance, and there’s an interesting story behind why the gig didn’t pan out. 

It may be tough for some to imagine the Little Man star taking on a role in a superhero flick, especially that of the Boy Wonder. Back in the ‘90s, the funnyman was making a name for himself within the comedy sphere. He eventually joined the cast of his older brother's show, In Living Color, before co-leading the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. Ahead of that though, the director of Beetlejuice envisioned the comic standing alongside Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight on the big screen. It was an inspired casting choice and could’ve opened even more doors for the then-rising star professionally. So how exactly was he cast and why didn’t he play the part? Let’s discuss that now. 

Robin Was Originally Set To Play A Role In Batman Returns And Marlon Wayans Was Signed To Play The Role

As with any film, the sequel to Tim Burton’s box office hit Batman went through various changes during the writing process. Sam Hamm, who co-wrote the screenplay for the 1989 flick, had some of the earliest story ideas for the follow-up. His tale featured heavier connections to the first film and included other key elements like gun-toting Santas and a not-so-grotesque Penguin. The plot point he developed that was maintained even after Daniel Waters took over as screenwriter, though, was the introduction of Robin. Waters and Burton’s version of the character was to be an adult mechanic, as noted by Den of Geek.

Sometime before filming commenced in September 1991, Marlon Wayans was tapped to play the role. Though his presence in the movie wouldn’t have been significant, the team was set on having him appear. Plans were well underway for the iconic sidekick’s big-screen debut in the “Burtonverse,” as a matter of fact. The film’s crew had already crafted sets and costumes for the character. Meanwhile, an action figure based on the hero had even been designed. So with Robin’s appearance seemingly set, what changed?

Script Changes Led To The Character Being Eliminated, But There Was Seemingly Still Hope

It was eventually decided that Returns was already filled to the brim with characters. The screenwriters were already trying to manage the arc of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne as well as those of Michelle Pfeiffer’s whip-wielding Catwoman and Danny DeVito’s grotesque Oswald Cobblepot. Of course, they also had to consider the presence of the villainous Max Shreck, who was played by Christopher Walken. With all that in mind, the creative team apparently thought it would be best to omit Robin from the script. 

Despite that turn of events, it seemed the book wasn’t totally closed on the bird-themed do-gooder at that point. Marlon Wayans reportedly signed a two-picture contract that would’ve ensured his return in a threequel. It’s been said that the proposed third flick was to have Robin join forces with the Bat to take on Harvey Dent/Two-Face, with Batman’s Billy Dee Williams returning to play the role. This all sounds like a solid idea but, as we’ve already made clear, plans can change. 

The Caped Crusader’s Film Franchise Was Revamped Following Tim Burton’s Sequel

Warner Bros. released Batman Returns in the summer of 1992 and proved to be very divisive at the time. While the performances of Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito (among other elements) were praised, pundits were mixed on the plot and some criticized the film’s dark motif. The mature content was so polarizing that not only was the movie’s impact on kids heavily examined, but McDonald’s even dropped its Happy Meal tie-in. The blockbuster ultimately earned over $266 million (against a budget between $50 and $80 million) and broke box office records. Still, WB took the public’s response to heart and opted to switch up the direction. 

Enter: Joel Schumacher. The Incredible Shrinking Woman director was hired to direct the movie that would eventually be known as Batman Forever. Val Kilmer took on the titular role in the 1995 flick, which also saw the (beefing) Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones play Riddler and Two-Face, respectively. Like Harvey Dent, Robin was maintained in the story, though he was played by then-rising star Chris O’Donnell. Though it was a critical dud, the movie became a box office hit and spawned the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin. 

Marlon Wayans Was Still Compensated, And His Version Of Robin Did See The Light Of Day

Although Marlon Wayans didn’t actually get to suit up on the big screen, he did still see some cash. He was reportedly paid $100,000 and also received a penalty fee of sorts, since he had technically been cast for Batman Forever. On top of that, Wayans has since revealed that he still receives royalties today. When discussing the situation during an interview years ago, he said:

For years, fans wondered what the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra actor’s take on the character would look like. Well, they finally got their taste of him in the 2021-2022 limited series Batman ‘89. Written by Sam Hamm, the series picks up after the events of Returns expands upon the Burtonverse. It introduces Robin, whose civilian name is Drake Winston, and he has the comedian’s likeness (with his permission). The story also sees Billy Dee Williams’ iteration of Harvey Dent become Two-Face. The characters may not have debuted when and how people might’ve expected, but better late than never, right?

One still can’t help but wonder what a third Tim Burton-directed Bat film would look like. I’d like to think Marlon Wayans could’ve brought something fresh to the role, yet few would argue that despite not appearing in the superhero movies, he’s had a successful career. And who knows, maybe he’ll find his way into a comic book movie one of these days. 

You can stream Batman Returns along with many of the Dark Knight’s live-action movies (which we’ve ranked) using a Max subscription.

Marlon Wayans is arguably one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors and comedians, having endeared himself to audiences with his numerous performances. One thing that fans surely know about him is that he doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind on a given topic. That was definitely clear at the end of this past week after he spoke out about an alleged incident that resulted in him getting removed from a United Airlines flight. Wayans hasn’t minced words while giving his account of the experience, considering that he’s called out the company in a myriad of ways. And in the process of doing so, he threw in a reference to White Chicks.

What Reportedly Happened With Marlon Wayans’ Flight?

At the end of this past week, the 50-year-old entertainer was in a Denver airport, where he was reportedly looking to catch a flight to Kansas City. However, according to TMZ, the star got into a heated argument with a gate agent in regard to his luggage. United Airlines released a statement to the news outlet, saying that the funnyman was “told he would have to gate-check his bag.” The company alleges that the Wayans Bros. alum ultimately “pushed past a United employee” before attempting to forcibly board the flight. It’s for that reason that the organization says he was removed. In the end, the Denver Police Department handed the comic a citation for disturbing the peace.

Marlon Wayans has since vehemently denied the claims in a series of Instagram posts. In the first post, the comedian shared a video. The clip showed him in the airport, where he lamented the fact that he would miss his shows due to the situation. He shared more thoughts in his lengthy caption, in which he called “bullshit.” Wayans asserts that it was the gate agent who caused that issue because he was allegedly trying to exert his “power”:

He doubled down on that stance in a subsequently shared post, which he used to say that he did not assault the United Airlines employee. The Requiem for a Dream alum also appealed to his followers in another update, in which he advised them to “fly where you’re respected, protected and loved.” On top of that, he shared an image of what he claims to be another passenger exceeding the airline’s carry-on limit.

How Did Marlon Wayans Bring White Chicks Into The Discussion?

The stand-up comedy veteran’s most recent post on the matter involved his and brother Shawn Wayans’ 2004 comedy, White Chicks. If you’ve seen the movie, then you probably have an idea about what scene Marlon used to voice his displeasure with how things panned out with United. He shared the scene that famously sees his brother’s character saying “I’m so freaking pissed.” Check it out: 

While the scene itself is clearly meant to be humorous, it seems clear that it sums up just how the Bel-Air actor is feeling right now. Though being the comedic person that he is, he simultaneously appears to be lightening the tension surrounding his circumstance by calling out the movie he once threatened to make a sequel to. 

As of this writing, Marlon Wayans is still seeking an apology from United Airlines, which has yet to provide further comment on his account of events. Both sides appear to be standing firm in their respective positions so, right now, we can’t say for sure if this will be amicably resolved somehow. Until then though, Wayans may opt to keep posting and could reference some of his other famous movies in the process. 

White Chicks can be streamed using a Max subscription, and those wanting to see Marlon Wayans’ latest film, Air – an entry on the schedule of 2023 new movie releases – can stream it using a Prime Video subscription. There are also other things to watch if you're a Wayans fan.

When it comes to some of the latest and greatest movies, you can’t get much better than Air. The new film, starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis and so many more, tells the story of how Nike created the famous sneaker brand, Air Jordans, because of the legendary basketball player, Michael Jordan, before he was even the big star he'd eventually become. 

The film is loaded with stars, and I’m sure you’ve seen at least one or two of them in something other than this film. Let’s get into the Air cast, and where you might have seen them before. 

Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro)

First up on the list is the main man himself, Matt Damon, who plays Sonny Vaccaro in Air. Damon has been in Hollywood for some time, and has appeared in many films that have truly made him become a huge star. One of his breakout roles was in Good Will Hunting, alongside Robin Williams and Ben Affleck, where he also co-wrote the script with Affleck and won an Academy Award for it, but he’s been in many other roles besides that as well. 

These include the Julia Roberts-led rom-com, Mystic Pizza, the Jason Bourne franchise, the Ocean’s trilogy, The Departed, Syriana, The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Last Duel, Saving Private Ryan, True Grit, Ford v. Ferrari, and many more. He was also the lead of The Martian cast, where he truly shined and even earned an Academy Award nomination for the role. 

Damon has also had some time in television as well, guest-starring on the popular show, 30 Rock, as well as a critically acclaimed role in Behind the Candelabra.

Ben Affleck (Phil Knight)

Next up is Ben Affleck, who plays Rich Knight. Affleck is actually also the director of Air, but it’s always awesome to see him take on a role in a movie that he is directing, like what he did with Argo. 

Affleck has been in many movies, including Good Will Hunting, but some of his other big roles are in films that include Dazed and Confused, Armageddon, The Sum of All Fears, Hollywoodland, Gone Baby Gone, The Way Back, The Tender Bar, and more. He also portrayed Batman in the DCEU for several movies, and was also recently in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. 

Jason Bateman (Rob Strasser)

Jason Bateman has been in the business for some time, and he’s playing Rob Strasser in Air. Bateman has had a big career on television, with his career being revitalized by Arrested Development, and he gained even more acclaim for his main role in the Netflix series, Ozark. Besides this, he’s also appeared in many films. 

Some of his best include Teen Wolf Two, Necessary Roughness, Hancock, the coming of age comedy Juno, Game Night, the great Zootopia (which is getting a sequel from Disney), This Is Where I Leave You, Office Christmas Party, and more. Truly, so awesome to see him in a role such as this. 

Chris Messina (David Falk)

Chris Messina plays David Falk in the film, and the actor has been around in movies and on TV for some time. Primarily, many know him from the sitcom, The Mindy Project, but he’s also been in many other famous television shows such as the HBO series, Six Feet Under, Damages, The Newsroom, The Sinner, and Gaslit. He was also part of the main cast of Sharp Objects. 

Besides this, Messina was also in movies such as Julie & Julia, Ruby Sparks, Devil, I Care A Lot, Celeste and Jesse Forever, and Birds of Prey, among many others. 

Matthew Maher (Peter Moore)

Playing Peter Moore is Matthew Maher, who is primarily known for his smaller roles in movies and television shows, but he’s had a few bigger ones that you might recognize him from. In terms of movies, he’s appeared in Four Letter Word, The Killer Inside Me, Live by Night, The Outside Story, Captain Marvel, Funny Pages and others. 

On television, he has a main role on the hilarious HBO comedy, Our Flag Means Death, had a recurring role in Outer Range, and also appeared in a recurring role in Mozart in the Jungle. 

Marlon Wayans (George Raveling)

Moving on, we have Marlon Wayans, a famous comedic actor who is taking on the role of George Raveling in Air. Wayans has had experience in a dramatic role before, where he had a main part in Requiem for a Dream back in the early 2000s, but he’s mainly known for his hilarious comedies. 

These include many of the Scary Movie movies, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Heat, Norbit, A Haunted House and its sequel, and On the Rocks on Apple TV, as well as others. 

He was the star of the popular television show The Wayans Bros. alongside Shawn Wayans, and was also the star of his own short-lived sitcom on NBC, Marlon. He recently had his own comedy special, Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me, on HBO Max.  

Julius Tennon (James Jordan)

Next up on the list is Julius Tennon, who portrays James Jordan, Michael Jordan’s father. Tennon is actually married to Viola Davis (another one of the stars) in real-life, so it’s cool to see them play a husband and wife together in this film. 

Tennon has appeared in a variety of films prior to this, including The Woman King, Lila & Eve, Get On Up, the 2009 version of Fame, and more. For television, he appeared in many small guest roles, including How To Get Away With Murder, ER, The Jersey, The Closer, Criminal Minds, 7th Heaven, Walker, Texas Ranger and more. 

Chris Tucker (Howard White)

Chris Tucker, a famous actor and comedian, plays Howard White in Air, and the actor has been around for some time in the movie industry. He acted in all the Friday films, as well as had parts in movies such as The Fifth Element, Silver Linings Playbook, Jackie Brown and Money Talks. He became even more well-known when he starred in the Rush Hour films alongside Jackie Chan. 

Tucker has also had success in television with his stand-up comedy specials. 

Viola Davis (Deloris Jordan)

Last but not least, we have Viola Davis, who plays Deloris Jordan in Air, Michael Jordan’s mother. Davis is a prominent figure in the acting world and has been in many movies for a long time. In 2022, she was the lead in The Woman King cast – with many people feeling she deserved an Academy Award nomination for it.

Some of her other major roles that she has been in include The Help, Fences, both Suicide Squad movies, Get On Up, State of Play, The Unforgiveable, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Life is Not A Fairytale, and more. 

She was also the lead of the popular TV drama, How to Get Away with Murder, and portrayed Michelle Obama in The First Lady. 

With such a star-studded cast, it’s no wonder we have seen all of these stars somewhere before their time in Air, and I for one can’t wait to see what they do next.  

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are set to appear on the big screen together again, and this time they’re taking on the GOAT. Or, the GOAT’s shoes, as it were, as the biographical sports drama Air will tell Nike shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro’s story of trying to lock down Michael Jordan for a partnership with the fashion brand. Air premiered at South by Southwest this past weekend, and critics are here with their opinions of the Air Jordan origin story ahead of its April 5 theatrical release.

Matt Damon stars as the Nike employee who has the bright idea to cut a deal with NBA rookie Michael Jordan. Ben Affleck pulls double duty, starring as Nike boss Phil Knight as well as serving as Air’s director. The dynamic duo is joined by an A+ cast that includes Viola Davis as MJ’s mother, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, and more. Let’s take a look at what the critics are saying after the SXSW premiere. 

Valerie Complex of Deadline says every cast member’s performance is award-worthy, and while it’s hard to choose a standout, Ben Affleck shines in his fifth directorial project. The critic writes: 

Matthew Monagle of The Playlist agrees that Ben Affleck’s return to directing is something to be celebrated and says Matt Damon projects a kind of everyman confidence that makes the audience believe his character has the smartest voice in the room. The critic gives the movie a B, saying: 

Ryan Scott of SlashFilm rates Air 8 out of 10, noting that in the same way that Moneyball was a baseball story that wasn’t really about baseball, Air is a basketball movie that’s not about basketball. It’s a Michael Jordan story that’s not about Michael Jordan. You don’t have to like or be familiar with either subject to appreciate what Affleck and the stacked cast are doing. The review continues: 

James Preston Poole of Discussing Film calls the film a “crowd-pleaser,” and agrees with the above critic that it lives and dies by the performances. The talent delivers both in front of and behind the camera, the critic says, rating this one 4 out of 5 stars. More from the review: 

Richard Whittaker of the Austin Chronicle calls Air a “charming origin story” and says Ben Affleck disguises a powerful parable as crowd-pleasing entertainment. The critic echoes previous sentiments that moviegoers don’t need to be a fan of the Chicago Bulls great or basketball in general to like this movie:

Critics who caught the SXSW premiere of Air are giving high praise to Ben Affleck in his return to directing, as well as to the performances. Audiences don’t have to wait too long to catch this one on the big screen, as it’s set for theatrical release on Wednesday, April 5. 

While you apparently don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate Air, if you are one, check out some of the best sports movies and how to watch them. You can also revisit some of Ben Affleck’s best work, and be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to stay up to date on what’s coming to theaters soon. 

This weekend is the Academy Awards, marking the one-year anniversary of last year’s explosive ceremony. The Oscars are usually good for one or few viral moments, but the internet exploded when Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Chris Rock on national television… shortly before accepting the Best Actor award. After largely keeping quiet over these months, Rock finally addressed The Slap in his new Netflix stand-up special Selective Outrage, taking aim at the Smith family a number of times throughout its runtime. And now Marlon Wayans, Jeff Ross, and others have responded after the comedian finally talked about his infamous conflict with Smith.

Ever since The Slap occurred, there has been non-stop discourse over who was in the wrong, with the Film Academy also being held accountable for their actions on that night. Chris Rock had largely stayed silent, before finally letting it rip about his feelings on Selective Outrage, which made history as a live streaming event for Netflix. A number of comedians tuned in including Marlon Wayans, who opened up to CBS News about what it was like seeing Rock finally open up about his experience at the Oscars. He said:

Points were made. Marlon Wayans is friends with both Will Smith and Chris Rock, so his opinion on the matter might have more weight than the average person. He was happy to see Rock finally sharing his experience through comedy, hoping that there will be some healing as a result. Of course, the jokes at Smith and family might negatively affect their road to forgiveness, depending on how much he’s seen on the special.

Of course, Marlon Wayans wasn’t the only noted comic to speak up after watching Chris Rock’s Oscars-focused set on Selective Outrage. Indeed, the title itself was in reference to Will Smith. Roast legend Jeff Ross spoke to TMZ recently, and shared his perspective on that new stand-up special. He said:

Much of the conversation surrounding the Oscars Slap was Will Smith’s use of violence in the prestigious awards ceremony. While some folks can understand why Smith would defend his wife, the physical nature of the confrontation was what many took umbrage with. 

Another comic who recently voiced his opinion on the matter is Donnel Rawlings, who also spoke to TMZ after watching Chris Rock’s stand-up special. He seems to think that Rock finally sharing his perspective could help the two celebrities finally reach an understanding, saying:

Only time will tell if reconciliation is truly possible between the two. Will Smith has issued a number of public apologies about his actions that night, but the two reportedly haven’t actually spoken to each other since the Oscars. Although between Selective Outrage’s release and the upcoming Academy Awards this weekend, feelings might be reawakened for both of them.

Selective Outrage is streaming now on Netflix. Will Smith has some exciting projects coming down the line, including Bad Boys 4. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s getting close to a year since one of the biggest Oscars scandals occurred, namely Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage after joking about his wife’s appearance. With all of the discourse still going about this controversial moment, there's also jokes about the scandal from comedians like Marlon Wayans and Chris Rock himself. Days before Rock’s Netflix special drops, a clip surfaced of Wayans’ stand-up routine about the slap.

Marlon Wayans has an HBO Max comedy special coming up called God Must Love Me, where he uses out his talent at impressions and physical comedy to address the Will Smith slap that's now synonymous with the 94th Academy Awards. The White Girls actor posted on Instagram a clip that offers us a glimpse of his comedy routine with his perspective on what he saw that night. 

In the clip, the Scary Movie actor jokes that Will Smith was seemingly laughing during the joke that presenter Chris Rock said when he called his wife “G.I. Jane.” This was followed by an imitation of Smith’s exaggerated leg movements and doing the running man dance, as Wayans continued to joke that Jada Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes at the joke and put a “voodoo” spell on her husband to defend her honor. He even went as far as to say that the ghost of rapper Tupac Shakur must have taken over the Men in Black actor’s body during this moment. As Wayans had a good friendship with Shakur, maybe the late rapper would find humor in using him in his comedy routine.

This American comedian clearly has a lot to say about Will Smith’s slap that he presented on the Oscars stage. He, Dave Chapelle, and others can’t seem to stop joking about the incident as he’s apparently got enough material to make audiences laugh for an hour about it. Wayans has said he loves the power comedy has in being able to bring light to what was first seen as a dark moment. He's also friends with last year’s Best Actor winner, to the point where he gave him advice after the Oscars to speak to a therapist. He reportedly felt his behavior was out of character. Wayans also reportedly made sure that Chris Rock was okay after the whole ordeal, as he didn’t like to see his two friends fight. If his job as a mediator involves invoking laughter in an audience that brings everyone together, then he’ll likely be very proud of himself for his new comedy special.

While Marlon Wayans has jokes of his own about the Will Smith slap moment, the man we have a strong urge to hear from about the incident would be Chris Rock himself. Sure, he’s dropped some jokes here and there referencing the moment when he was slapped by the I Am Legend star, but we’d like to hear how he's making light of the issue. Well, we may get our chance after all as Rock is teaming up with Netflix for its new comedy special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage. Something to know about the Netflix special is that it will be the streaming network’s first global live-streaming event that is sure to draw high ratings to see the comedian’s unedited, unfiltered performance. But, you better believe audiences will hang onto Rock’s every word to make sure he finally shares his thoughts on a certain Oscars situation once and for all.

Marlon Wayans has got some jokes of his own on the Will Smith slap situation and apparently, so does Chris Rock. If you’re ready to have a laugh about this Oscars moment too, you can watch Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me on your HBO Max subscription on March 2nd and Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on March 4th on your Netflix subscription.

Rickey Smiley announced some unfortunate news this past weekend. The longtime comedian and radio personality took to social media to confirm the passing of his oldest son, Brandon Smiley. The younger Smiley died at the age of 32 and, as of this writing, his cause of death has not been revealed. Rickey got incredibly candid while speaking on his son’s death, and an army of fans have sent well wishes his way. At the same time, celebrities like Marlon Wayans and Niecy Nash have also reached out with kind words of their own. 

Many took notice when Rickey Smiley took to Instagram to confirm Brandon’s death. Celebrities seemingly flooded the comments, where nothing but warm sentiments and good vibes were shared. Actress Tisha Campbell and comedian Deon Cole are just a few of the notable names that one can find while scrolling down the list. As mentioned, Niecy Nash – the star of The Rookie: Feds – shared a message of encouragement as well:

Niecy Nash has known Rickey Smiley for some time, as the two have collaborated over the years. One of their most notable shared works is the comedy sketch “The Pew,” which also sees Tyler Perry reprise his role as Madea. Smiley has come to know quite a few comedians such as Nash, and that includes Marlon Wayans. When responding to Brandon Smiley’s death, Wayans, who rarely ever hesitates to show reverence towards someone, dropped a loving, faith-based reply:

Fellow comedian Lil Rel Howery also chimed in with some words of his own. The Get Out scene-stealer has been friends with the former DishNation host for years and, upon hearing about his son, he expressed sadness over the family’s loss and wished them the best

It’s very lovely to see the sheer outpouring of love for the Smiley family during this time. In addition to the aforementioned stars, Mike Epps, Taraji P. Henson and Kandi Burruss lent their support. You can see their responses and a few more down below: 

• Mike Epps: 😢 Praying for you Rick man
• Taraji P. Henson: Jesus!!!! I am so sorry 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
• Kandi Burruss: Oh no! I’m so sorry for your loss. I love you & Im praying for you! ❤️
• Bill Bellamy: My brother we are praying for you and your family …..what is going on in this world….. so many of these heartbreaking moments. My condolences to you and your family ….🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
• Tamar Braxton: I’m so sorry friend 💔
• Marvin Sapp: Praying for you

When addressing the death of his son in his video, Rickey Smiley asked for prayers, especially for Brandon’s mother and siblings. Rickey candidly likened this family tragedy to the time when his own father passed and his grandfather was left to mourn him. Rickey solemnly said, “Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt.” Rickey and Brandon, who also had a three-year-old daughter, seemed to be quite close, with both even sharing a love for stand-up comedy. To honor his son, the older Smiley posted a video of his chip off the old block performing on stage. You can check it out down below: 

When addressing the death of his son in his video, Rickey Smiley asked for prayers, especially for Brandon’s mother and siblings. Rickey candidly likened this family tragedy to the time when his own father passed and his grandfather was left to mourn him. Rickey solemnly said, “Now I see what my granddaddy went through and why he felt the way he felt.” Rickey and Brandon, who also had a three-year-old daughter, seemed to be quite close, with both even sharing a love for stand-up comedy. To honor his son, the older Smiley posted a video of his chip off the old block performing on stage. You can check it out down below: 

This development represents yet another unfortunate blow for the Smileys in just a few years. In 2020, Rickey Smiley’s daughter, Aaryn, was shot multiple times in a random act of gun violence while. Thankfully, the young woman survived her injuries. It goes without saying that Brandon’s death must now be an incredibly difficult pill for his relatives to swallow but, at the very least, Rickey and his family can find comfort  in knowing that they have so many people in their corner right now.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our condolences to the entire Smiley family during this difficult time.

In just two days, The Daily Show hits the end of an era, with Trevor Noah departing the satirical news program after hosting for seven years following Jon Stewart’s exit. Needless to say that ever since it was announced that Noah was leaving The Daily Show on December 8, there’s been the question of who will succeed him as the Comedy Central series’ permanent host. As it turns out, we’ll have to wait to a lot longer than expected to learn that answer, because for a good chunk of the next year, SNL vets and a swarm of other talent will be filling in as guest hosts.

Just like the transition period between Craig Ferguson and James Corden on The Late Late Show, or how Jeopardy! brought in numerous fresh faces to fill in following Alex Trebek’s passing, The Daily Show will be moving ahead with guest hosts to fill in for Trevor Noah in 2023, starting with Leslie Jones, who was a Saturday Night Live cast member from 2014 to 2019, on January 17. Here’s the full list of the announced participating talent (in no particular order other than Jones being first):

• Leslie Jones
• Al Franken
• Sarah Silverman
• Chelsea Handler
• Wanda Sykes
• D.L. Hughley
• John Leguizamo
• Kal Penn
• Marlon Wayans
• Hasan Minhaj

Additionally, current Daily Show correspondents and contributors are set to be guest anchors on The Daily Show, with Roy Wood Jr. and Dulcé Sloan being specifically mentioned as in the mix (let’s also not forget that Hasan Minhaj is a former Daily Show correspondent). Executive producer and showrunner Jen Flanz told Vulture that while many, if not most, of these guest hosts will fill in for a week at a time, some may only appear for one night because of their busy schedules/previous commitments. 

Chris McCarthy, president of Comedy Central and CEO of Paramount Media Networks, added that this guest host rotation will unfold between the beginning of 2023 to around June and allow the show “to really experiment and try different things,” meaning that more talent will be announced in the coming weeks. Then The Daily Show will “relaunch in the fall,” i.e. the permanent host will take over in September 2023 and have “a full year to settle in before the 2024 presidential election.”

This isn’t the first time that The Daily Show has had guest host, with one of the more notable examples being when John Oliver sat behind the desk for a few weeks when Jon Stewart took time off to direct Rosewater. That said, Jen Flanz noted that as far as she can remember, “This is the first time we’re really having outsiders into our house.” Flanz also noted that anyone who’s coming in to guest host The Daily Show shouldn’t be seen as candidates to be the permanent host. This is simply an opportunity for various celebrities to pop in and try out hosting The Daily Show for a spell rather than make a full commitment to the gig.

In October, a few weeks after Trevor Noah revealed he was leaving The Daily Show (which apparently ruffled some feathers behind the scenes), the exiting host said he was excited to travel around the world again to do stand-up comedy, as well as do more producing work and spend more time “back home” in South Africa. By November, it was announced that Trevor will begin his Off the Record tour on January 20, which will see him visiting 28 cities in the United States, and international dates will be unveiled later. 

As far as picking a new permanent host for The Daily Show goes, Roy Wood Jr. has been rumored to be in contention for the job, and Chris McCarthy mentioned that these coming months will be a great time for them to “test out those ideas” on evolving the show. Speaking of the Daily Show format, McCarthy and Jen Flanz also said they’re exploring the possibility of transiting the series from the single-anchor format to having co-anchors or multiple co-hosts, i.e. along the lines of SNL’s “Weekend Update” or Good Morning America, but nothing has been decided yet.

For now, you have three more nights to enjoy Trevor Noah behind the desk at The Daily Show. After December 8, the series won’t return until Leslie Jones kicks off the guest hosting run in mid-January. Look through our 2023 TV schedule to learn what other programming there is to look forward to in the new year.

Marlon Wayans has been a Hollywood staple for three decades. Working in the film and television industry led to Wayans brushing shoulders with notable cultural figures. Two legends he met were rap icons Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. Since he was around hip-hop culture, he was able to forge relationships with the two rap legends. The comedic actor recalled his friendships with both men and hanging out with them right before they were shot.

Wayans’ Biggie-Tupac connection was brought to life while promoting Netflix’s The Curse of Bridge Hollow on The Late Late Show with James Corden. During the interview, Corden brought out a famous photo of the two late rappers together in a nightclub. The late-night host pointed out a young Wayans in the corner. Upon seeing the photo, the Respect actor recalled the night the two rappers linked up in New York.

It was nice to get some context to the well-known photo. Hearing an eyewitness account of that night gave a little more insight into the moment, especially since Wayans knew both men before their contentious beef. Of course, the comedic actor was close with Shakur before filming the 1994 cult classic Above the Rim. So, hearing about the camaraderie between the two rappers was refreshing to learn about.

Biggie and Tupac Shakur’s friendship soured a few years later after the latter accused the former and his Bad Boy label boss Diddy of allegedly setting up a shooting incident at a music studio in New York. The rivalry spawned notable diss tracks, escalating to the East Coast-West Coast rap feud in the 1990s. Eventually, the beef turned deadly as Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas in 1996, followed by Biggie being killed a few months later in Los Angeles. 

Of course, Biggie and Shakur’s deaths reverberated throughout the entertainment industry, especially in the hip-hop community. But for the White Chicks star, both losses hit close to home. Wayans revealed he saw and chatted with both men moments before their respective deaths. He recalled how each meet-up played out.

Hearing about both rappers’ final words moments before they were shot was sad and revealing. It seemed Biggie was in good spirits whereas Shakur might’ve wanted to be with his friends rather than his present company at the time. While both losses were tragic, Wayans’ accounts shed new light on both incidents. It appeared both interactions left an impression on him.

The In Living Color alum’s career was hot during the same period. After leaving the sketch comedy series in 1993, he starred in Above the Rim and Don’t Be Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. At the same time, he and his brother Shawn Wayans starred in the hit WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. He continues to appear in film and TV and tour with other comedy heavyweights like Chris Rock.

Marlon Wayans is currently playing dad and teacher Howard Gordon in The Curse of Bridge Hollow which can be watched with a Netflix subscription. The Halloween film hit number one on the streamer upon release, and it is currently No. 2 on Netflix's trending movies. Stay on Netflix to watch Wayans sharing the screen with Tupac Shakur in Above the Rim, and don't forget to check out other films from the versatile actor as well. 

With Halloween coming up, there have been a number of horror movies making their way to theaters and streaming this month like Smile and Halloween Ends. This next October release may not fit into the horror genre, but Marlon Wayans, who you may remember from the Scary Movie franchise  has just released a new Netflix movie co-starring with Stranger Things' Priah Ferguson. This comedic pair shared their responses to their Halloween comedy The Curse of Bridge Hollow hitting #1 on Netflix.

It was revealed on October 15th’s Netflix trending movies and shows that The Curse of Bridge Hollow is #1 on Netflix and is still a trending title today. Marlon Wayans shared his response to the news on Instagram, thanking Netflix, the cast and crew of the movie, and the audience for making this accomplishment happen.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow, a spooky blast of a movie, is about a father and daughter who must fight against Halloween decorations that come to life after moving to New England. This plot sounds a little similar to Hocus Pocus, in something freaky happens in a new town. The last time we saw Marlon Wayans take on a horror-comedy movie was when he had some ghost problems in the horror spoof A Haunted House. It’s nice to see that comedic side come out to him again battling the supernatural with his iconic high-pitched scream to follow. 

Priah Ferguson also shared her delighted response on Instagram about how much this honor meant to her, with hopes that the audience experiences “some joy with a few jump scares.” With Stranger Things fans feeling the same kind of scares and joys when they watch that particular hit Netflix series, it’s no wonder this 16-year-old actress signed on for this project.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow currently has a 35% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but the good news is that audiences are giving it a more favorable score with 64%. Instagramers who commented on Wayans’ and Ferguson’s posts said they loved the new Netflix movie, with one comment saying this was a perfect Halloween movie and another hoping this same team would take on a Christmas movie like this one. Well, the White Chicks actor has already spoofed scary films and spoofed Fifty Shades of Grey, so maybe a spoof on Christmas movies should be in the works if Netflix needs new ideas.

Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson couldn’t be more thrilled that The Curse of Bridge Hollow is Netflix’s #1 movie. Even if the critics wouldn’t list this movie on their favorites list, it’s clear that audiences were entertained with what they saw and it's a movie to consider adding to your watchlist. Get ready to laugh and be freaked out with The Curse of Bridge Hollow, which you can find on your Netflix subscription.

Kevin Hart announced that his father Henry Witherspoon has died. The actor shared a heartfelt Instagram post honoring his father. Hart has four kids of his own, and he shared how his father helped him become a better dad. Along with Hart’s post, many celebrities have been commenting their condolences to support him through this time. 

In an interview with Stephen Colbert back in 2017 (via ET), Hart explained that he had a turbulent relationship with his father when he was young, but it has been repaired. He spoke candidly about his dad not being present during his childhood. Hart also said that he’s a “positive guy” and because of that his relationship with his dad had been “amazing” later in their lives. To honor his late father the comedian posted a few family photos on his Instagram along with a heartfelt caption: 

Following the post, over a million people liked it, and many celebrities and friends of Hart’s gave him their condolences. Including fellow comedian Wanda Sykes, who wrote: 

Along with Sykes, Cedric the Entertainer posted: 

Many of Hart’s stand-up comedian colleagues also commented. This included Chelsea Handler, who had had Hart on her old Netflix talk show, she wrote: 

She’s right, Witherspoon did get to see a lot of his son's successes. From Hart’s best movies to his production company Hartbeat Productions merging with Laugh Out Loud. The actor has made big moves in Hollywood, and his dad got to be there for a lot of it.  

On top of all of this, he has also maintained a stand-up career, where he occasionally incorporates his father into his jokes. Fellow stand-up comedian Hasan Minhaj, who just released his second special The King’s Jester, commented: 

Hart has stayed on top of the business, and as one of the hardest-working guys in Hollywood, it’s nice his father got to see his success. As the rapper T-Pain commented: 

Along with the gallery of photos, Hart also posted a single photo of him and his dad: 

More people commented on it, including Marlon Wayans:

I’m sure Hart will. He stayed very busy in 2022 and we’ll likely see a lot of him in the years to come. 

While he’s frequented the 2022 movie schedule, he’s also a family man. He’s told lots of fun stories about his four kids. He also sweetly surprised his wife for her birthday this year. While it’s incredibly sad his father is gone, I’m happy he has his family and friends there to support him. 

Horror fans like myself are settling into the best time of the year, for not only do we know that tons of freaky and frightening movies are on the way to the Halloween season, but we can also expect first looks at lots of new genre projects. Case in point: Scary Movie franchise co-mastermind Marlon Wayans is returning to the world of horror-comedies for more family-friendly adventure for Netflix's upcoming feature The Curse of Bridge Hollow, which co-stars Stranger Things fan-favorite Priah Ferguson.

As seen in the trailer above, Marlon Wayans may be in dad mode for this project, but he's still just as animated and chaotic as ever, which is definitely the right kind of energy for this over-the-top tale. If you’re not screaming at window-shattering levels upon being whipped around by a gigantic spider, you’re living life far differently than I am, friend.

The Curse of Bridge Hollow centers on a family that moves from the unique comforts of Brooklyn to the small and creepily quaint town of Bridge Hollow, where a local legend ends up being far more mischievous and dangerous than anyone expected. Even if the adults don’t believe it at first, the dreaded Stingy Jack has the power to bring all Halloween decorations to life, which wouldn’t be cool in a town of any size. And it looks like there will be a wild assortment of scares on display, from killer clowns to zombies to more animalistic creatures. It’s almost more frightening that these are all crafted decorations instead of, like, actual zombies and killer clowns, which makes the aesthetic feel all the more sinister.

The film was initially crafted by Todd Berger, of Happytime Murders and It’s a Disaster fame, and former Family Guy writer John R. Morey, with Berger sharing screenplay duties with Robert Rugan. So there’s bound to be a lot of irreverent and weirdo humor sprinkled throughout the more broad moments. We’ll have to wait and see if the creative team managed to sneak any spoofed-up Ghostface masks into the film, or if any other Scary Movie or A Haunted House references pop up along the way.

The film is directed by Jeff Wadlow, who helmed such genre fare as Cry Wolf, Truth or Dare and Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? reboot (which he also executive produced). Wadlow had welcome words for anyone hoping to see Priah Ferguson shine once more after kicking ass as Erica in Stranger Things, sharing this with Netflix’s Tudum: 

The Curse of Bridge Hollow will be available to stream with a Netflix subscription on Friday, October 14.

Bel-Air has been one of Peacock’s hottest property since its premiere, despite the  glaring problem critics have with it. So far, the series has already touched on hallmark moments from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, including the tumultuous reunion between Will and his absent father, Lou. The original scene was played brilliantly between Will Smith and stage and TV veteran Ben Vereen, and it served as the basis for the reimagining’s take featuring Jabari Banks’ Will and Marlon Wayans’ Lou. After receiving so much love for his take, Wayans was able to meet up with Vereen. After the meeting of the “Lou’s,” the In Living Color alum paid tribute to the Tony winner in a sweet way.

Marlon Wayans relished the opportunity to meet up with his Fresh Prince predecessor and, unsurprisingly, he had to document it on his Instagram. The photo included in the post was sweet enough, but it was Wayans' caption that was truly special. In it, the star praised the 75-year-old Ben Vereen and explained how he impacted his work on Bel-Air:

Anyone can understand why he wanted to take a look at the OG episode, considering just how well done it is. Clearly, the actor knew he had big shoes to fill, and had an even greater challenge ahead of him given the remake's dramatic tone. Ultimately, he opted not to do an imitation but to deliver something that felt both fresh but familiar. The Wayans Bros. alum succeeded in tremendous fashion, and he's overjoyed that fans appreciated what he did on the streaming show:

You can't help but love it when a star gives a veteran their props for paving the way. Marlon Wayans is nothing short of a class act, and he had more to say about his meet-up with Ben Vereen in the touching post below:

The OG stars seemed to have no problem passing the torch. Will Smith even gave Jabari Banks some advice on taking up his iconic role.  Other series alums have already co-signed the series like original Carlton Banks actor Alfonso Ribeiro, who is adamant about it being a "reimagining" and not a reboot. Fresh Prince vets Daphne Maxwell Reid and Vernee Watson-Johnson even appeared in Bel-Air’s ninth episode as Art Council Board of Trustee members Helen and Janice, respectively. Watson-Johnson originally played Will’s mom Viola “Vy” Smith while Maxwell-Reid played the second Aunt Viv. Hopefully, viewers will get to see more of the original cast on the Peacock series.

The original scene between Will Smith and Ben Vereen still holds a special place in OG Fresh Prince fans' hearts. Just watch the iconic exchange below, which also includes a powerful exchange between Smith and the late James Avery (Uncle Phil):

The dramatic reimagining took a somewhat more intense road, as was expect. You can watch the new scene down below, and try not to get chills:

Needless to say, fans should be grateful that two perfect Lou Smiths were cast in Ben Vereen and Marlon Wayans. And as the show moves forward, I'm hoping that Vereen gets a chance to appear on the new show.

Every season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is currently available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. Bel-Air Season 1 can be watched by subscribing to Peacock. You'll want to catch up on the full season before the second arrives on the streamer.

In the public eye, comedian Chris Rock still hasn’t fully addressed the Oscars slap he received from Will Smith. Though the man has danced around the subject through some offhanded references, one of which came almost immediately after Dave Chappelle’s recent altercation with a fan. However, comedian Marlon Wayans seems to have revealed that backstage, and off the record, the subject is very much discussed; and with Rock himself participating. 

As he discussed his recent appearance in the season finale of Bel Air, Wayans shared a couple interesting stories involving Smith with Vanity Fair. Among tales of how Will Smith was almost the face that Peacock subscribers would have been talking about as estranged father Lou, The Slap was definitely present in the conversation. Here’s how Marlon Wayans described that fateful event, and how it’s handled between friends: 

While Chris Rock has been vocal about wanting to book a Netflix special to fully discuss the slap, it almost sounds like Dave Chappelle and Marlon Wayans could get in on that action too. Wayans especially sounds ready, as he claims above to have a full hour of material prepped on the subject. Judging by his description, it sounds like whatever this set includes is impartial, examining both participants from the evening’s events. 

It wouldn’t be the first time the Wayans family has addressed Chris Rock’s conduct on stage through the lens of humor. The weeks following the Will Smith slap saw Marlon sharing with social media a clip of his brother/co-host of the 2000 MTV VMAs Shawn Wayans mocking Rock’s hosting gig from the year prior. As you’ll see below, this over the top gag has taken on new prescience: 

Marlon Wayans has been praised by his fans for showing off his dramatic range yet again on Bel Air. With Wayans’ resume including films as Respect as dramatic curveballs, he’s got people talking about awards buzz all around. Don’t be fooled though, as comedy is still very much a priority in his life. In fact, he further clarified his thoughts on the Chris Rock/Will Smith slap with these contextual remarks:

As of this moment, Marlon Wayans' stand up set involving The Slap does not seem to be going to the stage, or any potential streaming specials, any time soon. However, you can currently see Marlon Wayans in the Season 1 finale of Bel Air, which is now streaming on Peacock. Wayans also has a upcoming streaming film, simply entitled Boo, that feels like an easy Halloween debut on the 2022 Netflix movie schedule. 

While it’s a month since the Academy Awards aired, the conversation surrounding the event hasn’t slowed down. This is all due to the ongoing drama surrounding Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock on national television, which led to him being banned from the ceremony for a decade. And Marlon Wayans recently revealed the advice he gave Smith after the slap, and his honest thoughts about the Jada Pinkett of it all. 

Marlon Wayans and Will Smith have a personal relationship, recently bonding over their quest to get back in shape after rocking Dad bods. During a recent appearance on Big Boy TV, Wayans revealed the interactions he’s had with both Smith and Chris Rock since the Oscars happened. He began speaking about the advice he gave to the King Richard actor, saying:

Well, there you have it. Therapy is a great tool that more and more people have been using lately to take care of their mental health. And it looks like that was the recommendation Marlon Wayans gave Will Smith in response to the slap. Therapy, and a lot of it.

In the end it’s unclear how Will Smith is privately taking care of his mental health as the fallout from his Oscars slap continues to play out. He recently made headlines for traveling to India for a meditation retreat, so he seems to be trying to find stillness amid the noise. He and Chris Rock reportedly haven’t had a private conversation about the incident, although Smith did publish an apology on social media.

Later in his same interview, Marlon Wayans also revealed that he reached out to Chris Rock about the slap. The two share a bond as friends and comics, so this reaction makes a great deal of sense. As the White Chicks actor shared: 

For his part, Chris Rock is in the middle of a comedy tour, which seems to be selling well in the wake of the slap. He’s been making quick references to the incident, although it’s not part of his current set in any significant way.

Marlon Wayans also addressed the reason Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars: a joke the comic made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair. While the recent Oscar winner was seemingly defending his wife, Wayans seems to think it did the opposite of keeping her name out of people’s mouths. As he shared:

Points were made. The conversation around the slap hasn’t slowed down over the past month, and it’ll remain fodder for comedians for the foreseeable future. While Chris Rock might never make another joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, others certainly will.

Marlon Wayans’ next movie is titled Boo, and is expected to hit theaters sometime this year. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Every once in a while, celebrity siblings - such as Ben and Casey Affleck or Dakota and Elle Fanning - end up sharing the screen together. Well, apparently it happens a little more often than just every once in a while, given the amount of examples we compiled below.

Jake And Maggie Gyllenhaal (A Dangerous Woman, Homegrown, Donnie Darko)

Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his twice-nominated older sister, Maggie, are in three movies together: 1993’s A Dangerous Woman, 1998’s Homegrown (both were directed by their father, Stephen), and the eventual sci-fi cult classic, Donnie Darko, in 2001.

Jeff And Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys)

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and his older brother, Beau, also played siblings in The Fabulous Baker Boys - a 1989 comedy in which the titular musicians become rivals after teaming up with a beautiful aspiring singer (Michelle Pfieffer).

Kate And Rooney Mara (Urban Legends: Bloody Mary)

Kate Mara of the House of Cards cast led the 2005 straight-to-video slasher, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, in which her younger sister, Nightmare Alley’s Rooney Mara, made her acting debut.

Sean And Chris Penn (At Close Range)

Future two-time Oscar-winner Sean Penn and his late younger brother, Chris (best known from the Reservoir Dogs cast) played siblings in the 1986 crime thriller, At Close Range, starring Christopher Walken as their criminal father.

Andrew, Owen, And Luke Wilson (Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums) 

Owen Wilson and his younger sibling, Luke have also acted alongside their eldest brother, Andrew, in 1996’s Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums from 2001 - both of which Owen also co-wrote with director Wes Anderson.

Chris And Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)

Chris Hemsworth has yet to star in anything with his little bro, Liam, but the Australian Marvel movie star’s older bother, Westworld star Luke, did show up in Thor: Ragnarok as a dramatized version of the God of Thunder, whom he is set to reprise (along with Matt Damon as “Actor Loki”) in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Dylan And Cole Sprouse (Various)

Twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse (the latter of which went on to join the Riverdale cast) have shared the same role in several TV shows (most notably Grace Under Fire) and movies (such as Big Daddy with Adam Sandler) and have played siblings just as often, most famously as the title characters of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, its spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, and 2011’s The Suite Life Movie.

Tia, Tamera, And Tahj Mowry  (Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, Seventeen Again)

Twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry have shared the screen with their little brother, Tahj, several times - most notably as guest stars on each other’s respective sitcoms, Sister, Sister and Smart Guy, and in the 2000 Showtime original movie, Seventeen Again.

James And Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist)

After years finding success in the business in separate projects, James Franco and his younger brother, Dave, played Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero of the infamous cult favorite, The Room, in the 2017 biopic, The Disaster Artist.

Hilary And Haylie Duff (Various)

Haylie Duff would appear on three episodes of her younger sister, Hilary’s, Disney Channel show, Lizzie McGuire, and provided the singing voice of Isabella Parigi in the theatrical spin-off before they both played a singing group on an episode of American Dreams, sisters in the 2006 rags-to-riches story Material Girls, and both leant their voices to the infamous animated movie Foodfight!, which was released in 2012.

Aly And AJ Michalka (Various)

Singer-songwriter duo Aly and AJ Michalka first shared the screen in the 2006 Disney Channel original movie Cow Belles as sisters, again in the MTV original Super Sweet 16: The Movie the next year as rivals, followed by three episodes of Aly’s CW series Hellcats in 2011 as half-sisters. Most recently, they appeared in the 2015 drama, Weepah Way For Now, as what appear to be fictionalized versions of themselves.

Dakota And Elle Fanning (I Am Sam, Taken)

Elle Fanning has portrayed a younger version of her older sister, Dakota, on two separate occasions: first in the 2001 drama I Am Sam and secondly in the Steven Spielberg-produced, Syfy original miniseries, Taken, in 2002.

Spencer And Abigail Breslin (Various)

Academy Award nominee Abigail and her older brother, Spencer, played siblings in both Raising Helen and The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement in 2004, played elves in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause in 2006, and later played cousins in the 2014 crime drama, Perfect Sisters.

Jason And Justine Bateman (Arrested Development)

Justine Bateman played her real-life brother, Jason's, sibling in the 1986 TV movie Can You Feel Me Dancing? and a sex worker whom Jason’s Michael Bluth mistakes for his long-lost sibling on Arrested Development.

John, Joan, Ann, And Bill Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank)

While beloved star John Cusack and his Academy-nominated sister, Joan, have appeared in more films together than most celebrity siblings can claim (including Say Anything… and High Fidelity), the only screen credit that they also share with both their sister, Ann, and brother, Bill, is 1997’s Grosse Pointe Blank, which John also co-wrote and produced.

Bill And Brian Doyle Murray (Various) 

Bill Murray and his older brother, Brian, are both Saturday Night Live veterans (although at different times) and have several classic movies in common - including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, Groundhog Day, and The Razor's Edge.

Ben And Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy)

Years before casting him in his amazing directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck shared the screen with his younger brother and fellow Oscar winner, Casey, in Good Will Hunting (which Ben co-wrote with Matt Damon) and Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy in 1997.

Macaulay And Kieran Culkin (Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York)

Kieran Culkin (now more famous than ever since starring on HBO’s Succession) made his acting debut alongside his older brother (child megastar Macaulay Culkin) in 1990’s Home Alone cast as his cousin, Fuller - a role he would also reprise in the 1992 sequel.

Rory And Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down)

In addition to playing Macaulay’s younger self in Richie Rich, the youngest Culkin brother, Rory, also played a younger version of Kieran as the title role in 2002's Igby Goes Down.

The Wayans Siblings (Various) 

Where do we start with the Wayans Siblings? Well, for instance, several of them (such as Damon and Kim Wayans) were a part of the In Living Color cast with star and creator Keenen Ivory Wayans, who later directed his younger brothers, Marlon and Shawn, in movies like White Chicks, the first two Scary Movie installments, and Little Man.

Zooey And Emily Deschanel (Bones)

In Season 5 of Bones, star Emily Deschanel’s sister (Zooey of the Elf cast fame and later the lead of the New Girl cast) guest starred as Temperance Brennan’s second cousin, Margaret Whitesell.

Fred And Ben Savage (Little Monsters, The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World)

After playing siblings in the family-friendly horror film, Little Monsters, in 1989, Ben Savage made a guest appearance on his older brother, Fred’s, hit dramedy, The Wonder Years, in 1990 and later returned the favor by inviting him to the Boy Meets World cast for an episode in 1998.

Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

After making several movies together - including Young Guns, Men At Work, and Rated X (the latter two of which Emilio Estevez directed), Charlie Sheen (née Carlos Estevez) reunited with his brother on an episode of his hit sitcom, Two and a Half Men, in 2008.

Vanessa and Laura Marano (Saving Zoë)

Both of these talented ladies had guest appearances on Dexter at different times in the series’ run, but Vanessa Marano and her younger sister, Laura, did appear together in the 2019 mystery, Saving Zoë, as siblings torn apart by one’s unsolved murder.

Nat And Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band, Mr. Troop Mom, Stella’s Last Weekend)

Hereditary’s Alex Wolff and his older brother, Peacock’s Joe vs. Carole cast member Nat Wolff, both debuted as fictionalized versions of themselves in Nickelodeon’s faux rockumentary, The Naked Brothers Band, its series continuation, and the 2009 TV movie Mr. Troop Mom before reuniting in 2018’s Stella’s Last Weekend, which was written and directed by their mother, Polly Draper.

Vera And Taissa Farmiga (Higher Ground, At Middleton, The Nun)

Scream Queens Vera and Taissa Farmiga, who are often mistaken for mother and daughter, played mother and daughter in 2013’s At Middleton after Taissa previously played her older sister’s younger self in Vera’s 2011 directorial debut, Higher Ground. However, interestingly, their characters in the 2018 Conjuring spin-off, The Nun, have no apparent familial ties.

Maude And Iris Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40, Funny People)

Euphoria’s Maude Apatow and her younger sister, Iris, have played siblings in 2007’s Knocked Up, its “sort-of sequel” This is 40 from 2012, and 2009’s Funny People - all three of which also starred their real mother, Leslie Mann, as their mother, and were written and directed by their father, Judd Apatow.

Dan And Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek)

While Annie Murphy plays co-creator Dan Levy’s on-screen sister in the Schitt’s Creek cast, Café Tropical owner, Twyla Sands, is played by his real-life sister, Sarah.

Mary-Kate, Ashley, And Elizabeth Olsen (How The West Was Fun)

After Full House made the Olsen Twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, household names and  before the Marvel movies made their younger sister, Elizabeth, an A-lister, all three of them appeared together in the ABC original TV movie How the West Was Fun in 1994.

Bill And Alexander Skarsgård (White Water Fury)

Years before his terrifying performance as Pennywise in It, Bill Skarsgård made his acting debut alongside his older brother, True Blood cast member Alexander, in the 2000 Swedish thriller, White Water Fury.

Blake And Robyn Lively (Simon Says)

Robyn Lively, star of 1989’s Teen Witch, shared the screen with her then up-and-coming half-sister, former Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively, in a 2006 slasher flick called Simon Says, which also stars fellow ‘80s icon Crispin Glover.

Brian And Domhnall Gleeson (Mother!, Frank Of Ireland)

Despite plenty of years of experience between the them, it was not until 2017 when Star Wars star Domnhall Gleeson and his younger brother, Brian, shared the screen in Mother! before reuniting as co-creators and co-stars of the Amazon Prime original comedy Frank of Ireland - also starring their father, Brendan Gleeson.

Eddie And Charlie Murphy (Harlem Nights, Norbit)

Comedy icon Eddie Murphy worked behind the scenes a lot with his older brother, Charlie, who passed away in 2017, but the two would also share a few acting credits, - namely Eddie’s 1989 directorial debut Harlem Nights (also Charlie’s first movie), and in 2006’s Norbit, in which Charlie voiced a dog named Floyd.

Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen (The Cosby Show, Grey’s Anatomy, The Old Settler)

Phylicia Rashad and her younger sister, Emmy-winning dance legend Debbie Allen, have made guest appearances on each other’s shows - The Cosby Show, on which Rashad played Claire Huxtable, and Grey’s Anatomy, on which Allen plays Dr. Catherine Fox (née Avery) - and both starred in a 2001 TV movie called The Old Settler, which Allen also directed.

Ron And Clint Howard (Various) 

You can find Clint Howard in just about every movie directed by his brother, Ron Howard - including his feature-length directorial debut from 1977, Grand Theft Auto, which was also the brothers’ third time acting alongside each other after the 1963 film The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and a handful of episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.

Angelina Jolie And James Haven (Gia, Hell’s Kitchen, Original Sin)

Audiences probably remember Angelina Jolie’s brother, James Haven, better for other reasons than all the times he shared the screen with his younger sister - namely Gia and Hell’s Kitchen from 1998, and 2001’s Original Sin.

Jared And Shannon Leto (Various)

In addition to being bandmates with his young brother, Oscar winner Jared Leto, in 30 Seconds to Mars, Shannon Leto also shared the screen with him on a couple of episodes of My So-Called Life (on which Jared played the iconic Jordan Catalano) and through brief appearances in the movies Prefontaine from 1997, 1998’s Highway, and Sol Goode in 2003.

Chris And Scott Evans (Before We Go, Playing It Cool)

Former Captain America actor Chris Evans has a brother named Scott who has also appeared in two romantic-comedies from 2014 with his older sibling, called Before We Go (which Chris also directed) and Playing It Cool.

Sarah And Laura Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, Bob’s Burgers, Masters Of Sex)

Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman and her sister, Laura, played heavily fictionalized versions of themselves as series regulars on The Sarah Silverman Program, made guest appearances on Showtime’s Masters of Sex together, and have recurred on Bob’s Burgers as Jimmy Pesto’s twin sons, Andy and Ollie.

Kevin, Nick, And Joe Jonas (Camp Rock Movies, Jonas)

Back when they were the biggest thing to come out of Disney Channel, Kevin, Nick, and Joe Jonas played three brothers in a band not named the Jonas Brothers in the Camp Rock movies, and later played themselves to more comedic effect in their own sitcom, aptly titled Jonas.

Looks like talent really does run in the family.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

This past month, Marlon Wayans showed a different side of his screen persona with his dramatic supporting turn in the Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect. While this performance isn't the first time that the funny man has opted to push away from his comedic image, this prominent role in a serious-minded drama does demonstrate a desire on his part to move away from making over-the-top comedies at all times.

And, it's easy to see why this performance was praised, much like the one he gave last year in Sofia Coppola's On the Rocks. If you're a fan of the hard-working comedian and you want to see more of what he can do, here are the Marlon Wayans movies and TV shows you should stream and/or rent.

Scary Movie 1 & 2 (HBO Max)

Dim-witted, sex-crazed teenagers are stalked by a bumbling serial killer in this feature-length parody of '90s slashers.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: One could reasonably argue that Scary Movie is the best contribution to pop culture that the Wayans brothers produced after their time with In Living Color. A gleefully gory, goofy spoof filled with no shortage of crude, off-color raunchy jokes, this parody film continued to establish the family of comedians as heavyweights for the new millennium, particularly with Marlon Wayans often taking the attention as the horny doofus, Shorty Meeks. While the movie series would continue without the Wayans involved, the first two films allowed the comics to hold their fingers on the pulse of pop culture, producing two ribald satires that felt liberated by their R-rated freedoms. Their sitcom feel was perhaps unavoidable, but it's hard not to feel a bit nostalgic for these feature-length, wild-and-out genre takedowns.

Stream Scary Movie 1 & 2 on HBO Max.

Rent Scary Movie 1 & 2 on Amazon.

On The Rocks (Apple TV+)

A work-focused mother reconnects with her hard-partying playboy father when her husband is suspected of cheating.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: In the role of Dean, the sweet-natured, if potentially untrustworthy, husband to Rashida Jones' Laura, Marlon Wayans plays against his natural comedic instincts to great results. In what's easily the most restrained, deliberate performance of his film career, Wayans avoids his bombastic tendencies to play an emotionally distant, if often caring and loving, businessman who is seemingly never the person that people assume he must be. It's the sort of patient, conscious performance that's rare in Wayans' career, showcasing a star who wants to branch away from the comedies that defined his career in order to play more dynamic roles that don't fall into people's expectations. He doesn't get a whole lot of screen time in Sofia Coppola's charmingly light, melancholic film, but Wayans makes the most of it.

Stream On the Rocks on Apple TV+.

Above The Rim (Cinemax)

A high school basketball player is torn between his loyalties to an ex-player and a drug dealer.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Though it was criticized for its formulaic script and general superficiality, Above the Rim was also well-praised for its strong ensemble, particularly with noteworthy performances from Tupac Shakur, Leon, Duane Martin, and Marlon Wayans. The latter is strictly in supporting character mode, but it's easy to see why this actor became a marquee comedy star with his fresh and funny side role. It's probably not the performance that he'll be remembered for, but it's an early indicator that he would go on to make a big splash as a movie and sitcom star.

Stream Above the Rim on Cinemax.

Rent Above the Rim on Amazon.

Marlon (Netflix)

An immature, larger-than-life father commits to co-parenting his two children along with his put-together ex-wife.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Marlon Wayans' return to TV was ultimately a bit short-lived with his self-titled sitcom, Marlon, which ran on NBC for two seasons. But, even though the show didn't have a long stay on the network, it was praised by some critics and audiences as a return-to-form for the comedic actor, noting that his mischievous and maniac humor was better suited in short-form bursts than in long-form film. It was easy to see how Wayans felt more comfortable as a performer on this program. And, Marlon became a small revival for the star.

Stream Marlon on Netflix.

Rent Marlon on Amazon.

Requiem For A Dream (HBO Max)

Four drug-addled Coney Island residents find their sense of security shattered when their addictions run ever deeper.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: It's not uncommon for comedians to venture into dramas to prove the depths of their talents. Even before he challenged himself with nuanced performances in Respect and On the Rocks, Marlon Wayans tested himself and gave arguably his greatest performance in Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, an almost relentlessly bleak tale of the depravity of addiction, that's elevated by outstanding performances from Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto, and Wayans. Not only does the comedian hold his own with these award-winning actors, he often shines. You can't help but wonder what more could he do. Thankfully, as noted, Wayans has been given more opportunities lately to express himself as a serious actor.

Stream Requiem for a Dream on HBO Max.

Rent Requiem for a Dream on Amazon.

Senseless (HBO Max)

A struggling college student gets his senses enhanced — and later warped — by an experimental new drug.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: In 1998, only a few years after Marlon Wayans found his own success with Don't Be a Menace in South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood and The WB's The Wayans Bros., the up-and-coming comedian got a starring vehicle all his own with Senseless, Penelope Spheeris' high-concept sci-fi buddy film that played to Marlon's high-energy strengths as a goofy and often fearless physical comic. Co-starring David Spade and Matthew Lillard, the movie was far from a critical darling (many critics were quick to call it Tasteless), but it did give the comedian plenty of opportunities to showcase his expressionistic comedy stylings. While the semi-inspired script favors a conventionalism that plays against Marlon's unpredictability, it also allowed the eager-to-prove-himself comedian to have some grounded scenes that briefly showcased his once-undervalued acting talents.

Stream Senseless on HBO Max.

Rent Senseless on Amazon.

White Chicks (HBO Max)

Two disgraced FBI agents go undercover as a pair of blonde-haired white women in order to protect hotel heiresses from a kidnapping plot.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Though it wasn't particularly well-received upon release, White Chicks has since become one of the most popular movies from the Wayans brothers. In fact, it has gained something of a cult following. Starring Marlon and Shawn Wayans as two down-on-their-luck FBI agents who pose as a pair of privileged bubbleheaded blondes, White Chicks won't earn points for its believability, as this year's Bad Trip hilariously mocked, but the film did continue Marlon Wayans' rise as a movie star, particularly with his unbridled performance at the center of this very broad comedy. It's only rivaled by Terry Crews' absolutely astonishing supporting turn. White Chicks won't win everyone over, but if you're a Wayans fan, you probably love quoting it.

Stream White Chicks on HBO Max.

Rent White Chicks on Amazon.

The Wayans Brothers (HBO Max)

Follows the wacky misadventures of Shawn and Marlon Wayans, along with their eccentric father.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Before they wrote and starred in Scary Movie 1 & 2, White Chicks, and Little Man, Shawn and Marlon Wayans were the stars and creators of The WB sitcom, The Wayans Brothers. Following two misbehaving siblings trying to make their way, the show relied on the easy chemistry shared between the brothers, while also giving veteran comedians like John Witherspoon ample time to shine as their dysfunctional patriarch. The sitcom lasted five seasons and produced over 100 episodes before the station decided to pull the plug, but if you love the zany, high-energy antics of the Wayans' films, you'll want to check out this '90s TV favorite.

Stream The Wayans Brothers on HBO Max.

Buy The Wayans Brothers on Amazon.

In Living Color

A long-running African-American-focused sketch comedy series from the early 1990s.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Though he didn't have as many standout moments as some of his famous (or soon-to-be-famous) co-stars, Marlon Wayans found his first brushes with celebrity on Fox's popular comedy series, In Living Color, where he developed his craft and polished his skills with his fellow comedian family members. In total, Wayans only appeared in about 17 episodes of the show, but that was enough to get him on Hollywood's radar and pave the way for his future in comedy. Plus, even in these early skits, you can see Marlon's burgeoning tenacity as a comedian.

Buy In Living Color DVD on Amazon.

The Ladykillers

An eccentric professor and his oddball crew pose as a classical ensemble in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of an unsuspecting old landlady.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Like Marlon Wayans: Admittedly, you might be hard-pressed to find someone who considers The Ladykillers to be a high point in Joel and Ethan Coen's esteemed filmography. The often derided, madcap dark comedy is considered one of the worst from the acclaimed movie makers. But, Coen movies are like pizza, in that even when they're not that great, they're still pretty good. In that respect, even the weakest Coen brothers' film is better than most movies out there. And, this one, like any other Coen brothers flick, has an outstanding cast, including Tom Hanks, J.K. Simmons, Irma P. Hall, Tzi Ma, and Marlon Wayans. Wayans, in particular, really commits to the bit, as he always does. His foul-mouthed, hot-headed janitor, Gawain MacSam, is another livewire performance from the very dedicated actor. Even when the material sadly doesn't shine, the comic stays ferocious.

Rent The Ladykillers on Amazon.

Respect is now playing in theaters.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to Aretha Franklin in Respect, a biopic based on the life, legacy, and career of the late powerhouse singer. Starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen of Soul, the first film from Tony-nominated director Liesl Tommy received mixed reviews, but many viewers agree that the Oscar winner gives an outstanding performance as the departed gospel singer. Additionally, critics are quick to praise the rest of this cast, which includes Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, and more. If you're wondering where you've seen (or heard) this famous ensemble before, we're here to help! Here's where you recognize the Respect cast.

Jennifer Hudson (Aretha Franklin)

As Aretha Franklin, one of the most influential female vocalists of the 1960s, Jennifer Hudson plays the Queen of Soul in Respect. Most notably, Hudson is an Oscar-winning actress for her supporting turn in Dreamgirls, her acting debut. Before that, Hudson found her first brushes with fame when she competed in American Idol's third season, where she placed seventh. She would later star in Winnie Mandela, Black Nativity, and The Secret Life of Bees. Furthermore, Hudson can be seen in Sex and the City, Winged Creatures, The Three Stooges, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete, Chi-Raq, Sandy Wexler, Cats, Winged Creatures, and this year's Monster. She can also be heard in Sing.

Additionally, on television, Jennifer Hudson appeared in Smash, Empire, Inside Amy Schumer, NBC's Hairspray Live!, and HBO's Confirmation. She was also a coach on The Voice and The Voice U.K. Moreover, Hudson made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple. As a musician, furthermore, the actress won a Grammy for her self-titled 2008 album and another for The Color Purple. Next, Hudson will star in Tell It Like a Woman.

Forest Whitaker (C.L. Franklin)

In the role of C.L. Franklin, Aretha's father, Forest Whitaker plays the man with "the Million-Dollar Voice" in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, Whitaker won an Oscar for portraying Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He's also the star of Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Bird, Vantage Point, Black Nativity, and, most recently, last year's Burden, City of Lies, and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

Additionally, Forest Whitaker's other notable film credits include The Crying Game, Arrival, Bloodsport, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Color of Money, Street Kings, Where the Wild Things Are, Taken 3, Southpaw, The Last Stand, Phone Booth, Panic Room, Battlefield Earth, Black Panther, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Great Debaters, Platoon, and Out of the Furnace. He also directed First Daughter, Waiting to Exhale, and Hope Floats. Outside of film, Whitaker stars in Epix's Godfather of Harlem. He can also be seen in Empire, The Shield, ER, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, and Roots. Next, the award-winning actor will star in A Fall from Grace and Havoc, which is filming now.

Marlon Wayans (Ted White)

Playing the part of Ted White, the manager and first husband of Aretha Franklin, Marlon Wayans is a complicated figure in Respect. Through his time in In Living Color, Wayans continued to elevate his star status through his lead role in The WB's The Wayans Bros. From there, he starred in Senseless, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Scary Movie 1 and 2, White Chicks, and Little Man. — most of which he also co-wrote. Later, Wayans would co-write, produce and star in Dance Flick, A Haunted House 1 and 2, Fifty Shades of Black, and Netflix's Naked and Sextuplets.

Additionally, Marlon Wayans' other film credits include Dungeons & Dragons, The 6th Man, Mo' Money, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Above the Rim, The Ladykillers, Norbit, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and The Heat. Also, he was praised for his dramatic turns in Requiem for a Dream and last year's On the Rocks. Additionally, on television, Wayans was also the creator and star of NBC's Marlon. Next, he'll be heard in Back Home Again.

Audra McDonald (Barbara Siggers Franklin)

As Barbara Siggers Franklin, Aretha's mother, Audra McDonald plays a maternal character in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, McDonald is a six-time Tony-winning actress and the only person to win in all four acting categories. Her award-winning performances were found in acclaimed productions of Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.

Additionally, on television, Audra McDonald won an Emmy for her hosting duties on Live from Lincoln Center. She also received Emmy nominations for her work in Wit, A Raisin in the Sun, and Lady Day at Merson's Bar and Grill. Furthermore, McDonald played Dr. Naomi Bennett in Private Practice and Liz Lawrence-Reddick in The Good Fight. Most recently, the award-winning actress starred in Spectrum Originals' The Bite.

Moreover, in film, Audra McDonald appeared in Ricki and the Flash, It Runs in the Family, Cradle Will Rock, The Object of My Affection, Seven Servants, Rampart, Hello Again, The Best Thief in the World, and Beauty and the Beast. Next, she will star in The Gilded Age.

Marc Maron (Jerry Wexler)

In the role of Jerry Wexler, an integral producer in Aretha Franklin's career, Marc Maron is a big-time mover and shaker in Respect. A veteran comedian and radio personality, Maron came into fame with his immensely popular podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, which forged an active acting career. Most notably, he's the creator and star of IFC's Maron and he played Sam Slyvia in Netflix's GLOW. His other TV credits include Easy, Louie, Girls, and Roadies. Additionally, Maron lent his voice to Harvey Beaks, Animals, The Simpsons, Adventure Time, Metalocalypse, The Life and Times of Tim, and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. Briefly, he was the host of VH1's Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Moreover, the comic has several specials, including 2020's Marc Maron: End Times Fun.

Additionally, Marc Maron's other film credits include Joker, Almost Famous, Sleepwalk with Me, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Spenser Confidential, Flock of Dudes, Get a Job, Los Enchiladas!, and Stardust. He also starred in Sword of Trust. Next, Maron will be seen in To Leslie and heard in The Bad Guys.

Mary J. Blige (Dinah Washington)

Playing the part of Dinah Washington, one of the most popular black female recording artists of the 1950s, Mary J. Blige is the Queen of the Blues in Liesl Tommy's Respect. Most notably, Blige was Oscar-nominated for her supporting turn in Netflix's Mudbound. Her other film credits include Black Nativity, Rock of Ages, and Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Additionally, Blige starred in last year's Body Cam and The Violet Heart. Moreover, she appeared in MTV's Pink Skies Ahead earlier this year. Furthermore, as a voice actress, Blige was heard in Sherlock Gnomes and 2020's Trolls World Tour.

Additionally, on television, Mary J. Blige has a main role in Starz's Power Book II: Ghost. She also had a recurring role in VH1's Scream: Resurrection. Moreover, Blige can be seen in How to Get Away with Murder, The Umbrella Academy, Empire, 30 Rock, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Entourage. Next, she'll star in Netflix's Lost Ollie. Also, as a musician, Blige is a six-time Grammy winner who has sold over 100 million albums.

Tituss Burgess (James Cleveland)

As James Cleveland, the King of Gospel, Tituss Burgess plays a driving force in the musical genre as it sounds today in Respect. Most notably, Burgess is known for his multi-Emmy-nominated role as Titus Andromedon in Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He's also a series regular on Apple TV+'s Central Park, for which he was also Emmy-nominated, and hosts Netflix's Sing On! The actor's other TV credits include Miracle Workers, The Good Fight, Royal Pains, Blue Bloods, 30 Rock, and A Gifted Man.

Away from TV, Tituss Burgess was seen in Dolemite Is My Name, Set It Up, Then Came You, Catfight, and I Hate Kids and heard in The Angry Birds Movie, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and The Addams Family (2019). Furthermore, on the stage, the actor performed in several Broadway productions, including Jersey Boys, Good Vibrations, The Little Mermaid, and Guys and Dolls. His other theater credits include The Wiz, A Wind in the Willows Christmas, and Into the Woods. Burgess was also heard in Grand Theft Auto V.

Skye Dakota Turner (Young Aretha Franklin)

In the role of a younger version of Aretha Franklin, Skye Dakota Turner has made her screen debut as the child lead in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Away from this film, the child actress was seen in The 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and appeared on Steve, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Tamron Hall, and Good Morning America.

Saycon Sengbloh (Erma Franklin)

Playing the part of Erma Franklin, Aretha's eldest sister, Saycon Sengbloh has a notable supporting role in Respect. On the stage, Sengbloh is a Tony-nominated actress for her performance in Danai Gurira's Eclipsed. Additionally, the actress is soon set to star in ABC's The Wonder Years. Her other television credits include The Night Of, In the Dark, Scandal, Dawson's Creek, Law & Order, The Good Wife, Ten Days in the Valley, The Passage, Songbyrd, and Deliah. Furthermore, Sengbloh's other film credits include Across the Universe, American Gangster, Funny Valentines, Ask for Jane, Double Play, and last year's A Shot Through the Wall. Also, the film and TV actress appeared in a handful of short films, including 1998's Kismet, 2008's 44, and 2012's Love & Squalor.

Hailey Kilgore (Carolyn Franklin)

As Carolyn Franklin, Aretha's younger sibling, Hailey Kilgore plays a sisterly character in Liesel Tommy's Respect. Most notably, the actress received a Tony nomination for her performance in Broadway's Once On This Island. Her other theater credits include Our Town, Ain't Misbehavin', and Into the Woods. Additionally, on television, Kilgore can be seen in episodes of The Village and Amazing Stories. Currently, the award-nominated actress appears in Starz's Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Respect is her first film credit.

Respect is in theaters now. Check out our 2021 movie premiere date schedule.

No critic worth his or her salt would dare make an Oscar prediction in mid-August. The annual awards season doesn’t really kick into its second gear until the September film festivals of Venice, Telluride and Toronto begin, and there are far too many films and performances to absorb before you’d even consider writing a name in pen on an Academy Awards ballot.

So let me just say that Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) delivers yet another Oscar-worthy performance, this time as iconic soul singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin in director Leisl Tommy’s Respect. Hudson is a force, demonstrating the same gravitational pull as the legend she portrays. And while Respect, as a whole, plays as a sturdy, no-frills musician biopic (of which the industry has produced countless examples), Hudson really is the reason to see this, and she is reason enough to go.

Jennifer Hudson channels Aretha Franklin in Respect, and it’s mesmerizing.

I’m not saying that a musician needs to played by another musician to make a biopic work, but the examples we have lends enough credence to the theory that you can’t be faulted for believing it. Watching Jennifer Hudson disappear into the role of Aretha Franklin in Respect reminded me of classically-trained pianist Jamie Foxx slipping on the sunglasses of Ray Charles. The two individuals almost become inseparable, so that when Hudson stands on a stage meant to represent New York City’s Madison Square Garden and belts out the titular song, you assume you have been transported to a live Aretha Franklin performance. The sound mix on Respect is just that good.

It helps that Hudson can sing anything. And I do mean anything. Respect covers a significant and tumultuous early period in Franklin’s professional career, showing the 18-year-old singer signing with Columbia Records and staying with her until she records her Grammy Award-winning 1972 album Amazing Grace, still the best-selling record in Franklin’s entire catalogue. Over the course of that time, Franklin experimented with everything as she sought to establish her identity, switching from jazz and standards to pop music, soul and, finally, gospel. Hudson convincingly sings every note, and you marvel at her spiritual performance but then stop to realize, “Wait, Franklin did all of this first!” Respect, at the very least, conveys Franklin’s versatility as a songwriter and performer, as well as her passion for perfection when it came to her music.

Aretha Franklin lived an incredibly full life, and Respect captures… some of it.

You’d need hours to properly convey all that Aretha Franklin achieved, not just in the field of music, but also in her activism and political affiliations. As mentioned, the movie begins with Franklin’s childhood years (with Skye Dakota Turner providing a shining light as young Aretha), but it stops in 1972, then tries to highlight the rest of Franklin’s accomplishments in that cliched montage of title cards over the credits. This includes -- but is not limited to -- Franklin being the youngest female performer to be admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; her performance of “My Country, Tis of Thee” and the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and her receipt of the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Respect skims over these moments because there’s more than enough to juggle in the chosen time period. Too much, almost. There are multiple subplots that unfurl in this meaty movie that still made me wish we could have stopped and explored them a little deeper. Franklin’s dysfunctional relationship with her first husband, Ted White (an unrecognizable Marlon Wayans), serves the purpose of proving Franklin could find the strength to escape an abusive situation. Complicated history with Franklin’s father (Forest Whitaker), grandmother (Kimbery Scott) and sisters is dabbled with, then dropped. Even an early rape that cast a heavy shadow over the rest of Franklin’s existence -- she referred to it only as “The Demon” and it seemed to consume her -- begged for more explanation. Respect plays the hits. You’ll just wish the liner notes provided more descriptive details.

Music is in the fiber of Respect, just as it was in the fiber of Aretha Franklin.

Still, Respect deserves to be seen -- and seen in a movie theater with the best sound system available -- because Franklin’s songs and Hudson’s renditions help the film to soar. Respect relies so heavily on music, you could argue it traded its script for a songbook. In its most compelling moments, Respect gives us insight into Franklin’s extraordinary song-writing process. The scenes between Franklin and her Muscle Shoals supporting band are all-timers in the musician biopic genre. And the journey of the song “Respect” from the piano keys in Franklin’s apartment to the stage at Madison Square Garden is exhilarating.

Sometimes, I wish Respect injected a little more flair into its storytelling. At the same time, if Liesl Tommy decided her movie didn’t need more pizzazz because it already had Hudson, it’s hard to argue against that point.

We all love our streaming services, and one that has been around since the dawn of the streaming service era is Netflix. While we can all spend our time watching some of the best shows on Netflix, or even streaming the best movies on Netflix, I think it’s time we take a look at some of the other genres that the service has to offer – some awesome comedy specials.

Namely, we are going to be looking at some hilarious comedy specials from people of color on the platform, such as Kevin Hart, Russell Peters, and so many others. While there are some great stand-up comedy specials on Amazon Prime, we need to take a glance at what Netflix has to offer, so here we go.

Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah

Tiffany Haddish is one of those actresses where you know her name and has seen several of her amazing and hilarious movies, such as Girls Trip. However, I, for some reason, always forget that while her projects are amazing, she’s also a hysterical comedian.

In Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah, Haddish goes all in on some great comedy, talking about how you can feel safe if you feel danger is around, her drinking habits, and so many others with a funny twist. You’ll surely be laughing your butt off with this comedian’s first Netflix special.

Stream Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah on Netflix.

Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones

As far as I'm concerned, Dave Chappelle is a legend when it comes to comedy. We all know his name, from his time doing Chappelle’s Show, or even his films from The Nutty Professor to having a part in A Star is Born. But Netflix and Chappelle have a special connection, considering he signed on for a deal with the streaming platform, so far releasing five comedy specials for Netflix.

One of his best, in my opinion, is Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones. There’s just something so raunchy about his comedy that makes him one of the best comedians out there right now – and in my eyes, one of the best of all time. From talking about the current state of politics to raising a child, Chappelle covers all of his tracks in Sticks & Stones and will have you holding your side from laughing.

Stream Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones on Netflix.

Kevin Hart: Zero F**ks Given

If you don’t know who Kevin Hart is, you must be living under a rock because he has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. The comedian, who started out with specials like Laugh At My Pain and Let Me Explain, became a worldwide household name when he starred in big-time films such as Jumanji, Ride Along, Get Hard, and so many others. Sometimes you almost forget that he’s a comedian with how many films this Kevin Hart has done.

One of Kevin Hart’s best stand-ups, in my opinion, is his latest, called Kevin Hart: Zero F**ks Given. In this special, he brought in a small group of people into a comedy-club-sized room, creating an intimate space instead of a giant arena after the COVID-19 pandemic began. I don’t know, there’s just something so nice about this compared to some of his other specials. There’s still some great comedy like normal but it’s nice to see him in a smaller space.

Stream Kevin Hart: Zero F--ks Given on Netflix.

Russell Peters: Almost Famous

Moving on, we take a look at Russell Peters. Fun fact – he was actually the first-ever stand-up comedian to receive a comedy special on Netflix (back in 2013), so that’s how you know he’s important. This Canadian stand-up comedian has done plenty outside of the comedy realm, such as roles in New Year’s Eve and even a voice role in The Jungle Book. However, his comedy is where it’s at.

For his pick, we’re going with Russell Peters: Almost Famous, where he returns back home to Canada, talking about his life and his tour across the world, speaking about some of the things he has gotten to witness while doing so, and honestly, it’s so funny. One of his best comedy specials to date, in my opinion. You won’t regret carving out an hour to view this film.

Stream Russell Peters: Almost Famous on Netflix.

Gabriel Iglesias: One Show Fits All

Gabriel Iglesias has and will always be one of my favorite comedians. Otherwise known as “Fluffy,” Gabriel Iglesias is known for his quick-wit stand-up comedy while also making some of the best sound effects you’ll ever hear. While he’s had some success in the movie and TV realm, with roles in films such as Magic Mike and Coco, as well as his own sitcom for a bit, his stand-up specials are some of the best out there.

For his pick, while there are so many to choose from, I’m going with Gabriel Iglesias: One Show Fits All. In this special, he talks about his family, meeting crazy celebrities, Hollywood shenanigans, and everything else in-between. If you haven’t seen any of his specials, give this one a shot. I promise you, you’ll be crying from laughter after listening to some of his stories.

Stream Gabriel Iglesias: One Show Fits All on Netflix.

Trevor Noah: Afraid Of The Dark

I’m sure that at some point in your life watching comedy specials, you have heard of Trevor Noah. Known as the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, Trevor Noah is known for his great commentary and jokes that he delivers on the satirical news show. But just because he does that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t done some awesome comedy as well.

In Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark, the popular satirical news anchor gets candid about his life with his audience in New York City, talking about how he’s always dreamed of doing a show in the city, and how it has all led up to this moment, following his dream – along with some funny jokes mixed in there as well.

Stream Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark on Netflix.

Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife

Ali Wong is freaking hilarious and she needs to get more notoriety for her specials. Wong has done plenty in the entertainment world. She’s had roles in Always Be My Maybe as well as a current role in American Housewife, and even wrote for the first three seasons of Fresh Off The Boat. But her stand-up comedy is truly where she shines.

In Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife, the comedian talks about her family and her husband, her sudden success in the industry, and everything else that has come into her life. To me, it’s one of the best specials Netflix has to offer. Everyone should go and watch this, regardless of your comedic style. I assure you, Ali Wong will be able to make you laugh.

Stream Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife on Netflix.

George Lopez: We’ll Do It For Half

I, like many other people my age, grew up watching George Lopez, the ABC sitcom that became extremely popular. Besides that, George Lopez has done so much in the film and TV world, with roles in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Valentine’s Day, The Smurfs, Rio, and so many others. But like many comedians on this list, his stand-up comedy is second to none, especially his Netflix special.

In George Lopez: We’ll Do It For Half, Lopez returns back to his stand-up roots, talking about his heritage as a Latino, his hilarious family, their own issues, and so many more. As someone who grew up watching George Lopez, he doesn’t miss in his first Netflix special, with all of the jokes landing no matter what. I mean, it’s George Lopez. He’s hilarious. What more can you expect?

Stream George Lopez: We’ll Do It For Half on Netflix.

Sam Jay: 3 In The Morning

While not as well known as some of the other comedians on this list, Sam Jay is still just as amazing as the others in terms of his comedic style. While she hasn’t done anything acting-wise, Sam Jay is a current staff writer for Saturday Night Live and has performed on Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents, so you know she has some serious jokes that will make you snicker.

In her first Netflix special, 3 In The Morning, Sam Jay talks about her life with her girlfriend, navigating her sexuality, and the most important part – why it’s always important to lock the door while showering. If you want to find out what that means, all you have to do is turn on Netflix right now and watch.

Stream Sam Jay: 3 In The Morning on Netflix.

Marlon Wayans: Woke-ish

Again, to me, Marlon Wayans is one of those comedians that I feel I have seen everywhere in Hollywood, from comedy specials to movies to TV. Some of his most notable roles were playing Shawn Wayans on The Wayans Bros, parts in Scary Movie and its sequel, White Chicks, Norbit, and a dramatic role in the film Requiem for a Dream. Talk about a man with some range. He even had his own TV series, titled Marlon, for two seasons.

Marlon Wayans has also done some comedy specials in his time, and one of his best on Netflix is Marlon Wayans: Woke-ish. In this stand-up comedy special, Marlon Wayans talks about how he feels he’s “woke-ish,” he’s “young-ish,” he’s “dad-ish,” and so many other ish’s that it’s hard to keep track. We all feel like we’re a little “ish” sometimes, and that’s how Marlon exactly feels right here, mixed in with some hilarious stories.

Stream Marlon Wayans: Woke-ish on Netflix.

Sometimes, we really just need to laugh after a long day of work or just life in general. These comedians are the best way to provide that to you. If you pick any one of these awesome specials, you’ll have a smile from cheek to cheek, no matter what.

Before Damon Wayans became a TV action star, before Jamie Foxx became an Academy Award-winning thespian and Grammy-winning musician, and before Jim Carrey became one of the biggest names in the history of the comedy genre, these legends had to start somewhere. For each of them, the big turning point to stardom was being a member of the In Living Color cast from 1990 to 1995, which boasted an ensemble of many brilliant comedic talents from various cultural backgrounds, which was also predominantly Black - a rarity for sketch comedy series on TV, especially at the time. The Emmy-winning hit is still celebrated today for its bold sense of humor, clever use of parody, and, most importantly, the many illustrious careers it would jump start, including the one who put it all together.

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Before creating In Living Color and serving as its host for the first four seasons, Keenen Ivory Wayans began chasing down a comedy career in the 1980s, eventually scoring hits as a writer and actor in director and star Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle in 1987, and making his directorial debut with the Blaxploitation parody I’m Gonna Git You Sucka the following year. He would go on to direct, and occasionally star in, several more big screen comedies, such as great parody movies like Don’t Be A Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood and the first two installments of the Scary Movie franchise. Wayans’ most recent success was as a writer, producer, and director of the TBS original The Last O.G. starring Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish

Damon Wayans

Keenen’s eldest younger sibling, Damon Wayans, actually had a brief stint in the Saturday Night Live cast (he was fired after 11 episodes) before becoming a founding In Living Color cast member, where he originated his role of Homey D. Clown. By then, he had already had a big screen presence, having starred in films like Earth Girls are Easy with future co-star Jim Carrey, leading him to quickly land game-changing roles like former football pro Jimmy Dix in the 1991 buddy cop movie The Last Boy Scout opposite Bruce Willis, as well as more comedy films like Major Payne, which he also wrote. Wayans’ biggest TV successes post-In Living Color would have to be co-creating and leading My Wife and Kids, and playing Roger Murtaugh on Fox’s series adaptation of Lethal Weapon, but he reportedly has a new ABC sitcom in the works called Let’s Stay Together.

Shawn Wayans

Pretty much any Wayans brothers project you can think of involves Shawn Wayans - who, actually, is rarely seen in projects without his family, excluding the action thriller New Blood (also starring the late John Hurt) from 1999. Before joining the In Living Color cast, Shawn made his acting debut in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, the directorial debut of his older brother, Keenen. He would cast him in almost every other film he has directed and/or written since, including White Chicks from 2004, 2006’s Little Man, and 2009’s Dance Flick - the most recent parody in which most of the Wayans Family is involved. Shawn’s most recent gig was playing a puppy on HBO’s animated series Animals., along with his younger brother.

Marlon Wayans

Shawn Wayans’ career is quite synonymous with Marlon Wayans, and they've shared the screen in most of the aforementioned movie titles above, as well as their aptly titled sitcom, The Wayans Brothers, in the mid-to-late 1990s. Despite only appearing on one season of In Living Color, Marlon (who almost played Robin in Batman Returns) has gone on to lead a pretty eclectic career, including intense dramas like Requiem for a Dream and popcorn flicks like G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, while often returning to spoofs like the A Haunted House movies, and Fifty Shades of Black in 2016. Marlon would later get his own short-lived, self-titled NBC sitcom, play multiple characters in the Netflix movie Sextuplets, and will next appear in the music biopic Respect as Ted White, the ex-husband of Aretha Franklin (Jennifer Hudson).

Kim Wayans

Let’s take a break from the Wayans brothers and talk about a Wayans sister - Kim Wayans, who has also been involved with many of the titles mentioned above. However, she is known for plenty outside of the family business, including the Cosby Show spin-off A Different World before joining In Living Color, the late ‘90s NBC sitcom In the House (alongside LL Cool J and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast’s Alfonso Ribiero) after, and appearing in the drama Pariah with The Falcon and the Winter Solder cast’s Adepero Oduye in 2011. Kim has since made notable guest appearances in various kinds of shows, including Fox’s New Girl, the hit reboot of crime procedural Hawaii Five-0 on CBS, and BET’s series spin-off from Boomerang, one of the most popular Eddie Murphy movies from the early 1990s.

Jim Carrey

One of the biggest names, if not the biggest, from the original cast is Jim Carrey, who dazzled audiences with the same incredible manic energy and inventive characterizations on In Living Color that he would later bring to big screen classics like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Dumb & Dumber, or The Mask - all of which came out in 1994. Of course, not all of the best Jim Carrey movies are zany, ridiculous comedies, such as the way-ahead-of-its-time media satire, The Truman Show, or the visually stunning romantic fantasy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, from director Michel Gondry, whom Carrey would work with again on the inventive TV dramedy Kidding for Showtime. The two-time Golden Globe winner, who recently played Joe Biden on SNL during election season, will reprise Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which is set to release in 2022.

Jamie Foxx

Jim Carrey may be a comedy legend, but Jamie Foxx, who joined In Living Color in Season 3, is the only one from the original cast who can say he has an Oscar, which he won for his performance as Ray Charles in Ray. The A-lister has done everything you can think of, from recording chart-topping R&B hits (which he recently funneled into his vocal performance as part of Pixar’s Soul cast) to starring in comic book movies (which he is set to do again by reprising Electro in Spider-Man: Far From Home and leading the upcoming Spawn reboot). The former host of Beat Shazam, who has also been cast as Mike Tyson in an upcoming mini-series about the controversial boxer, returned to the world of sitcoms 20 years after UPN’s The Jamie Foxx Show ended in 2001, as the star and co-creator of the Netflix original Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!

David Alan Grier

Also appearing as Jamie Foxx’s onscreen father on Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! is his In Living Color co-star David Alan Grier, who has, actually, kind of become a go-to for grouchy old men on sitcoms recently (i.e. NBC’s short-lived The Carmichael Show and Fox’s short-lived The Cool Kids, to name a few). However, you would likely recognize him from 1995’s Jumanji with Robin Williams, the cult Black horror anthology movie favorite Tales from the Hood, and plenty more roles from his brilliant stint on the sketch show to the present, which prove his impressive range of talent. The Netflix’s Coffee and Kareem actor will next appear in the live action, big screen adaptation of the iconic Clifford the Big Red Dog books.

T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh

Another In Living Color veteran who appeared in Tales from the Hood is T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, who might be one of the more underrated cast members for how impressive her career following the sketch comedy series would become. She had a brief role in Jackie Brown (Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 follow-up to Pulp Fiction), has lent her voice to various animated DC TV shows like Batman Beyond and Teen Titans, and appeared in the fourth installment of the Sharknado movies, but she likely best known (especially to younger audiences) for the hit Disney Channel sitcom That’s So Raven as Raven-Symoné’s onscreen mother, Tanya Baxter. Keymáh returned to her In Living Color roots by launching her own viral variety series called The Cool Crystal Show in 2021.

Tommy Davidson

Another In Living Color veteran who found success on the Disney Channel, as the voice of Oscar Proud on The Proud Family, and also appeared in Sharknado 4, is Tommy Davidson, who actually made his acting debut in the failed pilot for a TV series sequel to Coming to America in 1989. The comedian would also continue to work with his In Living Color co-stars in other movies, like Booty Call with Jamie Foxx in 1997, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls with Jim Carrey, and the Spike Lee satire Bamboozled with Damon Wayans. In 2022, Davidson will reprise Oscar Proud in an upcoming reboot of The Proud Family called The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, and is reuniting with his Black Dynamite co-star Michael Jai White for the western comedy The Outlaw Johnny Black.

Jennifer Lopez (Fly Girl)

I mentioned earlier that Jim Carrey could be the biggest name from the In Living Color cast, but an argument could be made that the show’s true biggest star overall is Jennifer Lopez. She got her big break as one of the series’ famous dancing Fly Girls before becoming one of the most worshipped actresses and pop divas of all time, having recently earned rave reviews for her performance in the Hustlers cast in 2019 and making gold status for a song that will be included in her upcoming rom-com Marry Me, which was set to be one of her next 2021 movies until it was postponed until 2022. JLo also has an action rom-com called Shotgun Wedding, an action thriller called The Mother, and a biographical thriller called The Godmother, among other projects, on the way.

Admirers of the comedy world always like to compare a former Saturday Night Live cast member’s career to their time on the long-running sketch comedy. However, the In Living Color cast is viewed with far less scrutiny, not just because the show lasted on a fraction of SNL’s run, but because the stars have gone on to do things so unique compared to what they were known for on the series, while never forgetting the show which helped launch their careers.

The discussions surrounding body positivity have only increased over the past several years, and many would likely agree that it’s led to some to reconsider how they view their bodies. These conversations especially apply to the Hollywood landscape, in which the standards of beauty and body image can be incredibly high. One star who is leading the charge in regard to body positivity is Will Smith, who recently revealed his quarantine body. The fan-favorite actor’s post sparked a number of positive reactions, and it’s also led Marlon Wayans to follow suit with his own dad bod challenge.

Marlon Wayans had no problem showing off his own body in a recent Instagram post. In the caption, Wayans gives a shout-out to Will Smith for inspiring him to post the pic before mentioning his intended date for landing the body he wants. Check it out down below:

While Marlon Wayans may have a goal in mind when it comes to getting his body to where he wants it, this photo proves he’s still comfortable in the body he has right now. Quite frankly, you love to see someone who’s comfortable with their body and isn’t afraid to show how it changes. Wayans also posted another image a few days later in which he reiterated his plans to get the body he wants:

Will Smith went viral last week when he shared a photo of himself, saying that his current body carried him through the pandemic. While he loves the body he has, the actor still admitted that he wants to “feel” better, declaring that he’s preparing to get in the best shape of his life. The photo would have been powerful coming from anyone, but the fact that Smith has been known for his shredded physique for so long makes the image that much more meaningful.

One of the positive responses to Will Smith’s message came from none other than Jamie Lee Curtis. In a since deleted Instagram post, she shared a vintage image of herself paired with a recent photo of Smith’s and, in the caption, she stressed the importance of one accepting their own body.

Recently, other celebrities have stepped forward to share their own messages of body positivity. Billie Eilish, who recently went viral for her photoshoot with Vogue UK, got candid about the public’s perceptions of people’s bodies and how individuals choose to show them. TV personality Ashley Graham also went viral for body positive comments and, shortly after, she shared a photo in which she showed a bit of self-love.

Will Smith is definitely a major spark for an ongoing discussion, and it’s nice to know actors like Marlon Wayans have no problem following in his footsteps. Hopefully, this is a conversation that only gains steam as time goes on.

They say comedy is rooted in tragedy. People laugh to avoid crying. While that might not always be the case, that's fitting when it comes to these peculiarly dramatic performances from comedians/comedic actors. It almost seems like a rite of passage for prominent comedians to leap into dramatic/darker material, and several have proved their chops. It might not always be the roles they're most commonly associated with, but for actors like Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems, it showcases new sides to their familiar screen presence. The results are surprising and exciting in equal measures. No joke. Here are comedians who also stood out in dramatic roles.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

While he's more commonly associated with his juvenile, boyish Happy Madison productions, including Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer, and the Grown Ups movies, Adam Sandler has also consistently proven himself as a serious actor. Notably starting with 2003's misunderstood dark dramedy Punch-Drunk Love, which cleverly subverted and dissected the tropes of Sandler's early comedies in an artistic, challenging, yet still bleakly hilarious way, Sandler has dived into dramatic roles — to mixed results. Judd Apatow's Funny People was smartly funny and insightfully self-referential, but Reign Over Me was a middling effort prior. Men, Women & Children was a well-meaning but misbegotten flub, while The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) featured an excellent Sandler performance in this dysfunctional family dramedy.

Tom McCarthy's The Cobbler seemed like an easy winner but it tragically received some of Adam Sandler's worst reviews. But Sandler got some of his best reviews in Uncut Gems, a New York City-based crime drama-thriller following Howard Ratner (Sandler), a down-on-his-luck jewelry salesman with a gambling addiction that involves some very expensive debts and some very bad people. 

The grimy, stylistic, relentless, but appropriately addictive, character piece surprised general audiences used to seeing broader, more conventional comedies from the A-lister. Instead, Uncut Gems finds Sandler giving one of his most committed, commendably foul performances, fully embodying this scumbag with vigor and aplomb. The result is one of the actor's most audacious and daring roles, and one that hopefully proved to Sandler's biggest, most merciless critics that he has serious chops.

Kevin James (Becky)

Best known for The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait, in addition to comedy film franchises like Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown Ups, Kevin James' decision to play a vicious, vindictive neo-Nazi in this year's Becky was certainly a surprising, unexpected one. If you can get past the bold, bizarre casting choice, James proves himself to be a formidable dramatic one, one who isn't afraid to play against the grain and relish his darker impulses. Characters like the aforementioned Paul Blart showcased an underlying sadness, which suggested that James had what it took to be an intriguing dramatic performer, but this bald-headed villainous brute is a stark departure from anything we've seen from him. While some dismissed it as stunt casting, James does convey genuine tension and menace through this violent, cold-blooded character.

While Kevin James' performance isn't a complete revelation, notably with a flimsy screenplay and little insight into this character's motivations, it should hopefully prove to be a stepping stone for his second chapter. Certainly, his YouTube account suggests James can't wait to try darker, more challenging material, though it's unclear if more filmmakers will allow him to do something this outlandishly against his familiar image. Notably, using his physicality not for slapstick comedy but rather to impose suspense and terror is an intriguing change-of-pace.

Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name)

Eddie Murphy needed a comeback. He impressed everyone with his sensational musical performance in 2006's Dreamgirls, nearly winning an Oscar. But then came Norbit. The ill-received studio comedy was not only a critical flop but it also supposedly killed his award chances. Murphy continued to make several ill-fated studio comedies, not of which captured Dreamgirls' radiant spark or the sharp wit of his earlier comedic work. But after an extended absence, Murphy returned with Dolemite Is My Name, a lively, heartfelt biopic dramedy/tribute to Rudy Ray Moore, best known for playing Dolemite on the stage and screen. Murphy's performance was rewardingly electrifying, feeling more alive than anything he'd done in years. It's also a role that heartily played to his strengths, capturing the humor and heartbreak of this larger-than-life personality.

Patton Oswalt (Big Fan)

Better known then for his stage work and Ratatouille, Patton Oswalt proved his acting chops with 2009's overlooked Big Fan. As a diehard football fan caught in a complicated situation when he's assaulted by his football idol, Oswalt's reverence for pop culture and fandom were put to sharp, poignant use, showcasing the complexities that come with being blindingly reverent to something — to the point where you can't look at it from an objective lens. But for many folks, they didn't realize the extent of Oswalt's acting talents until he starred in 2011's Young Adult, appearing opposite Charlize Theron, in which he gave an excellently nuanced, perspective performance.

Awkwafina (The Farewell)

As an actress, comedian, and musician, Awkwafina continues to gain notice and recognition, notably with standout roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's Eight. But her most prominent part might actually be her most dramatic. Specifically, last year's tender, personal The Farewell found the rising star at the forefront of one of the most acclaimed movies of the year. And her performance was certainly well-recognized. Beautifully conveying the mix of humor and sorrow that's presented in this nuanced situation, Awkwafina was praised for channeling the deft balance of gentle humor and dramatic pathos with grace and vulnerability. It led to Awkwafina being the first Asian woman in Golden Globes history to win Best Actress.

Vince Vaughn (Brawl In Cell Block 99)

Though not a comedian in a traditional sense, Vince Vaughn came into fame through his star-making role in Swingers, loosely based on his own real-life personality. From there, much like Jon Favreau, Vaughn continued climbing up the Hollywood ladder, starring in Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball, Old School, The Break-Up, and more. While he periodically dived into dramatic territory, notably with Gus Van Sant's much-criticized Psycho remake, Vaughn found his dramatic stride with Brawl in Cell Block 99, a neo-noir prison thriller-drama which follows former boxer-turned-drug mule Bradley Thomas (Vaughn) as he descends several brutal layers of prison hell to protect the woman he loves. 

While previous Vince Vaughn roles relied on his snarky sarcasm, this one challenges Vaughn's physique. With his bald head and imposing height, Vaughn is surprisingly menacing, but that only makes his unexpected emotional sweet side resonate more.

Marlon Wayans (Requiem For A Dream)

Before White Chicks, Little Man, and the first two Scary Movies, Marlon Wayans was a TV star venturing out into movies. Shortly before his movie career would took off, Wayans gave a surprising dramatic performance in 2000's almost relentlessly bleak Requiem for a Dream. In its bold, unflinching look at drug addiction, Wayans not only holds his own opposite Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Ellen Burstyn, but he proves his dramatic chops in a performance that doesn't mirror any other throughout his career. It's a shame we haven't seen Wayans take another role in this vein again, though he's set to star in Sofia Coppola's latest, On the Rocks.

Albert Brooks (Drive)

A celebrated actor-director best known for Broadcast News, Out of Sight, Finding Nemo, Modern Romance, Defending Your Life, and Lost in America, the latter three he also helmed, Albert Brooks is a familiar, beloved screen presence, yet he surprised everyone with his dark, menacing villainous role in 2011's Drive. Playing the brooding antagonistic figure to Ryan Gosling's soft-spoken protagonist, Brooks' cold, calculated performance didn't capture any of the warmth or humility seen in his earlier work, conveying a seething contempt and a vigor for violence that was surprising not merely because it came from the voice of Merlin. Intentionally, it was effectively disarming, never allowing us to be two steps ahead of our scowling sociopathic baddie. It showed a new side to Brooks. It should be noted, though, that he also starred in Taxi Driver. What's the deal with him and drivers?

In addition all these strong and/or challenging performances, we'll take this moment to celebrate some comedians who didn't make the list, including Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and The Nines, Molly Shannon in Other People and Year of the Dog, Jenny Slate in Obvious Child, Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People, Rodney Dangerfield in Natural Born Killers, Stephen Merchant in Logan, Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction and Everything Must Go, Richard Pryor in Blue Collar, George Carlin in Jersey Girl, Seth Rogen in Steve Jobs and Take This Waltz, and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight, Greenberg, and The Meyerowitz Stories.

You might be surprised to hear this, but actor Marlon Wayans was paid $100,000 for a movie he never even starred in. And the bigger surprise is the fact that the reason he gets that money is because he was almost Robin in director Tim Burton’s Batman Returns.

If you’re a fan of famous “what if” scenarios from Hollywood history, you’re in for a treat when it comes to this particular subject. So let’s start this story with the interview that revealed this information in the first place. Shout-out to the movie fan over at Reddit for unearthing this fascinating story.

The Original Plan For Robin In Batman Returns

The history of this entire subject started during the press rounds for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra back in 2009. As Marlon Wayans and Channing Tatum were giving an interview to io9, Wayans told the following story when asked about any superhero roles that he might have been rumored to have played in the past:

What’s even weirder than the fact that Marlon Wayans was hired, and eventually fired from the role of Robin in Batman Returns, is the reason why he was removed from the film’s cast.

Why Was Marlon Wayans Cut From Batman Returns’ Cast?

Nine years down the line, in an interview that has since been removed by NBC, Marlon Wayans spoke up again about his brush with comic book stardom. During an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Wayans spun his yarn yet again, only this time he provided an important detail: the reason that his Robin was cut from Batman Returns.

As it turns out, including Robin into the mix was something that, according to Batman-News’ recounting of this interview, crowded the movie’s cast. So instead of stacking the roster too deep, the former Flying Grayson was removed from the movie. However, based on Wayans’ remarks above, it sounds like there was an intent to use him in what would have been the third Tim Burton Batman movie.

Wait, There Was Going To Be A Third Tim Burton Batman Movie?

That’s right! Before Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever changed the course of franchise history, there were talks about a third film that Tim Burton would make to continue his Batman series’ plot line. And the plan for this original movie sounded pretty amazing, as the film entitled Batman Continues, was rumored to see some big moves outside of Marlon Wayans’ Robin.

Part of the plan for Batman Continues was to bring back Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, as well as bringing back Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent, which more than likely would have seen Williams going full Two Face for the threequel. But even more exciting was the prospect that Marlon Wayans would have finally played Robin, and Robin Williams was sought after to play The Riddler. With a concept that enticing, what could have possibly prevented this would-be blockbuster from happening?

What Happened Instead Of Batman Continues?

Apparently, thanks to the ire of McDonalds and the already combative air surrounding Tim Burton’s time on Batman Returns, Burton was removed from the Batman franchise. Replaced by Joel Schumacher, Batman Forever drafted a new Batman in Val Kilmer, a new Two Face and Riddler team with the infamously mismatched Tommy Lee Jones, and Jim Carrey, and a new Robin in Chris O’Donnell.

But seeing as he was already cast in the role of Robin, and more than likely the wording of Marlon Wayans’ contract included some sort of “pay or play” clause, the man saw himself $100,000 richer over time. Though from time to time, it’s still fun to imagine what could have happened if Wayans actually got to put the tights on himself, and saved the day in Gotham City alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman.

While things didn’t exactly pan out for Mr. Wayans in the DC Comics past, he’s still got his eye on the role of Plastic Man, should the company want to move forward with that project in the near future. For now, all we have is an interesting story that makes for yet another interesting footnote in comic movie history; but at least Marlon Wayans got paid for his troubles.

Hollywood can be a cutthroat business, so when a performer learns that they do something well, and can consistently get paid for it, it often makes sense for them to continue doing that thing. It’s why a lot of comedic performers generally stick to making comedies for the bulk of their careers. That being said, when a certain level of comfortability is reached, it gives actors the freedom to start testing their range and trying new things, and as we’ve seen many times in movie history, the results can be phenomenal.

This week we have a perfect example of this kind of move arriving in theaters in the form of the Safdie brothers’ crime drama Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler – so we figure now is as good a time as any to look back at some of the best serious performances from super funny people. Some resulted in attention from the Oscars, and some are very much underrated, but they all share greatness in common.

Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

Let’s start with the performance that inspired this list. Cinephiles have known for a long time that Adam Sandler has some serious dramatic chops, with his most lauded performance being his starring role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch Drunk Love, but the comedic actors has spent the large majority of his time in the years since then making silly low-brow features for Netflix. Uncut Gems, however, provides an opportunity for Sandler to get out of his box and do something legitimately special, and he excels. He’s a whole new orbit as the wheeling-and-dealing Howard Ratner, and delivers what we will likely look back on as the best work he has ever done.

Jim Carrey, The Truman Show

With an incredible string of hits in the mid-1990s, Jim Carrey reached that aforementioned comfortability stage quite quickly in his big screen career, and it allowed him to do a legendary pivot to drama in 1998. After years of making audiences guffaw at his rubber faced antics, he teamed up with director Peter Weir for The Truman Show and delivered a genuinely deep and impressive performance. Much of the character work takes advantage of Carrey’s well-established and unique affability, but the film allowed him to reach a new level in audience perception as it’s remarkable to watch Truman Burbank begin to understand the nature of his life and all of the crushing realizations that come along with it.

Whoopi Goldberg, The Color Purple

Whoopi Goldberg presents an interesting case in this particular conversation, as she is primarily known for her career in comedy, but her greatest dramatic turn was in the second film she ever made. While she was simultaneously establishing a career doing stand-up comedy, Steven Spielberg caught a performance of hers on Broadway and enlisted her to do what would wind up being some blistering work as Celie Johnson in The Color Purple – which also earned her an Academy Award nomination. Few performers have ever arrived in the movie world with such a forceful impact, and the EGOT she has earned since makes every kind of sense.

Peter Sellers, Being There

Peter Sellers is unquestionably one of the most gifted comedic minds to ever walk this planet, with his incredible achievements and contributions basically being the same length as his resume. He spent decades making audiences bowl over in hysteria – so it’s somberly fitting that one of his final performances before his untimely death was in Hal Ashby’s dramatic adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski’s Being There. It’s not entirely a dark affair, but it is a vicious satire that hinges on a very nuanced lead performances as Sellers’ Chance, a total simpleton, gains incredible power and influence through simple passivity.

Albert Brooks, Drive

Albert Brooks is an incredibly funny actor who has proven his dramatic chops numerous times – with titles like James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News and Steven Soderbergh’s Out Of Sight standing out on his resume – but his performance in Nicholas Winding Refn’s Drive has a notable extra spice added into the mix: intensity. It can be challenging for comedic performers to shift into villain roles given all of their work specifically trying to charm audiences, but Brooks is seriously scary as level-headed crime boss Bernie Rose, and it’s a true testament to his skills how his appearance on screen can raise your blood pressure.

Bill Murray, Lost In Translation

With a comedic flair that has long been defined by sardonic wit, Bill Murray seemingly always had the skills necessary to pull off real drama, and it was Sofia Coppola who really gave him his first chance at real greatness in the arena with the lead role in Lost In Translation. The role isn't without some wonderful moments of levity, as fading movie star Bob Harris finds himself a fish out of water exploring the streets of Tokyo, but what makes the performance truly brilliant is the emotional depth that Murray is able to explore, and the spectacular bond he is able to create with Scarlett Johansson's Charlotte.

Steve Carell, Foxcatcher

Steve Carell has had a fascinating career from a genre perspective, as he's one of the few great comedic performers who was so successful in making the transition from comedy to drama that he basically just decided to stick with it and totally change his public profile. While we will always remember laughing at his antics on The Office and The Daily Show, he is now regularly doing seriously emotional work in films like Adam McKay's The Big Short and Felix van Groeningen's Beautiful Boy, and it all started with Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher. In addition to being an amazing physically transformative performance, with Carell being practically being unrecognizable as wrestling fanatic/murderer John du Pont, it's also a turn that very much gets under your skin, and the actor very much earned his first Best Actor nomination.

Marlon Wayans, Requiem For A Dream

There are many performances mentioned on this list that are incredibly griping and impressive, but Marlon Wayans work in Darren Aronofsky's Requiem For A Dream is the one that's so amazing that you can pretty much only ever experience it once — as going back for Round 2 would be straight-up emotional torture. Few films in history have done such a remarkable job depicting the horrors of drug addiction, and as helpless heroin user Tyrone C. Love, Wayans gives an absolutely gut-wrenching turn; and one that's made all the more powerful thanks to all of the good will he earned through the years of making people laugh.

Jonah Hill, Moneyball

In 2011, audiences didn't fully know what to make of Jonah Hill being cast as one of the key players alongside Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Bennett Miller's Moneyball, as everyone was exclusively used to seeing him as Seth from Greg Mottola's Superbad or his other Judd Apatow-related projects. With the based-on-a-true story baseball film, however, he was able to not only instantly change public perception of his acting skills, but pick up his first Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars. Peter Brand is a subtle character, acting as the man behind the man who helped change sports history in his own way, but it's brilliant in its low-key way and a mix of both fun and wonderful.

Jason Segel, The End Of The Tour

Making the transition from comedy to drama is tricky enough, but Jason Segel made it an even trickier move by starring in James Ponsoldt's The End Of The Tour by portraying a true life icon. More than just trying to carve out an authentic dramatic performance, the star had to embody the spirit of genius author David Foster Wallace, and really it's stunning to see him work. The entire movie really rests on his personality, as the film is almost entirely a moving back-and-forth dialogue between him and Jesse Eisenberg's David Lipsky, and it's impressive to watch Segel work —spitting out personal philosophies that you want to immediately jot down and refer back to in regular life. It's one of the more unsung turns on this list, but no less worthy of celebration.

What are your favorite serious performances from actors best known for their comedic work? Hit the comments section below with all of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions!

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon, who was known for his comedic turns on shows such as black-ish, The Tracy Morgan Show and The Wayans Bros., as well as films like the Friday franchise, Dr. Doolittle 2 and Bulworth, died yesterday at the age of 77. After a loving statement from Witherspoon's family, which was posted to his personal Twitter page, confirmed his death, fans, and many of the celebrities he had worked with during his over 40 year career in film and TV, began to post tributes to the comic actor.

Rapper / actor Ice Cube was one of the first to post about John Witherspoon's death. Ice Cube, of course, starred in Friday and its sequels Next Friday and Friday After Next with Witherspoon, who played the father of his character in the franchise. Witherspoon was set to reprise his role in another upcoming sequel, Last Friday, but the film is in pre-production and hasn't begun filming yet. Here's the sweet and simple message Ice Cube posted:

Marlon Wayans, who also played John Withspoon's son, but on The Wayans Bros., which ran from 1995-1999 on The WB, has posted tributes to Witherspoon on his Instagram a few times since learning of his death. But, his first post in particular, is a wonderful remembrance of the man and what he's meant to him and his career. Take a look...

John Witherspoon's long career also included several gigs as a voice actor, and he is well-remembered for his work voicing Granddad on The Boondocks from 2005-2014. Oscar winner Regina King, who voiced Riley on the series and can currently be seen on Watchmen, took to Twitter to share her feelings on Witherspoon's passing:

Questlove, drummer and joint frontman for The Roots (which has served as Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show house band since 2014), reached out on Instagram to post a beautiful tribute to John Witherspoon which explains why the comedian struck a chord with so many fans...

Comedian, actor and former late night talk show host Arsenio Hall, who has signed on to reprise his role alongside Eddie Murphy in the planned sequel Coming 2 America, also had some lovely words to offer for his fellow comedic legend:

Oscar nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who's currently working on the Warner Bros. / DC comics film New Gods, also stepped up and added a very succinct thank you post for all the work John Witherspoon has done to her Twitter feed...

John Witherspoon, who most recently appeared in Black Jesus for Adult Swim as well as voicing a role in BoJack Horseman, is survived by his wife Angela and his sons, Alexander and JD. All of John Witherspoon's family and friends will be in our thoughts; he will be missed.

Following in the footsteps of folks like Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers, Marlon Wayans’ latest movie, Netflix’s Sextuplets, sees the comedy star playing numerous roles… seven, to be precise. Sextuplets follows Wayans’ Alan Daniels, a soon-to-be-father, looking for his birth mother and learning that he has five other siblings all from the same pregnancy who have, shall we say, colorful personalities, and Wayans also plays their mother.

Needless to say that this movie is packed with shenanigans, but as Marlon Wayans (who’s itching to play Plastic Man over in the DC universe) recently told CinemaBlend, his real life family isn’t all that different from the Sextuplets one in terms of the amount of insanity they provide. In Wayans’ words:

Marlon Wayans is right, every family is different, and while one can definitely love and appreciate their parents, siblings, relatives, etc, there are also times when they can drive you nuts. So while the Sextuplets family has been obviously been sharpened for full comedic effect, as Wayans sees it, there is some resemblance to how his family is in real life.

In case you haven’t read or heard anything about Sextuplets, the story really kicks off when Alan Daniels meets his first long-lost sibling, Russell. From there, they embark on a road trip to meet their other brothers and sisters, including stripper Dawn, hustler Ethan, the red-haired and lighter-skinned Jasper, and the infantile “Baby Pete.”

It was no easy feat for Marlon Wayans to play seven characters in Sextuplets. Director Michael Tiddes previously told CinemaBlend that the performer would get to work at 2 a.m., be in makeup for seven hours and the work anywhere from 12-15 hours. Many scenes were also shot multiple times over several days due to using motion control to make sure that it looked like Wayans’ characters were in the same room with one another. Tiddes previously worked with Wayans on the Haunted House films, Fifty Shades of Black and Naked.

Along with Marlon Wayans filling out all those roles (with Spiral Jackson serving as a body double for Russell), Sextuplets’ cast includes Bresha Webb, Molly Shannon, Glynn Turman, Michael Ian Black, Debbi Morgan, Grace Junot, Robert Pralgo, Jason Graham and Jwaundace Candece.

Sextuplets is playing on Netflix now, and be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of the movie. For those of you interested in what’s opening on the big screen for the rest of the year, look through our 2019 release schedule. Marlon Wayans will next appear in the A24, Sopia Coppola-directed movie On the Rocks.

One of this week’s new additions to Netflix’s seemingly endless vacuum of original content is a comedy stacked with six helpings of Marlon Wayans in Sextuplets. That’s right, the White Chicks actor has taken on the roles of an entire set of long-lost sextuplets.

When you step back and think about it, this is quite the technical feat. The movie seamlessly pulls off Marlon Wayans in completely different roles, including a woman named Dawn and a four-foot character named Baby Pete. During an exclusive interview with Sextuplet director, Michael Tiddes, he explained the process behind it all. Here’s what he said:

Wow, talk about some serious overtime! For Sextuplets, Marlon Wayans had to be in the makeup chair for seven hours for a few of the roles before working a full day as the character. Michael Tiddes has worked with Wayans four times prior, directing him in the Haunted House films, Fifty Shades of Black and Naked. He worked with him a lot more in their latest flick! After working a long day as one character, Wayans would come back to set the following day for the next character to do the same exact scene. This process would rinse and repeat throughout the filming of Sextuplets.

Michael Tiddes explained the process further to CinemaBlend with these words:

I think we can confidently say Marlon Wayans was the MVP of Sextuplets. There was a lot of work weighing on the actor. He is the lead times six. Wayans had to have just about the whole script in his back pocket, along with playing off himself in the comedy about a man who discovers he has five twins while in search of his birth mom. Tiddes continues:

The director was excited for the challenge since he’s always been apt at video editing and found it to be an interesting part of filmmaking. The movie certainly gives Eddie Murphy’s Nutty Professor a run for its money, technically speaking.

Eddie Murphy may have played seven characters in the 1996 comedy, but many of them weren’t autonomously moving around throughout the film and central to the plot of the movie. Tiddes also said he wanted to push the limits of the Nutty Professor concept with his project with Marlon Wayans.

Just as Wayans and Tiddes play tribute to Murphy’s famous multiple performances, the trailblazer will soon has his own Netflix original as well. Eddie Murphy will star in Dolemite Is My Name this fall on the platform, along with returning to his beloved character Akeem Joffer in 2020’s Coming 2 America.

Sextuplets is streaming now on Netflix.

It's no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. After serialized storytelling was introduced to audiences through the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plenty of studios have gotten in on the action. Warner Bros. kickstarted the DC live-action universe with Man of Steel, but it's hard a rocky road with plenty of missteps. Things seem to be moving forward well at the DCEU, and Marlon Wayans has his eye on the role of Plastic Man.

Plastic Man is a quirky DC hero and Justice League member, with the power of super flexibility. He's the DC version of Mr. Fantastic, except he's a constant comedic relief. There's been rumors of a possible movie, and Marlon Wayans wants to be the actor to bring Plastic Man to life in live-action. As he recently put it:

Marlon Wayans has had a long career in movies, and knows how to cater to his strengths. Most of his movies have been comedies, which is why the 47 year-old actor has his eye on one of the sillier superheroes in DC comics history.

Marlon Wayans' comments to Screen Rant are sure to excite the hardcore DC fans out there, who have been waiting to see Plastic Man finally get his live-action debut. While Wayans hasn't gotten the role, he's making his feelings known about the ultra-flexible comic book character. And he's not coming out of left field, as the Plastic Man movie has been rumored for a while now.

News about a possible Plastic Man movie came nearly a year ago. The report indicated that screenwriter Amanda Idoko was hired to write the project, based off of the comic book character of the same name. But no updates have been offered, as Warner Bros. generally keeps its cards close to the chest. Rather than full release schedules like the MCU, each new DC blockbuster is influenced by the previous one.

Marlon Wayans might not be the only actor vying for the role of the DCEU's Plastic Man. Parks & Recreation favorite Ben Schwartz seems interested, believing Plastic Man could be the DC answer to the Deadpool franchise. Although whether or not the movie will come to fruition is a mystery at this point.

The next installment in the DCEU is Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) on February 7th 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

On occasion, actors have been known to play multiple roles in one project. Comedians and comedic actors, especially, are fond of this tactic, with Eddie Murphy being, possibly, the most well-known comedian with such a cinematic propensity. Well, Marlon Wayans might be on his way to beating the Eddie Murphy record, because he's currently preparing for a big acting challenge which will see him take on a whopping six roles in his upcoming Netflix film, Sextuplets.

In Sextuplets, Marlon Wayans will play a man, Alan, who is trying to find and meet his birth mother before his first child arrives. During this process, Alan meets his brother Russell, and finds out that they are actually two brothers from a set of sextuplets. Alan then sets out to find his four remaining siblings, so he and Russell embark on a road trip to locate the rest of their family. Unfortunately, Alan will quickly realize that this quest and the family it digs up might be leading him down a path that's way more than he bargained for. As you might have guessed, Wayans will play all five of Alan's siblings, which lands him six major roles in Sextuplets.

Wayans, who last teamed with Netflix for his stand up comedy special Woke-ish and the 2017 film Naked, is, obviously, no stranger to out-there comedy concepts, so Sextuplets totally fits much of what we've known him for. The star of White Chicks (where his character masqueraded as one of the titular chicks) and Little Man (where his character was a very small adult who posed as a baby) should have no problem mining the comedy from six characters who are sure to be very different people, even though they are so closely related.

According to Deadline, Wayans is teaming with director Michael Tiddes for Sextuplets, which will mark the fifth time they've worked together. Tiddes also directed Wayans in Naked, as well as A Haunted House, A Haunted Houses 2 and 50 Shades of Black. Wayans wrote the script with Mike Glock, Rick Alvarez, and is producing with Alvarez and Nathan Reimann. The film will also see Wayans working with his Marlon co-star, Bresha Webb, again.

Right now, there's no word on whether or not these sextuplets will all look mostly alike, or if Wayans will don several radically different looks to portray Alan, Russell and their siblings. But, my bet is on there being at least four somewhat crazy appearances for the rest of the family, along with some nutty accents and possibly even one female in the bunch to up the comedic factor as much as possible. I mean, really, if Marlon Wayans can play a young white lady, why not have him play his own sister at this point?

Sextuplets is scheduled to begin filming next month in Atlanta, with a worldwide streaming launch set for sometime in 2019. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend, and we'll keep you up to date on information about the film as it becomes available. Until then, be sure to check out our guide to everything that's coming to Netflix in September.

The spoof is a time-honored tradition in the movie business. From the Zucker brothers' send up of 1970s disaster movies with Airplane and Mel Brooks' shot at Star Wars with Spaceballs, you can be sure that anytime a movie becomes a cultural phenomenon that the parody movie won’t be far behind. Such is the case with 50 Shades of Grey. It now has a spoof of its very own. Only in this case, the parody may be even dirtier than the original. This trailer is very NSFW so please be prepared for that. Check out 50 Shades of Black.

Marlon Wayans is no stranger to the spoof movie but this is a far cry from the two A Haunted House movies that he also wrote and starred in. While those took aim at the "found footage" horror genre like Paranormal Activity, this instead is going for an even more adult audience. While the movie looks to include plenty of the BDSM that inspired its source material, it, like many recent comedies of its kind, will also be taking aim at other recent films, as well. There’s an obvious Magic Mike sequence where Wayans is apparently playing a male stripper. Pop culture is not safe either, as Wayans also does his best Kim Kardashian impression. He’s a man of many talents, what can we say?

The spoof is actually coming out at the perfect time. While the original 50 Shades of Grey saw a Valentine’s Day release in 2015, the sequel isn’t slated to come out until 2017. Leaving the Valentine’s Day window for the coming year open for the comedy version instead. It will be interesting to see if fans of the first film will find the joke in 50 Shades of Black. While Grey has been insanely popular with many, the movie also has it’s problems, meaning there are also many who might enjoy laughing at it even more.

Due to Black’s intensely adult humor the audience will be somewhat limited, but R-rated comedies have had a strong track record in recent months. Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck was a huge hit this past summer and a number of additional adult comedies are slated for the coming months, including a sequel to Seth Rogen’s hit Neighbors and another grown up sex comedy, which actually co-star’s Grey’s Dakota Johnson, How to be Single.

The Haunted House movies hardly set the box office on fire, but as they cost just short of nothing to make, they were both successful from a financial perspective. Are you looking forward to a more comedic take on the 50 Shades story, or the hype for this already dead?

The internet is a powerful place, as it can topple governments, alter world markets, and even give or take life from sequels to the films we either love or loathe. Sure enough, those powers are at work again as a director has cast his fate to the wind and the whims of the world wide web, and given an ultimatum. Strangely enough, Marlon Wayans just might get his wish if his latest Instagram post is telling the truth, as a decent number of people have spoken and they want to see White Chicks 2 become a reality.

Taking to the popular social media platform, Wayans posted the following call to arms for fans of the 2004 comedy:

As of this printing, the post calling for White Chicks 2 to become a reality has over 441,000 likes – which is already well above the target that Marlon Wayans had specified just three days ago. While this isn't the first or even second time the writer/director has tried to drum up interest in another go-round with his pair of FBI agents turned young socialites, the third time could be a charm for Wayans to actually get this film made, and it's all thanks to the most unlikely of sources.

Picture this if you will: a young rapper who's on the rise goes missing. A drug cartel is behind the nefarious deed, and FBI agents Kevin and Marcus Copeland are on the case to save her from peril. Using their undercover skills, the pair of agents don their female disguises again – one doing the performing, while the other does the public appearances. All the while, searching for the missing starlet, before time runs out. If Iggy Azalea would agree to take the piss out of the White Girls meme linked to her name once and for all, maybe she'd sign on for White Chicks 2 and make this gag a reality.

Of course, there's the issue that all good films come down in the final phases before a green light: their earning potential. If we're going by the track record of the last Wayans franchise to hit theaters, A Haunted House, there was a roughly 40% drop between the first and second installments with almost twice the budget being spent in the process. Using those numbers, White Chicks 2 would be projected to spend about $60 million in production costs, with roughly $68 million in grosses to show for it. Considering there's only 441,000 people we absolutely know want a sequel to White Chicks, and the average ticket costing $8.17, that equals a gross of $3.6 million.

This crude market survey means that a couple of factors would need to be kept in consideration before even seriously talking about a Marlon Wayans driven sequel. First, the budget would have to be something more lean and manageable. The ball park of the $2.5 million it cost to make A Haunted House sounds about right, and would actually yield a small profit with the figures show above. Second, and most importantly, the distribution platform of Crackle would help Sony capitalize on this niche market, as well as lend the film the exoticism that a platform exclusive always affords. If it'll work for Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser, then it could surely work for White Chicks 2

While it's far from a done deal, and far from a good idea, White Chicks 2 could happen – and with a reasonable level of success – if entered into carefully. However, it's all a pipe dream for now. In the meantime, we'll just have to wait for Fifty Shades Of Black to either go before cameras or officially be announced as cancelled, before any movement could possibly be made on White Chicks 2. As soon as we hear any other warnings about this project, we'll let you know as soon as possible.

Pharrell William’s “Happy” was one of the biggest songs of the summer a couple of years ago, and it’s actually a little startling that no one has tackled the track on Lip Sync Battle thus far. Luckily, that’s changing this week with a performance from Marlon Wayans. Unluckily for his lip sync battle partner Queen Latifah, the actor decides to get really creepy and invade her personal space during the interaction. Check out the performance, below.

“Happy” is such a delightful song, it’s hard to believe that anyone could take a rendition of it to an awkward and uncomfortable level, but that’s exactly what happens when Wayans takes the stage. At first he proves he does have some prowess and swag on the dance floor, even donning the ridiculously tall hat Pharrell frequently wears. However, things get weird when he sashays over to the area where Queen Latifah and host LL Cool J are hanging out.

At first, Queen Latifah seems alright with the attention, but as Wayans gets closer and closer the look on her faceless grows a little more disturbed. Seriously, this look is priceless.

She eventually can’t take it anymore, choosing to get up to avoid the man’s attention. Honestly, though, it could have been worse. At least he wasn’t wearing the chaps Stephen Merchant put on during his rendition of “Dirrty.”

Lip Sync Battle has been a huge buzz bringer for Spike in the weeks during it’s release. The show has seen contestants attempt some wild performances so far, including the aforementioned chaps segment, a barely clothed Anne Hathaway performing “Wrecking Ball,” and much, much more. Part of the creepy factor in Wayans' performance might stem from the fact he went a little too far, but part of the problem may simply be the person he was trying to goof around with. Other people have reciprocated more positively when lap dances and more have occurred on the series. If LL Cool J had been the big target, I think this whole goofy performance would’ve gone over a bit better.

Lip Sync Battle has already been renewed for a second season, but there are still plenty of episodes left during Season 1. You can check them out on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET. In the meantime, here’s what else is coming up this summer.

Here at Cinema Blend, we love a good buddy cop movie, emphasis on "good." Then there's White Chicks, the buddy cop movie starring Shawn and Marlon Wayans, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans about two black, male FBI agents who decide to masquerade as prissy white heiresses with the use of whiteface drag as part of the girls' protection detail. Because obviously. The premise was insane, the prosthetic makeup was outlandish nightmare fuel, and the jokes were pretty stupid. But hey, White Chicks made a whopping $113 million worldwide. So how about a sequel?

That's the question VH1 posed to Marlon Wayans, who recently announced plans to make a sequel to his latest comedy A Haunted House. Movie Hole was pleased to report Wayans counts White Girls 2 as a possibility.

My only thought upon reading this statement was, 'Everybody? Everybody where?' Apparently the answer is everybody in Australia.

Wayans went on to recount how an audience in Australia was positively thrilled when he quoted the movie, responding with a "rousing applause." He explains, "At a point I just forgot my act and was just like, ‘You said it but you were thinking it,’ and it was like, ‘Haaaaa!’” As to whether he's looking forward to the possibility of playing white girls again, Wayans confesses the required seven hours of makeup was daunting, adding, " God, if white girls have to do that every day, I feel sorry for you!”

I'll be honest, I totally forgot White Chicks happened until I saw this news item. Then, re-watching the trailer, I wished I could go back to five minutes before when I forgot White Chicks had happened. It's just one of those lame, high-concept comedies that played on comedians looking different and acting like fools (Norbit, The Hot Chick, Little Man). The thought of them just brings to mind this South Park parody:

Whether I'd like it or not White Chicks 2 could happen as Marlon's career is having a bit of a resurrection. A Haunted House, which he co-wrote, produced, and starred in made $40 million domestic, which was 16 times more than it cost to make. Plus, he has a noteworthy supporting role in the Sandra Bullock/Melissa McCarthy comedy that is at the top of the box office The Heat. Interestingly, in that movie he proved not just funny—in a much more mellow mode than usual—but also a believable and alluring love interest for Bullock. That role could open new doors for Wayans, breaking him into a new niche of leading man. I'd like to see more of him, but by that I mean more range, not retreads of ideas that were exhausting the first time around.

So, while White Chicks 2 is a possibility, I'll be hoping for something new. Because lest we forget, the Wayans Bros follow-up to White Chicks was Little Man, a comedy about a little person (played by Marlon via gratuitous CGI) whose trying to pull off a heist by pretending to be a baby. Remember that one?

This poll is no longer available.