I get it, trust me, I do, I understand that You’ve Got Mail is considered one of the best rom-coms and one of the best movies of the ‘90s, and I, too, adore Nora Ephron with my entire heart and soul. However, I have to be honest, I do not like this movie. I wanted to. I tried really hard, and the majority of it was wonderful. However, the ending of this classic ruined it for me, and we need to talk about why.

I Thought You’ve Got Mail Was Going To Be A 5-Star Film

I’ve always known that You’ve Got Mail is highly rewatchable, and I agree that Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks should work together again because of their palpable chemistry that’s on display in this. And for the majority of this film, I loved it. I was so into this enemies-to-lovers storyline that was mixed with this online anonymous relationship that said enemies were in.

Plus, every time Hanks and Ryan were on screen together, their chemistry jumped off the screen. So, as I was watching this film with my Netflix subscription, I thought it'd become a new favorite rom-com.

However…that all changed during the final 20-ish minutes of the movie.

Then I Watched I Watched The End Of You’ve Got Mail, And It Ruined It

Things started to go downhill when The Shop Around the Corner went out of business.

I’m sorry, but I would not be with a man who ran the company that put my dream out of business and didn’t do anything to stop it. Joe Fox just let it happen. If he loved Kathleen, I believe he should have done something to help keep her dream alive. Also, once they became proper friends, and Kathleen told him about her online discussion with a man (who is Joe), it took him too long to tell her he was the guy she was talking with. He let that go on for way too long, and it felt weird.

Meanwhile, if I were Kathleen, I would have put up more of a fight. She kind of just let it happen. She did tell him that this situation was “personal,” and she got mad at him for what happened with the stores. Then, they became friends. But that was before she knew that Joe Fox was also her crush from the internet.

So, after all that, when she found out her online friend was Joe, she immediately accepted it and was like, “I wanted it to be you so badly.” Then, they kissed, and the movie ended.

Excuse me! But there’s still a lot to unpack here. Joe put Kathleen out of business, and then he kept this secret from her for quite a while. Capitalism won, and lies of omission were accepted. Sorry, but that’s not the ending I want to this story. Therefore, yeah, the final moments of You’ve Got Mail did ruin the entire movie for me. And no, I will not be watching it 152 more times.

It’s long been an understood truth that When Harry Met Sally… is one of the best romantic comedies of all time. Written by the late Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, whose death we’re still trying to process, this legendary rom-com starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan is a lot of things to a lot of people. A go-to friends-to-lovers story, a classic ‘80s movie that gave birth to some of the most quotable lines of all time, a great fall film, and the list goes on. However, I’d like to add another descriptor: an iconic New Year’s Eve movie.

I know, I know, When Harry Met Sally… takes place over the course of a decade, has summer scenes, fall moments, Christmas, and just about everything else, but at the end of the day, this is an NYE movie for a number of reasons. Hear me out…

The Movie’s Climatic Moment Takes Place At A New Year’s Eve Party

From Harry Burns and Sally Albright’s first meeting to the classic “I’ll have what she’s having” scene to those adorable interviews with elderly couples, there are just too many wonderful moments. All of those take place throughout the year (or years, really), but the big scene, the one where Harry and Sally finally get together and share a passionate kiss, happens on… You guessed it, New Year’s Eve.

Everything about the final few minutes of the movie is just perfect. What starts as Harry walking through Washington Square Park (the spot where they first went their separate ways upon arriving in NYC) while looking sad and lonely, turns into a confrontation and perhaps the best back-and-forth interaction of all time:

• Sally Albright: I'm sorry, Harry. I know it's New Year's Eve. I know you're feeling lonely, but you just can't show up here, tell me you love me and expect that to make everything all right. It doesn't work this way.
• Harry Burns: I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes, and I love that you are the last person I wanna talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

However, When Harry Met Sally… isn’t a great NYE movie simply because of its final scene…

New Year’s Eve Is About Remembering The Past While Looking Toward The Future

It’s not just the climactic New Year’s Eve scene. If anything, the holiday is about looking back on cherished moments from the past year while looking toward the future, and that’s pretty much what this movie is about. Though there were as many bad times (and awkward moments) as there were good times over the course of the 10 years they’ve known each other, they simply can’t let go. Instead, they take what they’ve learned and experienced and use it to get to a better tomorrow, one where they are finally together. However, they still can’t agree on the meaning of “Auld Lang Syne.”

Before I go, I would also like to just add that a local movie house is playing When Harry Met Sally over the holidays. Can you guess when it’s playing? If you guessed New Year’s Eve, you would be right…

Following the tragic and shocking deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer, tons of his collaborators, friends and fans mourned this loss by posting tributes for the couple and the director's work. Now, Meg Ryan, who was one of the stars of Reiner's movie When Harry Met Sally, which is widely considered one of the best rom-coms ever made, has opened up about these deaths with an emotional tribute.

The day after Nick Reiner was charged with the murder of his parents, Meg Ryan posted about their deaths. She uploaded a sweet photo of herself and the director dancing together on Instagram, and wrote a long and heartfelt caption, which reads, in part:

When Harry Met Sally is a classic romance, and the ending was even inspired by Reiner and his wife’s love story. For many, myself included, this film is a favorite, and in the days since the couple’s passing, there’s been a lot of appreciation shown to both this rom-com starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal and the director’s other iconic work.

Many others who worked with Reiner have also shared emotional tributes for the late director and his wife, including Ryan’s co-lead, Billy Crystal, who released a statement to AP News with many of the couple’s other friends, including Albert and Kimberly Brooks, Martin Short, Larry David, and many more. Along with Ryan and Crystal, other stars from Reiner’s movies shared tributes, too, including Cary Elwes, who starred in The Princess Bride, Misery’s Kathy Bates, Stand By Me’s Jerry O’Connell and Corey Feldman and many, many more.

In the actress’s post, she wrote about how tragic these deaths are. She also explained that she hopes this story will not end in “impossible tragedy.” Here’s the rest of her statement:

In the comments of Meg Ryan’s emotional tribute to Reiner and Singer, many celebrities shared their support. This included her son, Jack Quaid, who commented:

Alongside him, other prominent actors and performers showed their love and support. Here are a few more comments:

• so sorry for your loss meg. thought of you instantly ❤️ -Rachel Zegler
• 🤍 -Julianne Hough
• 🤍-Jaimie Alexander

Overall, in the wake of this tragedy, there’s been a lot of celebration of Rob Reiner’s work. This has included posts and statements about his iconic films, like When Harry Met Sally. To this day, it’s considered one of the finest movies of the ‘80s, and it, along with other classic films like Stand By Me and The Princess Bride have cemented the director as one of the greats.

In the days since Reiner and Singer’s deaths, an investigation into their murders has been conducted. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and appeared in court, per the NYT. It was reported that Nick was seen arguing with his dad at Conan O’Brien’s party days before his death, and blood was found everywhere in his hotel room following his parents’ passing.

This is still a developing story, so as we learn more about their murders, we’ll keep you updated. Meanwhile, those who worked with Rob Reiner and those who loved his movies will continue to mourn the passing of him and his wife.

When you look back on the best rom-coms of all time, one actress who appears in quite a few of them is Meg Ryan. From When Harry Met Sally to Sleepless in Seattle, she is a generational talent and a megastar within this genre. Well, that's important because Tom Blyth, who is starring in the upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of Emily Henry's rom-com People We Meet on Vacation, recently compared his co-star Emily Bader to Ryan. And, here’s the thing, I already 100% agree with him.

What Tom Blyth Said About Meg Ryan And His Co-Star Emily Bader

Thankfully, in the first weeks of the 2026 movie schedule, on January 9, to be exact, we’ll get to see the first Emily Henry adaptation ever, People We Meet on Vacation. It is set to star Tom Blyth and Emily Bader as Alex and Poppy, respectively, and people cannot wait to watch this friends-to-lovers romance with a Netflix subscription.

So, in anticipation of the release of People We Meet on Vacation, People asked Blyth about working on the movie. In response, he gushed about his co-star and compared her to Meg Ryan:

Well, that’s a big compliment! However, it doesn’t end there. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star went on to explain why he thinks Bader is the new Meg Ryan, saying:

Now, I realize I haven’t seen Blyth and Bader as Alex and Poppy. However, I am a massive fan of Emily Bader’s other work, and based on the footage we’ve seen of this Emily Henry adaptation, I just know her co-star is right.

Emily Bader’s Work In My Lady Jane And The People We Meet On Vacation Trailer Prove Tom Blyth’s Point

Alright, allow me to take you back to 2024 and the tragically short-lived series My Lady Jane, which was led by Emily Bader and can be streamed with an Amazon Prime subscription. Jane was played by the PWMOV actress, and she led that fantastical period romance with passion, sass, intelligence and an incredibly quick wit. You know who else has all those endearing qualities? Meg Ryan.

Both actress are so incredibly expressive and play their characters with a confidence and passion that is infectious. You truly can’t help but fall in love with Jane and her love story, thanks to Bader’s genuine, romantic and laugh-out-loud performance as well as her undeniable chemistry with Edward Bluemel, who plays her character's love interest. You can say the same exact things about Meg Ryan, her scene partners, and her movies in general.

I think there’s a spark that Emily Bader has that Meg Ryan has too, and it seems Tom Blyth knows that as well. However, you can also see it on display in the teaser for People We Meet on Vacation:

I can’t help but make comparisons between Poppy and Sally, even though Bader's character is much more outgoing and spontaneous than Ryan's. The sass and spunk are similar to me, and you can see that on display in this trailer if you watch the way Bader’s character reacts to Blyth showing up or while eating food. Remind you of a particular diner scene in When Harry Met Sally?

Anyway, all this is to say, Tom Blyth is right. I 100% think Emily Bader has what it takes to be this next generation's Meg Ryan. They're both unique and incredibly endearing, and I hope People We Meet on Vacation proves that to everyone who isn't aware yet.

It’s a famous story. Back in 1989 when Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner were coming up with When Harry Met Sally, Meg Ryan swapped some of the tight writing to move the scene about faking orgasms to a diner. She also suggested she fake an orgasm publicly, which was not in the script. Rob Reiner then cast his already-famous mom Estelle in the scene, and she ended up with one of the most iconic lines in the movie, and in rom-com history as a whole. But filming an orgasm scene in front of your mom is not for the faint of heart.

Rob Reiner recently appeared on 60 Minutes as part of the press run he’s been doing for Spinal Tap 2, but forget exploding drummers, because what I was really interested in was the story about his mom and how it impacted one of the best rom-coms of all time. Luckily, CBS’ Lesley Stahl had to ask him about the famous scene from the room-com starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. While the scene ultimately became iconic, it was more than a little awkward filming it in front of cameras and other people.

Intriguingly, a few years back, Ryan thanked Crystal for making the "orgasm" scene so easy to film. Sounds like it may have been easier for the actors than the director...

This isn’t the only time the scene, filmed at Katz’s Deli in New York, would lead to awkward moments. Ryan went on to have kids, including The Boys’ Jack Quaid, who had to confront the fact their mom was responsible for one of the most famous “orgasm” scenes ever in their own childhoods. Eventually, Quaid watched When Harry Met Sally when he signed on for a rom-com in Hollywood himself, but it was a long path to get there.

Still, It Was Rob Reiner's Own Idea To Sign On His Mom

Meanwhile, Katz’s Deli is still a popular establishment, and Billy Crystal himself went a couple of years ago on When Harry Met Sally’s anniversary. It was Crystal who ultimately wrote the “I’ll have what she’s having” line while they all collaborated on the scene, as Nora Ephron revealed in an interview years ago. Then, as the ideas continued flowing, Ephron remembered Rob Reiner suggested his mom.

He said of the epiphany moment:

Giving your mom the gift of an iconic movie line is priceless, but it sounds like what Estelle Reiner really cared about was the day with her son. I love that both things worked out exactly as they were intended.

The 2025 TV schedule will soon mark Super Bowl LIX, and with that annual event comes a number of commercials. Set to show up in an ad are Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, who are also joined by Sydney Sweeney. Ryan and Crystal are reuniting years after starring in one of the best romantic comedies ever, When Harry Met Sally..., and the ad revisits their iconic characters in a Katz Deli scene. Now, the veteran actors explain why they returned to stun another room full of deli patrons.

Of course, before hearing the actors' comments, you need to feast your eyes on the commercial itself, in all its nostalgic glory. Not only does it aptly pay homage to Rob Reiner's beloved 1989 film, but it also shows that his two lead actors still have that spark of chemistry. Check out how the stars faked another orgasm:

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan spoke to CNN about somewhat continuing the friend-to-lovers story established in their classic film. The actor and comedian, who previously reminisced at Katz's Deli, has long spoken about how important When Harry Met Sally... still is to him. During the interview, the You’ve Got Mail star revealed that her desire to join the ad stemmed from it being a confirmation to fans (and to her and Crystal) that their characters, Sally Albright and Harry Burns, are still good after all these years:

As a fan, I’m with the Sleepless in Seattle actress. Even if this opportunity to revisit the characters comes with a side of Hellmann’s Mayo, I’ll take it. After 35 years of viewers watching the movie, it’s a nice homage and a lovely peek into Harry and Sally's lives today. It’s good to know that all involved believe that not much has changed for the two and that the two leads are still close. (On that note, Ryan even recently roasting Crystal over the infamous orgasm scene.)

And we have to mention that quick Sydney Sweeney cameo paired with the famous, "I'll have what she's having," line.

Sydney Sweeney's presence, while unexpected, doesn't hurt. It also makes sense why she was tapped, since she’s been making waves with rom-coms more recently. Although, I personally would’ve liked to have seen Billie Lourd, the daughter of late WHMS alum Carrie Fisher, in the spot to give the reunion that little extra special touch.

Billy Crystal went on to agree with his colleague's sentiments about reuniting. He also opened up about how their relationship was on set years ago and how it compares today:

I think Billy Crystal may be hitting on the fact that few likely expected a reunion to arrive via a Hellmann's mayo commercial for the Super Bowl, but why not? It seems like both performers were pleased to jump at the chance to get back into these prolific characters. And, as one of the many When Harry Met Sally lovers, I'm glad they agreed -- and brought Sydney Sweeney along for the ride. The commercial is super sweet and serves as a reminder of why fans fell in love with the titular couple in the first place.

The commercial will be one of the many to air amid Super Bowl LIX, which you can watch on Sunday February 9th on CBS or stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

When Harry Met Sally is largely considered to be one of the best romantic comedies of all time, and yet I had never seen it before. I’ve seen just about every other Nora Ephron-penned film, but I was always hesitant to check it out in case I wound up hating it. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case, and I absolutely adored the Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal-led flick. In fact, I loved it so much that it made me realize how desperate I am for more slow-burn, friends-to-lovers-style romantic comedies.

The 1989 film begins in 1977 when college graduates Sally Albright (Ryan) and Harry Burns (Crystal) decide to carpool up to New York City to start their adult lives despite only having one mutual friend. The car ride is tumultuous, to say the least, and the two parted ways without exchanging any contact information. Five years later, their paths cross when they wind up on the same flight, but once again, they separate without sharing information.

When their paths cross again five years later, Harry and Sally are both single for the first time in years and decide to try to be friends. They spend an entire year dancing around each other before they sleep together, complicating their relationship. In the original ending, Harry and Sally don't end up together, but thankfully, director Rob Reiner changed it, and instead, the pair end up confessing their love for each other at a New Year's Eve party.

In today’s movie climate, a film covering 10 years is largely unheard of, especially in the romantic comedy genre. If you look at any of the top rom-coms from the last five years, you’ll find that most of them take place over a few days or weeks at most, thrusting the leads into epic, fast-moving relationships with flashy set pieces and high stakes. Slow-burn, friends-to-lovers stories are seen more in television shows like Netflix’s One Day or even Abbott Elementary, thanks to Janine and Gregory’s relationship.

While it makes sense for this time of romance trope to be explored in television shows where there is more time to explore these types of relationships, the classic status of When Harry Met Sally and its ability to continue to move new audiences, like me, is proof that people do want more slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romances.

In my opinion, they’re way more believable than the “love-at-first-sight” style movies that have been dominating the genre for quite some time. I always have a hard time believing two strangers could fall in love in an instant, so movies that set up characters as friends first always work better for me. Plus, there’s just so much more tension when two characters are engaged in a will-they, won’t-they type of relationship, especially when it spans a decade.

Sure, it can be frustrating watching two people dance around each other when it’s clear that they’re made for each other, but it’s the fun kind of frustrating. And it makes the pay-off when they finally get together so much more worth it.

If it was up to me, more romantic-comedy writers would study everything When Harry Met Sally did right and implement it in their own films. Since movies take so long to make, we probably won’t see a resurgence of slow-burn, friends-to-lovers movies in the 2025 releases, but there is always 2026!

Unfortunately, When Harry Met Sally isn’t streaming anywhere, but it is available to rent on Apple TV and Prime Video. And if you’re really interested in seeing if slow-burn romances are better than love-at-first-sight ones, consider checking out Ephron and Ryan’s other film, Sleepless in Seattle -- which I watched for the first time last year.

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

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

Hugh Grant

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

Renée Zellweger

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

Julia Roberts

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

Meg Ryan

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

Cameron Diaz

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

Drew Barrymore

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

Colin Firth

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

Billy Crystal

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

Cary Grant

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

Charlie Chaplin

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

Nia Long

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

Diane Keaton

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

Audrey Hepburn

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

Constance Wu

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

Richard Gere

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

Reese Witherspoon

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

Henry Golding

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

Eva Mendes

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

Sandra Bullock

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

Michael Ealy

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

Adam Sandler

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

Jennifer Garner

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

Woody Allen

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

Anne Hathaway

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

Morris Chestnut

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

Rachel McAdams

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

John Cusack

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

Kate Hudson

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

Taye Diggs

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

Ben Stiller

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

Jennifer Aniston

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

Patrick Dempsey

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

From Julia Roberts to Reese Witherspoon, there are several rom-com queens scattered throughout the kingdom, but Meg Ryan's filmography makes a very strong case for the crown. When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail — the charismatic actress has fronted some of the best romantic comedies of all time, and after a break from the silver screen, she returned to the beloved genre with 2023's What Happens Later. Along the way, the star has uttered some adorably funny quotes in her numerous rom-com flicks — here are 32 of our favorites.

"All Men Are Sure It Never Happened To Them And All Women At One Time Or Other Have Done It, So You Do The Math." - When Harry Met Sally...

The infamous Katz's deli scene from When Harry Met Sally... is the stuff of movie legend — it was reportedly Meg Ryan's idea to have her character fake pleasure in the middle of the restaurant — boosted by the cheeky banter between Sally Albright and Billy Crystal's Harry Burns.

"'Just Call Me Joe'? As If You Were One Of Those Stupid 22-Year-Old Girls With No Last Name? 'Hi, I'm Kimberly!' 'Hi, I'm Janice!' Don't They Know You're Supposed To Have A Last Name? It's Like They're An Entire Generation Of Cocktail Waitresses!" - You've Got Mail

For much of You've Got Mail, Meg Ryan's character Kathleen doesn't know that her e-mail pen pal is actually Joe Fox (played by Ryan's frequent rom-com partner Tom Hanks), her bookstore rival threatening to put her out of business. When she finds out that the "Joe" that she met at a book publishing party is actually the Joe Fox of big-box bookseller Fox Books, hilarity ensues.

"I Am Having All These Fantasies About Some Man I Have Never Even Met... Who Lives In Seattle!" - Sleepless In Seattle

The premise of the Nora Ephron-directed classic Sleepless in Seattle is certainly a romantic one — taking after An Affair to Remember, it follows a journalist (Ryan) who becomes enamored with a widowed architect (Hanks) after the latter's son calls into a talk radio program. That doesn't make it any less absurd, as Ryan's character Annie Reed hilariously realizes in the rom-com.

"Harry, You Might Not Believe This, But I Never Considered Not Sleeping With You A Sacrifice." - When Harry Met Sally...

Can men and women actually be friends? That's the whole thesis of When Harry Met Sally... and in the early days of Harry Burns and Sally Albright's connection — when they're merely snarky traveling companions — it certainly seems so, given that Sally doesn't seem to immediately swoon at the sight of Harry.

"Oh, Right. Where You Come From, Toast Is The Result Of Reflection And Study!" - Kate & Leopold

The 2001 sci-fi rom-com Kate & Leopold sees a 19th-century duke (Hugh Jackman) time-traveling to early-aughts New York City, where he encounters and falls in love with career woman Kate (Ryan). Given the contrast between their given time periods and vocations, it's not a shock that the twosome at times butt heads, such as when it comes to the effectiveness of the modern-day toaster.

"What Happens To Me When I'm Provoked Is That I Get Tongue-Tied And My Mind Goes Blank. Then I Spend All Night Tossing And Turning Trying To Figure Out What I Should Have Said. What Should I Have Said, For Example, To A Bottom Dweller Who Recently Belittled My Existence?...Nothing. Even Now, Days Later, I Can't Figure It Out!" - You've Got Mail

During one of the e-mail correspondences between Meg Ryan's "Shopgirl" and Tom Hanks's "NY152" in You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly bemoans her lack of finding the perfect insult to unleash when someone upsets her. As fans of the film know, she certainly finds those words later on during a heated run-in with Joe Fox.

"I Drove Him Away. AND I'm Gonna Be Forty...Someday!" - When Harry Met Sally...

Despite the copious tears that Sally Albright cries in this scene, it is one of the funniest in When Harry Met Sally... Meg Ryan's character is mourning the fact that her ex-boyfriend Joe (Steven Ford) has moved on and is getting married. Equally bad, she says, is that she'll soon turn 40 — in eight whole years, Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) jokingly reminds her.

"When A Man Is A Widower, Why Do We Say He Was Widowed? Why Don't We Say He Was Widowered?" - Sleepless In Seattle

Annie Reed's grammatical query in Sleepless in Seattle is a good one, especially since the man she is falling for is a recent widower. The sad backstory for Tom Hanks's character Sam Baldwin not only shaped the dynamic between him and his onscreen son (Ross Mallinger), but also reportedly Nora Ephron's script — Meg Ryan's character initially was written to have been recently dumped, but Sam's situation was deemed tragic enough already.

"Waiter, There Is Too Much Pepper On My Paprikash." - When Harry Met Sally...

This quote can arguably be credited to co-star Billy Crystal, too, since both Sally Albright and Harry Burns utter it in a memorable scene from When Harry Met Sally..., which sees the characters visit a museum and sillily converse about too much pepper on paprikash and “pecan piiiie.”

"It happened In Spain. People Do Really Stupid Things In Foreign Countries!" - You've Got Mail

Elderly bookkeeper Birdie (played by the one and only Jean Stapleton) in You've Got Mail has lived. Need proof? She may or may not have fallen in with Francisco Franco back in the 1960s. Kathleen (Meg Ryan) brushes it off as a mere case of traveler's overexcitement, to which boyfriend Frank (Greg Kinnear) retorts: "They buy leather jackets for much more than they're worth. But they don't fall in love with fascist dictators!"

"You See? That Is Just Like You, Harry. You Say Things Like That, And You Make It Impossible For Me To Hate You." - When Harry Met Sally...

With a speech like the one Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) gives to Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) at the end of When Harry Met Sally... — in which he details all of the random things he loves about her, from the fact that she gets cold " when it's 71 degrees out" and takes "an hour and a half to order a sandwich" — we can't blame her for getting teary-eyed.

"I'm Not Saying I Want Him Dead. But, Should That Occur... People Die Every Day, Why Should He Be Any Different? I'm Just Thinking On My Feet, Though. I Don't Have To Decide The Death Part Right Now, I Can Just Wait And See How I Feel Once His Dignity's A Thing Of The Past." - Addicted To Love

Trying to get over an ex is tough but Maggie (Meg Ryan) in the 1997 black comedy Addicted to Love takes it to another level — she seeks revenge on her ex-fiancé Anton (Tchéky Karyo) by partnering up with Sam (Matthew Broderick), the ex of Anton's new lover Linda.

"Yes, I Do, and I Just Told The Most Terrible One To The Man I'm About To Marry. Do You Feel That Any Lie Is A Betrayal?" - Sleepless In Seattle

Consider it a case of an overly loud jet engine — when Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) mistakenly thinks that her airplane seatmate asked her if she hates lying, instead of flying, she hilariously gives the stranger this overly intimate response during their flight to Seattle.

"You're Afraid Of The Commitment? You're Gonna Have To Love And Honor Me For About 30 Seconds, You Can't Handle That?" - Joe Versus the Volcano

Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) and Patricia Graynamore (Meg Ryan) definitely don't have what you'd call a traditional white wedding in the 1990 rom-com Joe Versus the Volcano — the new couple has to immediately jump into a fiery tropical volcano as part of a deal Joe made with Patricia's wealthy dad. (Don't worry, they ended up being fine.)

"Once I Read A Story About A Butterfly In The Subway, And Today I Saw One! It Got On At 42nd And Off At 59th, Where, I Assume, It Was Going To Bloomingdales To Buy A Hat That Will Turn Out To Be A Mistake, As Almost All Hats Are." - You've Got Mail

Before their identities are revealed at the end of You've Got Mail, Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) wins over Joe Fox's (Tom Hanks) heart with her funny musings over email, including this butterfly-related tangent. As Joe declares to a friend in the movie: "Kevin, this woman is the most adorable creature I've ever been in contact with."

"Did You Know There Are 452 Official Kinds Of Cheese In This Country, Isn't That Amazing? To Find 452 Ways To Classify What Is Essentially A Bacterial Process? Don't You Think That's Amazing?" - French Kiss

You can't really blame Kate (Meg Ryan) for waxing poetic about all of the fresh cheese you can find in France—the country sure knows its way around funky fromage. If she wasn't so busy unknowingly smuggling a stolen diamond necklace into Paris for Kevin Kline's Luc Teyssier, she'd have plenty more cheese-snacking time.

"Now Those Were The Days When People Knew How To Be In Love. They Knew It! Time, Distance...Nothing Could Separate Them Because They Knew It Was Right, It Was Real!" - Sleepless In Seattle

We can't blame Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) — who is a big fan of the heartbreaking Cary Grant classic An Affair to Remember— for conflating a movie romance with real life. We do the same thing every time we watch one of Ryan's rom-coms!

"I'd Like The Chef's Salad, Please, With The Oil And Vinegar On The Side And The Apple Pie A La Mode. But I'd Like The Pie Heated, And I Don't Want The Ice Cream On Top, I Want It On The Side, And I'd Like Strawberry Instead Of Vanilla If You Have It. If Not, Then No Ice Cream, Just Whipped Cream, But Only If It's Real. If It's Out Of A Can, Then Nothing." - When Harry Met Sally...

One of the loveable quirks about Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) in When Harry Met Sally... is that she's a waiter's worst nightmare, with very picky eating habits and a good deal of neurosis. Thankfully, in Harry Burns (Billy Crystal), she finds a romantic partner who not only doesn't mind her tableside fussiness but also finds it quite charming.

"I Have You To Thank For It. For The First Time In My Life, When Confronted With A Horrible, Insensitive Person, I Knew Exactly What I Wanted To Say And I Said It!" - You've Got Mail

"That was a perfect blend of poetry and meanness," a stunned Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) tells his bookstore rival Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) in You've Got Mail, after the latter had "a breakthrough" and delivered a scathing criticism of his character ("If I really knew you, I know what I would find. Instead of a brain, a cash register. Instead of a heart, a bottom line.")

"Not Once. It's This Very Cold, Hard Mexican Ceramic Tile." - When Harry Met Sally...

Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) mournfully recounts to her pal Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) how she and her ex Joe never took advantage of the fact that they didn't have kids and thus had all of the time and freedom to hook up on the kitchen floor. It was because the relationship wasn't right, and neither were the floors.

"I Love Daisies! They're So Friendly. Don't You Think Daisies Are The Friendliest Flower?" - You've Got Mail

Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) is totally right: this bloom-based observance that the bookstore owner utters in You've Got Mail is your reminder to go buy yourself a bouquet of daisies. Your day will instantly be brighter.

"Harry, You're Going To Have To Try And Find A Way Of Not Expressing Every Feeling That You Have, Every Moment That You Have Them." - When Harry Met Sally...

Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) has her fair share of quirks — her penchant for precise food orders, for one — but Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) is no slouch in that department, too, including his brutal honesty and brooding nature. Hence why Sally has to give him a needed dose of tough love when he loses it over an ugly wagon-wheel coffee table in When Harry Met Sally... It wouldn't be a good enemies-to-lovers story without it!

“What Are You Doing? What Is That? What Are You Doing? You’re Taking All The Caviar? That Caviar Is A Garnish!” - You've Got Mail

We don't know about you, but we'll never look out a bowl of Beluga pearls quite the same way after Kathleen Kelly's hilariously heated harangue over caviar etiquette in You've Got Mail. Equally funny is Tom Hanks' Joe Fox scooping up the bulk of the fish eggs just to spite her.

"It Means Nothing. It Was Written Before I Went Out There. Before The Ho. The Only Thing Is, She Didn't Look Like A Ho. She Looked Like Somebody We Would've Been Friends With." - Sleepless In Seattle

Annie Reed's support system in Sleepless in Seattle is in the funny form of BFF and editor Becky, played by Rosie O'Donnell. In one scene, the girlfriends have a gabbing debrief after Annie returns back from Seattle to scope out Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) and the "ho" he was dating.

"I Sleep Naked. It's The Only Way I'm Comfortable, So Don't Think Of It As A Come-on, Because If You So Much As Breathe In My Direction, I Will Nail Your Willy To That Beam." - Addicted to Love

In Addicted to Love, Matthew Broderick's Sam and Meg Ryan's Maggie are two jilted lovers who resort to a bunch of nasty schemes to break up their respective former partners. But clearly Maggie doesn't want them to confuse revenge with romance, as she sets clear boundaries about their sleeping arrangements.

"They Don't Make Sunday...because Of God." - When Harry Met Sally...

In the exceptionally talk-y romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., we learn a lot of intimate information about our leading lady Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), including that she wears days-of-the-week underwear. The set's lack of Sunday underpants hilariously caused some relationship issues with her ex Sheldon.

"No Dying Now, Mr. Messinger. Not Until You Give Me Seth's Phone Number." - City of Angels

In the 1998 fantasy-romance City of Angels, guardian angel Seth (Nic Cage) finds a human buddy in the form of Nathaniel Messinger (Dennis Franz), one of the hospital patients of Dr. Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan). Talk about a literal wing man!

"Jeff Said It Would Last Longer With The Show On To Distract Him. Got All The Answers Wrong Except For Sports. By Double Jeopardy!, He Was Done; By Final Jeopardy!, He Was On His Way Home." - French Kiss

In the '90s rom-com French Kiss, Meg Ryan's character Kate humorously offers up the details of her devirginization at 18 years old with a jock named Jeff. The experience apparently included a basement, Valentine's Day and, oddly, game-show legend Alex Trebek.

"She Was A Real Romantic, My Mom. When, When Prince Charles And Lady Di Got Married, She Had A Party, She Made Crumpets And Jam. It Was Like A Super Bowl Party, But For Moms. She Cried For A Week." - Kate & Leopold

Luckily for Kate (Meg Ryan) — and her mom — her romance with time-traveling gent Leopold (Hugh Jackman) turned out far more successful than the doomed marriage between Prince Charles and Diana Spencer.

"You Know, I'm So Glad I Never Got Involved With You. I Just Would Have Ended Up Being Some Woman You Had To Get Up Out Of Bed And Leave At 3:00 In The Morning And Go Clean Your Andirons, And You Don't Even Have A Fireplace, Not That I Would Know This." - When Harry Met Sally...

Little did Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) know, she very much did eventually get involved with Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) but luckily for these two enemies-turned-lovers, we don't think Harry would be kicking Sally out of bed in the wee hours anytime soon.

"Why Do You Wear The Same Clothes All The Time? Why Won't You Give Me Your Phone Number? Are You Married? Are You Homeless? Are You A Drummer?" - City Of Angels

Seth (Nicolas Cage) from City of Angels has a good answer to all of Maggie's (Meg Ryan) questions: she might be a mortal woman but he's actually a full-fledged angel!

"I Wanted It To Be You. I Wanted It To Be You So Badly." - You've Got Mail

Okay, sure, the final lines of You've Got Mail aren't exactly "ha ha" funny but it is ironically funny that the man Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) has been secretly pining for the whole time turned out to be her archnemesis Joe Fox (Tom Hanks.)

The 1980s was not just a great time for movies but for the people in them. Many of our all-time favorite actors got their start in '80s movies (or at least started to hit it big during that time).

The question is, in what film did these stars hit their peak of cinematic brilliance during that decade? Let's see if we can provide an answer by looking at the best '80s movies starring the most iconic '80s actors, in our opinion.

Bruce Willis (Die Hard)

While the TV series Moonlighting made Bruce Willis a household name, playing John McClane, a New York cop at war with violent German thieves in an LA high-rise on Christmas Eve, made him a movie star in 1988. However, Die Hard might be the actor's best film in any decade, let alone the greatest action movie of all time. 

Sigourney Weaver (Aliens)

Fans have been debating which is the best Alien movie for years but no one disagrees that James Cameron's Aliens is the best Alien movie of the '80s. The 1986 sci-fi movie classic, in which our human protagonists take on plenty more than just one vicious extraterrestrial this time, saw Sigourney Weaver reprise Xenomorph survivor Ellen Ripley to Academy Award-nominated acclaim.

Jack Nicholson (Terms Of Endearment)

The single most iconic Jack Nicolson performance from the 1980s, arguably, comes from the horror movie classic, The Shining. However, we chose to highlight his Academy Award-winning performance in director James L. Brooks' tragic 1983 Best Picture Oscar winner, Terms of Endearment, as Garrett, who forms a complicated relationship with his widowed next-door neighbor, Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine). 

Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally...)

Meg Ryan made up one of Hollywood's most beloved onscreen couples with Tom Hanks, but we loved her the most in the '80s when she was falling in love with Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... Considered one of the greatest rom-coms of all time, director Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's clever and sweet 1989 favorite traces the titular duo's evolution from enemies, to friends, to lovers over the course of 12 years.

Tom Cruise (Top Gun)

Everyone had the need, the need for speed, in 1986 when director Tony Scott's romantic, action-packed instant classic, Top Gun, ruled the box office, captured the hearts of audiences everywhere, and spawned an acclaimed blockbuster sequel in 2022 called Top Gun: Maverick. If Tom Cruise was not a movie star before then, there was no doubt he was at the top of A-list after giving his all as daredevil Navy pilot, Maverick.

Meryl Streep (Sophie's Choice)

There are few actors with as much esteem in Hollywood as the great Meryl Streep, who earned her second Academy Award for her mesmerizing, heartbreaking performance in the title role of Sophie’s Choice. Writer and director Alan J. Pakula's adaptation of William Styron's passionate novel follows the relationship between a Polish woman who survived the Holocaust and a Jewish-American man (played by Kevin Kline) who is obsessed with the tragedy.

Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice)

The all-time best Michael Keaton movie and performance might always be up for debate but no one can deny that, in the 1980s, no film saw him demonstrate his high-energy comedic talents and versatility better than Beetlejuice. The Oscar nominee plays the title role of Tim Burton's 1988 horror-comedy classic (actually spelled "Betelgeuse") — a sleazy "bio-exorcist" begrudgingly enlisted by a recently deceased couple (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) to scare their home's new inhabitants out.

Sally Field (Steel Magnolias)

The 1980s was a great time for Sally Field, who won both of her Oscars during that decade — one for Norma Rae in 1980 and another in 1985 for Places in the Heart. However, we believe the one film that best encapsulates the actor's stunning range is the powerful, charming 1989 dramedy Steel Magnolias, in which she shines brightly among an ensemble cast including Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah, and Julia Roberts as a close-knit group of Louisiana women.

Eddie Murphy (Coming To America)

There were few movie stars in the '80s bigger than Eddie Murphy, who made such a huge impact in very little time on SNL before hitting it big with feature-length classics like 48 Hrs. and Beverly Hills Cop. Yet, 1988's Coming to America was the first film to see him disappear into multiple roles and, not to mention, African Prince Akeem's search for love in Queens, New York, amounts to a hilarious and heartfelt story.

Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club)

The first face we tend to picture when we think of the Brat Pack is Molly Ringwald, who was the go-to young female actor for coming-of-age dramedies of the '80s, such as Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. However, her best film — and, arguably, the greatest high school movie of all time — is writer and director John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, in which she and four of the decade's most essential stars (Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, and Judd Nelson) play a group of socially disparate teens who find unexpected kinship during Saturday detention.

Denzel Washington (Cry Freedom)

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington received his first Oscar nomination for his moving portrayal of activist Steve Biko in director Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom. The 1987 film focuses primarily on the friendship between the influential Black anti-Apartheid activist and the white South African journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline), who puts his own life at risk to investigate Biko's death.

Jodie Foster (The Accused)

Not only does 1988's The Accused feature one of Jodie Foster's most powerful, Academy Award-winning performances, but it is also an enduringly relevant indictment of a flawed justice system that silences women. Foster plays Sarah Tobias, the victim of a violent assault who, along with her prosecuting attorney, Katheryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis), is challenged by a case that puts the blame on her.

Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)

Out of all of Robert De Niro and director Martin Scorsese's collaborations, none have been as unique and as moving as 1980's Raging Bull. De Niro delivers a roaring one-two punch in the masterful sports movie as real-life boxer Jake LaMotta, tracing his rousing success in the ring and his tragic self-destructive tendencies outside of it.

Cher (Moonstruck)

In 1987, Cher proved that she was a master in both the world of music and the world of acting with her Academy Award-winning performance as Loretta Castorini in Moonstruck. Soon after the widowed Italian-American woman agrees to marry her boyfriend, Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), she finds herself falling deeper and deeper in love with his brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage).

Harrison Ford (Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

One of Harrison Ford's all-time greatest characters is the rough, resourceful, globe-trotting archeologist Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones. The iconic hero was first introduced in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark — director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas' tribute to cinema that would later inspire countless tributes to its stunning visual design, John Williams' sweeping score, and its endlessly thrilling, wall-to-wall action.

Diane Keaton (Reds)

Diane Keaton is an absolute revelation in co-writer and director Warren Beatty's 1981 historical epic, Reds. She plays famed activist Louise Bryant who falls in love with radical-minded fellow journalist John Reed (Beatty) as he hopes to bring the ideals of Russia's Communist Revolution to the United States.

Robin Williams (Dead Poets Society)

The late Robin Williams gives us the best of both his comedic energy and dramatic authenticity in director Peter Weir's moving 1989 drama Dead Poet's Society. As English teacher John Keating, he serves as a much-needed role model to a close-knit group of Catholic boarding school students (played by rising stars such as Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard) who learn how to seize the day.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface)

It was in the '90s when three-time Academy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer really began to hit her stride but her strongest work in the '80s is, arguably, Scarface. She stars in director Brian de Palma's 1983 gangster movie classic as Elvira Hancock, who becomes the wife of Cuban crime lord, Tony Montana (Oscar winner Al Pacino).

Morgan Freeman (Glory)

One of the most inspiring Morgan Freeman performances comes from 1989's beloved, moving war movie, Glory. The Oscar winner stars as Sergeant Major John Rawlins, who is the highest-ranked Black member of his regiment in the U.S. Army during the Civil War.

Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)

Legendary comedian Whoopi Goldberg earned her first Academy Award nomination for her heartbreaking performance as Celie Johnson in 1985's The Color Purple. Director Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's seminal novel chronicles decades in the life of the Black, Southern woman as she endures dehumanizing adversity and traumatic abuse. 

Kurt Russell (Escape From New York)

One of co-writer and director John Carpenter's best movies, 1981's Escape from New York, takes place in a war-torn future when Air Force One crash lands inside a maximum security prison that used to be the Big Apple and the President of the United States (Donald Pleasance) is taken hostage by the prisoners. The only one who can save him is a recently arrested, hardened war veteran named Snake Plissken, which is easily one of Kurt Russell's coolest roles and certainly one of his greatest performances.

Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction)

While we do not condone treacherous acts like boiling a family's pet rabbit alive, we would consider Alex Forrest to be a villain with understandable motivations, and not just because Glenn Close gives a brilliant performance in 1987's intense thriller, Fatal Attraction. It was married lawyer Dan Gallagher's (Michael Douglas) mistake to indulge in a one-time fling with the New York editor, who then misconstrues the affair for love and continues to taunt him and his family in increasingly horrifying ways.

Sylvester Stallone (First Blood)

Sylvester Stallone has played many iconic roles in many great action movies, especially in the 1980s, but his best role from that decade would have to be John Rambo in First Blood. The 1981 adaptation of David Morell's novel is not a conventional shoot-em-up thriller like the later Rambo movies but an emotionally charged, nuanced drama in which the burdened Vietnam veteran is pushed to the edge by a cruel sheriff (Brian Dennehy) and wages a war against a whole town.

Goldie Hawn (Overboard)

Many of Oscar winner Goldie Hawn's most memorable roles see her sharing the screen with her real-life romantic partner, Kurt Russell, and the couple's chemistry was at an all-time high in director Garry Marshall's Overboard. Hawn stars in the inventive and charming 1987 rom-com as a spoiled socialite with amnesia who is convinced by a carpenter (Russell) that she is his wife and the mother of his four boys to get back at her for her cruel treatment. 

Bill Murray (Ghostbusters)

Academy Award nominee Bill Murray is one of the most beloved comedic talents of the '80s (or any decade, really) and to understand why, all you need to do is watch 1984's Ghostbusters. Also one of director Ivan Reitman's best movies, the spooky, kooky classic sees Murray's masterfully witty Peter Venkman team up with Ray Stantz (writer Dan Aykroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), and Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) to rid New York of its scariest spirits.

Geena Davis (The Accidental Tourist)

Geena Davis earned an Academy Award for her wonderfully eccentric performance in 1988's The Accidental Tourist as Muriel Pritchett. Emotionally distant travel writer Macon Leary (William Hurt) meets and begins to fall for the free-spirited dog trainer after splitting with his wife (played by Kathleen Turner), following the death of their son, in director Lawrence Kasdan's moving dramedy. 

Kevin Bacon (Footloose)

It is no wonder why Chris Prat's Peter Quill regarded Kevin Bacon's role in Footloose as one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history. Ren singlehandedly brought dance back to the cruelly repressed small town of Bomont in the timelessly entertaining music movie from 1984.

Kathleen Turner (Romancing The Stone)

The ultimate romantic adventure comedy would have to be director Robert Zemeckis' 1984 hit, Romancing the Stone. Kathleen Turner is wonderful as novelist Joan Wilder, who enlists the help of a rogue mercenary to help rescue her kidnapped sister in Colombia and ends up joining him on the search for a prized artifact. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator)

The film that made Arnold Schwarzenegger the leading action movie hero of the 1980s remains his best action movie from the decade, as far as we are concerned. The Austrian bodybuilder gives a pitch-perfect, ice-cold performance as one of the best '80s movie villains — the cybernetic title role of James Cameron's The Terminator, which is sent from a war-torn future to prevent the birth of humanity's savior by killing his mother, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton).

Jane Fonda (9 To 5)

After taking the '70s by storm as one of the decade's biggest and most acclaimed stars, Jane Fonda started off the 1980s right with 9 to 5. In the hilarious workplace satire, her character, Judy Bernly, teams up with fellow office assistants Violet (Lily Tomlin) and Doralee (Dolly Parton) to turn the tables on their nightmare of a boss (played by Dabney Coleman).

Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man)

In his second Academy Award-winning performance, Dustin Hoffman plays autistic-savant Raymond Babbitt in Barry Levinson's Best Picture Oscar winner, Rain Man. He stars opposite Tom Cruise as his younger brother, Charlie, who gets to meet him for the first time in this beautiful family story from 1988. 

Daryl Hannah (Wall Street)

You can find Daryl Hannah in many of the '80s' most iconic cinematic classics but the cream of the crop would have to be Wall Street. She stars in Oliver Stone's riveting 1987 drama as Darien Taylor, who once shared a romance with corrupt stockbroker Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) and begins a relationship with his ambitious protege, Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen).

Whenever we talk about the best ‘90s movies, it doesn’t take long before the conversation turns to the most iconic actors of the final decade of the 20th century and their most beloved performances. But what are Will Smith’s, Julia Roberts’, or Keanu Reeves’ best movies for the unforgettable and transformative 10-year stretch? 

We’re being totally subjective here (Because why not?), but here are the best ‘90s movies for these 32 actors. Best Picture winners, a handful of the best action movies of all time, and other films that turned up-and-comers into overnight megastars can all be found below.

Will Smith (Independence Day)

Will Smith was already a household name by the time Independence Day was released and became the biggest movie of 1996, but this massive sci-fi flick took him to new heights. Electric, magnetic, and charismatic beyond belief, the Fresh Prince became the King of the summer blockbuster with his portrayal of Captain Steven Hiller.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic)

Is there a bigger ‘90s movie than Titanic, both in terms of financial returns and cultural prominence? Yeah, James Cameron’s story of the ill-fated ship, his special effects, and the rest of the cast made this 1997 disaster movie a must-see, but Leonardo DiCaprio, with his “King of the World” moment, made this an all-timer. 

Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire)

Picking the best ‘90s movie for Tom Cruise is no easy task, considering some of the actor’s best performances took place that decade. However, despite Magnolia and Mission: Impossible being great in their own ways, this has to go to Cruise’s dynamic portrayal of the struggling sports agent in Jerry Maguire. “Show me the money,” is a quote we keep in our repertoire nearly 30 years later. 

Sandra Bullock (Speed)

Sandra Bullock put herself on the map with her performance in Speed, one of the most iconic 1994 movies. Though she was great in Demolition Man the year before, Bullock’s take on Annie Porter made her an overnight sensation and quickly became one of her best roles to date, even outside the ‘90s.

Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption)

How Morgan Freeman didn’t win an Oscar for his performance in The Shawshank Redemption is one of the biggest mysteries, and travesties, in Hollywood history. His portrayal of Ellis "Red" Redding in this spectacular Stephen King adaptation is so strong and so believable that you don’t see him as an actor playing an inmate, but more like an aging prisoner trying to “get busy living or get busy dying.”

Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction)

As much as we would have loved to argue for Jurassic Park being Samuel L. Jackson’s best ‘90s movie, Ray Arnold has nothing on the bad mother [redacted] that was Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction. Easily Quentin Tarantino’s best movie, this 1994 classic is essentially a master class in dialogue and non-linear storytelling.

Meg Ryan (Sleepless In Seattle)

A few years after leading the best romantic comedy of all time with When Harry Met Sally, Meg Ryan teamed up with Nora Ephron (who was directing this time around) for Sleepless in Seattle in 1993. The chemistry between Ryan and Tom Hanks as Annie Reed and Sam Baldwin, is incredible, even if they only share a couple minutes of screentime.

Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman)

It’s hard to imagine what Julia Roberts’ career and Hollywood in general would be like if the actress didn’t play Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman. Sure, Roberts already had some hits and would have gone on to land big roles, but this 1990 rom-com instantly made her one of the brightest stars on the planet and showed off her dynamic range and impeccable comedic timing.

Angela Bassett (What's Love Got To Do With It)

Angela Bassett’s best movie, What’s Love Got to Do with It saw the celebrated actress take on the role of the legendary Tina Turner in this 1993 biopic about the late singer’s life, career, and toxic relationship with husband and music partner Ike Turner. Bassett had some pretty iconic ‘90s roles throughout the decade, but this is at the tippy top of the mountain.

Keanu Reeves (The Matrix)

Picking Keanu Reeves’ best movie of the 1990s is more difficult than you’d think. Point Break, My Private Idaho, and Speed are all contenders, but none come close to the heights of The Matrix and his performance as Neo, aka, the One. Watching Reeves’ character develop throughout this great ‘90s sci-fi film never gets old.

Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting)

Robin Williams had SO many good movies in the ‘90s, but Good Will Hunting was in a league of its own, at least in terms of performances by the late comedian. The richness, range, and emotion found in his portrayal of Sean Maguire is something to behold. No wonder he took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Bruce Willis (The Sixth Sense)

The ‘90s saw Bruce Willis play everything from his most iconic character in the second and third Die Hard movies to the leads in multiple blockbusters. However, none of those compare to his work in The Sixth Sense. There is just something so warm and refreshing about his portrayal of a child psychiatrist trying to help a young boy make sense of life and his strange gift.

Harrison Ford (The Fugitive)

Have you gone back and watched The Fugitive lately? If not, do so now. If you have, you’re all too familiar with Harrison Ford’s performance as Richard Kimble, the Chicago doctor trying to clear his name after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife. Air Force One and Clear and Present Danger are great, but this 1993 thriller is one of Ford’s career-best.

Frances McDormand (Fargo)

Frances McDormand’s portrayal of Marge Gunderson in the Coen Brothers' Fargo earned the actress the first of her three Academy Awards, and for good reason: she’s the heart and soul of the 1996 crime comedy.  

Gary Oldman (The Fifth Element)

Gary Oldman played some of the meanest ‘90s villains in movies like Air Force One, Leon: The Professional, and The Fifth Element, the latter of which features his best work of the decade. Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg is one of those characters that you love to hate and enjoy watching as much as the 1997 sci-fi film’s hero, which is saying something.

Wesley Snipes (White Men Can't Jump)

In the years following his breakout performance in Major League, Wesley Snipes became one of the dependable faces in Hollywood thanks to unforgettable turns in New Jack City, Demolition Man, and Jungle Fever. But let’s be real, Snipes’ take on Syd Deane is one of the most iconic ‘90s characters and essentially carries this all-time great basketball movie.

Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan)

Tom Hanks dominated the ‘90s with Oscar-winning performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump as well as other decade-defining films like Toy Story and A League of Their Own. But in terms of the BEST movie, that has to go to Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg’s harrowing World War II epic about heroism, survival, and the hope of a better tomorrow.

Robert De Niro (Cape Fear)

We could have listed Goodfellas, Heat, or even A Bronx Tale as Robert De Niro’s best movie from the ‘90s, but his performance as Max Cady in Cape Fear is on a whole other level. Easily one of the Oscar winner’s most menacing characters, the psychopathic ex-con with a bone to pick is a force of pure evil here.

Al Pacino (Heat)

After playing all-time great gangsters in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Al Pacino was on the other side of the law in Michael Mann’s 1995 crime epic, Heat. Sure, Scent of a Woman earned him that elusive Oscar for Best Actor, but his take on Lieutenant Vincent Hanna is the stuff of legend. Plus, we also got to see Pacino and Robert De Niro share a scene for the first time.

Anthony Hopkins (The Silence Of The Lambs)

Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs is one of the greatest performances of all time. That said, it should be no surprise that this great horror film gets the call here. Though there was some stiff competition.

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Boogie Nights)

As much as we would love to break down all the awesome ways Philip Seymour Hoffman stole the show in Twister and My Boyfriend’s Back, the late actor really came into his own in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 drama, Boogie Nights. Hoffman’s sympathetic take on Scotty J. was nothing short of brilliant and showed what was to come.

Jodie Foster (The Silence Of The Lambs)

If you were to break down Jodie Foster’s best performances, her portrayal of Clarice Starling would be at or near the top of that list. A movie that has been quoted or referenced countless times over the years, this 1991 thriller remains one of the best ever made.

Brad Pitt (Seven)

David Fincher’s Seven is Brad Pitt’s best movie from the ‘90s for a variety of reasons: 1) the movie about a serial killer taking lives based on the seven deadly sins is violently unique, 2) it was the start of a partnership between actor and director, and 3) Pitt showed he was more than a pretty face and really had what it took.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (T2: Judgment Day)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is not only a decade-defining action movie or a landmark achievement in visual effects, it’s also Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best movie of the ‘90s and perhaps all time. James Cameron’s sequel is bigger and louder than its predecessor and epic beyond compare.

Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act)

Whoopi Goldberg won her first Academy Award for her role as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost, a film that kicked off an impressive decade for the comedian and actor. Her spiritual guide for Patrick Swayze’s ghostly Sam Wheat in this supernatural thriller helped anchor the film and turn it into the biggest movie of 1990.

Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting)

Matt Damon went from a relatively unknown actor to one of the brightest faces (and voices) in Hollywood thanks to Good Will Hunting. His tortured performance as a young math prodigy in South Boston is still captivating more than 25 years later.

Eddie Murphy (The Nutty Professor)

Eddie Murphy did a little bit of everything in the ‘90s, but The Nutty Professor shows off some of the comedian’s best work. Playing multiple characters (heroes, villains, and in between) really showed off Murphy’s dynamic range and varied comedic styles.

Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore)

Though Big Daddy proved that Adam Sandler could handle slightly more dramatic roles, there’s no denying the fact that Happy Gilmore is the former SNL star’s best ‘90s movie. His take on a failed hockey player finding new purpose (and fortune) in the world of golf was a game-changer and created one of the best sports characters of all time.

Denzel Washington (Malcolm X)

Denzel Washington is another actor who had more great roles in the ‘90s than we can count, but at the top of his “best” list is Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic, Malcolm X. The movie about the controversial civil rights icon was eye-opening, enchanting, and epic.

Joe Pesci (Goodfellas)

We could have talked about My Cousin Vinny, we could have talked about Home Alone, and we could have even made a case for Casino, but none of that is possible without Goodfellas. The movie, which introduced the world to Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito, is one of the greatest gangster movies of all time and an influential piece of cinema we still rave about 30-plus years later.

Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise)

Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, a movie featuring one of the best female friendships with Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis’ titular characters, helped kickstart the decade back in 1990. Easily Sarandon’s best movie of the ‘90s, this crime drama about two friends on the run from the law is just so dang great.

Jim Carrey (Dumb & Dumber)

Jim Carrey absolutely dominated the ‘90s comedy scene, and the box office in general back in 1994. While Ace Ventura Pet Detective and The Mask both have their moments, we have to be real for a second and admit that Dumb and Dumber is some of Carrey’s best work.

Movie fans had lots to love in the '90s and these actors and their best movies of the decade will never be forgotten.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

Actors make good movies and actors make bad movies. It’s just the law of averages and part of the game. However, sometimes an actor shows up in a movie so repugnant that it becomes a detriment to their career or ruins it entirely. One day you’re winning the Oscar for Best Picture, the next you’re taking home some Razzies.

Come with us as we break down 32 movies that ruined an actor’s career and what made them so bad. The perennial A-listers who ran out of steam and up-and-comers whose rise to fame was cut short on this list are wild, to say the least.

The Love Guru (Mike Myers)

Mike Myers had a stellar career on Saturday Night Live and was one of the funniest movie stars of the latter part of the 20th century thanks to ‘90s comedy movies like Wayne’s World and Austin Powers franchises, but the 2000s weren’t as kind to the comedian. After a string of duds, Myers starred in 2008’s The Love Guru, a “comedy” so bad, so tasteless, and so unfunny that Myers never really rebounded outside of voice roles.

Showgirls (Elizabeth Berkley)

Elizabeth Berkley seemed like a star on the rise after ending her run on Saved by the Bell in the early ‘90s, but that all came crashing down after taking the lead role in Paul Verhoeven’s erotic drama, Showgirls. Sure, the movie about a young drifter finding her place in Las Vegas’ showgirl scene is considered a cult classic years later, but there’s a reason we didn’t see too much of Berkley on the big screen after this one.

Batman & Robin (Alicia Silverstone)

Alicia Silverstone was one of the “it” girls of ‘90s cinema thanks to iconic performances in the likes of Clueless, The Crush, and all those Aerosmith videos, so it only seemed natural for her to land one of the lead roles in Batman & Robin. Unfortunately for Silverstone, and everyone else involved, the movie was abysmal and resulted in a complete reboot of the franchise, one that wouldn’t arrive until Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins debuted nearly a decade later.

The Master Of Disguise (Dana Carvey)

Both before and after his SNL run, Dana Carvey appeared in classics like This Is Spinal Tap and Wayne’s World. That success would run dry with the 2002 release of The Master of Disguise, a movie that showcased Carvey’s zany characters, but not much else. 

Rollerball (Chris Klein)

Remember when Chris Klein seemed like a star in the making after great performances in Election and American Pie? Well, that was all ruined with the 2002 release of Rollerball, a remake of a better and more cohesive ‘70s movie of the same name. 

Norbit (Eddie Murphy)

Some of Eddie Murphy’s best movies were those where he played multiple characters, but Norbit is no Coming to America or The Nutty Professor. This 2007 comedy saw Murphy play an unhappily married couple and was received so poorly that people are still not convinced it didn't cost him an Oscar for his Dreamgirls performance.

Superman Returns (Brandon Routh)

It’s not like Brandon Routh never acted again after playing the titular hero in Superman Returns, but it’s safe to say his career never reached great heights after the 2006 movie either. He was great as Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but Routh hasn’t had a remarkable go of it after having such a grand start.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (Ahmed Best)

It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace was so bad. It’s not Ahmed Best’s fault Jar Jar Binks has become one of the most detested characters in the galaxy far, far away. And it’s not Ahmed Best’s fault his career was ruined by the 1999 prequel film. 

In The Cut (Meg Ryan)

Meg Ryan was coming off a string of appearing in some of the best romantic comedies of all time when she took on a more dramatic role in the 2003 thriller, In the Cut. But for some reason, Jane Campion’s thriller about a woman getting wrapped up in a series of murders just didn’t work.

Battlefield Earth (John Travolta)

Battlefield Earth, with all of its Dutch angles, terrible lines, and over-the-top performances was so bad that it canceled out all the goodwill John Travolta earned with Pulp Fiction not even a decade earlier.

Soul Man (C. Thomas Howell)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Outsiders, and  Red Dawn all made C. Thomas Howell one of the brightest young Hollywood stars in the early-to-mid ‘80s, but then came Soul Man, a movie in which he wore blackface. Howell’s been in scores of movies since, but most are direct-to-video or bargain bin material.

Son Of The Mask (Jamie Kennedy)

A sequel no one wanted, Son of the Mask brought in Jamie Kennedy to try and recapture the energy of Jim Carrey more than a decade earlier. Despite his best efforts, the Malibu’s Most Wanted and Scream star just couldn’t do it (maybe the script is to blame), and he never really rebounded. 

Sahara (Matthew McConaughey)

Though not Matthew McConaughey’s worst movie, Sahara is far from being his best. Released nearly a decade before the Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective star won all kinds of awards during the peak of the “McConaissance,” this 2005 dud was one of the straws that broke the camel’s back.

Abduction (Taylor Lautner)

Remember when Taylor Lautner seemed like one of the biggest stars on the planet and then abruptly disappeared? Well, we probably have Abduction, his 2011 action thriller to blame for that. Though he would have a few movies after the Twilight saga ended the next year, but Grown Ups 2 and The Ridiculous 6 finished off what Abduction started.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch)

John Carter was supposed to be the biggest movie and Taylor Kitsch was going to become the biggest action star, but neither happened after this 2012 box office disaster happened. The Friday Night Lights star would show up some more on the small screen in the years that followed with True Detective Season 2 and the bonkers Waco limited series.

The Godfather Part III (Sofia Coppola)

Before becoming one of the big filmmakers of her time and crafting movies like Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and Priscilla, Sofia Coppola began as an actress, appearing in many films by her father, Francis Ford Coppola. But that acting career pretty much came to an end following the release of The Godfather Part III, in which she replaced Winona Ryder and was then torn apart by critics.

Josie And The Pussycats (Rachael Leigh Cook)

In the late ‘90s, Rachael Leigh Cook became a massive star thanks to her take on Laney Boggs in She’s All That. But then came the 2001 adaptation of Josie and the Pussycats, a movie so bad that no one was safe from its fallout outside of Rosario Dawson and Parker Posey.

The Postman (Kevin Costner)

Kevin Costner was on top of the world when he decided to direct and star in The Postman. But unlike Dances with Wolves, which earned him multiple Oscars and a ton of praise, this 1997 sci-fi epic didn’t impress anyone and set the actor back a bit. He’s since rebounded, but it’s not hard to imagine “what if” in this case.

After Earth (Jaden Smith)

With memorable performances in The Pursuit of Happyness and The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith seemed like the next second-generation star to take over Hollywood. But then came After Earth, a forgettable (at best) sci-fi thriller alongside his dad, Will Smith. 

Pinocchio (Roberto Benigni)

For a while there, it seemed like Roberto Benigni couldn’t do anything wrong as both an actor and filmmaker. Well, that all changed with his 2002 adaptation of Pinocchio, specifically the English dub, which earned a stunning 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. He’s only appeared in a handful of movies since, including the 2019 adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale.

The Passion Of The Christ (Jim Caviezel)

Though he’ll always be recognizable thanks to his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel’s career was never the same after this historic film. He’s still making movies, but not on the same level as The Thin Red Line, The Rock, or G.I. Jane, though his run on Person of Interest was impressive.

Cutthroat Island (Matthew Modine)

A few years before the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise took the pirate genre to new heights, Matthew Modine starred in 1995’s Cutthroat Island, a movie that would prove to be detrimental to his career for years to come. Modine would later find success again after working on shows like Weeds and Stranger Things, but it would take many years to get there.

Catwoman (Halle Berry)

Halle Berry was an Oscar-winning actress when she took on the lead role in Catwoman, which is often considered one of the worst superhero movies of all time. And while it would take a few years for the stink to wash off, Berry did have some fun with the experience and even accepted her own Razzy.

The Lone Ranger (Johnny Depp)

The Lone Ranger somehow received an Oscar nomination, which doesn’t make sense considering it stopped Armie Hammer from becoming a massive action star and cooled off Johnny Depp’s incredible box office run. Aside from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Depp hasn’t had a whole lot of success since.

The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Sean Connery)

Sean Connery famously retired from acting after appearing in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which is a shame because the late James Bond actor’s swan song was out of tune and off-key, to say the least. This abysmal book-to-screen adaptation of one of the best graphic novels of the 20th century is often forgotten 20-plus years after its release, and it’s probably for the better.

Welcome To Mooseport (Gene Hackman)

Gene Hackman has had one of the best careers in Hollywood history, but that all came to an end after the release of Welcome to Mooseport. Hackman, who seems to be living a quiet and reclusive life these days, hasn’t been on screen since this 2004 comedy starring Ray Romano. Though not the worst movie ever made, this box office and critical dud didn’t do anyone any favors.

Howard The Duck (Lea Thompson)

An ‘80s movie that has not stood the test of time, Howard the Duck is one of those comic book movies that came out before Hollywood figured things out when it came to the genre. Though Robin Williams jumped ship and salvaged his career, Lea Thompson wasn’t as lucky and went through a tough stage before finally rebounding.

Freddy Got Fingered (Tom Green)

Freddy Got Fingered was never supposed to be a good movie, but Tom Green’s bonkers big-screen gross-fest was enough to turn people off to the idea of the MTV personality and prankster ever getting a large sum of cash ever again. Those who have seen it know why, and those who haven’t should be warned.

Chairman Of The Board (Carrot Top)

Carrot Top is still making the rounds as a prop comedian, but the eccentric showman has not been given the lead role in a movie since the disaster of Chairman of the Board. Forgettable even by ‘90s standards, this movie was made for an audience of one: its star.

Boat Trip (Cuba Gooding Jr.)

Cuba Gooding Jr. in the ‘90s: Boyz n the Hood, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets. Cuba Gooding Jr. in the 2000s: Rat Race, Snow Dogs, Boat Trip. That last film was tasteless, awkward, and just about killed the Oscar winner’s career.

Corky Ramano (Chris Katan)

Though not everyone from SNL can become a Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, or Bill Murray, it at least seemed like Chris Katan would find some success outside of Studio 8H. However, he had to go make Corky Ramano, which is probably the worst comedy to come from the group.

The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin)

The Great Dictator is a great movie, and perhaps one of the best of Charlie Chaplin’s career. However, it now has a legacy of poking fun at Adolf Hitler during a time in which the Nazi leader was systematically exterminating tens of millions of innocent souls across the Atlantic.

There are a lot of reasons that a young actor may change their name. Sometimes it's as simple as just wanting a cool new name. Often it's because someone is already in the union was using the actor's real name and they have to adjust. Here's a list of some of Hollywood's biggest stars and their real names. 

Ben Kingsley (Krishna Pandit Bhanji)

The great Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the great biopic Gandhi. It makes sense he would play the Indian freedom fighter, as Kingsley himself is Indian. Born to an Indian father and an English mother, Kingsley grew up in England and while his father was a practicing Shia Muslim, Kinglsey is not and considers himself a Quaker. He changed his name for that oh-so-common reason, that he feared a foreign-sounding name would hurt his career. 

Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson)

The story is both hilarious and heartfelt. She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York, but when she started acting, she was accused of being flatulent, so Whoopi "short for whoopee cushion." Her surname came from a Jewish ancestor, Goldberg, so she could celebrate the diversity in her family line. 

Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm)

Judy Garland first started in show business as a singer with her sisters, going by their names, The Gumm Sisters. After they were billed as the "Glum Sisters" for a show, it was suggested they change their name. Judy Gumm took her mother's maiden name, Garland, and the rest is history. 

Martin Sheen (Ramon Gerard Estevez)

Martin Sheen's real name is Ramon Gerard Estevez, but he changed it when he broke into the business for the same reason so many others have made the decision, to be less ethnic, as early in his career they said he looked Irish. One of his sons, Charlie Sheen, chose to use the same screen name, but one of his other sons, Emilio Estevez, chose to use his given name. Sheen's daughter, Renée Estevez, an occasional cast member of The West Wing with her father, also stuck with the family name. 

Vin Diesel (Mark Sinclair)

Vin Diesel took on that name after being born Mark Sinclair when he worked as a bouncer as he tried to break into show business. "Vin" comes from his adoptive surname, Vincent, and Diesel came simply because he wanted a cool name as a bouncer. 

Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)

Though she was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, Miley Cyrus decided to go by the moniker she's best known as because that was simply what her family called her growing up. Her nickname in the family was originally "Smiley" which was eventually shortened to Miley. Her first couple of professional acting gigs, in the TV show Doc and the Tim Burton movie Big Fish, she was billed by her real name, Destiny Cyrus. 

Cary Grant (Archibald Alec Leach)

Early in his Vaudeville career, the great Cary Grant used his real name, Archibald Leach. When he got to Hollywood, as is so often the case, the studio didn't think the name wasn't "box office" enough, so he changed it to Cary Grant. 

Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag)

Natalie Portman's real name is Natalie Hershlag, but unlike so many others, she didn't change it because the name was "too ethnic" or not generic enough. As she explained to Vanity Fair in 2024, it was because she wanted to create a separate identity for her work and personal life. 

Portia De Rossi (Amanda Lee Rogers)

Portia de Rossi's name change came, at least originally, because she simply wanted a more exotic-sounding name when she started acting in her teens. Her given name, Amanda Lee Rogers, was just bland. She later revealed it may have been in part because she was struggling with her sexual identity as well. After marrying Ellen Degeneres in 2008, she changed it again, this time combining her real and stage names, Portia Lee James DeGeneres. Professionally she is still Portia de Rossi though. 

Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom)

The Phoenix family has a fascinating history, one that includes time in the cult Children of God. When the family left that group, they made a collective decision to change their last name to one of rebirth, and Joaquin Rafael Bottom became Joaquin Phoenix.

Jamie Foxx (Eric Marlon Bishop)

Born Eric Marlon Bishop in 1967, Jamie Foxx took his stage name early when he was a standup. He says that he noticed women often got preferential spots during open mics, so he decided he wanted a more androgynous name, choosing Jamie. For his last name, he picked it as a tribute to his favorite comedian, Redd Foxx. 

John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison)

It was a lot more common back in the day for actors to adopt cooler-sounding stage names and that was pretty much the case for Marion Robert Morrison, who ended up John Wayne. It's easy to see why he did it, whether it was a good idea or not. It worked for him. 

Tom Cruise (Thomas Cruise Mapother IV)

Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise didn't change much, but it was a meaningful change. His real name at birth was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, obviously named after his father, hence the suffix. Cruise had a very difficult relationship with his dad, so when he began his career, he dropped the Mapother in part to distance himself from his then-estranged father. The two later reunited when his father was on his deathbed. 

Olivia Wilde (Olivia Cockburn)

Actor and director Olivia Wilde's story about why she changed her name is pretty simple. She decided she wanted to stage name, and at the time was acting in Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, which she loved. So she went with Wilde as a homage to the legendary playwright. 

Meg Ryan (Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra)

It's pretty easy to see why Meg Ryan chose to simplify her name when she started acting. Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra sure is a mouthful, so cutting a 25-letter name down to a seven-letter one makes sense. Meg is short for Margaret and Ryan is the maiden name of maternal grandmother. 

Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch)

In another example of early Hollywood stars fearing their given names would hold them back for sounding too ethnic, Kirk Douglas changed his name from Issur Danielovitch. He told People it was because he feared it would hold him back and it sounded "too Semitic." 

Mahershala Ali (Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore)

Like others on this list, it's easy to see why Mahershala Ali changed his name from Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore. Not only is Mahershalalhashbaz really hard to spell and pronounce, but the Green Book actor also converted to Islam as a teenager, taking Mahershala Ali as his Muslim name. 

Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson)

One of the most famous name changes in Hollywood history is Norma Jeane Mortensen changing her name to Marilyn Monroe. There is no big story behind it, it simply was a snazzier name and Monroe was her mother's maiden name. 

Michael Keaton (Michael Douglas)

This one is easy to understand. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton's real name is Michael Douglas. Obviously with an actor already in the union (Romancing The Stone star Michael Douglas), Keaton had to come up with a new name for billing. He chose the last name out of respect for early Hollywood star Buster Keaton. 

Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite)

If you think Maurice Micklewhite is a bit of a mouthful, you're not alone. English legend Michael Caine thought so too. In 2016, he legally changed his name from Micklewhite to Caine, because, according to the Batman Begins actor says it caused too much confusion at airports. 

Winona Ryder (Winona Laura Horowitz)

This one is a little in dispute - though not really. Charlie Sheen once claimed he gave Winona Horowitz her new name, Ryder, after listening to The Doors song "Riders on the Storm." Ryder says she got it when her father asked if she wanted a stage name while they were listening to Mitch Ryder. 

Demi Moore (Demetria Gene Guynes)

The story of Demi Moore's stage name (changed from Demetria Guynes) is both mundane and unique. Before she started appearing in acting roles, Moore married musician Freddy Moore when she was 18. So while Moore was her married name, it was a new name, just as her career was taking off. Demi is simply short for Demetria. 

Dove Cameron (Chloe Celeste Hosterman)

Dove Cameron has never explained why she chose Cameron as her stage name, but her reason for choosing Dove is bittersweet. Dove was her father's nickname for her and after he took his own life, she decided she wanted to go by that, in tribute to him. 

Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian)

It takes a lot of gall and a lot of talent to decide you're going to go with a one-name moniker, and Cher has oodles of both. It's not hard to see what she did, she simply shortened her first name, Cherilyn, and dropped her last. 

Olivia Colman (Sarah Caroline Colman)

Like others on this list, Olivia Colman couldn't join the actors union with her birth name, Sarah Colman, so she changed it. As she explained in 2013, Colman chose Olivia because it is one of her best friends from college's name and she loved it. 

Carmen Electra (Tara Leigh Patrick)

There aren't many people who can claim the legendary Prince gave them their name, but Carmen Electra can. Way back at the start of her career, when she was working with the Purple One, he decided Tara wasn't good enough and named her Carmen. In 2023, Tara Leigh Patrick officially changed her legal name to Carmen Electra, because who wouldn't?

Lily James (Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson)

Like others here, Lily James renamed herself in honor of her late father, James. Though Thomson was also her father's name, of course, she wanted to do more, deciding taking on the stage name "James" to do so. 

Nicolas Cage (Nicolas Kim Coppola)

Nicolas Cage's first movie role was basically just a background character in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. He is billed in the credits by his legal name, Nicolas Coppola, and yeah, it's that Coppola. While on the set of Fast Times, his co-stars would endlessly quote his famous uncle's (Francis Ford Coppola) movies. He decided then and there he needed to distance himself from his famous family (Talia Shire is his aunt, and Sophia Coppola and Jason Schwartzman are cousins).

Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)

Julie Smith is a pretty common name, and when the great Julieanne Moore hit Hollywood, she soon discovered the name was already taken in the union. She tried different combinations, but they were all spoken for. In the end, she combined her first and middle names, and took her father's name, Moore, as her surname. It's like having to go through dozens of combos to find the right vanity plate, but in the end, it's hard to imagine the actor with any other name. 

Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam)

It seems Hollywood is still getting people to change their names if they or people around them fear a real name is too complicated or foreign. Indian actor and writer Mindy Kaling is a recent example when she simplified her name from Vera Mindy Chokalingam to Mindy Kaling. 

David Tennant (David John McDonald)

Former Dr. Who and Jessica Jones star David Tennant has a tried and true story as well, his real name, David McDonald, was taken. He explained some years ago on James Corden's show, where he also explained that he chose "Tennant" because he saw the name from a music magazine in an article about Neil Tennant of The Pet Shop Boys. 

Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane Chase)

Chevy Chase comes from a very blood-blue family who can trace their roots in America back to the Mayflower. Cornelius Crane Chase, the Vacation star's real name, reflects this perfectly. The reason he goes by "Chevy" is because his grandmother started calling him that when he was a kid. So, not much of a story here, but he's real name is just so posh, that we had to include it here. 

Helen Mirren (Helen Lydia Mironoff)

Like others, this one is just a technicality. Helen Mirren was born Helen Lydia Mironoff in London to an English mother and a Russian father. When Mirren was 10 years old, her father anglicized the family name to "Mirren." 

I don’t think I’d be remiss in saying When Harry Met Sally... is one of the best rom-coms of all time. It manages to accomplish this with a neat and tidy happy ending and one of the most classic wooing lines of all time: “I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Billy Crystal’s iconic comment has endured for decades, but if you were to ask Rob Reiner, he’d tell you that wasn’t his proposed ending to his and Nora Ephron's movie, at all.

How When Harry Met Sally Originally Ended

As it turns out, When Harry Met Sally very nearly had a bittersweet ending in which Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s characters did not end up together. Rob Reiner recently spoke to CNN’s Chris Wallace about putting together the 1989 classic film, and while he's opened up about When Harry Met Sally's original closing scene in previous interviews, he explained how Nora Ephron had originally crafted the ending of the film. 

Prior to the filming of the rom-com, Rob Reiner had been married from 1971-1981 to fellow director Penny Marshall; Reiner had adopted her daughter Tracy during the course of their marriage. After they split, he mentioned he’d been alone for quite some time and the dating pool looked bleak.

His interview with Chris Wallace gets into the original wrapping up point, but information has been bandied about regarding the early meetings of Rob Reiner, script writer Nora Ephron and producer Andy Scheinman too. It was the director and producer sharing stories about their own personal lives that led Ephron to the first draft of the script and that original ending. Real-life experiences helped craft some of When Harry Met Sally’s other famous sequences too, as Reiner mentioned in an interview with AV Club.

The Katz's deli scene and Sally being a crazy orderer who likes everything just so is one of the most memorable traits of any rom-com character to date, and again, this was a moment crafted from a real-life interaction. Given how Reiner's love life was going at the time, it's no wonder he wanted a bittersweet ending for Harry and Sally -- after all women and men can never really "be friends."

Mostly the quote above makes it clear the movie came together at a rapid clip and that real-life moments impacted where the characters were going. So, what happened to change their minds about the ending? Apparently, this was Reiner’s idea and you can thank his current wife Michele Singer for changing his attitude.

Why Rob Reiner Flipped The Script And Changed The Ending 

In general, Nora Ephron has said in the past that Harry and Sally were based on herself and Rob Reiner, and the characters allowed them to explore their opposite personalities and takes on life onscreen. Harry is "neurotic" like Rob and Sally is "single-minded" like her, as she reported in 2014. Billy Crystal has said some of Harry and Sally's best banter came from him and Reiner, as well. With that in mind, the ending could have gone either way.

Cutting back to 2024, whilst Reiner was talking about the movie, he mentioned his decades-long marriage to Michele Singer and how he met her while the film was still in production. Prior to that he'd felt a bit more jaded about relationships, but after meeting Michele, he was more inclined to feel optimistic about men and women. 

It’s as simple as that. Reiner was happier in his personal life and he wanted Harry to have that happy ending, so he made it happen on the fly. The end result was a movie that made just shy of $100 million during its domestic theatrical run and has endured in the pop culture lexicon in the years since. 

When Harry Met Sally also features a slew of vignettes from other couples who have been married. While we know those moments were real-life stories recreated by actors on the big screen, those scenes are among the most poignant in the film, and it makes me wonder if they were a late add after Rob met Michelle, as well. 

I suppose that's a story for another day...

Not all of the best movies from the 1980s have stood the test of time quite like other nostalgic favorites have. There are even plenty of ‘80s movies with A-list casts that just don’t get talked about much more these days. Take a look at some of our picks for ‘80s movies that deserve more love and see if we can help refresh your memory of them.

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

The first John Hughes movies that come to mind are probably The Breakfast Club or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, while Some Kind of Wonderful — which Hughes penned and Howard Deutch directed — is more likely an afterthought. The drama stars Eric Stoltz as a young man whose date with Amanda (Lea Thompson) sparks conflict with her ex (played by Craig Sheffer) and his best friend (played by Mary Stuart Masterson).

Brewster's Millions (1985)

Richard Pryor is better known for his Gene Wilder collaborations than for Brewster’s Millions — a comedy that puts him front and center. Director Walter Hill’s adaptation of George Barr McCutcheon’s novel (the second, following a 1945 edition) stars the late comic as a man tasked with spending millions of dollars within 30 days, but without keeping a single asset, in order to inherit an enormous fortune.

Hiding Out (1987)

Arguably, the role that made Emmy-winning Two and a Half Men Star Jon Cryer a star was his supporting role in Pretty in Pink, but he also had a noteworthy leading part that is rarely (if not ever) noted today. In director Bob Giraldi’s Hiding Out, he plays a stockbroker posing as a high school student after becoming targeted by the mob.

The Legend Of Billie Jean (1985)

Helen Slater’s most famous ‘80s movie role is probably the title hero of one of the most ill-received DC movies, 1984’s Supergirl. A film the actor might prefer to be better remembered for is The Legend of Billie Jean, in which she plays a teen outlaw on the run.

Lady In White (1988)

Among the more iconic movies set on or around Halloween, Lady in White is one that deserves more attention. Set in 1962, the clever, spooky thriller stars Lukas Haas as a young boy who becomes embroiled in the mystery of a murdered girl after meeting her ghost.

My Science Project (1985)

Perhaps if the sort-of time travel comedy My Science Project had not come out in the same year as, arguably, the greatest time travel movie of all time, Back to the Future, it might have a bigger fanbase. Also starring Fisher Stevens and Dennis Hopper, Christine’s John Stockwell this film leads as a slacker senior whose desperation to pass science class leads him to find a strange device with dangerous, otherworldly abilities. 

Night Shift (1982)

Despite being one of the best Michael Keaton movies, Night Shift has become one of the actor’s more obscure films, sent to the wayside by hits like Beetlejuice and the Batman movies. However, director Ron Howard’s screwball comedy, starring Keaton and Henry Winkler as morgue attendants helping ladies of the night secure a safer work environment, should be noted as the film that first helped the Oscar nominee become a star.

The Last Starfighter (1984)

Most of the best video game movies do not simply adapt a pre-existing title, but expand on the concept of interactive media in imaginative and exciting ways, just like in The Last Starfighter. From director Nick Castle, the vastly underrated sci-fi flick stars Lance Guest as a poor teen whose high score on an arcade game leads to his recruitment in a real intergalactic war.

1969 (1988)

Today, we know 24’s Kiefer Sutherland and the MCU’s Robert Downey Jr. best as action stars, which is a far cry from their roles in 1969. Winona Ryder and Bruce Dern also star in this much-forgotten anti-violence parable set around the Vietnam War.

After Hours (1985)

One might not expect to see a riotous, comedic romp anywhere on Martin Scorsese’s resume, but such a film does exist. To be fair, the plot of After Hours — involving a mild-mannered word processor (played by Griffin Dunne) embroiled in a series of increasingly dangerous circumstances over one night in New York — does seem like a Scorsese film on paper.

Innerspace (1987)

One of director Joe Dante’s most underrated and inventive films is Innerspace, which stars Dennis Quaid as a pilot testing a top-secret miniaturization technology who is accidentally injected into the body of a hypochondriac. Said man is played by Martin Short, who delivers some of his most hilarious manic energy in his dazzling sci-fi adventure which also stars Meg Ryan.

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

People do not express much nostalgia these days for Francis Ford Coppola’s fantasy teen comedy, Peggy Sue Got Married. Perhaps that is because the bulk of the story takes place in the 1960s, which Kathleen Turner’s title character is magically transported back to after fainting at her high school reunion.

Near Dark (1987)

How Near Dark — which fuses traditional vampire lore with an old-school Western tone in a modern setting — is not a more beloved horror classic just does not make sense. At least director Kathryn Bigelow went on to receive better recognition as the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar for The Hurt Locker.

River's Edge (1986)

One of the darkest films from the early years of both Keanu Reeves and Crispin Glover’s careers is River’s Edge. Dennis Hopper and Daniel Roebuck also star in this unsettling crime thriller about the life-changing effect that a murder has on the teenage killer and his friends.

Repo Man (1984)

Repo Man may be a sci-fi flick with more than 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it gets less attention these days than, say, 2008’s Repo! The Genetic Opera or Repo Men from 2010. Alex Cox’s cult thriller stars Emilio Estevez as a middle-class punk and Harry Dean Stanton as his mentor who chases after a Chevy Malibu carrying something not of this Earth.

One Crazy Summer (1986)

John Cusack stars in many of the most timelessly popular romantic, coming-of-age comedies of the 1980s, and was also in One Crazy Summer. Also starring Demi Moore and Bobcat Goldthwait, this funny summer comedy about the amusing adventures a young cartoonist embarks on when crossing paths with an aspiring singer is not quite the classic it could have been.

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)

For years, the Wayans Brothers brought us some of the sharpest movie spoofs around and one of the earliest examples is I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. Writer, director, and star Keenen Ivory Wayans sends up the Blaxploitation genre with this action-packed, laugh-a-minute comedy that has not quite stood the test of time like Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood or the original Scary Movie.

Just One Of The Guys (1985)

Before there was She’s the Man, there was Just One of the Guys. However, the 2006 Amanda Bynes-led rom-com is the more well-known film about a young woman posing as a male than this one starring Valley Girl’s Joyce Hyser.

The Hidden (1987)

Why is it that unique fusions of disparate genres like detective noir and sci-fi horror rarely get the attention they deserve? A prime example of this is the unjustly overlooked The Hidden, which stars Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Nouri as a detective and an FBI agent pursuing an alien parasite committing various crimes as the human hosts it possesses.

Knightriders (1981)

To those who only know George A. Romero for his many classic zombie movies, we point you in the direction of Knightriders. The filmmaker writes and directs this grounded drama following a group of motorcycle-riding medieval reenactment performers and without a single reanimated corpse in sight.

Enemy Mine (1985)

One of the most heartwarming instances of enemies becoming friends in the ‘80s occurs in Wolfgang Peterson’s Enemy Mine. The futuristic sci-fi thriller stars Dennis Quaid as a human and Louis Gossett Jr. as an alien who are forced to put their respective species’ war with one another behind them when they become stranded on a deserted planet together.

My Bodyguard (1980)

Chris Makepeace’s Clifford lives every bullied teen’s dream to have someone bigger and stronger on their side in My Bodyguard. Despite its modern-day obscurity, the coming-of-age dramedy marked the film debut of several well-known stars — including Adam Baldwin, Joan Cusack, and Jennifer Beals.

Real Genius (1985)

Later, more serious roles in movies like Top Gun, The Doors, and Batman Forever have caused many to forget just how comedically talented Val Kilmer is. He gives one of his funniest performances in Real Genius as a fun-loving engineering student who discovers he and his younger roommate (played by Gabriel Jarret) have unwittingly been tasked to build a military-grade weapon. 

The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

One of the more underrated ‘80s time travel movies is The Philadelphia Experiment, which is inspired by the alleged disappearance of a destroyer escort ship in the early 1940s. The film — which also spawned a 1993 sequel — follows two WWII-era sailors accidentally transported decades forward.

The Dream Team (1989)

The same year when Michael Keaton made his debut as Batman, he led a funny crime thriller called The Dream Team. He, Christopher Lloyd, Peter Boyle, and Stephen Furst play four psychiatric patients on a day trip to New York City when their chaperone is targeted for murder.

The Serpent And The Rainbow (1988)

Arguably director Wes Craven’s most underrated film is The Serpent and the Rainbow, which is inspired by real-life anthropological researcher Wade Davis’ book of the same name. What also makes the Bill Pullman-led horror flick one of the more comparatively realistic zombie movies is its depiction of voodoo, which the original definition of the word “zombie” derives from.

Return To Oz (1985)

People who still have nightmares about Margaret Hamilton's performance as The Wicked Witch of the West in 1937's The Wizard of Oz might not have the courage to watch Disney's follow-up. A 10-year-old Fairuza Balk (of later The Craft fame) plays Dorothy in Return to Oz, which is noted by those who do remember it as one of the most visually traumatizing "kids movies" of the '80s or any decade.

Author! Author! (1982)

With how few family dramedies there are on Al Pacino’s resume, it is a shame he does not get more love for Author! Author! The Academy Award-winning legend stars as a playwright trying to balance the opening of his latest Broadway show with raising his stepchildren.

Miracle Mile (1988)

Following his scene-stealing role as Goose in Top Gun and years before he starred in ER, Anthony Edwards played the lead of Miracle Mile. Writer and director Steve De Jarnatt’s overlooked action flick follows a young man on a race against time after he becomes aware of an impending nuclear attack. 

The Night Before (1988)

Not to be confused with a raunchy holiday comedy movie from 2015 starring Seth Rogen, The Night Before is a coming-of-age rom-com with a dark mystery twist that predates The Hangover by a couple of decades. It stars Keanu Reeves as a teen whose struggle to find his missing date (played by Lori Loughlin) in L.A. is worsened by his inability to remember what happened on the way to prom.

Johnny Be Good (1988)

One of the lesser-known collaborations of Anthony Michael Hall and Robert Downey Jr. (including their shared one-season SNL stint) is Johnny Be Good, which also stars Paul Gleason and a young Uma Thurman. Hall plays the title role of this high school comedy about a football player struggling to decide which of the many college offers he receives would be best for him.

Haunted Honeymoon (1986)

Before her untimely death, SNL legend Gilda Radner starred in several films with her real-life husband, Gene Wilder. One of the last and most unfortunately overlooked is a fun horror-comedy called Haunted Honeymoon, in which the couple play newlyweds trying to cure the husband’s fears by staying in a creepy estate.

You may think you know ‘80s cinema, but your expertise will not be complete until you give these flick a try, or even revisit them for the first time in too long.

It’s been 25 years since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan last graced us with their presences in a romantic comedy, and yet, I find myself thinking about You’ve Got Mail daily. Since then, both have gone on to have prolific lives, professionally and personally, winning awards, raising incredibly talented kids who followed in their footsteps, and being amazing people in general. 

After an eight-year hiatus, Ryan returned to Hollywood to direct, write, and star in the 2023 movie release What Happens Later. After watching the movie, it's safe to say she hasn’t lost the charm that made her a rom-com icon in the '80s and '90s. Though she had great chemistry with her on-screen love interest David Duchovny in the What Happens After trailer, I couldn’t help but wish it was Hanks she was stranded in the airport with. 

While Hanks hasn’t acted in a romantic comedy in a long time, there’s no reason why that streak can’t be broken. After all, if there’s anyone who can save the swoon-worthy genre it's these two!

Tom Hanks And Meg Ryan Are Always Movie Magic 

Hanks and Ryan both started acting in Hollywood in 1980, but their paths first crossed in 1990 when they starred in the cult classic Joe Versus the Volcano. With a quirky premise, the movie didn’t perform well at the box office, but it did prove the two had amazing chemistry together that needed to be replicated. 

It’s not common for actors to star in multiple movies together that aren’t interconnected, by Hanks and Ryan defied the odds, appearing in two other movies in the ‘90s. Sleepless in Seattle marked their first partnership with romantic comedy writer/director extraordinaire Nora Ephron (whom Hanks has praised for her preparedness as a director). It went on to earn several Academy Award nominations and is considered one of the best romantic comedies of all time, largely because of the chemistry the two showed. 

For me, Hanks and Ryan solidified themselves as the gold-standard romantic comedy couple in You’ve Got Mail. Reunited with Epron, the trio masterfully brought to life the enemies-to-lovers and anonymous pen pal trope that is still alive in Hollywood today. 

If there was one movie I wish I could erase from my memory and watch again it’s You’ve Got Mail. There’s something magical about watching Joe and Kathleen go head-to-head in person while slowly falling in love with each other in an AOL chat room. The will-they, won’t-they tension is palpable in every scene, especially after Joe learns that Kathleen is not only his business rival but the woman he’s been falling for online. It doesn’t matter that I’ve seen the movie a hundred times, I still find myself crying when the truth is revealed and Ryan says the iconic: “I wanted it to be you so bad.”

It’s The Perfect Time To Get Them Back Together 

Hollywood might not know it, but audiences are desperate for a blockbuster romantic comedy. Well, at least I am. Crazy Rich Asians was the last movie I remember that really went for it. It was a major success, yet the studios refuse to churn out similar movies. 

With Ryan’s return to acting and Hanks's continued success, now is the perfect time for these two to reunite and give the people what they want. If not for us, they should do it to honor the amazing life and legacy of Ephron and help usher in the next generation of romcom writers/directors. 

Not to mention, the duo has a chance to revitalize the genre and prove that love isn’t just something teenagers and twenty-somethings experience. I would love to see them star in a second-chance love story, perhaps as two widowed or divorced people who don’t think love is out there for them again. Or, perhaps, just two older people who never put their romantic lives at the forefront and now realize that they’re desperate for that connection in their growing age. 

Honestly, they could be falling in love while stuck in space and I would still show up at the movie theaters over and over again to watch them work their magic. 

I’m definitely holding out hope that one day soon one day soon we’ll get to see the two incredible actors reunite in a movie together. Fortunately, we have some amazing romantic comedies to watch while we wait for that day to hopefully come. You can stream Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail with a premium Prime Video subscription. (Joe Versos the Volcano is also available to rent on the streaming service.) While there, you can also check out Ryan’s return to movies by purchasing What Happens Later. 

Hollywood has its fair share of "what-if" casting tales, from Will Smith turning down the role of Neo in The Matrix to Gwyneth Paltrow almost strapping on Rollergirl’s skates in Boogie Nights. There is no shortage of iconic roles that almost went to other actors. Casting decisions can make or break a movie; sometimes, what initially appears to be a missed opportunity can often transform into a stroke of serendipitous luck. Recently, Julia Roberts proved this as she shared insights into the roles she passed on and those she fortuitously stumbled into, including her iconic portrayal as Shelby in Steel Magnolias. Adding more intrigue to this story though is the fact that the role was initially on the radar of another '80s icon, Meg Ryan.

In an interview on Watch What Happens Live! With Andy Cohen, the August: Osage County performer reflected on turning down iconic parts in movies like the Meg Ryan-led You’ve Got Mail and The Last of the Mohicans, only to realize later that perhaps they wouldn’t have been as strong with her. As she tells it:

The actresses found themselves in a dance with destiny on more than one occasion though. Timing played a crucial role, like when Julia had to pass on the role of Annie in Sleepless In Seattle. At that time, she was already committed to the charming rom-com Pretty Woman, a decision that proved to be a career-defining moment. Not only did Pretty Woman catapult her to superstardom, but had Roberts taken the part in Nora Ephron's movie, who knows, we may have been robbed of one of the most beloved on-screen couples, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless In Seattle.

However, it's not just about the roles she declined; the Erin Brockovich star shed light on the constant casting carousel, revealing that her journey in the industry has been filled with instances where she benefited from actresses turning down roles. The Hook veteran recounted:

In a twist of fate, Roberts found herself stepping into the shoes of the character Shelby, initially earmarked for Ryan, showcasing her talent in Steel Magnolias. The beloved drama has since become a classic movie depiction of female friendship, and it started the actress on her way to superstardom. 

The interview delved into another serendipitous chapter in the career of the Gaslit alum. She shared a fascinating tidbit about her involvement in the late EGOT winner Mike Nichols' Closer, where another Hollywood A-lister was initially intended for her part. She elaborated:

We should count ourselves as the lucky ones, because it’s hard to imagine anyone but Roberts in these iconic roles. The entertainment industry is nothing if not an unpredictable beast. Unexpected circumstances can create opportunities for actors who might not have been initially considered for specific roles and can pave the way for cinematic history. 

Julia Roberts's best movies are available to stream or to rent wherever you get your movies. However, if you want to check out her latest work, the thriller Leave the World Behind, it is available to stream now with a Netflix subscription. 

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal’s When Harry Met Sally… came out 34 years ago, and we still can’t stop talking about it and that famous fake orgasm scene. In one of the most memorable moments of the friends-to-lovers rom-com, Sally demonstrates to Harry at Katz’s Deli how easy it is for a woman to fake an orgasm, leading a female customer to hilariously tell the waiter, “I’ll have what she’s having.” While looking back at what online daters call one the best romantic comedies of all time, the 62-year-old actress roasted Crystal over their iconic scene in a LOL moment.

You can argue that the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally… was a pivotal moment in cinema for breaking the taboos of female pleasure. The “I’ll have what she’s having” quote was also a hilarious touch that made the scene laugh-out-loud hilarious. Hollywood Life reported that the film’s lead Meg Ryan was at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. amusingly roasting her male lead co-star and one of the night's honorees, crediting him for helping to make this scene a success. She said:

While Meg Ryan gave it her all with loud moans and table-thumping in public, Billy Crystal also played a vital (and funny) role in the scene. The Princess Bride actor was a real natural just sitting there with a straight face while watching his co-star’s performance from across the table. The disbelief on his face as well as annoyance at watching his friend successfully prove how simple it is for women to feign pleasure during sex is incredible. 

I think the point proven in this scene is what makes this Rotten Tomatoes-favored movie so memorable. Sally is constantly proving Harry wrong about his theories about women and opposite-sex friendships. It shows what an impact two people can have on each other.

Believe it or not, the conception of the orgasm scene wasn't just through the comedic stylings of director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron. Meg Ryan helped come up with her famous moment when Reiner told her they wanted to show how women feel during sex compared to just their male counterparts. With actions being louder than words, the Rom-Com Queen had the idea of reenacting how women feel instead of just talking about it in the scene. 

The fact that she’s doing this at a restaurant in front of everyone with no shame proves her point to Harry, and it shows women everywhere they shouldn’t be ashamed when discussing the subject. Another little touch Ryan put in there was taking a bite of the coleslaw after her exaggerated presentation as if it were nothing. It’s moments like these, and Billy Crystal's reaction, that prove the rom-com is comedy gold.

According to Meg Ryan’s roast, only Billy Crystal can make a scene about a woman faking an orgasm so easy to accomplish in When Harry Met Sally... However, these two had chemistry that was off the charts, and they were an excellent comedy duo for a reason. 

Take a look at our best romantic comedies list if you’re in the mood for some love and laughter. You can also make sure to look at our 2023 movie releases before the month of December is over to plan your next trip to the cinema.

Over the past year, it seems like the entirety of Hollywood has been weighing on nepo babies, because everyone turned around and realized that a lot of famous actors these days are the children of other famous actors. Among the nepo babies being discussed is The Boys and Scream star Jack Quaid, who is the son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid. Speaking about this topic, and her son's success as an actor, Ryan recently shared her thoughts on him following in her footsteps as she prepares to release her first romantic comedy in over a decade. 

Meg Ryan hasn’t starred in a movie since 2015’s Ithaca, but she’s making a comeback with What Happens Later, a rom-com she co-wrote and directed, that she stars in alongside David Duchovny. Ahead of its release, and looking back at her years away from the business, the queen of romantic comedies spoke about her 31-year-old son’s recent success in Hollywood, saying this: 

Ryan had nothing but great things to say about her son while speaking to People about motherhood. While some children of two famous Hollywood actors might attempt to get into acting for notoriety or due to the easy connections, Meg Ryan shared that Jack Quaid is “in it for the right reasons,” and he has definitely worked hard to get where he is. 

Quaid earned his first acting gig in 2012’s The Hunger Games, and he has been acting ever since. However, in the past few years in particular he’s gained more traction. He stars in one of Amazon Prime's best shows The Boys, voices a character in Star Trek's animated series Lower Decks, and played a major role 2022’s Scream. He was even part of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast. He’s also found voice roles in 2021’s Batman: The Long Halloween, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and My Adventures with Superman. Talk about an impressive filmography!

Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid got married on Valentine’s Day in 1991 after co-starring in Innerspace together in 1987. The couple divorced a decade after their marriage in 2001. In 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China whom she named Daisy True Ryan. The Sleepless in Seattle also told the magazine that both of her kids are “a true joy,” and she’s currently dealing with the transition of Daisy True having recently started college this year. Ryan said she’s "visit[ing] probably more than I should," but is “trying to be casual” about the whole thing. 

With her kids all grown up and thriving, Ryan is back at it with her first movie in years. Check out the trailer for What Happens Later below: 

What Happens Later looks like a return to form for Meg Ryan and it’ll be exciting to see the actress back on the big screen after she took an eight-year break. What Happens Later is coming to theaters on November 3, and make sure to check the 2023 TV schedule so you know when Jack Quaid's upcoming projects are set to come out. 

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

Denzel Washington

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

Heath Ledger

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

Christian Bale

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

Robert Downey Jr.

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

Toni Collette

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

Will Smith

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

Harrison Ford

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

Scarlett Johansson

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

Ryan Gosling

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

Glenn Close

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

Jennifer Lawrence

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

Julia Roberts

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

Meg Ryan

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

Laura Linney

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

George Clooney

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

Samuel L. Jackson

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

Hugh Jackman

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

Emily Blunt

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

Jake Gyllenhaal

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

Matthew McConaughey

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

Natalie Portman

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

Gary Oldman

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

Amy Adams

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

Angela Bassett

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

Jeff Bridges

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

Michael Caine

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

Robin Williams

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

Halle Berry

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

Sean Penn

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

Sandra Oh

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

Bradley Cooper

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

Viola Davis

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

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

These days we know Kerry Washington for her standout roles in critically acclaimed shows like Scandal and movies like Ray. However, before that, she starred in supporting roles, and she explained how she was beginning to feel typecast as “the white girl’s best friend.” Recently, she opened up about this chapter in her career, and she explained how a movie she made with Meg Ryan marked a turning point. 

In 2004, Washington co-starred with Ryan in the film Against the Ropes. The movie was loosely based on the first successful female boxing manager, who the Sleepless in Seattle star played. The Scandal actress played her “coworker and confidante,” as she described in an excerpt of her memoir Thicker Than Water (via EW). She continued to talk about making the movie, and how she was starting to feel  typecast, saying:

Before this film, Washington had played the friend of Julia Stiles’ character in Save the Last Dance, and she had another role like that in the pilot Wonderfalls. She said Against the Ropes was the last time she took the role of “the white girl’s best friend.” She explained why the movie with Meg Ryan was her final one like this:

Continuing to recall this point in her career, and opening up about why she wanted to play different kinds of characters, she wrote:

Not long after she made this change, Washington went on to star in Ray and The Last King of Scotland. 

Ray also came out in 2004, and both Washington and Jamie Foxx received great acclaim for it. To this day, it’s considered one of the best movies of the 2000s and a biopic about Black musicians everyone should watch. It’s also one of Foxx’s best movies, and he won an Oscar for his performance. Overall, Ray is regarded very highly, and it stands out as a major highlight in Washington's career. It also came right after Against the Ropes.

Then, in 2012, after eight years of taking on some great roles in movies, Kerry Washington landed her role as Olivia Pope in Scandal, which was historic. She became the Black first woman to lead a network drama in 38 years, per EW, the show was wildly popular, and she got two Emmy nominations for her performance. 

Kerry Washington is truly a legend, and it’s inspiring to hear about how she overcame hurdles and achieved her goals throughout her career. Due to the fact that she made the decision to work toward different types of roles after Against the Ropes, she went on to land some of her best characters, and she continues to impress audiences with her incredible performances.  

Both Kerry Washington and Meg Ryan have careers worth admiring, and they’re both super busy at the moment. The When Harry Met Sally actress is making her return to acting with the rom-com What Happens Later. It’s slated on the 2023 movie schedule for a November 3 premiere. Meanwhile, along with her memoir, the Scandal star recently starred in the series UnPrisoned, which is available with a Hulu subscription. 

Soap Operas are not usually the first thing we think of when we think of “Prestige Television” but they have been popular since the dawn of TV and without them, some of our favorite stars might not have ever gotten their big break. In honor of that, we’ve compiled quite a list of famous actors who started out in soap operas. 

Brad Pitt (Another World)

There aren’t many bigger stars in the world than Brad Pitt. While he famously made his first mark in pop culture in Thelma & Louise, his first professional, credited acting role came on the soap Another World. The Ocean’s Eleven star played a character named Chris on two episodes in 1987. Little did anyone know just how famous he would soon be. 

Leonardo DiCaprio (Santa Barbara)

Pitt’s co-star in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio, is also one of the biggest stars in the world. Like Pitt, DiCaprio also can point to a turn on a soap opera early in his career as a launching pad. DiCaprio had a smattering of bit parts before starring in Santa Barbara, but it was five episodes on the soap that really got his career moving. 

Demi Moore (General Hospital)

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Demi Moore was box office gold with films like St. Elmo’s Fire, A Few Good Men, and Ghost. Moore earned a then-unprecedented $12.5 million with her role in Striptease, but she got her start much more modestly as reporter Jackie Templeton in 85 episodes of General Hospital from 1982 until 1984. 

Marisa Tomei (As The World Turns)

Marisa Tomei’s career went into the stratosphere with her Academy Award-winning turn in My Cousin Vinny in 1992. She’s since been nominated for two more Oscars in her lauded career that all started with the role of Marcy Thompson, as a series regular on As The World Turns for three seasons. 

Alec Baldwin (The Doctors)

The Doctors debuted on NBC in April of 1963, on the very same day as General Hospital premiered on ABC. Unlike GH, which is still on the air, The Doctors lasted only a mere 20 years, but like GH, it helped launch a lot of careers. Alec Baldwin was one of those actors who appeared on the soap, as the character Billy Aldrich for a few years in the early 1980s, years before his big breaks would come in Beetlejuice and The Hunt For Red October. 

Kathy Bates (The Doctors)

Another actor who got her start on the oft-forgotten The Doctors is the great Kathy Bates. Bates worked hard while scratching out a living as an actor in New York City. After scoring just one bit part in the movie Taking Off in 1971, it was another 6 years before she would land a big role, this time on The Doctors.

Laurence Fishburne (One Life To Live)

Laurence Fishburne famously made waves as a teenager starring (as Larry Fishburne) in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece Apocalypse Now. While the role made him famous, his career started years earlier as Josh Hall in One Life To Live. Fishburne was only 11 years old when he debuted on the show.

Jordana Brewster (As The World Turns)

Jordana Brewster is a star in one of the biggest film franchises in history as Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious movies. She got her start in one of the biggest soap operas in history as well. After a quick one-off on All My Children in 1995, Brewster landed a regular role on As The World Turns later that same year. She remained on the show for 118 episodes over the next six years. 

Shemar Moore (The Young and the Restless)

For over a decade, Shemar Moore starred as Derek Morgan on the beloved Criminal Minds and then on S.W.A.T for six years. Neither was his first long-time role on television, however, as Moore got his start on eight seasons of The Young and the Restless as Malcolm Winters, a role he’s returned to a number of times, most recently in 2023. 

Tom Selleck (The Young And The Restless)

Another actor who got his start on The Young and the Restless is the legendary TV star Tom Selleck. After bouncing around in bit parts for most of the ‘70s. The Blue Bloods star found a semi-regular role on the soap in 1974. He would later own TV in the ‘80s as Thomas Magnum on one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Magnum PI.

Meg Ryan (As The World Turns)

Meg Ryan was America’s sweetheart in the 1980s and '90s. Before she starred in numerous rom-coms, from When Harry Met Sally To You’ve Got Mail, she was Steve Andropoulos’ sweetheart Betsy on As The World Turns. She would play the role for three years, before snagging a role in a little movie called Top Gun, and off she went to stardom. 

Lauryn Hill (As The World Turns)

It’s not just actors who got their start on soap operas. Singer and rapper Ms. Lauryn Hill is famous for her amazing neo-soul album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, but seven years before that, and before The Fugees, she starred as Kira Johnson on As The World Turns.

Taye Diggs (Guiding Light)

This one is a bit of a stretch because Taye Diggs had already put together a great career on Broadway, starring in the original cast of Rent and other shows. He did, however, get his regular screen time on Guiding Light in 1997, after a couple of smaller parts on TV. 

Julianne Moore (As The World Turns)

Julianne Moore has won a slew of awards in her career. The Boogie Nights star can boast five Oscar nominations and one win, she has an Emmy, multiple Golden Globe and SAG awards, and even one Daytime Emmy, which she won for Best Actress on the soap As The World Turns in 1988.

David Hasselhoff (The Young And The Restless)

Baywatch might have been a soap opera on the beach, but it wasn’t the first time David Hasselhoff starred in one. The Hoff played Snapper Foster (yes, that’s the name of the character) for seven years in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s on The Young and the Restless, before scoring his gig on Knight Rider. While starring on Knight Rider, The Hoff also appeared on one episode of Santa Barbara.

Mark Hamill (General Hospital)

Stars Wars has often been described as a “space opera” so it only makes sense that Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, got his start on a soap opera. The future superstar started smaller, with a role as Kent Murray on General Hospital for a couple of years right before Star Wars became the biggest thing, well, ever. 

Josh Duhamel (All My Children)

Transformers star Josh Duhamel has starred in 39 movies and had roles on 18 TV shows, including Las Vegas and Jupiter Rising, and it all started with a breakout role on ABC’s All My Children in 1999. He starred on the soap opera for a few years, before moving on, but did return briefly in 2011 to reprise his role as Leo du Pres. He even won a Daytime Emmy in 2002 for his performance. 

Kelly Ripa (All My Children)

Kelly Ripa has been everyone’s favorite morning talk show host for years now and over 30 years ago, she was a dancer on Dance Party USA. Her first serious acting gig came in 1990 as Hayley Vaughan on All My Children, a role she would play for more than a decade. Not only did it jumpstart her career, but the soap played an even more important role in her life, as that’s how she met her husband, Mark Consuelos.

Mark Consuelos (All My Children)

That’s right, Mark Consuelos also began his career on All My Children, playing Mateo Santos on the show for six years. The Riverdale star was a huge hit on the show, and like Ripa, returned in 2010 to help celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary. Consuelos and Ripa married in 1996 while starring on the show together and now almost 30 years later are still working together as co-hosts on Live.

Ryan Phillippe (One Life To Live)

From I Know What You Last Summer to Cruel Intentions, Ryan Phillippe played some iconic parts in the 1990s. It was One Life To Live where he landed his first one, though, in 1992. In the ‘00s, he got more serious, with major roles in Gosford Park and Crash, but none of it might have happened with the soap opera casting him as a teenager. 

Amber Tamblyn (General Hospital)

Amber Tamblyn wasn’t even a teen when she landed her first on-screen role on General Hospital in 1995. The 127 Hours star played Emily Quatermaine for six seasons on the soap.

John Stamos (General Hospital)

Before playing Uncle Jesse on Full House, and before playing bongos for The Beach Boys, John Stamos was breaking hearts as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital for three seasons in the early ‘80s. Stamos even earned a nomination for a Daytime Emmy for the role in 1983.

Mario Van Peebles (One Life To Live)

Mario Van Peebles made his permanent mark on film with his direction of the 1991 classic New Jack City. The cult classic was huge at the time, and Van Peebles has been acting and directing in TV and film ever since, but his career really got going a decade prior to New Jack City when he appeared as Doc Gilmore in One Life To Live in 1982 and 1983. 

Hayden Panettiere (One Life To Live)

“Save the cheerleader, save the world” is a now-legendary catchphrase from the TV series Heroes and the cheerleader was, of course, the great Hayden Panettiere. Panettiere had already scored numerous credits before Heroes, including her first role as a five-year-old One Life To Live for 26 episodes in the mid-'90s. She followed that up as Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light for four seasons.

Justin Hartley (Passions)

Justin Harley was part of the cast that made more TV viewers cry than any other as a part of the brilliant ensemble on This Is Us. Hartley got his start probably making daytime TV fans emotional on the short-lived (by soap opera standards) Passions. After becoming a series regular on Smallville, he returned to daytime TV on The Young and the Restless before landing his award-winning gig on This Is Us. 

Robin Wright (Santa Barbara)

In 1987 Robin Wright became part of cinema history with her role as Buttercup in the much-beloved The Princess Bride. It took a few years of starring on the soap Santa Barbara before she would get that breakout role, but she’s been on top ever since, with iconic roles on the Netflix series House of Cards and in movies like Wonder Woman 1984, which is pretty fitting, as that was the year she started on Santa Barbara.

Lindsay Lohan (Guiding Light and Another World)

Lindsay Lohan’s first movie role was actually two roles in 1998’s The Parent Trap. She immediately endeared herself to audiences, and that love only grew with Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. She’s had an up-and-down career since, but like so many others, that career started as a kid on a soap. Two soaps, actually. First, a brief one-off on Guiding Light, with a reoccurring role on Another World for two seasons. 

Kevin Kline (Search For Tomorrow)

Search for Tomorrow is one of those soaps that despite running for more than 35 years, it’s completely forgotten about today. It was canceled in 1986, but it was around long enough for Kevin Kline to make his first on-screen appearance. The classically trained Kline returned to the stage after leaving the show, but in 1982 he found himself in a role in Sophie’s Choice alongside Meryl Streep, and he’s never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

Harvard grad Tommy Lee Jones actually got his first role in the classic Love Story but it was a minor “blink and you’ll miss it” type of role. It was probably his 21 episodes on One Life To Live in the early 1970s that really jumpstarted his now-legendary career. 

Tom Berenger (One Life To Live)

Speaking of One Life to Live in the ‘70s, Platoon star Tom Berenger overlapped with Jones for one season on the long-running soap. Berenger played Tim Siegel for 66 episodes from 1975 until his character’s death just after getting married in the 1976 season. Classic soap opera plot!  

While budgets of soap operas might not be that of prime-time TV, there is undoubtedly plenty of talent on these shows, and has been for many years, as this amazing of list famous actors who started out in soap operas proves. 

When Harry Met Sally is one of those movies you just have to see – here at CinemaBlend, we even consider it to be one of the best romantic comedies of all time. While the whole movie is a classic, it’s honestly worth watching solely for the legendary scene in Katz’s Deli, in which Sally (Meg Ryan) loudly demonstrates to Harry (Billy Crystal) how easy it is to fake an orgasm. If you ask Meg Ryan, though, it sounds like she recently learned there’s at least one person out there who wishes they could un-see the moment – her son Jack Quaid. 

During her decades-long career, Meg Ryan has established a reputation as rom-com royalty, thanks to unforgettable performances in films like Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and When Harry Met Sally. Her incredible career no doubt served as an inspiration to her son Jack Quaid, who’s forged his own path in Hollywood through TV series like The Boys and films like Oppenheimer. But in a recent conversation with Carol Burnett for Interview Magazine, Meg Ryan revealed that her son recently found himself in a precarious situation when he encountered a part of her When Harry Met Sally legacy: 

The scene in question features Meg Ryan delivering what is probably the most memorable fake orgasm committed to film – and if you haven’t seen it yet, you really need to in order to understand why Quaid may have been feeling a bit conflicted at encountering that piece of cinema history. Take a look at the iconic moment here: 

Standing in the same location where your mom famously faked an orgasm you might feel a bit like walking in on your parents in a compromising moment, only magnified to a much greater power. So, it’s easy to understand why Jack Quaid felt some embarrassment. Still, it sounds like he was a pretty good sport about the whole thing. It would probably be hard not to be, though – even with the awkwardness, knowing your mom starred in one of the most beloved movies of all time has to be pretty cool. 

Many movie fans are still seeing When Harry Met Sally for the first time, even though it's been more than 30 years since fans first fell in love with it, so if you haven't seen it yet, you're not alone. The good news is that if you have a Max subscription, you can watch the beloved rom-com, that legendary scene, right now. And be sure to keep an eye on our 2023 movie release guide to see what other amazing rom-coms might be hitting theaters soon. 

Meg Ryan is the romantic comedy darling of the silver screen. Throughout the '80s and '90s, the actress starred in some of the most iconic rom-coms of all time like When Harry Met Sally..., You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle. However, after her directorial debut Ithaca in 2015, the Top Gun actress stepped away from Hollywood. Now, after an 8-year break from acting, Ryan is finally returning to the screen for the film What Happens Later, and she is opening up about what kept her away from the movie business for almost a decade. 

Why Meg Ryan Left Hollywood

The rom-com actress was one of the most famous in Hollywood for over 30 years, but after directing her first film in 2015, she decided to take a well-needed break. As for why she stepped away, she has named her commitment to family and her uncomfortability with fame as primary reasons. In 2018, the Joe Versus The Volcano star revealed she never intended to act in the first place. She told Gwyneth Paltrow in 2018 (via ET): 

After a while, this relationship with fame and acting took a toll. She told the New York Times Magazine in 2019 that she felt the experience isolated her, and she felt burnt out after balancing being a mom and her acting career. She explained:

She reiterated her commitment to her children and family as a reason for stepping away from show business in 2019 to People. Ryan explained that her ambitions weren’t fueled by her acting career, but rather, her family's happiness. She said:

The Doors actress seemingly set a great example for her family during her break as her son, Jack Quaid, has become a big star himself, and he is currently starring on the hit Amazon series, The Boys. Her other child, Daisy True Ryan, is 19, and Meg Ryan has lovingly shared photos of her and Jack bonding on social media in the past. Her commitment to family is clear, and she seems to be happy she was able to take a step back and enjoy family life following her iconic career. 

Meg Ryan's Return To The Big Screen

Thankfully for fans of Meg Ryan, the actress is making her return to the big screen in a major way. She is directing and starring in a new rom-com titled What Happens Later. She stars alongside X-Files alum David Duchovny, who plays a former flame of Ryan’s. Their characters get snowed in at an airport and reignite their love for each other. 

This is a big return to acting for the actress, who hasn’t starred in a movie since 2015. Romantic comedies are familiar territory for the star, so fans couldn’t be happier to see Ryan return to her old stomping ground. Hopefully, there are even more projects to come. 

You can see What Happens Later when it hits theaters on October 13. Meg Ryan fans can also check out our feature on the Addicted To Love star’s best movies and where to watch them. For more information on what else is heading to cinemas later this year, make sure to consult our 2023 movie schedule. 

Romantic comedies are a tried and true genre in the film world, able to make a great profit on a relatively small budget. While som fans have been missing classic rom-coms, some legends of the genre have been making returns. First we got Julia Roberts in Ticket to Paradise, and now the one and only Meg Ryan is also back. The first look for What Happens Later shows Ryan trading out frequent co-star Tom Hanks for X-File's David Duchovny, and I'm so here for it. What's more, she's also the director of the movie! 

As you can see in the trailer above, What Happens Later will feature Meg Ryan and David Duchovny and ex-lovers, who end up stranded together in an airport. This first footage highlights her credits, which include some of the best rom-coms of all time including You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and When Harry Met Sally. Although this new flick will seemingly be using some high concepts, including a narrator that the two protagonists can hear. But with Ryan both behind and in front of the camera as director/star, I'm totally sold on this idea.

The trailer for What Happens Later opens on an experience that many of us have experienced when traveling recently: a cancelled flight. Ryan's protagonist Willa is less than thrilled, especially upon accidentally stumbling on her ex Bill (Duchovny), who she hasn't seen in 25 years. In the airport chaos, theirs are the only two flights that end up being cancelled, with the pair ending up stranded in the airport together. 

The chemistry between Meg Ryan and David Duchovny is great, with both of these iconic stars having a ton of charisma in this limited footage. I'm excited to see how they go from stuffy exes to old friends, especially once the power goes down in the airport and they're left to their own devices. Give us a release date already!

As previously mentioned, there's seemingly a third major character in What Happens Later. Specifically, the airport announcer voice that seems to be taunting them throughout this first trailer. While Willa and Bill originally learn that their flights are cancelled from this announcer, they continue talking back to it and having a back and forth throughout their misadventures. Is there really someone talking to them, or is this an over the top concept added by Meg Ryan? Only time will tell, but it's another fun side to this upcoming romantic comedy.

On top of being Ryan's return to the big screen and romantic comedies, it's super impressive that she's wearing so many hats for What Happens Later. She's the movie's star, its director, and is even one of the three writers responsible for the script. Bow down for the rom-rom queen!

It's currently unclear when What Happens Later will hit theaters. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were the on-screen couple audiences loved to watch in the ‘90s. Their first movie together was 1990’s Joe Versus the Volcano followed by one of the best romantic comedies of all time, Sleepless in Seattle, three years later. However, did you know that the Nora Ephron classic could have been their third team-up instead of their second? This is because Hanks’ wife, Rita Wilson, revealed that the You’ve Got Mail duo was about to star together in another iconic rom-com before working on Sleepless in Seattle. 

While Sleepless in Seattle was the movie that made our hearts sing for Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, we could have fallen for them much earlier if the Big star would have been her leading man in When Harry Met Sally... On the podcast Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi, Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson, revealed why her husband passed up the chance to work with his Joe Versus the Volcano co-star in the Rob Reiner film, saying:

Don’t we all? To think that Tom Hanks could have been the one witnessing firsthand Meg Ryan’s infamous orgasm scene. But, his reasoning makes sense as he clearly wasn’t in the headspace to play a man who was unhappily divorced. Before Rita Wilson came into the picture in 1988, the Toy Story star was married to actress Samantha Lewes, and they had two kids: Fargo actor Colin Hanks and their daughter Elizabeth. After nine years of marriage, these two got divorced in 1987. When Harry Met Sally... came out in 1989.

As Tom Hanks passed on the male lead, Harry was played by Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner's best friend, who he worked with before on The Princess Bride. The real inspiration behind When Harry Met Sally… actually came from heartbreak after Reiner divorced comedian/filmmaker Penny Marshall and Crystal helped him cope. While he was in the middle of his single life, the Stand By Me director was going through a lot of relationship snags. This gave him the idea to make a movie about a platonic relationship like Harry and Sally's. 

Considering the City Slickers actor has been married to his high school sweetheart since 1970, Crystal did research to play the role of a melancholy divorced man by staying in a separate room away from the cast and crew when they would shoot in Manhattan. This romantic-comedy was initially going to have a super depressing ending where Harry and Sally decide to just be friends as Reiner and Ephron felt it was a more realistic outcome. But Harry and Sally got married, and these days the rom-com is considered one of the best friends-to-lovers movies we have.

Tom Hanks may not have been Meg Ryan’s leading man in When Harry Met Sally…, but they showed their great chemistry in movies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. While this American actress’s decade-long return to rom-coms doesn’t feature the Saving Mr. Banks actor, this rom-com partnership should make another movie again soon to bring us some nostalgia and show audiences what raw chemistry is all about. You can watch Sleepless in Seattle on your Netflix subscription and When Harry Met Sally…is free on Tubi. 

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

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

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

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

Diane Keaton And Keanu Reeves 

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

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo

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

Alison Brie And Jason Sudeikis

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

Jenny Slate And Jake Lacy

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

Constance Wu And Henry Golding

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

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

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

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

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

Queen Latifah And Common

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

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo

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

Sandra Bullock And Channing Tatum

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

Billy Eichner And Luke Macfarlane

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

Meg Ryan And Hugh Jackman

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

Anne Hathaway And Chris Pine

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

Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant

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

Jennifer Lopez And George Clooney

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

Sanaa Lathan And Omar Epps 

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

Cristin Milioti And Andy Samberg

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

Kristen Stewart And Aubrey Plaza

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

Gemma Chan And Harry Shum Jr. 

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

Issa Rae And Kumail Nanjiani

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

Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas

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

Rachel McAdams And Domhnall Gleeson

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

Sarah Hyland And Tyler James Williams

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

Kristen Bell And Dustin Milligan 

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

Vivian Oparah And David Jonsson

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

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

Top Gun: Maverick will pay homage to the original movie in so many ways. From the return of Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer to Jennifer Connelly’s casually mentioned character Penny finally appearing onscreen, the nostalgia is strong. While there are Easter eggs in the sequel, there are glaring omissions from the film. Namely, original female leads Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis aren’t mentioned or seen in the follow-up. After receiving some pushback from some OG fans, Maverick’s director explained why the actresses and more OG actors weren’t asked back for the sequel.

Leaving out Ryan and McGillis threw some moviegoers off considering how pivotal they were to the original film. The You’ve Got Mail actress played “Goose” Bradshaw’s wife Carole in the 1986 blockbuster while the Witness actress was “Maverick” Mitchell’s love interest Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. While both women had a major presence in the original movie, Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski revealed on ReelBlend that neither character came up during the sequel’s development. Kosinski was blunt about why the characters didn’t get brought back. He said they:

Well, there you have it. Now, fans can stop asking about the lack of Ryan and McGillis in the Top Gun sequel. With so many new characters being introduced, there wasn’t enough story or screentime to bring back the OG female leads. The sequel doesn’t lack a female presence with Connelly, Monica Barbaro, Jean Louise Kelly, and Chelsea Harris playing significant roles. But that doesn’t mean Carole and Charlie won’t be missed.

Of course, the new film has replaced Cruise’s original romantic interest with Connelly’s Penny. Although this turned some heads Kelly McGillis has been part of the Hollywood scene for years. Although she seemed okay with not being asked to return for the follow-up.

But the Sleeping in Seattle actress’ omission is more confounding. In the film’s context, she would be ‘Rooster” (played by Miles Teller)’s mother as he is Goose and Carole’s offspring. Having her in the sequel would’ve been a great way to fill in some blanks between Rooster’s upbringing and becoming a fighter pilot, four decades after his father’s death. Meg Ryan could’ve served as the connecting line between the rookie pilot and Maverick. Compared to her Top Gun co-star, the Hollywood veteran hasn’t spoken about her non-appearance in the high-flying sequel.

But Ryan hasn’t been twiddling her thumbs waiting for a callback. She is poised to make her awaited return to romantic comedies as she stars in and directs What Happens Later with David Duchovny as her co-star. Despite not popping up in the Top Gun sequel, the original movie is still considered one of her best movies. After watching those films, you can see Top Gun: Maverick, which is getting rave reviews, when it arrives in theaters on May 24. The sequel is one of the multiple upcoming movies hitting theaters just in time for the summer. Maybe if the sequel is successful, we’ll get a threequel with Ryan and Kelly McGillis getting significant roles or cameos, at least.

There was a time when actress Meg Ryan was known as the Queen of Rom-Coms. Some of the best Meg Ryan movies were When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Joe Versus The Volcano, and more. Her heartwarmingly romantic plot lines can make any girl watching wish she was in one of the movies. The last rom-com we ever saw Meg Ryan in was Serious Moonlight directed by Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines. Thirteen years later, we can all hail the queen again as she is back to bring us heartwarming romance magic with a leading man by her side. But who is this leading man? Can it be five times a charm for Tom Hanks? Turns out, Meg Ryan is making her return to rom-coms for the first time in over a decade with a leading man who is not Tom Hanks.

The latest Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan pairing was when they reunited in Ryan’s directorial debut Ithaca. However, it looks like we’ll be seeing Meg Ryan with a new leading man whose name is actually…David Duchovny! It was revealed on Meg Ryan’s Instagram the movie poster of her latest rom-com called What Happens Later. We can see Meg Ryan’s name not once but twice on the poster as she will be back in the director’s chair again. While we have no trailer or release date yet, we still can’t help but be thrilled about this new upcoming movie.

You may know David Duchovny from television dramas like The X-Files and Twin Peaks. His newest projects were when he made his return in The X-Files season 11 and when he joined the cast of The Craft: Legacy a couple of years ago. The only romantic film this dramatic actor has ever done was when he co-starred with Minnie Driver in Return to Me about a widower who falls for a heart transplant survivor who is carrying the heart of his late wife. Clearly, Meg Ryan sees Duchovny’s two decades away from the romance genre and raises her one decade away from it to achieve what we hope to be chemistry that will make audiences melt.

This new rom-com would be an amazing comeback opportunity for Meg Ryan. After all, in recent years, she has not had the best luck when it’s come to new projects. For example, her directorial debut was actually supposed to be Into the Beautiful which was announced four years before Ithaca, but was never made. She was also supposed to be the voiceover role in the pilot of How I Met Your Dad, which ended up not being picked up and passed. Now, Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall has the voiceover role for Hulu’s How I Met Your Father. Luckily, there are still plans for Meg Ryan to star in the Epix comedy series Picture Paris which is based on the Brad Hall short film that starred Julia Louis Dreyfus. With her new rom-com film and her new TV series, hopefully everything will fall into place again for our classic rom-com queen.

Other than David Duchovny being Meg Ryan’s new leading man and the film directed by Ryan herself, here is what else we know so far about What Happens Later. According to Collider, this new rom-com is based on the play Shooting Star by acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz. He will adapt his own play for the big screen and collaborate with Meg Ryan and playwright Kirk Lynn who will all help with the writing. The plot of What Happens Later is about two ex-lovers who reunite decades later after being snowed in at the airport overnight. Over the course of the night, they feel they have no choice but to confront their past and see if there is any room for a future together. 

With hopes that we can eventually call What Happens Later a rom-com classic that we can keep close to our hearts, make sure to add it to your watchlist once the release date comes out. 

It’s an amazing feeling to know that one of your films has touched the heart of a fan. Nicolas Cage was fortunate enough to have an experience like that and this time, this fan encounter did not involve a home invasion and a fudgesicle. Nic Cage shares about a sentimental exchange he had with a fan who connected with him on one of his movies after the death of her daughter.

Nicolas Cage has had a massive film career that started in the 1980s with a small part in Fast Times in Ridgemont High that ranged from Raising Arizona, Moonstruck, Leaving Las Vegas, and more. One of his films that tugged the heartstrings of one fan was his film with Meg Ryan called City of Angels where he played an angel who wished to be human after falling for a mortal woman. The son of director Francis Ford Coppola spoke to People about this heartwarming exchange.

The City of Angels actor can relate to experiencing grief as he lost his mother, former dancer Joy Vogelsang when she died at 85. Cage used the money he earned from his recent roles (which have had varying levels of success) to help his mother get the help she needed for her mental health issues. This all the more proves that the bond between a mother and their child will always be a strong one. 

Sometimes, it can take hearing one special song to bring you back to a moment in your life that you will always hold dear. That’s what happened to Nicolas Cage’s fan as she continued to tell Cage about how City of Angels affected her and how heartwarming it was for one of his films to have such an impact.

If only all of us could have a beautiful impact on someone like Nicolas Cage did through our work. Cage continued to share with People about how even though he played a version of himself in his new movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, it is still fictionalized. The film presents Nicolas Cage prioritizing his career over the time he could have spent with his daughter. Interestingly enough, that sounds like a character from another film he was in called The Family Man. Well, luckily the Academy Award-winner still prioritizes his two sons, 31-year-old Weston and 16-year-old Kal-El, as well as the baby daughter he is expecting. 

With Cage understanding the importance of family as a parent and a son, this fan encounter will be a moment I’m sure will always stay with him. You can currently see the upcoming movie The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in theaters now.

When it comes to the '90s, there are so many iconic movies that I’m sure every single one of you has seen reading this article. But with these iconic movies comes iconic film roles, and these actresses were some of the best in the business. Here are several actresses with some truly iconic film roles in '90s movies. 

Kate Winslet (Titanic)

Considering Titanic was once the biggest film in the world, it’s not surprising the first pick here is Kate Winslet, who played Rose DeWitt Bukater. It’s certainly one of Winslet’s best films so far, and put her on the fast track to become the famous actor she is today.  

Gwyneth Paltrow (Se7en)

While Gwyneth Paltrow known amazingly well now from her variety of film performances, her role of Tracy Mills in Se7en is certainly an iconic one, with her character playing an essential role throughout the story. It wasn’t that long after she would star in Shakespeare in Love and win an Academy Award for her acting. 

Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct)

Yes, this is Sharon Stone from that controversial scene in Basic Instinct. But no one can deny that her performance in this film was great, and she acted her butt off in this erotic thriller. Every single scene she was in, she stole the show.

Jodie Foster (The Silence Of The Lambs)

The '90s were filled to the brim with iconic horror films like The Silence of the Lambs, and was only the third film in history to win the Big Five at the Academy Awards - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Actor. Best Actress went to Jodie Foster for her amazing portrayal of Clarice Starling. 

Sandra Bullock (Speed)

While Sandra Bullock is currently busy in 2022 with her film, The Lost City, one of her first big roles ever was starring alongside Keanu Reeves in the action film, Speed, portraying Annie Porter, the main love interest of the film and a total badass. 

Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands)

This is definitely one of Winona Ryder’s best movies. Playing Kim Boggs in Edward Scissorhands, Ryder perfectly captured what true kindness is meant to look like, and her love story with Edward is one for the history books that anyone would adore to witness.  

Rachel Leigh Cook (She’s All That)

While the reboot, He’s All That, made plenty of references to the original film, She’s All That just can’t be beaten, and that includes Rachel Leigh Cook’s iconic performance as Laney Boggs. I mean, who could forget that memorable “Kiss Me” scene? It’s the epitome of teen movie makeovers. You have to love it. 

Meryl Streep (The Bridges Of Madison County)

Meryl Streep has been around for many years in the movie industry and has some amazing films under her belt. And while she did plenty of movies in the '90s, my personal favorite performance of hers was in The Bridges of Madison County, where she played Francesca Johnson, a married mother who has a steamy four-day love affair with a photojournalist. Her chemistry with Clint Eastwood is second to none. 

Meg Ryan (Sleepless In Seattle, You’ve Got Mail)

A legendary queen of romantic comedies, you could not stop Meg Ryan in the '90s. Not only was she in two iconic roles in romantic comedies, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, both of those films were alongside Tom Hanks and showed just how amazing their chemistry is. 

Demi Moore (Ghost)

That damn pottery scene has been recreated by so many people - I mean, even Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart recreated it! - but no one can quite beat Demi Moore's performance. She shined in her leading role of Molly Jensen alongside Patrick Swayze. I think all of us have wished at least once we were in her shoes. 

Sarah Michelle Gellar (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

While plenty of folks know Sarah Michelle Gellar for her portrayal of Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gellar starred in another horror hit that same year portraying Helen Shivers in I Know What You Did Last Summer, giving a masterclass in chase scenes in horror movies. 

Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act, Ghost)

Whoopi Goldberg is certainly an iconic name that I am sure you’ve heard of plenty of times before, and she had not one but two iconic roles in the '90s. To me, my favorite is her lead role in Sister Act, starring as Deloris Van Cartier and bringing some soul into religion, but I can’t not mention her Academy Award-nominated performance as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost. 

Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman)

It’s one of Julia Roberts' best movies. Pretty Woman has some pretty iconic scenes, but none of them could have been accomplished if not for the charming performance that Roberts delivered as Vivian. I’m pretty sure every time I’ve watched that movie, all I want is to be in that bathtub. That looks so damn nice.

Drew Barrymore (Scream) 

Drew Barrymore was only in the first twelve minutes of the first Scream movie, and yet her scene has become iconic in every sense of the word. You go up to a horror movie fan and ask “do you like scary movies?” and they’ll know exactly what film its from as well as what scene - and Drew Barrymore is the star of it. 

Neve Campbell (Scream)

Even if Drew Barrymore was the star of the first twelve minutes, it was Neve Campbell that became the star of the Scream franchise, reprising her role in every single new film since, showing just how badass she is as the ultimate final girl. 

Reese Witherspoon (Cruel Intentions)

Witherspoon has been in many movies and some great TV shows, but back in the '90s, she was still just starting out, and Cruel Intentions was a breakthrough role for her. She played Annette Hargrove, a young woman who was the target of the two main characters of the film. In this '90s movie, she showed just how talented she is at acting. 

Alicia Silverstone (Clueless)

Ugh, as if! Alicia Silverstone truly stole the screen when she played Cher in Clueless, a story about a teenage girl who ends up befriending a new student and decides to give her a makeover. I mean, those outfits alone are definitely iconic enough for her to be on this list.  

Laura Dern (Jurassic Park)

Raise your hand if you’re excited to see Laura Dern back in Jurassic World: Dominion. *Raises hand* Regardless, Laura Dern in the original Jurassic Park was freaking amazing, and Dr. Ellie Sattler was a badass that I looked up to, and I can’t wait to see what she’s been up to after all these years. 

Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You)

Ugh, 10 Things I Hate About You is one of my favorites, and it’s legit because of the chemistry that Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger have in this film. They are my all-time favorite romantic couple and Julia Stiles rocks it as Kat. 

Halle Berry (Jungle Fever)

While Halle Berry has been in plenty of badass roles over the last two decades, there was a time where she was just getting started in Hollywood. One of the first films that she had a supporting role in was Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever, where she played Vivian. While she's gone on to play more prominent roles since then, it was one of the movies that broke her out onto the scene and paved the way for bigger things down the line, like X-Men and Monster’s Ball. 

Natalie Portman (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)

Padme Amidala, known as the Queen/Senator of Naboo and Anakin Skywalker's lover (later wife) was a Star Wars character that made her debut in 1999, and was a badass in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Natalie Portman portrayed the legendary Star Wars character for the prequel trilogy, and inspired young girls everywhere - but we don’t need to talk about how her character ends in Revenge of the Sith. 

Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction)

While my personal all-time favorite Uma Thurman performance is her role in Kill Bill, one of her biggest roles prior to this was portraying Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, earning her a nomination at the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor. I mean, she was the literal character featured on the poster for this film, and honestly, I can see why. She has such star appeal. She has plenty of great performances but this is one of her best. 

Mena Suvari (American Beauty)

This 1999 film, American Beauty, told a captivating story about a man having a midlife crisis, but the main star to me of this was Mena Suvari as Angela Hayes, the object of affection for the main character, Lester Burnham. Even if the film didn’t age too well, I think we call agree Suvari was phenomenal in it. 

Robin Wright (Forrest Gump)

If you’re not saying “Jenny” by the end of Forrest Gump in a Southern drawl, I don’t think we were watching the same film. This Academy Award-winning film starring Tom Hanks told the story of Forrest Gump and his legendary life, often times where he would think of his young love, Jenny, played by Robin Wright. Their love story is a tumultuous one, but a memorable one as well. 

Kirsten Dunst (Interview With The Vampire)

Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire is iconic for many reasons, showing how amazingly talented she was as an actress at the tender age of eleven. She later went on to star in films like Bring it On and Spider-Man, but no one can quite forget her character, Claudia.

Salma Hayek (Desperado)

Salma Hayek has been in many different kinds of films, such as being a part of the Grown Ups cast or starring in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, but Desperado was one of the early films that made her the star she is today. Starring alongside Antonio Banderas as Carolina, Hayek was badass and her character was just as amazing. It’s definitely one of her best movies, and I would watch another film with both her and Banderas.  

Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got To Do With It, Waiting To Exhale) 

Angela Bassett is a master-class actress, and has shown just how amazingly talented she is in any role. I mean, there are so many movie parts that she should have been nominated for an Oscar, However, one of her most iconic roles from the '90s did indeed earn her nominations - her portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It. And another great role for Bassett in the '90s was Bernadine Harris in Waiting to Exhale. Both of these movies were great showcases of her acting prowess. 

Whitney Houston (The Bodyguard)

“And I will always love you.” 

You know the song, I know you do. It’s one of the most iconic songs of all time and has been performed by so many people. Even though it was originally written by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston sang this iconic song for the soundtrack for The Bodyguard, where she played Rachel Marron, a famous singer who falls for the bodyguard tasked with protecting her. 

Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow Never Dies)

Last but not least, we have Michelle Yeoh in Tomorrow Never Dies. While she’s been in plenty of amazing movies such as Crazy Rich Asians and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, one of my personal favorites of hers is her role as Wai Lin, a Chinese spy and an ally to James Bond. 

Yeoh is a bloody badass. This James Bond alum truly defined the term “kick ass and take names” because she was one of the best Bond girls ever, in my opinion. I would gladly see her return to the franchise alongside Pierce Brosnan, but I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon, so I’ll just re-watch this movie over and over. 

There are truly so many other iconic roles, but these are some of the best that you should check out again next time you want to watch a great movie. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to re-watch Jurassic Park again before the latest sequel.  

Despite never really wanting to be an actress, Meg Ryan has done quite well for herself on the big screen over the years. One of the most beloved Hollywood stars of the past 35-plus years, and an actress who has been in more than a few of the best romantic comedies of all time, Ryan is one of those people you can’t help but watch whenever she’s on the screen. 

In honor of her contributions to cinema throughout her career, we have put together a list of the best Meg Ryan movies and just about all the ways you can watch, whether it’s on a streaming service or old-fashioned physical media. There are a lot of movies (13 in total) to break down, so let’s get this show on the road.

When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

Rob Reiner’s 1989 classic romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally…, has a simple yet terrifically effective premise: boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy runs into girl every couple of years, they become friends, and slowly fall in love with one another. 

Everything about When Harry Met Sally… just works. Nora Ephron’s writing is to die for, the supporting cast is about as good as it gets, and the two leads — Billy Crystal’s Harry Burns and Meg Ryan’s Sally Albright — have this undeniable chemistry and charm. And, let's not forget perhaps the most iconic scene in all of romantic comedies either.

Stream When Harry Met Sally… on HBO Max.
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Sleepless In Seattle (1993)

A few years after writing When Harry Met Sally… Nora Ephron wrote and directed the second best romantic comedy of all time: Sleepless in Seattle. The movie centers on widower Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) as he becomes an overnight sensation after his son calls into a syndicated radio program in hopes of finding someone for his dad. On the other end of the country is Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), who becomes infatuated with his story.

There is no denying Sleepless in Seattle's place in conversation of the best romantic comedies of all time. The story, cast, and even music, all work together to create this timeless classic that shows just how good a movie can be when the stars align.

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You've Got Mail (1998)

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks got together for a third time in Nora Ephron’s 1998 romantic comedy, You’ve Got Mail. This time around, the two play rivals Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox, who own and operate two completely different types of bookstores in New York City. Despite despising one another in real life, they unknowingly fall for one another online.

You’ve Got Mail is probably the most dated of the three movies starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, but it does serve as a time capsule to the culture of the late 1990s. Sure, it's cheesy and a little too sentimental at times, but it's one of those movies you can't help but watch whenever it's showing on TNT some random Sunday afternoon.

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Joe Versus The Volcano (1990)

Before they fell in love over the radio and AOL, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks fall for one another in the face of death. John Patrick Shanley’s offbeat romantic comedy, Joe Versus the Volcano, follows Joe Banks (Tom Hanks), a beaten down man who embarks on a journey to uncover the meaning of life before he jumps to his death in a volcano.

No surprise her, but Tom Hanks is to die for as the neurotic Joe Banks, but it’s really Meg Ryan who steals the show. Taking on not one, not two, but three different characters throughout the movie, each one more different than the last. You really see her range with this triple-threat.

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Top Gun (1986)

Tony Scott’s legendary '80s movie, Top Gun, mostly follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) as he sets out to prove his worth to his superiors and fellow Navy pilots, but also himself. Meg Ryan comes into play as Carole Bradshaw, the wife of Maverick’s wingman Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) in two of the movie’s most memorable scenes.

Despite only having a few credits to her name by the time Top Gun came out, it’s hard to tell by the way Meg Ryan takes command of the screen. Whether it’s the light-hearted bar scene (“Hey, Goose, you big stud!”) or her emotional moment later on in the movie, it’s easy to see how she became a massive star not long after. 

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The Doors (1991)

Oliver Stone’s 1991 biographical drama, The Doors, tells the story of the astronomical rise and quick fall of the band’s lead singer and lyricist, Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer). Because Morrison’s real life journey, and that of The Doors, featured Pamela Courson (Meg Ryan) so much, it should come as no surprise that his longtime partner would have a major role in this sprawling epic.

One of the best things about Meg Ryan’s performance in The Doors, besides her commitment to the role, is the fact that she (like the woman she is portraying) is so complex throughout the movie. Her back-and-forth relationship with Val Kilmer's version of Jim Morrison also grounds the movie that could have very well gotten too carried away.

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Courage Under Fire (1996)

Edward Zwick’s 1996 military drama, Courage Under Fire, centers on Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Sterling (Denzel Washington) as he attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the death of helicopter pilot Captain Karen Emma Walden (Meg Ryan), who is to be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

A more dramatic role than seen in her romantic comedies, Meg Ryan still manages a way to bring out the most in her character through her sheer likability and charm, which really humanizes Karen Walden. Even though this is more remembered as a Denzel Washington movie, Ryan shows can pull off more than romantic comedies.

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Innerspace (1987)

Joe Dante’s 1987 sci-fi comedy, Innerspace, follows Tuck Pendleton (Dennis Quaid) as he shrinks down to a near-microscopic size as part of a revolutionary experiment. When outside parties attempt to sabotage the operation, Tuck finds himself transferring from one body to the another, including that of his estranged girlfriend, Lydia Maxwell (Meg Ryan).

Throughout Innerspace it is easy to see why Meg Ryan would become such a bankable star in years following its release, as the movie allows her to riff alongside co-star Martin Short and show off her charm and comedic timing.

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French Kiss (1996)

Lawrence Kasden’s 1996 romantic comedy, French Kiss, centers on a woman named Kate (Meg Ryan) whose attempt to confront her cheating fiancé in Paris is upended by a charismatic and prolific thief named Luc (Kevin Kline). 

Part romantic comedy and part crime caper, French Kiss is an overall good time, especially for fans of the two leads. It has a great story and the chemistry shared by Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline is to die for.

Get it on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Prelude To A Kiss (1992)

Released in 1992, Norman René’s fantasy romance, Prelude to a Kiss, tells the story of Peter Hoskins (Alec Baldwin) and Rita Boyle (Meg Ryan), whose relationship becomes all the more complicated when Rita’s consciousness is swapped with that of an elderly man after he kisses her. 

Prelude to a Kiss isn’t your standard romantic comedy and has a lot of fun with a concept. I mean, where else are you going to see Meg Ryan act like she's an elderly man trapped in a woman's body? It's fun, it's sweet, and features some of the star's signature charm.

Stream Prelude to a Kiss on Starz.
Get it on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

When A Man Loves A Woman (1994)

After years of severe alcohol abuse and several close calls involving her young children, Alice Green (Meg Ryan) decides to finally seek help and make a change before it’s too late. But when her decision forces her to take a look at her relationship with her husband Michael (Andy Garcia), she finds out she’s not out of the woods yet.

Luis Mandoki’s 1994 romantic drama, When a Man Loves a Woman, features one of the rawest Meg Ryan performances. Her vulnerability and emotional range only make the movie better, especially when she tells the heart-wrenching story about misplacing her young daughter while drunk.

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Addicted To Love (1997)

Griffin Dunne’s 1997 romantic comedy Addicted to Love follows two broken-hearted strangers, Maggie (Meg Ryan) and Sam (Matthew Broderick), who are brought together to get back at exes who just so happen to be in an affair.

Meg Ryan plays a character with a harder edge than we’re used to seeing her portray, which gives Addicted to Love a unique quality when compared to her more toned-down Nora Ephron characters. Plus, her chemistry with Matthew Broderick adds a nice touch to the movie.

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Kate And Leopold (2001)

Kate McKay’s (Meg Ryan) life is thrown for a loop when she meets and falls in love with Leopold (Hugh Jackman), a 19th-Century duke who is mysteriously transported to the early 21st Century.

If you are looking for a movie where a modern woman falls in love with a man out of time, then James Mangold’s 2001 fantasy romantic comedy Kate & Leopold is the movie for you. Sure, the movie has a silly concept, but Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman are so great together, you sort of forget some of the movie's problems.

Stream Kate & Leopold on HBO Max.
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This is just a portion of the great Meg Ryan movies that are available streaming, but it is a good place to start. If you want to know about everything new coming to theaters and streaming services, check out our list of all the 2022 new movie releases. 

It has been nearly 30 years since we watched Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in love (for the second time) in Nora Ephron’s 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, but the timeless classic remains just as much of a fan favorite now as it did upon its release. Some of us have have grown up watching Annie Reed and Sam Baldwin fall in love from opposite sides of the country, yet there are some behind-the-scenes facts about how it all came together that still slip by even those who have watched the movie countless times.

There are revelations from the making of Sleepless in Seattle that director Nora Ephron exposed years later on the DVD commentary track, random moments that have come up in retrospectives from the film’s stars and producers, and so much more that make the story of two lonely people whose love and chemistry (despite never having met) draw them together with a force that can only be called love. Here are some of those stories.

Nora Ephron Crafted The Character Of Annie With Meg Ryan In Mind

It is hard to imagine anyone but Meg Ryan, with her signature charm and sensibility, playing Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle, and although several actresses were up for the role, the When Harry Met Sally star was always the person producer Gary Foster and writer/director Nora Ephron wanted. During a special discussion in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary, Foster and Ryan sat down to discuss its legacy, and during that conversation, the producer revealed that when he hired Ephron to work on the script and direct, she said she was “writing it for Meg” because she felt the actress had to play the part.

Annie Was Originally Coming Out Of A Bad Relationship, But Sam’s Backstory Was Tragic Enough

The director’s commentary track on the DVD release of Sleepless in Seattle is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes information for those of us who are absolutely obsessed with the movie. As she discussed the movie, the late director revealed that Annie’s backstory was originally supposed to be much different than the one we saw in the finished product. In an early draft of the script, Meg Ryan’s character was supposed to be coming out of an unhappy love affair (that means no Bill Pullman), but the director decided to change things up considering how insignificant it all seemed compared to Sam’s tragic backstory of losing his wife at a young age. Already having enough tragedy, that section was cut entirely.

The Door Annie Walks Out Of In Baltimore Is The Same One In A Scene With Sam In Seattle

Another little tidbit of clever trivia from Nora Ephron’s commentary track on Sleepless in Seattle has to do with a door that is used on multiple occasions throughout the movie (the one in the picture above). When discussing the movie, Ephron pointed out that the door that Annie walks out of Dennis Reed’s office (Frasier's David Hyde Pierce) in Baltimore is the very same door that Sam exits when he and Jay Mathews (Rob Reiner) exit while in Seattle. If you watch the scene with Annie talking to her brother, she leaves through the door and the scene immediately cuts to Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner's characters in Seattle, exiting the exact same door.

Nora Ephron Called On Her Sister Delia To Punch Up Gaby Hoffman’s ‘NY’ Scene

In a movie that is filled with great scenes, there are some that eclipse the memorable status and are full blown iconic. One of those is the scene in which Jessica’s (Gaby Hoffman) parents are interrogating her after Jonah Baldwiin (Ross Malinger) goes behind his dad’s back and flies to New York to meet Annie. In the commentary track, Nora Ephron revealed that her sister, Delia Ephron, who would later help co-write and produce multiple films, helped punch up the scene by adding the following exchange after Jessica said “NY”:

Nora Ephron explained adding the three lines of dialogue helped make the scene work.

Nora Ephron Appeared As One Of The Callers On Dr. Marcia Fieldstone’s Radio Show

It isn’t all too rare for directors to make cameos in their own movies, but eagle eye viewers need not to scour through each frame of Sleepless in Seattle because this time around as you won’t see her on screen, instead you’ll hear her voice. In the 25th anniversary special mentioned up above, producer Gary Foster revealed that Ephron’s voice can be heard as “Disappointed in Denver,” one of the many callers heard during the Dr. Marcia Fieldstone segments peppered throughout the movie.

The Use Of Red And Lack Of Blue In Sleepless In Seattle Wasn’t By Chance

Something else that directors (and production designers) really like to play with in movies is color, and it was no different for Nora Ephron and Jeffrey Townsend in Sleepless in Seattle. Throughout the first hour-plus of the movie, the color red isn’t used all that much, but that changes when Sam and Annie first cross paths at the Seattle airport, as Ephron revealed in the director’s commentary:

Once Annie and Sam’s paths cross at that moment, there’s an abundance of red - the soccer players, Jonah’s coat, and then Annie’s run to the Empire State Building in the film’s final moments. So much red, so much love, so much passion shared by the pair as they finally meet and fall in love.

Rita Wilson Originally Auditioned For A Completely Different Role

Rita Wilson’s portrayal of Sam Baldwin’s sister, Suzy, gave audiences one of the best instances of acting in Sleepless in Seattle with her famous recounting of An Affair to Remember, but the real-life wife of Tom Hanks originally auditioned for the role of Annie Reed’s best friend, Becky. As we all know, however, that role went to Rosie O’Donnell, who Nora Ephron really wanted for the role. During the director’s commentary, Ephron explained that she was so impressed with Wilson’s audition that she ended up casting her as Sam’s sister. She said it worked out tremendously especially when you consider that Wilson was already in Seattle with Hanks at the time of shooting.

Tom Hanks And Victor Garber Improvised The Dirty Dozen Crying Scene

Shortly after Rita Wilson breaks down into tears when discussing the plot of An Affair to Remember in Sleepless in Seattle, her on-screen husband (played by Titanic’s Victor Garber) and real-life husband (Tom Hanks in all his early ‘90s glory) have a little break down of their own (only joking this time) as they discuss The Dirty Dozen. Nora Ephron revealed in her commentary track that the exchange where Garber and Hanks become hysterical and begin banging on the dining table was entirely the product of the acts improvising and bouncing off each other’s reactions.

Seattle’s Signature Rainy Weather Was Nowhere To Be Seen So Rain Trucks Were Brought In

There is a scene early on in Sleepless in Seattle where Dennis Reed (David Hyde Pierce) tells Annie that it rains nine months out of the year in Seattle, but that unfortunately was not the case for the production crew, as Nora Ephron revealed during the DVD commentary. The movie was filmed over the summer in Seattle (when it doesn’t rain much), so trucks equipped with huge water tanks and sprinklers were brought in for those rain scenes featured throughout the movie.

The Waitress Featured In The Woman’s Industrial Exchange Lunch Scene Wasn’t Just An Extra

Nora Ephron, who will forever go down as the queen of writing great lunch scenes, explained in the director’s commentary for Sleepless in Seattle that the waitress seen in Baltimore's Woman’s Industrial Exchange (which is sadly no longer open) featuring Annie and Becky (Rosie O’Donnell), wasn’t just an extra. In fact, Marguerite Schertle, the waitress in question, had quite the history at the restaurant:

“Miss Marguerite,” as she was called by her adoring customers for nearly 80 years, was a presence at the Woman’s Industrial Exchange in downtown Baltimore until her retirement in 1995. Schertle passed away in April 2001, per the Baltimore Sun.

The Ending At The Empire State Building Originally Looked Much Different

The final moments of Sleepless in Seattle (Annie finally properly meeting Sam at the top of the Empire State Building) make for an all-time great romantic comedy ending, but Nora Ephron admitted during the commentary that she initially had trouble when working on that section of the script. And just like she did with the “NY” scene earlier in the movie, the director called on her sister, Delia Ephron to help make the scene work.

Initially, Sam and Jonah had already exited the Empire State Building by the time Annie had gotten there, but the Ephron sisters just didn’t like the way it played out. After thinking it over, Delia Ephron came up with the idea of having the father and son still at the building but on their way back to the top just as Annie was able to head down.

This is just a small sampling of everything that went into Sleepless in Seattle. If there is something you think we left off, make sure to add it in the comments below. If you still want more Sleepless in Seattle content after reading this story, check out this piece on some of Tom Hanks’ greatest on-screen meltdowns.

Many families have Christmas and holiday traditions that involve watching their favorite Christmas movies--the usual Christmas classics, like It’s A Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, etc. However, there are a lot of beloved movies that don’t exactly get labeled as holiday movies but fit into that category. Sleepless in Seattle is one of those films. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks make Sleepless in Seattle a must-see romantic comedy, but I believe it’s also a must-see Christmas movie.

Sleepless in Seattle isn’t a straightforward holiday movie because it doesn’t quite follow the Christmas movie tropes but many of the main themes, its message, and tone make it a perfect movie to watch during the Christmas holiday. Let’s examine a few of the factors that make Sleepless in Seattle the right choice for Christmas movie binging.

Christmas Is The Catalyst For The Events In Sleepless In Seattle

I think most people, myself included, associate Sleepless in Seattle with Valentine’s Day. It fits in the Valentine’s Day movie category. However, the movie starts on Christmas Eve. Annie (Meg Ryan) goes to visit her family for the holidays to announce her engagement to Walter (Bill Pullman). Annie’s conversation with her mother on Christmas Eve about destiny and how she met Annie’s father is kind of what makes her question if she’s making the right decision by marrying Walter.

Sam (Tom Hanks)’s son Jonah (Ross Malinger) also decides to call the radio station because it’s the holidays and his dad is especially lonely around this time of year. The radio phonecall is what brings Annie and Sam into each other’s orbit.

Most of Sleepless in Seattle plays out from December 24th to February 14, so it shows Christmas and New Year’s before it reaches Valentine’s Day. The movie can be associated with Christmas, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day. It works as a movie for all the major love holidays.

Sleepless In Seattle Is A Romantic Movie That Believes In Destiny

Annie starts the movie as a secret romantic. She wants herself and others to believe that she’s very practical when it comes to love, hence marrying stable, nice, reliable, slightly boring Walter. However, right after she discusses destiny with her mother, Annie’s true hopeless romantic side begins to show. We see her quickly swept up into Sam’s story and the idea of meeting him and possibly being his soulmate.

We also see how much Annie and best friend Becky (Rosie O’Donnell) love An Affair To Remember, so much so that they use meeting on the Empire State Building as part of Sam and Annie’s meetup plans. Sleepless in Seattle then confirms that Annie is right to believe in destiny because so many signs point them to one another, including how Sam immediately feels drawn to Annie the moment he sees her at the airport, and how Jonah’s bag is left on top of the Empire State Building and Annie finds it.

Fate and destiny play a major role in many holiday romantic movies, especially those on Hallmark.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hank’s Chemistry

If you’re going to spend an hour and a half to two hours watching people fall in love, then you at least want them to have good chemistry. There is a reason Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan appeared in multiple movies together: they have great on-screen chemistry. They are a classic movie pairing because they work and you want to see them together.

Even though Sleepless in Seattle is about Annie and Sam’s love story, they barely share screen time, but the few times they are together, you get giddy and want them to work out. Any romantic movie, whether it’s a Christmas one or just a normal one, fails or succeeds by the main actors’ chemistry.

Because Ryan and Hanks have such great on-screen chemistry, it sparks the feeling of holiday romance, whether you have someone or not during the holidays, Ryan and Hanks make you want to be in love, or appreciate the one or ones that you love.

Sleepless In Seattle Centers Around Hope And Letting Go

Almost all Christmas movies are about hope. And many of the Christmas dramas are about letting go, whether that’s letting go of a deceased loved one, past mistakes, or material possessions. Sleepless in Seattle deals with hope and letting go in various ways. The most obvious is Sam finally letting go of his wife and opening his heart again. By doing this, he finds hope again in the possibility of falling in love.

Annie must let go of her fear of taking chances and she becomes a more hopeful person because she’s willing to do things that could put Sam and her together. Sam and Annie both have to have faith and hope that they can work out all their obstacles when they finally meet.

Children Act As Matchmakers In Sleepless In Seattle

It’s hard to find a holiday movie that doesn’t involve a dog or a child. The child or children are usually doing some type of meddling in the lives of the adults. Jonah and Jessica (Gaby Hoffmann) could give the Scooby-Doo gang a run for their money in terms of meddling.

Jonah and Jessica work very hard to make sure Annie and Sam end up together. Jonah even books a flight to New York on his own to find Annie and make sure she ends up with Sam. It’s cute in the movies, but it would be terrifying if your small child ran off to New York to meet a stranger. Luckily, it is a movie and it works out. Jessica and Jonah’s matchmaking worked out perfectly for Sam and Annie, so their meddling wasn't that bad.

Sleepless In Seattle Is A Joyful Movie

During the Christmas season, I don’t want to watch heavy dramas or depressing movies, I want to watch happy films. Movies that make you believe in miracles, have hope for the future, encourage people to take chances, and most of all, make you believe in true love.

Sleepless in Seattle is one of those movies that just makes you happy when you watch it. It’s partly due to Nora Ephron’s talent for comedy and romance, and the likability of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Sleepless in Seattle is just one of those feel-good movies that’s the right amount of sweet and romantic.

Sleepless in Seattle is currently available to stream on AMC+, which is available as an add-on channel to your favorite VOD streaming service, like Prime Video and AppleTV. Stream it here. You can also rent it on all major VOD services. Rent it here.

When Harry Met Sally’s restaurant orgasm scene is iconic, both within the context of the history of film and also Meg Ryan’s career. Now, 30 years after the release of the rom-com starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, the movie is going to be celebrated with galas and even a Fathom Event.

If you can’t make those, however, the cast and director Rob Reiner recently joined together to talk about the iconic film, noting that now-infamous orgasm scene was partially a concoction of Meg Ryan's. According to Rob Reiner,

So, the orgasm scene in and of itself wasn’t Meg Ryan’s idea, but putting that scene in a very public place was chalked up to her influence, per the When Harry Met Sally director.

Previously, Bill Crystal told a similar story in which Meg Ryan had contributed the idea of the fake orgasm after Nora Ephron had mentioned women did this in real life. In his version however, the idea to do a fake orgasm was Ryan’s and the idea to do it in a restaurant was his.

Whatever the exact truth, it’s clear the When Harry Met Sally scene was pretty collaborative. Which may be one of the reasons it works so well in the final edit of the movie.

Rob Reiner went on to tell EW that wasn’t the only portion of the scene Meg Ryan contributed, however. After it was determined Meg Ryan would fake her orgasm opposite Billy Crystal at a restaurant, she had another brilliant idea...

It’s a classic movie moment. Many of the people in the restaurant have turned around to stare at Sally while she has her orgasmic moment, when suddenly she stops and all is back to normal. She takes a bit of her coleslaw while Harry gives her a look.

Related: When Harry Met Sally Almost Had A Super Depressing Ending

Afterwards an extra –who we know was actually Rob Reiner’s own mother – utters a famous movie line: “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Since I’m sure you’d like to relive the “I’ll have what she’s having moment, you can watch the full scene below.

However it came about exactly, the orgasm scene is so notable, Meg Ryan’s son Jack Quaid learned about it young and purposefully waited until he was in his twenties to actually watch the scene. Because who wants to watch their mom having a fake orgasm, am I right?

For the record, if you think it’s weird he watched it at all, he says it was in preparation for a rom-com role.

Thirty years after it was first put to film, When Harry Met Sally is still thought of as one of the most iconic rom-coms created for the big screen. Whether it will live on in the minds of movie lovers for the next 30 years remains to be seen, but for now you can catch it on Blu-ray, DVD or Digital or wait for the Fathom Event this winter.

Thirty-some years later, actress Meg Ryan is still best known for her string of rom-coms penned by Nora Ephron, including her pair-ups with Tom Hanks in You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. At the climax of her career, 1989's When Harry Met Sally... came out and is still considered to be one of the best of all time for the genre. Recently, Ryan's son with Dennis Quaid, 26-year-old son Jack Quaid, admitted that he actually steered clear of his mom's famous role until recently because of one iconic scene. In his words:

While it's understandably embarrassing to have a movie out there with your mom faking an orgasm in a busy New York restaurant in front of Billy Crystal, let's face it, he couldn't avoid the flick forever. The smart and hilarious When Harry Met Sally... is perhaps Meg Ryan's best film and most unforgettable role. Jack Quaid also revealed that he had a heartfelt reaction to finally witnessing Ryan's iconic role to Entertainment Weekly, continuing with:

The 1987 film Innerspace, which stars both of his parents, is also a strange one for Jack Quaid to revisit. It's the movie where the pair met and ironically enough, one of the other main characters (played by Martin Short) shares his name, Jack. When speaking about his connection with Innerspace, Quaid said he does realize that he probably wouldn't have been born if Innerspace wasn't made, so he can't complain too much about that one. It's really rare to be able to see your parents at the height of their careers, but Quaid has a unique ability to because of their high-profile jobs.

Jack Quaid is currently an up-and-coming star who has nabbed supporting roles here and there since his first role as one of the tributes in 2012's The Hunger Games. This year he's also had small roles in Dwayne Johnson's Rampage and the animated film Smallfoot. In 2019, Quaid will make the transition into starring roles in the Amazon Prime television series The Boys and in romantic-comedy Plus One.

The Boys has Quaid starring in a superhero comic book adaptation created by the likes of Seth Rogen about a super-powered CIA squad tasked with keeping corrupted heroes in line. On the other hand, Plus One looks like a sweet love story about two longtime single friends who decide to brave a summer of weddings together as each other's plus ones. Neither of the projects have an official release date, but you can expect them both sometime in 2019.

Dennis Quaid is returning to prominence right now, booking a steady stream of roles reuniting him with the limelight. But he's using this opportunity to also look back to the past, as he recounts his relationship with Meg Ryan and its ultimate demise. The actors met on the set of the 1988 movie D.O.A., and they were later married in 1991. Their marriage only lasted nine years, however, as they were eventually divorced in 2000 -- although they do share a child together, The Hunger Games' actor Jack Quaid (26). In a recent interview, Dennis Quaid elaborates on what happened during their break-up.

We're glad this ego check afforded Dennis Quaid an opportunity to learn. The discussion came up when the actor appeared on Megyn Kelly Today on Monday (via People). The conversation also brought up several of Dennis Quaid's former co-stars, including Meryl Streep ("jokester"), Andie MacDowell ("a beautiful, beautiful soul"), Lindsay Lohan ("one of the most talented people I ever met.") He also discussed the late Natasha Richardson, calling her "a worker, no ego; none of that crap other actors pull" and touching on her sudden death after a skiing accident in 2009 -- a tragedy that ultimately still weighs heavily on the veteran actor. But it was Meg Ryan who became the focal point of this discussion, and Dennis Quaid claims his time with Ryan was his most successful relationship to date. Ultimately, Quaid's sense of self and ego seems to have resulted in their separation.

You can hear Dennis Quaid's reflections on Meg Ryan, as both a co-star and romantic partner, in the clip below, courtesy of Megyn Kelly Today.

Dennis Quaid was last seen in this spring's religious drama I Can Only Imagine. The Parent Trap actor will next be seen in the sci-fi action film Kin, which also stars Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz and James Franco, which arrives in theaters on August 31st. Quaid will also soon be seen in The Intruder and Franco's The Pretenders, which are both expected to premiere later this year. He is also at the forefront of Fortitude, the Amazon Prime original series which will air its third and reportedly final four-episode season sometime this year.

The actor is also gearing up for one of his biggest roles to date: Ronald Reagan. Dennis Quaid shoots the upcoming biopic Reagan in the winter, which is expected to make its way into awards season next year. If that's the case, then Dennis Quaid will certainly be on top again. Meanwhile, we'll keep you posted on Dennis Quaid here at CinemaBlend.

One of the tried and true genres of filmmaking is the always popular romantic comedy. Moviegoers long for a fun night at the theaters, with a romantic storyline to help propel the overall story forward. As far as romcoms go, there are few quite as iconic and beloved as Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle. The 1993 classic was surprisingly self-aware, poking fun at the genre while also capturing our hearts through Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks' cross-country courtship. Sleepless was a massive hit when it first arrived in theaters, and it still managed to stay at the forefront of pop culture. I recently spoke to actress Rosie O'Donnell ahead of Sleepless in Seattle's 25th anniversary release, and she revealed its unique magic decades later.

While Sleepless in Seattle seemed plausible during its initial release, it now invokes strong feelings of nostalgia. This is likely because the majority of the film's events and problems could be solved instantly if there were smart phones around. Meg Ryan would be listening to a podcast instead of a call-in radio station, and she could also probably google Tom Hanks' character and find out exactly where he was. And just like that, the magic of Sleepless is gone.

The inception of smart phones and other devices has seemingly put a major road block in the way of a variety of storytelling. Plot points like the ones used in Sleepless in Seattle couldn't function in a modern movie, instead having to be swapped for something like a dating app. Writers of new movies (especially horror flicks) must now find a logical way to write out smart phones, and therefore allow for their characters to be more vulnerable and have moments of surprise.

Although there can't really be a modern version of Sleepless in Seattle, that's part of what makes the Nora Ephron classic so special upon rewatch. They simply don't make them like that anymore. And like Rosie O'Donnell told me, it's able to elicit a sense of tranquility, as we're brought to a simpler time. And for the generations of Sleepless fans out there, there's a new edition available for home purchase now.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Sleepless in Seattle is available now. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

At one point the world was calling her "America's Sweetheart" thanks to an off-handed comment from Nora Ephron, but now, many years later in her career, Meg Ryan says she really never wanted to be an actress in the first place. Speaking at a Goop Wellness Summit with Gwyneth Paltrow, the actress admitted she had been "very reactive instead of proactive" during a time in her career. She also described how she never actually wanted to be in the acting business, at all. She said:

While speaking with Gwyneth Paltrow via (E!), Meg Ryan touched on her heyday in the eighties and through the nineties, mentioning that really she "had a lot of fun" as an actress but that it was never something that was a huge calling for her. She also touched on the fact that she actually filmed a movie with Paltrow when he son was only three-months old, questioning "what was wrong" with her to want to work when she had such a young child at home. It seems the actress has some guilt over her successful acting career, and so when the parts stopped rolling in at a regular rate, she just rolled with the punches and figured out what other values the world held for her.

After taking a small part in Top Gun in 1986, Meg Ryan's career really picked up in 1989 when she starred in When Harry Met Sally. A year later she did Joe Versus the Volcano. Her heyday was in the nineties when she led such hits as Sleepless in Seattle, French Kiss, City of angels, You've Got Mail, Proof of Life and Kate & Leopold (opposite a young Hugh Jackman). She also talked a little bit more about what it was like when she was still uber-famous, noting,

Meg Ryan is still acting, but her output has slowed down quite a bit from her heyday. In fact, there was a period between 2009's Serious Moonlight and Curb Your Enthusiasm guest stint and 2013's Web Therapy when she didn't act at all. Since then, she's appeared in Fan Girl, the pilot for the failed series How I Met Your Dad and a movie called Ithaca. How I Met Your Dad was supposed to be her big comeback, and when it didn't happen, her career has stayed rather low key. Regardless, from what the actress was saying, acting was never a big deal to her anyway. Plus, she's left behind a body of work she can certainly be proud of, so what's next?

Have you seen the romantic comedy America's Sweethearts? It's on cable constantly, and it did OK at the box office back in 2001. Anyways, it stars Catherine Zeta Jones and John Cusack as an on-screen power couple, the equivalent of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in a Nora Ephron joint. Only, off camera, they hate each other. Now, Hanks and Ryan didn't get to that point, but in a new book about Ephron's Rom-Com contributions, it's revealed that Hanks was a bit of a pill while filming the legendary Sleepless in Seattle, with the iconic A-list actor admitting:

Where was Tom Hanks, on the path to becoming "Tom Hanks" when Sleepless in Seattle rolled around? Well, Hanks had a huge hit the year before with 1992's A League of Their Own. But prior to that, Hanks had been knocked off of his pedestal a few times thanks to the famously disastrous Bonfire of the Vanities in 1990, as well as Turner & Hooch and Punchline in the years before it. Yes, Hanks had Big, Dragnet and The Money Pit under his belt, as well. But his career was king of up and down before Sleepless in Seattle. Perhaps that's why he was cranky?

And yet, even in the anecdotes shared by the NY Daily News ahead of the release of "I'll Have What She's Having," author Erin Carlson's Nora Ephron book, Tom Hanks doesn't come off like a monster. He's annoyed at having to work with a kid... it's doubtful Hanks has been the first actor to complain about that. The story even goes on to explain that Hanks was sort of responsible for the first young actor who was cast as Jonah, named Nathan Watt, to be fired. A producer recalls:

Harsh. And so, Nathan Watt was replaced by Ross Malinger, and eventually, we got this bit of gold.

True fans of romantic comedies, especially the trio of the late Nora Ephron's Gold Standard films, will want to grab a copy of "I'll Have What She's Having." It has great stories about the filming of When Harry Met Sally, as well as the troubles Meg Ryan went through trying to ditch the label of America's Sweetheart when filming You've Got Mail. Do you dig these behind-the-scenes anecdotes? Or do they make you think differently about your favorite stars?

Great movie chemistry is a difficult thing to find. When you have it, your film can survive based off that alone. When two characters don't mix well, the entire movie falls apart. Sometimes, however, two actors can work so well together that their interaction transcends everything else that happens on screen and they steal every scene together. Sometimes it's a romantic pair, sometimes it's a bromantic pair, but when it works, it works so well that you just want to see it again.

We're not saying that movies these pairs were in together need sequels. In most cases, we don't expect or really want a sequel to the existing film. The chemistry these pairs share transcend the movie they were in. We know they'd be great together in literally any movie. Here are 10 movie pairs we want to see together again, in anything.

Edward Norton & Brad Pitt

Fight Club received most of its acclaim for its unexpected twist ending and its "fight the power" message that resonated with many young people in the 1990s. While I would argue the movie probably hasn't aged as well as you might think and probably isn't as good as it was in college, the performances of its two leading men were rock solid and their interaction was flawless. Both Brad Pitt and Edward Norton have gone to bigger and better things, and since they're two of the greatest actors working today, we'd love to see them on screen again. Maybe in something a little less depressing.

Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks

Ok, so we already have three movies to enjoy with this classic romantic movie pairing (you probably missed Ithaca). So what? The chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is absolutely perfect, and just because they've done movies together doesn't mean there isn't an opportunity for more. Great actors always bring something special to the screen, but sometimes when working opposite somebody who knows them well, performances can be brought to the next level. We've seen them fall in love, but as older performers, they could make a romantic movie about people who have spent decades together now, and audiences would buy it because they watched the pair fall in love two and a half decades ago.

The Rock & Jason Statham

The most recent pairing on this list, the Fast and Furious franchise appears to be losing some steam after the most recent entry, but two people you can't blame for that are The Rock and Jason Statham. They both brought their A-game to The Fate of the Furious, but what's more, when the two were on screen together you honestly forget that any other movie was even happening. There's talk of this pair getting their own spinoff film, but it honestly doesn't matter if they do a Furious spin-off or anything else. Cast Jason Statham in any of the 47 movies The Rock currently has in production.

Eddie Murphy & Dan Aykroyd

Trading Places is, almost without question, one of the great comedies of all-time. If that movie had been released in the last 10 years, a sequel would have been greenlit before the movie was out of theaters. Neither Dan Aykroyd or Eddie Murphy is busy making a lot of movies these days, which is why it would be perfect for the two of them to reunite in something new. Seeing either of them in a brand new comedy would be a treat. Seeing what the two of them could do together after all these years would be guaranteed to be hilarious.

Anne Hathaway & Meryl Streep

The Devil Wears Prada was a breakout role for a young Anne Hathaway, acting opposite a multi-time Academy Award winner. Now Hathaway has an Oscar of her own, and the promotional material for a movie that reunites this pair writes itself. Prada certainly requires no sequel, so we imagine these two could do something else together. It could be something dramatic and Oscar worthy, or something lighter in the vein of their previous joint venture. Either way, another project starring these two would be impressive to watch. Ways in which the character dynamic could shift after all these years is exciting to think about.

Josh Gad & Luke Evans

One of the highlights of the recent Beauty and the Beast remake was the pairing of Luke Evans as Gaston and Josh Gad as his friend/sidekick Le Fou. The pair were absolutely hilarious together and after watching them doing press and social media stuff together in the lead up to the film, it's clear the two have a lot of fun together. They could make any comedy together, and we're fairly certain it would be great. Their timing is perfect and every joke in Beauty landed perfectly. Does anybody want to make an Abbott & Costello biopic? Please do so right now.

Arnold Schwarzenegger & Jamie Lee Curtis

With all the blockbuster success that James Cameron has had over the years, his action comedy True Lies is often overlooked. What made that film work so well was the on-screen chemistry between leads Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. If there was a pair on the list that we wanted to see make a true sequel to their previous film, it might be this one. It would be great to see how "Boris and Doris" and doing after all these years of spying together. What does that situation do to a relationship? Are they closer together or falling apart? We're fairly certain they're no less entertaining.

Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones

The Men in Black movies worked because the pairing of the joke-cracking Will Smith and the straight-faced, but no less funny, Tommy Lee Jones, was absolute perfection. If there's a single reason that the third installment of the franchise didn't work, it's because Jones wasn't a big enough part of the movie. So let's move on from Men in Black and find something else for these two to do together. They'd be no less funny in any comedy. Find Jones and Smith a pair of roles with a similar relationship and let the jokes fly.

Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone

While La La Land may not have been Best Picture, it was not from lack of effort from the film's two leads. Of course, that isn't the only movie the two have been in together. They've made three films together in recent years and now we just want to see more. Whether it's musicals, romantic comedies or serious dramas, these two have great chemistry together. We're hoping they continue to make different kinds of movies together and give us even more to enjoy for years to come.

Tim Robbins & Morgan Freeman

There may be no greater love story about the relationship between two male friends as The Shawshank Redemption. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, and the characters they played, could not be more different, and yet the relationship between them is one of the strongest in the history of cinema. Both men are older now, but that only changes the circumstances. We bet these two could still deliver powerful performances on screen together. We would never want to see these two follow up their previous film, but anything these two could do with each other would be great.

In her decades-spanning career, actress Meg Ryan is arguably most synonymous with the romantic comedy subgenre, thanks to her work in modern classics like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. She is far less known for her work on the small screen, in any genre, but that will likely change very soon, as Ryan has signed on as the lead in the half-hour TV comedy Picture Paris, which has been scooped up by the growing cable network Epix.

For what would be her first regular TV role since 1985 - and what would probably be her first regular TV role that anyone can recall easily - Meg Ryan would portray Picture Paris' suburban mom who pictures an idealized vacation to France with her husband after their kids have moved out of the house. But when that time finally comes and they're able to head to Paris, it's discovered that it's a lot harder to have that dream realized than she thought.

Not the most unprivileged thing in the world to realize your Paris trip is so hard, but this could be great, depending on the comedic tone. I suppose we'll know once the husband is cast. If they get somebody like John Hawkes, you know it's going to be nuanced and genuine. If they get somebody like Rob Riggle, things will be broad and ridiculous.

We do have an indication of what to expect from an episodic Picture Paris, as it was originally a 2011 short film from writer/director Brad Hall, in which the lead female role was played by Hall's wife, one Julia Louis-Dreyfus. (I guess she was already busy being the funniest woman on TV on that other show.) Hall will be behind the Epix version as well, as he'll both write and direct.

Picture Paris hasn't got all of its dots connected just yet. Epix landed the deal in a competitive situation with two other networks, according to Deadline, and it's reportedly being considered for a quick turnaround to head into production if a series order is made. And should that order go through, the production is indeed supposed to happen in France, so we don't have to worry about many green-screen shots of Paris in the background.

This is the latest potential winner from Epix on the television series front. The premium cable network launched its small screen original side last year with the political comedy Graves, which earned star Nick Nolte a Golden Globe nomination. The network then ordered an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Get Shorty, with Ray Romano and Chris O'Dowd, and there's also the espionage drama Berlin Station yet to premiere.

Still this early in Picture Paris' existence, it's hard to gauge how quickly things will come together, if they do, but Meg Ryan's involvement will likely grease all the necessary wheels. She's had winning turns on series such as Web Therapy and Curb Your Enthusiasm in the last decade, so she is primed for a TV comedy breakout. In the meantime, head to our midseason premiere schedule to see what is definitely premiering in the near future.

In the 1990s, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were one of the more frequent actor pairings on the big screen, appearing together in 1990's Joe vs. the Volcano, 1993's Sleepless in Seattle and 1998's You've Got Mail. It's been nearly 20 years since their last project together, but Hanks and Ryan are finally reuniting this fall for Ithaca, and today brings their first look at them together in the period drama.

A lot of time has passed since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan appeared together in a movie, but it's good to see them sitting side by side in this Ithaca photo provided by EW. Those who enjoyed their '90s rom-com moments should be forewarned that Hanks and Ryan will only be sharing a brief moment of screen time together, as Hanks' is only cameoing in the movie as Ryan's character's deceased husband. Nevertheless, Ryan enjoyed her short time reunited with Hanks, saying:

Based on the 1943 novel The Human Comedy, Ithaca, which is directed by Meg Ryan herself, follows a young boy named Homer Macauley (played by Alex Neustaedter) who is trying to be the best telegraph bicyclist in the city. Since his older brother has gone off to fight in World War II and his father (Hanks' character) recently died, it's up to Homer to take care of his mother (played by Ryan), his older sister and younger brother.

Eventually Homer becomes the only telegraph messenger in the city, and as he delivers messages to his fellow townspeople, he'll mature in ways he didn't think possible, all while he waits for his brother to come home from the war. In the midst of this, Homer's mother will be visited by the specter of her late husband. It sounds like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks had a great time back together during those hours of shooting Ithaca, further cementing how close they are in real life. Perhaps this will help lead to another collaboration between the two of them in a whole movie, not just for one scene.

Ithaca will be released in theaters on September 9, though folks who attended the Middleburg Film Festival last October have already gotten the chance to see it.

Actors don't just fill roles written in a script. They have the ability to transcend their films and become icons in their own right. It often gets to the point where many people will decide to see a film based upon what actors are featured in the project. If there's one thing Hollywood has managed to do over the years, it's create an entire stable of bona-fide movie stars with undeniable talent that audience will flock to theaters to see.

That being said, just because someone has a knack for acting doesn't mean that they always star in good movies. Some silver screen icons start their careers on the right foot, and slowly but surely lose the magic that made us love them. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of 11 genuinely good actors who have not made a good movie in a very long time. Now let's get started with one of the most well-known cases of such a phenomena.

Nicolas Cage

Oscar winner Nicolas Cage's fall from grace has been one of the most well-documented and fascinating stories to come out of Hollywood in recent years. Although he has become known for his characteristic overacting, Nicolas Cage has an undeniably innate talent, and a wide range that made many of his early films like Raising Arizona and Michael Bay's The Rock instant classics. However, his reported financial troubles over the last decade have forced him into a position where he cannot afford to be quite as picky about the roles he takes on. You're a great actor, Mr. Cage, but we will never forgive efforts like The Wicker Man or Drive Angry.

*Last Great Movie: *Kick-Ass

Julia Roberts

Although it doesn't seem like it's been that long since Julia Roberts was considered Hollywood's "It Girl," she really hasn't produced a notable film in well over a decade. Her earlier work in films like Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich has become eclipsed by a long resume of lackluster efforts such as The Secret In Their Eyes, Money Monster, and Charlie Wilson's War. These films aren't terrible. But they often fall apart, without ever coming together to be a great movie. Roberts still has a clear acting talent, and she hasn't phoned in her recent performance; she simply needs to pick better projects for herself.

*Last Great Movie: *Ocean's Eleven

Al Pacino

Few Hollywood actors have a level of iconography on par with Al Pacino. The man has become a legend over the course of his career with his beloved roles as Michael Corleone, and Tony Montana -- just to name a couple. Then something happened; he lost his mojo somewhere along the way. Let me just put this into perspective for you, Al Pacino was in both Jack and Jill and Gigli. Let that sink in. You're a legend, Mr. Pacino, and you need to remind us of why we used to love you so much.

*Last Great Movie: *Insomnia

Eddie Murphy

Despite the fact that he's one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Eddie Murphy's later years have been characterized by downright terrible films like Norbit and The Adventures of Pluto Nash. His work during the 1980s and 1990s set a comedic standard, and he proved on more than one occasion that he has the emotional depth to take on very compelling dramatic roles, as well. It's been a long time since we last saw Eddie Murphy take on a good role, so let's hope his upcoming project on Netflix will return him to his former glory.

*Last Great Movie: *Dreamgirls

Adam Sandler

Although he established himself as Hollywood's resident class clown from the beginning of his career, Adam Sandler has also proven time and time again that he actually has strong acting chops when we strip away the wacky characters and dumb voices. Even the most outlandish early roles like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore grounded themselves in real human emotion that Sandler actually has a knack for tapping into; it's a shame that his more recent efforts like Jack and Jill or The Ridiculous Six have forgotten about that idea.

*Last Great Movie: *Funny People

Gerard Butler

Olympus has fallen, and so has Mr. Butler. About a decade ago, many people would have assumed that Gerard Butler would go on to become one of Hollywood's most reliable leading men. As it turns out: they were incredibly generous with their expectations. Gerard Butler has slowly but surely nestled himself into a comfortable little B-list action niche that honestly does a disservice to his earlier work in films like Phantom of the Opera or Zack Snyder's 300.

*Last Great Movie: *300

Diane Keaton

No one is every going to question Diane Keaton's status as Hollywood royalty. That being said, she has done very little to reaffirm that status since the early days of her career. She became an icon with her roles in films like Annie Hall and The Godfather, but in the years since she has seldom taken on any substantially challenging roles --instead signing on to films like Love the Coopers and Something's Gotta Give.

*Last Great Movie: *Father of the Bride

Demi Moore

It's not often that a performer becomes inextricable from a particular decade, but Demi Moore's career feels notably bonded with the 1990s. She had a string of hits, from Ghost to _A Few Good Men _and to Indecent Proposal. But as time went on, she simply stopped producing high quality films, and we were left with crap like Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Ms. Moore brought intensity to her earlier roles that not a lot of modern actresses have managed to emulate, and we think it's time she got back to doing what she does best.

*Last Great Movie: *G.I. Jane

Meg Ryan

Sure, she's arguably most famous for that fake orgasm, but anyone with a passion for Rom-Coms will instantly note that Meg Ryan is a truly great actor who hasn't had a great role in a very long time. During the 1990s, Ryan epitomized the Hollywood idea of "the girl next door." She had an innate charm and sense of humor that helped turn films like When Harry Met Sally into smash hits. But she also proved her knack for strength and intensity with war dramas like Courage Under Fire.

*Last Great Movie: *Kate & Leopold

Halle Berry

Poor Halle Berry. She really hasn't had a strong role since 2001's Monster's Ball. Following her iconic Oscar win, Halle Berry took on a number of downright atrocious roles in films like Catwoman and Die Another Day, and that level of quality as pretty much characterized her career ever since. Sure, she's been in some incredibly strong X-Men films, but her Storm has often been regarded as one of the weakest elements of that franchise anyway. She's clearly good enough to win an Oscar; she just needs to pick much better projects for herself.

*Last Great Movie: *Monster's Ball

Robert De Niro

Have you ever just sat back and wondered what the hell has happened to Robert De Niro? We wonder that on a regular basis. There's a strong case to be made that De Niro could actually be the greatest film actor to ever walk this planet, but his recent career has been characterized by bad comedies and lackluster dramas. Even his well-regarded comedic roles in films like Meet the Parents don't even come to the glory of his earlier years. We want to remember you for Travis Bickle and Vito Corleone, Mr. De Niro, not for your role in Dirty Grandpa.

*Last Great Movie: *Heat

With movies like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, French Kiss, and many more, Meg Ryan became America’s sweetheart and the face of the romantic comedy in the 1990s. While she occasionally took a grittier, more serious role, like in Courage Under Fire, she consciously cultivated her public persona — for instance, she reportedly was offended by the offer to play Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs.

While Ryan is still very much working, and still endearing to boot, there hasn’t been an actress in recent years that has really dominated the rom-com genre like she once did. Drew Barrymore came close for a minute. It looked like Renee Zellwegger might step into that role for a bit, and the same for Reese Witherspoon. Katherine Heigl and Kate Hudson gave it a shot, and Rachel McAdams and Emma Stone both seem like they could still make a go of it, if they wanted to. Hollywood has never had a shortage of actresses looking to break into the business, so we’ve put together a list of some young talents with the potential to take over the Queen of Rom-Coms title once held by Meg Ryan.

Britt Robertson

Britt Robertson is already poised to have a big 2015. Not only does she star alongside George Clooney in the fantastic Disney adventure Tomorrowland, this weekend she graces movie screens in the romantic drama The Longest Ride. Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, it seems likely this will make a ton of money and be derided by critics at the same time. One thing that Sparks adaptations do accomplish, however, is to make its intended audience weepy with a tale of mismatched lovers who come together against the odds. Robertson plays a college student who falls in love with a rodeo cowboy. There is a definite crossover between fans of The Notebook, The Lucky One, and other Sparks fare, and rom-com enthusiasts, so Robertson wanted, she could likely parlay this into any number of similar roles in the future.

Martha MacIsaac

There are pretty much only two real female roles in the high school comedy Superbad, and both are the objects of romantic affection for teen heroes, Michael Cera and Jonah Hill. Of the two, Emma Stone has obviously been the breakout star, but we have high hopes for the other, Martha MacIsaac, who also happens to be one half of one of the most painfully awkward almost-sex-scenes in recent memory in that film. With a few forays into horror, like The Last House on the Left and Dead By Dawn 3D, she’s primarily been a player in comedy properties, romantic and otherwise, like the short lived presidential sitcom 1600 Penn with Josh Gad, Bill Pullman and Jenna Elfman. MacIsaac has a perky, girl-next-door appeal and demeanor that translates well to cute romantic comedies, and if she wanted, she could absolutely kill it in roles like this for years to come.

Mae Whitman

Only in the movies is someone as completely adorable as Mae Whitman considered ugly. Granted, this is the Hollywood version of ugly, where you take off your glasses and unleash your ponytail (maybe swap out your paint-spattered overalls for a prom dress) and you’re instantly transformed. Most of us first encountered Whitman as George Michael Bluth’s bland girlfriend Ann on Arrested Development, but she’s spent the last five years on NBC’s dramatic comedy Parenthood. While that recently came to an end, 2015 already saw her charm the hell out of damn near everybody in the teen rom-com The DUFF. While not exactly breaking any new ground, it’s a solid young adult stab at the genre that showcases a bright future for the actress. She also played the President’s daughter in Independence Day and voices April O’Neil on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, just in case you needed another reason to love her.

Bridgit Mendler

The Disney Channel has already churned out more than its fair share of young star performers over the years, and it looks like Bridgit Mendler is following in the footsteps laid out by the likes of Selena Gomez and the cast of High School Musical. The double threat singer and actress has already appeared on the likes of Wizards of Waverly Place, Lemonade Mouth and Good Luck Charlie, among others, and lately she’s been giving her image something of an adult makeover, appearing on an extended run of NBC’s romantic life sitcom Undateable. Well-known for her humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors, her compassion and charisma shine through and make her an ideal candidate to carry the rom-com banner into cinematic battle.

Imogen Poots

Peter Bogdanovich hadn’t directed a movie in just about a decade, but when he mounted his attempt at a madcap screwball comedy in 2014, he chose Imogen Poots to lead the charge as a hooker-turned-Broadway-actress in the star-filled She’s Funny That Way. She plays a ditzy muse and charms her way through a series of zany misadventures and coincidences that only ever happen in this type of film. It's not the greatest movie, but Poots shows off a vivacious personality and magnetism that’s carried her through crime films (Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth), action flicks (video game adaptation Need For Speed), and more esoteric artistic endeavors (Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups), as well as rom-coms like That Awkward Moment. While that may have been an ill-advised choice, it showcases her considerable onscreen charisma. And then there’s that accent…

Sarah Wright

Sarah Wright may have just signed up to star opposite Tom Cruise in a drama about a real life drug smuggler who became a CIA asset, but her resume is full-to-bursting with comedic roles. She played Rob Lowe’s love interest on Parks and Recreation for a stretch, though, admittedly, wasn’t given much to do aside from look pretty and break his heart. Her ditzy, self-absorbed best friend on the NBC sitcom Marry Me is already a type lifted right out of any number of romantic comedies, as could her turn in the Elizabeth Banks vehicle Walk of Shame. Bubbly and engaging, you could easily see her taking the next step and leading a studio rom-com, or even getting her very own shot at a rom-com style sitcom. Lord knows she’s appeared in enough, having shown up in a random episode of things like How I Met Your Mother, Mixology, and more.

Emma Roberts

Nancy Drew is growing up before our very eyes. Emma Roberts is attempting the delicate transition from child actor to grown up star—though she didn’t start off too innocent, as her first screen role was in Blow. Along the way, she has dabbled in R-rated comedy with We’re the Millers, and taken a major foray into horror with the likes of Scream 4, American Horror Story, and the upcoming Scream Queens. But we’re willing to bet that the former Nickelodeon star could rule the rom-com scene if she put her mind to it. She has an easy, effortless charm that serves her well across a wide array of genres, and looking for more adult roles (and to connect with an older audience), she could easily follow in the footsteps of a famous relative, her aunt Julia Roberts.

Taylor Swift

Everyone loves Taylor Swift. I know grizzled dudes in grindcore bands with long ass beards and hand tattoos who know all the words to "Shake it Off," "22," and "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together." (That’s a hoot at karaoke, by the way.) She only has a handful of acting credits to her name, most notably Valentine's Day and a small role in 2014’s dystopian young adult adaptation of The Giver. But she’s shown that she likes to have fun, and she’s game to try whatever (you’ve probably seen her dancing her ass off in the front row of every awards show ever). She’s personable and charming, and if she ever got in the right mood, she could use her America’s Sweetheart standing to knock out a string of romantic comedies that would break the bank. Somewhere there’s a studio exec praying for that right now.

Julianne Hough

Best known as a dancer and now a judge on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, Julianne Hough only has a few acting credits to her name right now, but she’s on a path that could lead her directly to rom-com stardom if she wants. She’s played to her singing and dancing strengths a few times, with the likes of Burlesque, Footloose, and Rock of Ages—she’s also slated to play Sandy in Grease: Live. With a Nicholas Sparks adaptation, Safe Haven with Josh Duhamel, on her resume, she branched out a bit, and she’s diving into comedy with Dirty Grandpa next year, starring opposite Zac Effron and Robert De Niro. She’s well known and likable enough that she seems poised to convert her reality show status and burgeoning acting career into full on romantic lead, if she so desires.

Brie Larson

Brie Larson is probably best recognized for her dramatic work, and rightfully so. She’s been incredible in recent indie dramas like Short Term 12 and The Spectacular Now, but she’s also no stranger to comedy and has proven herself to be one of the most versatile young actors working right now. From the bittersweet variety, in The United States of Tara, to the likes of Community and 21 Jump Street, she’s already appeared in a few rom-coms, like Don Jon and Judd Apatow’s upcoming Trainwreck. Larson has an undeniable charm and an instant congeniality that serves her well in these roles. You just like her, which is one of the most marketable qualities Meg Ryan brought to her roles in romantic comedy. No matter who she played, no matter the story, you just like her, and that goes a long way to connecting with the audience, and Larson has that, or at least something very similar. 

As far the annals of horror thrillers are concerned, 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs has a firm place among the best of all time. However, a recent interview with the film’s director brings up the rather Starling…err, startling revelation that Jodie Foster was not the actress he initially had in mind for the lead role. In fact, she was not even close.

In a fascinating interview at the Austin Film Festival with fellow filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, The Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme discussed the casting process for the film’s main character, the young, fresh-from-Quantico FBI Agent Clarice Starling. It turns out that Jodie Foster was nowhere on Demme’s radar, as he had names like Meg Ryan, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Laura Dern on the short list in front of her.

Yes, it may seem like blasphemy now. Pitting a smart, relatable heroine, played brilliantly by Foster, in a demented battle of wits with one of the most memorable villains in cinematic (and now television) history, the film was both a psychological and dramatic masterpiece. At the time, however, Demme just didn’t think Foster believably conveyed Clarice’s quandary, despite the fact that she was already an Oscar winner for 1988’s The Accused.

Michelle Pfeiffer was someone that had been circling the role early on in the process, but the darkness of the film made her think twice. At the time, Jodie Foster apparently campaigned passionately for the role directly to Demme, who remained recalcitrant in his refusal. Eventually, one of Foster’s pitches about her approach to the story resonated with Demme, who, in the interview, relays Foster’s pitch, saying,

At that point, Foster’s words sparked some profound ideas for Demme. With that said, he still had no intention of casting her. He was looking heavily at a then-white-hot Meg Ryan, who Demme thought was a compelling actress that, unlike Foster, he could "believe." Ryan also happened to be riding a lot of momentum off 1989’s When Harry Met Sally and her three roles in 1990’s Joe Versus the Volcano. The Silence of the Lambs seemed like it would be the perfect opportunity to take America’s newest sweetheart and pit her against some of the most vile characters ever put on screen. Well, after Ryan got ahold of the script, it was clearly not to be, seeing as she was allegedly "offended" that such a grim, ghastly film would come her way.

Jonathan Demme went back to the drawing board with Laura Dern, who, based on her auditions, he says, "was just IT." However, she was clearly not prominent enough at the time, and he began to consider advice he was given by the studio, Orion Films. They were firmly in the pro-Foster camp, with her coming off an Oscar win and her status of being universally loved. (Would-be Presidential assassins notwithstanding.) At that point, Demme came to a decision, factoring in the notion of just how much Foster loved the part and how much it would mollify the studio, before finally caving.

Of course, what followed was an artistic masterpiece that dominated the box-office and swept both the Oscars and Golden Globes across the boards. While we would see Julianne Moore play Clarice Starling in the 2001 follow-up, Hannibal, you’ll get few arguments against the notion that Jodie Foster best conveyed that characteristic mix of innocence and determination which the character embodied.

If one ever needs proof that the Academy Awards don’t actually define who the most talented people in Hollywood are, one need only look at the long, long list of people that they have ignored over the last century. Legendary actors like Joseph Cotton, Peter Lorre, Kim Novak, Edward G. Robinson and many more not only never won Oscar trophies during their careers, but were never even nominated for a prize. But as shocking as that list is, there are some names of snubbed actors in the modern era that will confuse the hell out of you.

With the 87th annual Academy Awards upon us, we’ve assembled a list of 15 brilliant, currently working actors who amazingly have never been up for Hollywood’s highest honor. Who are the names? Read on to find out!

Steve Buscemi

A big reason why the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award even exists is to celebrate the works of the great character actors working in the movie industry, and yet one of the greatest of all time, Steve Buscemi, has never gotten any attention from the ceremony. This is honestly a rather baffling mystery, as Buscemi’s 30 year career is packed with brilliant titles and collaborations with geniuses like the Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino, and yet the Oscars have never felt the need to give him consideration. Seriously, how the hell did he not get nominated for Fargo?

Jeff Daniels

In the past few years, Jeff Daniels has found himself finding great awards success thanks to his time on television – winning the 2013 Outstanding Lead Actor Emmy for his performance in Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom - but every time the guy has flirted with an Academy Award it has ended in disappointing fashion. He arguably came closest in 2005 with his turn in Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale, but was ultimately shut out of the final race. That being said, it’s hard to imagine that Daniels will wind up ending his career with a permanent spot on this list – especially when you consider that he is currently working with the likes of Danny Boyle and Ridley Scott on his next two feature film projects.

Isabella Rossellini

Over the course of her 39 year career, Isabella Rossellini has earned acclaim, and hardware from many film organizations, but sadly her performances have never stirred Academy members to the degree that they felt the need to declare her work some of the best in a given year. This is an awful shame given her memorable turns in movies like David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and Peter Weir’s Fearless (which got nominations for Dennis Hopper and Rosie Perez, respectively). Rossellini is certainly one of the most notable Italian imports in modern cinema, and it would be too bad if her big screen career ended before getting her first nod.

Donald Sutherland

At the age of 79, Donald Sutherland is the oldest actor on this list, but that only really serves to amplify just how ridiculous it is that he has never found himself up for an Academy Award. The man’s career is full of brilliant performances in some truly amazing movies – from Ordinary People to MASH to Invasion of the Body Snatchers to Don’t Look Now, but evidently none of these turns really stuck out versus stiff competition in various years. If it doesn’t happen in the next few years for one reason or another, there is definitely a case to be made for him at some point getting a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jeffrey Wright

Jeffrey Wright’s career started off a bit slow as he was getting his foot in the door in the film industry back in the 1990s, but since the turn of the millennium the guy has proven to be one of the industry’s most talented character actors. In that time, he has found himself in multiple Academy Award nominated films, including Ali, Syriana, and The Ides of March, but has not yet been able to get himself on the Academy’s radar. Of course, just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t, and one could easily see it happening as he keeps getting more interesting roles in interesting projects.

Alfred Molina

Thanks to movies like An Education and Frida, Alfred Molina has spent some time within the last 15 years being a part of some awards races, but to this point his work has not yet resulted in a nomination from the Academy Awards. He’s certainly been working with the right people, including directors like Paul Thomas Anderson, Ron Howard, and Kenneth Branagh, but sadly those impressive collaborations have not yet yielded any little golden men for the actor. Fortunately, the guys has rarely taken long breaks between projects, so his big ticket film could be coming at really any point.

Danny Glover

One can fairly easily predict that it will be Danny Glover’s time playing Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon movies that winds up being his most lasting legacy in the film industry, but it’s still rather surprising that his time starring in movies like Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple (which got 11 Oscar nominations) and Peter Weir’s Witness (which got eight Oscar nominations and two wins) never resulted in a single nomination for himself. Admittedly, at this point in Glover’s career it sort of seems the time has come and gone, but with the right director and the right script, anything can happen.

Pam Grier

Pam Grier came as close as she’s ever been to an Academy Award nomination when she starred in Quentin Tarantino’s brilliant 1997 crime drama Jackie Brown, but it’s a shame that she’s never actually gone all the way to the show. In addition to being an exceptional actress, she also happens to play an important role in cinematic history through her part in the Blaxploitation movement. Even if she doesn’t end up with another performance in her career that finds her in the awards race, at the very least the Academy should find some way to honor her contributions to cinema.

John Goodman

It’s perhaps an example of the Academy having a bit of a bias against actors who have spent a good portion of their careers on television, but there really is no excuse at this point for John Goodman not to have at least collected an Oscar nomination by this point in his life, if not an actual award. Like the case with Steve Buscemi, Goodman’s work with the Coen brothers alone should have at least resulted in one nod (Barton Fink!), but the guy is equally good in everything he does, and it’s shocking he has not get gotten the consideration he deserves.

Scarlett Johansson

After years as a child actor, Scarlett Johansson got her adult career off to an absolutely stellar start by making films like Lost in Translation and working with Woody Allen on multiple projects, but despite all of the clout she was able to build up, it has not yet resulted in an Oscar nod. Admittedly she has gotten a bit further away from the awards race in recent years due to the fact that she is turning into one of Hollywood’s most popular action hero leads, but the truth is that she’s still putting in award caliber work in smaller films like Her, and because she’s only 30 it’s not hard to see her eventually doing something that really gets the Academy’s attention.

Allison Janney

The fact that she has spent a good portion of her career on television is most likely what’s held Allison Janney back from the Academy Award crowd, but it still feels surprising that she has never at least picked up a nomination. With her warm screen presence as well as her high talent level, you’d think she’d at least find herself getting a Best Supporting Actress nod at some point, but to this point it has not happened yet. The good news is that she’s a very prolific actress who takes on a lot of opportunities, so it’s not hard to believe that we could see the Janney Drought end in the next few years.

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman has a remarkable fanbase thanks to his legendary work in Die Hard and the Harry Potter series, and while we understand why those titles didn’t get him consideration from the Academy Awards (they’ve never been too big on genre stuff), the truth is that it’s still surprising he hasn’t picked up a nomination at this point in his career. The guy most certainly has the talent, but it just hasn’t translated to this point. Fortunately, all it takes is one spellbinding performance to take him out of qualification for this list, and one can sense that it’s really in the cards for him. It’s just a matter of when.

Meg Ryan

Over the course of his career, Tom Hanks has earned five Academy Award nominations, and has even taken home the Best Actor prize twice… but that really only serves to highlight the fact that his longtime romantic comedy partner, Meg Ryan, has never been up for acting’s highest honor. Thanks to their greater acceptance of comedic films, Ryan has been celebrated by the Golden Globes multiple times – earning nominations for When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, but none of that attention ever translated to Oscar attention. It’s not too late for Meg Ryan just yet, though if she wants the chance to ever get an Academy Award she should probably start doing more movies.

John Turturro

While Joel and Ethan Coen have picked up numerous Academy Awards for themselves over the years, it’s kind of amazing that they haven’t been able to spread that success to some of their favorite character actors. Yes, like Steve Buscemi and John Goodman, John Turturro is yet another Coen regular who has somehow never managed to find Oscar’s awareness. It’s a real shock just because the guy has done some truly fantastic work in films like Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, Quiz Show and Rounders. Hopefully the time and opportunity have not come and gone.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

She may still be remembered by many as the curious Stacy Hamilton in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but Jennifer Jason Leigh has honestly put together quite an impressive resume in the decades since – albeit one that has not yet been given any notice by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A lot of her stuff has been more under the radar, but she has been consistently earning acclaim for years in movies like Margot At The Wedding and The Spectacular Now. This year she is playing the lead female role in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, so this may actually be her opportunity to finally get her first nomination.

Joe Versus The Volcano. Sleepless In Seattle. You've Got Mail. Ithaca?

It has been 16 years since Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks last teamed up and fell in love, but now the pair could reunite for Ryan's directorial debut, Ithaca. But don't start holding your breath for breathless romance.

THR says that Tom Hanks is now in talks to take on a small, cameo role in Ithaca. Aside from helming the film, which is a World War II drama, Meg Ryan will also appear in the role of a widowed mother, Mrs. Macauley. At this time, the production, which is set to shoot next month in Virginia, is not revealing what part Hanks might play. He has an interesting in with the producers given that he is one of them.

Under his Playtone banner, Tom Hanks is executive producing Ithaca, alongside his partner Gary Goetzman. Janet Brenner (The Last Five Years) and Laura Ivey (The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations) are on board as producers as well, and Band of Brothers scribe Erik Jendresen penned Ithaca's adapted screenplay. The film is based on William Saroyan's classic 1943 novel The Human Comedy.

Set in the small upstate New York town its named for, Ithaca centers on a 14-year-old boy named Homer Macauley, whose dream is to be the greatest and fastest bicycle telegraph messenger the world has ever known. The messages he carries all around his hometown are filled with love and pain that reflect how World War II has impacted the home front. On top of his responsibilities as a messenger, Homer also has important duties at home. His father is dead, and his older brother has gone off to war, so he must help his mother in providing for his older sister and caring for his four-year-old brother, Ulysses.

Should Hanks sign on, he'd be joining a cast that includes not only Meg Ryan as Homer's mother, but also Jack Quaid, Melanie Griffith, Sam Shepard, Lois Robbins, and Alex Neustaedter. Of course Jack Quaid is Ryan's son, and will play the soldier brother in Ithaca, a role he should be well prepared for having played the merciless Marvel in The Hunger Games. Melanie Griffith's part is unknown at this point. Sam Shepard is set for the role of Willie Grogan, while Lois Robbins will play Mrs. Beaufrere. Alex Neustaedter will front the film as young Homer. The child actor made his film debut back in 2009 in the little-known horror movie Animal Farm, which co-starred WWE star Chris Jericho. Last year, Neustaedter made an appearance in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but Ithaca could prove the project that launches him.

With Ithaca looking to lens next month, and Hanks already on board as producer, it seems all but certain that Ithaca will boast a Hanks and Ryan reunion.

Meg Ryan is following in Bob Saget’s footsteps. No, she’s not hosting a new incarnation of America’s Funniest Home Videos, but she has been tapped to provide the weekly voiceover for the How I Met Your Mother spinoff, aptly titled How I Met Your Dad. To answer your other question, a few episodes of Web Therapy and a lot of hanging out. That’s what she’s been up to lately.

The pilot hasn’t officially been picked up to series, but with the incredible run of How I Met Your Mother, some early buzz about the script and the casting of indie darling Greta Gerwig, a full season has always seemed like a pretty sure bet. Meg Ryan, whose presence was confirmed by Deadline, will only help those chances, and more importantly, she should bring a lot of tangible value to the project itself.

That’s the thing about Bob Saget. He was the perfect choice to be older Ted because he has an everyman quality to his voice. He never sounds like he’s trying too hard, but on rare occasions, he can inflect meaningful emotion into his voice. Meg Ryan is the same way. She doesn’t have the world’s most distinctive voice and doesn’t come across as overly dramatic when she isn’t trying to be. In short, she sounds like someone who could be telling a really, really, really long-winded story for the next decade.

Not a ton is known about where How I Met Your Dad will go except that it will follow an entirely new cast of five characters. There’s the main female, a gay brother, a wild child BFF, the gay brother’s husband and a love interest boss. So, anyone hoping to get the real mother’s side of the story can forget about it. That being said, Gerwig should be a bit of an ace in the hole. She’s extremely talented, and the balance between the characters actually sounds pretty ideal on paper. Obviously, however, you never know exactly how a cast will gel until you see real honest to God footage, which won’t happen for any of us who don’t find ourselves in a focus group until the show officially gets picked up.

That’s right. I’m acting like it will get picked up because why not? There are few things CBS loves more than a sure thing. Chuck Lorre would be a good example of that. So, if they’ve learned to trust the HIMYM producers over the years, it seems highly likely they’ll give the newest effort a real shot.

We’ll keep you updated on this project’s progression over the next several months. If nothing else, let’s hope it marks the start of the rekindling of Ryan’s career.