Over the years, Bradley Cooper has proven that not only is he a great comedic actor with some of the best timing in Hollywood, but also a fine filmmaker who can handle big, ambitious projects. However, following the massive success of his take on A Star Is Born, it’s felt like he’s been making what some would call “Oscar Bait” with Maestro and Is This Thing On? in recent years. That said, I think his next project could be a nice change.

For those who haven’t heard, Cooper, who has been attached to appear in the upcoming Ocean's prequel movie starring Margot Robbie, is in talks to write and direct the long-in-the-works project, per Deadline. This news has me excited for what it could do for Cooper’s career, as he goes back to what made him such a big star two decades ago: his comedy. Here’s why…

Nothing Against His Recent Work, But I Miss The Old Bradley Cooper

There is nothing wrong with Bradley Cooper’s latest directorial efforts, as both Maestro and Is This Thing On? were great dramas with a whole lot of heart and soul. In fact, there’s still a case to be made for his take on A Star Is Born being one of the best dramas over the past decade. That said, I miss the old Bradley Cooper, the guy who brought funny and cynical characters you loved to hate to the big screen in everything from the Hangover movies to Wedding Crashers to his work in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy (though the latter example is more recent).

Again, Cooper has brought out some great performances from the likes of Will Arnett, who critics said was “heartbreaking and lovely” in Is This Thing On?, and even himself in each of the movies mentioned above. It’s not like those films aren’t fun, as Cooper can still pull off some magic on both sides of the camera. It’s just that I really miss that wild, unpredictable, and aggressive presence he brought to his earlier work. That said, I think we can get there again…

I Think Helming The Ocean's Prequel Could Get Him Back On Top

While I’m not certain the new Ocean's prequel will get him off the list of actors who shockingly never won an Oscar, I do think this yet-to-be-titled project could get him back on top of the world again. The movie, which has admittedly been in development hell for years now, is said to be set in 1960s Europe and will reportedly focus on Danny Ocean’s (George Clooney) parents, years before the ringleader of the group that pulled off a multi-million-dollar heist of three casinos in one night.

As Cooper has shown in the likes of American Hustle and The Hangover, he has this incredible knack of playing characters who are so charismatic that you just can’t help but fall for them despite them being degenerate, inconsiderate, and over-the-top. Having him play a character like that in the Ocean's universe is a no-brainer and feels like something that’s right up his alley. I don’t know anything about what he has planned for his character, or the movie in general, but this could be so much fun to watch, especially when it comes to the impact on his career.

Cooper Has Shown He's Handy At Offering A New Take On An Established Property

Again, not a lot has been confirmed about the prequel movie, but I do have faith in the project with Cooper starring, writing, and directing the new crime flick. I mean, he’s shown that he knows a thing or two about offering a new take on an established property, especially when you start talking about A Star Is Born. Over the years, the various versions of this story have been wildly different from one another, with the only shared similarities being the basic premise of two people trying to make sense of their lives as their careers go in opposite directions.

The movie worked in more ways than one and became a massive success at the box office and as part of the public consciousness following its release. There’s no reason to think that the new film will be any different. Cooper has so much experience working in crime films, movies set in Las Vegas, and films with loud and over-the-top yet realistic characters, and so I think he has what it takes to offer a new spin on this beloved franchise. I’m not saying I want a darker or grittier thriller that reveals why Danny Ocean is the way he is, but there’s a lot of room for Cooper to work here.

Plus, The Idea Of Him Sharing The Screen With Margot Robbie Seems Just Too Cool

Doing research for this story, I was shocked to learn that Cooper and Margot Robbie have never been in a movie together. They’ve both worked with just about every major star in Hollywood (and legendary directors), but up until now, they’ve never shared a scene together. A lot still has to be worked out with the Oceans' prequel, but we’re closer than ever to seeing arguably two of the biggest stars of the 21st century not only appear in the same movie, but also work extensively together.

I don’t know about you, but it feels like the sky is the limit for this movie with Robbie and Cooper at the top of the cast. They both have so much personality, charisma, and, on top of that, incredible acting ability. Though I would have loved to have seen a Barbie reunion for Robbie and Ryan Gosling before the Project Hail Mary star dropped out, this pairing honestly has me extremely excited for what’s to come.

Only time will tell what the Ocean's prequel (whatever it ends up being called) does for Bradley Cooper’s career, but I won’t be surprised if we’re all chanting “We are back, baby” at some point in the very near future.

Fans of the Ocean’s franchise have two upcoming movies to look forward to from Warner Bros. Not only are George Clooney, Matt Damon and other actors from the original trilogy getting back together for the long-awaited Ocean’s 14, there’s also that Ocean’s prequel that Margot Robbie is starring in and producing. Unfortunately, that latter project just suffered a big setback, but that also came with a positive update.

Let’s start with the bad news first: Deadline reports that Lee Isaac Chung will no longer direct the Ocean’s prequel. The Minari filmmaker’s exit was described by a Warner Bros. spokesperson as a “an amicable split due to creative differences,” and the studio’s experience working with “has only deepened our enthusiasm to collaborate on future projects together.” The search for a new director is now underway, but it’s hard to say when we’ll learn who will take over from the Oscar-nominated Chung.

So obviously losing a director isn’t great, but the good news is this doesn’t seem like it’s a sign that the Ocean’s prequel is on its way to being shelved. Deadline also mentions that in the midst of Paramount acquiring Warner Bros., this project “remains an important project to get up and running.” So unless there are further problems, Margot Robbie’s Ocean’s prequel still has a bright future ahead of it, and hopefully enough progress will be made in 2026 that allows it to begin filming sometime next year.

It’s worth noting that Lee Isaac Chung isn’t the first director to leave the prequel. When it was first announced in May 2022, the plan was for Austin Powers’ Jay Roach to helm this feature set several decades before the events of Ocean’s Eleven. But that didn’t end up working out, nor did the first choice for Margot Robbie’s co-star. Had things gone according to the original plan, we would have had the Barbie duo of Robbie and Ryan Gosling back together.

Instead, as of October 2025, Bradley Cooper was in talks to take Gosling’s place, as he reportedly had a productive meeting with Lee Isaac Chung and has been wanting to work with Margot Robbie for years. Carrie Solomon wrote the most recent draft of the Ocean’s prequel’s screenplay, but the only plot details we know about the project is that it will be set in the 1960s. Robbie is producing through her LuckyChap banner.

In the meantime, Margot Robbie can currently be seen on the 2026 movies schedule playing Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights. With the way things are going, I’m guessing that Ocean’s 14 will begin rolling cameras before the prequel, but we here at CinemaBlend will keep you updated either way. Twisters, Chung's most recent movie, can be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

There have been talks and rumors, and hopeful wishes for a possible Ocean's Fourteen movie for years. Those rumors have been heating up in recent months, and now we can confidently say that it looks like a new installment in the Ocean’s franchise is on the way. We don’t have a ton of details on the movie, and it’s not going to be part of the 2026 movie schedule, but we have learned a little bit, including whether stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and the other cast members will be returning (the answer seems to be ‘yes’). Here’s what we know, and why I’m excited.

When Will Ocean’s Fourteen Be Released?

There is no release date as of yet for Ocean’s Fourteen. George Clooney was quoted in October 2025 as saying that Warner Bros. has approved the budget and that filming could begin in “nine or ten months.” Keeping that schedule on track might prove tricky, given all the big stars with busy schedules who are hopefully going to return for this.

It’s challenging to predict when the movie might be released, but a late 2027 date doesn’t seem impossible if the schedule remains intact.

The Big Stars Will Likely Be Returning

Obviously, it looks like George Clooney (Danny Ocean) is a lock, as he’s been the one doing the most talking about it in pubic. The Jay Kelly star also intimated that he expects Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle to be back. Pitt hinted at his own involvement back in June, though Damon has been playing it more coy.

Of course, the cast is more than just those huge stars. Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Qin Shaobo, and Eddie Jemison have all been part of the gang in the previous three movies. I think they would be likely to return. Elliott Gould, who had a guest spot in 2025’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, is an OG cast member and could be back. Andy Garcia also appeared in each of the first three movies.

Al Pacino and Catherine Zeta-Jones weren’t in the first film, but appeared in the second (Zeta-Jones) and third (Pacino) movies. The franchise has also seen the likes of Eddie Izzard, Ellen Barkin, and Vincent Cassel (all of whom were in Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen), plus there is the entire cast of Ocean’s 8. Could Sandra Bullock, who plays Danny Ocean’s sister in the spinoff, appear? The sky’s the limit here, I think.

Sadly, we’ve lost some of the original cast members since Ocean’s Thirteen’s release in 2007. Hollywood legend Carl Reiner (father of the late Rob Reiner) died in 2020, and the great Bernie Mac passed away at age 50 in 2008. Robbie Coltrane and Albert Finney, who both appeared in Ocean’s 12, have also since passed away.

We’ll keep a close eye on any casting announcements in the coming weeks and months.

David Leitch Is Expected To Direct Ocean’s Fourteen

It has been reported that David Leitch will be helming the fourth installment of the series. Leitch has been building quite a resume since making his (uncredited) debut as a director with John Wick in 2014. Over the last decade or so, he’s directed Atomic Blonde (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Bullet Train (2022), starring Brad Pitt, and The Fall Guy (2024). He even has a heist movie coming out in 2026, How to Rob a Bank, starring Zoë Kravitz, Pete Davidson, and Nicholas Hoult, so he has some experience with movie thieves.

Steven Soderbergh, who directed all three of the original trilogy, will serve as a producer. Soderbergh has been on quite a run recently, releasing at least a movie a year, every year, since 2017, including two in 2025, The Christophers and Black Bag, so it’s understandable that he might want to take a little break from directing.

What Will The Plot Of Ocean’s Fourteen Be?

As of yet, there is no word on who might be writing the script, but Pitt has said what's being developed is “pretty damn tasty.” Given Pitt’s fondness for eating in movies, that’s an encouraging description.

Clooney has also hinted that the script won’t ignore that the Ocean crew is aging, after all, it’s been almost 20 years since we last checked in with the thieves. The star also said he was inspired by the ‘70s heist movie Going In Style, about aging thieves, in an interview with Variety in December 2025.

So long as the movie has a fun heist and some excellent one-liners, I’m confident it’ll be great.

There Is Also An Ocean’s Prequel Starring Margot Robbie In The Works

Ocean’s Fourteen isn’t the only movie to look forward to for fans of the franchise. Word first leaked out in early 2024 that an Ocean’s prequel movie set in the 1960s and starring Margot Robbie was in the works. Ryan Gosling was rumored to be teaming up with Robbie again, and they would be playing Danny Ocean’s parents in the film.

The latest news on the possible prequel came in October 2025, when it was revealed that Gosling wouldn’t be starring, but Bradley Cooper was in talks to take over in the role. Either way, that’s a win, right? Frankly, I may be just as excited about this as I am about Fourteen, after all, the Ocean’s franchise was born in the 1960s with the original Ocean’s 11, starring the Rat Pack, in 1960.

It sounds like we’re still a ways away from either movie being released, but in the meantime, it’s always a good time to rewatch 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, which you can do with a Paramount+ subscription. I know that I’m planning on diving back in soon.

The concept of “movie stars” is currently far removed from past connotations, but there are still certain celebrities for whom it still applies. George Clooney fits squarely into that group. The Oscar-winner may have broken into the mainstream on network TV with ER, but has spent much of the past 30 years appearing in myriad big-screen features like the 2025 Netflix release Jay Kelly, and all without ever falling pretty to Hollywood stereotyping.

Given Jay Kelly’s focus on an aging actor forced to reflect on his life and career balance, it makes sense that Clooney himself has an insight or two into his own successes. During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, Clooney attributed the breadth of his filmography to the fact that he hasn't headed up any gargantuanly successful franchises. As he put it:

To his point, Clooney has delivered the goods in a slew of movies that were inarguable hits in the way that they delivered impressive profits for modest budgets. Without any of those projects taking over the box office in rankings-changing ways the way that MCU films, James Cameron's Avatar movies, or Star Wars movies have. Yeah, he was Batman, but for 1997's Batman & Robin, which grossed $107 million domestically against an estimated $125 million budget.

I'd suspect that George Clooney would be just as grounded and charming within a Marvel project or even a Mission: Impossible entry as he is the Coen brothers' movies, in romantic roles, or even in more serious fare such as The Ides of March or The Midnight Sky. But it doesn't seem like that's where he wants to put his efforts, so there's no reason to even picture what it would be like.

He continued, pointing out that staying below that particular radar is what's given him the opportunities to keep making more of those. As he put it:

Of course, if Clooney were downright awful at acting within comedy, drama, action, sci-fi or any other genres, that might have also had a drastic effect on the kinds of offers that came in. But no, he's pretty solid through and through, regardless of what kind of movie he stars in. He can make you laugh, make you cry, and convincingly punch someone out after a car chase, and all without being "the car chase guy."

Few might expect to see genre-specific stars such as Jean-Claude Van Damme or Sylvester Stallone headlining a methodical biopic like Good Night, and Good Luck or a goofy throwback football comedy like Leatherheads, but those are projects that Clooney both starred in and directed. He shared that despite not reaching skyscraping levels of financial success, this is a better life for him than anything more limited. In his words:

Look at this guy. I just brought up his football movie and he's using baseball metaphors to describe his career. He can't even be pigeonholed with sports references!

Sounds like he's trying to take another crack at a cool billion both on-screen and off, with active development happening for Ocean's 14, which is set to bring Andy Garcia back in, and tentative plans to start filming in late-summer 2026.

Celebrity prank wars can be so much fun to witness, and George Clooney and Brad Pitt have one of the most infamous ones. While Clooney, in particular, is well-known for sending fake letters from other celebrities, both of the Ocean’s Eleven stars have done some pretty diabolical things to each other. So where did the whole war start? Let’s dive into the inciting prank between these “forever friends” and the stories behind some of the other stunts they’ve pulled.

George Clooney’s First Prank On Brad Pitt Involved A Pot Leaf Bumper Sticker

George Clooney appeared on a segment of The Graham Norton Show ahead of the release of his upcoming Netflix movie Jay Kelly, which hit the 2025 movie calendar on November 14 for a short theatrical run. When asked about the prank war between the Wolfs stars, Clooney admitted that they’ve done “terrible things” to each other, and he thinks it all started when they were filming Ocean’s Eleven. He recalled:

He makes a good point that the back of one’s vehicle is a vulnerable spot, but this should serve as a warning to all of George Clooney’s future co-stars. So what did he do to Brad Pitt’s car? He continued:

I can only imagine how that conversation between Brad Pitt and the responding officer went down. However, that’s certainly not the only fun the Up in the Air star has had at Pitt’s expense.

George Clooney Sent Meryl Streep A Gift ‘From Brad Pitt’ Ahead of The Iron Lady

It sounds like Jimmy Kimmel is actually to blame for some of these antics, as the late-night host has said he’s the one who gifted George Clooney stationery with Brad Pitt’s name at the top. That resulted in quite a few celebrities getting fake letters from the Fight Club actor, including Meryl Streep ahead of her Academy Award-winning role in The Iron Lady. Clooney told Graham Norton:

If one is going to dish out the pranks, however, one should be prepared to get them in return, and Brad Pitt got retribution when the Ocean’s Twelve cast traveled to Italy for filming.

As George Clooney has told it, his co-star sent a memo to the movie crew and residents of Lake Como, the Italian town where Clooney has had a house for decades, saying the actor requested that no one look him in the eye and that they only address him as “Mr. Clooney” or “Mr. Ocean.” When he realized what Pitt had done, Matt Damon said Clooney was “the maddest I’ve ever seen him.”

Expect More Pranks Between These Two In The Future

One of the more brilliant (and terrible) things about George Clooney’s tricks is that he doesn’t reveal his hand for a year or two later, he said. In fact, he’s currently got one in the works, and he indicated that we’ll all know when the jig is up, saying:

Well he certainly knows how to leave us wanting more! While we wait for George Clooney’s apparent arrest (I hope he actually is joking about that), you can catch him in Jay Kelly in theaters now, or wait until Friday, December 5, when it can be streamed with your Netflix subscription.

The group of thieves who led the original Ocean’s trilogy pissed off a lot of people, but arguably none more so than Andy Garcia’s Terry Benedict. The nefarious casino mogul appeared in all three of those movies, first as an antagonist, then as a reluctant ally. Following George Clooney confirming that the long-awaited Ocean’s 14 is moving forward, Garcia revealed that he’ll be back for this next installment, as well as shared an update on where things stand with filming.

While promoting the new season of the Paramount+ subscription-exclusive series Landman, where Garcia is now a series regular following a guest appearance in Season 1, the actor mentioned his involvement in Ocean’s 14. He also told The Wrap how the movie was originally supposed to start rolling cameras this coming January, but that scheduling conflicts necessitated that principal photography be pushed back. Either way, don’t expect the next Ocean’s movie to be ready in time for release on the 2026 movies schedule.

Andy Garcia didn’t mention was specifically trigger this delay, although the article does note that Brad Pitt, who plays Robert “Rusty” Ryan in the Ocean’s movies, is still filming The Adventures of Cliff Booth, the follow-up to 2019’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Still, pushing back production is better than it not happening at all. It’s also good to hear Garcia will be back for Ocean’s 14, although something tells me that in the nearly two decades that have passed since Ocean’s Thirteen, Terry Benedict hasn’t exactly turned over a new leaf.

Along with Garcia, Clooney and Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Julia Roberts are all expected to reprise their roles for Ocean’s 14, among others. Damon, along with the late Carl Reiner, actually returned for cameo appearances in the 2018 spinoff Ocean’s 8, but their scenes were removed from the final edit. It’s unclear whether any Ocean’s 8 characters will be present in Ocean’s 14, such as Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, Danny’s sister.

Although Steven Soderbergh directed the entirety of the Ocean’s trilogy, this time around David Leitch, who previously worked with Brad Pitt on Deadpool 2 (briefly) and Bullet Train, will handle helming duties. Although the Ocean’s 14 script is completed, it still hasn’t been revealed who wrote it. This is one of two movies currently in development for the heist franchise, the other being a 1960s-set prequel that will star Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper.

Whether Terry Benedict is a straightforward villain again or has to begrudgingly help out the thieves who’ve screwed him over multiple times, I’m looking forward to seeing Andy Garcia back in this role. See the actor performing alongside Sylvester Stallone and more when Landman Season 2 premiers this Sunday, November 16.

It’s a good time to be a fan of the Ocean’s heist franchise. Not only did George Clooney recently share that the budget for Ocean’s 14 has been approved, the Ocean’s Eleven prequel that was revealed in May 2022 remains in active development. Originally the plan was for Barbie duo Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling to reunite for the prequel, but it sounds like Gosling is no longer attached. Instead, another Hollywood A-lister is being lined up to work with Robbie for the first time.

Bradley Cooper is reportedly in negotiations to co-star in the still-untitled Ocean’s prequel alongside Robbie. According to Deadline, he’s been “close” with the actress for years and they’ve “always wanted to work together.” After meeting with the director, Twisters’ Lee Isaac Chung, Cooper was game to come aboard.

While Bradley Cooper’s inclusion isn’t set in stone just yet, Deadline’s report mentions that he has “strong ties” with Warner Bros. Pictures, home of the Ocean’s franchise and where his current production deal is set up. He’s also starring in the Steven Spielberg-directed Bullit for the studio. So between that and his eagerness to work with Margot Robbie, it seems like the chances of Cooper joining the Ocean’s Eleven prequel are stronger than not.

The prequel is expected to begin filming sometime next year, so ideally we’ll learn in the next few months if Bradley Cooper is officially added as Margot Robbie’s co-star. Other than taking place in the 1960s, several decades before the events of Ocean’s Eleven, no plot details for the project have been revealed. Carrie Solomon wrote the latest draft of the screenplay. In addition to starring, Robbie is also producing through her LuckyChap production company.

It’s unclear why things fell through with pairing Ryan Gosling with Margot Robbie again, but I’m definitely interested to see how she and Bradley Cooper would do together on the big screen. The Ocean’s franchise would also be a worthy addition to both their resumes, with the four movies, which were inspired by the 1960 Rat Pack-led Ocean’s 11, making over $1.4 billion collectively. 2018’s Ocean’s 8 was the last entry released, with the spinoff starring Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, the sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean.

As far as what Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper have coming up individually, Robbie, who can be seen now in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, will next be seen in the 2026 movie release Wuthering Heights, which is loosely based off the same-named Emily Brontë novel. Is This Thing On?, Bradley Cooper’s next movie, debuts at the New York Film Festival tomorrow and will release wide on December 19.

It would seem that we’re actually pretty close to getting the band (and by that I mean the Ocean’s cast) back together, as George Clooney has finally shared a very positive update about progress on Ocean’s 14. Along with sharing where they’re at in terms of conversations with the studio, he also explained when he thinks the long-awaited movie might start filming, and let’s just say, the heist is getting closer to beginning.

At the moment, Clooney is promoting his project on the 2025 movie schedule, Jay Kelly. While at the New York Film Festival, where the new flick is being screened, E! News asked him about the Ocean’s Eleven continuation. In response, he actually gave a pretty big update, explaining:

Wow! What an update! For quite some time now, we’ve gotten vague comments here and there about what’s going on with this fourth Ocean's film. However, this feels like the most solid news we’ve received about the upcoming movie in a long time.

An approved budget and an actual timeline for filming tell me this film is probably well on its way to being made; talk about great news!

A little over a year ago, in September 2024, we got an update about the Ocean’s 14 script from Clooney. He explained at the time that there was a “good script” that everyone liked. Then, earlier this year, Brad Pitt called it “pretty damn tasty.” Before that, we didn’t have much to go on, with Matt Damon even saying in August of 2024 that he hadn’t heard much about the project.

Now, though, it sounds like the crew is very close to their next heist. After sharing the update that filming could start in nine or ten months, Clooney also gushed about reuniting with his co-stars. When asked specifically about working with Pitt again, he enthusiastically responded with an answer about the ensemble as a whole, saying:

It would be fun for them and us! I need more Ocean’s one-liners and smooth and hilarious moments from this stellar ensemble. Plus, I’ve been dying to catch up with this crew. While we did get Ocean’s 8 in 2018, that wasn’t super connected to the original trilogy. So, it’s really been 18 years since we’ve seen Ocean’s Eleven on our screens. Personally, I can't wait to see how these characters have evolved over the last almost two decades.

By the time Ocean’s 14 comes out, it will have been likely over 25 years since that first Las Vegas heist, and I’m sure fans will be more than ready for another con – I know I will be. So, stay tuned, folks, this movie is in the works and on the move, and hopefully, sooner or later, it will be on the big screen for all of us to see.

Gambling scenes in movies are a great way to add some tension to a movie. Movies about gamblers are almost all about tension! Some of the movies on this list are great gambling movies, others are movies with one great gambling scene. Either way, if you need your fix to see some bets get laid on the table, this is the list for you.

The Sting

One of the best gambling movies ever is, without question, the 1973 caper film, The Sting. Obviously, the whole plot involves betting and gambling, or, at least, cheating to win big. There are a bunch of great scenes that would fit on this list, but for my money, the card game on the train in which Robert Shaw's character is out-cheated by Paul Newman's character is the best. It's such a fun scene.

21

The MIT Blackjack Team became the stuff of legends when it operated for decades starting in the 1980s, for the amount of money it took off casinos. 21, starring Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, and Kevin Spacey, was inspired by the team and told a fictionalized version of the team's story. The movie keeps the pace high while still managing to explain the rather mundane realities of blackjack card counting,

Ocean's Eleven

There may be no better movie about Las Vegas than Ocean's Eleven. The 2001 remake starring an incredible ensemble cast led by Brad Pitt and George Clooney is based on an early movie of the same starring The Rat Pack. Both are a ton of fun, but for my money, the remake is a far superior movie.

Casino

It's right there in the name! Of course, Martin Scorsese's Casino is going to be on this list. It's not like most gambling movies in that it's told from the perspective of the casino, rather than the gamblers in the casino, but there are some great gambling scenes, like the one with the two cheaters who are caught and roughed up in the backroom, like it supposedly was back in the day in Las Vegas.

Rounders

Rounders has been hailed as the best poker movie of all time by a number of critics and pro poker players. Though the final showdown between Matt Damon's character and John Malkovich's gets a little silly, there is the obvious "tell" that Malkovich has, and let's be honest, it's a pretty bad accent from Malkovich as well. Still, the movie is harrowing and intense, like a great gambling movie should be.

Hard Eight

Paul Thomas Anderson's debut film, Hard Eight, definitely lets audiences in on the darker side of gambling and addiction. If I'm honest, it's not my favorite Anderson movie, but it's a remarkable debut and holds up really well, decades after it was released in 1998.

The Gambler (1974)

Not to be confused with the series of made-for-TV movies based on a song by Kenny Rogers, 1974's The Gambler stars James Caan as a college professor who is locked in a serious gambling addiction. It's a gritty movie that doesn't have many light moments as Caan's character gets deeper and deeper into debt, riding the huge highs and harrowing lows of sports betting.

Casino Royale

So, there are any number of James Bond movies that I could have put on this list. Almost all of them have gambling scenes. We're even first introduced to the 007 character in the first movie, Dr. No, as he sits down at a baccarat table. And even though Casino Royale's poker scene is kind of ridiculous in how unrealistic the high-stakes poker game is, this one still felt like the one to include to represent all the Bond films.

Uncut Gems

If you ever need to be reminded just how addicting and harrowing sports betting can be, watch Uncut Gems again. In what I would consider Adam Sandler's best role by far, the comedian plays a straight role with incredible pathos as we watch him fall apart under the weight of addiction and debt. It's a masterpiece.

The Hangover

Any movie that includes a trip to Las Vegas is probably going to include a great gambling scene or two, and in The Hangover, that scene is when Zach Galifianakis hits the blackjack table to count cards and make a ton of money. It's one of the most memorable scenes in a movie all about the things the main characters forgot.

The Hustler

There haven't been a lot of movies about pool hustling made, and that might be because the granddaddy of them all, The Hustler, starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason, is so darn good. It has all the elements of a great gambling movie, like a young hotshot who gets in way too deep and has to find his way out of growing debt, and to do that must take on the best player in the world. It's a classic for a reason.

The Flamingo Kid

The Flamingo Kid is an underrated and oft-forgotten rom-com from the 1980s. The movie stars Matt Dillon as a kid who gets a gig working at an upscale beach club and is soon playing gin rummy for a penny a point with some of the members. Though the gambling stakes aren't exactly through the roof in this one, it still leads to some intense and fun moments.

Goodfellas

To be fair, the poker scenes in Goodfellas are less about the card games themselves and more about Joe Pesci's character's violent tendencies. If you've forgotten, remember that the first game results in Spider (Michael Imperioli) getting maimed in the leg, and the second ends in his death. Talk about high stakes!

Rain Man

Long before card counting entered mainstream consciousness, Rain Man has one of the most memorable scenes of all time when Tom Cruise's character teaches his autistic brother, played by Dustin Hoffman in an Oscar-winning turn, how to count cards at the blackjack table. Though it's obviously not a movie about gambling, there is no way I could leave it off this list.

Honeymoon In Vegas

Though not everyone will agree, I will always go to bat for Honeymoon In Vegas, being one of Nicolas Cage's best movies. Not only does Cage kill it as a hapless amateur gambler that James Caan takes advantage of, but the whole thing is just hilarious. The poker scene even includes a great cameo by former UNLV basketball coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian. It doesn't get more "Vegas" than that.

Molly's Game

Molly's Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain. Bloom ran a legendary underground poker game in LA for years before she was taken down by the FBI. The movie features one of the best poker scenes in film history. Though it wasn't as big a hit as it should have been, it's well worth seeking out if you've never seen it.

Cool Hand Luke

Sure, Cool Hand Luke is really a prison movie rather than a gambling movie, but there was no way I could leave it off this list for the legendary egg-eating bet in the film. And it's not just the egg scene that earns it a spot on this list, the title of the movie comes from a line Paul Newman delivers after winning a hand of poker: "Yeah, well... sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand."

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Austin Powers (Mike Myers) is a man who likes to live dangerously, like staying on 5 in a game of blackjack. The James Bond spoof, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, had to include a ridiculous gambling scene, and it pulls it off perfectly with the most ridiculous hand of blackjack ever.

Vegas Vacation

Vegas Vacation is the weakest entry in the Vacation franchise, in my opinion, but I have to admit I think the subplot of Clark (Chevy Chase) going deeper and deeper into gambling addiction does make me laugh a lot. His back and forth with a card dealer played by Wallace Shawn results in some of the funniest moments in this disappointing movie.

The Parent Trap

Even classic kids movies like 1998's The Parent Trap starring Lindsey Lohan can have fun gambling scenes. Here, in a game of 5-card draw poker, Lohan's characters play each other as enemies, but it's this game that eventually leads to their friendship and all the hijinks that follow. The poker scene also has a fun needle drop with George Thorogood's "Bad To Bone" accompanying the game.

The Color Of Money

Director Martin Scorsese's The Color of Money is what we would call today a "legacyquel." It's almost-but-not-quote a sequel to The Hustler as Paul Newman returns as "Fast" Eddie Felson to teach the next generation (Tom Cruise's character) how to be a great pool gambler, two and a half decades after the first movie. Let's just say it takes a while for the lessons to sink in.

John Wick: Chapter 4

In John Wick: Chapter 4, we find our anti-hero John Wick (Keanu Reeves) playing poker for his life against a villain who has more tricks up his sleeve than a magician in Vegas. Of course, the game, one hand of 5-card draw, ends with Reeves holding the so-called "dead man's hand (a pair of aces and a pair of eights), but that doesn't matter as Wick shows how deadly a playing card can be.

Tombstone

Not only is Tombstone the most quotable Western ever (and one of the best Westerns overall), it also has some fantastic gambling scenes. Cards, specifically poker and faro, are what the old west preferred, and we get both in Tombstone. Plus all that great banter.

The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs

The famous "dead man's hand," so named because it was supposedly the hand Wild Bill Hickok was holding when he was shot dead in Deadwood, plays a big role in one scene in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription. The titular Buster (Tim Blake Nelson) sits down at a poker game mid-hand, and while the game doesn't get very far, any movie with a famous poker hand in it should be included here.

Easy Money

One of the more ridiculous horse racing scenes in 1980s cinema comes in the Rodney Dangerfield classic Easy Money. This isn't Dangerfield's best movie, but for a guy famous for one-liners like Dangerfield, there are plenty here as he plays a degerate in almost every way, including as a gambler.

Eight Men Out

Eight Men Out's gambling scenes are a little different than most of the movies on this list. There are no casinos or underground card games, just shady characters concocting a scheme to rig the 1919 World Series by paying off players of the Chicago White Sox. Of course, it's based on a true story, one of the most famous stories of gambling in American history, so it has to be included in this list.

The Cooler

A "cooler" in gambling terms is a gambler who is so unlucky that he is considered poison to be in any game by other hardcore gamblers. William H. Macy plays this role in The Cooler, where he is such bad luck that he is employed by a casino to step into games where players are winning a lot. Things start to reverse themselves when Macy's character meets a woman and starts falling in love. Can a cooler whose luck seems to have turned around make it in life? You'll have to watch to see how it turns out!

Maverick

While Maverick is a silly movie with a great cast, the poker scenes are actually pretty realistic. The movie, which was a decent hit when it came out in 1994 based on the strength of its charming cast, led by Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner reprising his role as Bret Maverick, Sr, from a TV show he starred in in the 1960s, is a pretty underrated gambling movie.

Lucky You

2007's Lucky You was Hollywood's attempt to cash in on the poker craze that swept the nation in the '00s. Based on its dismal box office returns, it failed to capture the attention of the public like the world it was trying to portray. It's not a terrible movie if you like poker, but it is a little dull, especially compared to many of the other movies on this list.

A Bronx Tale

While A Bronx Tale, directed by Robert De Niro, wasn't a huge hit when it came out, it has a fantastic legacy in the years since. The movie, starring Chazz Palminteri, has a great scene of a basement craps game where Palminteri's character teaches his protege how to play dice.

The Cincinnati Kid

Steve McQueen's The Cincinnati Kid is a classic gambling movie about a poker player in the 1930s. It's one of the earliest movies to show poker in a more or less modern take, and it remains as fun today as it was seven decades ago.

Two For The Money

I'll fully admit that Matthew McConaughey's Two For The Money is not exactly my favorite movie on this list; however, it does do a great job of showing the highs and lows of sports gambling, which in my mind is the most nefarious of all betting.

When I sat down to watch Stolen: The Heist of the Century with my Netflix subscription, I had a good idea what I was getting into. Years ago, in the middle of the Covid lockdown, I listened to an audiobook about the 2003 diamond heist in Antwerp, Belgium, called Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History, which this documentary is based on. The new documentary is excellent, and it gives off vibes of both Ocean’s Eleven and The Usual Suspects, two of my favorite movies. I can’t decide which it reminds me of more.

Like Clooney And Company, The Robbers Really Planned The Heist Perfectly

I love a great heist movie, and Ocean’s Eleven is one of the best heist movies of all time. Obviously, the planning and the crew’s ability to bypass multiple security systems is what really makes that movie so fun. Well, that and the chemistry among the all-star cast of Ocean’s Eleven (and the classic one-liners). At every turn, the group of lovable criminals knows exactly what they need to do to get past the biometrics, cameras, and the rest of the high-end tech out to thwart them.

That’s exactly what the crew of robbers in Stolen had to do as well. Motion detectors, multiple locks, a vault, cameras, and heat sensors were set up in the targeted building, Antwerp Diamond Center. They spent two years, as the investigators in the documentary explain, working out the plan. According to one of the robbers, Leonardo Notarbartolo (who is interviewed in the film), the crew consisted of five specialists, just like the eleven specialists in Ocean’s Eleven.

It also helps that the filmmakers were clearly inspired by the vibe that director Steven Soderbergh brought to Ocean’s with the music and the cinematography. Stolen feels like the George Clooney and Brad Pitt-led classic.

The Story Also Sounds Like The Usual Suspects

Notarbartolo, who was one of the four men convicted of committing the crime, is who the investigator's believe was the ultimate mastermind behind the robbery. However, in Stolen, Notarbartolo claims there was another, more mysterious figure who recruited him and the rest of the participants. He claims to only know him by the name “Alessandro.”

If, as investigators and prosecutors believe, Notarbartolo was the guy planning the heist, then he is the Keyser Soze of the crew. He’s there, he’s involved, but he was much more important than even the rest of the robbers seemed to know, just like Kevin Spacey’s character in The Usual Suspects. Sure, no one died (thankfully), and Notarbartolo was convicted of being the leader and spent 10 years in prison as a result, while Soze walked away and disappeared at the end of the movie.

Still, with a mysterious figure like “Alessandro” possibly lurking in the shadows, it feels just like the Bryan Singer-directed classic. Notarbartolo claims he never saw any money as a result of the heist, but almost none of the diamonds stolen (estimated to be between $100 and $300 million worth) have been recovered. By all accounts, the convicted participants don’t live like they had a multimillion-dollar windfall, so it seems possible that there was a guy behind the guy.

We may never know the answers. It’s been more than 20 years, those convicted of the crime have served their time and been released, and we still don’t know where the diamonds went. What I do know is that Stolen: The Heist of the Century is one of the best documentaries on the 2025 TV schedule.

Some moviegoers are absolutely against, or simply exhausted by, the idea of remaking a classic film or rebooting a hit TV show, and I absolutely sympathize with that, given how many lackluster remakes Hollywood has delivered. However, I am open to the idea of reimagining a beloved title, as long as the new version offers some reason to justify its existence by not simply hitting "copy, paste" and calling it a day. See what I mean by taking a look at some of these cinematic remakes and TV reboots that either surprised audiences with something or at least managed to stand on their own.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

The Rat Pack-led original Ocean's 11 from 1960, which sees a group of World War II veterans reuniting to rob five Las Vegas casinos in one night, just for fun. Steven Soderbergh's remake reimagines the heist (involving only three casinos in one vault) as Danny Ocean's (George Clooney) act of revenge against casino magnate Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who is dating his ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).

Teen Wolf (2011-2017)

Instead of following a high school student who inherits a family curse that makes him half-man, half-animal like the 1985 comedy, Teen Wolf, MTV's more earnest series adaptation starred Tyler Posey as a wolf bite victim who ends up using his lycanthropic abilities to protect his community from supernatural forces with the help of his friends, Buffy style

The Invisible Man (2020)

Considered one of the best horror movie remakes ever made is writer and director Leigh Whannell's reinterpretation of the classic Universal Monster Movie, The Invisible Man. The acclaimed Blumhouse thriller introduces a more plausible explanation for the eponymous villain's transparency and tells the story from the perspective of the victim, his tormented wife (played by Elisabeth Moss), resulting in a powerful and frightening commentary on gaslit abuse victims.

Westworld (2016-2022)

Michael Crichton's 1973 film Westworld was almost a precursor to Jurassic Park, taking place at a high-tech tourist attraction with an Old West aesthetic and highly realistic androids that go haywire. Decades later, an acclaimed HBO drama of the same name would expand on the concept in much darker, timely, and thought-provoking ways.

Scarface (1983)

Howard Hawks' 1932 gangster drama Scarface follows an Italian immigrant (played by Paul Muni) who rises to power in Chicago's criminal underworld. Director Brian DePalma's 1983 classic, which many may not realize is a remake, follows a Cuban immigrant (played by Al Pacino) and his rise to power in Miami's criminal underworld.

War Of The Worlds (2005)

There has never been a truly faithful adaptation of H.G. Wells' seminal novel, but the two best-known alien invasion movies it inspired could not be more different from one another. The 1953 version follows various residents of a California town and shows things from a governmental perspective, while Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds is told entirely from the point of view of a divorced father (played by Tom Cruise) and his two children as they travel the country searching for sanctuary. The remake even subverts expectations by having the evil extraterrestrials rise from the ground as opposed to coming down from the sky.

The Mummy (1999)

Universal's 1932 monster movie, The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff, is an undisputed classic of the studio's seminal creature feature era. When the story was updated in the late '90s, it took a more action-adventure approach, with Brendan Fraser leading the cast as a stand-in for Indiana Jones.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Joss Whedon took the basic premise of his screenplay for the 1992 Kristy Swanson-led horror-comedy movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and revamped it (no pun intended) as a more earnest monster-of-the-week thriller, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the teen monster hunter, that became a cultural phenomenon.

A Star Is Born (1976)

Bradley Cooper's Oscar-winning 2018 directorial debut, A Star is Born, is a wonderful achievement in spite of its many similarities to the late '70s hit of the same name starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. However, that film is a wholly original take on two other synonymous dramas that came before it in 1937 and 1954, both of which revolve around the movie business instead of the music industry.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

The main differentiator between Glen A. Larson's classic '70s sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, and Ronald D. Moore's SyFy original reimagining is how it drops the campy tone. However, the contrast is unquestionably dramatic, resulting in one of the most celebrated cosmic TV shows of its time, or any time, and a benchmark for reboots done right.

The Thing (1982)

It is almost cheating to refer to John Carpenter's classic horror movie, The Thing, about an Arctic research crew that can't tell who among them is a shapeshifting alien, as a remake. It could more accurately be described as a far more faithful adaptation of its source material, a novella called "Who Goes There?" than producer Howard Hawks' 1951 thriller, The Thing from Another World, which is a relatively by-the-numbers creature feature.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina (2018-2020)

Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman became a household name when Melissa Joan Hart portrayed her on the very lighthearted ABC sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Years later, Netflix released Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, in which star Kiernan Shipka's iteration faces mystical situations of a far graver matter.

The Nutty Professor (1996)

In the original The Nutty Professor from 1963, Jerry Lewis plays the clumsy, unsophisticated, but brilliant Julius Kelp, who develops a serum that alters his personality, creating a more suave and well-kept alter ego he calls Buddy Love. In director Tom Shadyac's remake, Eddie Murphy plays the perfectly sophisticated, but vastly overweight Sherman Klump, whose revolutionary serum initially serves as a temporary, instant weight loss solution, and his thinner self, also named Buddy Love, eventually begins to take on his own persona over time.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Many of the best Western movies are reimaginings of classic Japanese action films. One of the best-known examples of this is The Magnificent Seven, which is merely an Americanized update of Seven Samurai, which trades swordfights for gunfights.

Pete’s Dragon (2015)

Co-writer and director David Lowery did not bother rewatching 1977's Pete's Dragon, which follows the friendship between an orphaned boy and a mystical creature that can turn itself invisible. He updated the Disney film into something that is not a musical nor a broad comedy, and goes for a more dramatic, atmospheric fantasy adventure for all ages, with great results.

Bel-Air (2022)

The classic NBC comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air stars Will Smith as a young man taken out of his Philadelphia neighborhood to live with his wealthy California relatives after a violent encounter. This premise worked well as the set-up for a sitcom, but is also well-suited for a drama, as demonstrated in Morgan Cooper's 2019 short film that became the basis for Peacock's darker reimagining, Bel-Air, from producer Smith and starring Jabari Banks.

The Fly (1986)

The original 1958 adaptation of George Langelaan's short story, The Fly, involves an instantaneous transportation experiment gone wrong when an insect gets in the machine, causing a scientist (played by David Hedison) to come out the other end with a fly's head and arm. David Cronenberg's reimagining takes that same transportation device setup, but Jeff Goldblum's Seth Brundle comes out the other end seemingly fine, before his body slowly begins to deteriorate as a result of his DNA being fused with the fly.

Beetlejuice (1989-1991)

The animated series adaptation of 1988's beloved Tim Burton movie, Beetlejuice, is still a story told from a ghost's perspective and retains the same one-of-a-kind, maniacally macabre aesthetic. However, it reimagines the title character as a lovably goofy ghoul who, instead of manipulating Lydia Deetz into marriage, makes friends with her and takes her on various wondrous adventures in the afterlife.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Jack Finney's classic alien invasion story has been adapted into multiple Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies, all of which are really no different in concept, but differ from each other in various stylistic and thematic ways. For instance, the original 1956 film is a commentary on fears of McCarthyism, while director Philip Kaufman's adaptation instead comments on blind consumerism and boasts not just a bleaker ending, but one of the most devastating endings in horror history.

A Fistful Of Dollars (1964)

At the time A Fistful of Dollars was released, few people realized the first installment of director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood's "Man with No Name Trilogy" was a remake. That is because, while the film is a Western-style, beat-for-beat reimagining of the 1961 samurai classic Yojimbo, which is also about a drifter who protects a village by playing two oppressive gangs against each other, Akira Kurosawa never received any credit for inspiring the story, leading production company Toho to file a lawsuit.

RoboCop (2014)

While some might say that José Padilha's RoboCop is a remake that should have never been made, it at least tried to be different in some respects. In particular, Peter Weller's Alex Murphy from the original has almost no memory of his life before becoming a hybrid of man and machine, but the version played by Joel Kinnaman is fully aware of the person he was before and forced to undergo his unusual procedure against his will, which is quite a bit darker.

Dragnet (1987)

One of the first films to honor the bewildering tradition of adapting earnest TV crime dramas into feature-length comedies was director Tom Mankiewicz's Dragnet. This slapstick parody of detective stories is set in the world of Jack Webb's seminal police procedural, featuring Dan Aykroyd as the nephew of Sgt. Joe Friday (who is also named Joe Friday) and Tom Hanks as his partner, Det. Pep Streebek.

Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans (2009)

Director Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, starring Nicolas Cage, boasts an entirely different story from Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime drama, Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel, despite also focusing on the exploits of a corrupt cop.

Disturbia (2007)

Director D.J. Caruso's Disturbia is recognized as an unofficial reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It stars Shia LaBeouf as a teenage boy who suspects his neighbor is a murderer while confined to his home under house arrest, as opposed to a grown man (played by Jimmy Stewart) recovering from an injury.

Suspiria (2018)

Luca Guadagnino's reimagining of Dario Argento's 1977 Giallo-style supernatural thriller, Suspiria, has the same setting (a German ballet studio run by witches), but has none of the same eye-popping production design, incorporates a tangentially connected detective story B plot, and boasts a bleak twist ending.

Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

While also set in a mall this time, writer James Gunn and director Zack Snyder's take on the second installment of George Romero's revolutionary zombie movie franchise from 1978, Dawn of the Dead, makes the cast bigger, the zombies faster, the comedy more overt, and the subtle satirical nuances non-existent.

Death Race (2008)

Producer Roger Corman's 1975 B-movie Death Race 2000 takes place in a futuristic, totalitarian United States that holds an annual cross-country racing competition in which the object is to run over as many random pedestrians as possible. Paul W.S. Anderson's reimagining softens the dystopian angle, makes the race exclusive to incarcerated convicts on a single island, and challenges the racers to only kill each other, crowning the last person standing.

Velma (2023-2024)

In the HBO Max original animated prequel series, Velma, starring Mindy Kaling in the title role, the meddling kids from Mystery Inc. are nothing like who they used to be. There is also no Scooby-Doo, which was probably the last straw for all the haters.

When A Stranger Calls (2006)

The Camilla Belle-led update of When a Stranger Calls takes the first 20 minutes of the original 1979 suspense thriller, in which a babysitter discovers her unsettling phone calls are coming from inside the house, and extends that to its own 90-minute feature.

Beauty And The Beast (2012-2016)

From 1987 to 1990, CBS aired a modernized, crime drama-style take on the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, depicting a romance between a lion-man living underneath New York City (played by Ron Perlman) and a beautiful ADA (played by Linda Hamilton). When The CW developed its own version, the series dropped the mystical half-man, half-animal creature aspect in favor of making the Beast a normal man who goes feral when angered after being subjected to a government experiment.

Paws Of Fury: The Legend Of Hank (2022)

The original title of the animated comedy Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, about a dog who becomes an unlikely hero to a village of cats, was Blazing Samurai, to reflect how Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles served as its structural inspiration.

Mockingbird Lane (2012)

Mockingbird Lane, which aired on NBC as a Halloween special, was developer Bryan Fuller's failed attempt at reimagining the spooky, silly sitcom The Munsters into a modern supernatural dramedy.

The movies have always had a way of making the life of an outlaw look fun. The secret is as easy as defying tradition by making the “bad guy” the protagonist of the story, or even taking innocents out of the equation completely. These classic films will force you to reconsider your moral standards.

The Godfather (1972)

In addition to being one of the best films about the "family business," Francis Ford Coppola's Best Picture Oscar-winning adaptation of Mario Puzo's The Godfather is a genuine family story all the way to its core, albeit a violent one. It follows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), who is motivated by the attempted murder of his mob boss father, Don Vito (Marlon Brando), to take matters into his own hands, leading him down a path to become one of the most feared leaders in the world of organized crime.

Psycho (1960)

The true antagonist of Alfred Hitchcock's seminal horror movie classic, Psycho, is unquestionably Anthony Perkins' Norman Bates. However, what leads Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) to make a fateful stop at the Bates Motel is her decision to go on the run with stolen money.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

The title character of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Anthony Minghella's acclaimed adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel, is a conniving con artist. However, much like most of the people Matt Damon's Tom Ripley encounters, it is hard not to fall for his charms.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

There really are not any "good guys" in Pulp Fiction, or in most of Quentin Tarantino's movies, for that matter. However, there are certainly some characters in the dazzling crime thriller that audiences have more affection for than others, especially Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), who have to be the two most down-to-earth mob hitmen in pop culture history.

Batman Begins (2005)

I have never admired a character in my life more than DC Comics' Dark Knight, but even I will be the first to call out Bruce Wayne for who he really is: a vigilante, which makes his crusade for justice in Gotham illegal. One of the few live-action Batman movies to address this moral gray area is Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, in which James Gordon (Gary Oldman) is the only cop willing to support the Caped Crusader (played by Christian Bale), but even he has his doubts.

Goodfellas (1990)

The flashbacks to Henry Hill's youth at the beginning of Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas establish a life in the mafia as a childhood aspiration for him. Thus, you almost cannot help but feel proud of Ray Liotta's character as he rises up in the ranks of the criminal underworld and disappointed when the law knocks him down a peg.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Director Sidney Lumet's Dog Day Afternoon is a crime thriller based on an incredible true story starring Al Pacino as an amateur crook whose simple bank robbery plans evolve into a challenging hostage situation. Just like John Wojtowicz, the real person who inspired the film's main character, Sonny Wortzik, his only reason for committing the crime is to afford his lover's transgender operation, which I can empathize with.

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Steven Spielberg's acclaimed 2000s-era movie, Catch Me If You Can, is based on the alleged true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who passed himself off as an expert in multiple fields while living off fraudulent checks while he was barely beyond his teenage years. The casting of Leonardo DiCaprio as the clever crook immediately earns our sympathies, putting Tom Hanks in the rare position of playing the default antagonist as Carl Hanratty, an FBI agent trailing Frank.

Heat (1995)

Michael Mann's powerful thriller, Heat, is defined by its moral ambiguity, portraying the story of a group of professional bank robbers tailed by the LAPD from both sides of the law. By the end, it is hard not to feel bad for expert thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) when he is finally cornered by Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino).

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

George Clooney's recently released convict Daniel Ocean rounds up a gang of 10 other professionals to rob three Las Vegas casinos at once in director Steven Soderbergh's remake of Ocean's Eleven. The acclaimed heist flick makes it easy for the audience to side with these thieves, not just by making them all funny and likable, but also by making their target, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), quite despicable.

Inception (2010)

Amid its ingenious concept (taking place in a world where dreams can be experienced on demand with revolutionary technology) and breathtaking visuals, it is often easy to forget that Christopher Nolan's Inception is, essentially, a heist movie. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his crew specialize in stealing valuable information from unsuspecting targets directly from their minds (or planting an idea in their heads) by kidnapping them and infiltrating their subconscious, which is a terrifying thought.

Escape From New York (1981)

When we first meet war veteran Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) in John Carpenter's Escape from New York, he has already been sentenced to the penal colony that used to be Manhattan for robbing the Bank of the Federal Reserve. This convinces the United States Police Force that he is the perfect choice to infiltrate the urban dystopian nightmare to rescue the president (played by Donald Pleasence) in exchange for his freedom.

Nightcrawler (2014)

I once saw an interview with Jake Gyllenhaal and Nightcrawler's writer and director, Dan Gilroy, in which they describe the film as "a success story." While Gyllenhaal's aspiring independent news videographer, Louis Bloom, is not afraid to put his ethics on the back burner and flat out break the law to get the juiciest and bloodiest scoops possible, I cannot help but agree.

John Wick (2014)

The world seems to love professional assassins (fictional ones, at least), and few are more lovable than Keanu Reeves' title "hero" from the revenge movie favorite, John Wick, and its sequels. Of course, who wouldn't empathize with a recently widowed man whose new dog was murdered in cold blood by a crew of young punks who also stole his car?

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most unexpected hits is the story of a group of unlikely heroes who come to be known as the Guardians of the Galaxy. James Gunn's hilarious, heartfelt, and action-packed breath of fresh air stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper as a group of cosmic outlaws who flee prison together and manage to redeem themselves by risking their lives to take down an oppressive tyrant (played by Lee Pace).

The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

Based on the memoir by Jordan Belfort, director Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street should be seen as nothing more than a cautionary tale. However, Leonardo DiCaprio's charming, Oscar-nominated performance as the stockbroker-turned-motivational speaker almost makes you want to see him succeed despite his despicable habits and corrupt aspirations.

Kill Bill (2003-2004)

In Quentin Tarantino's two-part action saga, Kill Bill, Uma Thurman's The Bride wanted to put her reputation as the deadliest woman in the world behind her when she got pregnant and decided to settle down. Unfortunately, her former employer, Bill (David Carradine), and colleagues from the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad put her in a coma and, seemingly, murdered her unborn daughter, which makes her "roaring rampage of revenge" feel justified.

Looper (2012)

Rian Johnson's inventive, sci-fi twist on the film noir movie genre, Looper, takes place in the future, but still mere decades before time travel has been invented. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Joe, who is hired to kill and dispose of people sent back to his time by the mob, but his career trajectory changes when his latest target turns out to be his older self (played by Bruce Willis).

Joker (2019)

It might be a bit of a stretch to call Todd Phillips' Joker a film that coerces you into rooting for its unlawful protagonist, because I have absolutely no sympathy for any of the terrifying acts that Arthur Fleck commits. Then again, with much credit to Joaquin Phoenix's devastating, Oscar-winning performance, it is hard not to feel bad for the man, given his harsh life circumstances and struggles with mental health, even if he is destined to cause Gotham City a lot of pain someday.

Don't Breathe (2016)

At the start of Fede Alvarez's intense thriller Don't Breathe, you are not sure who to root for, as our protagonists (played by Jane Levy, Dylan Minette, and Daniel Zovatto) are seen breaking into the home of a non-seeing war veteran (played by Stephen Lang), intending to steal from him. However, it becomes easy to fear for these thieves when the owner of the house begins to violently retaliate and more terrifying secrets about him come to light.

Road To Perdition (2002)

Director Sam Mendes' adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel, Road to Perdition, stars Tom Hanks as a mob enforcer who must protect his young son (played by Tyler Hoechlin) after he witnesses a murder in 1930s Illinois.

Ant-Man (2015)

Instead of the original Ant-Man, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the Marvel Cinematic Universe made formerly incarcerated felon Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) the star of its adaptation of the Marvel comic. After his criminal record costs him his Baskin-Robbins job, he is drawn back into crime and steals what turns out to be a special shrink suit, which is how he gets roped into the most important burglary of his life by Dr. Pym.

Sin City (2005)

I like to think of Det. John Hartigan (Bruce Willis) is the main hero of Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City, but Mickey Rourke nearly steals the show in a segment called "The Hard Goodbye." The story follows Marv, an ex-convict who returns to his violent ways to duke out some vigilante justice and avenge the murder of a woman who suddenly died after spending a night with him.

Dead Presidents (1995)

Dead Presidents is a must-watch '90s movie centered on a Black character, namely Larenz Tate as Anthony Curtis, who is a Vietnam vet forced to turn to crime to support his family.

Public Enemies (2010)

Casting Johnny Depp, who was one of the most bankable and beloved movie stars in Hollywood in the late 2000s, as John Dillinger in Michael Mann's Public Enemies was a stroke of genius to get the audience immediately on the side of the notorious bank robber.

Hard Candy (2005)

In Hard Candy, Elliot Page plays a teenager named Hayley who is seemingly lured into a trap by a child predator named Jeff (Patrick Wilson). However, we, and Jeff, come to discover that he is really Hayley's prey when he is subjected to the teenager's torturous acts.

Dom Hemingway (2013)

Jude Law stars in writer and director Richard Shepard's Dom Hemingway in the title role of a former safecracker who is released from a years-long prison sentence and returns to London looking to collect what he believes he is owed.

Cruella (2021)

Who knew that Disney could make audiences empathize with an attempted puppy murderer? Indeed, they achieve this with Cruella by casting Academy Award winner Emma Stone in the title role, who is portrayed as a tragic figure forced to become a pickpocket as a child after her mother's sudden murder.

Take The Money And Run (1969)

Co-writer and director Woody Allen stars in the mockumentary Take the Money and Run as Virgil Starkwell, who is so inept, yet so affable, that you cannot help but hope to see him make a killing as a bank robber.

Trap (2024)

Josh Hartnett leads M. Night Shyamalan's Trap as Cooper, a father who takes his teenage daughter to a concert, which he discovers is being used as an elaborate plan to catch a notorious serial killer. This turns out to be a great concern for Cooper because this criminal, known as "The Butcher," is none other than him.

Burglar (1987)

Whoopi Goldberg stars in Burglar as Bernice, a non-violent thief who wrongfully becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation when her latest target, the ex-husband of a dentist who just wants her jewelry back, suddenly turns up dead.

Now You See Me (2013)

The main characters of Now You See Me (played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco) are a team of magicians who use their skills in illusion to pull off heists and pass off their loot to people in need, like Robin Hood with a few extra tricks up their sleeves.

Brad Pitt and George Clooney are Hollywood BFFs who famously starred in the Ocean’s movies in the early-mid 2000s. But as the years have passed, we’ve been wondering: what's the holdup regarding the pair doing another one of those fabulous heist movies together? Well, Pitt was just asked about what’s going on with Ocean’s 14.

The Oscar-winning actor is currently gearing up to be the lead in one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming 2025 movies, F1. As the action movie about Formula One scene is already receiving rave audience reactions (even from critics), here’s the latest Brad Pitt said about the possibility of Ocean’s 14:

Well, there you have it. When E! News probed Pitt about what’s going on with the long-awaited sequel, he jokingly threw his good friend George Clooney under the bus. The actor said he’s sworn him off “for health reasons,” before actually going into business by confirming there’s in fact a script out there that’s “pretty damn tasty.”

We’ve known that there’s an Ocean’s 14 script. In fact, when the pair were promoting Wolfs, which was an Apple TV+ movie they both starred in last September, Clooney said they “have a good script, and everybody’s read it and ready to do it.” At the time, he was standing right next to Pitt when he joked that he “liked it… ‘Cause we kill someone that you think is funny.”

Around the same time, there was also a rumor that Conclave director Edward Berger was signing on to direct it, but we’ve heard no other concrete details since. I imagine this could have to do with Brad Pitt’s schedule, considering he wrapped on F1 in January and is currently on the press tour for it.

Additionally, he’s set to head into production later this year on his Once Upon A Time In Hollywood spinoff film with David Fincher, which has also cast Carla Gugino, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, per Deadline. Pitt is also filming The Riders with Edward Berger for A24 in early 2026, per THR.

Despite Brad Pitt’s comments, history has shown he and Clooney love working together, and I bet they are working to make it happen if they are both passionate about the script as they sound. While we wait for more Ocean’s 14 updates, you can see Brad Pitt play an all-star driver in F1 when it hits theaters on June 27.

Considered one of the best movies of the 2000s, and one of the coolest if you ask me, Ocean’s Eleven is truly iconic. That’s mostly thanks to the Ocean’s Eleven cast, which was led by George Clooney. To this day, I think he could be considered a heartthrob, but during the early 2000s, he was really making people swoon, as Joshua Jackson illustrated while telling the story behind “the single coolest movie star thing” he’s ever witnessed.

While Joshua Jackson’s filmography proves that he’s a star in his own right, during a chat on The Rich Eisen Show, he opened up about “the single coolest movie star thing” he’d ever witnessed, and centered around George Clooney. Jackson, who was best known for Dawson’s Creek at the time, was one of the great cameos in the film’s poker lesson scene. While they were filming, he found a way to “weasel” into a conversation with the Danny Ocean actor, director Steven Soderbergh, Brad Pitt and more.

The conversation was wild, as the Doctor Odyssey star recalled:

First of all, just chatting about shipping motorcycles to Italy is crazy. The fact that Clooney was casually sending a dozen of them as gifts is even crazier. However, the story only escalated from here.

The Karate Kid: Legends actor explained that a production assistant came up during this chat to see if anyone wanted coffee or a snack. She made it through asking Brad Pitt and Jackson (which he kept referring to himself as the “young schmuck). However, when she made eye contact with Clooney, she literally swooned:

Girl, same. I’ve watched Ocean’s Eleven so many times (you can currently stream it with a Netflix subscription), and I’m such a big fan of everyone in the ensemble that I likely would have had the same reaction.

To that point, The Mighty Ducks actor also noted that people swooning in front of his co-star must have been a common occurrence, because:

Jackson went on to say that he really couldn’t believe what he saw. He also leaned into the fact that Clooney is known for his pranks by saying that “if it was a setup, bully for him.” Either way, he was blown away, and now he’s been telling this story for over two decades.

It’s a pretty epic one, too! To witness George Clooney, a sexiest man alive and charismatic movie star, literally catch someone who was in love with him is remarkable. Plus, add on the fact that they were casually talking about shipping motorcycles to Italy while filming a movie that’s now a classic heist film, and you have one hell of a tale.

So, yeah, if I were Joshua Jackson, I’d have been telling this story for the last 25 years, too.

No one really scrolls the channels looking for something to watch anymore, there are too many great streaming services and other ways to call up your entertainment on demand. Back in the late 20th Century, however, that was the only option, and so, as you flipped endlessly from channel to channel, you could only hope to come across a classic "remote dropper." One of those movies, like The Big Lebowski or The Hunt For Red October, that never gets old is a remote dropper, and those are what this list is all about. The moment you hit on a movie you love, and drop the remote for the next couple of hours.

Die Hard

Die Hard may ultimate Christmas movie to some, but it is always a must-watch, no matter what season it is. There are so many amazing moments in the movie, no matter where it is in the plot, you just have to stop and watch until the end when Al becomes the hero he deserves to be.

GoodFellas

Martin Scorsese's classic Goodfellas is one of those movies where the great performances and amazing dialogue just get better with time. It's a movie that has aged incredibly well, and really, do we need to explain why so many people call this the perfect gangster movie?

Friday

Speaking from experience, I can tell you, if you went to college in the '90s, Friday was part of a regular rotation of movies that were watched over and over and over again. It really introduced Chris Tucker to the world, and it's filled with so many quotable lines from Tucker and the others that my friends and I could basically recite the entire movie. There's a good reason that it is so meme'd today.

Ocean's Eleven

The incredible cast, headlined by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, is so utterly charming in Ocean's Eleven that it's impossible to pass up when it's on. Every viewing will give you a new favorite moment or favorite line. The pace of the movie is perfect as you speed along to the fantastic conclusion. It's a classic heist movie, among the best the genre has ever produced.

Anchorman

Talk about a movie with an endless amount of quotable lines. There aren't many movies out there that have as many as Anchorman. It's ridiculous and hilarious. The comedy is Will Ferrell at his zenith, in my opinion. He's always funny, but Ron Burgundy is his funniest character ever. Including Buddy the Elf.

The Godfather And The Godfather Part II

There is a reason The Godfather and its first sequel are so often ranked as among the finest films ever made. The dense, complex movies are still incredibly watchable. That is a hard combo to pull of, but that's what makes the Francis Ford Coppola's movies so freaking great. They have everything anyone could ever want in a movie. Watching them back to back is a perfect way to spend a rainy day.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High

With an incredible cast of future stars, Fast Times at Ridgemont High will never not be a classic. Some of the jokes have aged poorly, to be sure, but for anyone who grew up with the movie on cable all the time, it will always be a favorite.

Dredd

If you haven't watched Dredd in a while, you should. The Alex Garland-penned superhero based on the classic comic series is an amazing improvement over the first attempt to adapt Judge Dredd by Sly Stallone in the '90s. Whenever I want to watch a movie and can't decide what to watch, there is a good chance I'll fall back on this, since it never gets boring or old.

Malcolm X

I'm a sucker for a great historical biopic and Spike Lee's Malcolm X is truly one of the best. It's also my favorite performance by Denzel Washington, and that is really saying something. Based on Alex Haley's The Autobiography Of Malcolm X, Lee adaptation is fantastic from start to finish.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

I mean, come on, how could Raiders not be on this list? The Steven Spielberg classic is one of the most fun movies ever made. It's quippy and exciting, and it's exactly the kind of movie that everyone loves to watch. And we all know it so well, you can still get distracted by your phone and not worry about missing any important plot points that you don't already know by heart.

Network

It's almost scary just how relevant a movie like Network, which was released in 1976, is today. Ned Beatty's speech about corporations running the country is so prescient it's crazy. The rest of the movie is just as good.

The Hunt For Red October

This, to me, is the ultimate remote-dropper. It's the movie that inspired this list. It's such a well-made movie, from start to finish, that it just never, ever gets old. The Hunt For Red October is a near-perfect movie in my opinion, and it's easily one of the best movies of the 1990s. Sure, Sean Connery's lack of an accent is a little weird, but he's so great otherwise, it's easy to overlook. Alec Baldwin was born to play Jack Ryan, and I wish we'd gotten more movies with him in the role.

The Big Lebowski

There are many people who, when asked what their favorite movie of all time is, will answer with The Big Lebowski. It's the ultimate shaggy dog story with a cool macguffin (The Dude's rug), and some of the best dialogue ever put on film, courtesy of the Coen Brothers. All the Dude wanted was his rug back, and instead, we got one of the best movies ever.

The Dark Knight

Whenever a director as talented as Christopher Nolan takes on a superhero movie, sign me up. Ultimately, though, it's not Nolan's awesome direction that brings me back again and again; it's Heath Ledger's legendary performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight. It has redefined how the classic character has been portrayed ever since.

The Princess Bride

From the time you're a kid, well into adulthood, The Princess Bride is part of your life. It changes with perspective as you age, but it's always fantastic. The story is so timeless, and the performances are so good, it just never gets old. It would be inconceivable to me to keep scrolling when I see it on TV.

Dazed And Confused

Alright, alright, alright. You knew this one had to be here. The ultimate coming-of-age high school party movie that somehow avoids so many of the tropes of the genre that other movies like it fall into. It helps to have actors like Matthew McCoughnehey, Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Cole Hauser, and so many more to anchor the movie.

Sicario

I was entranced the first time I saw Sicario. The gripping movie is intense, but incredibly watchable. The performances from Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin are great, but it's Benicio Del Toro who really steals the show as a man on a psychotic mission to avenge his family.

Casablanca

Casablanca is quite possibly the most quoted movie of all time. The first time you see it, it almost feels like a parody of classic cinema because so many iconic lines originated here. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are incredible, and the movie has it all, from daring escapes to classic romance to even some wonderful humor. Yeah, it's a misquote, but I'll always "Play it again, Sam."

Apocalypse Now

The opening scene of Apocalypse Now, with the trees exploding and The Doors playing over the sound of a helicopter is one of the most engaging opening scenes in any movie, ever. The movie never lets up from there (unless you're watching the "Redux" version, which I don't recommend). Screenwriter John Milius manages to cram a war movie with so many classic quotes, it's a movie you can recite over and over when you watch.

New Jack City

If we're honest, New Jack City is a bit dated these days, but in its time, it was one of the most rewatchable movies of the era. The Crack Epidemic was very real, and no movie showed it quite like this Wesley Snipes-led classic. Plus, Chris Rock, who was just 19 years old at the time, puts in one of his best acting performances of all time.

Tombstone

Could Tombstone be the most quotable movie ever? It is certainly one of the best Westerns ever. That's before we even get into all the amazing facial hair in the movie. The whole cast is amazing, especially Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday, and that will always make the movie rewatchable.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

This one is personal. I love some Quentin Tarantino movies, and I honestly hate other ones. I suppose that's the mark of a great artist. His vision isn't always going to line up with everyone else's idea of greatness. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a truly great one, though. There are so many fun moments, great lines, and superb performances that it's easy to watch again and again.

Friends With Benefits

Rom Coms are always great movies to have on in the background as you do your daily chores, and my favorite for that is Friends with Benefits. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake have great chemistry, and, honestly, Woody Harrelson's performance is my favorite part of the movie. He's just hilarious.

Iron Man

In a way, Iron Man is on this list to represent the entire MCU. It set such a fantastic example for next three dozen movies that it's hard to imagine any other movie launching the most successful franchise of all time. And it's maybe the most rewatchable of all them.

Beverly Hills Cop

In the 1980s, there was no one funnier than Eddie Murphy, and the peak of that came in Beverly Hills Cop. It's the perfect movie for Murphy's irreverent, foul-mouthed humor, and every single joke in the movie lands perfectly. It also has a great plot that allows for more than just Murphy delivering those jokes.

The Game

Director David Fincher has a slew of movies that could be on this list, like Seven and Fight Club, and even The Social Network, but for me, the one I love the most is The Game. It's a movie I knew nothing about when I first saw it and it blew my mind. I've revisited it many, many times over the years since.

Jurassic Park

The summer of 1993 will forever be known as the summer of Jurassic Park. The movie dominated the box office all summer, and it launched a franchise that is still going more than 30 years later. The most amazing part is how well the visual effects still hold up, and that is why it is on this list. It will be watched until the end of time.

Mean Girls

Talk about quotable movies! Mean Girls is full of classics. Its also one of the most enduring comedies of its era and has even inspired a musical and movie adaptation of that musical.

The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs is the last movie to win each of the "Big Five" Oscars. It won Best Picture, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, Best Adapted Screenplay for Ted Tally, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, and Best Actress for Jodi Foster. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know.

True Romance

Tony Scott has a bunch of movies that could fit on this list. Top Gun, Days Of Thunder, Crimson Tide...it's a long list. For me, however, True Romance is his best. The Tarantino-penned classic also features one of the greatest scenes in movie history between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper that ends with Hopper's character's death.

American Fiction

The Oscar-winning American Fiction is the newest movie on this list, but it became an instant classic for me. Issa Rae's character never fails to crack me up in her first scene, and Sterling K. Brown delivering the line "I've taken a lover" is my favorite quote in a movie this decade.

Boogie Nights

Paul Thomas Anderson hit the big time with Boogie Nights, and there are a lot of reasons it's on this list. The music is amazing, and every scene is like a self-contained mini-film. No matter where you start, you are sucked right in. The end gets a little dark, sure, but it's still Anderson's most rewatchable film.

Old favorites never go out of style, and Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy is a prime example of that practice at work. While there’s plenty of 2025 movie schedule delights available for your viewing, it’s always nice to slip back into something a bit more familiar, and dare I say quotable.

Since all three entries are now available to stream through a Netflix subscription, we’re all going to have plenty of time to return to the past. However, after having done so myself, I think I have some ideas on how George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s dream pitch of Ocean’s 14 could happen. At this point, you’re either in or your out - so let’s start the show, shall we?

Steven Soderbergh And David Koepp Should Partner On Ocean's 14

I know that Ocean’s Fourteen has a potential director already spoken for, and I’m not upset with the choice at hand. However, if we’re really returning to Danny and the gang, I think Steven Soderbergh should be stepping back into the director’s chair.

His style on display in Black Bag shows the man’s still got it, and his writer on that project, David Koepp, should also be on board. Their teaming just makes sense; and as Koepp’s Jurassic World Rebirth rules would reinforce, it’s important to keep sharp with a legacy-quel such as this.

Ocean’s 14 Should Be A Reversal Of The Formula

Three adventures have seen Danny Ocean running all sorts of confidence schemes and long con heists in the name of settling personal vendettas along the way. But this time, let’s make things interesting and put the returning gang on the offensive by forcing them to identify the tricks being used against them, and how to counter.

Whether it’s a team run by previous foes like Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) or François Toulour (Vincent Cassel), or some new evil we haven’t met yet, turning the tables would go a long way to keeping the Ocean’s series fresh. Also, you can’t seriously tell me that Toulour, also known as “The Night Fox,” has simply let Danny and company off the hook for bamboozling him at the end of Ocean’s Thirteen, can you?

We Need To (Slightly) Retcon Ocean’s 8

Sandra Bullock’s Ocean’s 8 introduced us to Danny’s sister Debbie, with the implication that our dear hero was dead. So while I’m not advocating we ignore director Gary Ross’ female forward spinoff, we need to explain that death away in this next story, if only so we can have Danny and Debby team up for the road ahead.

And for all of the fans who’ve stood by that one-off project all these years, there’s also the potential to draft some of those team members into the fray as well. Who wouldn’t want to see Cate Blanchett’s possible Ocean’s franchise return allow Lou Miller and Brad Pitt’s Rusty Ryan to snark at each other about which family member is the better team leader?

Danny Ocean’s Team Needs New Thieves To Set Up The Future

Unfortunately, a potential Ocean’s 14 would see the team without two of its most beloved players: Frank (Bernie Mac) and Saul (Carl Reiner). So if we’re going to come back to the well, there should be an option to snag some fresh talent in to help shore up the ranks. That suggestion is very important to the final note I’ll make in this entire enterprise.

Even without that in mind, there’s always been an eye on adding new and exciting talent to the Ocean’s world. That’s how colorful characters like Roman Nagel (Eddie Izzard) or even Andy Garcia’s previous Ocean’s Eleven villain have been roped in, and it would certainly help introduce a new generation to these high stakes shenanigans. Plus, it's a nice full circle moment, similar to how Danny helped induct Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon) into the life of thievery.

Ocean’s 14 Needs To Stay As Experimental As Its Predecessors

I think the reason people aren’t too enthused with Ocean’s Twelve is the fact that it’s probably the most experimental one of the bunch. Well, that and the very meta “Julia Roberts” con that Tess gets roped into. While I can confirm that it’s the comparatively weakest entry of the three, it’s still better than just playing the hits in a cut and paste sequel.

Our next hypothetical entry should keep that spirit in mind, if only because Ocean’s Thirteen still wandered outside of the box, and managed to be an entertaining follow-up. The fact that this project is a legacy-quel opens the door for a new tone/style quite freely, as this sort of reflection on the past hasn't been the central focus of an Ocean's adventure just yet.

That Ryan Gosling/Margot Robbie Prequel Needs To Be Set Up

For years, an Ocean’s Eleven prequel has been in development, with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling slated to play Danny and Debbie’s parents. While Robbie’s 2024 update on the project didn't give us much info to go on, including some memories of the Ocean family heist vacations with their mom and dad would be a nice lure to tease the hotly anticipated project.

Whether those adventures are part of the prequel story or if they're merely inspiration for whatever does happen, it serves the same purpose. Getting this movie back on the rails would be a lot easier if there's another legacy crew entry to light the fires.

Ocean’s Fourteen Should Be The Final Sendoff For The Original Crew

The last suggestion for Ocean’s Fourteen would be to let it be the actual final adventure of Danny Ocean. Unless George Clooney and Brad Pitt have somehow convinced their partners in cinematic crime to reup for another potential trilogy, I have a feeling that this next entry is intended to be the big finale.

But with new, charismatic young thieves at the head, a fresh series of exploits could take root. Much like there’s a code among people who shook Frank Sinatra’s hand, the ability to say you ran with Danny Ocean’s crew on their big victory lap would be a hell of a calling card to dine out on.

To keep the series going in such a manner would ultimately honor Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 classic, as it’d offer the same generational handshake that picture offered to the youth of the day. Then again, there’s a chance that this project may unexpectedly fall apart, rendering all of this concern moot.

I really hope that isn’t the case, because after seeing the Ocean’s trilogy again with fresh eyes, I think we really need breezy, clever, not-so-serious crime capers to make a comeback. And if you need three big reminders why, you can stream this entire series through Netflix for inspiration.

This week, April comes to an end, and May gets started. While this likely means temperatures are going up and people are looking to spend a little less time in front of the television, your favorite streaming services are certainly going their best to keep us on the couch.

From brand new films to classic franchises, the movie content coming in May is solid. We will, of course, get three new episodes of Andor this week, but that’s not the end of the Star Wars goodness, as there’s also some excellent new Star Wars content for May the Fourth. Here’s a look at what’s hitting streaming this week.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - May 1 (Disney+)

Spider-Man is the one Marvel character the studio still doesn’t completely own the movie rights to, but thanks to a deal with Sony, most of the live-action Spidey movies can now be found on Disney+. Starting May 1, the Spider-Verse grows even larger with the animated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse makes the jump from Netflix to Disney+.

Another Simple Favor - May 1 (Prime Video)

A Simple Favor was one of those simple, character-driven dramas that occasionally surprises with its level of success. Despite a solid box office return, the sequel, which will see both Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick return, will only be available with a Prime Video subscription.

The Four Seasons - May 1 (Netflix)

In The Four Seasons, three couples who vacation together go through major life changes over the course of one year. Based on the hit 1981 film written, directed, and starring Alan Alda, this adaptation reimagined for Netflix the story as a limited series and boasts an incredible cast including Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte.

Ocean's Franchise - May 1 (Netflix)

With reports that George Clooney and Brad Pitt may be looking to get the team back together for another Oceans 11 sequel, now may be a great time to revisit the original series. All three previous Oceans movies hit Netflix this week.

Black Bag - May 2 (Peacock)

Based on Black Bag's meager box office take, you probably didn't see it. But based on Black Bag's reviews, this spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett from the incomparable Steven Soderbergh is a movie you absolutely should see. If you've got a Peacock subscription, you can do exactly that this week.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge & Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance | Disneyland® Resort - May 4 (Disney+)

May the Fourth is celebrated as Star Wars Day, and Disney+ usually adds something from the franchise as a way to celebrate. This year, we’ll get the animated Star Wars: Tales From the Underworld, but far more interestingly, this week, a Disney+ subscription will get you a virtual walk-through video of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, as well as a full ride-through of the incredible Rise of the Resistance attraction. One can only hope this will be the first of a new breed of Disney Parks content on Disney+ that will let us experience rides when we're not in the parks.

Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor - May 4 (Netflix)

Conan O’Brien stole the show at the Oscars this year, and his performance as host was so popular he’s already set to return next year. It’s as good a time as any for Conan O’Brien to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center. You’ll be able to watch the whole show with your Netflix subscription.

Next week, two popular series return. Fans of Conan O'Brien will get even more of him when his travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go returns, and the long wait for Season 2 of Natasha Lyonne's Poker Face finally comes to an end.

This past weekend, Cate Blanchett had her latest movie, Black Bag, hit theaters, which has been getting good buzz from critics. The movie had the Oscar winner re-teaming with director Steven Soderbergh, who famously made the original Ocean’s trilogy in the early '00s before serving as a producer on Ocean’s 8. So when I talked to Blanchett, of course I had to ask the actress if she'd talked to him about coming back to the franchise.

Ocean’s 14 has been rumored for years, most recently with Variety reporting in January that Bullet Train director David Leitch is in talks to helm the sequel (after Conclave’s Edward Berger was previously reportedly in the mix). Here’s what Blanchett had to say when I asked her about the future:

Cate Blanchett has worked with Steven Soderbergh a few times over the years, starting with her starring role in his 2006 war drama The Good German. During our interview, Blanchett shared that she’s always up to work with the filmmaker, but in the case of both of them and Ocean’s, the filmmaker is likely stepping back this time around. That being said, she did mention that George Clooney and Brad Pitt are more likely fronting the next installment rather than a sequel to Ocean’s 8 coming along.

In the recent report about Ocean’s 14, it was shared that George Clooney’s production company Smokehouse was developing the feature with both Clooney and Pitt expected to return. But will the whole gang from the original be back too? Over the summer, Matt Damon shared he was “open” to returning to the franchise, but it would depend if the whole gang might get back together.

Sadly, since the last Ocean’s movie with Clooney and Pitt came out, two of the original Eleven have died: Bernie Mac back in 2008 and Carl Reiner in 2020. In order to keep the number right, I could see perhaps the new movie involving a few of the members of Ocean’s 8, especially if they can’t get all the cast from the original movie. I’d certainly love to see Blanchett in the mix.

As you might recall, Ocean’s 8 connected with Ocean’s 11 because Sandra Bullock’s Debbie was the sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean. How cool would it be to see them blending teams? I’m just imagining all the great one-liners that could be added to the Ocean’s franchise. While I continue to think about how Ocean’s could continue, you can see Cate Blanchett play a spy in Black Bag, now in theaters.

It’s no secret that Julia Roberts is one of the most prolific performers of her generation. From her best rom-com titles to her thriller/heist collection, there’s plenty of ground she’s covered. With the vast territory, unfortunately, things like heartbreak and conning have been common themes throughout Roberts’ work by females, but more so by males. Here’s a rundown of some of the biggest betrayals of Julia Roberts’ characters enacted by men.

Linus Caldwell In Ocean’s Twelve (Matt Damon)

Really, this is the whole team's doing per Danny (George Clooney), but Linus (Matt Damon) carries out this plan. This wrongdoing is different and arguably tops this list because it not only relates to Julia Roberts’ character, Tess Ocean, but a fictionalized Julia Roberts. Tess is wrangled to join the heist by Linus, on very vague terms. When she lands in Rome, Linus and Basher (Don Cheadle) let her in on the con that revolves around her impersonating a pregnant Julia Roberts.

Khamel In The Pelican Brief (Stanley Tucci)

After writing The Pelican Brief, Darby (Robert) shares it with her professor-boyfriend Callahan (Sam Shepard) who shares it with a select handful of people who get killed by a rigged car explosion. This sets off a series of events where Darby has to be particularly aware of all involved while avoiding various assassins trying to hurt her, including Khamel (Stanley Tucci), among others. Darby experiences beyond multiple pursuers, being watched, items stolen from her, multiple attempts of murder via rigged car bombs, impersonators, and more, making it one of the more surprisingly successful 90s movies.

Martin Burney In Sleeping With The Enemy (Patrick Bergin)

Laura Williams (aka Sara Waters, played by Roberts) is in an abusive marriage with Martin Burney (Patrick Bergin). As he continues to mistreat her, she plans her escape. After fleeing the marriage, and town, Laura turns into Sara, heads to live near her mother, Chloe, who Laura had previously told Martin had died. Martin realizes that Laura isn’t dead, due to one error on her end, and tracks her down. Fortunately, things ultimately work out in Laura/Sara’s favor and she can rest easy.

Ed Masry In Erin Brockovich (Albert Finney)

When Erin Brockovich (Roberts) initially dives into the PG&E water case, for Ed Masry (Albert Finney), she gets okayed to visit a few locations. Diving in, she works out of the office for a few days but doesn’t share any updates with coworkers. As she gets back to the office, she learns she’s been fired since she didn’t communicate with anyone. Thankfully, it’s a blip between the two and Masry quickly adds her back on after a lead in the case arises.

Edward Lewis In Pretty Woman (Richard Gere)

The Garry Marshall-directed movie is arguably one of the best Julia Roberts films with her portrayal of Vivian Ward. Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) betrays Roberts’ character while at a polo match. Lewis’ business associate, Philip Stuckey (Jason Alexander) suspects Ward to be a corporate spy to destroy the Jim Morse business deal. Edward debunks Philip’s theory and shares how he met Vivian. With the information, Stuckey propositions Vivian, which she declines, and knows that Edward revealed her secret to Philip.

Michael O’Neal In My Best Friend’s Wedding (Dermott Mulroney)

My Best Friend’s Wedding may be trickier for some. Roberts’ character Julianne ‘Jules’ Potter is honestly the more deceitful character in this movie, in my opinion. The whole movie is centered around Jules trying to sabotage her best friend, Michael’s wedding to no avail. In Jules' eyes, she feels betrayed on and off through the whole wedding weekend by Michael, only to eventually accept what’s happened at the reception.

George In Erin Brockovich (Aaron Eckhart)

George (Aaron Eckhart) is Erin Brockovich’s neighbor turned love interest in the movie after he continually shows up for her and her children. And overall, things end well for the couple, but in the middle, and the height of the case, George makes Erin (Roberts) choose between him and her work. He leaves after Erin shares she can’t give up on the people of Hinkley. The two find their way back to one another as the trial nears its end.

Danny Ocean In Ocean’s Eleven (George Clooney)

At the beginning of the film, Danny (George Clooney) starts out as Tess’ (Roberts) ex-husband. Danny tricks Tess’ current partner, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), into choosing the stolen money over Tess. (He unknowingly chooses this while she watches a live feed of the whole thing.) After successfully destroying a perfectly fine relationship, the once-divorced couple reunites. The whole thing sounds bananas, but remembering the amount of best one-liners from the Ocean's franchise that Danny had, it’s no wonder every scheme of his played out just right.

Charles Gordon In Mystic Pizza (Adam Storke)

Fun-loving Charles Gordon (Adam Storke) meets bold and daring Daisy Araújo (Julia Roberts) and they quickly start dating. The couple runs into trouble while eating dinner with the Gordon family, and when an inappropriate comment is made, that relates to Daisy, Charles goes off on his family. Daisy, afterward, blames him for using that instance to blow out of proportion and rebel against his family. Even though the argument was substantial, the two made up at her sister’s wedding reception.

Bill Fordham In August: Osage County (Ewan McGregor)

At the beginning of this tour-de-force acted film, Bill (Ewan McGregor) and Barbara (Roberts) are quietly separated but both agree to go to Barbara’s Oklahoman home after getting notified of her missing father. They stand united to support their daughter, Jean (Abigail Breslin) during this period. When Barbara and Bill get confronted head-on by her mother Violet (Meryl Streep) about their relationship, Bill confirms that they are separated and there’s a younger woman involved.

Homer Eisenhower “Ike” Graham In Runaway Bride (Richard Gere)

Even though all the wrongdoing done to Maggie (Roberts) eventually works its way into something positive, Ike initially wreaks havoc. Ike (Richard Gere) starts by writing a hurtful, and biased piece on Maggie’s inability to settle down (his source, unknowingly, was an ex). The article leads to Ike coming to town, which makes Maggie face personal issues and rumors while ramping up for her next possible marriage to Bob (Christopher Meloni). Her old life falls apart the night of her rehearsal when she and Ike confess their feelings for one another, leading to a sweet marriage proposal from him.

Terry Benedict In Ocean’s Eleven (Andy García)

Benedict (Andy García) and Tess (Roberts) are dating as Ocean’s Eleven begins, and all is fine within their relationship until her ex-husband Danny Ocean finds out. Honestly, Benedict’s betrayal is more rooted in Danny’s deceit toward Tess–in that, he knew Benedict would admit he would pick money over her. All the same, Tess watched on a live feed, Benedict’s confession, ruining any future of a lasting relationship.

Dan In Closer (Jude Law)

Closer has multiple layers of betrayal, and not just toward Roberts’ character, Anna (We’ll save that for another time though). Anna meets Dan (Jude Law) while photographing him for his coming book. Even though Dan is already dating someone, he makes a move on her, which Anna refuses. The scene jumps to Dan chatting in an adult chatroom with an unknown male, at the time (Larry), as Anna. He leads Larry her and tricks Larry into meeting the real Anna under fake pretenses at an aquarium.

Spike In Notting Hill (Rhys Ifans)

Spike (Rhys Ifans) is William Thacker’s (Hugh Grant) sweet but goofy flatmate. He accidentally tips the paparazzi off that movie star Anna Scott (Roberts) is staying at his home. When the trio realizes that her location has been revealed, she believes that it is Thacker and not Spike who let it slip. With the series of events, she leaves their flat.

Larry in Closer (Clive Owen)

After Larry gets (Clive Owen) tricked by Dan (Jude Law) into meeting the real Anna (Roberts), they actually hit it off. It’s only later, when the couple is getting divorced, that Larry complicates Roberts’ character’s life. Anna left Larry for Dan but Larry chips away at the new couple’s relationship quietly. It comes to the surface when the married couple meets up for him to sign divorce papers and he declares the only way he’ll let her go is if they sleep together. Anna agrees, but it destroys Dan, and their relationship, because she ultimately never turns the divorce paper in.

Peter Banning In Hook (Robin Williams)

From the start, Tinkerbell (Roberts) feels cheated by Peter (Robn Williams) because he gave up Neverland long ago, but puts it aside to help him return. While Peter is remembering everything about Neverland and gearing up to fight Hook, Tinkerbell admits her unrequited love for him. Tink gets denied in the way she wishes he would respond, but ultimately helps Peter and his family fight Hook so they can return home peacefully.

Brighton In Mirror Mirror (Nathan Lane)

Over the decades, there have been plenty of new Disney remakes, but this 2012 iteration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is structured with a bit more humor and modern tones. After Queen Clementina (Roberts) orders Brighton (Nathan Lane) to deliver a drowsy Snow White to the woods so the Beast can kill her, he does but warns her to run instead. Snow White escapes the Beast’s clutches, but Brighton lies to the Queen, telling her Snow White has died.

Eddie Thomas In America’s Sweethearts (John Cusack)

A-Lister powerhouse couple Eddie (John Cusack) and Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) are done, at least behind closed doors. After Eddie realizes that he’s over her, he falls in love with Kiki (Roberts), Gwen’s assistant and sister. The new couple realizes they have mutual feelings for one another and spend the night together. The following morning, Eddie shares with Gwen he technically isn’t seeing anyone, making Kiki storm out of the room, although they make up later.

Dean Tainot In Larry Crowne (Brian Cranston)

Dean (Brian Cranston) is married to Mercedes (Roberts) and both are in large ruts at the beginning of Larry Crowne. Mercedes is a jaded professor at the community college Crowne, played by Tom Hanks, one of her semi-regular acting partners, ends up attending, Dean used to also teach there before becoming a full-time blogger. The couple has ups and downs, but between Mercedes finding Dean on an adult website while he’s supposed to be working, and a big intoxicated fight, the events lead to the end of their relationship.

Bill Dunbar In Mona Lisa Smile (Dominic West)

After breaking up with her Californian boyfriend, who just proposed, Katherine Ann Watson (Roberts) starts dating fellow Wellesleyan college professor Bill (Dominic West). As the two get to know each other, Bill shares about his time in Italy during the war. Katherine ends up breaking up with Bill after learning he has been lying to her about his time serving, along with discovering he used to date students.

G.H. Scott In Leave the World Behind (Mahershala Ali)

While the Netflix subscription movie ultimately plays out to have much greater dealings that Amanda (Roberts) and her family have to face, G.H. (Mahershala Ali) initially derails their vacation. Not long after the family arrives, G.H. returns to the rented home unexpectedly and makes Amanda uncomfortable. Over the course of the film, they slowly learn to work together to process what’s happening.

Howard Tully In Duplicity (Tom Wilkinson)

While secret agents Claire (Roberts) and Ray (Clive Owen), meet, fall for each other and parlay their way into high-brow spy jobs, deceiving each other along the way, it’s Claire’s boss who pulls the biggest trick. Ray and Claire both play a game of cat and mouse with each other and their respective employers–as they planned. When they think they’ve succeeded and headed out of the country, it is revealed that Tully (Tom Wilkinson) swapped the coveted formula everyone was racing for a bottle of hand lotion.

Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde In Mary Reilly (John Malkovich)

Mary Reilly (Roberts) and Dr. Jekyll (John Malkovich) grow close enough that she shares about her previous traumas and the scars that remain. After Mr. Hyde gets hired, he uses that information to ridicule Mary while trying to proposition her. Throughout the film, both Jekyll and Hyde have moments where they abuse their relationship with her. Mary eventually leaves the grounds of the home after Jekyll and Hyde have passed away.

Collin’s Assassin In Michael Collins (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)

Because of Michael Collins' political standing within the Irish Republican Army, he is a leading figure that England is motivated to take out. While members of the IRA are traveling, they encounter a roadblock, which was intended to trap the conclave of travelers, which succeeds. As the two sides battle it out, the young assassin hits Collins (Liam Neeson) with a bullet, killing him.

Ben Harrison in Stepmom (Liam Aiken)

Even though young, Ben (Liam Aiken), son of Luke (Ed Harris) and Jackie (Susan Sarandon) Harrison, is just a child, he betrays Isabell Kelly’s trust. Kelly (Roberts) has Ben and his sister Anna while she’s working on a photo shoot in Central Park and doesn’t have much for them to occupy themselves. After the gig, Isabell realizes Ben is missing, thankfully, it doesn’t last long, but it creates a bigger wedge between her and Luke’s family.

Nelson Wright In Flatliners (Kiefer Sutherland)

When Rachel (Roberts) realizes that Nelson (Kiefer Sutherland) withheld the supernatural side effects of being flatlined from the rest of them, she confronts him. Before leaving, she yells at how reckless he was for not sharing the essential information, especially since her visions involve her father who committed suicide. By the end of the film, they’ve all had closure with their experiences and bring Nelson back to life.

Eddie Bichon In Something To Talk About (Dennis Quaid)

Right off the bat, Grace (Roberts) discovers that her husband, Eddie (Dennis Quaid), is sleeping with another woman. The trio fights publicly, making Grace return home, pack her belongings and their daughter, and leave for her parents' house. For the rest of the movie, Grace is then repeatedly confronted by various family members about forgiving Eddie’s marital mistake. Eventually, the two make up on Grace’s terms.

Jerry Fletcher In Conspiracy Theory (Mel Gibson)

Taxi driver and conspiracy theorist, Jerry (Mel Gibson), has good intentions, but he keeps Alice (Roberts) in the dark about many layers of their relationship. Between him secretly spying on her while at home, her discovering that Jerry has a notable family item she parted with after her father passed, and Jerry’s eventual faked death (a way to protect Alice) all are significant points within their turbulent relationship.

Another small but mentionable offense Alice faces is after realizing everyone except for Harry Finch is deceased on Jerry’s subscriber list, she visits him. Finch turns out to be the troublesome psychiatrist Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart) and claims that Jerry killed her father (which turns out to be a lie).

Victor Geddes In Dying Young (Campbell Scott)

Victor (Campbell Scott) hired Hilary (Roberts) as a live-in nurse to help care for him while going through treatments for leukemia. The pair fall in love, and Victor convinces Hilary that he’s doing better and the two should go on a trip together. While on their coastal vacation, she suspects and then discovers, in the trash, that Victor is still partaking in his chemotherapy. He confirms that he’s been lying to her, and Hilary calls his father to come get him, trust me when I say it’s one of those movies you can’t watch without crying.

Charles In Fireflies In The Garden (Willem Dafoe)

Married couple Lisa (Roberts) and Charles (Willem Dafoe) don’t have a shining relationship, but they started a family together and are doing the best they can. In an unexpected and tragic turn of events, the two get into a car accident and Lisa dies. After her death, the news of Charles having an affair with one of his students while Lisa was pregnant arises.

Joe Berlin in Everyone Says I Love You (Woody Allen)

With the help of D.J.’s (Natasha Lyonne) suggestion, Joe (Woody Allen) tricks Von Sidell (Roberts) into thinking she’s found a man better than her husband. The pair happen to meet during a few chance encounters where he feigns interest in things she loves. Von falls deeply for Joe and ends up leaving her husband for him, but eventually tires of him and returns to her previous relationship.

Anzor Marzin / Clay Beckwith In Secret In Their Eyes (Joe Cole)

Friends Jess (Roberts) and Ray work for various branches of public safety in a not long after post-9/11 world. They receive a call about an unidentified body at a Mosque Ray has been investigating. When the two arrive, they realize it is Jess’ daughter, Carolyn, who’s been killed. After a series of discoveries, they deduce her killer is Anzor Marzin (who later seemingly lives under the alias Clay Beckwith, played by Joe Cole), who is photographed staring at Carolyn at a company event.

Whether it’s movies like Heat bringing massive stars together to create one of the best ‘90s movies, all-time great romantic comedies allowing America’s sweethearts to show off in front of adoring fans, or legendary sci-fi flicks showcasing the skills of up-and-comers and established stars, there have been a lot of movies that brought two heavyweight actors together.

Below are 32 such movies that brought such an incredible one-two punch, we still can’t believe they actually happened. But luckily, these castings did happen and they were pulled off really, really well.

Heat (Robert De Niro & Al Pacino)

Though they were technically both in The Godfather Part II, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino wouldn’t share a scene until more than 20 years later in Heat. Sure, their shared time on screen was minimal (this was a cat-and-mouse game, you know), but this Michael Mann epic was made all the better with these two heavyweights together at last.

Escape Plan (Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger had one of the biggest rivalries in Hollywood throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s as they competed for box office supremacy with all kinds of action movies. Well, they finally started working together in the 2010s with a series of movies that includes Escape Plan. Though The Expendables came first, that was more of an ensemble affair and Schwarzenegger was relegated to a brief cameo.

Collateral (Jamie Foxx & Tom Cruise)

When it comes to movies set in Los Angeles, few are as cool or thrilling as Collateral. Michael Mann’s 2004 thriller stars Jamie Foxx (just months before he won an Oscar) and Tom Cruise (one of his most menacing performances) as a cab driver and assassin, respectively, on a night neither will forget.

Fast Five (Vin Diesel & Dwayne Johnson)

Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson would go on to have one of the strangest Hollywood feuds in the years that followed, but the two Hollywood heavyweights first came together for Fast Five in 2011. A movie that forever changed the course of the Fast & Furious franchise, this wild heist adventure saw the two beefed-up and bald actors go at it in one of the series’ best fights.

You've Got Mail (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan)

While it is true that You’ve Got Mail was the pair’s third movie together, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan weren’t really the massive stars they were when making Joe Versus the Volcano and Sleepless in Seattle. Hanks had earned two Oscars and Ryan had led several more rom-coms between their early films and this 1998 romantic comedy.

Waiting To Exhale (Angela Bassett & Whitney Houston)

Waiting to Exhale has a great cast from top to bottom (as well as a great original song), but it was wild seeing Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston share the screen in this iconic 1995 dramedy about a group of women navigating love, life, and friendship with each other by their sides.

A Few Good Men (Tom Cruise & Jack Nicholson)

Rob Reiner’s A Few Good Men has a cast that includes Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, Cuba Gooding Jr., and so much more. But then you have Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson at the top of the list. Though they don’t share the screen for all that long, they were both part of the now iconic “You can’t handle the truth” courtroom scene, which has gone on to become one of the most universally known quotes of all time.

True Romance (Dennis Hopper & Christopher Walken)

The “Sicilian Scene” from True Romance will forever be remembered as one of the greatest cinematic moments of the 1990s, and that’s thanks to Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken (two absolute legends) giving it their all. Yeah, Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are the core of Tony Scott’s 1993 romantic crime drama, but these two heavyweights stole the show.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (Paul Newman & Robert Redford)

Paul Newman and Robert Redford could very well be one of the best on-screen pairings in Hollywood history. While The Sting is great and all, we have to talk about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid bringing these two legends together. From the start of the flick to that iconic ending (you know what we’re talking about), this movie is in a league of its own.

The Departed (Leonardo DiCaprio & Jack Nicholson)

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, one of the best 2000s movies, has one of the director’s best group of actors, which is saying something. The two megastars at the top of the list? Well, none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, who are outrageously great together. No wonder this won Best Picture.

Bad Boys (Will Smith & Martin Lawrence)

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when Will Smith and Martin Lawrence come for you? Well, moviegoers found out with the 1995 release of Bad Boys, a landmark buddy cop movie starring two of the biggest names on the planet at the time. Still on the rise, Smith and Lawrence became even bigger stars after his great Michael Bay movie came out.

Thelma & Louise (Susan Sarandon & Geena Davis)

Thelma & Louise is one of those movies that never gets old, no matter how many times you watch it. And while we would love to give Ridley Scott all the credit, or say Brad Pitt’s small part made a difference, let’s be real and acknowledge the work of Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as two on-the-run women with nothing but the open road (and open sky) ahead of them.

Marriage Story (Scarlet Johansson & Adam Driver)

Marriage Story brought together Scarlet Johansson and Adam Driver together in 2019, the same year they starred in box office juggernauts Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, respectively. And if we’re being honest, this Netflix original was actually the best of those three films.

Lethal Weapon (Mel Gibson & Danny Glover)

Lethal Weapon, the first in a franchise of legendary buddy cop movies, brought together Mel Gibson and Danny Glover for an outrageously funny and action-packed crime story about two cops from different walks of life trying to solve a case (and not kill one another). Riggs and Murtaugh are still one of the best duos, even after all these years.

Life (Eddie Murphy & Martin Lawrence)

Though both appeared in Boomerang earlier in the decade, Martin Lawrence was a star on the same level as Eddie Murphy when they teamed up for Life. This rude, crude, and incredible 1998 comedy about two convicts making the most out of life sentences is full of hilarious and unforgettable moments.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Harrison Ford & Sean Connery)

There are some out there who think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the best of the franchise, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. With Sean Connery coming on to play Harrison Ford’s on-screen dad, this 1989 adventure film was bigger, grander, and more epic than anything that came before it in this beloved franchise.

The Mexican (Julia Roberts & Brad Pitt)

Gore Verbinski’s The Mexican may not be the best movie or even the most successful to feature Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, but these two were at or near the peak of their fame when this 2001 crime film was released. Coming out nine months before they shared the screen in Ocean’s Eleven, this oft-forgotten romance film brought the pair together.

Bruce Almighty (Jim Carrey & Morgan Freeman)

After both became two of the biggest stars of ‘90s Hollywood, Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman shared the screen in 2003’s Bruce Almighty, with the latter playing God (can you imagine anyone else playing the divine being?). Though they didn’t have all that much time together, these two legends made the most of it to create some utterly hilarious moments.

Night At The Museum (Ben Stiller & Robin Williams)

The Night at the Museum movies have all kinds of great pairings, but the original did it best with Ben Stiller as a lowly nighttime security guard and the late Robin Williams as a wax figure of a former United States President that comes to life at night. We could watch these two riff until the sun comes up, and luckily that’s what happened in two subsequent sequels.

Men In Black (Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones)

Here comes the Men in Black! This 1997 comedy, which came out a few years into Will Smith’s unprecedented run at the box office, saw the Fresh Prince share the screen with Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones. The pair of secret agents tasked with protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats have since become one of the best onscreen duos and two characters that’ll never get old.

The Fugitive (Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones)

Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones came together for one of the best 1993 movies when they shared the screen in The Fugitive. This great movie based on a classic TV show saw Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble on the run after being falsely convicted of murdering his wife with Jones Samuel Gerard leading a team of U.S. Marshals to find him.

Mamma Mia! (Meryl Streep & Pierce Brosnan)

Mamma Mia! had great songs, unforgettable moments, and one of the best casts of the 2000s. While we could talk about Stellan Skarsgård, or Amanda Seyfried, or even Colin Firth, we have to point out that this Abba-influenced musical brought Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan together on screen, and it was marvelous.

The Nice Guys (Russell Crowe & Ryan Gosling)

Shane Black gave the world one of the great modern buddy crime flicks in 2016 with the release of The Nice Guys. Featuring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a pair of down-on-their-luck guys tasked with solving a mystery, this throwback was so much fun. It’s a shame we never got a sequel.

Ocean's Eleven (George Clooney & Brad Pitt)

The ensemble cast from Ocean’s Eleven has talent up and down the roster and has some heavyweights from multiple generations of Hollywood. But let’s be real, this movie brought George Clooney and Brad Pitt together, a relationship that has given us nearly a half-dozen other great films in the 24 years since its release.

La La Land (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)

The third time’s the charm, right? Well, that was the case for Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who were electric in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. Taking on the roles of two young lovers forced to decide between following their dreams and having a great relationship, these two sing, dance, and shine throughout this beloved musical.

Independence Day (Will Smith & Jeff Goldblum)

Years before Jeff Goldblum became one of social media’s favorite (and strangest) stars, he was something of a Hollywood leading man. Between his first two stints as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park franchise, Goldblum shared the screen with Will Smith in Independence Day, aka, one of the highest-grossing films of 1996. These two, who were on top of their game, became an unlikely duo.

Batman Returns (Michael Keaton & Danny DeVito)

Michael Keaton, as Batman, and Danny DeVito, as the Penguin, in 1992’s Batman Returns, was one of the oddest pairings of the ‘90s. But don’t let this make you think it didn’t work, as these two Hollywood heavyweights were oddly great together in Tim Burton’s second and final comic book movie set in Gotham.

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days (Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey)

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson were two of the biggest stars on the planet when they teamed up in 2003 for How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. This wildly funny rom-com, which preceded their Fool’s Gold adventure comedy by five years, further helped both actors rise through the ranks of Hollywood.

Jungle Cruise (Emily Blunt & Dwayne Johnson)

It’s crazy we never got a movie starring Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson before 2021’s Jungle Cruise, but we’re glad these two electric stars shared the screen. One of the best movies based on a Disney attraction, this throwback adventure film had action, peril, humor, and some romance before it was all said and done.

Central Intelligence (Dwayne Johnson & Kevin Hart)

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s on-screen chemistry. Shortly before they starred in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, these two shared the screen in Central Intelligence. A good movie? No, not really, but these two had so much fun together.

Face/Off (John Travolta & Nicolas Cage)

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are two of the most unforgettable actors (for better or worse) in the history of Hollywood, and they crossed paths and swapped faces in John Woo’s Face/Off. This absurdly awesome action flick about an FBI agent and global terrorist swapping faces is as ridiculous as it sounds.

Righteous Kill (Robert De Niro & Al Pacino)

Those who were mad about Robert De Niro and Al Pacino never having a face-to-face interaction (at least on screen) in Heat were in for some good news when Righteous Kill hit the big screen in 2008. Is it a great movie? No, not really. But hey, it has two of the biggest actors of all time sharing scene after scene.

For the past few years, any mention of the all-star actor Bruce Willis has been accompanied by an update on the celebrity’s health. Die Hard star Willis announced his retirement from acting back in 2022 due to a diagnosis of aphasia, which has graduated to FTD, a form of dementia. And while we continue to keep Willis in our thoughts, I like to think of him in terms of his illustrious career, which had decades worth of highs – as well as an even number of lows. I spent years writing a book that analyzed Bruce Willis’ complete film career, and a lot of my research revolved around his flirtation with the Ocean’s franchise, something ex-wife Demi Moore used to poke fun of him during a celebrity roast.

Demi Moore is currently making the rounds on behalf of her Oscar-nominated performance in The Substance. But a while back, she appeared as a celebrity guest for a roast of Bruce Willis. And during that “attack,” she ripped Willis for passing up the Danny Ocean role in Ocean’s 11. That got a huge laugh out of Willis. But several watching this clip might not have even known that was a thing. Here’s Demi Moore at the Bruce Willis Roast:

Let’s talk about what we know regarding Willis’s possible involvement in the Ocean’s series, and how Clooney made good on it for Willis in the long run.

Bruce Willis would have played Danny Ocean

So, as legend has it, Bruce Willis turned down the role of Danny Ocean, a part that eventually went to George Clooney. After seeing the way that Clooney occupies the role through three movies, I can’t imagine anyone else in the part. He’s the perfect blend of cool sophistication, but dirty casino sleaze. He’s ideal as Danny.

That’s not to say Bruce Willis couldn’t play the role. It just would have been different. He still could have been the calm, cool, collected leader of a team of thieves that included Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Julia Roberts, and more. Only, he turned the part down, as was explained by Clooney in a 2007 interview with Time. Said the Solaris star:

We’ll get to Ocean’s 12 in a second. Why did Willis turn down the part of Dany Ocean? We don’t know for sure, but I can tell you that he was plenty busy in 1999 and 2000, when this movie would have been going through negotiations and pre-production. The actor had just broken the bank by portraying a child psychiatrist opposite Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense. He was riding high on the success of Armageddon (1998) and the Matthew Perry comedy The Whole Nine Yards (2000). He didn’t need Steven Soderbergh’s casino romp.

Eventually, though, Willis got the chance to play in that particular sandbox, and to me, that’s a career highlight.

Bruce Willis stole the show in Ocean’s 12

Because Bruce Willis achieved global superstardom in the Die Hard franchise, he’s always been known as an action star. But Willis started in comedy, both on the TV show Moonlighting and in the film Blind Date. And his sharp sense of comedic timing was on display when he joined Soderbergh, Clooney and the cast for the European jaunt, Ocean’s 12.

In the scene, which I find quite brilliant, Matt Damon’s Linus is convincing Julia Roberts’ Tess to go along with a scheme that will have her pretending to be…. Well, pretending to be Julia Roberts. This will allow the crew the chance to infiltrate a museum and get close enough to a valuable treasure to steal it.

Only, as Tess is “pretending” to be Julia Roberts, she’s spotted by Bruce Willis playing the real Bruce Willis. And it leads to this high-wire comedy of errors that shows the best of everyone involved. Press play on this, and enjoy.

As George Clooney notes, it’s possible Willis just regretted not being in Ocean’s 11, and wanted a piece of the fun. But also, on the audio commentary track for Ocean’s 12, Soderbergh explained that he tasked Julia Roberts with choosing a scene partner she already was familiar with, and she and Willis go way back in their personal lives. Hence all the jokes about Tallulah’s Spongebob blanket being left in Taos, New Mexico… where Roberts once lived (and still owns a ranch).

And that’s the story behind Bruce Willis turning down Ocean’s 11, but still getting into the series for a brilliant cameo. It’s possible we might get another Ocean’s movie, as there have been rumblings of a script, but no official announcements from anyone involved. If you want a taste of that Ocean chemistry, use your AppleTV+ subscription to watch Wolfs, a buddy comedy starring Clooney and Pitt that’s a pleasant diversion.

The United States has a lot of great cities and most of those cities have at least one great movie set in them. Some cities, like New York or LA, have a lot, so narrowing it down to one can be tough. Other cities, like Kansas City or Memphis, have fewer films set in them, but those films are classics. Here is our list of movies set in 32 great American cities.

Los Angeles - The Big Lebowski

There are a lot of movies set in Los Angeles. Narrowing it down to one is almost impossible, so we chose a movie that at its heart is pure LA. The Big Lebowski has become one of the most beloved movies of all time, and since the protagonist, The Dude (Jeff Bridges) plays "the laziest man in Los Angeles County," well, his movie just had to be on the list.

Atlanta - Gone With The Wind

Gone With The Wind may have some very problematic themes, to say the least, but it is still the highest-grossing movie (adjusted for inflation) of all time. Set in and around the city of Atlanta during the Civil War, it's a timeless bit of history both in story and in production.

Houston - Rushmore

Director Wes Anderson is from Houston and Rushmore, as only his second feature film, has a bit of an autobiographical feel to it. It is set in his hometown, and much of it was filmed there as well, including his own high school for the fictional Rushmore Academy.

San Francisco - Vertigo

San Francisco is one of the most iconic and picturesque cities in the whole country so it's no surprise that a lot of movies have been shot there. Everything from The Rock to Bullitt, to more. However, there is no way you can't pick the Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo to go on this list. Not only is it one of Hitchcock's best, it's among the best films of all time.

Philadelphia - Rocky

When you mention Philadelphia on a list like this, almost everyone is going to think of one movie: Rocky. There may be no movie more identified with the city it takes place in than the 1977 Best Picture winner. Sure, there are other fantastic movies set in the City of Brotherly Love, but none compare to Sly Stallone's classic. Or, if we're honest, all the other movies in the Rocky franchise.

Dallas - Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club is a heartbreaking, but incredible picture. Matthew McConaughey's performance earned him a well-deserved Oscar and while Dallas, Texas, has been the setting for quite a few films, none are as important, or as good, as this one.

Cleveland - Major League

In the opening song to Major League, Randy Newman sings "Cleveland, city of light, city of magic." It's meant to be ironic in the song, but the movie is as much a love letter to the city and the fans of the former Indians (now Guardians) baseball team. It's one of the best sports movies ever made and there is nothing more Cleveland than long-suffering sports fans.

Austin - Dazed And Confused

When you watch Dazed And Confused, you feel Austin in the 1970s as much as you see it. Director Richard Linklater truly made a love letter to his hometown and his high school years with this classic film, filled with amazing moments and hilarious quotes. It's truly one of the best movies set in Texas.

Washington DC - All the President's Men

Washington DC is an iconic world capital and as such, has been the setting for dozens of movies. From biopics about Presidents like Nixon to horror movies like The Exorcist, DC has seen it all. There isn't a movie that oozes DC power and corruption quite like All The President's Men, which tells the story of the two reporters who broke one of the biggest scandals of all time with the Watergate break-in.

Miami - Scarface

Florida has been described as a sunny place for shady people and there is no film that portrays that better than Scarface. Al Pacino's classic performance as Cuban-criminal-turned-refugee-turned-drug-kingpin is a stone-cold classic. There are lighter films set in Miami, but there are no better films than the dark and violent Scarface.

New York City - Do The Right Thing

How do you pick just one movie to represent New York City on film? It could be a classic Woody Allen movie or one of the many rom-coms set in the Big Apple. Maybe it's a comedy like Ghostbusters. It's an impossible task, but for this one, we've settled on a native New Yorker's classic. Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing simply is New York.

Boston - Good Will Hunting

Boston is one of the oldest and most iconic cities in the U.S. Picking one movie from here is tough, but you simply can't go wrong with Good Will Hunting. Written by and starring two Beantown stars, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, the movie was filmed all over town and Boston is as much a character in the film as Will and Chuckie Sullivan. Just the name "Chuckie Sullivan" oozes Southie.

San Diego - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

San Diego may only be about 100 miles from the capital of the film industry, but sometimes it feels like a million. There are a few movies set there, but fewer than you would think. Still, it's easy to pick the best one. Anchorman was an instant classic and all the humor holds up as well today as when it was released in 2004.

Seattle - Sleepless In Seattle

While it's true that much of Sleepless In Seattle actually takes place in New York, including the classic final scene, it's still a movie very much about Seattle in the early '90s. It's a classic Tom Hanks rom-com filled with some of his funniest lines and was among the first movies to put Seattle on the Hollywood map (though far from the only).

Memphis - The Firm

Memphis may be the home of Elvis, but it hasn't seen a ton of movies set in it. The iconic southern city invented rock and roll and still hosts some of the best music festivals in the country, but it's just not the most picturesque place to set a movie. The Firm goes against that wisdom with great success and as much of the film was actually shot there, you get a real feel for what the city is all about.

St. Louis - Meet Me In St. Louis

For many years, St. Louis was the fourth largest city in the United States. The town started to lose its luster towards the middle of the 20th Century, but it's still a classic American city. Surprisingly few films are set there, but there is no greater classic than Meet Me In St. Louis, set at the apex of the city's history during the 1904 World's Fair.

Detroit - Dreamgirls

Motor City. Motown. Detroit is known for two American icons. The auto industry and Motown records. The latter is where Dreamgirls comes from as a fictionalized version of the amazing music scene in the city in the 1960s. Like other cities on this list, Detroit may have lost some of its luster, but it'll never lose its history.

Minneapolis/St. Paul - Fargo

The Coen Brothers grew up in Minnesota, so that makes Fargo their most personal film in a way. No other movie oozes The Land of 10,000 Lakes quite like the Academy Award winner. From the ubiquitous snow to the spot-on accents, there is simply no other movie about the Twin Cities or the state of Minnesota quite as good.

Chicago - The Untouchables

Chicago has long been one of America's most iconic (and largest) cities. There have been dozens and dozens of great movies filmed there, including most of the late, great John Hughes movies. If you travel abroad, though, you'll find that around the world, the city is still famous for Al Capone and Chicago's organized crime during prohibition. That means you have to include The Untouchables on this list.

Las Vegas - Ocean's Eleven

Ocean's Eleven is one of the great heist movies of all time. Whether it's the original starring the Rat Pack in the 1960s, or the amazing 2001 version starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and the rest of that amazing cast, you get a full view of "cool" Las Vegas. Both movies represent different eras of the gambling mecca, but the more modern version is the better movie, if we're honest.

Birmingham - Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes is not only a wonderful representation of Birmingham, Alabama, it's a great representation of the whole state. Sure, you might think of Forrest Gump for the state, but Gump travels all over the place, while Fried Green Tomatoes sticks close to home and highlights everything about Birmingham folks that makes them great.

Nashville - Nashville

The city of Nashville means one thing to most people: Country music. So it tracks that the best movie set in Nashville is not only called Nashville, but is about breaking through the competitive music scene in the city. The Robert Altman classic shows why the city is such a crossroads in American music.

New Orleans - A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee Williams may have been born and raised in St. Louis, but he is most associated with New Orleans. NOLA, as it's known, is maybe the most unique city in America and it's been the subject of all kinds of storytelling over the years, but A Streetcar Named Desire tells the story like few other.

Pittsburgh - Fences

Like many other rustbelt cities, Pittsburgh's best days seem to be in its past, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have interesting stories to tell today, even if they are about its past. Fences is a perfect example of that. The Academy Award-nominated movie starring the brilliant Denzel Washington isn't always the easiest movie to watch, but it's just so satisfying in the end, even as tragic as it is.

Columbus - Ready Player One

According to Ready Player One, the future belongs to Columbus, OH. It's not the most likely place to be tech capital, but in the sci-fi movie filled with '80s nostalgia and endless amazing easter eggs, it is just that. We'll just have to see if this version of a dystopian future pans out.

Tampa - Cocoon

Tampa is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, but its film history is pretty thin. One major exception to that is the classic Cocoon. With an all-star cast including Wilford Brimley, Don Ameche, Steve Guttenberg, Jessica Tandy, and Brian Dennehy, the movie is set in Florida for good reason, it's about retired folks finding the fountain of youth, of sorts. Two things long associated with the Sunshine State.

Kansas City - Kansas City

Jazz is one of the truly "American" forms of music and Kansas City is one of the homes of the homegrown art form. The movie Kansas City draws on that rich history as director Robert Altman, who was born and raised in the Missouri city, made a true love letter to his hometown, showing the highs and lows of Kansas City's most important historical era in the 1930s.

Denver - Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead is a strange, but wonderful movie if you are in the mood for it. While the Colorado mountains have long held a mystique for Hollywood, the city of Denver itself hasn't been held in quite the same esteem. This movie shows why it should, and as Denver is growing by leaps and bounds these days, we'll probably see more of the Mile High City in the future.

Baltimore - Hairspray

Whether it's the original version of Hairspray directed by John Waters or the more recent musical version, both ooze the great city of Baltimore in the early '60s. If The Wire is the definitive take on the city on television, Hairspray is a different, yet equally important take on the silver screen.

Charleston - The Notebook

Set in Charleston, SC, The Notebook is one of the best romantic movies of all time. Though the love is interrupted by World War II, and it's set in a number of locations, the movie still highlights just what Charleston was and is today, to some extent.

Cincinnati - Traffic

Cincinnati is a great river city in American and it feels like there should be more stories to tell about the city. There surely are and while Traffic is set in a number of places around the world, the story that takes place in Cincinnati feels the most American of the whole movie. It's a story that could happen anywhere, but setting in Cincinnati makes it uniquely American.

San Antonio - Cloak & Dagger

If you grew up in the '80s and had cable TV, there is a good chance you watched Cloak & Dagger a lot. It was on all the time in the mid-eighties and it remains an under-appreciated gem by anyone who didn't grow up watching the Dabney Coleman classic. One of its most iconic scenes happens on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.

Tom Cruise has his running, Samuel L. Jackson has his cussing, and Brad Pitt has his eating. Over the years, the Fight Club actor has been seen eating on screen more than anyone else who’s ever stepped in front of a camera, even professional eaters. If you look at Pitt’s best movies like Seven, the Ocean’s trilogy, and even great Quentin Tarantino films, you’ll watch his characters eat everything from popcorn to burgers and shrimp cocktails to chips (so many chips). 

Let’s look at 32 times Brad Pitt ate food in movies and try not to get hungry in the process.

Look At The Shrimp Cocktail In Ocean's Eleven

Rusty Ryan, Brad Pitt’s iconic character from the Ocean movies, snacks on random foods like someone trying to kick a smoking habit whenever on screen, including Ocean’s Eleven, where he can be spotted going to town on a shrimp cocktail in a casino. With his bottomless stomach, it’s no surprise that he needed to pull off a big score.

Eating A Twinkie In Moneyball

Moneyball has some of the most incredible moments from baseball movies, but it also has a handful of great “Brad Pitt eating food” scenes like when Billy Beane takes down a Twinkie in like two bites while discussing advanced analytics with Jonah Hill’s character. Was that even scripted?

Cooking Mac And Cheese In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

There have been some great cooking scenes in movies over the years, ranging from Michelin-level delicacies to more practical fare. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood falls into the latter category thanks to a scene where Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth makes himself a box of mac and cheese in his trailer. Sure, there’s no milk or butter, but you have to admire the simplicity and execution of the bachelor meal.

Digging Into A Greasy Bag Of Tortilla Chips In Johnny Suede

Johnny Suede, one of Brad Pitt’s earliest films, sees the actor eat multiple meals before everything is said and done. But the best? Well, that goes to the scene where the aspiring rock n' roll star is digging through probably the greasiest bag of chips in cinematic history. But hey, we’ve all been there before.

Eating Sandwiches And Killing Nazis In Inglourious Basterds

Though Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) says his team of eight Jewish-American soldiers has one mission in Inglourious Basterds: kill Nazis, you could add “eating sandwiches while killing Nazis” if you want to be more accurate. We’re not sure what he’s eating, but that sandwich does look mighty good.

The Diner Scene In Mr. & Mrs. Smith

One of the best scenes in Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the one where John Smith (Brad Pitt) and Eddie (Vince Vaughn) are chatting in a diner. What makes it so great, you ask? Well, Pitt’s character spends the duration of the chat taking down a pancake like it’s nobody’s business.

Trying Caviar In The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sees Brad Pitt’s titular character experiencing all life has to offer, including trying some unique and expensive foods along the way. At the top of that list is the caviar a young (or old, depending on how you look at it) Benjamin enjoys with Tilda Swinton’s Elizabeth Abbott.

Detective Mills Waiting... And Eating Chips In Seven

David Mills (Brad Pitt) doesn’t like what he finds in the box during the infamous Seven ending, but the young detective does enjoy getting to the bottom of a bag of Lay’s potato chips while killing time in a library earlier in the movie.

Rusty Eating Chips In Ocean's Twelve

Ocean’s Twelve has just as many Rusty-eating scenes as its predecessor, including the time Brad Pitt’s iconic character is eating chips (one of his favorites, at this point) while on the phone. We’re still trying to figure out how Rusty ranks his passions – does he like snacking or robbing more?

Sharing A Sandwich With A Dog in The Mexican

The Mexican is one of those Brad Pitt movies that seemed like a massive deal before it came out and then was quickly forgotten, which is a shame because it has one of the actor’s funniest food scenes. Where else are you going to see Pitt share a sandwich with a dog in the middle of nowhere?

Sipping A Smoothie In Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading’s Chad Feldheimer, arguably one of the greatest Coen Brothers characters, really gave Brad Pitt the chance to play a dim-witted and hilarious character back in 2008, and he ran with it. Not only that, Pitt also got in another food scene, this time featuring Chad sipping a smoothie while on a stakeout.

Chowing On Some Dog Food In Seven Years In Tibet

The contents are still questionable after all this time, but Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) goes to town on a bowl of dog food (or scraps or slop or some mystery meat) when he’s on his epic journey of self-discovery. Where else are you going to see Pitt down on all-fours competing with fido over a meal?

Rusty Eating Potstickers In Ocean's Thirteen

We pretty much see Rusty take down food from every corner of the planet by the time Ocean’s Thirteen wraps up, including one scene where Brad Pitt’s character pulls off a walk-and-talk with a cell phone in one hand and a pair of chopsticks holding a potsticker in the other.

Chowing On Chinese Food in Kalifornia

For those who haven’t seen it, Kalifornia is a wild 1993 psychological thriller in which Brad Pitt plays the demented and oddly charismatic serial killer Early Grayce. While traveling with journalist Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) on a tour of infamous killing sites, Grayce makes life a living hell for everyone, especially during the scene where he’s chowing down on some Chinese food with table manners so bad they should be a crime.

A Feast in Legends Of The Fall

There’s some good food all through Legends of the Fall, but the one that catches our eye (and nose) the most is the ham feast at the Ludlow house. Though not overly extravagant or anything like that, the dinner is a site for sore eyes, and we get to see Brad Pitt’s Tristan Ludlow eat yet another meal.

Licking Peanut Butter From A Spoon In Meet Joe Black

Though the movie is about 45 minutes to an hour too long, Meet Joe Black does give fans of Brad Pitt eating scenes something to celebrate. The funniest has to be when Joe Black, aka the angel of death, is introduced to the deliciousness of peanut butter on a spoon. 

Eating Fried Eggs In Fury

The vast majority of Fury is spent in a cramped tank on its last leg, but the crew does get to step out of the death trap from time to time, including the scene where Brad Pitt’s Don Collier and company sit down for some ham and eggs. It’s a tense scene, but the look on “Wardaddy’s” face as he’s taking down his first proper meal in ages is pure magic.

Eating And Scolding His Children In The Tree Of Life

Brad Pitt’s Mr. O’Brien from The Tree of Life is probably one of the actor’s meanest characters, and he never passes up an opportunity to scold his children, even during dinner. If you thought a dinner scene directed by Terrence Malick would be conventional or at least happy, this sequence proves otherwise.

Chomping On Chips (Off-Screen) In Fight Club

Okay, Tyler Durden isn’t actually on screen during the scene where Edward Norton’s nameless character calls him after his apartment is destroyed in an explosion, we can hear Brad Pitt chomping down on chips. What kind of chips? We don’t know, but considering the actor’s history, they were either Lay’s or some kind of tortilla chips.

Eating Hot Dogs In A Car Lot In Cutting Class

One of Brad Pitt’s earliest films (his third credited role), Cutting Class saw what is perhaps the first example of one of his characters on screen. At one point in the movie, Dwight Ingalls (Pitt) manages to hold a conversation while eating a hot dog, which is no easy feat.

Achilles Eating A Turkey Leg In Troy

Some people really like Troy, but we don’t think it’s because it sees Brad Pitt eating a turkey leg as Achilles, one of the most iconic figures in Greek mythology. If you want a decent enough historical drama with some killer battle sequences (and food scenes), maybe it’s time to revisit this 2004 epic.

Popping Wasabi Peas In Bullet Train

Bullet Train is an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride from start to finish, but that doesn’t mean Ladybug (Brad Pitt) isn’t going to work in a snack or two before it’s over. The accident-prone yet comically lethal assassin is seen popping wasabi peas during one reprieve from the mayhem in this 2022 action comedy.

Eating A Rat In Interview With The Vampire

Okay, this isn’t food in the traditional sense, but there is an unforgettable scene in Interview with the Vampire in which Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt) feasts on a rat for nourishment. Disgusting? Yes. But a vampire has to do what a vampire has to do, right?

Taking Down Some Bread In The Devil's Own

Stale bread has never looked as good as it did for Francis "Frankie" McGuire (Brad Pitt) in The Devil’s Own. After being pulled out from under a floor while in hiding, the IRA soldier goes to town on a loaf of bread like it’s the finest cut of beef money can buy.

Beef Stew In The Woods In The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

Though not the best scene in the movie (that would go the train robbery sequence), there’s a key moment in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford where Brad Pitt’s outlaw eats a bowl of beef stew in the woods. A hot bowl of stew has never looked so good.

The Spy Game Lunch Scene

Everyone loves a good lunch scene in a spy thriller, right? Well, we get one in Tony Scott’s 2001 action flick, Spy Game, in which Nathan D. Muir (Robert Redford) and Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt) talk shop over a meal. While the older CIA officer is going over some tech, the younger Bishop just sits there and eats and eats and eats.

A Coconut In The Lost City

Jack Trainer in The Lost City is one of the silliest yet coolest Brad Pitt characters in recent history. And while the former Navy SEAL and CIA operative is only in the movie for a hot minute, Pitt, to the surprise of no one, has an eating scene when he’s seen with a coconut early on. 

Hot Dog On A Bench In Sleepers

Even movies that are as dark and unnerving as Sleepers have featured Brad Pitt eating scenes over the years. When having a conversation on a bench with Lorenzo “Shakes” Carcaterra (Jason Patric) while they’re planning their scheme to keep their old buddies out of prison, Michael Sullivan (Pitt) is eating a hot dog. 

Allied's Shrimp Salad

If you’ve ever wanted to see a movie where a Canadian Intelligence officer posing as one half of a happily married couple on a secret mission during WWII is seen eating a shrimp salad, Allied is for you. Though not the best Robert Zemeckis movie, this 2016 romantic war thriller does see Brad Pitt chow down on the seafood delicacy.

A Cheeseburger In Ocean's Eleven

Ocean’s Eleven sees Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) take down all kinds of food before the credits roll, and Brad Pitt’s character gets to sneak in one final snack at the end when he’s seen eating a cheeseburger while waiting for Danny Ocean (George Clooney) to get out of prison.

Popcorn Out Of A Coffee Filter In Moneyball

Considering Moneyball is all about the cash-strapped Oakland A’s trying to remain competitive with a near-microscopic payroll, it only makes sense for Billy Beane to find other ways to cut costs throughout the organization. And who cares if this means the A’s general manager has to eat popcorn from a coffee filter instead of a bowl?

Some Stir Fry In Ocean's Thirteen

Rusty Ryan finished off the Ocean’s trilogy by taking down some exotic foods in 2007’s Ocean’s Thirteen, including some stir fry (which looks really good, by the way), while planning the film’s big heist. Hey, he can’t think on an empty stomach.

George Clooney and Brad Pitt have always been an absolute blast to watch on screen. Their chemistry is fantastic, and their quippy senses of humor work great together. This was previously showcased in the Ocean’s movies, where the two played the leaders of a team planning a heist. Now, this chemistry is at the center of Jon Watts’ Wolfs, an action comedy where the two play competing crime fixers. With that, the Oscar winners recently joked about their Ocean’s co-stars not being present for this new movie.

The two actors are famous for being jokesters and poking fun at each other, as well as their other famous friends, and this has continued throughout the press tour for their new Apple TV+ film. While they mostly have been taking digs at each other, they recently joked that the new movie is better without the Ocean's Eleven ensemble, which contained many of their other Hollywood friends like Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Don Cheadle. You can see the hilarious remarks they shared with THR below:

This sarcastic, teasing sense of humor is almost synonymous with the duo by now. Both of them have been playing pranks on each other for decades and do so in A+ ways. George Clooney once sent letters to Tom Cruise about Interview with the Vampire 2, making them appear to be from Brad Pitt. The Michael Clayton star also pranked Matt Damon by pretending to be him and writing an angry letter to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey over a Golden Globes joke. Of course, they're all good friends, which makes the public jokes just a labor of love.

Much of this joking started on the set of the first film in the modern Ocean's franchise. So Clooney and Pitt are definitely being facetious when they say the new movie is better without their former co-stars. The ensemble had an absolute blast on those sets. It was during the third Ocean’s movie that Pitt and Clooney campaigned for Damon to be Sexiest Man Alive, which actually worked.

Rumor has it that George Clooney is working on getting the band back together for Ocean's Fourteen. So it would seem the Clooney/Pitt duo didn’t want to be without the rest of their friends for very long.

Despite being without their all-star Ocean’s Eleven cast in Jon Watts' latest film, the famous duo are still able to carry a film with their camaraderie alone. Wolfs is getting pretty positive reviews from critics, with many saying the leading men's dual on-screen presence is one of the highlights of the movie. A sequel is reportedly in the works now as well. However, no matter how much George Clooney and Brad Pitt joke about their friends, it's fun seeing them on screen with them, so I’m hoping this reported Ocean’s Fourteen plan comes to fruition ASAP.

You can see George Clooney and Brad Pitt together in Wolfs, which is streaming now for Apple TV+ subscription holders. You can also revisit their initial chemistry in Ocean’s Eleven, which is available to rent on Amazon. For more information on other exciting titles heading to streaming and cinemas this year, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule.

Con artists have been popular characters for a long time in Hollywood. Some of the most loved films from Hollywood's earliest days feature them, like The Wizard of Oz and The Music Man. In honor of that long history, here is our list of some of our favorite movies about con artists and their sneaky ways. 

American Hustle

American Hustle was sometimes jokingly called "American Hair and Makeup" because of the elaborate examples of both in this movie set in the 1970s. That's appropriate too, as the movie is loosely based on a real con set up by the FBI to nab corrupt politicians. The hair and makeup in the movie are also just a great bonus that help make American Hustle a really fun movie. 

Heartbreakers

Heartbreakers is a classic con artist movie. Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt play a mother-daughter team who trick men into marrying and giving up their money. It's filled with little scams throughout, which is also a fun little bonus, and has a great twist at the end, that you'll just have to watch the movie to find out about. 

The Sting

Without a doubt, one of the best movies about grifting has to be The Sting. The superstar cast led by Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw chew up the scenery in this fast-paced and delightful classic. The key ingredient in the movie is David S. Ward's script which effortlessly explains what could be a fairly complicated con to understand on the surface. 

The Wolf Of Wall Street

While The Wolf Of Wall Street may be more about the dangers of excess and ego, at its heart is the massive grift that Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his cohorts pulled off as they built their fraudulent company. Scams on Wall Street are nothing new, they just took them to a level previously unseen. 

The Grifters

Any list like this is going to have to include anymore called The Grifters. The movie, starring John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening as a trio of con artists plays out like a '50s crime novel set in the early '90s. It has a "classic" feel to it and it's really fun. 

Ocean's Eleven

Some might call Ocean's Eleven a heist film, and it is. But it's also got a whole lot of grifting going on in it. Every one of the "eleven" has some hustle to their game, especially Danny Ocean (George Clooney). The smooth-talking burglar uses his wits more than his brawn to pull off their incredible heist. It makes for some incredible dialog and a some unforgettable moments. 

The Greatest Showman

It might not be totally fair to call PT Barnum a con artist, but there is a reason he is associated with the famous quote, "There's a sucker born every minute," though he almost certainly didn't actually say it. But as a showman, there was still a little grift in him. He just made it worth it to be to give them his money. 

Boiler Room

Years before The Wolf Of Wall Street, Ben Affleck, Giovanni Ribisi, and Vin Diesel teamed up for Boiler Room about a sketchy brokerage firm running basically the same scam Jordan Belfort ran that inspired the Scorsese movie. It's a raw look at the industry and its shifty ways. 

A Fish Called Wanda

Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) isn't the greatest grifter of all time, and her boyfriend Otto (Kevin Kline) has to be one of the dumbest ever. Teaming up with Ken and Archie (Michael Palin and John Cleese, respectively) doesn't help them much, either. Somehow, A Fish Called Wanda has become a little bit of a forgotten classic more than three decades after its release, but it's still wild and hilarious and we promise you won't be DISAPPOINTED with it. 

The Wizard of Lies

One of the worst, most destructive con men in history was Bernie Madoff. His decades-long con left many innocent people holding the bag. Two good happened after that. First, Madoff spent the last decade of his life having a miserable time in prison and second, HBO made a pretty darn good movie about the whole scam, starring Robert De Niro as Madoff. 

Six Degrees of Separation

The movie Six Degrees of Separation is based on a play by the same, itself loosely based on the life of grifter David Hampton, who scammed money out of Manhattan socialites by convincing them he was the son of actor Sidney Poitier. That's exactly what Will Smith's character, Paul, does in the movie.  And yep, if you're wondering it's the play that brought the term into the mainstream. 

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Tom Ripley, played by Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of the more terrifying hustlers on this list. Through the tense movie, he proves he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. This is not one of the "fun" movies about con artists. 

Focus

Will Smith plays a con man who Margot Robbie has the misfortune of trying to con. It sets up an interesting dynamic and while it's not the most original idea to ever come of Hollywood, its sleek production and snappy script make well worth anyone's time. 

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Now we come to an all-time classic. Steve Martin and Michael Caine play two con artists forced to come together to pull off some huge cons in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and it works well...until it doesn't and they find themselves on the other end of a grift. It's just the best comedy about con artists ever made, and one of Steve Martin's best movies too, don't you agree?

The Wizard Of Oz

This is a tricky one to place on here, but there is no doubt that on the surface, the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz is a perfect example of a scam artist. He's a pretty great one too, seeing as how he got the whole of Oz to believe his nonsense. He can't pull one over on Dorothy though, she's sees his scam almost immediately. 

The Usual Suspects

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," says everything you need to know about Verbal Kint aka Keyser Söze (Kevin Spacey). It's a line that sums up the entire movie in one breath. Verbal Kint is the ultimate confidence man, brimming with exactly that, confidence, after all, he pulls off his grift in the middle of a police station filled with cops looking for him. 

Saltburn

Like The Talented Mr. Ripley in the '90s, Saltburn takes things to absolute extremes when it comes to scams. Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) is diabolical in the planning and execution of his scam. The fact that he gets away with it only makes it that much more disturbing. 

Catch Me If You Can

There's a lot to unpack with Catch Me If You Can. The movie, with a great cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, is based on the autobiography of career criminal Frank Abagnale. It's a fantastic movie that fans can watch over and over, but it may in and of itself all be a scam. There is a lot of doubt in how much of the book - if any of it - is true at all. So meta. 

Matchstick Men

In Matchstick Men, Nicolas Cage plays a con artist who really has everything always going against him. It's a look into what happens when cons go wrong, really. Like a lot of movies about grifters, we root for the criminal, and Cage's performance and his character's bad luck make it easy. 

The Spanish Prisoner

The Spanish Prisoner is the name of one of the oldest and most widely used scams in history. The movie of the same name is basically Steve Martin's character pulling this grift on Campbell Scott's character. It's the same scam that we've all had attempted on us by Nigerian scammers promising great wealth by helping them with a lost rich relative. 

The Producers

Of all of Mel Brooks' amazing movies, The Producers might be the one that is most surprising in how it's endured over the years, with a wildly successful musical based on it and another movie based on the musical. In the end, the plot it just a good old-fashioned scam. 

The Prestige

Magicians are, at their heart, con artists. Any great magician will admit to it. It's how they use the power of deception that separates them from criminal grifters. That's why The Prestige finds its way onto this list. Competing magicians fooling each other with their tricks and illusions are nothing more than scams. 

Now You See Me

Now You See Me is a perfect example of magicians using their powers of persuasion and artistry for crime. The magicians in the movie use everything they've learned about magic and illusion to commit crimes but with a side trick of actually acting a bit like Robin Hood with the ill-gotten gains. It's complicated, but that's what makes it great. 

Curly Sue

Kids have been used in deceptions for centuries and in the movies we've seen it with movies like Curly Sue. It's a classic grifter movie, with James Belushi playing the most stereotypical con man of all time. And yet, the movie still works really well. Sure, it's a bit dated, but hey, keep a sharp eye for a young Steve Carell, who made his film debut here. 

Leap Of Faith

It turns out Steve Martin has a real knack for blaming scam artists. In Leap of Faith, he plays one of the oldest versions of a grifter on earth - the religious type. Martin stars as Jonas Nightengale, a con man who discovers that he can make serious money by pretending to be a faith healer, using every trick in the book to separate desperate people from their money. 

I Love You Phillip Morris

I Love You Phillip Morris is really a love story, but it's about a con man who is so in love with Phillip Morris he can't stop scamming people or breaking out of jail to be with him. Jim Carrey's performance as Steven, the con artist is one of the most underrated of his stellar career. 

The Good Liar

Romance scams, like the one in The Good Liar, are as old as time. When it's Ian McKellen playing the grifter though, you know it's worth checking out. He's just so perfect in the role of an aging hustler running his scam on a widow (Helen Mirren). 

The Frighteners

Director Peter Jackson's The Frighteners is a different kind of grifter movie. The main character, played by Michael J. Fox runs his scams with the help of a few ghosts that only he can see. It's honestly one of the most underappreciated movies by Jackson with fantastic performances all around.  

The Music Man

If you've never seen The Music Man, but you're a fan of The Simpsons, you are more familiar with the plot that you may be aware. One of the best Simpson's episodes of all time has to be "Marge Vs. Monorail" and it's basically all based on The Music Man. In the movie, the "Man" isn't selling a monorail, but he is selling the town a scam with his words and his songs. 

Maverick

Mel Gibson has a few forgotten hits, and Maverick is a great example of one that should be better remembered. Gibson plays a gambler and card sharp in late 19th Century America on his way to play in a poker tournament but finds plenty of ways to hustle on the way. 

White Men Can't Jump

Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) sure knows how to hustle guys on the basketball court. He quickly becomes Sidney Deane's (Wesley Snipes) nemesis on and off the court. That is, until the two team up to hustle for even more money. 

Trading Places

While Trading Places is strictly about con men, the con that Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) and Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) team up to pull on the Duke Brothers at the end surely makes it worthy of addition to this list. Like many on the list, it's really easy to root for the ones pulling the scam. 

When I think about Matt Damon and Casey Affleck at the same time, the fact that pops into my head is that they were both in the legendary Ocean’s Eleven cast. While they’ve both had long and illustrious careers, I think it’s safe to say that one of Affleck and Damon’s best movies is the OG heist film from 2001. Now, the two actors are sharing the screen again in a new heist flick called The Instigators. So, obviously, this question had to be asked: Would these two new characters be hired by Danny Ocean?

Luckily, Matt Damon had an answer to this question, and it was as entertaining and witty as the best lines in the Ocean’s movies. While promoting his new heist project before its premiere on the 2024 movie schedule, the Oscar-winner told EW:

I couldn’t agree more. In Ocean’s Eleven, George Clooney’s Danny Ocean assembles an elite team of experienced thieves and career criminals. In the film, Damon plays a pickpocket named Linus, while Casey Affleck plays Virgil, a skilled getaway driver and robotics expert who loves to bicker with his brother Turk.

In The Instigators, as the trailer illustrates, Damon and Affleck play desperate dad Rory and ex-con Cobby, respectively. The two set out to steal money from the mayor, and it’s obvious that these guys are not experienced in the art of the heist.

Doug Liman’s movie looks a lot more chaotic and action-packed than Steven Soderbergh’s cool and smooth film from the early 2000s. Basically, what I’m saying is, The Instigators wouldn’t really stand a chance at executing the heists Danny and co. pull off in the Ocean’s movies. Matt Damon agreed, as he quipped:

He’s right, I don’t think Clooney’s Danny Ocean and Brad Pitt’s Rusty Ryan would entertain the idea of hiring these two “knuckleheads." However, that’s kind of the fun of The Instigators.

Rather than a well-planned heist, like Ocean’s Eleven, this movie is about two guys who would never have thought they’d be doing something like stealing from a mayor, and I’m here for the chaos that comes with it.

As a massive fan of the Ocean’s movies, I always love a new heist project. So, I’m super intrigued by how The Instigators seems to take the concept and flip it on its head by putting two everyday guys in the middle of it.

To see what happens when Matt Damon and Casey Affleck team up this time around, you can stream The Instigators starting August 9 with an Apple TV+ subscription. To go back and watch them in Ocean’s Eleven, you can rent or buy the film on Amazon.

If you look at lists of George Clooney’s best movies or Brad Pitt and Matt Damon’s greatest work, without a doubt Ocean’s Eleven will be on all of them. The same can be said for the rest of the stellar A-List cast that includes Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck, Andy Garcia and many, many more, and it’s easily some of director Steven Soderbergh’s finest work. It’s so good, in fact, the remake ended up getting two sequels – Ocean’s Twelve and Thirteen, plus the female-led Ocean’s Eight almost two decades later. This fast-talking, smooth world of heists and crime is irresistible, and today we’re talking about the best quotes from this beloved franchise. 

"Why do it? Because yesterday I walked out of the joint after losing four years of my life and you're cold-decking 'Teen Beat' cover boys. Because the house always wins. Play long enough, you never change the stakes, the house takes you. Unless, when that perfect hand comes along, you bet big, and then you take the house."  -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven

When Rusty asked Danny why they needed to do this heist he gave the great speech above. What makes it even better is it’s followed by Pitt’s character asking if Clooney’s has “been practicing” his speech, to which Danny responds with “A little bit, did I rush it?”

"Well, first, I know all the guys you’d hire to come after me, they like me better than you. Second, you’re not gonna go to cops. Well, let’s face it, you’re not going to go to the cops. Third, you shook Sinatra's hand. You should know better, Willy." –Danny, Ocean’s Thirteen

Once Danny exacts his revenge on Willy Bank and bests him, he says this great line, which ends with him bringing it back full circle to the Frank Sinatra line that Reuben said to Al Pacino’s character at the beginning of the movie.

"Who died and made you Danny?" –Turk, Ocean’s Twelve 

Linus really tried to take on more of a leadership role in this movie, and the boys didn’t take it lightly, hence this sassy line from Turk that came after basically everyone else got arrested. 

"So whatever happens tonight, I want you to remember one thing, you are not doing this for me. You are not doing this for you. Somewhere out there is an 8-year-old girl lying in bed, dreaming of being a criminal. Let's do this for her." -Debbie, Ocean’s Eight

In the quiet moment right before the heist began, Sandra Bullock looked at herself in the mirror in a public bathroom and said this motivational, yet funny, monologue to herself. Everyone needs a pep talk, and this was Debbie’s. 

"You think we need one more? You think we need one more. Alright, we’ll get one more." -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven

The boys had their crew of ten assembled, however, they were questioning if they needed one more. That, my friends, is how Matt Damon comes into the Ocean’s 11 cast as the young pickpocket Linus. 

"We got a grease man." -Rusty, Ocean’s Eleven

As Danny and Rusty search for their grease man, Pitt’s character takes Clooney’s leading man to the circus. That’s where they find Yen, and Rusty couldn’t have been happier to hire him. 

"The specs aren't on the gray market, the black market or any other market. And all I keep hearing is there's never been a system like this. Now, I found out where they designed it, but I can't even get in the building! I've blown all my buy money, my bribe money, four of my best ID's and I am nowhere! Not only am I nowhere, I'm pretty sure I'm being followed." –Linus, Ocean’s Thirteen

While walking through their plan with Roman, Rusty says the security in this casino is “spooky.” 

Then, while on the phone with Danny, Linus confirms that as he shares that what they’re trying to figure out is the Greco while noting that he’s been having a really hard time. 

"If you're going to have a problem with stealing, then you're not going to like the rest of this conversation." -Debbie, Ocean’s Eight

Debbie and Lou’s relationship is very reminiscent of Danny and Rusty. And just like the boys’ first scene in Ocean’s Eleven, Sandra Bullock’s first interaction with Cate Blanchett’s character does not disappoint.

"She already left me once. I don’t think I’d do it again just for kicks." -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven 

Ocean’s Eleven opens with Danny Ocean in a hearing about whether or not he’s likely to commit a crime again if/when he gets out of jail. After explaining that his wife Tess left him, he gets asked if she’ll do it again, and he quips back the great line above. 

"Mr. Benedict, you can lose $80 million secretly or $160 million publicly. It’s your decision. [Rusty puts his phone down and looks at Tess] Hi." -Rusty, Ocean’s Eleven 

This line hits so hard because it’s one of the big moments where it becomes clear that these guys are going to pull off the heist. What makes it even better is that as Brad Pitt’s Rusty is talking to Andy Garcia’s Terry, he also just casually says hi to Julia Roberts’ Tess in the middle of it all. 

"You're analog players in a digital world. You're done." – Roman, Ocean’s Thirteen

Once Roman finds out that the Greco is the issue Rusty and Danny are running into he’s quick to tell them that this heist is out of their league. As much as he likes them, this is too much, and it’s too technological for these “analog” players according to him. 

"You’re gonna ask me a question? Give me time to respond, unless it’s rhetorical in which case the answer is obvious: yes." – Rusty, Ocean’s Twelve 

One of the most fun dynamics in Ocean’s Twelve is between Rusty and Linus. Seeing Brad Pitt act as Matt Damon’s reluctant mentor is so silly, and fun, and it’s moments like the one above that I get a great chuckle out of. What makes it even better, is when Linus started to ask his question about Tess looking like Julia Roberts, Rusty stopped him, saying he could never ask about that. 

"You of all people should know Terry. In your hotel, there is always someone watching." - Tess, Ocean’s Eleven 

As one of their final tricks, the boys make it so Tess hears Terry betray her. So, when she runs into him, she makes sure he knows that she’s leaving and that it’s 100% his own fault. 

"It just hurts, you know, because it seemed like we all agreed to call it ‘the Benedict job.’ I mean that’s what we called it when we were doing it. If you wanted to call it something else all along then…" – Virgil, Ocean’s Twelve

When the boys found out that the job they pulled off in Ocean’s Eleven was named after Danny Ocean, they weren’t thrilled. While many of them lamented to George Clooney’s titular character during their first team meeting, Affleck’s disappointed words as Virgil were top-tier. 

"Ted Nugent called, he wants his shirt back." -Danny, Ocean’s Eleven 

After Danny gets out of jail a second time, Rusty comes to pick him up. Of course, the movie ends on a classic Pitt/Clooney back and forth. So, once Rusty says he hopes Danny was a groom since he left prison in a tux, Danny ribs his friend with the line above. 

"I’d like to say a few words about commitment, about honor, about responsibility, about a very special someone and admitting to her. Get up. Pull the chair out. Admitting to her, in front of everybody, that her wedding, and that very special honeymoon trip to Epcot Center, will have to be postponed." -Terry, Ocean’s Twelve 

When Terry Benedict starts to make his visits to the boys at the start of Twelve, he does a good job of intimidating them all. However, one of the most memorable moments was when he showed up to scare the brothers Virgil and Turk Malloy, who are played by Casey Affleck and Scott Caan, respectively. 

"What? Did you guys get a group rate or something?" - Reuben, Ocean’s Eleven

Once the crew is assembled, they all head to Vegas and meet at Reuben’s swanky house. What makes this scene iconic is that when most of the guys show up at the same time, Elliott Gould’s rich character quips this hilarious line.

"‘I,’ ‘I wasn’t in Four Weddings and a Funeral.’ Just protect your fake baby." -Linus, Ocean’s Twelve

As Tess, Linus and co. make their way into the hotel, with Tess pretending to be Julia Roberts, she starts getting overwhelmed by all the paparazzi around them. Then, when Linus told her to calm down and think about the great rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral, she reminded him that the actress was not in that movie, to which Damons’ character had this hilarious response. 

"You lose focus in this game for one second…" -Linus // "I know, and somebody gets hurt." - Danny, Ocean’s Eleven 

Picture this, Linus and Danny are almost in the vault and they’re trying to detonate the explosives to get in, however, the clicker isn’t working. So, in the midst of this high-stakes heist, they have a humorous back and forth about preparation, focus and batteries. 

"[Sobbing] I'm old, and I'm going to prison. Then I'm going to be really, really poor." -Rose, Ocean’s Eight

Helena Bonham Carter’s role in Ocean’s 8 is so fun, and it’s because she’s quite dramatic and extra. No line proves that better than one where she was lamenting to Debbie and Lou after her fashion show. 

"Well, we've shaken all the trees, we've looked under every rock, we’ve searched…I mean, we've talked to everybody we can trust. I know it's not a great idea but it is an idea and as long as we have one idea we shouldn't give up." – Linus, Ocean’s Thirteen 

Right when the boys are on the verge of failure, and they’re out of ideas, Linus thinks up one, and Danny wonders if he really means it. Well, it’s desperate times, so yes he really meant it when he suggested that they contact Terry Benedict, their nemesis from the first two films. 

"[Slaps Danny] That is for keeping me in the dark. [Punches Danny] That is for making me a master thief. [Elbows Danny] And that is for ruining our second third anniversary." – Tess, Ocean’s Twelve

After everyone gets cleared and out of jail, Tess has a very reasonable reaction to it all as she slaps, punches and elbows Danny once they’re in the cars leaving. 

"I couldn't even hear myself think. You know, five women in one cell. So I got myself thrown in solitary for a little peace and quiet, and that's where I finally came up with it." -Debbie, Ocean’s Eight

As you likely know, like Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Eight begins with our master planner getting out of prison. It quickly becomes clear that Debbie has been scheming the whole time she’s been in the clink, and once she got herself “thrown in solitary” she could really cook on her plan. 

"Number one: if any of you try to screw me, you'll be dead. I'll be looking in on the operation just to make sure. Number two: I'm your senior partner, which means last money in, first money out and you will double my investment." –Terry, Ocean’s Thirteen 

Enter Terry Benedict, AKA, Andy Garcia’s bad man from the first two movies. However, this time, he’s the thirteenth member, and he’s actually helping Linus, Danny, Rusty and co. as they try to take down Willy Bank and avenge Reuben. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. 

"I want the last check I write to bounce." –Saul, Ocean’s Twelve  

The late great Carl Reiner played Saul, and he wanted to go out on top with his money in Ocean’s Twelve! While he eventually does come back to help the crew, this moment where he walks out with his head held high is pretty epic. 

"A him gets noticed, a her gets ignored. For once, we want to get ignored." –Debbie, Ocean’s Eight 

While Debbie and Lou are putting their team together, Lou runs the idea of hiring a few guys by her. However, Sandra Bullock’s character makes a point that’s both sad and useful at this moment: they don’t want to be seen, they are actively trying to get ignored, and it works in their favor. 

"How was the clink? Did you get the cookies I sent?" - Rusty, Ocean’s Eleven 

After Danny gets out of jail and meets up with his pal Rusty Ryan, and Brad Pitt’s character jokes around with his pal by asking if he got the sweet treats he sent while he was in “the clink.” 

"No, Dad. It will work. [Danny puts his hand out for the phone] No Dad, I won't put Danny on. [Rusty puts his hand out] Or Rusty." – Linus, Ocean’s Thirteen

In a heated phone call with his father, Linus pushes back against his parent – who is later revealed to be a con man working as an FBI agent specializing in casino fraud cases – about the fake nose he wears later in the movie, and he also won’t let him talk to Rusty and Danny. While Matt Damon’s performance at this moment is incredible, it’s the perfectly timed gestures of George Clooney and Brad Pitt trying to take the phone that make it. 

"Terrific, it’ll be nice working with proper villains again." -Basher, Ocean’s Eleven 

Basher is the explosion expert for the team, and when he’s approached about doing the job he responds with this fantastic line, despite the fact that Don Cheadle’s British accent is quite bad in the film. 

"Look, it’s not in my nature to be mysterious. But I can’t talk about it, and I can’t talk about why." –Rusty, Ocean’s Twelve 

After Rusty tells Linus that he should just ask the question, the inquiry he makes is not one Rusy is willing to go into detail about. Hilariously, this topic has to do with Tess looking like Julia Roberts, which is funny because, you know, Tess is played by Julia Roberts. 

"First of all, if there’s one thing I know it’s bad acting." –Daphne, Ocean’s Eight  

Surprise, Anne Hathaway’s Daphne Kluger is the eighth member of Ocean’s 8, and it’s brilliantly revealed at the end of the female-led Ocean’s movie when she starts her admission with this line. 

"It's not their fight." -Danny, Ocean’s Thirteen

These are some of the first words uttered in Ocean’s Thirteen after Rusty boards a private jet and asks Danny if “they understand.” It’s later revealed after Linus asks Danny the same question that the “they” they’re referring to are Tess and Isabel, Danny and Rusty’s respective partners.

Overall, the Ocean’s movies are full of quick-witted, fun and intelligent lines, and it’s one of the big reasons why they remain so iconic to this day. 

There are a few elements that go into a great heist film. A movie doesn't have to have all of them to be great, but usually, it has to have some of them. Things like a "pre-heist" heist that sets up the main one, or introduces the crew. A cool scene depicting the planning is important too. Oh, and a monster cast helps. A car chase, though not necessarily required, sure goes a long way to make it great also. Keeping all that in mind, here we go with our list of great heist films. 

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

You can't have a list like this and not include Ocean's Eleven. It doesn't have a car chase, but it's got everything else, including one of the most star-studded casts in film history, with names like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, and so many more. There is something so infectious about the way the cast is clearly having an amazing time making the movie which translates into a couple of hours of the most fun you'll have watching a movie. 

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

1999's The Thomas Crown Affair is a remake of a movie from 1968 starring Steve McQueen, and with all due respect to that one, the modern version is better. Pierce Brosnan's character, Thomas Crown, is quite simply one of the coolest characters of the '90s and Rene Russo is amazing as his love interest and the one investigating him. 

The Italian Job (1969)

The 2003 remake of The Italian Job (1969) is good, but it doesn't hold a candle to the original starring Michael Caine. The original just oozes cool, with great cars, exotic locations, and the aforementioned Caine. Both have spectacular car chases in Mini Coppers, but again, you can't beat the original. 

The Town (2010)

The Ben Affleck directed The Town is based on a true story, although the accuracy, like many historical films, has been disputed. There are essentially three heists in the movie. A bank robbery opens the movie, then the crew botches an armored car robbery, and it ends with them making off with millions by robbing Fenway Park! 

Inside Man (2006)

Spike Lee's contribution to the genre is Inside Man starring Denzel Washington. True to form, Lee's take is anything but formulaic. Instead of the usual tropes of a good heist film, the robbery in this one has much broader social implications. It's a great take on the genre.  

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Pretty much all of the Mission: Impossible movies are heist films in one way or another, so this entry can represent all of them. The heist in the first one is still a classic though, with the memorable scene with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) dangling precariously above the floor as he tries to steal the NOC list from CIA headquarters. 

Baby Driver (2017)

Baby Driver has a couple of things going for it that make it a great heist film. It's stylish and there are some epic car chases. Those two components are critical to a certain kind of heist movie. The movie also has some fantastic music too, which goes a long way. It turns into a revenge movie of sorts, but it still belongs on this list. 

Ronin (1998)

There is no question that 1998's Ronin has a couple of the best car chases in movie history and that alone makes it a great heist movie. It has all the other elements of a great one as well, with a pre-heist and great planning. It's really all about the car chases though. 

Heat (1995)

Robert De Niro seems to love heist movies too, judging on how many he's been. Of all of them, though, the best is probably Heat. In addition to having the epic shootout as the crew tries to escape the bank, which will forever be one of the best action sequences in Hollywood history, the movie also marked the first time De Niro and Al Pacino appeared in a scene together in a movie. 

Out Of Sight (1998)

Author Elmore Leonard really knew how to write a great crime story and Out Of Sight is no exception. The adaption, starring George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, flies a little under the radar, but it's a really fun movie. It's not quite over-the-top enough to be called a comedic caper, but it fits well on this list. 

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, and Grace Kelly. Do we really need to say anything more? This is a little different because the robberies don't involve a crew, like a lot of great heist movies. It's just one man, a cat burglar named...Cat (Grant). it's also set in the South of France, which Grace Kelly would get to know quite well later in life when she became Princess Grace of Monaco. 

Inception (2010)

Inception can be confusing with the whole "dream-within-a-dream" stuff, but at its core, it's about stealing. Not art, or money, but information. So while it's a lot more complicated than robbing a casino or a bank, it's still just about stealing. 

The Score (2001)

Robert De Niro first appeared on screen alongside Marlon Brando in 2001's The Score, which also turned out to be Brando's final performance on screen before his death in 2004. It's a straightforward caper film, but it's slickly done and a really fun movie to watch both for the story and for the performances. 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the all-time greats from the 1960s. Sure, it's about a whole more than just a robbery, but the best scene in the movie is the railroad heist towards the beginning. It doesn't hurt that stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman are at the height of their careers and look great doing the stealing. 

Ocean's 8 (2018)

Though not directed by Steven Soderbergh, like its brother Ocean's 11, Ocean's 8 still pops along just like the male version of the caper film. It pulls off the same super fun vibes and brings together an all-star cast of women who prove they are up to the task of pulling off a great robbery too. 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Audiences first heard about one of the all-time great heists in history in 1977 when they learned in the original Star Wars that the plans for the Death Star had been stolen. It wasn't until almost 40 years later that we would get to see how the heist happened in Rouge One. It was worth the wait too, as Rogue One is arguably the best Star Wars movie since Return of the Jedi. 

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Quentin Tarantino's debut film is unique on this list because audiences don't actually see the robbery. We see the planning and (mostly) the aftermath of the heist, but all we see of the heist itself is some of the crew running from the jewelry store with the alarm going off. It goes to show you need to see the crime to make a great movie. 

Triple Frontier (2019)

2019's Netflix original movie, Triple Frontier, is a great example of a subgenre of military heist movies. It plays like a straight action movie, but the motivation is all about the money for the characters played by the all-star cast that includes Ben Affleck, Pedro Pascal, and Oscar Isaac. 

Gone In 60 Seconds (2000)

Gone in 60 Seconds is another unique entry on this list, because usually these movies are about stealing money, or jewels, but Gone in 60 Seconds is about stealing cars. A lot of cars. 50 cars in one night. It follows all the familiar beats of a great caper flick, but it adds in a bunch of cool cars. It's a remake of a low-budget movie from 1974 and is superior in almost every way. 

Quick Change

One of Bill Murray's most underrated movies has to be Quick Change. It's really funny and completely ridiculous in all the best ways. The heist happens in the first couple minutes of the movie and the rest of the film is the three-person crew trying to get out of town before the police net swallows them up. Give it a shot. 

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

The original Thomas Crown Affair starring Steve McQueen and the millionaire playboy who robs banks for fun is, if we're honest, a little dated. It feels very much of its time in the late '60s. But it's still incredibly charming and if you can get used to the dated transitions between scenes, it's still really good. 

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

What happens when a Monty Python vet writes a caper movie? A Fish Called Wanda is the answer and it's exactly what you would expect. It's a hilarious entry into the genre that includes some really funny performances from all the cast members, including the screenwriter, John Cleese and his fellow Python Michael Palin, plus Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline. Just don't mess with Palin's fish, Wanda! 

Ocean's 11 (1960)

The stories about the filming of the original Ocean's 11 are as legendary as the Rat Pack cast members who star in it. It doesn't have the same snappy dialog as the 2001 remake, but if you're a fan of Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammie Davis, Jr, and Dean Martin, you just have to watch it. 

Lucky Logan (2017)

Director Steven Soderbergh's best heist movie is still Ocean's Eleven, but Lucky Logan is another movie by Soderbergh that is really great. Daniel Craig leads another all-star cast that includes Channing Tatum, Katie Holmes, Sebastian Stan, Adam Driver, and more in a movie where the crew robs a Nascar track. 

The Pink Panther (1963)

The Pink Panther is unique on this list, not because it's a comedy, but because the star of the movie, Peter Sellers, plays the guy investigating the robbery, rather than the culprit. Sellers is, of course, ridiculously funny in the movie as the bubbling, but effective Inspector Clouseau.

The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

We just had to include The Muppets on this list! The great Charles Grodin co-stars with everyone's favorite puppets as the leader of a crew trying to steal the Baseball Diamond, which has to be the coolest name of something being stolen in a heist movie. 

Dead Presidents (1995)

The Hughes Brothers released two great movies in the '90s, the first was Menace II Society which was a cultural bombshell. The second, Dead Presidents, is not as highly regarded but it's still a good movie. It is as much a comment on society as their first movie, but it's wrapped up in a caper story.

Sneakers (1992)

If having an all-star cast is an indication of a great heist movie, Sneakers definitely has that going for it! Sidney Poitier, Robert Redford, and River Phoenix lead this cast which also includes Dan Aykroyd and Ben Kingsley, among others. Also, it's one of the earliest examples of cyber-crime on film, which makes it both exciting and, if we're honest, a little dated.  

Drive (2011)

2011's Drive starring Ryan Gosling is the prototype for Baby Driver in a lot of ways. It doesn't have a stylish soundtrack, but it's got great car chases and a charming star. It's not the best movie on this list, but if you like chases, it's great, even if they are a little too short. 

Three Kings (1999)

Director David O. Russell's Three Kings is famous for its on-set conflicts, but in the end, the director and the cast, which includes George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Spike Jonze, and Ice Cube, ended up making a really great heist movie set during the first Persian Gulf war. 

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959)

The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery is far from the best movie on this list, but it is really fun to watch a budding star named Steve McQueen early in his career. It was around this time, in 1959, that McQueen's career exploded into the stratosphere, but here, it's still trying to make it. It's also a unique movie because it's shot on location at the actual bank in St. Louis where the robbery on which the movie is based actually took place. 

The Bank Job (2008)

Jason Statham can make everything he does cool. Even when he doesn't have a lot to work with, story-wise. The Bank Job doesn't have the most original story, even though it's based on a true one, but the slick production and Statham's charms make this a very fun watch. 

People have always been fascinated by daring heists, going all the way back in Hollywood history, so there will always be great movies to add to the list in the future. We can't wait for the next one! 

Margot Robbie is one of the busiest people in Hollywood these days, from acting in high-profile 2023 titles like the billion-dollar blockbuster Barbie and Wes Anderson's unsurprisingly whimsical Asteroid City, to producing buzzy flicks like Saltburn through her LuckyChap production company. With such a packed schedule, something's gotta give and, sadly, it looks like that planned Ocean's Eleven prequel might just be it. 

In addition to producing, Robbie was set to star in the new entry in the Ocean’s franchise, alongside her Ken-ergetic Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling, but a recent update from the actress makes it clear that it will take a while longer for that movie to materialize. As Robbie revealed in a Deadline interview: 

The gossip mill was buzzing with rumors about the Ocean's prequel, which would allegedly be set in the 1960s and take place in Europe. That would likely mean a lot of location scouting, period costuming and production design, so it's understandable that Robbie and the rest of her LuckyChap team—which includes her husband Tom Ackerley (a real-life Slytherin)—would want more time to get going on the project. 

However, the film star—who just nabbed a Screen Actors Guild nomination this week for portraying Barbie's eponymous fashion doll—did give some insight into where her megawatt career will go next. She cited that upcoming Christmas comedy with Olivia Wilde as the next project on her producer plate, but played it coy when it came to future acting gigs: 

Though Barbie has been one of the biggest pop-culture phenomena of the past year, and Margot has been a regular fixture at awards shows and publicity events, it's surprisingly the last time that Robbie has actually acted onscreen, as she hasn't taken on another acting role in "more than a year," she revealed to the outlet. 

However, she's conscious of the overexposure that can happen during a massive press tour and awards-show campaign like Barbie's, jokingly saying that she's due for a break from the public eye because "everyone’s probably sick" of her: 

Whether or not Margot Robbie is acting again anytime soon, we will be seeing plenty more of the actress-producer as she supports Barbie throughout awards season. 

Along with Robbie's individual nod, the film tied with Oppenheimer for the most 2024 SAG nominations with five apiece, including kudos for that star-studded Barbie cast and for Gosling's hilarious turn as Ken. And it's likely that the comedy will have similar success at the Academy Awards, which releases its own nominations list on January 23. As for this Ocean's prequel, we'll keep you apprised on its progress as more updates come in.

Everyone gets excited when a big-name star randomly appears in a movie for a cameo. Sometimes they are only there for a couple of lines, sometimes they get a little more. Sometimes they are playing themselves, or versions of themselves, and sometimes they are playing an actual character. The moment is always fleeting and wonderful regardless of the time on screen and whoever they are playing. Here's a list of some of the most amazing examples of celebrity cameos. Warning, this story does have spoilers. 

Bob Barker - Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore will forever be one of Adam Sandler's best movies, but the whole thing is almost stolen by one short appearance by the late, great Bob Barker, former host of The Price Is Right. For poor Happy, the price is wrong.

Neil Patrick Harris - Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle

In Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, Neil Patrick Harris plays an unbelievably funny exaggerated version of himself. He might just be the funniest part of the movie and while it's obvious he's playing himself as a character, the audience can't help but believe it, if just for the moments he's on screen. The cameo was so successful that Harris returned for the sequels. 

Bill Murray - Zombieland

Bill Murray's cameo towards the end of Zombieland is perfect. Not only does he play a zombie version of himself, but audiences are treated to a quick snippet of the Ghostbusters theme song. It's truly brilliant. 

Channing Tatum - This Is The End

Pretty much the whole cast of This Is The End feels like stars doing cameos. All the actors are playing ridiculous versions of themselves and there are a lot of stars. To pick one though, is easy. Channing Tatum as a prisoner at the end is just fantastic. He's got about one line, and for most of the scene, he's wearing a wrestling mask. You have to love any star willing to do what Tatum did here. 

Luke Hemsworth - Thor: Ragnarok

The first cameo audiences spot in the play-inside-the-movie in Thor: Ragnarok is, of course, Matt Damon as Loki. It's not as obvious who is playing Thor and many were confused because it looked so much like Chris Hemsworth. Well, that's because it was his brother, Westworld star Luke Hemsworth. 

David Bowie - Zoolander

David Bowie was no stranger to the screen. The musical legend was landing acting gigs early in his career and had major roles in Twin Peaks, Labyrinth, and The Last Temptation of Christ among others. His cameo in Zoolander is by far the funniest though. 

Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis - The Player

Robert Altman's The Player has an amazing 65 cameos in it, so how do you choose just one? It's actually pretty easy. There is a running joke through the movie as writers and producers pitch their projects to studio head Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) that they all want Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis to star in it. In the final scene, who pops up in the movie-in-a-movie? That's right Willis and Roberts themselves. 

Keith Richards - Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Johnny Depp based his legendary character Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films at least partly on another legend, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. It only makes sense that Richards himself would appear as Captain Teague in Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, who audiences would learn is Sparrow's father, because of course he is.  

Jimmy Buffett - Jurassic World

In a true "blink and you'll miss it" cameo, Jimmy Buffett is seen doing, what else, protecting his margarita during a dinosaur attack in Jurassic World. 

Jerry O'Connell - Can’t Hardly Wait

Trip McNeely! Jerry O'Connell's role in Can't Hardly Wait is more myth and legend than character, actually. Former high school stud Trip McNeely is spoken with great reverence throughout the movie, so when he does show as a sort of pathetic college freshman, it's all the more wonderful. 

Matt Damon - Eurotrip

This one might be the most unexpected and therefore funniest on the list. Matt Damon showing up as the singer of a power punk band singing about what Scotty (Scott Mechlowicz) doesn't know is now a classic moment on film. Don't tell Scotty. 

Topher Grace - Ocean’s Eleven

When audiences first meet Brad Pitt's character in Ocean's Eleven, he's teaching Hollywood stars how to play cards and his main client is none other than That '70s Show star Topher Grace (playing himself). Unfortunately, Grace is really terrible at learning, it seems, but it's very funny.  

Keanu Reeves - Always Be My Maybe

Keanu Reeves is one of the most beloved Hollywood stars and it's because of moments like when he randomly shows up in the Netflix romcom Always Be My Maybe as Sasha's (Ali Wong) new boyfriend. It's only one scene, but there's a reason it's the most talked about scene in the movie. 

Johnny Depp - 21 Jump Street

Johnny Depp clearly appreciates where he got his start, which was, of course, on the Fox show 21 Jump Street. It was in the spirit of that appreciation that Depp returned to the role of Officer Tom Hanson alongside his former co-star on the show, Peter DeLuise in the 2012 movie based on the show starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. 

Brad Pitt - Deadpool 2

By far the quickest cameo on this list is Brad Pitt's maybe one second appearance in Deadpool 2. It's the definition a "blink and you'll miss it" moment when Pitt's character, who says nothing and is in fact invisible for most of the movie, gets zapped by electrical wires, revealing the actor in just a few brilliant frames that had audiences gasping with excitement. 

Hugh Jackman - X-Men: First Class

Hugh Jackman loves playing Wolverine. A regular in the X-Men movies, his character isn't a big part of the origin story film X-Men: First Class but the filmmakers still found a brilliant way to work Wolverine in. As Dr. X and Magneto recruit mutants for the X-Men, they find Wolverine in a bar but his terse response when they ask him to join makes it clear he's not interested. At least not yet. 

Daniel Craig - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Only the Star Wars franchise could get a star as big as Daniel Craig to have a brief cameo in which his face is never seen. It was obviously a lot of fun for the James Bond star to show up in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, though Craig really hated the stormtrooper suit he had to wear for the scene. 

Kevin Bacon - Planes, Trains And Automobiles

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is one of John Candy's best movies, but before we even meet his character, there is a quick scene that surprisingly includes Kevin Bacon. As Steve Martin searches for a cab on a busy New York City street, he spies Bacon's unnamed character from across the street and races him to the cab. 

Stan Lee - Mallrats

There is no one in Hollywood with more cameos than the great Stan Lee. Before his death in 2018, the comic book writer appeared in more than 40 films and TV shows based on the Marvel comic books he was such a huge part of creating. But it's his appearance in Mallrats that came before them all, playing himself. Lee also shows up in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement as a wedding guest. 

Will Ferrell - Wedding Crashers

It takes guts to cast Will Ferrell in a cameo because he might just steal the show. In Wedding Crashers, you could argue he did. There isn't a more meme'd cameo on the internet than Farrell's character in the movie yelling "Mom! Where's the meatloaf??"

Bruce Springsteen - High Fidelity

It makes sense that in a movie that is all about great music, one of the greatest musicians of all time would make a cameo. Such is the case in High Fidelity when Bruce Springsteen shows up in one of Rob Gordon's (John Cusack) dreams about his top five exes and offers some sage advice. 

Martin Sheen - Hot Shots! Part Deux

Hot Shots: Part Deux is, by design, a silly, surreal comedy. One of the most surreal moments is when Charlie Sheen's character is traveling up a Southeast Asian river, satirizing Apocalypse Now, which, of course, starred his father, Martin Sheen. Suddenly, the voice-over changes from Charlie to Martin and the look both look up from their respective boats and yell to each other, "I LOVED YOU IN WALL STREET," which they starred in together. Very meta. 

Ben Stiller - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

In one Anchorman scene, there is a rumble between the competing news teams on the various San Diego networks. Each anchorman is a star. Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, and Tim Robbins show up with their respective teams, but it's when Ben Stiller shows up with the Spanish network that things get especially ridiculous and it's hilarious. 

Stephen King - It Chapter 2

Stephen King, like Stan Lee, pops up quite a bit in stories and books of his that have been adapted on screen. Going all the way to the early '80s with movies like Creepshow, and Pet Sematary, King has had cameos (and larger roles) in many of his stories. He even directed one, Maximum Overdrive, based on his short story "Trucks", though that isn't always fondly remembered, though it should be. In more recent years, he made a great cameo in It Chapter 2.

Madonna - Die Another Day

It's no surprise that Madonna would be picked to record a James Bond theme song, which she was for Die Another Day, though her Bond theme does not rank all that highly for most fans. In a rarer occurrence, the singer of the theme also got a cameo in the movie. Madonna plays a fencing coach who works with Pierce Brosnan's version of the British super spy. Let's be real, she was actually better acting in the movie, than singing in it.  

Micheal Jackson - Men In Black II

If there is any perfect role for late-era Michael Jackson, an alien that can't quite make it in the MIB fits the bill. The King of Pop only has about half a minute of screen time, and it almost feels like AI, even if that technology only existed in the Terminator universe at that point. It's a weird cameo, but it's kinda perfect. 

Elon Musk - Iron Man 2

It's definitely one of the weirder entries on this list. In the scene in Iron Man 2, in the very early days of the greater MCU, none other than the electric car-driving rocketman and X boss Elon Musk shows up for a brief cameo. Predictably, the tech entrepreneur wants to meet with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) about some ideas he has. 

Quentin Tarantino - Sleep With Me

If you take yourself back to September 1994, Quentin Tarantino is not yet the legend he has become since. A few weeks before Pulp Fiction set the cinema world on fire, Tarantino popped up in a small art film called Sleep With Me. Despite the very fine cast that includes Meg Tilly, Eric Stolz, and Parker Posey, among others, the film isn't really remembered all that fondly. Except for one scene. Tarantino delivers, in a very Tarantino way, a fantastic diatribe about the script for Top Gun and what it really meant. It's pure genius and while he doesn't get credit as a writer, it's exactly what you'd expect from him. 

Dan Aykroyd - Casper

Here's a good trivia question for you: How many times has Dan Aykroyd played his Ghostbusters character, Ray Stance, on the silver screen? Though there are three previously released Ghostbusters movies, the answer is four.  Aykroyd randomly shows up in the mostly forgotten movie Casper from 1995 as the two main characters are desperate to rid their house of ghosts. 

David Letterman - Cabin Boy

David Letterman is one of the most famous television stars in America, but weirdly, he was never really an actor. In fact, according to IMDB, he's only credited with one role in a movie in which he wasn't playing himself or in archival footage. That movie is the absurdist and, frankly, weird movie, Cabin Boy. It makes sense as it stars Late Night With David Letterman regular Chris Elliott and is directed by a writer from the show, Adam Resnick. It's... not a great movie, but it's worth watching for Letterman's one short scene when he attempts to sell Elliott's character a monkey. 

Mike Tyson - The Hangover

Mike Tyson’s part in The Hangover is one of the best of all time. Not only does the former boxing champion knockout Ed Helms, but he brings his tiger along for the cameo! Let’s get real, every movie could be a little better with a surprise Mike Tyson appearance. 

Sean Connery - Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

In the summer of 1991, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves was everywhere. Not only was it the second biggest movie at the box that year, but the Bryan Adams theme “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”  spent almost the whole summer at number one on the Billboard charts. Somehow through all that, the movie's best-kept secret, Sean Connery’s uncredited cameo as King Richard, stayed a surprise for most moviegoers. Ah, those pre-internet days! 

A good cameo can make otherwise mediocre movies fun, and make good movies great if placed perfectly, like all the great ones on this list. 

This past summer, Barbie took the cinematic world by storm, earning critical acclaim, becoming the second movie to cross $1 billion following The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and now ranking as the highest-grossing of the 2023 movie releases. One of the big reasons for its success is the chemistry between lead actors Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, and while there aren’t any plans for them return for Barbie 2 at the moment, that doesn’t mean the actors are done working together. Not only are Robbie and Gosling still set to reunite for the Ocean’s Eleven prequel, it sounds like they’re even bigger plans in store for the two of them.

Back in May 2022, it was reported that Margot Robbie would star in and producer a new Ocean’s movie that will be directed by Austin Powers’ Jay Roach. By the following August, Ryan Gosling entered talks to join her, and it was revealed that the movie will take place in the 1960s, several decades before the events of 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven. More than a year later, CinemaBlend's sister site Total Film asked producer Joey McNamara at BFI London Film Festival premiere of Saltburn where things stand with this Ocean’s prequel, and he answered:

In addition to being set during the 1960s, this Ocean’s Eleven prequel, which Robbie is producing through her LuckyChap Entertainment banner, will also take place in Europe. Beyond that, plot details are being kept under wraps, but McNamara sounds enthusiastic about bringing the Ocean’s franchise with Robbie and Gosling. The original Ocean’s 11 starring various members of the Rat Pack was released in 1960, and the modern franchise it inspired is currently four movies deep, with the last entry, Ocean’s 8, coming out in 2018.

On the subject of reuniting Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling for the Ocean’s prequel following their time on Barbie, it sounds like this may be the tip of the proverbial iceberg on the collaboration front. Joey McNamara expressed his hope that these actors continue to team up with these words:

Judging by that comment, it doesn’t sound like anything is specifically in the works between Robbie and Gosling beyond the Ocean’s prequel. Still, with both that and Barbie being Warner Bros. Features, it’s hardly surprising that the studio would want to pair them together as much as possible. Maybe that will happen with Barbie 2, maybe the next Ocean’s movie will spawn a direct sequel, or maybe, like McNamara mused, a complete unrelated project could spring up. In any case, if you enjoyed seeing Robbie and Gosling play off each other in Barbie, be glad you’ll be getting more of them side-by-side on the big screen.

While we wait for more details on the Ocean’s Eleven prequel, remember that Barbie is available for digital purchase and rental. It will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on October 17, and it’ll presumably become available to stream with a Max subscription.

There’s no single CinemaBlend opinion on anything. Through countless arguments over the years, I’ve learned we’re not even on the same page about how to define the word best, from our choices for the top 100 '90s movies to our picks for the best horror movies of all time. What makes a movie the best is impossible to nail down from one person to the next, though it's perhaps easier to consider when thinking about a decade of movies that came and went and can't be added to anymore. But for the most part, it's all about what you like.

It’s because of those clashing perspectives that this Best Movies Of The 2000s list is unlike any list that a single person from our team could have crafted, taking into account both Oscar-worthiness and popcorn-friendliness. The list accounts for movies that have aired 5,000 times on cable, and movies that have been shared lovingly from generation to generation. It’s a retro-hodgepodge of what we loved then and then, from Adam Sandler's raunch to Daniel Day Lewis' aplomb.

This list is CinemaBlend’s collective celebration of the 2000s, in all its neon-hued glory, and we hope everyone will find plenty to love, though a few disagreements and good-natured debate never hurt anyone. Let the arguments begin…

100. Avatar (2009)

While it's the last on this list, there's no denying Avatar's impact on the film industry back in 2009. The movie is a sci-fi masterpiece that features incredible visuals, mainly following the tale of Jake Sully, a human who finds love and acceptance within the world of the Na'vi, the native people of Pandora.

The film takes the audience on a wild ride for two and a half hours. While the story of saving a planet from foreign invaders could be more groundbreaking, the unique visual effects that fans get to see are. And now, with a successful sequel out more than ten years later, it's the perfect chance to revisit the original.

99. Erin Brockovich (2000)

Julia Roberts had established herself as one of the most beloved actors in the world in the 1990s, and as calendars flipped over to the year 2000, she didn’t waste any time starring in yet another critically acclaimed box office hit. Hitting theaters in March 2000, Erin Brockovich tells the story of the titular lawyer who started a landmark case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for groundwater contamination, and it’s a stellar work that further cemented the clear talents of director Steven Soderbergh. It’s thrilling and dramatic, but also funny and fun – in large part due to Roberts’ charm and charisma.

98. The Hangover (2009)

The Hangover is part travelogue and part comedic shitshow. It races its characters through what feels like an entire TV season’s worth of odd locations and ridiculous scenarios, somehow finding time for hospital visits, naked gangsters, weddings, Blackjack heaters, stolen tigers, missing babies and stun gun demonstrations. It sounds like way too much plot for an hour and forty minute movie, but the key to a good comedy isn’t the situations the characters find themselves in, it’s the rapport and natural chemistry between the actors/characters going through those situations. And Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms are fantastic together. Their clashing vibes, energy levels and comedic sensibilities somehow blend into a perfect cocktail, and with Oscar-nominated director Todd Phillips stirring the drink, The Hangover is able to turn its B-movie premise into one of the funniest comedies of the 2000s.

97. Cloverfield (2008)

The first decade of the Aughts saw one word playing into many of its most cherished cinematic successes: reinvention. For director Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield, two different types of genre favorites were mashed together to create a wildly new, very mysterious product: monster movies like Godzilla and found footage pictures such as The Blair Witch Project. 

Amping up the scale of what a handheld camera could cover, Cloverfield’s ingenious marketing campaign kept audiences guessing about what its true intentions were. In the wake of a mysterious/title-free teaser, it was anyone’s guess what writer Drew Goddard’s movie was about. To live up to the hype after stoking such anticipation for an unknown quantity only cemented Cloverfield as a certified success. In a market where it felt like the trailers gave everything away, a major studio movie broke with the norm, all in the name of a monstrous triumph. 

96. National Treasure (2004)

The race to steal the Declaration of Independence was on in 2004 as Nicolas Cage and his team of treasure hunters went on a high stakes mission to find the greatest treasure. This story sweeps across American history, and is held together by Cage’s protagonist and his drive to find this great prize, and protect the Declaration of Independence by stealing it, of course.

This Disney staple is a family classic, and an action adventure bound to entertain just about anyone. It was such a success that a sequel soon followed, and maybe, someday, National Treasure 3 will happen. However, let us not forget the majesty that is the original National Treasure. 

95. The Notebook (2004)

There’s a reason that when one thinks of the genre “romance” The Notebook instantly comes to mind. The 2004 Nicholas Sparks adaptation is nothing short of a timeless classic that gracefully dances between being a forbidden and second-chance love story. It’s the movie that made Ryan Gosling a Hollywood hunk matched by a passionate yet grounding performance by Rachel McAdams. Together they are a firecracker of chemistry who left a generation longing to kiss in the rain. Cliché and mushy as The Notebook can be, when the music swells on the final scene, it never ceases to remind us why it’s one of the most endearing and cathartic love affairs we’ve ever seen. 

94. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Though it's been nearly two decades since its release, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy still stands as one of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s greatest collaborations. The 70s-set movie marked McKay’s directorial debut and, with it, he masterfully injects humor and social commentary into a satirical workplace comedy set within the world of broadcast news. His screenplay is funny and occasionally, downright hilarious, but the cast truly makes the movie shine. Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell and more are just flawless. And of course, it’s Ferrell’s portrayal of the titular character that really puts it over the top.

93. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Anyone angling for a great sports drama that not only delivers sheer emotion but also captures the spirit of the pastime it’s tackling should check out Million Dollar Baby. Director Clint Eastwood’s Best Picture-winning film tells the story of an aspiring boxer (played by Hilary Swank), who teams up with a veteran trainer (Eastwood) in the hopes of achieving in-ring glory. The result is an emotionally affecting – and sometimes brutal – story about resilience and parental bonds. This boxing flick won Swank, Eastwood and co-star Morgan Freeman all Oscars and, when you see the movie, you’ll understand why.

92. Saw (2004)

2004's Saw revitalized the horror genre years ago, thanks to James Wan and Leigh Whannell, with its shocking twists and equally astonishing violence. But while the movie did include some truly grotesque “games” for Jigsaw’s victims, this was more than the mere “torture porn” that plagued the aughts. There was intention behind Jigsaw’s pain — making people think about the lives they’d led before forcing them to, “Live or die, make your choice.” 

The audience was along for the ride, trying to figure out why Adam (Whannell) and Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes) were chained up in a bathroom and how they could escape before it was too late. Thanks to some brilliant misdirection, the ensuing plot twist was truly gasp-inducing. These days you might not be able to get away with that ending, but don’t say you saw it coming back in 2004.

91. Super Troopers (2001)

Super Troopers From a plotting and acting perspective, Super Troopers isn’t exactly The Departed. Its basic premise, and even many of its specific scenes, are just nimbly bimbly excuses for the cast to make raunchy jokes about the natural absurdities of being a cop. That works, though, because the movie understands what we want as an audience: non-stop jokes and shenanigans about liters of cola, littering and smokin’ the reefer. From cat game to syrup fights to biker confusion, Super Troopers has its own vibe and unique sense of humor. It’s just out there, doing its own thing, and that’s why, more than two decades later, fans are still pulling over to watch it… even if they’re already pulled over and they can’t pull over any further.

90. War of the Worlds (2005)

Steven Spielberg wouldn’t be the first to adapt H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds novel for the screen, nor would he be the last. But his modern-day take on the 19th Century sci-fi novel certainly made an impression. From the main characters — led by Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier, father to Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin) — to the various settings, to the unnerving sight (and sound) of the tripods emerging from below the ground to decimate or capture any humans in their path, War of the Worlds made its mark as an epic sci-fi action movie about survival and the choices a struggling parent has to make to protect his children from a worst-case-scenario. In true Spielberg fashion, the movie is thrilling and occasionally chilling, but also offers that added layer of a family element to keep us invested from beginning to end. 

89. Sin City (2005)

Most comic book adaptations aim to reimagine the characters and events of the source material in a way that more closely resembles reality. However, when director Robert Rodriguez teamed up with famed author and illustrator Frank Miller (acting as co-director) to bring his graphic novel series, Sin City, to the big screen, they did more than just adapt it. They brought it to life.

This anthology-style collection of three interconnected stories — all of which take place in the same hopelessly down-trodden, crime-ridden metropolis — is a masterclass in noirish storytelling (the razor sharp dialogue is straight out of a Raymond Chandler classic), astonishingly unique visual design (every beautifully grayscale frame resembles a comic book panel), and flawless acting from the entire Sin City cast, including Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, and so many more amazing A-listers. When it comes to non-superhero-related comic book movies, this might be the best of them all.

88. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Anticipation for the feature adaptation of Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary — itself a reinterpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — was high, to say the least, for those of us who adored the book, when it finally made its way into theaters in 2001. Renee Zellweger’s mix of charm, determination for romance and occasional awkwardness alone are reason enough to love the adaptation. Then factor in the excellent chemistry she shares with both love interests — Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver and Colin Firth as Mark Darcy — not to mention the fantastic supporting cast, well-timed bits of hilarity and genuinely heartfelt moments of romance and what’s not to love about Bridget Jones’s Diary? 

87. Taken (2008)

Taken isn’t the most emotionally complicated or the most realistic movie, but it has a really good sense of its own strengths and leverages that particular set of skills perfectly. Liam Neeson might not be the prototypical action star, but he’s an Oscar-nominated actor uniquely good at portraying single-mindedness and determination. Taken is able to harness the badass fatherly intensity of a desperate man searching for his daughter and pair it with ruthless action sequences that rely more on craftiness than brute strength. The result is one of the best and most rewatchable action movies of the 2000s, a tight 90 minutes that’s so much fun it produced two sequels, a TV series and an unexpected late career resurgence for Neeson.  

86. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Before Will Smith earned his third Oscar nomination for King Richard, and after his nomination for Ali, he received his second Academy Award nod for The Pursuit of Happyness. Based on the real story of Chris Gardner, the movie follows Gardner's struggle to find a job to provide for his son during a year when they are homeless. 

The movie is inspiring for anyone, featuring an uplifting and memorable story. That, paired with an incredible performance from Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith – who made his acting debut in the film – makes this the perfect movie to watch on any given day. 

85. The Bourne Identity (2002)

Before Daniel Craig came along and ushered in a new era for the James Bond movie franchise a few years later, Doug Liman’s The Bourne Identity welcomed audiences to the 21st century with this fresh, unique, and action-packed spy thriller. Matt Damon, who had already shown a great deal of depth in movies like Good Will Hunting and The Talented Mr. Ripley a few years earlier, became a bonafide action star with his portrayal of Jason Bourne, a trained killer with no recollection of his dark past.

There are few early 2000s action sequences as memorable as the movie’s iconic car chase through the streets of Paris. Audiences, used to seeing spies and assassins whipping around in souped-up sports cars were in for the ride of their lives with Bourne behind the wheel of a weathered Mini Cooper.

84. Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually has become annual holiday viewing for many since its premiere in 2004. Renowned rom-com filmmaker Richard Curtis struck gold with an A-list cast, as ten loosely connected plotlines each portray a different kind of love. Everybody’s sure to have their favorite stories within the movie, but they all strike an emotional chord, albeit in different ways. 

As these characters navigate the holidays, Love Actually tackles themes of grief, infidelity, unrequited love, workplace romance and more, while never losing its charm and eliciting tons of laughs. Throw in infinitely quotable dialogue (“Let’s get the shit kicked out of us by love!”), an infuriatingly hilarious cameo by Rowan Atkinson, and one absolutely iconic dance from Hugh Grant, and you’ve got yourself a classic.

83. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

In a decade greatly defined by bubblegum romantic comedies where audiences can take comfort in the same three act structure often ending in wedding bells, (500) Days Of Summer flipped the genre on its head. Romance and love can be a tricky, complicated thing that not only may be finite, but clouded by one’s fantasies, projections of potential and manic pixie dream girls. Marc Webb’s indie rom-com announces up front that it is “not a love story” and cleverly plays with structure as Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Tom falls for Zooey Deschanel’s Summer. Between its stunningly memorable soundtrack, creative use of mixed media against its gorgeous L.A. backdrop, (500) Days Of Summer is a dark horse of a romantic comedy that tackles the expectations vs. reality of love with a sharp wit. 

82. Knocked Up (2007)

Most romantic comedies try a lot harder at one of those two things. They’re either romantic movies with a few solid laughs sprinkled in or they’re clearly comedies that shoehorn a romance in there as an afterthought. Knocked Up works so well because it tries really hard at both. It succeeds a little more as a comedy, given it has Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, Craig Robinson, Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd, but it also takes a lot of time and care with its love story and has many thoughtful things to say about relationships and parenting. It never takes the easy way out or betrays itself for a cheap, inauthentic laugh, which lets the natural chemistry between Rogen and co-lead Katherine Heigl grow into a budding relationship you actually root for. 

81. Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

As proven decades ago by George A. Romero, slow zombies are quite scary – but in 2004, director Zack Snyder and screenwriter James Gunn teamed up to show us just how freaky fast zombies can be. Dawn Of The Dead is a movie that stays true to its source material, gathering a bunch of strangers in a shopping mall as the dead come back to life, but it has its own energy and no shortage of standout moments. The beginning is a terror, the ending is deeply unsettling (including the material in the end credits), but the baby is where this one hits its peak.

80. Remember the Titans (2000)

Remember the Titans will make you laugh, cry, cheer and feel a whole range of emotions as you go on a journey with newly integrated T.C. Williams football team to win the state championship. This incredible movie about bringing a football team together is led by Denzel Washington, and it’s not only regarded as one of his best movies, but it’s also widely known as one of the greatest sports films. 

Washington and Will Patton lead the stacked cast of Remember the Titans, which includes Wood Harris and Ryan Hurst as the team’s leaders. Along with them, the movie also features Donald Faison, Craig Kirkwood and Ethan Suplee as well as a very young Ryan Gosling and 10-year-old Hayden Panettiere, among many others. Overall, it’s an inspiring and moving movie about acceptance and determination. Let’s just say Remember the Titans always has us saying “We want some more!” 

79. Juno (2007)

While Elliot Page was an actor at a young age, Juno was the movie that made him into a household name. And for good measure, as Jason Reitman’s quirky 2007 flick delivers in both comedy and heartfelt, human moments. Page earned an Academy Award nomination at the time for his performance, which surely feels justified. 

2007's Juno centers around its title character, a teenage girl who accidentally gets pregnant. She decides to carry the baby to term, arranging an adoption with a married couple (played by Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). After being filled with plenty of funny moments (and a killer soundtrack) the ending provides an emotional catharsis that puts Juno above many movies around its time.

78. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

It’s no wonder that Disney has been trying for 20 years to recapture the lightning in a bottle that was Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Inspired by a theme park attraction, but blazing its own trail, Pirates created one of modern cinema’s most iconic characters in Captain Jack Sparrow. But the rest of the cast, including Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and a scene-stealing Geoffrey Rush, is no less compelling. From sword fights to ship battles, Black Pearl’s action is near perfect, with the Johnny Depp vs. Orlando Bloom duel a textbook example of how to tell a story with an action scene. It set a bar so high that even its own sequels were never going to clear it.

77. Ray (2004)

Cinema lovers have been graced with plenty of great biopics over the decades, and Ray certainly stands as one of the best. Directed by Taylor Hackford, the movie chronicles the life and career of the great Ray Charles. James L. White’s screenplay effectively tells Charles’ story, chronicling his professional and personal highs and lows in the process. And of course, the production is (appropriately) infused with incredible music. There are plenty of great performances on display, but it’s Jamie Foxx’s uncanny – and Oscar-winning – turn as the titular musician that really makes this period drama worth a watch or two.

76. Unbreakable (2000)

M. Night Shyamalan had an unenviable task in 2000 – following up his overnight sensation, The Sixth Sense. Was that movie a flash in the pan? Or would Shyamalan live up to the billing he was receiving in the press as, “The next Spielberg?” Remarkably, Shyamalan came up with a deeper, more meaningful film that also started the bandwagon for superhero-movie fascination, only with a meditative origin story for a strong man (Bruce Willis) who doesn’t recognize his invulnerability. Pulp Fiction co-star Samuel L. Jackson tapped into his fiendish side to play Willis’s nemesis, a man plagued with brittle bones who assumed that his opposite had to exist in the world. But it was Night’s ability to generate an intense mood that boosted Unbreakable. We rode a wave of increasingly suspenseful tension until the moment Willis donned his raincoat and embraced his destiny. Unbreakable started a trilogy, but also guaranteed that Shyamalan was here to stay as one of our most original and effective storytellers. 

75. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall occasionally gets overlooked as being just another rom-com from the aughts – specifically the rom-com featuring the oddball pairing of Mila Kunis and Jason Segel, but I can’t imagine that anyone who’s lumping this movie into just another group of rom-coms has seen it recently because it is profoundly and consistently weird. 

Segel’s TV composer main character dreams of creating a Dracula musical featuring puppets called A Taste For Love. He also wants to get over his titular ex-girlfriend - hilariously played by Kristen Bell, who somehow ends up in the hotel room next to him having loud sex with her new rock star boyfriend. That messy journey of acceptance and moving on, amidst all its weirdness or maybe because of all its weirdness, never feels like a cliche. It’s consistently funny and has so many thoughtful things to say about relationships, break-ups and finding yourself. Don’t write it off.

74. School of Rock (2003)

Jack Black was many things in 2003, though many wouldn’t have considered his comedic stylings family-friendly until School Of Rock. Black’s musical abilities from his band Tenacious D paired with the wholesome story of teaching some kids how to rock, was fun for everyone and really skyrocketed him further into the mainstream and into more roles for younger audiences like Kung Fu Panda and Nacho Libre. Sure, he’d still do raunchier stuff like Tropic Thunder, but this movie was imperative to show the range he had as an actor. 

Let’s also not forget this movie boasted other celebrities who are notable talents in 2023, like Miranda Cosgrove and The White Lotus showrunner Mike White. Oh, and the music is still as great as it was then, even decades later. There’s a strong message here about the importance of teaching children about music and helping them follow their passion, and it’s that message that will keep this movie relevant for decades to come. 

73. Up (2009)

Pixar Animation Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, has always been known for its films that have reached a broad audience, starting with their debut full-feature film, Toy Story. However, in 2009, the studio released Up, the first Pixar film to receive a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Up is mainly about Carl, an older man living a lonely life, and to fulfill his promise to his late wife, he travels across the world in a floating house to South America – with the help of a local wilderness explorer who tags along for the ride. 

A lot can be said about Up, from its stunning animation to the beautiful soundtrack, but nothing beats the story. It's a tale of a found family and of finding love and compassion in places you would never expect. And you must always remember – the wilderness must be explored!

72. District 9 (2009)

Coming in at 72 on the list might just be an indicator of how underrated District 9 is, considering it’s one of the best science fiction movies of the 2000s. Neill Blomkamp’s feature walks the line between messaging about the various mistreatment marginalized groups are subjected to, to how humanity would respond if aliens were really discovered to be on Earth. Given recent reports at government hearings, it isn’t all that unbelievable that it wouldn’t take long for humanity to get back to normal after finding a bunch of alien refugees on Earth. 

Perhaps the best compliment to pay District 9 is that it’s a phenomenal standalone sci-fi movie with no sequels or prequels. This could be why it’s typically lower on the sci-fi lists as there may be a community of people that simply forgot about it as the years went on. Now is the time to revive the credit it deserves and maybe bump it up a few notches on future top lists. 

71. Shrek (2001)

Think of every DreamWorks Animation movie you can think of – I bet Shrek is one of the first that pops into your head. 

Shrek was a momentous occasion for DreamWorks Animation when it was released. It was a huge box office success, received rave reviews, and was even the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature winner. The movie mainly follows Shrek, an ogre whose swamp is suddenly overrun with fairytale creatures, and to get them out, he must save Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a dragon on a mountain of lava and bring her to Lord Farquad. 

The DreamWorks Animation film created an empire of Shrek success. With numerous sequels and spinoff movies, Shrek is one of the most successful animated franchises ever. The first film featured some great CGI animation for 2001 but also had the hilarity of adult jokes that parents would get while their kids enjoyed the fantasy, animation, and love story. Besides, who wouldn't love listening to Eddie Murphy crack jokes as Donkey for an hour and a half? 

70. Mulholland Drive (2001)

There are two sides to David Lynch: the fairly normal filmmaker who wants to tell a linear story in a somewhat straightforward manner (examples include The Elephant Man and The Straight Story), and the absolute bonkers off-the-wall batshit fever dream of an avante-garde video artist (examples include Eraserhead and Inland Empire). What makes Mulholland Drive such a beautiful film, is that it’s the perfect balance of these two sides of the iconic writer/director. In fact, without spoiling anything, the film even has a pivotal moment where it completely changes tonally, effectively showing these two distinct sides of Lynch. Perhaps more importantly, this tonal switch is expertly pulled off by the film’s star Naomi Watts, who, between this and 2001’s 21 Grams, was at a point in her career where she was showing off her chops with an authenticity that was hard not to notice. Mulholland Drive will show you the full range of skill you need to see from both Watts, and the legendary auteur that is David Lynch. 

69. Watchmen (2009)

“Unadaptable” is a word that’s been used when approaching the most ambitious literary adaptations. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel Watchmen was one such project, earning that brand after decades of potential adaptations failed to tackle the ambitious superhero narrative properly. 

Even in light of multiple cuts, and the ending being substantially altered from what was depicted in the 1985 source material, Watchmen is a miracle to behold. Somehow, the complicated narrative told through various mediums in that graphic novel was streamlined into a product that didn’t water down the full story. 

Only Zack Snyder’s third directorial effort, Watchmen is a powerful statement of the man’s developing skills in that point of his career. Arriving in the wake of Iron Man and The Dark Knight, it proved comic adaptations could be more than market-driving crowd pleasers. In the case of Watchmen, such movies could also be masterpieces.

68. Sideways (2004)

How the hell did Sideways, a dialogue-driven dramedy about a schoolteacher who loves wine, become such a mainstream pop-culture phenomenon? Try going wine-tasting without hearing a joke about drinking from the spit bucket, or somebody saying, “I am not drinking any fucking merlot!”

Sideways’ writer and director, Alexander Payne, has always told stories that are rather grounded in reality. Aside from Downsizing where he literally shrank Matt Damon, these are movies about common issues that most folks can relate to. The Descendants is about grief, About Schmidt is about aging, and Sideways is about letting go. With the script came Payne’s first Academy Award, a life-changing role for Paul Giamatti, and one of the best films of that decade. The bleak nature of the ending with just a dash of hope is a testament to real-life, and relatable for the average person. That is how a movie about a failed middle-aged writer with a drinking problem managed to cement its place in film history. 

67. Lost In Translation (2003)

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an American actor past his prime. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is a young, married, recent college graduate. Both are in Tokyo — Bob to shoot promos for a Japanese whiskey and Charlotte to follow her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi) on his latest assignment — and overcome with feelings of loneliness and disillusionment until a chance meeting at their hotel bar gives the unlikely duo a sense of fulfillment when they both need it most.

Lost in Translation is one of the first films produced by Focus Features and is still considered to be one of the production company’s best releases two decades later for the refreshingly unique — albeit, unlikely — love story that still manages to warm hearts from its unforgettable opening shot to its cryptic, much-debated final moment. The charming, invigoratingly honest dramedy also managed to be a major turning point for Murray (who earned his sole Academy Award nomination), Johansson (a breakthrough performance), and second-time writer and director Sophia Coppola, who earned a well-deserved Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

66. The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

In the mid-2000s, big screen comedy underwent a titanic shift. Through the late ‘90s and the turn of the century, the genre was dominated by the so-called Frat Pack (Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson)… but then along came The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the directorial debut from Judd Apatow. The film is hilarious and sweet, with a collection of wonderful characters exploring the high highs and low lows of sexuality and romance in the 21st century – and while not everything about it has aged perfectly, it does a tremendous job at leaning into the talents of its stars. And it’s a game-changer.

While it’s Steve Carell’s movie, a huge part of its legacy is featuring the breakout performance by Seth Rogen. In the wake of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Rogen and Apatow became the biggest names in funny, with not just their own comedic voices becoming popular, but also their improvisation-heavy styles.

65. Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz is the kind of action movie where every second feels crafted by a team of action movie fans, as opposed to a cast and crew just going through the motions. Co-written by the A+ pair Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, starring Pegg opposite frequent co-star Nick Front, Hot Fuzz is mostly set far from metropolitan skylines and endless high-rises, and its quaint Wicker Man-esque village makes for a wildly unique setting for any story filled with this many Point Break references.

As the second film in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, Hot Fuzz built on Shaun of the Dead's already stellar cast with a host of UK legends such as Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Bill Nighy, Edward Woodward, Billie Whitelaw, Olivia Colman, Bill Bailey, and the list goes on and on. (When you have Cate Blanchett making uncredited appearances, you're doing something right.) Unlike the other two Cornetto films, though, Hot Fuzz probably deserves another straightforward sequel set in this universe, with a new killer crime for Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman to get crackin’ on.

64. Walk The Line (2005)

Music biopics might feel like they’re a dime a dozen, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t gems to behold in the genre, and one of those is absolutely James Mangold’s Academy Award-winning drama, Walk the Line. In it, Joaquin Phoenix portrays country music legend Johnny Cash through his tumultuous rise to fame, which includes his relationship with eventual wife, June Carter (Reese Witherspoon).

Sure, on one hand, we’ve seen music’s superstars descend into alcoholism and drug addiction on the big screen time and time again, but it’s how all the pieces of Cash and Carter’s story are put together that make the film a must watch. As such, the performances of the leads are everything here, and seeing June attempt to staunch her feelings for her married co-performer, while also trying to knock some sense into him as she watches his addictions grow and Johnny become more erratic, are some of the best parts of the movie. Witherspoon didn’t win a Best Actress Oscar for nothing, and Phoenix is at his peak here, as well.

63. Lilo & Stitch (2002)

With Walt Disney Animation fresh out of its renaissance after the ‘90s, the 2000s were a particularly experimental period for the studio which, looking back, found inspiration from numerous science fiction classics. The best 2D animated movie from the House of Mouse of the decade is a lively spin on E.T., but this mysterious alien is an intergalactic fugitive with a bad temper who falls to the Hawaiian Islands, becomes best friends with a young orphaned girl who teaches him the gospel of Elvis Presley. 

Not only is Lilo & Stitch an incredibly quotable, fun, family adventure, it’s one of Disney’s most authentic and original films that speaks to finding one’s ohana in unexpected places amidst great loss. Few Walt Disney Animation movies have felt as simultaneously intimate and commercial as Lilo & Stitch. Experiment 626 remains a gem that made Disney’s growing pains of the 2000s worth the while. 

62. Monsters, INC (2001)

Before Up, The Incredibles and even Finding Nemo, there was Monsters, Inc. Pixar’s decision to make its fourth feature a story about a company that generates scream-based power in a world inhabited by ferocious creatures may have seemed odd at the time. However, it ultimately turned out to be an inspired (and very) lucrative decision. Set in the world of Monstropolis, the film centers on two pals – both employees of the titular corporation – who must return a human child to her world in order to keep her out of harm’s way. And the result is a hilarious and heartwarming romp about loyalty and tolerance.

Pete Docter – who’d go on to direct Up, Inside Out and more – really proved himself as a filmmaker with this directorial debut. The flick is beautifully animated and populated with plenty of lovable characters. Speaking of which, John Goodman’s James P. “Sully” Sullivan and Billy Crystal’s Mike Wasowski still stand as two of Pixar’s most popular creations. The interactions between the two sometimes mirror the interplay of some of cinema’s best comedic duos. Monsters, Inc. would spawn a sequel and TV spinoff, but it’s the 2001 movie that’s truly an eclectic piece of storytelling.

61. The Hurt Locker (2008)

Best Picture award, but the voters got it right when it came to the prize handed out at the end of the 21st century’s first decade. Director Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker is a heart-stopper that tears down the wall between film and audience: when Jeremy Renner’s Staff Sergeant William James is suited up and defusing bombs, you hold your breath in fear, terrified to feel the heat of the fiery explosion that will result with one false move by the protagonist.

Screenwriter Mark Boal’s work puts us directly in James’ mind – a soldier who is incapable of leaving the battlefield behind – and Jeremy Renner’s turn is a career best. In retrospect, it’s wholly understandable why Renner’s performance changed the trajectory of his career and turned him into the Marvel-bona fide star that he is today.

60. Moulin Rouge (2001)

On paper, Moulin Rouge is a movie that just should not exist. The premise alone, a modern jukebox musical set in 1890s Paris, creates a level of cognitive dissonance on its own that suspension of disbelief should be impossible. It’s the sort of thing that only a director like Baz Luhrmann would even try, but somehow, he not only makes it happen, he makes it work.

Everything about Moulin Rouge goes hard. The performances, the songs, the sets. It creates its unreality so perfectly that it’s near-impossible to avoid being swept up by it and brought along for the ride. And the absinthe-infused magic is so far removed from reality that even 20 years later Moulin Rouge feels just as fresh. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor are perfect as the star-crossed lovers. We know how the story will end before it begins, but it doesn’t make any of it less heartbreaking. Luhrmann’s films can sometimes focus on style over substance, but there’s no lack of substance here. 

59. Elf (2003)

Elf is probably the most recent Christmas movie that became an instant classic. Jon Favreau crafted a delightful and bonkers story for the 2003 movie, with Will Ferrell offering one of his most iconic performances of all time. And it’s a movie that’s re-watched annually by countless families every Holiday Season… or other times in the year when you need a good laugh.

Elf’s concept is both ridiculous and simple; Buddy is a human raised by elves who eventually goes to New York City to find his birth father (played by Godfather icon James Caan). The juxtaposition between Buddy’s eternal optimism and the hard streets of the Big Apple is fodder for countless funny bits throughout its runtime. There’s also a touching story about family and the holiday spirit that makes Elf a true beloved Christmas movie. Plus, it’s got a pre-Game of Thrones appearance by Peter Dinklage. And of course, Santa (I know him!).

58. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

In the 1950s, few people were as outspoken about the threat of Communism than Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy, whose blacklisting of anyone he deemed suspicious was so notoriously frequent that “McCarthyism” — a term associated with fear mongering — was coined after him. One of the few people brave enough to take a stand against him was CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow, whose defiance of the politician and the Red Scare nearly cost him his career, but also made him into one of the most influential icons of his craft.

This monumental moment in journalism history is dramatized with nearly the same level of passion for truth and justice in Good Night, and Good Luck. — named after the famous concluding catchphrase of Murrow, portrayed here in an Academy Award-nominated performance by David Strathairn. George Clooney, who also plays Murrow’s producer, Fred Friendly, earned his first Oscar nominations as a director and co-writer for this riveting history lesson, made even better with Robert Elswit’s gorgeous cinematography and exquisite acting from the star-studded ensemble, which also includes Jeff Daniels, Patricia Arquette, Robert Downey Jr., and Frank Langella.

57. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Wes Anderson’s style is so distinct that it has become something of a joke in pop culture, frequently being parodied on shows like Saturday Night Live. When folks reference Wes Anderson, and the trademarks of a Wes Anderson film, they’re primarily lifting it from The Royal Tenenbaums. The point is, Tenenbaums is by far the most Wes Anderson-y film to ever Wes Anderson; absolutely jam-packed with quirkitude, a variety of eccentric characters and deadpan dialogue delivery. This is the quintessential hipster flick that helped to define a generation of indie millennial film buffs.

Aside from The Royal Tenenbaums’ effect on pop culture, it truly exists as a wonderful, honest, hilarious, and heartbreaking film. Over twenty years ago when the film was released, there wasn’t a lot like it in mainstream American cinema, with the somewhat privileged (yet painfully relatable) themes it explores being limited to conversations had by those gathering to watch Jean-Luc Godard in their NYU dorm rooms. With his first Oscar nomination, The Royal Tenenbaums introduced much of the world to Wes Anderson, and many still consider it to be his finest work to date. 

56. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Oftentimes sequels don’t measure up to their predecessor, but Spider-Man 2 is one of the exceptions. Director Sam Raimi and screenwriter Alvin Sargent kept the best elements from the first Spider-Man movie and improved upon them, with the follow-up doing an excellent job exploring how Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker handles the burden of heroism and trying to balance his web-sliding activities with his civilian life. However, Spider-Man 2’s MVP is Alfred Molina, whose more sympathetic take on Doctor Octopus quickly cemented him as one of the best superhero movie villains of all time. It’s no wonder we still have yet to see another actor play the tentacled antagonist in a live-action movie. As a bonus, I love how the movie recreated the panel from 1967’s The Amazing Spider-Man #50 of Peter Parker leaving his costume behind in the garbage. A touch like that is a great Easter egg for Marvel fans, but is also just a gorgeous shot for the casuals watching the tale unfold.

55. Ratatouille (2007)

Pixar Animation’s eighth feature film, Ratatouille, is as surprising as its premise. It came at a time when the studio was high on a winning streak, redefining how we looked at toys, bugs, monsters, cars, superheroes and fish. Sure, making an audience empathetic to rats feels like a stretch, but the 2007 movie had a fresh and quirky way in that kept Pixar at an all-time high. What if one rat was secretly a gourmet cook in Paris, France? The results are so charming. 

Fronted by a charismatic voice performance from Patton Oswalt as Remy, packed with decadent and often mouth-watering animation greatly displayed inside a top-tier French kitchen and beautifully underlined by an all-time great score from Michael Giacchino, Pixar told a hilarious underdog story with the creativity and wonder the studio remains beloved for. It’s one of those movies that has one doing a double take at every human and animal you encounter next time you walk outside in playful curiosity about the world thinking “Anyone Can Cook.” 

54. Superbad (2007)

Seth Rogen has touted himself as a “permanent teenager,” and never has that title been truer than in the 2007 teen buddy comedy Superbad. The movie — which he penned with Evan Goldberg and stars a number of the regular Judd Apatow players — carries the funky vibe of the 1970s throughout, but its story is timeless. The only thing more relatable than high-school seniors Seth and Evan (played perfectly by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) trying to get to a party to impress some girls was their underlying anxiety over not knowing what would happen to their friendship after graduation.

The laughs come a mile a minute — some may say it’s the funniest movie of all time — with an impressive cast that also includes Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, Emma Stone and, of course, Seth Rogen. But in the end it’s the friendship at the heart of the story that makes this one worth watching again and again. Superbad is also responsible for giving us “McLovin,” for which we should be forever grateful.

53. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

One of the most intriguing stories related to the crime of check fraud is that of Frank Abagnale Jr., who impersonated various professions, passed off millions of dollars worth of phony checks, and outran the FBI between the ages of 16 and 21. At least, that is what the fraud prevention consultant claimed in his memoir, Catch Me If You Can. The book inspired an excellent movie of the same name.

This 1960s-set crime drama stars future Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio as the young, elusive con artist, who enters an intense, enduring game of cat-and-mouse with two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as a veteran FBI agent who will stop at nothing to bring him to justice, even if he becomes friends with him in the process. Following Minority Report, director Steven Spielberg completed his one-two punch of masterfully entertaining films in 2002 with this dazzling, devilishly charming, and even heartwarming tale. 

52. Cast Away (2000)

Everybody scream “Wilson!” with me! Now, let’s all break into violent sobs as we remember Tom Hanks losing his best friend… a volleyball with a face painted on it. Cast Away is a miracle. It’s essentially a one-man show that you can’t pull your eyes off of, because you root so hard for Hanks and want to see how he’s going to get off the deserted island on which he is stranded. Director Robert Zemeckis places us in Hanks’ sandals, so we feel frustration as he fails to get a makeshift raft over the incoming tide, and elation when he figures out how to start a fire. Hanks already was viewed as one of our greatest actors before he single handedly carried this survival story, but the gripping performance earned him his fifth Oscar nomination. (He lost to Russell Crowe in Gladiator.) Listen to this remarkable stat: Zemeckis filmed Cast Away’s first half with a chunky Hanks, then had to pause production while his leading man lost enough weight and grew enough hair to play his marooned self in the movie’s second half. During that pause, Zemeckis filmed an entire feature: 2000’s marital thriller What Lies Beneath, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford.

51. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

One thing to know about Ang Lee is that he keeps audiences guessing when it comes to his projects. And given his body of work leading up to the 2000s, not too many people might’ve expected him to helm a wuxia martial arts epic with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yet movie lovers should be so glad he did. His seventh directorial effort is a masterpiece featuring beautifully choreographed fight sequences, impeccable production design, imposing performances and more.

Based on Wang Dulu’s 1942 novel of the same name, the highly ambitious production centers on a seasoned warrior and his equally skilled ally (and love interest), who aim to hunt down the former’s fabled sword so it can be delivered for safekeeping. Their quest ultimately leads them down a path neither could’ve ever imagined. Ang Lee assembled a highly formidable ensemble of actors led by Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi, who all give career-best performances. The martial arts genre features a wide array of movies, but few can meet the standard set by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

50. Legally Blonde (2001)

“What? Like it’s hard” to be one of the top 50 movies of the 2000s? It’s not for Legally Blonde, that’s for sure. Casually going to law school at Harvard to win back your ex-boyfriend is a far-fetched idea, but Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods doesn't just pull it off, she succeeds in grand fashion, obviously.  

Elle Woods is such an icon, she’s funny, gorgeous, and hyper-intelligent, and seeing her harness all of that to succeed at Harvard was empowering. Reese Witherspoon and the cast of Legally Blonde are also on their A-games in this movie, creating a hilariously smart and unique story. From Jennifer Coolidge’s “bend and snap” moment with our leading lady to the adorable rom-com subplot between Elle and Luke Wilson’s Emmett, the film is packed with memorable stories from fabulous characters.

Since then, Withersoon’s lawyer’s story has expanded into a sequel and a Broadway musical, because a world with more Elle Woods in it is “So Much Better.” 

49. Tropic Thunder (2008)

Tropic Thunder is a relentless and vicious commentary on the motion picture industry and all the absurdities associated with it. For two unyielding hours, Ben Stiller’s satirical action comedy mercilessly skewers the executives, the actors, the directors, the writers, the agents and even an explosives coordinator, painting them as deeply flawed and emotionally unstable people who will do anything to stay relevant and protect their own fragile egos. From blackface to stolen valor to exploiting the mentally handicapped, there’s no line they won’t cross in pursuit of their next award, their next paycheck or their next high.

Tropic Thunder shouldn’t work. From one angle, it’s a big budget, big studio action comedy filled with explosions, fart jokes and Tom Cruise dancing to Flo Rida. From another angle, it’s a deeply clever satire that repeatedly and without apology seeks out complicated and problematic subject matter. It’s a movie within a movie disguised as another movie, but instead of a disorganized mess, it somehow all comes together thanks to a fantastic script, an Oscar-nominated Robert Downey Jr. performance and the greatest little kid reaction shot in the history of movies.

48. Gladiator (2000)

Russell Crowe went on an absolute tear in the 2000s with a number of memorable movies, so it’s no surprise that the one he won the Best Actor Oscar for is on this list. Gladiator is an absolute triumph from start to finish, with knockout performances led by the direction of Ridley Scott. Maximus is an immediately likable character brought down to the lowest point of his life. He keeps fighting and survives solely because of the revenge he hopes to deliver to Commodus. 

And while Joaquin Phoenix did not win an Oscar for his nominated performance as Commodus, Maximus’ journey isn’t quite as sweet without him being every bit as unlikable as he should be. When the big scene finally comes for Maximus and Commodus to square off, how can you not be on the edge of your seat? Without a doubt one of the best gladiator movies of all time.

47. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

While not strictly a love story, Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire definitely owes a lot to the genre, as Jamal’s (Dev Patel) lifelong love for childhood friend Latika (Freida Pinto) drives much of what he does. The drama follows Jamal as he relays the events of his young life that have led him to correctly answering questions on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, after he’s arrested and tortured for cheating.

As Jamal takes us through the harrowing events of his childhood that led him not only to fall for Latika, but to compete on the show in an effort to find her again, we’re taken through an action-packed tale of survival under extreme circumstances, what a young man will go through to save the love of his life, and how we all probably know a lot more than we think we do. Definitely hard to watch at times, but inspirational nonetheless.

46. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

On one hand, Jonathan Daylon and Valerie Faris’ Little Miss Sunshine is one of the funniest movies of the 2000s, but on the other hand it’s one of the most tragic stories to come out of the decade. The “road trip from Hell” setup had been done countless times prior to the film’s 2006 release, but rarely had the subgenre been as effective, emotional, or laugh out loud funny.

Michael Arndt’s hilarious, heartbreaking, and nuanced screenplay, which earned him an Oscar, doesn’t play it safe by avoiding life’s tragedies (both major and minor), but instead faces them head-on, creating a cathartic experience for his characters and audience alike. Transformative performances by the late Alan Arkin (he also won an Academy Award), Abigail Breslin, Toni Collette and the rest of the Little Miss Sunshine cast make you feel their characters are family, which is the heart and soul of this outstanding film.

45. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Keira Knightley’s Pride & Prejudice is hardly the first take on the novel of the same name, but the 2005 film arguably set the standard for modern Jane Austen movie adaptations. The love story between Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) and Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) is beautifully told, and made all the more memorable for the cinematography, soundtrack, and chemistry between the stars. In fact, the cast was stacked with stars who either already had or would become big names, including Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan, and Kelly Reilly in addition to Knightley and Macfadyen. 

The world of the Bennet family in this Pride & Prejudice feels lived in and domestic in a way that adds a touch of modern realism to a Regency-era period drama and contrasts the more austere beauty of Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley estate. The film isn’t as faithful to the book as the beloved 1995 BBC miniseries, but it hits the important beats of the original Jane Austen story in just over two hours while also being completely accessible to viewers who haven’t read the book, with moments like the iconic hand flex of Mr. Darcy that fans far and wide know well. 

44. Adaptation (2002)

Adaptation is a book adaptation about the adaptation process. Understood? Wonderful. 

Nicolas Cage plays dual roles as the most neurotic possible version of screenwriter Charlie Kauffman, as well as his fictitious twin Donald Kauffman. Originally hired to write the film adaptation for Susan Orlean’s bestseller The Orchid Thief, Charlie Kauffman experiences a debilitating case of writer’s block, stemming from a slew of mental health issues including social anxiety, body dysmorphia and depression. This sends him on something of a tortured artist’s odyssey that leads him to write himself, and the experience, into his script. Thus, we get Adaptation, a hybrid of both the story of The Orchid Thief, and Kauffman’s experience adapting it.

These days, such a meta concept is somewhat commonplace, but over 20 years ago, this was the most bonkers script since Kauffman’s Being John Malkovich. Malkovich was even worked into Adaptation’s storyline, with John Cusack, Catherine Keener and the titular John Malkovich playing themselves. The point is, this film is WEIRD in the best of ways, yet still managed to grab Oscar nominations for Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep, as well as a win for Chris Cooper. Adaptation is perhaps the greatest cinematic insight into the creative writing process, and the effect it has on one’s psyche, ever made.

43. Love & Basketball (2000)

The best romantic comedies might get a lot of attention from fans of lovey dovey stories, but romantic dramas deserve our eyeballs as well, and Love & Basketball is one that really should be praised. This romance (which is also a fantastic sports drama) tells the story of Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps), two talented, basketball-obsessed kids who bond over their love of the sport, but have several trials as they attempt to take their relationship from friends to lovers in their high school and college years and, later, in their twenties.

Gina Prince-Bythewood’s feature-length directorial debut does an amazing job of showing how hard it can be for two people who are so dedicated to their craft to make time for one another, especially as the pressure to succeed in their sport pulls them in different directions. But, it goes much further than that, with each of their complicated family dynamics and emotional wounds taking this love story to the next level.

42. Minority Report (2002)

If you had the chance to predict and prevent a tragic crime, the choice sounds obvious, right? That is until you are faced with the possibility that the prediction is wrong and your arrestee was destined to be innocent. That provocative idea was the basis for a 1956 short story by prolific science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick, which was later adapted into one of director Steven Spielberg’s most exciting films of the decade, if not his full career.

Tom Cruise stars as John Anderton — the chief for a special police unit that uses a trio of clairvoyant siblings to detect future murders — who begins to question their seemingly “perfect” system when he makes the horrifying discovery that the potential perpetrator of his next case is himself, forcing him to go on the run. The truth behind this prediction revealed in the brilliant twist ending of Minority Report is one of the many fascinating and thought-provoking aspects of this astonishingly inventive sci-fi masterpiece that is not quite dystopian, but far from utopian either.

41. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Over the past few years, there have been great strides for representation and diverse stories in Hollywood. But back in the early 2000s, this wasn’t exactly the case. Which is why Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain was such a groundbreaking movie upon its release. Hollywood simply wasn’t telling queer love stories through major blockbusters, let alone honoring them with major Awards Nominations.

While there’s been some backlash about straight actors playing LGBTQ+ roles, Brokeback likely only got produced because of its bankable (and yes straight) lead actors. For their part, both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger offer moving and complicated performances that still stand up today. Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway also really deliver, which is par for the course for those talented actresses. This quartet of performers tell their characters’ stories through decades of time, and to devastating results. And the acclaimed film is still so beloved that it’s being adapted for the stage on the West End, starring Mike Faist and Lucas Hedges. 

40. American Psycho (2000)

Author Bret Easton Ellis’ novel American Psycho is a shocking literary experience. There are scenes in it that will make even the most seasoned horror fan blanche – and reading it, you can understand why it was deemed unadaptable for a time after its publication. When it did finally get brought to the big screen, co-adapted by screenwriter Guinevere Turner and director Mary Harron, the material was understandably pulled back a bit, but the movie still remains a scary and biting satire that takes aim at the hardcore capitalism in the 1980s.

Years before he became a big screen legend playing Batman, Christian Bale became a horror icon with his performance as Patrick Bateman – a white, rich sociopath who enjoys torturing and slaughtering women… but who nonetheless blends in with all the rest of New York’s white, rich sociopaths. It’s a rich cinematic experience that manages to be both satisfyingly scary and surprisingly funny.

39. 28 Days Later (2002)

Certain movies can be credited as causing shifts so powerful, an entire genre felt its influence. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland’s 28 Days Later is one such film, as this lo-fi British horror-thriller would go on to see interest in movies like Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Shaun of the Dead being boosted. 

Revitalizing the zombie genre, while not calling its own creatures by the Z-word, the normal rules didn’t apply in this horror masterpiece. In the world of the previously coma-ridden Jim (Cillian Murphy), the vicious “infected” could come from anywhere, with blazing speed. Survival, in some situations, could be measured in a heartbeat, with a drop of blood or saliva making the difference. 

Stocked with a who’s who of actors like Brendan Gleeson, Christopher Eccleston, and Naomie Harris, 28 Days Later did for zombies what Scream did for slasher films. Challenging the status quo with relentless energy, the film is all at once terrifying, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland resurrected the undead genre with stunning results.

38. Amelie (2001)

One of the most delightful stories committed to film. French ingénue Audrey Tautou was perfectly cast as the title character Amelie, who is believed to have a delicate heart condition and so is overprotected by her doting parents. As a result of her gently-imposed isolation, Amelie develops an overactive imagination, which leads her on a series of whimsical adventures. Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet embraces magical realism as a style, with Tautou basically gliding through this giddy fantasy as she works to make the lives of everyone around her happy, and possibly find love on her own in the process. Amelie seems to transmit joy, and if you aren’t uplifted by Tautou’s effervescent performance, you might want to check to ensure you still have a pulse. Now, go borrow someone else’s lawn gnome, photograph it in front of a celebrated vacation spot, and spread the joy of Amelie with anyone who hasn’t yet seen this delightful gem. 

37. Donnie Darko (2001)

There may not be a more aggressively strange and maddeningly perplexing movie on this list than Donnie Darko. Yet, its mysterious and nearly off-putting nature may be the reason why — despite nearly becoming a cable TV movie (if not for Christopher Nolan’s praise) and ultimately bombing at the box office — it remains an enduring cult hit.

At its core, writer and director Richard Kelly’s feature-length debut is the story of an emotionally troubled young man (Jake Gyllenhaal) whose struggle to navigate adolescence in the late 1980s is worsened by visions of an apocalyptic soothsayer in a horrifying rabbit suit, but it is much more than that. It is a sharp coming-of-age satire on par with some of John Hughes’ films, a classic time travel movie, and a pervasively grim fantasy tale that serves as a perfect Halloween tradition, among other things. Above all, however, Donnie Darko is unique enough to defy categorization, resulting in a one-of-a-kind experience. 

36. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

If we’re only including one adaptation of the Harry Potter series on this list, it has to be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The source material has our lead trio entering into their teen years with more studies than ever and higher stakes all around. New characters are introduced, major reveals transpire and there’s also that twisty bit of time travel. Oh, and let’s not forget the bone-chilling Dementors, whose powers include dredging up a person’s darkest memories and fears. 

Those things on their own give Prisoner of Azkaban an edge over some of the other books, but Alfonso Cuarón’s adaptation does more than just bring one of the best installments of the series to life. New layers of the magical world emerge on the screen thanks to the cinematography, not to mention Cuarón’s vision and patient approach to the pacing, which gives us the chance to really soak in the surroundings in any given scene. Whether it’s showing the change of seasons at Hogwarts or the stunning sight of Harry soaring over the lake on the back of a Hippogriff, it’s more than enough to set the film above its predecessors and raise the bar firmly for the adaptations that would follow. 

35. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Devil Wears Prada is already a classic. While the film quality itself is high, the movie has also become part of the fabric of pop culture, thanks to its quotable lines and the unbelievable performance of one Meryl Streep. Anne Hathaway is regularly transformed into a meme thanks to the scene where Annie shows up to work post-makeover in Chanel Boots.

Aside from the pop culture of it all, The Devil Wears Prada is a delightful movie romp. The fashions are aspirational, and the cast is truly on top of their game. Special points to Emily Blunt, who became a household name following her performance as Emily. And considering how light and frothy even the movie’s drama is, the rewatchability of this book to movie adaptation cannot be understated. If you haven’t watched Devil Wears Prada recently, by all means move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.

34. The Lord Of The Rings Movies (2001-2003)

There are very few fantasy movie franchises out there that have been great all the way through. They have their dips and slides, but if there’s one major fantasy franchise to rule them all, it has to be The Lord of the Rings movies. 

The film franchise mainly follows Frodo Baggins as he travels with the Fellowship on a quest to destroy the One Ring in order to take down the person who made it, Sauron. But don't take that premise at face value – there is so much more to this story than meets the eye. 

The Lord of the Rings movies are perfect in every shape and form. From the battle sequences to the visual effects to the acting, there is much to love and adore about these films. The Lord of the Rings delivers in ways fans can't even imagine. There's a reason why the franchise is so popular years later – and how spinoffs, such as The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, have been released in recent years. The love keeps pouring in. 

33. Casino Royale (2006)

When James Bond was given his iconic Walther PPK in Dr. No, Sean Connery’s initial incarnation is told the weapon has “a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window.” The same could be said for 2006’s Casino Royale, as the introduction to Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies wasn’t shy about changing things up, and surprising even the most experienced 007 fans with how it would depict Commander Bond’s exploits.

Director Martin Campbell’s franchise reboot was as lean and mean as they come. Casino Royale showed 007 getting his ass handed to him, and his heart broken. Such vulnerability didn’t weaken the character, but rather it humanized him and added a suspense that the Bond movies had lost for some time.

Daniel Craig stepped into the role of the modern James Bond as if it were a tuxedo perfectly tailored for his presence. Wryly funny, yet cold and calculating when he had to pull the trigger, Craig made the role his own from frame one. To see such an iconic series redefined so perfectly, after 20 movies and over four decades of history before it, is something that still astonishes as much now as it did upon initial viewing.

32. Batman Begins (2005)

One of the most notorious bombs in Hollywood history is 1997’s Batman & Robin — a movie that, despite having some fans, is so cartoonishly absurd and dismissive of the source material’s essential themes and tone that it would be the last we would see of one of DC Comics’ most important characters on the big screen for years. The Caped Crusader’s resurgence in cinema — and in modern pop culture — can be traced back to when director Christopher Nolan went back to basics and all the way back to the beginning of his war on crime in Batman Begins.

Christian Bale immediately asserted himself as one of the best actors to play Batman with his grounded and stoic performance as a Bruce Wayne desperate to rescue his beloved Gotham City — one of the most stunningly realistic and effectively grimy depictions of the burdened metropolis — from the cesspool of crime and corruption it has become. While it is not widely considered to be the absolute best of the live-action Batman movies so far (more on that one later), most would agree that Batman Begins is one of the best superhero movies in general for its refreshingly earnest and complex approach to comic book lore, exhilarating action sequences and technical mastery, and reinventing the Dark Knight for a new generation without losing sight of what made him an icon in the first place.

31. Children of Men (2006)

In a dystopian future, environmental malpractice has led to constant war, famine, and total human infertility. So imagine the surprise felt by former political activist Theo Faron (Clive Owen) when he learns that a young female refugee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) is pregnant, and is poised to deliver the first natural childbirth in eighteen years. 

Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron was coming off of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (considered by many to be the best film in that saga) when he unleashed his talents on Children of Men. His breathtaking approach to editing and cinematography propels the action forward at a feverish pitch, with Cuaron often choosing to stage his movements in long, eye-popping, unbroken shots that lure the audience to the edge of their seats. Cuaron says this is a movie about hope, but you have to endure a lot of credible despair to finally unearth it. It’s worth the effort.

30. Ocean's Eleven (2001)

As times change, what’s considered popular is as fluid as water itself. Sometimes a movie can be ahead of the curve in that respect, dictating a whole era of cool in its very existence. Director Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven did just that, as both an uber slick heist movie, and as a modernized remake of a pre-existing film. 

The 1960’s Rat Pack extravaganza about war veterans looking for one big score was turned into a gathering of thieves, assembled by one man (George Clooney) looking for something more than cash. While the stakes were changed, and the number spelled out in the title, this film nailed the breezy energy that made the original so lovely.

Be it an all-star cast including Bernie Mac, Carl Reiner, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts, the insanely slick soundtrack, or even just the way George Clooney could rock a suit without a tie, Ocean’s Eleven doesn’t telegraph its style. It presents it with great confidence, and allows you to decide if it’s worth your while. It’s a love letter to the past, while playing to the viewer of today; with a result as cool as that drink you just ordered at the bar.

29. Chicago (2002)

If you look at just about any list of the best musicals of the 21st century, it’s basically a guarantee that Chicago will be there. The adaptation of Bob Fosse’s long-running musical is one of few musical films to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Catherine Zeta-Jones took home a trophy as well for her stellar performance as the “All That Jazz” singer who killed her husband and sister, Velma Kelly. This film has intrigue, sex, murder, genius performances and a whole lot of jazz, and it's truly a masterful musical adaptation.

Rob Marshall ultimately made a musical that stays true to its stage roots, but also heightens the entire story through movie magic. Take “Cell Block Tango” for example, the majority of the song is performed on a stage, and the women singing about murdering their husbands are in black costumes similar to the wardrobe from Broadway. However, it’s bigger as a whole, and it flashes between the actual prison, and this staged dream-like sequence. By doing this for every number, the film both elevated and paid homage to its predecessor, which is just one of the many reasons it’s so incredible.

28. Iron Man (2008)

From being the first self-financed Marvel Studios production, executives initially being opposed to casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, and most of the dialogue being improvised since the script wasn’t finished when production began, there was a lot that could have gone wrong with Iron Man. And yet, the end result stands as a triumph in large part due to Downey’s performance as the genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist.

But of course, one can’t discuss Iron Man without addressing how it changed the film franchise game. Once Nick Fury emerged from the shadows and mentioned the Avengers Initiative in the post-credits scene, that was the first big tipoff that this movie was the first chapter in a shared universe, just like in the original Marvel comics. More than a decade later, the MCU still stands as a Hollywood powerhouse, and many franchises, both superhero and from other genres, have followed in its footsteps. 

27. Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

The slacker bastard child of George Romero's Dead films and Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead is a rarity in cinema, and not just for having the gall to sacrifice the soundtrack to 1989's Batman. It's a largely perfect amalgam of authenticity and parodical storytelling, anchored to the comedic whims and wiles of  director Edgar Wright, his co-writer Simon Pegg,  and Pegg’s co-star Nick Frost. As it goes with that trio’s other film on this list (see #65), Shaun’s biggest strength is its characters who feel real enough to legitimize the zombie apocalypse chaos, while also making viewers care about them even when the gory threats aren’t around the corner.

Shaun of the Dead may go down as the funniest horror movie to have ever existed, while also delivering some genuinely disturbing moments throughout that keep the adventure from falling too far into the funnies. Simon Pegg even transcends the dual genre description by spinning palpable emotion out of his struggle to prioritize the safety of his relationship, his BFF, and his mom. And if that wasn’t enough, it allowed moviegoers to spend some time in the Winchester, and that’s a slice of fried gold that makes everyone’s life better.

26. Moon (2009)

Whenever we sit down for a sci-fi film, especially one that takes place on a remote station somewhere away from our planet, we all know that we’re in for a twisty tale, and Moon certainly fulfills that promise. Duncan Jones’ 2009 directorial debut (he also came up with the story) focuses on Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), the lone human working a mostly automated mining facility on the far side of the moon, who begins to have troubling hallucinations as he nears the end of his work contract.

What follows is surprising, as not only does the story take several intriguingly unexpected turns, but it also examines what it’s like to be isolated from others (including loved ones), holding on to a sense of community, and one’s willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. Throw in a creepy AI, which can’t quite be determined as a helper or a hindrance for a time, and you get science fiction gold.

25. The Incredibles (2004)

Released during the early years of the superhero movie’s surging popularity, The Incredibles still holds up tremendously after all this time, despite so many other offerings from Marvel, DC and other studios being delivered nearly two decades after its release. To be sure, Pixar’s sixth full-length feature does a spectacular job at both honoring classic superhero stories and tropes, as well as poking fun at them, including the hilarious ‘no capes’ gag. But The Incredibles’ greatest feat isn’t how it handles these larger-than-life elements, but rather how it makes these characters feel relatable and complex in the midst of the action.

From Bob and Helen Parr being concerned about their children’s welfare, whether they’re living everyday life in suburbia or fighting bad guys in costume, to understanding that Syndrome’s sinister motivations stem from the hurt he endured as an adolescent, The Incredibles never pushes aside its humanity in favor of spectacle; instead, they compliment each other quite nicely. Throw in outstanding vocal performances from actors like Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, and Brad Bird excelling as both the director and screenwriter, this movie stands out not just as a superhero movie, but as one of the greatest entries in Pixar’s library.

24. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Join Us In Creating Excellence. More powerful than any anti-drug ad, Requiem for a Dream hit theaters in 2000 and has stood the test of time as possibly the most affecting portrayal of addiction to date. Based on the Hubert Selby Jr. book of the same name, Darren Aronofsky’s film explores more than just the heroin addictions of Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans’ characters. Ellen Burstyn’s obsession with being on television and fitting into her red dress is haunting, and there’s no questioning why the role earned her an Academy Award nomination.

The work behind the camera was equal to the all-around horrifying performances, as Darren Aronofsky and cinematographer Matthew Libatique added to the story in how every shot was framed, the choreography of the characters’ movements, and the use of sound effects and split screens. The score was worthy of praise all on its own, with "Lux Aeterna" — the song that played over the climax of the film — leaving such an impression that it has gone on to be re-orchestrated for several other movie and video game trailers. 

Combine all of this and add a little of Christopher McDonald’s Tappy Tibbons J.U.I.C.E., and you’ve got a real feel-bad movie that may never fully leave you.

23. Oldboy (2003)

Because many have such good storylines, South Korean films have become some of the biggest international movies.. A few examples could be Parasite and The Wailing. One movie in particular stands above many of them, and that's Oldboy. 

Directed by Park Chan-wook, the film is loosely based on the Japanese manga of the same name and focuses on Dae-su, a man imprisoned in a cell that looks like a hotel room, for fifteen years, without knowing who the person was behind his capture. But when he gets his chance at freedom, he makes it his mission to find out who committed the crime all those years ago – only to find out there is much more to his imprisonment than he thought. 

Oldboy is incredible. The action scenes are probably some of the best recorded on a movie screen and have been imitated many times – just the corridor fight scene itself is enough to satisfy any action-movie fan. The story is intriguing all the way until the end, which will blow the minds of first-time viewers. Truly, Oldboy is a staple of the South Korean film industry – and a fantastic movie of the 2000s. 

22. Collateral (2004)

Michael Mann had already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest directors in the world of crime thrillers, but he further made a case for himself with his 2004 thriller, Collateral. Clocking in at exactly two hours, this cool, violent, and ruthless neo-noir classic not only sees one of the best Jamie Foxx performances with his portrayal of cab driver Max (a role that should have earned him an Oscar), it also introduces one of Tom Cruise’s most unhinged characters: Vincent, a mysterious and deadly assassin.

Cruise, who was coming off movies like Minority Report and The Last Samurai, is incredibly refreshing as the film’s antagonist, and it shows a side of the star that audiences don’t get to see as much. Seeing the actor’s undeniable charm and big-screen energy used to breathe life into someone who is pure evil is quite the experience, and really messes with the viewers’ mindset. In addition to actors like Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, and Jada Pinkett Smith, the movie also treats the city of Los Angeles less like a backdrop and more as another character, one that feels more alive as the story goes on, much like Mann’s 1995 heist film, Heat.

21. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Since the early days of moviemaking, Walt Disney’s viewpoint of the fairytale has had a stake in popular culture. It’s G-rated, soft and sweet, and there’s always a happy ending. Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth brings to life a fairytale that redefined what a fantasy movie can look like with its distinct and unforgettable vision. Set in 1944 Spain as the country picks up the pieces of the Spanish Civil War, the R-rated fantasy film follows a young girl named Ofelia as she faces the violent reality of the Francoist period and stumbles upon a dark wonderland in the shadows (or at least the shadows of her imagination). 

As del Toro was coming off two more commercial movies in Blade II and Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth is a breathtaking highlight in an all-time great filmmaker’s career. Across two hours, the Spanish-language movie brings to life an extraordinary vision that beautifully balances being twisted and innocent all at once with memorable horror, gore, mythical creations and a ton of gorgeous practical creature effects. How does he balance a magical quest with political drama? Some especially memorable words in Pan’s Labyrinth answers that question: If “door is locked,” one must “create your own.” In a landscape where fairytales can be predictable, del Toro opened a wonderfully defiant world of his own with Pan’s Labyrinth.

20. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) And Vol. 2 (2004)

After turning the heist movie on its head with 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, and changing the way audiences perceive movies in general (and winning a screenwriting Oscar) with 1994’s Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino very quickly made himself into one of the most unique and esteemed icons of the medium. However, after releasing his 1997 Elmore Leonard adaptation, Jackie Brown, we would not see him direct anything for another six years. Little did we know that he was planning to come back with something big — so big, that just one movie was not enough to tell the story. Based on a character Tarantino created with star Uma Thurman on the Pulp Fiction set, Kill Bill follows a deadly assassin initially known only as The Bride — one of the greatest female action heroes — who wakes up from a four-year coma with a furious urge to punish those who tried to put her to sleep permanently, with her former boss (David Carradine) being the primary target. 

For years, it was debated whether or not the stylistically disparate halves of the story — with Vol. 1 being an ode to ‘70s kung fu movies and Vol. 2 counting as Tarantino’s first western, essentially — should count as one film. Well, even if the director had never officially clarified that he does see Kill Bill as one movie, we still would have designated one spot for both volumes of this exquisitely crafted, gorgeously choreographed, visually and emotionally breathtaking epic on this list, because that is the only way to experience "the whole bloody affair.” 

• A Kill Bill Quote To Remember: “That's right. I killed your master. And now I'm gonna kill you too, with your own sword, no less, which in the very immediate future, will become... my sword.” (The Bride)

19. Training Day (2001)

In 100 years, when film historians look back to determine why Denzel Washington was considered one of the best actors of his generation, director Antoine Fuqua's Training Day should be at the top of any screening list. Detective Alonzo Harris is a special kind of monster, and Washington’s work offers incredible escalation and power. At first, he just seems like a hardened detective who has made some scary discoveries about how best to patrol the city of Los Angeles, but he becomes a whole different kind of beast by the end – one that King Kong ain’t got nothin’ on.

But while Training Day features an all-time great performance from one of the all-time great actors, not to be ignored is just how terrific the movie as a whole is. Ethan Hawke is also at the top of his game as up-and-coming officer Jake Hoyt, who faces death and peril as he slowly understands the real game that Alonzo is playing, and David Ayer’s screenplay is special – packing the believable character arcs and growing stakes into a limited 24-hour time frame. Even on the tenth viewing it is successful at raising your pulse and getting you to invest in the protagonist’s peril, and that’s the mark of a truly great thriller.

• A Training Day Quote To Remember: “You gotta control your smiles and cries, because that's all you have and nobody can take that away from you.” (Jake Hoyt)

18. The Wrestler (2008)

Still considered one of the best movies of 2008 more than a decade later, Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler is a grueling battle royale of emotions that doesn’t pull any punches with its story about a broken-down professional wrestler looking for one last shot at redemption. Channeling both the triumph and tragedy, and the agony and ecstasy of putting one’s life on the line day-in and day-out for decades, Mickey Rourke gave audiences the performance of a lifetime with his portrayal of washed-up wrestler, Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a one-time larger-than-life titan caught somewhere between his past and uncertain future.

There are a lot of parallels between the character and Rouke’s own journey in this semi-autobiographical drama, which adds a tremendous amount of depth to not only his performance, but also the movie in general. Though wrestling is often considered a fake sport, Rourke’s performance and Aronofsky’s commitment to portraying the industry in an honest and genuine light is incredibly real. The physical, mental, and emotional pain can be felt in each of Randy’s movements, heard in his voice, and seen in his eyes as the former champ wrestles in high school gyms and attempts to make ends meet by taking on shifts at a local grocery store deli. Then there are the religious allegories that are explored through Randy’s character, as well as Marisa Tomei’s Cassidy, which make it all even more potent.

• A The Wrestler Quote To Remember: “I'll tell you somethin', I hate the fuckin' 90's.” (Randy Robinson)

17. Finding Nemo (2003)

Pixar has created some of the greatest animated films of all time, and Finding Nemo may be the studio’s true crowning achievement. It is as beautifully animated as it is emotionally powerful. The undersea world of Nemo is gorgeous simply to look at, and that’s just as true today as it was when the film was released. 

2003's Finding Nemo’s voice casting is second to none. Nobody does neurotic like Albert Brooks. Nobody can play clueless like Ellen DeGeneres. Nobody plays a tough guy of questionable sanity like Willem Dafoe. These are the actors you would cast if you were telling this story in live-action, and they bring it all to the voice performances in a way that truly brings these characters to life.

And Finding Nemo is able to balance its emotional extremes perfectly. We’re used to Pixar movies making us cry but years before Up, Finding Nemo opened with an incredibly heartbreaking moment. But after that, it’s able to be hilarious, scary, and even exciting. Finally, it concludes with the sort of resolution that stands the test of time, as young children will see the film and relate with Nemo, then grow up, and begin to understand Marlin in a new way.  Nemo does it all, not bad for a clownfish with a bad fin. 

• A Finding Nemo Quote To Remember: “Of course I like you. It’s because I like you, I don’t want to be with you. It’s a complicated emotion.” (Marlin)

16. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

“I think this just might be my masterpiece.” That’s the final line in writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, and coming as it does at the end of 153 minutes of perfection, it’s hard not to read it as a message directly from the filmmaker to the audience. In 2009, Tarantino was coming off of a low point in his career with the disappointing theatrical release of Grindhouse, but his follow-up is a phenomenal World War II epic that only he could make: Nazi-killing action packaged in a love letter to cinema.

Two stories – the revenge of Mélanie Laurent's Shosanna Dreyfus and the mission of the titular troop – play out in parallel with equal captivating energy right up until they collide in the (literally) explosive finale. While there isn’t a star in the expansive ensemble who doesn’t deliver a memorable performance (from Brad Pitt to Michael Fassbender to even Mike Myers), there isn’t a person who can watch the film and not walk away mesmerized by the work done by Christoph Waltz in his star-making turn as Hans Landa. It’s not an easy thing to blend a vibe of dastardly evil with sharp charisma, but Waltz is a force in the role, and it remains the best thing he has done in his career.

• An Inglourious Basterds Quote To Remember: “Well, you don't got to be Stonewall Jackson to know you don't want to fight in a basement.” (Lt. Aldo Raine)

15. Spirited Away (2001)

Studio Ghibli is one of the world's most-known anime film studios. Co-founded by legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki, the studio has created some of the best anime films of all time, one of which is Spirited Away – which Hayao Miyazaki directed. 

Spirited Away is about a journey into the spirit world following the young Chihiro. Taking place in Japan, we follow the little girl, who happens to be moving to a new neighborhood with her family. When her parents decide to take a shortcut to their new home and explore what looks to be an abandoned amusement park, Chihiro is forced to go along. However, there's magic everywhere, and her mom and dad turn into pigs against their will for eating a gluttonous feast. For her to get them back, she must work for the spirits in the bathhouse, so they can return to the human world. 

The premise itself sounds like a lot at first, but it's become Studio Ghibli’s – and Hayao Miyazaki's – highest-grossing film. It’s also the only anime film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the only hand-drawn film (so far) to accomplish the task. The movie features themes about love and learning to grow up and be brave. It's the perfect gateway movie into the anime film – indeed, one of the best movies of the 2000s. 

• A Spirited Away Quote To Remember: “I don't need any help; this place is full of soot.” (Kamaji)

14. The Prestige (2006)

The Prestige is a battle of wills between two talented and irreparably flawed magicians, who can’t stay out of each other’s lives. Their differing roles in a shared tragedy push them apart and then repeatedly back together, as their initial determination to succeed steadily gives way to an obsession for vengeance. That obsession drives them to sacrifice and abandon everything healthy about their lives until they’re each left with only a singular drive to sabotage the other.

Based on that description, The Prestige sounds like a really dark movie. In many ways, it is, but in director Christopher Nolan’s hands, it’s also often really fun. It has a sense of wonder and mystery about it, as it not only dives into the idiosyncrasies of magic but also the exciting possibilities of science in the 1890s and early 1900s. It was a time and place in which anything felt possible, and you really feel that hopeful uncertainty thanks to a timeline that jumps to and fro and fantastic performances from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall and a perfectly cast David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. Like a great magic trick, the first time you watch The Prestige, you’re fascinated by the spectacle and simply along for the ride. Then every time you rewatch it afterwards, you’re blown away by all the subtle skill required to pull it off.

• A The Prestige Quote To Remember: “Nobody cares about the man in the box.” (Robert Angier)

13. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Looking back, 2007 was one of the best movie years in recent memory, considering classics like No Country For Old Men, Zodiac, and Superbad all premiered on the big screen. But one of the biggest, baddest, and most arresting of those releases was Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood. An epic period drama about oilman Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) doing everything in his power and stepping on anyone in his way in his quest for wealth in the early 20th-century oil boom, the movie is a deep and vast exploration of a man’s psyche and desire to become the biggest player in the game.

While Day-Lewis’s performance is tremendous and more than deserving of the Oscar he received, it’s made even better thanks to his character’s conflict with Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), a religious zealot who is just as tenacious and hungry for power as his counterpart. Several of the movie’s most iconic scenes (like the oil-town baptism and shocking ending sequence) are the result of the actor’s tremendous chemistry and ability to play off each other’s words. The pair, who get along like oil and holy water, create a dynamic that’s not quite a battle between good and evil, but instead something much deeper than that, which adds another level to this incredible cinematic achievement.

• A There Will Be Blood Quote To Remember: “You're an orphan from a basket in the middle of the desert, and I took you for no other reason than I needed a sweet face to buy land.” (Daniel)

12. In Bruges (2008)

Prior to 2008, Martin McDonagh was established as a talented and popular playwright, but he had ambitions to make his way into movies. In 2004, he directed the incredible short film Six Shooter (which won an Academy Award), and then he moved to features. He made his debut with In Bruges, and anyone who saw it instantly recognized McDonagh’s potential to become one of the best filmmakers working today (potential he has made good on with the genius of Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Banshees of Inisherin).

In Bruges takes a high concept premise – two hitman hide out in Belgium waiting for instructions after a job goes bad – and weaves a remarkable meditation on life and death. It’s a dark comedy (and a hilarious one at that), but it has a beautiful blend of tones that radiate from the genius work of stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. Farrell and Gleeson have a unique chemistry that works on both comedic and dramatic levels (it’s far from a mystery why McDonagh reunited them for The Banshees of Inisherin) and the bizarrely rage and logic-filled energy that Fiennes brings in the third act is icing on the cake.

• An In Bruges Quote To Remember: “I kinda like hearing people having sex. Means at least somebody around here's happy.” (Ray)

11. Almost Famous (2000)

If a 15-year-old going on tour with a raucous rock band wasn’t enough of a hook, Almost Famous also happens to have one of the most memorable posters/ DVD box covers of all time. It focuses on the enigmatic Penny Lane, the heroine of Cameron Crowe’s film, whom everyone loves to love and admire and most don’t bother to understand. With distinct shades and tendrils of blonde hair, she draws you into her world of Humble Pie and heartbreak, and in between commentary on what made the ’70s the ’70s and a slick soundtrack including Led Zeppelin, The Who and of course Elton John, she helps turn the film into one of the best of the 2000s.

It’s a career-defining performance for Kate Hudson, and she’s not the only one who delivers. Jason Lee grows a mustache and long hair to fall into his hilarious lead singer role while Billy Crudup is similarly unrecognizable as the talented and moody Russell Hammond. Patrick Fugit plays William Miller, younger than most but wiser than some, and he finds a terrific foil in Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays famed music writer Lester Bangs. Throw in great work from Frances McDormand, Zooey Deschanel and even Jimmy Fallon and it’s a masterclass of terrific performances. If it’s been a while since you’ve revisited the movie, maybe throw on some purple-tinted sunglasses and kick back to the tune of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.” Settle in, you’re almost home.

• An Almost Famous Quote To Remember: “If you never take it seriously, you never get hurt. If you never get hurt, you always have fun. And if you ever get lonely, you just go to the record store and visit your friends.” (Penny Lane)

10. No Country For Old Men (2007)

No matter what kind of film genre is up for discussion, the power and breadth of the Coen Brothers' filmography is worthy of inclusion, and they don't make 'em much better than 2007's No Country for Old Men. An adaptation of Carmac McCarthy’s 2005 novel that’s every bit as faithful as it is chilling, the film meticulously dips its toes most heavily into the cinematic waters of crime thrillers and westerns. That said, Javier Bardem’s unflinching hitman, Anton Chigurh, would be at home in any horror narrative, with his Two-Face-esque coin flips and an unstoppable drive that rivals Jason Voorhees or Michael Meyers. At least if a big ol’ stack of cash was also their end goal.

Despite being one of Joel and Ethan Coen’s driest films regarding their signature screwball humor, the movie is an exercise in tension that thrives on its lack of levity, though it’s hard not to smile whenever Woody Harrelson is on the screen in any capacity. With a stellar cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt and more, No Country for Old Men is, to date, the only Coen brothers masterpiece to win them the Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture, with Bardem taking the gold for Best Supporting Actor. It’s not the awards that best signify its impact, however, but the bolt pistol gripped in Chigurh’s ever-steady hand.

• A No Country For Old Men Quote To Remember: “Well all the time ya spend trying to get back what's been took from ya, more is going out the door. After a while you just have to try to get a tourniquet on it.” (Ellis)

9. Memento (2000)

Talk about a movie that you definitely need to watch without your phone in your hand. Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a mind-bending combination of different angles that demands and deserves your entire attention. The story is told backward, broken up by clips of a black and white, forward-moving montage of a mysterious one-sided phone call in a hotel, led by Guy Pearce, whose character Leonard, also happens to have anterograde (or short-term) amnesia, stopping our protagonist from creating new memories as he looks for his wife’s killer, who also gave him this debilitating injury.

As mentioned, Nolan basically begins at the end and works his way back, for the most part. The juxtaposition of the timelines bring the audience into the obvious confusion that Leonard lives with every day. "Even if you get revenge, you're not going to remember it," he's told by his new friend Teddy (played by Joe Pantoliano) but his reply shows just how far his love and determination will go, stating "My wife deserves revenge whether or not I remember it."  Toss in Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) to add some confusing sympathy (or treachery) and you will probably want a second viewing just to wrap your mind around what you might have initially dismissed as unimportant plot points from this Nolan classic. You’ll notice that Nolan has popped up numerous times on this list (and rightfully so) and he has also once again recently hit it out of the park with 2023’s Oppenheimer.  

• A Memento Quote To Remember: “So you lie to yourself to be happy. There’s nothing wrong with that. We all do it.” (Teddy G.)

8. Wall-E (2008)

Do you know who is a genius? Sound designer Ben Burtt. You might not know his name, but you certainly know the movies he contributed to over the years, including Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and 2009’s Star Trek. Burtt designed the “vocals” for R2-D2, Darth Vader’s heavy breathing, and the “voice” of E.T. But, his work truly soared when he lent dialogue to the adorable Waste Allocation Load Lifter assigned to an abandoned Earth. MIraculously, the first half of Pixar’s ingenious WALL-E works as a silent film, following our main character as it goes about its daily routine with a pet cockroach in tow. WALL-E’s life is upended when another robot named EVE arrives, searching for any sign of life. 

From there, the fate of humanity starts to be revealed, and it’s rather grim. Director Andrew Stanton’s animation for the film ranks as some of Pixar’s most magnificent, embracing the scorched orange of a deserted Earth and then painting with vivid colors for WALL-E’s eventual outer-space adventure. The environmental messages of the film are important without ever being preachy. And, the eventual romance felt and shared by WALL-E and EVE will lift every single heart, with the lovers sharing hardly any words. 

• A Wall-E Quote To Remember: “I see the ship's log is showing that today is the 700th anniversary of our five year cruise. Well, I'm sure our forefathers would be proud to know that 700 years later we'd be... doing the exact same thing they were doing.” (Captain B. McCrea)

7. The Departed (2006)

There are crime films and then there are Martin Scorsese crime films, and when it comes to The Departed, the director doesn’t let us down. A remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, the 2006 movie gives us a range of characters to root for, root against or simply watch just to see what they’ll do or say next. That includes Leonardo DiCaprio’s undercover cop character Billy Costigan, Matt Damon’s sneaky, spying Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson’s mob boss character Frank Costello, and Vera Farmiga’s well-meaning therapist Dr. Madolyn Madden. To say that things get complicated might be understating it, but it’s the complexity of the characters and their roles in this story that makes The Departed such a fantastic and gripping movie from beginning to end. 

In a way, it’s all business for everyone involved, but it’s also personal for each character on some level or another. It’s impossible not to feel anxious for DiCaprio’s character as he attempts to navigate the criminal world without being caught for who he really is, just as it’s impossible not to grow increasingly frustrated by Matt Damon’s character for posing as an upstanding law enforcer who’s actually up to no good. It’s thrilling, stressful, riveting and ultimately satisfying, and that’s not even factoring in Mark Wahlberg’s character every time he has something to say (that’s just a bonus). 

• A The Departed Quote To Remember: “You know what I like about restaurants? . . . You can learn a lot, watching things eat.” (Frank Costello)

6. Best In Show (2000)

Nobody does mockumentaries like Christopher Guest, and 2000’s Best in Show is an absolute masterclass. The mundane musings of everyday conversation combine with outlandish characters and awkward situations to deliver one of the best movies of the decade. The dog show is the event that brings these unique and individually brilliant characters under one roof, but it’s no Maguffin. As bonkers as each dog-lover’s trip is to get to the show, everything is turned up to 11, if you will, when they all come together, and the event itself is perfectly colored by Fred Willard’s commentary.

There’s a reason this phenomenal cast has stuck together to appear in other projects. The chemistry between Eugene Levy’s Gerry and Catherine O’Hara’s Cookie (with her “hundreds” of boyfriends) left people begging for more, which they got in A Mighty Wind. Jennifer Coolidge was excellent in her attempts to substantiate her marriage to her ancient sugar daddy husband by saying they bonded over a love of soup and the ability to “not talk or talk forever.” The genius casting of John Michael Higgins and Michael McKean gave audiences the married couple they never knew they needed. 

Best in Show exploits the banal in some situations while heightening reality in others, to where Harlan Pepper naming nuts and the couple describing how they met at Starbucks (but two different Starbucks) land laughs just as hard as Gerry’s literal two left feet or Cookie walking with her knee out of socket.

• A Best In Show Quote To Remember: “Why don’t they put the bloodhound — put on one of those Sherlock Holmes hats and put a little pipe in his mouth? Are they ever allowed to do anything like that? Dress up the dog in a funny way? It would really get the crowd going. You know what I mean? The Sherlock Holmes hat with a pipe. I don’t know if you could make it look like smoke is coming out of the pipe.” (Buck Laughlin)

5. Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher’s greatest accomplishment, and that’s saying a lot. The director has spent countless hours analyzing the compulsion that drives people to seek the truth – be it lawyers parsing through statements to figure out who invented Facebook (The Social Network), or detectives tracking a serial killer who is inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins (Seven). But Zodiac is Fincher’s magnum opus, an engrossing true-crime thriller based on the books of Robert Graysmith tracking the diligent work of three men consumed by the search for the identity of the Zodiac Killer. 

Jake Gyllanhaal serves as the ideal audience surrogate, a puzzle designer for the San Francisco Chronicle who gets swept up in the mystery of the serial killer, who antagonized the police and the media as he committed vicious murders around San Francisco in the 1970s, Fincher painstakingly recreates the time period with breathtaking visuals and top-notch costuming and set design. His emphasis on the bustle of a newsroom is particularly spot on. The film also lingers in the haze of fear, anxiety, and suspense that comes from a killer on the loose. But it’s the supporting roles of Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo, as well as an inability to truly deliver a concrete ending, that makes Zodiac such a rewatchable movie, and a captivating masterpiece.

• A Zodiac Quote To Remember: “I am not the Zodiac. And if I was, I certainly wouldn't tell you.” (Arthur Leigh Allen)

4. Mean Girls (2004)

From wearing pink on Wednesdays to shouting “You go Glen Coco” it’s undeniable that Mean Girls has seriously influenced pop culture over the last (almost) two decades. So, “get in loser,” it’s time to appreciate this beloved coming-of-age comedy from Tina Fey.

This movie is a classic teenage tale about a girl who moves from Africa to the United States where she experiences the rude awakening that is high school by way of The Plastics. While it’s your typical coming-of-age story, it’s infused with the signature sense of humor from Fey – who was in the midst of her legendary run at Saturday Night Live – and it shows the high school experience in a totally unique way with a cast of characters played by actors who have since become icons. 

Not only did the film solidify Lindsay Lohan as an early 2000s star, it also simultaneously jumpstarted the careers of many in the Mean Girls cast, including little known actresses like Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried. On top of that, its legacy has lived on, as it was adapted into a Broadway musical, and is eventually coming back to the screen with an adaptation of said stage production. To say this film is a quintessential 2000s classic almost feels like an understatement because of the lasting impact it has managed to have on people of all ages since its release in 2004. 

• A Mean Girls Quote To Remember: "She doesn't even go here!" (Damian)

3. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

You could argue that Jim Carrey makes much better dramatic movies than he does comedic features. And that opinion is coming from someone who adores Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, as well as Dumb & Dumber. But when you factor in the dramatic detours he embarked on for The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, and this incredible romance, you begin to wonder how many Oscars Carrey might have if he got the industry to treat him seriously, instead of talking out of his ass (literally). 

Carrey and Kate Winslet are magnificent as Joel and Clementine, two soul mates who undergo a radical procedure to have their memories of each other erased after a bitter argument. Only screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) could keep such a twisty premise from flying off the rails. And while the side-mission actions of the memory technicians can get a little silly, we remain wholly invested in Joel and Clementine’s complicated journey because of the heartbroken and beautiful chemistry shared between Carrey and Winslet. It’s a real challenge presented to these stars, as we’re not supposed to know whether Joel and Clementine are better off together or apart. But the satisfying resolution says as much about fate as it does about the existence of true love, so long as we remember how and when to look for it.

• An Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Quote To Remember: “Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.” (Joel Barish)

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

It’s been said before, but it’ll be said again – The Dark Knight is one of the greatest superhero films (and one of the greatest movies) ever made. Christopher Nolan’s ambition as a filmmaker has been well-noted, but even he outdid himself with his 2008 follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins. The second chapter in the journey of Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne sees the iconic DC Comics hero going up against the dangerous and unpredictable Joker. All the while, the Caped Crusader and his allies must also contend with mob bosses and Harvey Dent, Gotham City’s honorable district attorney who becomes the deformed Two-Face.

Where does one even start when it comes to singing this movie’s praises? There’s the impeccable screenplay, massive set pieces, engrossing score and much more. Yet I suppose what stands out the most are the performances, especially that of the late Heath Ledger. The actor, who posthumously won an Oscar for his work, fully committed to his role as the Clown Prince of Crime and is absolutely mesmerizing. His villainous turn is just one of the many reasons why Nolan’s film is a thrilling and compelling piece of work that’s still incredibly entertaining now, over a decade later.

• A The Dark Knight Quote To Remember: “Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! You know, I just...do things.” (The Joker)

1. City Of God (2002)

Making its Brazil and festival run in 2002 and eventually hitting theaters in the U.S. and elsewhere  in the year that followed, Fernando Meirelles’ City of God, based on Paulo Lins’ semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, served as an inflection point in the world of cinema and served as a preview of what the the next few years would look like. Told through the eyes of young photographer Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), the movie explores the life of street kids in the Cidade de Deus (City of God) favela in Rio de Janeiro, an expansive slum filled with endless supplies of drugs, ruthless gangsters, and corrupt cops who allow the madness to continue. One of the most violent movies of the 2000s, City of God is a lesson in brutality, especially whenever depicting the exploits of Li’l Dice (Douglas Silva), a ruthless and sociopathic young criminal who stops at nothing in his quest for complete control. Oddly enough, the older version of the character known as Li’l Ze (Leandro Firmino) never comes off as cold blooded as his younger self, which further illustrates the movie’s point about youth and violence. 

At the same time, City of God is also one of the most beautiful movies of the 2000s, and not just on an aesthetic level (though César Charlone’s cinematography is out of this world). The endearing spirit of those who wish to escape a life of crime, ranging from Rocket to the ill-fated drug dealer Benny (Phellipe Haagensen), adds a level of heart and soul one may not expect from a two-hour crime drama about young criminals with short fuses and, in many cases, tragically  shorter lifespans. 

• A City Of God Quote To Remember: “You need more than guts to be a good gangster; you need ideas.” (Rocket)

How we put this list together

Using a combination of internal recommendations and other best of lists, we compiled a spreadsheet of all the movies from the 2000s that we considered to be culturally relevant and/or critically well-reviewed. We pushed together some multi-part movies like Kill Bill and Lord Of The Rings and then had our staff of almost 30 go through and assign a score for each movie they’ve seen based on their own personal opinions. We disqualified any movies that didn’t get a minimum number of ratings and dropped the lowest score for each, as if we were judging a figure skating competition. We then ordered the top 100 based on average score and had someone who gave that movie a particularly high score write up a paragraph explaining what’s so great about it. This rigorous scientific process resulted in Idiocracy being slotted at 101, an omission I’m still furious about.

Few movie stars are as candid about regretting a role as George Clooney is when it comes to the infamous campy caper that is Batman & Robin -- a movie he has apologized for and poked fun at time and time again. Then again, few actors have been asked to don rubber nipples. The reason I bring this up is because, the Oceans franchise star was joined by series director Steven Soderbergh to talk about one of their best movies, and while discussing the beloved heist franchise they brought up the Hollywood A-listers who turned the film down. Bringing this back around to Batman: Clooney vicariously compared Johnny Depp and others in the discussion turning the gig down to his time as the Caped Crusader. 

According to Soderbergh and Clooney, the production process for what is now considered one of the best heist films wasn't entirely trouble-free. The pair revealed to TCM host Ben Mankiewicz (via EW) that some major Hollywood heavy hitters were approached for the part of Linus but passed -- somewhat aggressively -- before Matt Damon was ultimately cast. The big revelation here was that both Johnny Depp and Mark Wahlberg were some of the actors who turned the part down. The Up in the Air star comedically added that those stars regret turning the project down about as much as he regrets agreeing to wear the Dark Knight cowl. He said:

It’s always fun to imagine what could have been when it comes to Hollywood casting, but it is almost impossible to imagine anyone else as the characters who make up Danny Ocean's team, which included the likes of Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle. And sure, I could imagine someone else in the part of Batman in Joel Schumacher’s love letter to camp, but at this point, I wouldn’t want to. Clooney is perfect. In recent years, he has even acknowledged that the critical and financial bomb indirectly made him a movie star. 

Mankiewicz asked the pair about the prospect of revisiting the characters from the Oceans franchise, which premiered its third film, Ocean's Thirteen, 15 years ago. Soderbergh acknowledged that there had been numerous discussions about it, and he cited the all-female-led Ocean's Eight as one of the outcomes of those talks. Of course, Clooney pointed out it might be hard for his character to return, pointing to the fact that Sandra Bullock's Debbie Ocean visits her brother's grave more than once during the film. He joked:

The TCM interview is delightful and definitely worth watching. You can check out the video below to enjoy Clooney's charming and funny responses.

Clooney and Soderbergh have enjoyed a rich partnership over the years, beginning with 1998’s Elmore Leonard adaptation Out of Sight, but they also have stayed busy with their own projects. The director recently finished up the story he started about male dancers in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. As for The Ides of March actor, he is set to reteam with fellow Oceans star Brad Pitt in Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts' upcoming thriller, Wolfs. Sadly, I don't think he'll be making his return as the campiest of the Batman's based on these comments, but there's always something to look forward to from Clooney.

For all your entertainment news, make sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend, and while you're at it, check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases to plan your next trip to the cinema.

George Clooney and Julia Roberts have become somewhat of a dynamic duo. Having appeared in six movies together, the two possesses a firm friendship. (Clooney and Roberts even hang out together with the former's wife, Amal.) However, before making their first joint film, Ocean’s Eleven, Roberts had to be swayed to join. Clooney recently revealed just how he managed to convince Roberts to sign on, and it involved some expert trolling on his part.

The 61-year-old actor recently attended the TCM Classic Film Festival, where he chatted alongside Ocean’s franchise director Steven Soderbergh about how they got the first film in the series made. In the process, they dropped some sweet behind-the-scenes stories. With that, the Syriana star shared the hilarious story about how he convinced Roberts to sign onto the ensemble heist film and, if you know anything about the cheeky George Clooney, it really shouldn't be all that surprising that it involve a bit of trolling. The Oscar winner revealed (via EW) that when he sent Roberts the script, he attached a $20 bill to it. He also included a note that said “I heard you get 20 a picture now.” 

That wisecrack was in reference to the rumored $20 million-per-movie rate that the Pretty Woman star was alleged to have at the time. In 2001, when Ocean’s Eleven was made, she was essentially one of the biggest movie stars in the world. She already had Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich, Runaway Bride, and Notting Hill under her belt and, with the success of those features, she was deemed a definite box-office draw. As such, she could demand the sum of money that she desired, so the idea of that large a price tag being associated with her isn't all that far-fetched. But as her co-star put it, she laughed at the $20 dollar bill joke and was so charmed that she agreed to join the heist movie.

This ended up being a great move for Julie Roberts and the film itself, as it was a financial hit and launched a multi-picture franchise. Roberts reprised her role as Tess Ocean for the 2004 sequel, Ocean's Twelve, as well. And of course, the film would mark the start of her and George Clooney's excellent streak of collaborations. They played opposite each other in Money Monster, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and most recently, Ticket to Paradise. In addition, Roberts starred in August: Osage County, which Clooney produced. Clooney and Roberts hit a box office milestone in 2022, as their films' cumulative haul surpassed $1 billion.

There big-screen work has been great, but it's their off-camera moments that can be the most entertaining. George Clooney actually isn’t the only one who does the trolling in this friendship. Last year, the Michael Clayton star was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, and Roberts showed up to the event to honor her friend by wearing a dress covered in pictures of his face. The actress also revealed she has Clooney’s contact in her phone saved as “Batman: Cell,” which is a nod to Clooney’s performance as the Caped Crusader in the poorly received Batman & Robin. I hope these delightful actors work together for years to come and keep humorously knocking each other down a few pegs in the process.

Anyone with an Amazon Prime subscription can rent or buy Steven Soderbergh's Ocean’s trilogy. For information on newer films hitting theaters this year, be sure to consult our schedule of 2023 new movie releases.

Steven Soderbergh has become one of the film’s most iconic directors in my opinion. While he’s known for his suave crime thrillers and heist adventures, he’s also received lots of acclaim for his films that feature scathing social commentary. While there are commonalities between a lot of his movies, like his massive ensemble of A-list actors who return time and time again, he also makes unexpected choices and zigs when we all expect him to zag (see his decision to direct Magic Mike). 

So, considering the director is back at it again, working with Channing Tatum for the fourth time on the final film in the Magic Mike franchise, Magic Mike's Last Dance, we figured it’d be a perfect time to rank this director’s top ten movies. 

Honorable Mention: Ocean’s Twelve  

Now, is Ocean's Twelve a bit of a hot mess, yes, but that’s part of the fun. The cast has admitted to knowing people don’t love Twelve, Don Cheadle included, who said to those who don’t like the movie: “that’s cool, you didn’t have to @ me.” And I agree with him, it’s fine if you don’t like this movie, however, don’t hate on Ocean’s Twelve, because it’s a grand ol’ time.

Seeing the gang go on a European vacation to do pull a few wild heists with a fun French villain and epic cameos (I’m looking at you Robbie Coltrane and Bruce Willis), plus the truly iconic Julia Roberts bit, is something to appreciate. Not only is the film fun it’s also technically masterful, with fun cuts, a brilliant score from David Holmes, and A+ performances from the returning ensemble. 

Rent/buy Ocean’s Twelve on Amazon.

10. The Limey (1999)

Terence Stamp gives a commanding performance in Soderbergh’s 1999 film The Limey. Stamp plays an Englishman who makes his way to Los Angeles in an effort to find the man who took his daughter’s life. I think this movie is showing off Soderbergh’s style at its peak, it doesn’t seem to conform to what a studio wants, and it isn’t afraid to make bold technical decisions. You can see the director’s affinity for bold editing, jazzy music and criminally inclined characters on full display in this film. It also shows everything Soderbergh is capable of in a stylish smooth criminal kind of way, if you know what I mean.  

 Rent/buy The Limey on Amazon or stream on Showtime.  

9.  Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) 

You know you’re off to a good start when your first feature film wins the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Not only did Soderbergh take home that prestigious honor early in his career, the screenplay for Sex, Lies, and Videotape was also nominated for best original screenplay at the 1990 Academy Awards. While all these accolades are amazing, this movie also set the tone for Soderbergh’s career of making edgy movies that explore topics a lot of people may be scared to tackle. 

This movie starring James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Laura San Giacomo and Peter Gallagher shows the complex relationship between a couple and their other partners in the dramatic, yet darkly comedic way Soderbergh is a master of.

 Buy Sex, Lies and Videotape on Amazon.  

8. Contagion (2011)

What’s interesting about this movie is it’s not a thriller that relies on big outlandish scares to terrify the audience. Soderbergh uses patience and the horror of reality to slap the audience in the face, and make them realize this might actually be how a global outbreak would go down. And it did in 2020. Soderbergh's plot is not that far off from accurate, which makes sense considering many behind-the-scenes facts about Contagion include the lengths the cast and creatives went to research what could actually happen.

Watching the beginning of the movie kind of feels like a historical drama in a way considering what we all went through in 2020, and it was made in 2011. The cast, including Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Laurence Fishburne, to name a few, all give haunted, terrified, yet calm performances that really hammered home the scary yet level-headed tone of the film. 

You can stream Contagion with an HBO Max subscription.

7. Logan Lucky (2017)

Logan Lucky, or "Ocean’s 7-11" as it’s referred to in the literal movie, is a hillbilly heist that is a delightfully good time and wicked smart, in my humble opinion. This movie marked the director’s return to film, after Soderbergh’s short retirement, and obviously, it had to be another heist movie. 

What I really love about Logan Lucky is it allows you to see actors like Daniel Craig (Joe Bang walked so Benoit Blanc could run), Channing Tatum and Adam Driver in roles we’ve never seen them in before. They all play characters that come off as dimwitted at first, however, as the movie progresses you realize you are the dumb one, and this little West Virginian family, and this film, is pretty genius.

 Buy/rent Logan Lucky on Amazon or stream on Showtime.  

6. The Informant!

This movie will really sneak up on you with how funny and twisty it is. Over the course of 1 hour and 48 minutes, Soderbergh takes you on a wonky journey through our protagonist Mark Whitacre’s (Matt Damon) perspective, and as the story unfolds you start to realize just how unreliable our narrator is. 

Much like the Ocean’s movie, this is a plot that will have you wondering what is really going on the whole time. Also, it's full of fun performances from its ensemble, but especially from Damon, who is acting his face off. It’s by no means the smooth heist the Ocean’s movies are, however, it has the snappy dialogue and misleading plot that harkens back to one of Damon and Soderbergh’s best collaborations. 

Rent/buy The Informant! on Amazon.

5. Traffic (2000)

Like Contagion what makes this movie so scary is how grounded it is. It’s not relying on massive dramatic events, it’s using the terrifying, realistic implications of the War on Drugs to spook audiences. By examining the impact drug use and addiction has on different types of people and social groups, Soderbergh uses Traffic as a way to provide a thorough and brutal look into how this issue has affected the United States. 

The film clearly had an impact on the film industry too as it went on to be nominated for five Oscars, and win four -- this happened in the same year Soderbergh was nominated for directing Erin Brockovich. Benicio Del Toro took home a trophy for his performance as an agent working on the Mexican border, Soderbergh won Best Director, and the film also took home awards for its editing and adapted screenplay. 

Rent/buy Traffic on Amazon.

4.  Magic Mike (2012) 

On the surface, Magic Mike seems like it will just be a movie full of hot men stripping and that’s it. However, Soderbergh and the movie’s star Channing Tatum made this a heartfelt film about a stripper who is struggling with aging out of his job, and trying to figure out what he wants to do next. 

Along with capitalizing on Tatum’s dance and stripping background, as well as his comedic timing, the cast is also made up of actors who are having a blast making this film, especially Matthew McConaughey. And not only are the guys great strippers. but they're also likable characters who you want to root for. 

You can stream Magic Mike with an HBO Max subscription.

3.  Erin Brockovich (2000) 

This movie won Julia Roberts her Oscar, and changed the game for women in film. Not only does Erin Brockovich tell the incredible story of a real woman who fought against PG&E, Roberts was also part of breaking the glass ceiling for actresses’ salaries by demanding better pay on the film. 

With this movie, Soderbergh managed to capture the story of a single mom in an empowering way, that shows other women what is possible. That mixed with Roberts demanding better pay, and her stand-out award-winning performance, makes this an incredibly impactful film, unlike anything else Soderbergh has made.

 Stream Erin Brokovich with an Amazon Prime subscription.   

2.  Out Of Sight (1998) 

I don’t think it’s possible to have a more charismatic duo than George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in a cat-and-mouse romance together. Clooney plays a career criminal and JLo is the agent trying to take him down. However, there’s an undeniable attraction between the two, and despite their opposition, they can’t stay away from each other. 

This movie introduced the world to Geoge Clooney, the movie star, it let us know Jennifer Lopez is an actress with range, and it showed us just how amazing Soderbergh is at mixing genres and creating a menacing, tense, funny and suave films. Out of Sight oozes with charm, and was the start of a beautiful partnership between the actor and director.

Stream on Freevee through an Amazon Prime subscription. 

1. Ocean's Eleven (2001)

To be fully transparent, Ocean’s Eleven is one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s the movie that made me realize how much I love heist films. It’s the movie that made me aware of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. And it’s one of the most fun movies ever made, in my opinion.

This Rat Pack remake capitalizes on Soderbergh’s smooth style and affinity for making movies about career criminals, and it brings together an ensemble that makes it clear that the Ocean’s Eleven cast is one of the greatest ensembles of all time. Between Clooney’s undeniable charisma, Pitt’s snacking and irresistible sidekick, a myriad of other A-List actors at the top of their games, plus Soderbergh’s snappy pace, jazzy sound and timeless tone, this movie has stood the test of time and is a modern classic. 

 Rent/buy Ocean’s Eleven on Amazon. 

Well, there you have it, Steven Soderbergh’s top ten movies. Admittedly this was an extremely hard list to put together because of his wide breadth of work. However, in this list, you can see both the director’s range and tendency to lean into similar genres and tones. Overall, Steven Soderbergh’s career is remarkable, and his work is all worth checking out, including his film on the 2023 movie schedule, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, which hits theaters on February 10. 

I feel like you can’t give George Clooney a lifetime achievement award without acknowledging his legendary pranks. While we know Clooney for his best movies like Ocean’s Eleven and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, people have also come to know and love the actor for his hilarious hijinks. Now, all of this was brought to light as he watched his colleagues and friends praise him during the Kennedy Center Honors. Matt Damon honored his pal and fellow Ocean’s Eleven cast member by complimenting his pranking skills and retelling an outrageous story about Richard Kind, a cat and poop.

During the ceremony, many honored Clooney, including his Ticket to Paradise co-star Julia Roberts, Kind and Don Cheadle. Damon gave a fun speech about Clooney at The Kennedy Center saying: 

Clooney simply shrugged and smiled when the camera cut to him, as you can see in the video below: 

Now, as far as this kitty litter story goes, Clooney was roommates with Richard Kind, and while the Ocean’s actor was at home alone he was taking care of Spin City star's cat. Kind became concerned about his cat’s bowel movements, and he took the kitty to the vet, because Clooney did not inform the comedian that the cat was not constipated, he had been just taking care of the poop while Kind was gone.  The Oscar-winning actor recalled how all this led to an outrageous prank on the SmartLess podcast saying: 

Clooney continued the story, and he recalled the moment of clarity when he realized the ridiculous nature of what he was doing. He also revealed that realization came while he was “squatted down over a catbox.” The actor said: 

Then when his roommate got home he couldn’t believe what he saw. Clooney said he was in tears with laughter. And over time Kind figured it out, and got so mad; according to Clooney, the A Serious Man actor said:

Clooney recalled this story through laughter, and he went on to talk about other pranks he pulled on Richard Kind. 

At this point, I feel like Clooney’s pranks are legendary, and it’s so fun to see the tomfoolery he gets up to with his castmates and friends. While the pranks are wild they really all seem to love each other. However, they also aren’t afraid to throw some fun-loving shade in one another's direction. 

Damon is no stranger to this, as he and Ben Affleck joked about why Clooney hired Affleck instead of Damon for The Tender Bar. The Good Will Hunting star also cracked some jokes years ago about Clooney’s future as a father, but also lovingly noted his co-star would make a great dad.  

It’s always a blast to hear the Ocean’s Eleven cast poke fun at each other, especially when it involves Clooney’s pranks. And this year alone, between the Kennedy Center Honors speech from Damon, and Clooney and Julia Robert’s rom-com Ticket to Paradise on the 2022 movie schedule, we’ve been spoiled with iconic Clooney content.  

Matt Damon goes way back with the Affleck family. With he and Ben Affleck having been close friends in high school, they first professionally collaborated on Good Will Hunting, which involved some crying. Then in 2001, Damon and Casey Affleck, Ben’s younger brother, first appeared onscreen together in Ocean’s Eleven, and both men would return for the following two sequels. Now it’s been announced that these two are re-teaming for a new heist movie, one which will be accessible to Apple TV+ subscribers.

Apple Original Films’ The Instigators will bring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck back together, with the movie following two thieves who are forced to go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery gone south. According to Deadline, Doug Liman will direct off a script written by Chuck MacLean, and Damon will produce alongside Ben Affleck through their new banner Artists Equity. Studio 8’s Jeff Robinov and John Graham, as well as The Walsh Company’s Kevin Walsh, are also attached as producers, with Roving and Graham having developed the project with Casey Affleck.

The Instigators is the latest project to join the Artists Equity slate, which, as Deadline put it, “partners with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation.” The first project on this particular docket is an untitled movie about the creation of the Air Jordan brand, which Matt Damon is starring in and Ben Affleck is directing. That movie is expected to be among the 2023 movie releases, so as far as The Instigators goes, we likely won’t see it until 2024 at the earliest. 

The Instigators also marks Matt Damon’s reunion with Doug Liman, who previously directed the actor in 2002’s The Bourne Identity. Along with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck respectively playing Linus Caldwell and Virgil Malloy in the first three Ocean’s movies (Matt Damon did reprise his character for the spinoff Ocean’s 8, but his scene was cut), the two men also worked together on 2016’s Manchester by the Sea, which Damon produced and the younger Affleck starred in, later winning the Academy Award for Best Actor. As for Damon and Ben Affleck, they were last seen together onscreen in 2021’s The Last Duel, but it remains to be seen if the latter will have a role in The Instigators.

Ahead of The Instigators’ eventual release from Apple, both Matt Damon and Casey Affleck will next be seen as part of the gigantic Oppenheimer ensemble cast Christopher Nolan assembled. Damon will play Leslie Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, but Affleck’s character hasn’t been identified yet. Affleck also has a sci-fi movie on the way called Slingshot that co-stars Laurence Fishburne and Emily Beecham, but it doesn’t have a release date yet.

A few days ago we witnessed a rare occasion, Brad Pitt actually complimented his long-time pal George Clooney. Normally the two are always poking fun or throwing light-hearted shade at each other, so while there was a compliment Pitt also threw in just a hint of shade. Now, Clooney has responded in an A+ way to Pitt’s kind words, while he agreed with Pitt's compliment, he also noted that he does not 100% buy it. 

The two have a storied bromance. Ever since Ocean’s Eleven, the dynamic duo has been known for their shenanigans and pranks. Both actors are in the midst of promoting movies on the 2022 movie schedule, and their friendship has been coming up in interviews. Pitt was asked who the most handsome actor alive was, and while it came with an f-bomb, he did say it was George Clooney. Recently, Clooney was chatting with CBS Mornings, and when asked about Pitt’s comments he responded with: 

I wouldn’t expect anything else from Clooney. The snark is always real, especially with long-time costars. As he’s been on his press tour with Julia Roberts for their new movie Ticket to Paradise, the biting and simultaneously goofy comments have been flying left and right. Roberts, who also starred in Ocean’s with Pitt and Clooney, mentioned that she did the movie because it gave her a chance to be “really snarky to George.” 

The snark is for sure real on all sides, and I love it. All of this reminds me of the tomfoolery from the Ocean’s movies. For example, Clooney once pranked Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle by leaving them in a haunted house while filming Ocean’s Twelve. 

While the iconic heist movies, which are considered not only some of Clooney’s best movies but also some of Pitt’s best films, came out almost two decades ago, I’m so happy Pitt and Clooney are back on the screen in super fun movies. It seems like they’ve both been having a blast with their new projects this year. 

Pitt starred in the fun action comedy Bullet Train and popped up in the comedy The Lost City earlier this year. Meanwhile, Clooney has Ticket to Paradise coming out later this year. All these movies take me back to the Ocean’s days, but I just wish the two actors would work together again.

Oh, wait…they are! The two will be back together again in a new movie from Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts. Not much is known about the movie other than it will follow two “lone wolf fixers.” This all sounds kind of similar to the dynamic between Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan, making it perfect for Clooney and Pitt.

While this movie is a ways away, luckily both actors have projects coming out this year to get excited about. Hopefully, these upcoming movies and interviews will mean more playful jabs at each other. On top of these silly responses, you can catch Clooney with his heist wife Roberts in Ticket to Paradise in theaters on October 21. As for Pitt, you can go back and watch The Lost City and Bullet Train, he will also appear in the Old Hollywood epic Babylon on December 25. So, I feel pretty confident more Clooney/Pitt shinanigans are on their way. 

Ocean’s Eleven is an iconic movie, and George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s bromance is one of the reasons it works so well. This heist film set the precedent for the two to constantly poke fun at each other, even two decades after the film's release. However, in a recent interview, Pitt actually complimented Clooney, though not without using some flowery language beforehand. 

Both Clooney and Pitt have had a busy year, with multiple films on the 2022 film schedule between the two of them. Clooney is currently promoting his new rom-com Ticket to Paradise with Julia Roberts, another Ocean’s alumn. While Pitt has been promoting his summer blockbuster Bullet Train and will appear in Damien Chazelle’s Hollywood epic, Babylon, later this year. These press opportunities have brought their friendship back into the zeitgeist. While it's usually them making fun of each other, this time Pitt was complimentary to Clooney in an interview with Vogue saying: 

Obviously, Pitt couldn’t compliment his pal without calling him a “fucker”; I don’t think it’s in either of the actors’ natures to be 100% nice to each other all the time. There are always shenanigans, tomfoolery, and some light shade being thrown between these two. However, it’s always good fun. 

Ocean’s Eleven is considered one of George Clooney’s best movies, and among Pitt’s best films as well. It's also known for the iconic behind-the-scenes stories like Clooney's pranks and the shade thrown at whoever showed up to set last. I think these hilarious stories are a reason why the fun-loving bromance between Clooney and Pitt has stayed relevant for over two decades. 

Though, this year it seems like both actors have taken on projects that were almost as much fun to make as the Ocean’s trilogy. 

As mentioned earlier, Clooney is reuniting with his heist wife from the Ocean’s movies, Julia Roberts, in Ticket to Paradise. The movie comes out later in October but early reviews are showing lots of love for the duo’s chemistry. Roberts has admitted she did the movie to have a “chance to be really snarky to George.” That response alone is giving major Ocean’s energy which makes me super excited for this rom-com.  

Meanwhile, Pitt has shown up in two super fun and funny movies this year, appearing briefly in the action-rom-com The Lost City and starring in the action-comedy Bullet Train. 

Sadly, the two haven’t done a movie together in a while, but they do have a project in the works with Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts. Not only is this movie exciting, but the press tour the two are bound to do together will be oh so much fun. I can’t wait for the chaos of a Pitt/Clooney press tour, I’m sure more f-bombs, fun stories and the occasional complimentary answer are bound to happen. 

Something weird is in the air for October 2022, as Netflix subscription holders are about to find tricks, treats and surprises available for adding to their streaming queues. Seasonally spooky delights like the stop-motion horror-comedy Wendell and Wild, as well as the Scooby Doo movies, are being added to the library in the month to come. However, that doesn’t mean old standbys like the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy and Gladiator don’t have room to bring strength and honor to the folks at home.

Before we dive too far into the future, you can always revisit Netflix’s September 2022 schedule. There’s plenty of excitement that’s been debuting throughout this past month of streaming additions, and there might be even more Halloween-friendly titles that you may have forgotten about. At this point, it’s time to get ready to see what October 2022 will be bringing to the big red streaming giant!

New On Netflix Available October 1: Gladiator, The Ocean’s Trilogy, Point Break, And More

Revenge, thievery and an extremely eclectic assortment of wardrobe kick open the doors to October 2022. George Clooney and his all-star gang try to grab as much loot as they can in the Ocean’s Trilogy, and they dress pretty stylish wherever they go.

Meanwhile, swords, sandals and togas get ruined in many legendarily brutal ways thanks to Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe’s classic Gladiator. All this, plus Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze hanging ten in-between bank jobs in Point Break, await Netflix viewers straight away.

17 Again
30 Minutes or Less
60 Days In: Season 3
Any Given Sunday
Barbie: It Takes Two: Season 2
Call Me by Your Name
Charlotte's Web (2006)
Chocolat
City Slickers
The Color Purple
Gladiator
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
I Love You, Man
Labyrinth
Land of the Lost
Last Seen Alive
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
National Lampoon's European Vacation
National Lampoon's Vacation
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Thirteen
Ocean's Twelve
Point Break (1991)
Risky Business
Robin Hood
Runaway Bride
Rush Hour
Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 3
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Sex and the City 2
Sex and the City: The Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
Vegas Vacation
Walking Tall
Wedding Crashers
Yes Man

New On Netflix The Week Of October 2: Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, The Midnight Club, And More

Stephen King is the master of horror, so it only seems fair that the latest adaptation of one of his works would drop at this time of year. As you’ll see in the trailer for Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, another long distance connection to the afterlife has taken hold thanks to a very special iPhone. 

On the TV side of things, frequent King adaptor and Netflix darling Mike Flanagan has a new series that brings one of author Christopher Pike’s novels to vibrant, shrieking life. Based on what we know about The Midnight Club series, it’s like another cozy, but spooky blanket for the horror fans out there to curl up into.

Forever Queens - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/2/22
Chip and Potato: Season 4 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/3/22
Jexi - 10/3/22
Hasan Minhaj: The King's Jester - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/4/22
Bling Empire: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/5/22
High Water - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/5/22
Jumping from High Places - NETFLIX FILM - 10/5/22
Mr. Harrigan's Phone - NETFLIX FILM - 10/5/22
Nailed It!: Season 7 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/5/22
The Fight for Justice: Paolo Guerrero - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/5/22
The Trapped 13: How We Survived The Thai Cave - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/5/22
Togo - NETFLIX FILM - 10/5/22
Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/6/22
The Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/6/22
Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/7/22
Derry Girls: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/7/22
Doll House - NETFLIX FILM - 10/7/22
Glitch - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/7/22
Kev Adams: The Real Me - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/7/22
Luckiest Girl Alive - NETFLIX FILM - 10/7/22
Man on Pause - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/7/22
The Midnight Club - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/7/22
The Mole - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/7/22
Oddballs - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/7/22
Old People - NETFLIX FILM - 10/7/22
The Redeem Team - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/7/22
TIGER & BUNNY 2 Part 2 - NETFLIX ANIME - 10/7/22

New On Netflix The Week Of October 9: Missing Link, The Curse Of Bridge Hollow, And More

Creature features and monster mayhem aren’t just for the grown-ups in the audience this month. Netflix still has some wonderful options for kids and parents to gather around, thanks to the addition of movies like Laika’s heartwarming Missing Link. Though if you want something a little more fast paced, Marlon Wayans and Stranger Things star Priah Ferguson are also set to battle The Curse of Bridge Hollow this same week.  

Missing Link - 10/9/22
LEGO Ninjago: Season 4 Crystallized- Part 2 - 10/10/22
Spirit Rangers - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/10/22
The Cage - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/11/22
DEAW#13 Udom Taephanich Stand Up Comedy Show - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/11/22
Iliza Shlesinger: Hot Forever - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/11/22
Island of the Sea Wolves - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/11/22
Belascoarán, PI - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/12/22
Blackout - 10/12/22
Easy-Bake Battle - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/12/22
The Nutty Boy - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/12/22
Wild Croc Territory - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/12/22
Dead End: Paranormal Park: Season 2 -- NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/13/22
Exception - NETFLIX ANIME - 10/13/22
The Playlist - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/13/22
The Sinner: Season 4: Percy - 10/13/22
Someone Borrowed - NETFLIX FILM - 10/13/22
Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/13/22
Black Butterflies - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/14/22
The Curse of Bridge Hollow - NETFLIX FILM - 10/14/22
Everything Calls for Salvation - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/14/22
Holy Family - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/14/22
Mismatched: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/14/22
Take 1 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/14/22
Blippi's Spooky Spell Halloween - 10/15/22
Under the Queen’s Umbrella - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/15/22

New On Netflix The Week Of October 16: Love Is Blind Season 3 Premiere, Dracula Untold, And More

Let’s take a brief moment from scaring ourselves this week, courtesy of the premiere of Love is Blind Season 3! Then again, romance and horror tend to find a way to intertwine, much as they do in the pieces of Luke Evans’ big Universal Monsters adventure Dracula Untold. Sadly, if you’re looking for more of that particular story, the film’s Dark Universe end credits tease only further highlights the fact that this potential franchise lived up to its name.

Dracula Untold - 10/16/22
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am - 10/16/22
Waffles + Mochi's Restaurant - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/17/22
Gabriel Iglesias: Stadium Fluffy Live From Los Angeles - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/18/22
LiSA Another Great Day - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/18/22
Somebody Feed Phil: Season 6 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/18/22
Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 3 - NETFLIX SERIES (New episodes weekly) - 10/18/22
The Green Glove Gang - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/19/22
Love Is Blind: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES (New episodes weekly) - 10/19/22
Notre-Dame - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/19/22
The School for Good and Evil - NETFLIX FILM - 10/19/22
The Stranger - NETFLIX FILM - 10/19/22
28 Days Haunted - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/21/22
Barbarians II - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/21/22
Descendant - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/21/22
From Scratch - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/21/22
High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/21/22
ONI: Thunder God's Tale - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/21/22
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/21/22
LOL Surprise! Winter Fashion Show - 10/22/22

New On Netflix The Week Of October 23: The Good Nurse, Big Mouth Season 6, Wendell And Wild, And More

Truth can be scarier than fiction, as is depicted in The Good Nurse, one of the many 2022 Netfilx movies set to debut this year. Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain square off in a potentially murderous mystery based on real-life events. So if that hits too close to home, there’s still plenty of fun with monsters to enjoy thanks to the very adult series Big Mouth and the reunion of Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele known as Wendell and Wild. It’s all about range, folks.

Franco Escamilla: Eavesdropping - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/23/22
The Chalk Line - NETFLIX FILM - 10/24/22
Barbie Epic Road Trip - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/25/22
Blade of the 47 Ronin - 10/25/22
Fortune Feimster: Good Fortune - NETFLIX COMEDY - 10/25/22
Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/25/22
Fugitive: The Curious Case of Carlos Ghosn - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/26/22
The Good Nurse - NETFLIX FILM - 10/26/22
Hellhole - NETFLIX FILM - 10/26/22
Robbing Mussolini - NETFLIX FILM - 10/26/22
Cici - NETFLIX FILM - 10/27/22
Daniel Spellbound - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/27/22
Dubai Bling - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/27/22
Earthstorm - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/27/22
Family Reunion: Part 5 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 10/27/22
Hotel Transylvania 2 - 10/27/22
Romantic Killer - NETFLIX ANIME - 10/27/22
All Quiet on the Western Front - NETFLIX FILM - 10/28/22
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/28/22
Big Mouth: Season 6 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/28/22
Drink Masters - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/28/22
I AM A STALKER - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/28/22
If Only - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/28/22
My Encounter with Evil - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 10/28/22
Wendell & Wild - NETFLIX FILM - 10/28/22
Wild is the Wind - NETFLIX FILM - 10/28/22
Deadwind: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 10/29/22

New On Netflix TBD October 2022

Here’s a look at some titles that are set to debut on Netflix in October 2022, but don’t have a specific release date yet. Which is a crime, considering the new original series Inside Man has Stanley Tucci and David Tennant starring front and center. How do you expect people to wait for something with that very pairing to debut?

20th Century Girl - NETFLIX FILM
Inside Man - NETFLIX SERIES

As you can imagine, October 2022 is another pretty big month for Netflix. Just be sure that you take a look at the schedule from time to time, as titles are subject to change and availability. That bump in the night might just be your next true crime obsession shifting to another week of debut. 

Not to mention, we didn’t even get to mention all of the cool stuff that’s included in October’s Netflix haul, like the stellar looking anthology Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. So take a closer look at what’s in store before you go filling out your calendar. That’s all for this round, which means we’ll see you back here around this time next month in order to go over November 2022’s Netflix surprises! 

Las Vegas. Sin City, a place where those who are looking for a little bit of luck can retreat and gamble – a true paradise for those looking to have fun. Which makes it the perfect setting for a movie. 

The famous Nevada city has had several movies set within its confines, from hilarious comedies that are some of the funniest movies out there, to Zack Snyder features that will take you into a zombie apocalypse. From casinos to schools to heists, Las Vegas-set films have it all. These are some of the best movies set in Las Vegas, and where you can stream them.

The Hangover (2009)

If you want a classic comedy, check out The Hangover. Released in 2009, this film follows a group of friends who decide to go to Vegas to celebrate a wedding. The next morning, none of them can find the groom, and they also have no memory of what happened the night before. Now, it's a race against the clock to retrace their steps and find him before time runs out. 

The Hangover is honestly an absolute Las Vegas classic. I feel like whenever I think of the city, this is one of the first films that comes to mind. All of The Hangover movies are funny, but nothing can quite beat the first. The chemistry The Hangover cast has is impeccable and it’s just so dang funny. This movie defined my middle school years and still continues to be one of my favorite comedies to date. You just have to love it.

Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Oh, you want old-school Vegas? You’re getting old-school Vegas. Viva Las Vegas is a classic musical starring Elvis Presley and Anne-Margret in a simple love story. A race-car driver is trying to mind his business while waiting for the ultimate competition - the Grand Prix. However, his life turns upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams in Las Vegas while he’s working to save up money for a new engine. 

I mean, if you’ve ever heard of the song “Viva Las Vegas” from Elvis, it’s from this movie. And, with a musical starring the King of Rock and Roll himself, you know the tunes are going to be banging. While Las Vegas in the film looks nothing like Las Vegas does today, it still has that same Vegas vibe, and the chemistry that these two share is great. 

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

If you’re looking for a heist comedy that takes place in Las Vegas, you have to check out Ocean’s Eleven. A remake of the original film released back in the 1960s (which you should also check out if you like this one), this story follows Danny Ocean and his criminal buddies, who decide to pull the ultimate heist in the city of sin - to rob $160 million from a casino owner. The twist? The casino owner’s girlfriend also happens to be Ocean’s ex-wife, creating an even more chaotic scenario. 

Ocean’s Eleven is iconic for so many reasons. The background of Las Vegas is expertly used and the action scenes are phenomenal, but what does it for me is the outstanding Ocean’s Eleven cast. You have the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle - all of these Hollywood powerhouses in the same film. And if you end up liking Ocean’s Eleven, there’s a whole Ocean’s franchise for you to watch after. 

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

James Bond’s contribution to movies set in Las Vegas is Diamonds Are Forever. Like everything Bond (Sean Connery) does, it oozes cool in 1960s Vegas. The main action takes place on Fremont Street decades before it was closed to traffic. That’s a good thing too, since there is a pretty epic car chase along the original Strip. Of course, there is also a great gambling scene featuring Bond playing craps, alongside Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood). 

The Godfather (1971)

There isn’t a ton of Las Vegas in The Godfather none of the scenes set in Sin City were filmed there. However, who doesn’t think that Moe Greene could be running your hotel in Vegas? Not to mention thinking of Fredo every time you meet a cocktail waitress. In the sequel, many scenes were filmed in Nevada, but again, not in Las Vegas. Still, it’s a Vegas movie. 

Pay It Forward (2000)

In this sweet romantic drama, Pay It Forward stars Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment, telling the story of a young boy who wants to make a difference in the world. So he decides to start a new movement called “pay it forward,” not knowing the impact that it would have not only on his community, but on those he loves, as well. 

Truthfully, this is the only Las Vegas centered movie on this list that I can fully recommend for families, just because many of the others have pretty adult scenes or a lot of gore or violence, but Pay It Forward is just a sweet film. While the reviews at the time of its release weren’t the best, I can look back on it with a smile because I enjoy simple love stories. 

Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Starring Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue, Leaving Las Vegas is an amazing drama, based on a book of the same name. This film follows a man who has lost his family and his job so he decides to give up on everything and move to Las Vegas so he can drink himself to death and live the rest of his days alone. But, while he’s there, he ends up meeting Elisabeth Shue's character and forming a relationship with her. 

Leaving Las Vegas is arguably the saddest film on this list, as it deals with really heavy issues such as suicide and depression, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great film featuring wonderful acting. Nicolas Cage is stellar and ended up winning an Oscar for his role in the film, and Elisabeth Shue also scored several nominations, as well. It’s such a great film to watch, especially if you want an amazing movie set in Las Vegas. 

Rain Man (1988)

Many people who go to Las Vegas dream of hitting it big at the blackjack table. Counting cards would be a big help, but it’s not that easy. There is one movie character for whom it is natural though. Ray Babbitt (Dustin Hoffman) in Rain Man can’t help but count cards and he’s darn good at it. It’s a little nasty that his brother Charlie (Tom Cruise) manipulates him into it, but it still makes us dream big. 

Vegas Vacation (1997)

Even we have to admit that Vegas Vacation is easily the worst installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise, but that doesn’t mean it won’t put you in the mood for a trip to the Las Vegas Valley. There are some sneaky funny parts, like Wallace Shawn as the unscrupulous dealer, and Ethan Embry's Rusty as "Mr. Papagiorgio." Plus Audrey takes a trip to one of the coolest tourist spots in town, the Neon Museum. 

Bugsy (1991)

You can’t tell the story of Las Vegas without Ben “Bugsy” Siegel. Siegel was a mobster connected to Meyer Lansky and Murder, Inc. in New York. He is credited with the birth of the famous Las Vegas Strip when he built the Flamingo in the 1940s. Bugsy, starring Warren Beatty as Siegel, tells the story of the mobster, and the construction of the Flamingo. Amazingly, the hotel is still open, the oldest hotel on The Strip. 

Honeymoon In Vegas (1992)

Honeymoon in Vegas is one of the most underrated comedies of the 1990s. Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicolas Cage, and James Caan are all brilliant in this movie about a proposal gone wrong in Las Vegas. It’s filled with showgirls, gambling, flying Elvises, and everything else that screams “Sin City.” Cage is especially hilarious in the movie. 

Now You See Me (2013)

Next up on the list, we have Now You See Me. Another heist film but with a twist of magic, this fun movie (which also has a great sequel) follows a group of magicians who are skilled in what they do – so skilled, in fact, that they are able to use their magic talent to rob banks and other places, often handing off much of their earnings to the audiences they perform for, while keeping some for themselves. 

This is such a fun heist movie. As someone who loves the magicians who are often featured in Las Vegas, the take they do in Now You See Me – with them all being bank robbers – is just so inventive and something that I really loved to see. It’s creative, and with a talented Now You See Me cast, the chemistry is all there for this magic show. 

Ocean's Eleven (1960)

If you want a real taste of “cool” 1960s Vegas, look no further than the original Ocean’s Eleven starring the members of the Rat Pack as the thieves. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr, and Dean Martin lead the all-star cast in a movie that was, of course, remade in the 21st century with an equally star-studded cast. If we’re honest, the stories about the making of the movie, with all the stars hanging out in Vegas together, are better than the movie, but it’s still super fun to watch. 

Swingers (1996)

“Vegas, baby!” Those two words might just be the most quoted words from visitors to Sin City. They come, of course, from Swingers. While the movie, starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau is really more about LA, you can’t have a list like this and not include it because of the iconic scenes in Las Vegas. From meeting the women at the top of the Rio Hotel at the old Voodoo Lounge to the $100 minimum blackjack table, it’s Vegas through and through.

The Cooler (2003)

Starring William H. Macy, in one of his best films, The Cooler is a fantastic movie that you definitely can’t miss. In this film, a man who works as a casino "cooler" (a person who seems to keep gamblers from winning) is quite good at his job, but everything changes when he ends up meeting a lovely woman - and he falls in love with her. Now, he has to figure out his next move when his gift of cooling people's gambling luck begins to fade. 

The Cooler is one of the best movies on this list. It was critically acclaimed when it first came out, and the film has some amazing acting. Alec Baldwin, for example, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. William H. Macy got a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor as well - it’s such a good story and one you should definitely watch. 

Casino (1995)

You know, I’m only just now starting to realize how many crime and heist movies there are on this list because, dang, there’s a lot. Casino, a classic Las Vegas film, stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci, and tells the story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein, an expert handicapper in gambling who is given the shot to run Tangier Casino for the mob. 

Casino, hands down, is the best film on this list in terms of pure quality. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Casino does an excellent job of showing how casinos were once run by mobs and had a lot of dirty business behind them, but also portrays the story of Ace in a way where you can’t help but want to learn more about him as he begins to change. 

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)

One of the most revered stories about Las Vegas is, of course, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Starring Johnny Depp, this black comedy is based on the epic book by Hunter S. Thompson and details the story of Thompson and "his attorney" who are tasked with covering the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas their trip gets turned upside down. 

While the film originally bombed at the box office, it’s so fun to re-watch now, as the performances are stellar, and of course, Johnny Depp always rocks whatever role he’s usually in. The partnership between Depp and Benicio del Toro, though, as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, flows so well and makes their psychedelic story that much more fun.

Showgirls (1995)

There are some things about Showgirls that are laughably bad. The dialog is unintentionally hilarious and the plot is really just an excuse for all the racey scenes and nothing more. Director Paul Verhoeven has said the movie was misunderstood in its day, but it hasn’t aged well, either. Still, it has some great scenes in Vegas and harkens back to the day of showgirls and the shows they performed in, which are all but gone today. 

21 (2008)

One of the big reasons that people return to Las Vegas over and over is the dream of hitting it big in the casino. In 21, the movie based on the true story of MIT Blackjack team, that dream is re-enforced by convincing card players that they can count cards and take down the house. It’s a pipe dream, but it sure looks glamorous! 

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

Ocean’s Twelve took Danny and the crew to Europe, but the third movie in the series, Ocean’s Thirteen, brings them back to Las Vegas. The target of their heist is different, but the goal is the same, to embarrass and bankrupt him. This time the antagonist is played by Al Pacino and while the movie hits a lot of the same beats as the first one, the heist is different enough to still make it original and fun. Plus, it's always a treat to see Brad Pitt and George Clooney work together.

Con Air (1997)

Con Air is a masterpiece and fans of the movie will always go to the mat for it, even if doesn't always make sense. While most of it takes place in the sky, of course, the plane crashing into the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is the most iconic scene in the movie. The final chase scene all takes place in Sin City, so it definitely counts for this list. Put the bunny back in the box. 

Indecent Proposal (1993)

Robert Redford, Demi Moore, and Woody Harrelson all-star in the controversial movie Indecent Proposal. Like another Vegas movie, Honeymoon in Vegas, the plot centers around a…well…proposal that a rich guy makes to a struggling couple who lose at the tables in Las Vegas. It’s a much darker movie, of course, and it was criticized a lot when it was released for its premise, but it was a hit. It might not get you in the mood to hit it big though. 

Go (1999)

Director Doug Limen’s second movie, after Swingers, also takes place in Las Vegas. Go is a very different movie though. It’s a frenetic, wild adventure about locals in Las Vegas partying, and partying hard. While it was a moderate hit when it was released, it was acclaimed by most critics and has a pretty healthy cult following today. The film feels like a blur, in the best way, just like a good trip to Las Vegas does. 

Hard Eight (1996)

True to his style, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Las Vegas movie (in his feature directorial debut), Hard Eight is a brooding, methodically paced character study. It also leans heavily into the darker side of casinos, gambling, and Las Vegas. If you’re looking for a party movie, this one isn’t it. But if you want a great director cutting his teeth on an intriguing story with the glitz in the background, this is the one you want. 

Mars Attacks! (1996)

In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the desert outside of Las Vegas was used to test nuclear devices by the US military, so it makes sense that aliens might pick there to land. Anyway, Vegas is the perfect setting for one of Tim Burton’s best movies, Mars Attacks! The ensemble cast goes all out in this spoof of, and love letter to, sci-fi films of the 1950s. If you want to see Vegas get destroyed, this one’s for you. 

3000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

3000 Miles to Graceland has everything you want in a Vegas movie. A super charismatic cast robbing a casino with plenty of witty banter to around, not to mention all the Elvis impersonators you’ll ever see in one place, drives this underrated gem from 2001. It’s got plenty of action too. 

What Happens in Vegas (2008)

We will concede that most of the romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas actually takes place in New York City, but with a title like that – the catchphrase we’re all familiar with – it has to be here. Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher do what so many others have done, they get a quickie marriage after an epic night out in Sin City. They spend the rest of the movie hating each while falling in love with each other, naturally. 

One From The Heart (1982)

Francis Ford Coppola has made some of the most revered movies in Hollywood history, but One from the Heart is not usually listed among them. His 1982 musical/rom-com set in Vegas has garnered a bit of a cult following in the years since it was released and bombed at the box office. Teri Garr and Frederic Forrest have great chemistry and while the movie was mostly shot on soundstages, there is a great scene with the two of them separately walking around Fremont St. in Downtown Vegas. 

Fever Pitch (1985)

Not to be confused with the 2005 movie starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon, this Fever Pitch, from 20 years earlier is about a degenerate gambler played by Ryan O'Neal trying to win enough money to pay off another gambling debt. It definitely shows the dark side of gambling, as he struggles to get over his addiction while trying to win at the same time. 

They Came to Rob Las Vegas (1968)

Everyone loves a good heist film, and They Came to Rob Las Vegas is a fun one. Anytime a crew gets together to steal from the mob, it’s going to make for an intense heist. Gary Lockwood and Jack Palance star in this oft-overlooked flick that isn’t the best movie on this list but still has some great shots of the city and the surrounding desert. 

Jason Bourne (2016)

The Jason Bourne series has taken Matt Damon’s titular character all over the world and in his return to the franchise in 2016’s Jason Bourne, he finally goes to Las Vegas. The car chase along The Strip is fantastic and if you love Vegas and great car chases, this one is not to be missed. 

Army Of The Dead (2021)

If you want some zombies, we've got the film for you. The Netflix original, Army of the Dead, released in 2021 features Vegas in a post-apocalyptic state, overrun by zombies. However, when a group of mercenaries are given the chance to steal millions of dollars from a casino before the city is nuked, they throw caution to the wind and dive headfirst into the army of the dead in the hopes that this money will change their lives.

Army of the Dead is so much fun. Often compared to Zack Snyder’s other zombie film, Dawn of the Dead, this one takes the setting of Las Vegas to another level. That, paired with the amazing Army of the Dead cast and some sick casino action scenes, makes this movie a hit. 

With all these great picks, I bet it might be hard to pick just one but trust me when I say no matter what you end up picking, you’re going to have a great time watching them no matter what. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to go and re-watch Army of the Dead again for the millionth time.  

Margot Robbie has been a major Hollywood player ever since she was catapulted to worldwide fame thanks to Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street. Among the highlights of the actress’ resume are playing Harley Quinn in the Suicide Squad movies and Birds of Prey, as well as starring as the upcoming Barbie movie’s eponymous protagonist. Well, word’s come in that Robbie has joined another big franchise: the world of Ocean’s Eleven.

According to THR, Margot Robbie is re-teaming with Bombshell director Jay Roach for a new Ocean’s movie Robbie will both star in and produce alongside Tom Ackerley through their LuckyChap production company (Roach is also producing with Michelle Graham, his partner from Everyman Pictures). This new entry in the Ocean’s franchise, which is being written by Carrie Solomon, will take place in Europe during the ‘60s, but no other plot details have been revealed. It’s also important to mention that although Warner Bros. Pictures hasn’t officially greenlit this Ocean’s prequel, it is in active development, and the goal is to begin production in spring 2023.

The Ocean’s franchise kicked off in 2001 with Ocean’s Eleven, a loose remake of 1960’s Ocean’s 11 that starred five members of the Rat Pack. That first modern Ocean’s movie, which boasted an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts, was a critical and commercial success, paving the way for 2004’s Ocean’s Twelve and 2007’s Ocean’s Thirteen. 11 years after the original Ocean’s trilogy concluded, Warner Bros. released the spinoff Ocean’s 8, which featured an all-female lead cast anchored by Sandra Bullock’s Debbie Ocean, the sister of Clooney’s Danny Ocean. Ocean’s 8 made nearly $298 million worldwide and was met with more positive reviews than negative ones.

Evidently though, Warner Bros. is more keen on taking the Ocean’s franchise down another creative path rather than picking up where Ocean’s 8 left off. Still, assuming the Ocean family is featured in this prequel, that would suggest that Margot Robbie’s character will be related to Danny and Debbie Ocean; perhaps she’s their mother or aunt? Whoever she ends up playing, THR also said in its report that Ocean’s has “evolved into a recognizable brand,” and this prequel will allow WB to “stack the deck with big names and colorful locales.”

Assuming this Ocean’s prequel moves forward, it and the aforementioned Barbie aren’t the only movies Margot Robbie has coming up. This year sees her starring in David O. Russell’s Amsterdam and Damian Chazelle’s Babylon, the latter of which features Robbie as silent film actress Clara Bow. Robbie is also set to star with Tilda Swinton and Bill Murray (among big names) in Wes Anderson’s next flick, Asteroid City.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more information on what’s happening with the Ocean’s prequel. There are also plenty of 2022 movie releases to keep you entertained while waiting for that next update.

When it comes to some of the queens of rom-coms, Julia Roberts is a name that always comes to mind, because of some of her classics such as Pretty Woman or My Best Friend’s Wedding. However, over her time in the acting industry, Roberts has proven just how capable of an actress she is, from dramas to action films to fantasy. 

With a career that spans several decades, here are some of Julia Roberts’ best movies and how you can stream them right now. 

Erin Brockovich (2000)

First up on the list, we have Erin Brockovich, a biographical legal drama about a real-life woman who played a major role in a major lawsuit against PG&E, which led to one of the largest settlements ever in a direct-action lawsuit.

The film is a brilliant time from start to finish, with a story that will truly captivate you. Erin Brockovich was actually nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Julia Roberts - which she ended up winning, so if that’s not enough for you to think this is one of Roberts’ best movies, I don’t know what is. She truly shines. 

Stream Erin Brockovich on Peacock. 
Rent Erin Brockovich on Amazon.

Pretty Woman (1990)

You want a classic romantic comedy? Check out Pretty Woman. This classic film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere is all about a prostitute who is hired to be an escort for a wealthy man for a week, but over this time, they end up falling for each other. 

I feel like when a lot of people think of Julia Roberts, this is one of the first films that you think of, and honestly, for good reason. Her and Richard Gere’s chemistry is some of the best you will ever see in a romantic comedy, and their love story doesn’t feel forced at all. The whole entire movie is filled with hilarious moments, cute love scenes, and Julia Roberts rocking this role. There are so many amazing behind-the-scenes facts about this movie. 

Rent Pretty Woman on Amazon.

Hook (1991)

Now this is a fantasy movie I think all of us can get behind. In Hook, Peter Pan is all grown up and has forgotten about the magic of Neverland, but when his children are stolen from him by Hook, he must return back to the magic to not only save his family but become a better person. 

Hook is hands down one of my favorite fantasy movies from when I was a kid, and a big thanks is to the amazing cast. Not only is Julia Roberts freaking awesome as Tinker Bell, giving the fantasy character a whole new personality that I never would have expected, but everyone else shines as well, from Dustin Hoffman as Hook to Robin Williams as Peter Pan. Hook is so much fun and I think you’ll enjoy it too. 

Stream Hook on Netflix. 
Rent Hook on Amazon.

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

Let’s get ready for another rom-com, shall we? In My Best Friend’s Wedding, two best friends years ago made a promise that if they weren’t married by 28, they would marry each other. When the man is set to marry someone else, she realizes that she’s been in love with him her whole life - and now, takes it upon herself to win him over before his wedding. 

Man, this is one of my favorite romantic comedies, just for the fact that Roberts stars in it. She is so phenomenal in the role of Julianne Potter that I often consider it one of her best roles. The ways in which she tries to win Michael (played by Dermot Mulroney) back are some of the wackiest moments, and truly make the movie so much fun. Side note - Cameron Diaz as Kimmy was also a stellar pick and I love her scenes with Roberts. They should have been in more movies together before Diaz retired. 

Stream My Best Friend’s Wedding on Pluto TV. 
Rent My Best Friend’s Wedding on Amazon.

Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Another romantic comedy that Roberts rocks. Eat, Pray, Love, based on the novel of the same name, is about a woman who is feeling unfulfilled in her life, so she sets out on a long journey to three separate countries - Italy, India, and Bali - in order to eat, pray, love, and find herself. 

While this film isn’t as good as the book (as someone who has read it), I can say that I still feel Roberts did amazing in this movie for the role she was given. She captures the essence of Liz Gilbert well and really shows what it’s like to go on this adventure all by yourself, mixed in with some beautiful cinematography of these astounding countries. 

Stream Eat, Pray, Love on Starz. 
Rent Eat, Pray, Love on Amazon.

Notting Hill (1999)

Guess what? We have another rom-com. Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts, shows just what it’s like when one moment can change your life, and that’s the case of William Thacker, a man who owns an unsuccessful bookshop on Notting Hill, and has a chance encounter with one of the most beautiful women in the world, a famous actress, who walks right through his door. 

Notting Hill is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, and that’s thanks in part to Julia Roberts great acting alongside Hugh Grant. These two created such a great romantic comedy that made me smile, laugh, cry, and everything else in-between. If they ever decided to make a sequel to this movie, I would be 100% in. 

Rent Notting Hill on Amazon.

Steel Magnolias (1989)

This comedy-drama film is one of the movies that gave Roberts her fame. Steel Magnolias is all about the bonds of friendship, and what it means to a group of women in a small, Southern town, and how it affects them when one of their own passes on. 

Roberts, at this time, wasn’t the huge star that she would become later on, but even watching Steel Magnolias now still astounds me as to how she didn’t become super famous earlier, as she is great in this role and her range is amazing. Heck, the whole cast is - it’s certainly one of Sally Field’s best movies, but now, I can fully say it's one of Roberts’ best films as well. 

Stream Steel Magnolias on Starz. 
Rent Steel Magnolias on Amazon.

Stepmom (1998)

Moving onto a great drama film, we take a look at Stepmom. Starring Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, this film tells the story of a divorced couple who are struggling to co-parent their kids, but life doesn't get any easier when a new woman enters into her ex-husband’s life, and changes everything she ever knew. 

There was a rumor going around back then that Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts were feuding while on set, but that turned out to be just a lie. And honestly, thank goodness, because these two women were fantastic together. I could re-watch stepmom anytime because of both Roberts and Sarandon’s acting skills, as they rock their roles and really show what it’s like when someone new starts to enter into the life of your children.  

Stream Stepmom on Netflix. 
Rent Stepmom on Amazon.

Mystic Pizza (1988)

Another romantic comedy, let’s go. Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts, is all about the titular pizza place called Mystic Pizzeria in the town of Mystic, and three waitresses who have a special bond together, mainly following them during one particular summer that changes their lives forever. 

This is another one of those movies that truly outdid itself and showed off how skilled Julia Roberts was at acting before she became a huge star. I loved her character, Daisy, and her relationship with Charles feels like one that anyone could relate to. Also, that pizza was looking so damn good throughout this movie and I really want to try it. Crap, I’m hungry now. 

Stream Mystic Pizza on Pluto TV. 
Rent Mystic Pizza on Amazon.

August: Osage County (2013)

August: Osage County is a drama that demonstrates what it’s like for a dysfunctional family to come back together. After years of being apart, the Weston family is forced to reunite again after a crisis pops up, bringing them all back to the home they grew up in in Oklahoma, as well as the mother who raised them. 

Julia Roberts is Barbara in this film, the eldest daughter of the main character and I connect with her heavily in this movie. You can see from a mile away that she feels so much pressure as the oldest, and how much she had to grow up at such a young age because of her family’s issues. Also, she stars alongside a queen of cinema herself, Meryl Streep, and these two truly have some awesome scenes together. 

Stream August: Osage County on Netflix. 
Rent August: Osage County on Amazon.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Last but not least, we have Ocean’s Eleven, a heist/action film that is so much fun. This movie, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts, follows two friends who end up planning a heist to steal several millions of dollars from a casino owner with a personal relationship to them. 

To be honest, thank God that George Clooney convinced Roberts to join in on this movie, because I can not imagine anyone else playing her role in Ocean’s Eleven. Her role as Tess Ocean was outstanding and her scenes with Clooney were top-tier. I could practically feel the sexual tension oozing from the screen and it made me want to watch so many more movies of them together. Good thing it seems like they’ll be teaming up again soon, so maybe I’ll get my wish. 

Stream Ocean’s Eleven on HBO Max. 
Rent Ocean’s Eleven on Amazon.

Roberts is still making movies even now, so who knows? This list might get changed up with some of her new movies coming out. But until then, I know I can always count on these movies and their stories, alongside Roberts’ great acting. 

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been a legendary Hollywood friendship ever since the pair teamed up to make Good Will Hunting back in 1997. Since landing on the map for the award-winning movie, the actors have each carved out their own impressive careers over the years. Still, as you can imagine, there is some friendly competition, especially when it comes to their mutual collaborator, George Clooney, whom Damon starred alongside in Ocean's Eleven. 

Ben Affleck recently worked with George Clooney for the latter’s latest directorial project, The Tender Bar. In the drama, Affleck plays a character named Uncle Charlie, who forms a relationship with a young boy living in Long Island. Matt Damon recently told Entertainment Weekly that he had his eye on the film too while speaking with Ben Affleck about the role. In Damon’s words: 

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have a close relationship to this day, and had a phone call conversation when Affleck nabbed The Tender Bar role. Damon was excited for him, but proceeded to call his Ocean’s Eleven collaborator to ask why he wasn’t the one to get the call. Affleck responded: 

It’s a fun exchange between two talented actors about another talented actor/director they’ve both had the honor to work with over the years. Matt Damon and George Clooney were co-stars in all three Ocean’s movies, but the pair have also worked together on 2002’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and 2014’s The Monuments Men, both of which Clooney starred and directed in. Damon and Clooney also re-teamed on 2017’s Suburbicon, though Clooney didn't appear on camera in that one.

Alternatively, The Tender Bar is the only movie George Clooney has directed to include Ben Affleck. It was about time, don’t you think? But considering Matt Damon’s longtime working relationship, you can imagine why he might wonder he wasn’t in the conversation. Damon and Affleck clearly have developed a lightness about the whole thing. Can you imagine how many projects they’ve both been considered for or been jealous of the other for? 

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon recently wrote and starred in their first movie together since Good Will Hunting, The Last Duel, which was directed by Ridley Scott. We’d guess these two are far from over yet – maybe next time we’ll get an Affleck, Clooney and Damon movie! 

Even the most innocent and forgiving souls can understand the feeling of wanting to punish those who have treated them wrong, which is why revenge movies like John Wick, star and director Dev Patel's Monkey Man, and other classic tales of characters getting the revenge they deserve are so appealing. Of course, the concept alone is so simple and so familiar that only a handful of films have managed to pull off a truly unique and captivating take on the matter, and we believe we have compiled the best revenge movies that are now available on streaming, for digital rental, or to purchase on physical media.

Django Unchained (2012)

In the pre-Civil War South, a Black man (Jamie Foxx) is freed and enlisted for help by a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) who teaches him the tricks of the trade.

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: Even before the plot to rescue Django’s wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), from Calvin Candie’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) plantation kicks in, watching Django Unchained’s title character punish those who tormented him during his enslavement already makes Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award winner one of the best Western movies of all time.

Stream Django Unchained on Starz.
Rent or buy Django Unchained on Amazon.
Buy Django Unchained on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Promising Young Woman (2020)

A medical school dropout (Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan) conspires against the people involved with a personal tragedy that continues to haunt her. 

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: Emerald Fennell earned a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for feature-length directorial debut, Promising Young Woman – a clever, twisted vigilante story.

Stream Promising Young Woman on Peacock.
Rent or buy Promising Young Woman on Amazon.
Buy Promising Young Woman on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Gift (2015)

A man (Jason Bateman) sees his life begin to unravel after he and his wife (Rebecca Hall) run into a man from his past (Joel Edgerton).

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: Without giving too much away, The Gift – also Edgerton’s feature-length directorial debut – is not your typical revenge story, due the fact that it does not reveal itself to be one early on and keeps you guessing over who to root for throughout.

Stream The Gift on Netflix.
Rent or buy The Gift on Amazon.
Buy The Gift on Blu-ray on Amazon.

9 To 5 (1980)

Three office workers (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton) decide to show their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” of a manager (Dabney Coleman) who’s boss.

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: Anyone who ever had a boss who was a nightmare to work with will surely feel the gratification they longed for by seeing how the leading ladies in the hilarious 9 to 5 deal with their workplace frustrations.

Rent or buy 9 to 5 on Amazon.
Buy 9 to 5 on DVD on Amazon.

The Fugitive (1993)

A former surgeon (Academy Award nominee Harrison Ford) wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder goes on the run in search of the truth. 

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble goes to unimaginable lengths to clear his name and avenge his wife’s death in director Andrew Davis’ cinematic adaptation of the hit TV series, The Fugitive, for which Tommy Lee Jones received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Stream The Fugitive on Tubi.
Rent or buy The Fugitive on Amazon.
Buy The Fugitive on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Nightingale (2018)

An Irish woman (Aisling Franciosi) enlists the help of an Aboriginal tracker (Baykali Ganambarr) to find the sadistic colonel (Sam Claflin) who killed her husband and infant child.

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: After making her directorial debut with one of the best horror movies of its time, The Babadook, writer and director Jennifer Kent followed it up with The Nightingale – an equally (if not more) harrowing piece of historical fiction.

Rent or buy The Nightingale on Amazon.
Buy The Nightingale on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Big Fat Liar (2002)

Hoping to make up for the lies he told in the past, a teen (Frankie Muniz) sets out to prove that an even more dishonest Hollywood producer (Paul Giamatti) stole the idea for his latest movie from his writing assignment.

Why it is one of the best revenge movies: The ways Muniz’s Jason Shepherd and Amanda Bynes as his best friend, Kaylee, turn the tables on Giamatti’s Marty Wolf make Big Fat Liar one of director Shawn Levy’s funniest family films.

Stream Big Fat Liar on Netflix.
Rent or buy Big Fat Liar on Amazon.
Buy Big Fat Liar on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Revenge (2018) 

A young, naive, American woman (Matilda Lutz) undergoes a dramatic, hardening evolution to punish her married boyfriend and his hunting buddies after a despicable act leads them to leave her for dead in the Moroccan desert.

Why it is a great revenge movie: The title says it all, but French writer and director Coralie Fargeat’s Revenge – which is also available with a Shudder subscription – exceeds its simple concept by offering one of cinema’s grittiest, bloodiest, and most inspiring subtextual messages of female empowerment in recent memory.

Stream Revenge on Amazon Prime with AMC+ add-on.
Buy Revenge on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Kill Bill (2003-2004) 

A retired assassin (Uma Thurman) embarks on an international journey to punish her old boss and ex-lover (David Carradine) and her former colleagues after nearly killing her in a brutal attack. 

Why it is a great revenge movie: Two of the best Quentin Tarantino movies, 2003’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 from the following year, turn the action genre on its head with its provocatively gory and enchantingly balletic style.

Rent or buy the Kill Bill movies on Amazon.
Buy the Kill Bill movies on Blu-ray on Walmart.com.

John Wick (2014)

A retired assassin (Keanu Reeves) gets back to business to punish the arrogant son of his former colleague after he steals his car and kills his dog shortly after the death of his ill wife.

Why it is a great revenge movie: Action movies (and Reeves’ career) would face another major turning point upon the release of the first chapter of the John Wick movies, which brought “gun fu” to the mainstream and made mysterious world-building a more in-demand point of interest in the genre.

Stream John Wick on Peacock.
Rent or buy John Wick on Amazon.
Buy John Wick on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Deadpool (2016) 

A former mercenary (Ryan Reynolds) – made immortal, but also physically grotesque by an experimental procedure – hunts down the man who screwed up his face and his relationship with his fiancée. 

Why it is a great revenge movie: Superhero movies would also face a major evolution upon the release of Deadpool – a hilarious, exciting, and unapologetically R-rated adaptation of Marvel Comics’ crass, fourth-wall-breaking Merc with a Mouth, whom producer Reynolds was undeniably born to play.

Stream Deadpool on Disney+.
Stream Deadpool on Max.
Rent or buy Deadpool on Amazon.
Buy Deadpool on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Death Wish (1974)

An architect (Golden Globe winner Charles Bronson) takes up a side gig as a vigilante, posing his deadly attacks on New York City’s vicious muggers as self-defense, shortly after the senseless murder of his wife.

Why it is a great revenge movie: One of the first movies to prove that vengeance can inspire any average person to become a lethal purveyor of justice was the original Death Wish – director Michael Winner’s grounded and gratifying adaptation of Brian Garfield’s novel that also made then-53-year-old Charles Bronson America’s favorite badass.