Sean Penn hasn’t spent much time at awards shows this awards season. Still, he has now joined an exclusive club as one of only four men to win three Oscars in competitive acting awards. Penn won Best Supporting Actor at the 98th Academy Awards for his role as the villain Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in One Battle After Another, coming out ahead of Delroy Lindo (who was CinemaBlend's pick to win), Stellan Skarsgard, Jacob Elordi, and his castmate, Benicio del Toro.

Now, 4 Men Have Won 3 Competitive Acting Awards

Penn previously won for Best Actor in 2004 for Mystic River and in 2009 for Milk. With his win for Best Supporting Actor, he has joined Jack Nicholson, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Walter Brennan in the three-timers club. Day-Lewis is the only actor to win Best Actor three times, winning for My Left Foot in 1990, There Will Be Blood in 2008 (also a movie directed by Paul Thomas Anderson), and Lincoln in 2013. Brennan won all three of his in the supporting category for movies in the 1930s. Like Penn, Nicholson has won Best Actor twice (for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1976 and As Good As It Gets in 1998), and once for Best Supporting Oscar (for 1983’s Terms of Endearment).

The record for competitive Oscars is held by the legendary Katharine Hepburn, who won four Best Actress Oscars over her incredible career. Her first came in 1933 for Morning Glory, and her last came almost 50 years later for 1981’s On Golden Pond. In between, she won back-to-back Oscars for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in 1967 and The Lion in Winter the following year. Ingrid Bergman, Meryl Streep, and Francis McDormand each have three as well. If you’re wondering who has won the most competitive Oscars overall, the answer is Walt Disney, who won 22 over his career. None in an acting category, of course.

Penn Was A No-Show

As he has been most of this awards season, Penn was a no-show at the Oscars, which is airing on ABC, and with a Hulu subscription, this year. This is his third big win in a row for the role, winning a BAFTA and an Actor Award for supporting actor in One Battle After Another, but he wasn’t at either of those awards shows, either. Weirdly, the only televised awards show that Penn did attend was the Golden Globes, where he lost to Jacob Elordi for his role as The Monster in Frankenstein.

It’s not all that surprising that Penn would skip the Oscars. He doesn’t seem to be in for the awards, or even enjoy acting sometimes, but this is the Oscars, after all. Kieran Culkin, last year’s winner in the same category, who presented it tonight, even commented on it, saying:

One would think that if there was going to be one ceremony to show up to, it would be this one. Alas, he wasn’t there. It’s actually kind of fitting for winning for a role like the villain Lockjaw.

If you were to ask us at CinemaBlend, but also elsewhere all over the Internet, there are some 98th Oscars categories that feel like a lock and some others that feel wide open. Really, the most intriguing conversation – outside of who will ultimately land the Best Picture award – probably has to do with the Supporting Actor category. A lot of people are all over Sean Penn, Delroy Lindo and Stellan Skarsgård, but with all due apologies to Mr. Penn, I don’t know how Paul Mescal was left off the ballot.

Now before we begin, let’s take a look at the Best Supporting Actor category from the 2026 Academy Awards nominations:

• Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
• Delroy Lindo, Sinners
• Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
• Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

There are some excellent performances on this list. Sinners has been at the forefront of the awards conversation in recent weeks, and Delroy Lindo put in a crowd-pleasing performance in the movie; some think he’s had the Supporting Oscar locked in recent days. I personally would have said prior to watching Hamnet that Benicio del Toro deserved to take home the Oscar, especially after finding out he was the mastermind behind one of the best scenes in One Battle After Another. Stellan Skarsgard and Sean Penn feel very much in the conversation, as well, and who didn't like Elordi's take on Frankenstein

But where the heck is Paul Mescal? If I had to slot him in anywhere, I’d probably slot him into the space occupied by Sean Penn. (I promise this is really not intended to be a negative on the work the actor put into One Battle After Another, but I stand by my statement.)

Hot Take: Paul Mescal Deserved The Nomination Over Sean Penn

Given all the talk I’ve seen about Col. Lockjaw online, and given the fact Penn landed the actual Oscar nom, I know I must be in the minority, here. Penn's been a notable tour de force in Hollywood for decades, which the Academy likes, and I do think he puts in a solid performance in what was already a pretty meaty role written by PT Anderson. His work is made even more noticeable by some not-so-subtle character traits Penn added, like walking in a way that physically looked uncomfortable.

Yet, he gets to play a weird, menacing bad guy, an obviously flashy character (CinemaBlend's review called him "Unstoppable") in an already fast-paced movie. Was it better than the contributions Benicio del Toro was bringing to the table? I’d say no, and I’d also say it’s concerning the two men competing against one another could split that vote. Was it better than all of the subtle weirdness Mescal put into Hamnet? I’d say no again.

Paul Mescal Truly Deserved An Oscar Nod

Meanwhile, there was no role that was more discomfiting to me than watching Paul Mescal go through stages of ambition and grief in Hamnet. That movie absolutely rocked my world, and I’m so happy Chloe Zhao landed a Best Director nom and Jessie Buckley seems to be at the forefront of most Best Actress predictions. I cried for over an hour after it ended, and I’m not over-exaggerating how it affected me emotionally. It wrecked me. I was wrecketh.

I'm glad Jessie Buckley earned a nod for her raw and bewitching performance. Yet, a large swathe of the movie works because of Paul Mescal’s restless energy and emoting opposite his co-star, particularly during the scene where her character Agnes goes to see Hamlet for the first time and the two reconcile over their shared grief. To me it's a truly perfect supporting performance, adding to the film in a way that supplements Buckley's performance without stealing any of its shine. I'm not saying the Academy should have just handed him the trophy, but I'm still shocked he didn't make the shortlist.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention some people have stood up and paid attention to Paul Mescal this awards season. He was nominated for Hamnet at the Golden Globe Awards, The Critics Choice Awards, The BAFTAs, The Actor Awards and several other high-profile shindigs this season. But when it comes to the big gold statue, it was not to be. He was decidedly locked out of that Top 5, and I think it’s a shame.

If you haven’t watched Hamnet yet, you can catch it with a Peacock subscription. One Battle After Another can be viewed with an HBO Max subscription. Also, watch the 2026 Oscars, which air tonight, Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m.ET on ABC.

The time is finally upon us. The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, are this Sunday, and here at CinemaBlend, we’ve made our picks on who we think will take home the top eight categories of the night. Three of the categories (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress) have clear-cut favorites amongst our staff. The remaining five (both screenplay awards, both supporting actor awards, and the award for Best Actor) are, quite honestly, very tricky to guess, because our opinions vary quite a bit.

The ceremony will be live on March 15th at 7pm ET on ABC, and available to stream live with a Hulu subscription. There are sure to be some surprises, but we’ve done our best to predict what we think will happen (though not necessarily our personal choices). We’ll start with the Best Screenplay Awards and work our way towards our pick for Best Picture, hitting all the acting awards and Best Director along the way. Each of our picks will be in bold among the list of nominees.

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Will Tracy for Bugonia
• Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein
• Maggie O'Farrell and Chloe Zhao for Hamnet
• Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner
• Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar for Train Dreams

In our staff poll, the Best Adapted Screenplay choice is perhaps the most divisive. All five nominees were favored by at least one writer, and it was quite close between Hamnet, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another. This highlights just how tricky this task can be, because it’s easy to make a case for any of the five. Ultimately, in a very tight poll, Paul Thomas Anderson came out on top for One Battle After Another.

Best Original Screenplay

• Robert Kaplow for Blue Moon
• Jafar Panahi and Nader Saivar for It Was Just An Accident
• Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein for Marty Supreme
• Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt for Sentimental Value
• Ryan Coogler for Sinners – Our Predicted Winner

Sinners set the record this year for the most Oscar nominations for a film ever, with 16, including this nomination for writer Ryan Coogler. The momentum for Sinners has only been growing as this very long awards season has gone on (thanks, Olympics). While the staff pick wasn’t as close as it was for Adapted, there was quite a bit of support for Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value, but in the end, Sinners came out on top. This isn’t quite a slam dunk, but it’s the most definitive of the five awards that weren’t easy picks for us.

Best Supporting Actor

• Benicio del Toro for One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein
• Sean Penn for One Battle After Another
• Delroy Lindo for Sinners – Our Predicted Winner
• Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value

This race has been truly all over the place. Del Toro started the season strong with a string of critics' awards, Elordi won at the Critics' Choice, Skarsgård won the Golden Globe, and Penn has come on strong late with wins at BAFTA and the Actor Awards (formerly The SAG Awards). Four of the five nominees were picked by at least two writers each, and though Lindo hasn’t really been in the conversation until very late, on the strength of Sinners and his amazing performance, he is a real contender now. In fact, he is now the frontrunner, in our opinion.

Best Supporting Actress

• Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value
• Amy Madigan for Weapons
• Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners
• Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner

Like Best Supporting Actor, the race for Best Supporting Actress has been a wild ride, but it seems to have come down to three: Madigan, Mosaku, and Taylor. Each of the three has taken home awards this season, and while our choice ultimately had quite a bit of support, it’s impossible to rule out one of the other two women winning. Two months ago, it seemed like Taylor was going to sweep the season, but Madigan and Mosaku clearly have a lot of momentum as we get to the end here. We still think Taylor is the favorite for One Battle After Another, but just barely. Madigan and Mosaku are considered the favorites by quite a few folks around here.

Best Actor

• Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme – Our Predicted Winner
• Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon
• Michael B. Jordan for Sinners
• Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent

Now this is a fascinating race, and CinemaBlend’s poll reflects that. We asked the staff to name both who they would vote for and who they think will win. While the majority of staff have predicted Chalamet to win, a huge majority picked Michael B. Jordan as who they would have voted for, personally. It’s safe to say the race is between these two, and, in full disclosure, much of our polling took place before Jordan won at the Actor Awards. There seems to be a late surge happening in favor of the Sinners star. It would not surprise anyone if he takes home the Oscar, but we predict that Chalamet will win in what could be a historic victory.

Best Actress

• Jessie Buckley for Hamnet – Our Predicted Winner
• Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
• Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
• Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
• Emma Stone for Bugonia

Here’s where we’re getting to the Oscars that everyone on staff is most confident about in our predictions. In fact, in the Best Actress race, there haven’t been any surprises at all leading up to the Oscars. Jessie Buckley has completely swept the awards leading up to this Sunday, and there is no reason at all to think that will change at the Academy Awards. Buckley’s performance in Hamnet is incredible, and it’s hard to imagine anyone sneaking in and winning this over her. Stone and Byrne did receive some support from the CinemaBlend staff, but an overwhelming majority picked Buckley to win Best Actress.

Best Director

• Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner
• Ryan Coogler for Sinners
• Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme
• Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value
• Chloe Zhao for Hamnet

Like Best Actor, the race for Best Director comes down to two men, Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson. All season long, the general consensus is that this is PTA’s time and he’s going to walk away with the win. Our prediction is no different, as a huge majority of our staff believe that this is Anderson’s award to lose. Could he, though? Well, interestingly, yeah, he could. As with Michael B. Jordan, when we ask the staff for their favorite, most picked Coogler as their personal choice, even if almost everyone still predicted PTA to win.

Best Picture

• Bugonia
• F1: The Movie
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Train Dreams
• The Secret Agent

It has gotten trickier and trickier to predict Best Picture over the years. Sure, there are times like two years ago when everyone pretty much knew that Oppenheimer was going to take home the biggest prize of the night. But then there are ones like last year when Anora came on very strong at the end of awards season, but was a little bit of a dark horse on Oscar night. This year could be either.

The strong consensus of the CinemaBlend staff is that One Battle After Another will win Best Picture, but as in a couple of categories, a majority of the staff picked Sinners as their personal favorite. This isn’t surprising, after all, Sinners was our choice for the best movie of 2025. The late momentum for Sinners has turned this award into a real nail-biter, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Ryan Coogler on stage accepting the award at the end of the night. However, as a group, we have to stick with our prediction, given that all but three staff members picked One Battle to win (interestingly, the other votes all went to Hamnet).

You can go to our list of the 98th Academy Awards nominees to see who could win in every category, including all the technical ones, and everything else. Other than KPop Demon Hunters winning Best Animated Feature and “Golden” from that movie winning Best Song (sorry again, Diane Warren) being pretty much foregone conclusions, there are close races in every single category.

Keep an eye out for our live blog as well, as we will be reacting along with everyone else when the winners are announced.

Many have had the experience of picking up a book they can’t put down, but Sean Penn seemingly had an experience that tops most. Apparently, when Penn first picked up the script for Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2025 movie schedule release, One Battle After Another, he just couldn't resist. It would also seem that because the actor wasn't able to put down the screenplay, he didn even manage to take a break to put some clothes on.

When Penn first received the script from the acclaimed director, he was particularly busy. He told Entertainment Weekly that he was having a hard time finding a time to sit down and read it because he was traveling around Europe. He knew Anderson was waiting to hear his thoughts, because he wanted Penn for a key role. So the Mystic River star started reading after a shower one evening and, well, let's just say he never ended up reaching for a towel, at least:

That's one heck of a page-turner! Penn was so enthralled with the story that he didn’t even realize he was completely naked and dripping water all over the floor. I mean I can’t blame him, as the writing in One Battle After Another is tremendous, making for an absolutely captivating story. If I was in Penn’s position, I don’t think I’d have been able to put the script down either, no matter what state I was in. Still, it’s pretty hilarious that he just so happened to be naked though.

This script clearly convinced Penn to do the movie, given he joined the cast -- and in a juicy role. The Milk actor plays one of the worst movie dads ever, a quirky and hateful man named Colonel Lockjaw. The character is a special kind of evil, and Penn’s committed performance brings the writing to life. In general, One Battle After Another is receiving tons of critical acclaim, but Penn’s take on his character specifically is a bright spot, and it earned him a 2026 Golden Globe nomination.

Penn’s nude story feels like the ultimate compliment to Anderson’s writing. Is says a lot that a script is so gripping that a person forgets they're naked while reading it. For anyone who has had the opportunity to see Anderson's latest film, this probably isn’t as shocking as it sounds. It’s the kind of movie that demands this level of commitment. Penn gave the film this, from the minute he started reading to the minute he walked off set, and the film is even better for it.

You can see Sean Penn in One Battle After Another, which is currently streaming with an HBO Max subscription. It is one of the best movies of the year, and a major awards contender, so make sure to check it out!

Paul Thomas Anderson is a celebrated filmmaker with double-digit Academy Award nominations for movies like There Will Be Blood and Licorice Pizza. Whether you’re just getting into Anderson’s collection or have seen all of his best movies, there’s a new project hitting the 2025 movie calendar. One Battle After Another is an epic action thriller with an impressive cast, and critics are here to share their thoughts ahead of its September 26 release.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in One Battle After Another as an ex-revolutionary who must reunite with his former colleagues to rescue his daughter from a corrupt military official (Sean Penn). The film also stars Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and more. Steven Spielberg gave his stamp of approval, but what about the other critics? IndieWire’s David Ehrlich gives it an A, writing:

Adam Nayman of The Ringer says One Battle After Another is the director at his best, agreeing with Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro that this should win Paul Thomas Anderson his first Academy Award. Nayman writes:

Richard Lawson of THR calls the film “bracingly timely,” as the story boldly addresses the political “nightmare” we face today and speaks directly to the audience about how we must help each other. The critic says:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety knows the descriptions of One Battle After Another sound aggressively dystopian — like an over-the-top satirical warning of where the world is today and where it might be heading. However, he continues:

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com points out that while Vineland by Thomas Pynchon was set in the 1980s, PTA’s loosely interpreted book-to-screen adaptation will read as 2020s political commentary because of the story’s timelessness. Tallerico rates the film a perfect 4 out of 4 stars and says:

Critics across the board agree with the above reviews, with One Battle After Another being declared Certified Fresh with a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score from more than 160 submissions. If you want to see the latest project from Paul Thomas Anderson and decide for yourself if you think it’s award-worthy, you can do so starting Friday, September 26.

The Academy Award for Best Actor has been handed out every year since 1929 — fun fact, it was awarded to German actor Emil Jannings for not one but two acclaimed roles, in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh — and in the near-century since, it's been presented 97 times to 86 actors. But while taking home that coveted statuette is definitely a career highlight for any performer, the honor does add a little extra pressure on the actor's next project. Will it be as beloved and acclaimed as the role that won them the gold? Here are 32 films that Oscar-winning actors did after taking home the Academy Award, and how they were received.

Cillian Murphy

After the enormity of portraying famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's billion-dollar blockbuster Oppenheimer, and taking home the 2024 Oscar for Best Actor in the process, Cillian Murphy went small for his next film — literally. In the 2024 adaptation of Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These, Murphy returned to his native Ireland to play Bill, a quiet coal merchant and father of five internally struggling with the harsh realities of the infamous Magdalene Laundries. While Murphy didn't replicate the awards dominance of Oppenheimer with SMTLT, his internal and affecting performance was widely praised by critics.

Joaquin Phoenix

After four nominations throughout his decades-spanning career, Joaquin Phoenix finally took home that Best Actor statue in 2020 for his engrossing portrayal of the nihilistic clown Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips' Joker. Following that iconic role, Phoenix next appeared in the 2021 Mike Mills dramedy C'mon C'mon, an improv-heavy performance that saw the actor play a middle-aged radio journalist tasked with babysitting his nephew (Woody Norman) while on the road for work. Phoenix was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance at the Gotham Awards, and the film was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the Top 10 Independent Films of the year.

Will Smith

Will Smith had quite an, um, eventful evening when he took home the Oscar for Best Actor in 2022 for King Richard after two prior nominations (Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness). Winning an Oscar means that a spotlight is already bright on an actor, but the added publicity from the ceremony means his post-slap comeback would be even more scrutinized than usual. His follow-up was 2022's Emancipation, in which he played a runaway slave in 1860s Louisiana. Though the drama received mixed reviews overall, Smith won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance.

Anthony Hopkins

Though he's garnered six Oscar nominations across his illustrious acting career — with his most recent win being for 2021's The Father — Anthony Hopkins' first Academy Award was for that scene-stealing villain, psychiatrist turned serial killer Hannibal Lector in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. Following up such an iconic performance is no small task and unfortunately, Hopkins' next film, 1992's Freejack opposite Emilio Estevez and Mick Jagger, was a sci-fi dud, bombing both with critics and audiences. During an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, Hopkins himself called the film "terrible."

Leonardo DiCaprio

Five-time nominee Leonardo DiCaprio had a bit of "always the bridesmaid" syndrome where the Academy Awards were concerned, until he finally took home the Best Actor Oscar for his emotionally raw and physically punishing performance in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's 2019 Western epic The Revenant. His next big-screen role was, graciously, a bit less cold and blustery, trading the frosty American Midwest for starry Los Angeles in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The latter received 10 Oscar nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, including a nod for DiCaprio's individual work.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington had already taken home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing a Civil War soldier in the 1989 war drama Glory, but he got his first big Best Actor win for portraying corrupt LAPD officer Alonzo Harris in the 2001 crime thriller Training Day. His next performance was another memorable Denzel role: as the title character in the 2002 Nick Cassavetes-directed drama John Q, which saw Washington play a desperate father who takes a hospital emergency room hostage in order for his son to receive a heart transplant. Alas, despite some praise for Denzel's performance, the film itself boasts only a 26% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Robert De Niro

Six years after taking home the Best Supporting Actor statue for The Godfather Part II, Robert De Niro got his Best Actor win for his iconic and intense work as boxing champion Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. A year later, De Niro put away the boxing gloves and picked up the Bible to play a Roman Catholic monsignor in 1981's True Confessions, opposite fellow The Godfather great Robert Duvall. Though reviews for the neo-noir were largely positive, the National Review's William F. Buckley, Jr. panned it: "Robert De Niro is badly miscast. He is never entirely convincing."

Matthew McConaughey

After acclaimed turns in 2011's Lincoln Lawyer and 2012's Magic Mike, the so-called "McConaissance" was officially solidified a year later with Matthew McConaughey's Oscar-winning portrayal of Ron Woodroof, a cowboy diagnosed with AIDS, in the biopic Dallas Buyers Club. Despite not having nearly as much screentime, the actor's next performance was just as memorable: a chest-thumping, meme-inducing extended cameo as Mark Hanna in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street.

Tom Hanks

Beyond being one of the most beloved actors of all time, Tom Hanks also holds a piece of cinema history: he's one of only two actors to win back-to-back Academy Awards for acting. Yes, that means after taking home the Best Actor Oscar for his heart-wrenching performance as HIV-positive lawyer Andrew Beckett in 1994's Philadelphia, Hanks struck Oscar gold yet again with his very next performance, as the titular lead of 1995's Forrest Gump.

Rami Malek

Rami Malek belted his way to an Oscar as legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the glossy 2019 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. His first post-award performance also revolved around his voice — voice acting, that is, as Malek portrayed a mountain gorilla named Chee-Chee in the 2020 fantasy-adventure film Dolittle, with his future Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr. as the titular doc. The family-friendly flick received abysmal reviews from critics, with Courtney Howard of Variety writing: "What should have been an awe-filled adventure quickly curdles into an awful one, thanks to a pedestrian formula and the filmmakers' fixation on fart jokes."

Adrien Brody

In 2003, Adrien Brody made Oscar history when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29 for his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski's war drama The Pianist, becoming the youngest actor ever to win in that category. Later that year, he followed up his historic win with the musical crime comedy The Singing Detective, about a mystery writer (Robert Downey Jr.) who relives his detective stories through his imagination and hallucinations. The film scored a 39% "Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx had one hell of a 2004, serving up not one but two award-worthy performances: He took home the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as soul great Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray and also received a Best Supporting Actor nod that same year for his work in the crime film Collateral. It would be near-impossible for any performer to hit that kind of stratospheric high again, especially with Foxx's follow-up Stealth — the 2005 military action flick co-starring Josh Lucas and Jessica Biel was dubbed a "stink-bomb" by Roger Ebert.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Acting legend Daniel Day-Lewis deservedly holds the record for the most Best Actor awards ever, with three wins out of six nominations, but his first was for playing Christy Brown, a writer-artist born with cerebral palsy, in the 1989 drama My Left Foot. And though he would later follow that iconic role up by playing famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Bill the Butcher, his immediate next performance was as an Irish-American dentist traveling around Argentina in the forgettable 1989 dramedy Eversmile, New Jersey.

Jack Nicholson

The first of three Academy Awards for the legendary movie star, Jack Nicholson's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest performance as Randle McMurphy nabbed him the Oscar in 1976. Later that year, he would star as cattle rustler Tom Logan opposite Marlon Brandon in the Arthur Penn-helmed Western The Missouri Breaks. Coming hot on the heels of not only his own Oscar win but also Brando's for The Godfather, the film was highly anticipated — however, it failed to live up to those expectations and became a notorious critical and commercial flop.

Marlon Brando

One of the most iconic cinema stars of all time, Marlon Brando was nominated for eight Oscars across his decades-spanning career. He won two, the first being for his electrifying role as prizefighter turned longshoreman Terry Malloy in the 1954 crime drama On the Waterfront, widely considered one of the greatest acting performances of all time. His next role as Napoleon Bonaparte in the historical romance Désirée didn't win him any awards, but Variety reportedly called his performance "a masterful exhibition of thesping" at the time.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman had already solidified himself as a vibrant and vital supporting actor with films like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Almost Famous, Magnolia and 25th Hour, but his Oscar-winning portrayal of author Truman Capote in 2005's Capote officially upped him to leading man status. He would receive another three Oscar nominations in the years to follow, but his very next role was more of a crowd-pleaser than an awards grab: as arms dealer Owen Davian in Mission: Impossible III.

Russell Crowe

Audiences and critics alike were very much entertained by Russell Crowe's performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 Rome-set epic Gladiator, which earned the New Zealand-born star the Best Actor Oscar at the 73rd Academy Awards. Crowe would go up for the same award only a year later, for his portrayal of American mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. in the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind, but he lost to Training Day lead Denzel Washington.

Jean Dujardin

Jean Dujardin rose to international fame with his performance as George Valentin in the 2011 silent movie The Artist — his Oscar win was a historic one, as he was the first French performer to ever take home the Best Actor statue. Despite his newfound Hollywood status, however, the actor-comedian returned to his native France for his next film credit: The Players, a 2012 comedy anthology co-starring Gilles Lellouche, with each man also directing and writing a segment.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage's filmography is a wild ride, from critically acclaimed fare like Raising Arizona, Moonstruck and Adaptation to straight-to-video shlock. Thankfully, his 1995 drama Leaving Las Vegas falls into the former category, winning Cage the Best Actor Oscar for his role as alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson. (Funnily enough, it's not one of Nic Cage's favorite Nic Cage movies.) His next movie was the 1996 action thriller The Rock, which also won Cage an award: the Best On-Screen Duo statue at the MTV Movie Awards alongside co-star Sean Connery.

Eddie Redmayne

British star Eddie Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the 2014 biographical drama The Theory of Everything. But that career high was immediately followed by a career-low: a Golden Raspberry Award — a parody award honoring cinematic failures — for Worst Supporting Actor for his work in the galactically goofy 2015 space opera Jupiter Ascending. Even he admitted his performance was bad!

Sidney Poitier

A movie icon through and through, Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier made history in 1964 as the first Black performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Lilies of the Field. A year later, he moved on from that seminal role with the 1965 Cold War thriller The Bedford Incident, as a civilian photojournalist aboard a U.S. Navy ship that gets into some messy business with a Soviet submarine. Though Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that "the whole thing transcends plausibility," other critics clearly disagreed — the movie has an 86% Certified Fresh rating.

Sean Penn

After a trio of Best Actor nominations, Sean Penn's haunting performance as a grieving, vengeful father of a murdered Boston girl in the Clint Eastwood-directed neo-noir Mystic River finally got him the Academy Award in 2004. Later that year, Penn starred in yet another crime thriller, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, based on the story of the POTUS's would-be assassin Samuel Byck in the mid-1970s. The latter film didn't share the award-worthy gravitas of Mystic River, though, per Rotten Tomatoes, critical consensus said: "A fascinating true story and compelling Sean Penn performance are worthy compensations."

Roberto Benigni

Few Oscar wins were as memorable as Roberto Benigni's, what with presenter Sofia Loren's passionate declaration of "Roberto!" to Benigni's literal victory lap up to the stage. The Italian actor-director took the Best Actor trophy in 1998 for the Holocaust tragicomedy Life is Beautiful, making him the first honoree for a non-English language performance. A year later, he would appear in a very different movie: French-Italian-German comedy adventure flick Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar opposite Gérard Depardieu and Christian Clavier, which was a box office success.

Al Pacino

One of the most influential actors in modern cinema, Al Pacino was nominated for eight Academy Awards — including for The Godfather films, Serpico and the crime drama classic Dog Day Afternoon — before finally taking home the Best Actor statue for playing Frank Slade in 1992's Scent of a Woman. That Oscar win gave viewers an extra critical eye on his next role, as Nuyorican criminal Carlito Brigante in the De Palma crime drama Carlito's Way, however, reviews were largely positive.

Ben Kingsley

It's a daunting thing playing any famous figure in movies based on true stories, especially when the subject is so famous, that they need only one name. Case in point: Gandhi, the 1982 bio epic about the Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, directed by Richard Attenborough and performed by English actor Sir Ben Kingsley. Luckily for them, the film won Best Picture and Kingsley took home the Best Actor award. Though his next project, the 1983 film adaptation of Harold Pinter's play Betrayal, didn't get Oscar acclaim, it was well-received by critics.

Humphrey Bogart

It seems surprising that Humphrey Bogart didn't win the Oscar for a role as iconic as Rick Blaine in the 1942 classic Casablanca. No, it would actually be another eight years until ol' Bogie won Best Actor for The African Queen, starring as Canadian mechanic Charlie Allnut opposite Katharine Hepburn's Methodist missionary Rose Sayer. His post-Oscar follow-up was the 1952 noir Deadline – U.S.A.: Variety said "Bogart gives a convincing performance all the way" as a big-city newspaper editor who exposes a gangster's crimes.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker was ferocious and formidable as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 historical drama The Last King of Scotland, one of his best performances that got the performer a Best Actor Oscar in '07. Later that year, the actor appeared in the ensemble crime drama The Air I Breathe alongside Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy and Brendan Fraser. Though reviews for the film were overwhelmingly negative, several singled out Whitaker's performance. Annabelle Robertson at Crosswalk wrote: "Whitaker, in particular, is extremely sympathetic in his role—a feat that is all the more outstanding after his turn as the evil dictator in The Last King of Scotland."

Dustin Hoffman

After three Best Actor nods, New Hollywood icon Dustin Hoffman received his first Academy Award for playing half of a couple going through a devastating divorce (alongside an equally great Meryl Streep) in Kramer vs. Kramer in 1980. His next movie role is just as much of a classic: as Michael Dorsey-slash-Dorothy Michaels in the beloved 1982 comedy Tootsie, which nabbed the star yet another Best Actor nomination.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman was nearly unrecognizable in his prosthetics-heavy performance as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the 2017 historical drama Darkest Hour. The Academy Awards honored the quintessential Oldman role with a Best Actor award, his second nomination after Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. His next role was just as transformative, if not nearly as acclaimed: Oldman voiced an artificial intelligence in the 2018 sci-fi thriller Tau, which holds a woeful critical rating of 27% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Laurence Olivier

One of the most celebrated Shakespearean actors in film history, cinema icon Laurence Olivier starred in and directed adaptations of three of the Bard's best-known words, Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1948) and Richard III (1955), and earned a Best Actor Oscar for playing the Prince of Denmark. After portraying one of the most famous characters of all time, Olivier switched it up by cameoing as a no-name policeman in the 1951 drama The Magic Box, a "distinguished" bit of stunt casting that The New York Times praised as a delightful "extravagance."

Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck's devastating performance as a father grieving the loss of his three children in Kenneth Lonergan's gut-wrenching Manchester by the Sea clearly broke the collective hearts of the Academy, which voted to give the Boston-bred performer the Best Actor award in 2017. That year, he would tackle another exploration of love and loss with the supernatural drama A Ghost Story, which was a hit with critics — Richard Brody of The New Yorker included the title on his list of the decade's best films.

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser experienced quite the career comeback when he took the Best Actor Oscar for his acclaimed performance as a morbidly obese, housebound English teacher in the 2022 Darren Aronofsky-directed melodrama The Whale. He kept those high-profile projects going with his next film credit, as attorney W. S. Hamilton in Martin Scorsese's stunning American crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon, which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Sometimes an actor just explodes on the scene with their first movie. Many of the people on this list have even been nominated and won awards for their first roles. Most, of course, have gone on to have long, successful careers, so let's look back at these actors who absolutely crushed it in their first roles. 

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years A Slave

It didn't take long for Kenyan native Lupita Nyong'o to make a huge splash in Hollywood. After a little time working on movie sets behind the camera, she studied acting at Yale and landed her seminal role in 12 Years A Slave almost immediately after graduating. The performance speaks for itself, and Nyong'o deservingly took home an Oscar for it. Amazingly, three years later, she won a Tony in her Broadway debut in Eclipsed.

Sean Penn - Taps

Sean Penn has had a long, storied career and while many may assume his breakout role came as the stoner Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but a year before cracking up audiences in that cult classic, he played a very different role as a would-be soldier at a military academy in Taps. Notably, Tom Cruise also made his breakthrough role in the movie alongside Penn. 

Reese Witherspoon - The Man In The Moon

Over the last 4 decades or so, Reese Witherspoon has not only become one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood, but a major force behind the scenes as a producer. It all started for the Nashville native with her debut in The Man In The Moon in 1991. It's always impressive when a newcomer can lead a personal film like this, and Witherspoon showed early how good she is by doing so. 

Natalie Portman - Leon: The Professional

There are a few actors in Hollywood who broke big when they were very young. From the moment you see Natalie Portman on screen in her first role as Mathilda in Leon: The Professional, you know she's going to be big. Yeah, it's an uncomfortable movie to watch for obvious reasons - Portman was just 13 - but seeing how brave she was to take on a complicated role like that, it was clear she was destined for greatness. 

Edward Norton - Primal Fear

Has there ever been a more terrifying and convincing debut performance from an actor than Edward Norton in Primal Fear? It's one of the all-time great grifter films and Norton's performance is the major reason why. He's scary, both in character and in talent. 

Florence Pugh - The Falling

It's hard to believe Florence Pugh made her debut in The Falling in 2014. It seems like the actress has been around forever as she keeps picking amazing roles and crushing the performances, just like her first. 

Kevin Bacon - National Lampoon's Animal House

Every actor in Hollywood is connected to Kevin Bacon, as the game claims, and that's because for more than five decades he's been giving amazing performance and amazing performance. His first movie, the classic comedy National Lampoon's Animal House is certainly no exception as he plays a snobby, snarky, frat boy to perfection. There is nothing he can't do.  

Halle Berry - Jungle Fever

In 2001 Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Best Picture Oscar for Monster's Ball. That was just 10 short years after she made he incredible debut in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. The former beauty pageant contestant has been one of the most reliably great stars in the years since, starring in some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood including the X-Men, James Bond, John Wick, and much more. 

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

After finishing seventh in the third season of American Idol, we all knew Jennifer Hudson could sing. When she was cast as Aretha Frankin-like Effie White in Dreamgirls, it didn't surprise anyone. At least, we weren't surprised until we all saw just how her powerful voice was matched by her powerful acting. She took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her big-screen debut. 

Eddie Murphy - 48 Hrs.

By the time Eddie Murphy starred in 48 Hrs. alongside Nick Nolte in 1982, he was already a bonafide TV star from his time on SNL. Known for his great characters and hilarious lines on SNL, it wasn't clear if he could carry a movie. 48 Hrs. settled that, he definitely could and he's been leading them ever since. 

Marlee Matlin - Children Of A Lesser God

Marlee Matlin has been breaking down barriers since the very beginning of her career. Deaf from the time she was a small child, there must have been many people who told her she could pursue her dreams. Instead, she became not only the deaf actor to win an Oscar in his debut movie, Children Of A Lesser God, but the youngest woman to take home the statue as well. 

Anne Hathaway - The Princess Diaries

From the very beginning, Anne Hathaway has been wowing audiences. Her first movie is still one of her most beloved, The Princess Diaries. She even got to star alongside true film royalty. Julie Andrews. She didn't seem intimidated then, and she never has been since. 

Tim Curry - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Tim Curry's first movie has become the dictionary definition of a cult classic. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a flop when it was released, but in the decades since, it's become one of the most popular movies of all time with a fanbase that is not just dedicated, but rabid in its love for the movie and for Curry's character, Frank-N-Furter.

Emma Stone - Superbad

Superbad is one of those comedies that very really gets old, especially if you grew up with it as a staple of your DVD rotation. Emma Stone's character Jules is not the kind of character you'd expect to be as funny as she is, which makes Stone pretty much perfect for the role, as she is as effortlessly funny as she is effortlessly beautiful. She's gone on to tackle some characters with incredible depth, but she set the foundation in Superbad. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

There is really nothing Oprah Winfrey can't accomplish. She was already on her way to becoming the biggest daytime talk show in history by the time she landed a role in Steven Speilberg's classic The Color Purple. It turns out Winfrey can do a whole more than coax the most out of guests on her talk show, she can act really act, earning an Oscar nomination in her film debut. 

Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins

It's really hard to believe that Julie Andrews didn't make her true film debut until she was nearly 30 years old, when she appeared as the legendary Mary Poppins in the film of the same name. Of course, Andrews was well-established as a stage actor at that point, but still, it was the golden age of Hollywood, you'd think she would have been cast in something well before Mary Poppins. At least we can be grateful she was cast here. 

Alan Rickman - Die Hard

Hans Gruber in Die Hard is, without a doubt, one of the greatest villains of the 1980s. Knowing that it was the film debut of the incredible Alan Rickman makes it all that more impressive. He plays the role with such confidence and panache, that it's almost too much to believe it was his first movie role, but it was. 

Anna Paquin - The Piano

Anna Paquin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Piano. She was just 11 years old! Anyone who does that deserves a spot on any list like that. She's the second youngest ever to win an Oscar and in the years since she's continued to wow us with her work. 

Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween

Jamie Lee Curtis basically invented the modern scream queen in horror movies in her debut in Halloween. It's a genre she's only returned to a few times in her long, impressive career, but we're sure glad it's where she got her start. 

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

It's a little remarkable how many young girls pop up on a list like this. One of the most recent examples of a teenager just crushing her film debut is Hailee Steinfeld. Not only did she have the pressure of playing a beloved literary character like Mattie Ross in True Grit, but she also had to act alongside legends like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. She doesn't just hold her own, either, she steals the movie. She rightly received an Oscar nomination for her work.  

Glenn Close - The World According To Garp

Glenn Close burst on the scene with award-winning performances on Broadway before transitioning to film with her debut on the silver screen in The World According To Garp where she picked up where she left off on the stage, getting nominated for an Oscar. She would earn Oscar nominations (but sadly no wins) for her next two movies as well, The Big Chill and The Natural. 

Robert Duvall - To Kill A Mockingbird

Robert Duvall's career goes all the way back to the 1950s, when he first appeared as Boo Radley in one of the most beloved movies about the American South, To Kill A Mockingbird. He only has a small role, as the character with an outsized effect on the plot who is only seen at the end, but he embodies the character so many kids learn to love when they first read the book in high school. 

John Malkovich - Places In The Heart

There is no question that John Malkovich is one of the finest actors of his generation. He's completely fearless in all the roles he plays and that's true going all the way back to his first role as a blind World War I vet in the Depression-era film Places in the Heart alongside Sally Field, Danny Glover, and Ed Harris. 

Lily Tomlin - Nashville

Though she was already a comedic legend on TV, having appeared on Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, Lily Tomlin showed what range she really had as a gospel singer and mother to two in Nashville. She's continued to show those skills over and over in the decades since. 

Gal Gadot - Fast & Furious

Gal Gadot is best known as Wonder Woman these days, but she made her debut in another giant Hollywood franchise when she appeared in Fast & Furious, the fourth installment of the Fast And Furious series. The ex-Israeli army veteran has impressed fans of the movies in each of her 3 appearances by performing most of her own stunts.  

Kerry Washington - Our Song

Our Song is an underrated movie that is everything great about independent filmmaking. It's an intensely personal story about a unique moment in time for the characters and the audience. Kerry Washington simply blows audiences out of the water with her powerful and heartfelt performance. It's incredible how good she was in her first movie. 

Dustin Hoffman - The Graduate

So, technically Dustin Hoffman had already had a small role in a film before The Graduate (a movie called The Tiger Makes Out). For all intents and purposes, he introduced himself to the world with an Oscar-nominated performance in one of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history, The Graduate. It's a movie people still love talking about and lauding, even nearly 60 years later. 

John Cazale - The Godfather

The incredible and tragic story of actor John Cazale is well-known among movie buffs. Cazale only starred in five movies before he died of cancer at just age 42. All five of those movies won the Oscar for Best Picture The first, his first, was, of course, The Godfather. Though his character, Fredo, would play a larger role in the sequel, he still established himself as one of the greatest of his generation before we all lost him too soon.  

Gabrielle Union - She's All That

Actor Gabrielle Union has definitely made her mark not only on Hollywood but on the world with her stellar performances and her charity work outside of film. HE burst onto the scene in She's All That and she's never slowed down since. 

James Dean - East Of Eden

The great James Dean is one of the biggest "what ifs" in Hollywood history. Though he did have some uncredited roles in a few movies, the young actor starred in just three movies, including his first East Of Eden. For that role, he would receive an Oscar nomination, though he wouldn't live to see it, as he was killed in a car crash before being nominated. A feat that would be repeated the next year with Giant.

Jason Schwartzman - Rushmore

Though Jason Schwartzman comes from a prominent Hollywood family, that didn't guarantee success. Instead, he went out in his first movie role, in Rushmore, and absolutely embodied his character of Max. It's every bit as impressive as anything his mom Talia Shire has done, and that is no small feat. 

Keisha Castle-Hughes - The Whale Rider

When Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar at just 12 years old for The Whale Rider, you knew she was one to watch for. She was, at the time, the second-youngest person nominated for an Oscar and not only was the nomination well-deserved, but she's continued to justify the voters' confidence in her with her roles over the last couple of decades. 

Whether it's in biopics or in other historical movies, playing an important person often leads to some of the most amazing performances put on film. There are far too many to count, much less list here, but we do think you'll agree that this list of 32 actors playing famous people rank among the best. 

Ben Kingsley - Gandhi

The 1982 epic Gandhi starring Ben Kingsley as the revered leader of India and icon to peaceful protestors all over the world is an amazing movie. At the heart is Kingsley's amazing, transformative performance. He looks and sounds just like Gandhi, it's almost uncanny. 

Margot Robbie - Tonya Harding

When the news first broke that Australian Margot Robbie was cast to play controversial US Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, it's safe to say that many were skeptical. It took the actor all of about 30 seconds of screen time in the movie to prove those skeptics very wrong. Robbie is fantastic as the troubled skater with a family life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. 

Paul Dano - Brian Wilson

The Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy seems to have been overlooked by many, but if you're a fan of The Beach Boys, you need to see it. John Cusack plays the older Wilson in the 1980s and it is fantastic. Paul Dano, who plays the Pet Sounds-era Wilson, is simply amazing. He completely disappears into the role. 

Reese Witherspoon - June Carter Cash

Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix are both amazing in Walk the Line as June and Johnny Cash. Really both deserve to be on this list, but we've the honor to Witherspoon if only because she won Best Actress at the Oscars in 2006. 

Robert Downey, Jr - Charlie Chaplin

It took a long time for Robert Downey to win an Oscar, which he finally did for Oppenheimer. More than 30 years before that win, he earned his first nomination for 1992's Chaplin for playing the legendary actor and Hollywood trailblazer. It's a movie that doesn't get talked about much these days, but it's still great. Especially Downey's performance. 

Natalie Portman - Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy has to be a tricky person to play. She is so iconic and so well known to so many people that the scrutiny would be stressful. Luckily for all of us, Natalie Portman hit it out of the park when she played the former First Lady in Jackie. 

Meryl Streep - Margaret Thatcher

It's hardly surprising to see Meryl Streep's name on any list of great performances. She has been arguably the best actor in Hollywood for 50 years. One of her finest performances came in 2011's The Iron Lady where she played the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher. 

Rami Malek - Freddy Mercury

You knew we couldn't have this list without including Rami Malek's incredible performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic about the late Queen singer, Bohemian Rhapsody. It's not all about the prosthetic teeth, as Malek nailed so many nuances and mannerisms of the icon rock star. Just as in real life, the performance at Live Aid at the end of the movie brings down the house. 

Val Kilmer - Jim Morrison

If you grew up in the '90s, The Doors was probably a seminal film for you. Val Kilmer blew audiences away as the late Jim Morrison. It was so good you'd swear you were watching the real Morrison as he rose to fame and then burned out quickly before tragically becoming a member of the "27 Club" in 1971.

Denzel Washington - Malcolm X

A powerful personality takes an actor with equal strength to pull off and in Malcolm X, Denzel Washington is more than up for the task. Playing the combative, controversial civil rights leader could not have been easy, yet Washington brings him back to life in every way. It's the reason everyone should see this biopic. 

Faye Dunaway - Joan Crawford

Faye Dunaway gives the performance of a lifetime in Mommie Dearest. It's scary and mesmerizing. Joan Crawford was one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood in the Golden Age in Hollywood, but this movie changed the public's opinion of her forever - and not for the better. 

Jennifer Lopez - Selena

Before played the murdered superstar Selena in the movie of the same name, Jennifer Lopez had had a few roles in movies, but after Selena, she was the legend we all know today. It's a groundbreaking performance. 

David Oyelowo - Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Everyone in America has heard the powerful voice of Martin Luther King, Jr. hundreds of times. His speeches are part of everyone's education. That makes David Oyelowo's turn as the civil rights leader that much harder - and that much more impressive. It's just fantastic. 

Cate Blanchett - Bob Dylan

Okay, we admit, technically Cate Blanchett is playing a character named "Jude Quinn" in I'm Not There, but c'mon, let's be real, she's playing Bob Dylan. It's an uncanny performance as well. There is actual footage of Dylan from that time in his career in the excellent D.A. Pennebaker-directed Dont Look Back. Compare that to Blanchett and you'll realize just how great she was. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Abraham Lincoln

Of all the amazing performances on this list, Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln just may be the best. It frankly could be the greatest acting performance of all time. There's an argument for it, at least. He's simply incredible and brings the tragic president to life like no one else has before or since, and likely never will. 

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy won a well-deserved Best Actor Award for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. It's a subtle, smoldering performance, just like the personality of the real Oppenheimer. Playing the scientist in his greatest moments in life and his lowest, it's a fantastic showing by the Irish actor. 

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most important people in US history, but one that hasn't been explored on film nearly as much as you might expect. Luckily, when someone did decide to finally tell her full story on the big screen in 2019's Harriet, they had the good sense to cast Cynthia Erivo as the former slave-turned-freedom fighter. She's amazing. 

Forest Whitaker - Idi Amin

Forest Whitaker is pretty great in everything he's in. He cranks his talent up to another level in The Last King Of Scotland as the brutal dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin. He's so good there are even moments where viewers might feel compassion for the man, despite his worst tendencies as the leader of the country. 

Jessica Chastain - Tammy Faye Bakker

If you were around in the 1980s, you remember all the insanity around Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Jim Bakker crying on TV with Tammy Faye right next to him is something no one will forget. Jessica Chastain's turn as the evangelical preacher's wife is just as memorable. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote

it's hard to imagine anyone will ever play Truman Capote as well as the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote. The role completely takes control of the actor in the best way. It might as well been the writer himself. You completely forget there is even an actor behind the role. 

Daniel Kaluuya - Fred Hampton

Fred Hampton was a controversial and complicated leader in the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. Casting a Brit like Daniel Kaluuya in the role was a daring choice by the filmmakers of Judas and the Black Messiah, but it paid off brilliantly as Kaluuya nails the role. 

Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill has been played on the big and small screen by plenty of great actors. John Lithgow (The Crown), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), and Albert Finney (The Gathering Storm) have all garnered praise for playing the legendary prime minister. Gary Oldman, who won an Oscar for playing Churchill in 2017's The Darkest Hour may just be the best. His reading of those famous speeches is just mesmerizing. 

Angela Bassett - Tina Tuner

Tina Turner was a fierce woman, who deserved a fierce performance and she got one with Angela Bassett in What's Love Got To Do With It. Bassett's performance is transcendent and certainly deserved the Oscar nomination she received. She should've won it! 

Austin Butler - Elvis Presley

Austin Butler got so caught up in his performance as Elvis Presley in Elvis that critics of the actor complained that even months later he was still talking like the King of Rock and Roll. he wasn't, but that does say something about how good he was in the Baz Luhrmann-directed bio flick. 

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

When The Social Network was first announced, many were confused as to how someone could make an interesting movie about the founding of Facebook. It turns out, that if you get a great writer like Aaron Sorkin, a great director like David Fincher, and someone like Jesse Eisenberg to play the Mark Zuckerberg, you can make it look easy. The movie is great, and Eisenberg's performance is pitch-perfect. 

Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes is one of the most mercurial and odd celebrities in US history. In The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio fully embodies everything about the director and businessman. He takes on his greatest triumphs and sinks to the depths of Hughes' despair in the lowest points of his mental illness with the same gusto. 

Charlize Theron - Aileen Wuornos

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos was a terrifying person. A true monster, as the name of the movie about her is called. That's not to say a viewer can't have some sympathy for the circumstances that brought her to the point of murder, but you can't excuse her. Charlize Theron does an incredible job bringing all of that to the role in Monster. 

Sean Penn - Harvey Milk

Milk is one of the great political movies of the last few decades and the biggest reason why, besides the inspiring story, is Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk. Like Penn has done so often in his career, he completely disappears into the character. It is Harvey Milk.  

George C. Scott - George Patton

George S. Patton was a great, and complicated leader in World War II. He was responsible for some of the greatest military gains in the war, and he couldn't keep himself out of trouble with his controversy. George C. Scott's portrayal of the general in Patton is amazing. Even though the opening scene of him making a speech in front of the flag is fictional, it sets the tone perfectly and the movie never lets up. 

Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn

Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic in The Aviator as Howard Hughes, but he's not the only great performance in the movie. Cate Blanchett as the iconic Katharine Hepburn is, well, iconic. There's just no better word for either. It's not only a spot-on impression, the portrayal nails everything that was great about Hepburn. 

Robert De Niro - Jake LaMotta

Jake LaMotta was one of the toughest prizefighters of all time. His incredible story and Robert De Niro's performance are the two things that make Raging Bull legendary. Scorsese's direction is pretty great too. 

Helen Mirren - Queen Elizabeth II

it's really hard to play a person who has been on television screens all over the world for decades. Helen Mirren takes on that difficult task in Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen was an icon in every sense of the word and playing her could not have been easy, yet, when you have the talent of Helen Mirren, it looks easy. It surely wasn't. 

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

Clint Eastwood

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

Ron Howard

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

Bradley Cooper

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

Penny Marshall

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

Ben Affleck

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

Robert Redford

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

Jon Favreau

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

Mel Gibson

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

Richard Attenborough

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

Regina King

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

Denzel Washington

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

John Krasinski

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

Elizabeth Banks

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

Greta Gerwig

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

Jordan Peele

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

Rob Reiner

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

George Clooney

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

Angelina Jolie

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

Billy Bob Thornton

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

Ben Stiller

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

Jodie Foster

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

Kevin Costner

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

Tim Robbins

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

Sean Penn

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

Zach Braff

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

Warren Beatty

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

Diane Keaton

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

Kenneth Branagh

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

Leonard Nimoy

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

Sylvester Stallone

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

Helen Hunt

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

Joel Edgerton

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

In 1982, Fast Times at Ridgemont High not only became a seminal teen comedy and one of the best movies of the '80s, capturing the essence and angst of high school life in the early part of the decade, but it also catapulted a particular pair of shoes worn by Sean Penn into the stratosphere of pop culture. Now, the creator of said sneakers is thanking the actor. 

Sean Penn's portrayal of the laid-back surfer Jeff Spicoli, with his sun-bleached hair and carefree attitude, was iconic, and it was a role that launched the actor into superstardom. Yet, Spicoli's choice of footwear—Vans' checkered slip-ons—unexpectedly shared his spotlight. Thanks to the film, this casual skate shoe was suddenly in the limelight, fundamentally altering its path in fashion history. Decades later, the owner of Vans expressed his gratitude to Penn, revealing he'd found a special way to thank the actor for his unintentional, yet significant, contribution to the brand's success.

Steve Van Doren, the son of Vans co-founder Paul Van Doren, recently shared an intriguing story about all this on The Nine Club With Chris Roberts, a show where skateboarding and pop culture intersect. During his appearance, Steve recounted the journey of Vans and the serendipitous moment the brand's iconic checkered shoe became a film legend. Beginning with a memorable encounter with the beloved Fast Times star in Hawaii about a year ago, he explained:

The journey of Vans shoes from California skate parks to Hollywood stardom is as unexpected as their surge in popularity. Initially crafted for the skateboarding subculture, these shoes symbolized the relaxed and underground vibe of California's skate scene. Their leap to movie fame was a mixture of chance and deliberate selection by the movie’s young star. Van Doren continued:

Decades after the release of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Steve Van Doren’s story (which you can see in the video embedded below) emphasizes the sheer unpredictability of the film industry and life itself. Who could have predicted the shoe’s monumental success–or the movie's success as a whole, for that matter? 

With Fast Times, director Amy Heckerling had a great first movie and launched her career with the iconic film, solidifying its place as one of the most memorable coming-of-age movies available to stream. And with Clueless also listed in her filmography, her ability to capture the essence of youth culture is undeniable. 

You can enjoy Sean Penn's unforgettable performance as Jeff Spicoli, along with his iconic checkered Vans, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High by streaming it with a Peacock subscription. Alternatively, if you're interested in exploring contemporary teen stories, these seven Gen Z coming-of-age movies are worth checking out.

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

Denzel Washington

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

Heath Ledger

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

Christian Bale

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

Robert Downey Jr.

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

Toni Collette

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

Will Smith

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

Harrison Ford

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

Scarlett Johansson

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

Ryan Gosling

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

Glenn Close

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

Jennifer Lawrence

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

Julia Roberts

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

Meg Ryan

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

Laura Linney

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

George Clooney

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

Samuel L. Jackson

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

Hugh Jackman

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

Emily Blunt

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

Jake Gyllenhaal

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

Matthew McConaughey

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

Natalie Portman

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

Gary Oldman

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

Amy Adams

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

Angela Bassett

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

Jeff Bridges

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

Michael Caine

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

Robin Williams

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

Halle Berry

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

Sean Penn

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

Sandra Oh

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

Bradley Cooper

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

Viola Davis

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

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

Even though the slap was over a year ago, what happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock on the Academy Awards stage is still a hot topic. The latest to weigh in on the slap was Sean Penn, who is a two-time Oscar winner himself. As he shared his thoughts on Will Smith and how the situation was handled, he got very passionate and dropped a few f-bombs during his explanation. 

Sean Penn – whose documentary about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Superpower is about to premiere on the 2023 movie schedule – was livid when the Academy didn’t let the president speak during the ceremony in 2022, which took place not long after Russia invaded Ukraine. While speaking with Variety, he passionately talked about how an Oscars producer apparently didn’t want Zelenskyy to speak because “he’s not light-hearted enough.” That sentiment was followed by Penn saying:

This then led to Penn popping off about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock and then winning an Oscar not long after. According to the article, the Milk star was so fed up that the writer could see a vein in his neck tightening. He went on to give his two cents on the slap, saying:

The two-time Oscar winner then tied his complaint back to his explanation of why Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn’t able to speak at the ceremony, saying:

Penn then explained to the writer that the slap made him so angry, that he wanted to destroy his Oscars, which he won for 2003’s Mystic River and 2008’s Milk. He said:

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Sean Penn has spent a lot of time working to help Ukrainians. He’s also become close with Zelenskyy, and the documentary about the president and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Superpower, is set to premiere on September 18 for those with a Paramount+ subscription. Considering how tight the actor is with the president, it makes sense that he was upset when the leader wasn’t able to speak at the Academy Awards in 2022. 

Following, the slap at this ceremony, many spoke out about Will Smith’s actions and how the Academy dealt with it. In the months following the moment, the King Richard star was banned from the Oscars. He also issued an apology to Chris Rock on social media, and he resigned from The Academy.   

To this day, the slap is still highly talked about, and it is one of the most infamous moments in Academy Awards history. If more people, like Sean Penn, speak out about it and share their thoughts on how the situation was handled, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. 

I have always appreciated when people follow in the footsteps of their famous parents. In fact, I think it is fun to see actors collaborate with their own children on-screen, of which there are more than enough examples. The following are 30 of our favorite movies and TV shows that proved to be a family affair for the stars involved.

Adam, Jackie, Sadie, And Sunny Sandler (You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah)

Not only did producer Adam Sandler star as the father of two girls played by his real daughters, Sadie and Sunny, in the You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah cast in 2023. The Netflix original coming-of-age dramedy also stars the comedian’s wife, Jackie, while Idina Menzel handled the role of Adam’s onscreen spouse.

Andie MacDowell And Margaret Qualley (MAID)

According to MAID developer Molly Smith Metzler, it was actually star Margaret Qualley who brought up the idea of casting her own mother, Andie MacDowell, as her character’s mother. The Golden Globe-nominated Four Weddings and Funeral star plays Paula (a woman with severe bipolar disorder) opposite the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood cast member in the Netflix original miniseries based on Stephanie Land’s memoir.

Angelina Jolie And Vivienne Jolie-Pitt (Maleficent)

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt gave her debut (and, so far, sole) onscreen acting performance opposite her mother, Angelina Jolie, in 2014’s Maleficent — a live-action reimagining of Sleeping Beauty from the villain’s perspective. According to Vanity Fair, the then-5-year-old got the part of a younger version of Elle Fanning’s character, Aurora, because other children were too afraid of the Academy Award winner in full makeup and costume in the title role.

Ben And Jerry Stiller And Anne Meara (Various)

Ben Stiller shared the screen with both of his late parents, legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, multiple times — the first being the 1989 mockumentary, That’s Adequate, followed by 1991 horror-comedy, Highway to Hell. Ben later played a sadistic fitness guru who purchases a youth weight loss camp from his parents’ characters in Disney’s 1995 summer comedy movie, Heavyweights, before casting them 2001’s Zoolander, with Jerry as Maury Ballstein and Meara cameoing as an egg-throwing protester.

Billy Ray, Miley, And Noah Cyrus (Doc, Hannah Montana)

Both Miley Cyrus and her sister, Noah, made their acting debuts on the medical drama, Doc, which was led by their musician father, Billy Ray Cyrus. Years later, the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer took a supporting role on Miley’s smash hit Disney Channel show, Hannah Montana, which Noah would also appear on in various unnamed roles.

Brendan, Domhnall, And Brian Gleeson (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 1, Frank Of Ireland)

Brendan Gleeson reprised Mad-Eye Moody in the penultimate installment of the Harry Potter movies, which also starred his son, Domhnall, as Ron Weasley’s older brother, Bill, in 2010. More than a decade later, the Academy Award nominee starred opposite the Star Wars movies actor and his younger son, Brian, in an episode of their Amazon Prime comedy series, Frank of Ireland, as a new boyfriend of the title character’s mother.

Blythe Danner And Gwyneth Paltrow (Sylvia)

In 2003, Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow played the title role of a biopic about Sylvia Plath. To play the renowned writer and poet’s mother, Aurelia, Paltrow’s real-life mother, Tony and Emmy Award winner Blythe Danner was cast.

Chris, Tristan, And India Hemsworth (Thor: Love And Thunder)

After his older brother, Luke, portrayed his comic book character in a play in Thor: Ragnarok, Chris Hemsworth made 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder a real family affair. Not only would Luke return, but Chris’s son, Tristan, appeared as the title character’s younger self in a flashback and his daughter, India, played Gorr the God Butcher’s daughter, Love.

Clint And Scott Eastwood (Gran Torino, Trouble With The Curve)

The first time Clint Eastwood acted alongside his son, Scott, was in 2007’s Gran Torino for a scene in which — as the Suicide Squad star claimed to Conan O’Brien — his father threw a few unscripted insults toward his character. Five years later, Scott starred in the baseball movie Trouble with the Curve as a minor leaguer discovered by his father’s character.

Damon Wayans And Damon Wayans Jr. (Blankman, My Wife And Kids, Happy Together)

Daman Wayans Jr. debuted as the younger version of his father’s character — aspiring superhero, Kevin — in the funny ‘90s movie Blankman, before landing a recurring role on his sitcom, My Wife and Kids, and later inviting him to play his dad on his own sitcom, Happy Together. In early 2023, Deadline reported that the Wayans are developing a new sitcom that will pair them up as an on-screen father-son duo once again.

Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, And Rumer Willis (Various)

Rumer Willis’ first two acting gigs were alongside her mother, Demi Moore, as Angela Albertson in the underrated ‘90s movie, Now and Then, and as the daughter of Moore’s character in the classic stripper movie, Striptease. The actor and singer’s next two roles would be alongside her father, Bruce Willis, with an uncredited cameo in the 2000 comedy, The Whole Nine Yards, and as the daughter of Willis’ character in the 2005 thriller, Hostage.  

Donald And Kiefer Sutherland (A Time To Kill, Forsaken)

The first time Donald and Kiefer Sutherland appeared in a movie together — namely 1996’s A Time to Kill — Donald played a civil rights lawyer and Kiefer played a vicious white supremacist. Nearly two decades later, the father and son played a father and son in a western called Forsaken.

Eugene, Dan, And Sarah Levy (Schitt's Creek)

The Schitt’s Creek cast has more than two related actors in it. Eugene Levy and his son, Dan (who also created the hit sitcom together), play Johnny Rose and his son, David, and Dan’s sister, Sarah, also stars as Café Tropical owner, Twyla Sands.

George And Mayan Lopez (Lopez Vs. Lopez)

Comedian George Lopez teamed up with his daughter, Mayan, and Debby Wolfe to create the NBC sitcom, Lopez vs. Lopez. The series — which  was renewed for a second season, according to Variety — also stars George and Mayan as a father and daughter forced to reconnect after year when they have no choice but to move in together.

Henry And Jane Fonda (On Golden Pond)

The 1981 film adaptation of the acclaimed play On Golden Pond was a very special moment in Henry Fonda’s career. In addition to being his final performance, which earned him a Best Actor Oscar, it saw him share the screen with his real-life daughter, Jane, who played his estranged daughter.

Johnny And Lily-Rose Depp (Tusk, Yoga Hosers)

A nearly unrecognizable Johnny Depp plays Guy LaPointe in Kevin Smith’s bizarre A24 horror movie, 2014’s Tusk, which also stars his daughter, Lily-Rose, as a convenience store employee. When Smith made a spin-off in 2016 focusing on Lily-Rose and Harley Quinn Smith’s characters called Yoga Hosers, Depp reprised the French-Canadian P.I. as well.

Judy Garland And Liza Minnelli (In The Good Old Summertime, The Judy Garland Show)

As The Guardian recalls, the multi-talented Liza Minnelli was just three years old  when she made her acting debut with a brief cameo at the end of 1949’s In the Good Old Summertime, alongside her mother — the iconic Judy Garland. The Wizard of Oz star later invited her daughter to perform with her on her variety program, The Judy Garland Show, in the early 1960s.

Kirk, Diana, Michael, And Cameron Douglas (It Runs In The Family)

It Runs in the Family, marks a rare instance of a movie starring three generations of an actor family. It stars Kirk Douglas and his former wife, Diana, as the father and mother of a man played by their real son, Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, whose own actual son, Cameron, also stars as his eldest son in the 2003 dramedy.

Leslie Mann And Iris and Maude Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40)

Leslie Mann’s character in 2007’s Knocked Up and its 2012 quasi-sequel, This is 40, is married to writer/director Judd Apatow in real life. Their children, Iris and Maude — the latter of which went on to star in the Euphoria cast as Lex Howard -- appear in both This is 40 and Knocked Up with Leslie Mann.

Martin And Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez are celebrity siblings who have acted together multiple times, including once with their father, Martin Sheen, with small roles in Badlands. However, every other time the actors appeared alongside Martin was individually — with Charlie in Wall Street, Cadence, and Hot Shots, most notably, and with Estevez in In the Custody of Strangers and The Way.

Meryl Streep And Mamie Gummer (Heartburn, Evening, Ricki And The Flash)

When speaking to Jimmy Fallon, Mamie Gummer looked back on her acting debut as a toddler in the 1986 dramedy Heartburn, which was led by her mother, Academy Award winner Meryl Streep. More than twenty years later, Gummer played her mother’s younger self in the 2007 romantic drama, Evening, before playing her estranged daughter in 2015’s Ricki and the Flash.

Ralph And Julia Macchio (Cobra Kai)

Ralph Macchio’s daughter, Julia, has made a name for herself as an actor in movies like Girl Most Likely and shows like Showtime’s City on a Hill. She would share the screen with her father on a couple episodes of Netflix’s Karate Kid sequel series, Cobra Kai, as Daniel LaRusso’s cousin, Vanessa — a young, but highly skilled, child psychology grad student.

Ryan And Tatum O’Neal (Paper Moon)

According to Collider, the record for youngest Oscar winner is still held by Tatum O’Neal for her performance in 1973’s Paper Moon. Her character in the crime dramedy directed by the late Peter Bogdanovich is a precocious, Depression-era orphan who teams up with a con artist who could be her father, played the actor’s actual father, Ryan O’Neal.

Robin And Zelda Williams (In Search Of Dr. Seuss, Nine Months, House Of D)

Zelda Williams had her first taste of show business with her father -- Academy Award winner Robin Williams -- right beside her in the 1994 TV movie In Search of Dr. Seuss and the following year with her small role in the Hugh Grant-led rom-com, Nine Months. Her first starring role in a theatrically released film was in 2004’s House of D, which also marked the third and final time she acted alongside her late father.

Sean And Dylan Penn (Flag Day)

Sean Penn and Robin Wright’s daughter, Dylan Penn, got her start as a model before she took up acting. Her biggest role to date was as the unwitting daughter of a criminal played by Sean in 2021’s Flag Day, which the two-time Academy Award winner also directed.

Sylvester And Sage Stallone (Rocky V, Daylight)

In the Rocky movies’ fifth installment, Rocky Jr. was the debut role of star and director Sylvester Stallone’s real-life son, Sage, who would later appear with his dad in the ‘90s action movie,  Daylight. Sage went on to become the founder of Grindhouse Releasing — which prevented him from reprising his Rocky V role in Rocky Balboa — and, according to CNN, sadly passed away at 36 in 2012.

Thandiwe Newton And Nico Parker (Reminiscence)

Nico Parker — known for Disney’s live-action Dumbo remake and HBO’s The Last of Us cast — is the youngest daughter of actor Thandiwe Newton and filmmaker Ol Parker. However, in the 2021 futuristic noir, Reminiscence, she appeared alongside the Westworld star as a grandmother and granddaughter. 

Tom, Colin, Elizabeth, Chet, And Truman Hanks (Various)

Tom Hanks has shared the screen with all four of his children. He cast Colin Hanks in a small role in That Thing You Do! before appearing alongside him again in 2008’s The Great Buck Howard. Elizabeth Hanks was also in That Thing You Do!, but debuted in Forrest Gump. Chet Hanks has been in Larry Crowne and Greyhound and Truman Hanks normally does technical film work, but has appeared in three of his dad’s movies — News of the World, A Man Called Otto, and Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City.

Will, Jaden, And Willow Smith (The Pursuit Of Happyness, After Earth, I Am Legend)

Jaden Smith has played his father's onscreen son in two of Will Smith's movies — the first being his debut role in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness and the second in the M. Night Shyamalan movie, After Earth. Willow Smith also made her acting debut as her father’s daughter in a heartbreaking flashback sequence from 2007’s I Am Legend.

If you're familiar with some or all of these films, you may agree that much of these parent-child pairings demonstrate the magic that can come from family members working together on screen. 

The “nepo baby” discussion has been raging in Hollywood for a few months now. Celebrities and entertainment buffs alike have been debating how some have been positively impacted due to their relationships with established stars. Celebrity kids have been at the forefront of the discussion, and a number of them have weighed in with thoughts. One of the latest to do so is Hopper Penn, the son of actors Sean Penn and Robin Wright. When asked to weigh in on the argument, the up-and-coming star shared a blunt comment. 

Hopper Penn has been steadily building up acting credits over the past several years via television shows and short films. His latest project is the drama film Devil’s Peak, in which he stars alongside his famous mother. The two recently participated in a joint interview, during which Penn was asked for his thoughts on the concept of a nepo baby. The 29-year-old actor didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts, declaring that he doesn’t “give a shit” if people see him as one. That’s because in his estimation, he doesn’t fit the bill. He also recalled the first time that he became aware of the highly discussed topic:

Tell us how you really feel about it. The comments that the Signs of Love alum share with Yahoo! Entertainment indicate that he’s over the conversation. Also, he seems to be even less fazed due to the fact that his detractors are people that he doesn’t know and likely won’t ever meet. His logic here is sure to be divisive amongst the public as has been the case with other celebrities who’ve weighed in thus far.

Last year, Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose Depp claimed that she isn’t a nepo baby and, as a result, she got slammed by Italian model Diet Prada. Lily Collins defended her success as well, as she recalled the failed castings and other challenges that she’s come up against over the years. Meanwhile “OG nepo baby” Jamie Lee Curtis called the discourse hurtful while addressing her privilege and stating that she’s worked hard for what she has. Tom Hanks, who recently cast his son in A Man Called Otto, further argued that the entertainment industry is a “family business.”

Meanwhile, M3GAN’s Allison Williams straight-up admitted to being a nepo baby, fully acknowledging that she has advantages that many others in the industry don’t. Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford’s daughter, also had an honest take, as she didn’t deny her privilege and spoke about being grateful for the resources she’s had access to. Actress and producer Michaela Coel also called out nepo babies who don’t take their positions into consideration, though she admitted that her thoughts could change if she has kids and they choose to enter the business at some point.

This is a nuanced conversation, to say the least, and more stars are sure to chime in as time goes on. I wouldn’t expect to hear much more from Hopper Penn on the matter, though, considering his blunt thoughts. Then again, there’s always a chance that he’ll re-evaluate the discussion and provided further comment at a later time.

You can see Hopper Penn and Robin Wright in Devil’s Peak, which is now available via VOD.

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

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

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

Jeff And Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys)

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

Kate And Rooney Mara (Urban Legends: Bloody Mary)

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

Sean And Chris Penn (At Close Range)

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

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

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

Chris And Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)

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

Dylan And Cole Sprouse (Various)

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

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

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

James And Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist)

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

Hilary And Haylie Duff (Various)

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

Aly And AJ Michalka (Various)

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

Dakota And Elle Fanning (I Am Sam, Taken)

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

Spencer And Abigail Breslin (Various)

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

Jason And Justine Bateman (Arrested Development)

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

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

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

Bill And Brian Doyle Murray (Various) 

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

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

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

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

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

Rory And Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down)

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

The Wayans Siblings (Various) 

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

Zooey And Emily Deschanel (Bones)

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

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

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

Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

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

Vanessa and Laura Marano (Saving Zoë)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dan And Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek)

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

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

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

Bill And Alexander Skarsgård (White Water Fury)

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

Blake And Robyn Lively (Simon Says)

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

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

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

Eddie And Charlie Murphy (Harlem Nights, Norbit)

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

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

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

Ron And Clint Howard (Various) 

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

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

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

Jared And Shannon Leto (Various)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looks like talent really does run in the family.

There is a lot that can be said about Paul Thomas Anderson movies, but one of the most consistent parts of each and every one of his films is the amazing talent he selects to bring his characters to life. The same can be said about Licorice Pizza and the group of actors that take up the screen in Anderson’s love letter to 1970s Los Angeles. 

This charming, humorous, and sometimes heartbreaking, coming-of-age drama about two young Southern Californians attempting to navigate life and love during one of the most confusing times of their lives is told masterfully by newcomers Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim, as well as Hollywood heavyweights like Bradley Cooper, Sean Penn, and several others. Let’s dive into where we’ve seen the outstanding Licorice Pizza cast.

Alana Haim (Alana Kane)

Starting things off is Alana Haim, who made her feature film acting debut with her portrayal of Alana Kane in Licorice Pizza. Since 2007, Haim and her two sisters — Este and Danielle — have led the pop rock band Haim, achieving critical acclaim, selling tons of records, and going on tour with everyone from The Killers to Taylor Swift during that time. Haim previously appeared in a 2015 episode of Documentary Now! (playing herself) and The Lonely Island’s 2019 Netflix variety show titled The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience. 

Licorice Pizza is actually not the first time Alana Haim and Paul Thomas Anderson have worked together on a project, as the acclaimed filmmaker directed several of her band’s music videos and a documentary about the making of the 2017 album, Something To Tell You. 

Cooper Hoffman (Gary Valentine)

Then there is Cooper Hoffman, who made his film debut with a commanding portrayal of Gary Valentine, the young child actor at the center of Licorice Pizza. If Cooper’s name and face look familiar it’s because he’s the son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who appeared in a total of five Paul Thomas Anderson movies before his death in February 2014.

Sean Penn (Jack Holden)

Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn portrays Jack Holden, a fictionalized version of Hollywood legend William Holden, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest offering. One of the most prolific names on the Licorice Pizza cast, Penn has done a little bit of everything throughout his career, which goes back all the way to a 1974 episode of Little House on the Prairie. 

Over the years, Penn has played iconic stoners like Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, emotionally-damaged gangsters like Jimmy Markum in Mystic River, and historical figures like Harvey Milk in Milk. Penn has also sat in the director’s chair numerous times over the years on movies like The Indian Runner, The Crossing Guard, and most notably, Into the Wild.

Tom Waits (Rex Blau)

Legendary musician-turned-actor Tom Waits portrays film director Rex Blau in Licorice Pizza, the latest in a long line of critically acclaimed movies, though his first with Paul Thomas Anderson. Over the years, Waits has released groundbreaking jazz-infused folk albums, including The Heart of Saturday Night, Nighthawks at the Diner, Rain Dogs, and Mule Variations, earning two Grammys and being nominated a total of seven times. Waits’ film contributions include The Outsiders, The Fisher King, Mystery Men, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Dead Don’t Die, and dozens more.

Bradley Cooper (Jon Peters)

Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated actor, director, and producer Bradley Cooper takes on the role of Hollywood hairdresser-turned-producer Jon Peters in Licorice Pizza, marking the first time he has worked with Paul Thomas Anderson. Over the years, Cooper has appeared in successful franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and The Hangover, as well as Academy Award-nominated pictures like Silver Linings Playbook and A Star is Born. Throughout his career, Cooper has worked extensively with David O. Russell, Todd Phillips, and Clint Eastwood, becoming one of the biggest actors of his era. 

Benny Safdie (Joel Wachs)

Benny Safdie, one-half of the filmmaking duo behind Uncut Gems, steps in front of the camera as former Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs in Licorice Pizza. Safdie made waves in the 2017 crime thriller Good Time with his portrayal of Nick Nikas, a film he also directed alongside his brother, Josh. Safdie has also given commanding performances in Pieces of a Woman, Togetherness, and Person to Person, to name only a few. Safdie is also set to appear in the upcoming Disney+ TV show Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Christine Ebersole (Lucille Doolittle)

Veteran film, TV, and stage actress Christine Ebersole takes on the role of Lucille Doolittle (modeled after Lucille Ball) in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza. The two-time Tony Award winner has been in a little bit of everything over the years including Tootsie, Saturday Night Live, and stage productions of Grey Gardens. Others may remember Ebersole for her appearances on Royal Pains, Sullivan and Son, and her current show, Bob Hearts Abishola. Others may remember Ebersole for her portrayal of Macaulay Culkin’s on-screen mom in the 1994 adaptation of the Richie Rich comic strip.

Skyler Gisondo (Lance)

Skyler Gisondo, who has been one of the hardest working young actors in Hollywood as of late, shows up in Licorice Pizza as Lance, the boy who gets in the middle of Alana and Gary’s romance. 

Following a string of one-off appearances in TV shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, Monk, and Cold Case, Gisondo turned his attention to feature films in the early 2000s, first with Halloween and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, before landing roles in The Amazing Spider-Man (and its sequel) and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. Here recently, Gisondo has appeared in movies like Booksmart, shows like The Righteous Gemstones, and even documentaries, including Netflix's The Social Dilemma in 2020.

This is just barely scratching the surface of the Licorice Pizza cast, as there are multiple actors who make brief appearances, including Maya Rudolph and John C. Reilly. If you want to know what else is coming to theaters the final weeks of the year, check out CinemaBlend’s rundown of all the 2021 new movie releases.

Actor Sean Penn is a legend in Hollywood, but even he has felt the struggle of 2020. The actor went on MSNBC news show Morning Joe, and while his interview was solid, the moment was sabotaged by Russians who hacked the actor's hair.

At least, that's who Sean Penn is blaming for the insane hairstyle he had on the program. The actor shared his theory with the internet, as well as a link to the CORE Response organization.

As expected, the internet was in love with the response and the fact that Sean Penn got on television looking like he literally just rolled out of bed. The memes began flowing in from all over the internet, and yes, Dazed and Confused was used for a few of them.

Apparently, bad hair days only exist for people who care. Sean Penn was clearly not embarrassed about appearing on camera disheveled or was just dead set on not letting the Russians win. Regardless it seems like he hasn't gotten a lot of flak for the less than professional look, and instead, people are embracing this latest trending news topic as another indicator that 2020 was just a wild year all around.

And really, there are few better ways to represent 2020. It's been an up-and-down year, and while we've all had to make the adjustment to increased virtual interaction, some days it is what it is. We've all had to change a lot this year, so it's not like many are in a place where they can judge Sean Penn for hopping on a televised interview looking like he just got in a fight.

Maybe the reason Sean Penn avoided a thorough "drag" by the internet is that a lot of people just appreciate the actor's humanitarian efforts. Penn has a long history of working during many national disasters, and COVID-19 is no exception. His non-profit CORE has worked since the start of the pandemic to ensure COVID-19 testing for all, and in the process created one of the largest COVID-19 testing sites in the United States. For that, and the fact that there are worse hair days one can have, many are willing to give him a pass.

If nothing else, Sean Penn proved that even the best of us can have a bad hair day that could be embarrassing, but if we own it or blame another country, the internet will love us? I guess I'm not entirely sure what the lesson is here, or if there is one at all, but I have learned that I and the internet still love Sean Penn.

2020 is almost over, but CinemaBlend is still around for the rest of the year and beyond to bring the latest in entertainment news. Continue to stick with us for more on Sean Penn, and for more happening in the world of television and movies.

Earlier this year, actor and TV host Dax Shepard got into an off-road accident that messed his hand up pretty badly, though it was essentially his own fault that the accident happened. Memories of that incident were likely bouncing around his head after he was recently involved in a motorcycle accident, in which he broke multiple bones. But he apparently didn't realize the extent of his injuries in the immediate aftermath and just went about his normal life until the next day. Dax Shepard is obviously my new spirit animal.

Dax Shepard unveiled this otherwise harrowing tale during a recent installment of his stellar podcast Armchair Expert, in which Sean Penn was his eloquent guest, but he managed to make the story sound like an inconsequential mishap from the distant past, as opposed to a bone-breaking crash that happened less than 24 hours previous. Here's how the accident went down:

Dax Shepard, whose comedy Bless This Mess was cancelled by ABC earlier this year, somewhat sheepishly explained that the way he'd crashed, the tires and dark areas of his motorcycle were facing out towards oncoming vehicles. And because it was laying in the middle of a turn, his first instinct was to worry about other bikers who might not see the fallen motorcycle, so he just stood next to the vehicle and waved his arms to alert everyone else. Apparently that didn't sit too well with Sonoma Raceway's employees. Shepard continued:

For anyone unaware, Sonoma Raceway is around 375 miles away from Los Angeles. So not only did Dax Shepard stick through the pain for more than hour solely to ride around the track a few more times, he also followed that with a 5+ hour drive home. At that point, one might have thought he would have realized something was really wrong, but no, he just went to sleep.

The next morning, Shepard and wife Kristen Bell got up and attended their daughter Delta's preschool graduation. Astoundingly enough, it was only at this point when the actor realized that his injuries were a little more than he could take. Here's how he explained it:

The good news? Some of the metacarpal bones that had been broken in his previous accident made it through this one unscathed. So that's a plus for the medical field, which is probably the only silver lining in this whole ordeal. Well, I guess the fact that Dax Shepard's injuries were debilitating enough to render him a wailing mess in the middle of Sonoma is a silver lining in and of itself. The fact that all of this happened so soon before Shepard recorded the story for his podcast kind of blows my mind. I can only hope he got some decent painkillers from the hospital for his troubles.

You can check out some visual proof of Dax Shepard's injuries in his Instagram post seen below, though the best part of the pic is Kristen Bell's "tsk tsk tsk" face in the background.

Here's hoping all goes well with Dax Shepard's future surgery – or surgeries, depending on how safely he makes it to the hospital in the future. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates, and be sure to keep current with our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule to see when Shepard's debut on Top Gear America will show up on Motortrend.

Russell Crowe is a gigantic film star. Even if the man never appears in another movie (his latest film Unhinged is about to start opening in some international markets), he’ll be remembered for a string of incredible film roles, including his Oscar winning turn in Sir Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. And yet, there were times in his career – even after enjoying some success – where Crowe admits that his standing in Hollywood wasn’t exactly rock solid.

The actor takes a trip down memory lane for one of those GQ videos. And when he got to the late director Curtis Hanson’s Oscar-winning L.A. Confidential, Russell Crowe explains how he feared he was going to be replaced by Sean Penn in the role of enforcer cop Bud White. Crowe explains:

As we know, Russell Crowe held on to his role. And it catapulted him further down the road of super stardom, putting him on the radars of directors such as Michael Mann and Ridley Scott, leading to movie roles such as The Insider and Gladiator. But at the time of L.A. Confidential, Crowe had some heat (thanks to The Quick and the Dead and Virtuosity), but not enough to settle his nerves over being replaced mid-project by a powerful Sean Penn, who was coming off of Dead Man Walking, Carlito’s Way and David Fincher’s The Game around this time.

Coincidentally, Russell Crowe and Sean Penn would ride similar tracts for years. They’d face off against each other at the Oscars in 2002, where they both lost Best Actor to Denzel Washington’s Training Day performance. It makes you wonder how many more times these two actors were up for the same role, and who eventually won out?

Pretty-pretty-pretty big spoilers below for the Season 10 finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, so be warned!

Curb Your Enthusiasm ended its highly topical tenth season with a finale that neatly tied up several of the season's storylines, and in a way that allowed for a slew of hilarious celebrity cameos. The season already welcomed series newcomers such as Vince Vaughn, Timothy Olyphant, Abby Jacobson, Esai Morales, Laverne Cox and plenty of other big names, but "The Spite Store" went all out.

Check out the rundown of just about every cameo the Curb Your Enthusiasm finale had to offer.

Jonah Hill

A lot of Curb Your Enthusiasm's season finale covered how popular Larry's "spite store" idea was throughout Hollywood, with various celebrities running local businesses into the ground by opening up fancier stores next door. The first of these examples viewers saw was Jonah's Deli, a spite deli founded by Jonah Hill, whose former go-to spot Irv's Deli served him a sandwich with a hair in it, and then claimed it was his hair. Boom. A spite deli was born, inspiring Hill to get away from acting altogether.

Sean Penn

The second celebrity spite store was Sean's Exotic Birds, which was the always flappable Sean Penn's response to being slighted by the next-door establishment Ray's Exotic Birds. You see, Penn wanted a talking bird, but was flummoxed to discover the bird he bought from Ray's was a mute bird that only sort of grunted. WTF, Ray? When you throw that kind of bullshit at Sean Penn, you're gonna get spited, and with a whole other store full of exotic birds just like yours.

Mila Kunis

The third celebrity spite store, which appeared later in the episode after the cold open, was M.K.'s Jewelers, which was opened up by none other than That '70s Show vet Mila Kunis. The actress ended up putting the next-door business K.L. Jewelers out of business after she'd attempted to get a watch fixed there, and they refused to refund her money once she discovered their fix didn't work. The catch with this one is that Kunis wasn't actually running her store like an actual jewelers the way that Jonah Hill and Sean Penn were invested in their deli and bird shop, respectively. Sometimes spite is just spite.

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb

The Curb Your Enthusiasm finale cold open itself was a faux segment on NBC's Today, with anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb being the first two faces seen in the episode. Naturally, the segment was all about Larry's spite store influence.

Josh Mankiewicz

NBC News' Josh Mankiewicz, best known for his work on Dateline NBC, was the on-location reporter covering the spiteful rivalry between Latte Larry's and Mocha Joe's. In interviewing both Larry and Joe, Mankiewicz played devil's advocate by trying to get Mocha Joe to relent and apologize to Larry for banning him (as well as admitting his scones are really just muffins). I mean, Mocha Joe clearly admitted his tables are wobbly. Not that anything is wobbling in that store space anymore.

Chaz Bono

Transgender entertainer and author Chaz Bono showed up on Curb Your Enthusiasm as the latest Funkhauser relative, Joey Funkhauser. Within the narrative, Joey had also transitioned, having recently had the surgery that supplied him with a penis big enough to knock things off of countertops, such as priceless watches and Latte Larry's self-heating mugs. Weirdly enough, Bono's penis kind of ruined Larry's life, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Alex Karpovsky

HBO vet Alex Karpovsky is probably best known for playing Ray on Girls, but his entry into the Curb Your Enthusiasm-verse was as Dr. Seiderman, who gave Larry the first-opinion medical advice that he would need surgery and extended rehab for his beep-panic injured knee. Of course, Larry asked about getting a second opinion, which hurt the doc's feelings. This sub-plot might not have worked as well if not for Karpovsky flying off the handle in a way that perfectly mimicked Larry's rage. That's what we needed more of from Jon Hamm's cameo.

Tommy Dewey

Former co-star on Casual and The Mindy Project, Tommy Dewey brought his 24-carat smile to Curb as Dr. Fuller, the much more lenient physician that Larry went to for a second opinion. Despite his positive demeanor, it was clear that he had underlying issues with Dr. Seiderman, and those issues came to a head when the two hilariously got in each other's faces later in the episode.

Paul Scheer

Comedy renaissance man, Black Monday star and Nailed It winner Paul Scheer (whose former The League co-star Nick Kroll also appeared in Season 10) showed up as a realtor whom Larry has loads of antipathy for, despite also being a bald guy. Scheer won out in the end, having sold the house next to Larry's to Mocha Joe and new girlfriend April after gaining a bunch of lawsuit settlement money from Larry.

Mary Holland and Sam Richardson

Two Veep veterans showed up on Curb Your Enthusiasm, with Mary Holland and Sam Richardson playing a married couple whose relationship grew strained after Larry hounded them about whether they wanted their mixed-race child's skin to be on the lighter side or the darker side. (Which inspired a simple but poignant "What the fuck is the matter with you?" from Susie.) Perhaps the best moment involving either character, though, was Larry trying to sit down comfortably on the couple's living room single-person day bed.

Ian Roberts

Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder Ian Roberts is forever dependable for pulling off memorable bit roles in popular comedies, with his overtly literal Arrested Development doctor standing out, and he is just as great in Curb's finale as a fire chief confused by Latte Larry's lack of toilets and other design issues that aided in the store burning down completely. This particular exchange featured one of the season's best line readings, too.

Classic.

Diallo Riddle

Former Late Night with Jimmy Fallon writer Diallo Riddle co-created two very unique TV comedies in 2019, Comedy Central's South Side and the IFC surreal variety show Sherman's Showcase. He played a more subdued cameo in Curb Your Enthusiasm than most others on this list, but it was still an important moment in the narrative. He was one of the siren-abusing firemen that sped past Larry in order to get coffee at Latte Larry's, which set up Larry's behavior later in the episode that led to firemen not arriving in time to stop the coffee shop from burning down. But at least Riddle's character liked the coffee.

Sadly, there's no telling when the next time we'll get new Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes, with no word from HBO or Larry David about what may come in the future. I know I'm not the only one hoping for David to come up with a pitch revolving around coronavirus isolation.

Until we know more, Curb Your Enthusiasm is available today, March 23, for digital download, with the DVD coming out on July 21.

Imagine your parents want you to sit down with them to watch one of their favorite ‘80s movies. Being a modern individual, you reluctantly agree, until one of the starring characters appears and you realize, Hey, I just saw that celebrity in a movie last week! Or imagine you are one of those parents wanting your kids to give an eighties movie a shot--what better way than to pick a movie that kicked off an a-lister's career?

From Tom Cruise to Tom Hanks, many of the biggest A-list celebrities of film and television today were also the biggest stars of the Regan-era. Indeed, witnessing the beginning of a lasting career in the spotlight is one of the greatest things about revisiting classic ‘80s movies.

Discover, or rediscover, these ‘80s movies with a few familiar faces. These are just a few films from that revolutionary decade that launched the careers of Hollywood’s best.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Drew Barrymore)

Drew Barrymore has been a producer, director, and one of Charlie’s Angels. Her most often-referenced and widely celebrated work came when she was just seven years old and Steven Spielberg cast her as little Gertie in one of the most beloved ‘80s movies, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming sci-fi spectacle about the friendship between a young, lonely boy (Henry Thomas) and a lost alien became the highest-grossing film of 1982 and won four Academy Awards out of the nine it was nominated for. Since then, Drew Barrymore has become one of the few child stars to maintain her relevance.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Sean Penn)

Normally it is a slam dunk to refer to anything out of John Hughes’ filmography as the greatest that ‘80s high school movies had to offer. Amy Heckerling’s 1982 feature-length debut, from a screenplay by Cameron Crowe, is one major exception to that claim.

Future two-time Academy Award-winning (Mystic River, Milk) actor and director Sean Penn is masterful in Fast Times at Ridgemont High as Jeff Spicoli, a Southern California student with straight A’s in the subjects of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. Fast Times, which was also a major turning point for stars like Phoebe Cates, Forest Whitaker, and a young Nicolas Cage (more on him later) is one of the most quotable, hilarious, and formerly rewound ‘80s movies.

Night Shift (Michael Keaton)

This does not sound like the premise of a film starring a future Batman or from the director of Oscar-winning masterpieces like Apollo 13, but here its goes: after a local pimp is brought to the morgue, late night attendants Chuck (Henry Winkler) and Bill (Michael Keaton) take a liking to one his prostitutes, Belinda (Shelley Long), and decide to help her and colleagues by turning the morgue into a brothel.

It was Michael Keaton’s scene-stealing performance as fast-talking, perverted-yet-charming Billy Blaze in 1982’s Night Shift, one of Ron Howard’s earliest directorial efforts, that made him one of Hollywood’s most sought after comedic actors, potentially later helping him nab iconic roles in hilarious ‘80s movies Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice. The Academy Award-nominee has since played a Spider-Man villain, led the cast of two Best Picture Oscar-winners in the past decade (Birdman, Spotlight), and is still considered by many to be the best actor to play Batman.

The Outsiders (Tom Cruise)

I could have picked just about any actor from Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s 1967 coming-of-age novel, as it features the likes of Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, and several other A-listers of ‘80s movies and beyond. However, the biggest living star from The Outsiders, undeniably, is Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise plays the rambunctious Steve Randle in 1983’s The Outsiders, the tragic story of the young men who make up a pair of rival gangs in mid-1960s Oklahoma. Today, you may know Cruise as Jerry Maguire, Top Gun’s Maverick, and death-defying secret agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible franchise, but then he was just one of The Gang.

Valley Girl (Nicolas Cage)

There may not be a more definitive ‘80s movie than this modernized Romeo and Juliet story form 1983. Randy (Nicolas Cage) is an L.A. punk who bumps into Julie (Deborah Foreman), the movie’s titular “valley girl” at a party and spurs a romance with her, much to the chagrin of their shallow friends.

If dark thrillers like Face/Off or Mandy have caused you to forget that Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage is also a comedically talented actor, Valley Girl may be the right film to help remind you. Not to mention, the outlandish fashion choices and killer soundtrack, featuring Modern English’s “I Melt With You,” is sure to give you an invigorating ‘80s nostalgia trip.

BMX Bandits (Nicole Kidman)

Also an Academy Award winner, Australian native Nicole Kidman is an actress of nearly chameleonic talent, blending into her versatile roles almost effortlessly. Unless you refer to her debut in BMX Bandits, in which all of her biking stunts were clearly performed by an 18-year-old male in a wig. See for yourself in the video below:

This 1983 “ozploitation” comedy about three young BMX bike riders who get unwittingly entangled in a bank robbery has earned cult status over the decades for its over-the-top, lighthearted action, but more due to the fact that it stars a then 16-year-old Nicole Kidman. If you need a more convincing recommendation, Quentin Tarantino has referred to BMX Bandits as the Australian equivalent of this other kid-friendly ‘80s adventure:

The Goonies (Josh Brolin)

Of course, this leads to The Goonies. Josh Brolin has starred in some of the most respected films of the last few decades and has even wielded of the omnipotent Infinity Gauntlet as Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Still, the 51-year-old actor is proud to be a Goonie.

The star of No Country for Old Men made his feature film debut in 1985 as Brand, who reluctantly joins his little brother Mikey (Lord of the Rings’ Sean Astin) and his friends on a dangerous hunt for treasure, which greedy criminals are also looking to get their hands on. From executive producer Steven Spielberg, The Goonies is an iconic, family-friendly 1980s movie that remains a timeless classic for past and present generations.

Conan The Barbarian (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Before he made a living off of governing the state of California, for some time, Arnold Schwarzenegger made a living off of his body. That is all the former Mr. Universe title holder needed to be cast as the hero of Conan the Barbarian.

Director John Milius’ 1982 fantasy epic, based on the short stories of 1930s pulp-fiction writer Robert E. Howard and co-written by Oliver Stone, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a former slave who seeks vengeance for his parents’ murderer, Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones). Conan the Barbarian became a hit which would later inspire a 2011 remake starring Jason Momoa and spawn a direct sequel in 1984, the same year that Schwarzenegger’s most iconic film was released, The Terminator.

Splash (Tom Hanks)

Perhaps Ron Howard is just a good luck charm for stars of ‘80s movies as many of the actors he has cast throughout the decade have gone onto tremendous success. Just ask Tom Hanks, who was already a hit on television with the sitcom Bosom Buddies, but made his first big “splash” with this 1984 romantic fantasy.

In Splash, Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) is saved from drowning by Madison (Daryl Hannah), whom he instantly falls in love with, not realizing that she is really a mermaid. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, but, obviously, it would not be the last trip to the Oscars for Hanks.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (Johnny Depp)

In 1984, we met Robert Englund's grotesque, unhinged, and unpredictable antagonist, Freddy Krueger and one of the most iconic horror franchises was born. However, as the casual horror fan may not realize, Wes Craven’s A Nightmare On Elm Street was also the beginning of a very prolific career.

Johnny Depp plays Glen Lantz, the boyfriend of Nancy Thompson (Heather Lengenkamp), a high school student terrorized in her dreams by the aforementioned boogeyman. Obviously, Depp's performance is not the most memorable, but if you ask any A Nightmare on Elm Street fan, his explosive death scene is the stuff of legend.

Weird Science (Robert Downey Jr.)

Before he was saving the world in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Iron Man, two-time Academy Award-nominee Robert Downey Jr., believe it or not, was a Saturday Night Live cast member from 1985-1986. Around the same time, he starred in his biggest film role to date as the high school equivalent of Thanos in Weird Science.

In what is easily John Hughes’ strangest and most uproarious comedy, lifelong losers Gary Wallace (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt Donnelly (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) cannot catch a break in high school, thanks in part to a pair of bullies (Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Rusler). That is until Gary and Wyatt use their computer to magically create the perfect woman, Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), who also happens to be a genie who can make their wildest fantasies come true.

Empire of the Sun (Christian Bale)

If you ever wanted to see The Dark Knight’s Batman, Christian Bale, in a role that allows him to use his natural Welsch accent, you have to go way back. I mean, all the way back to his first introduction to America as a teenager in 1987.

In one of director Steven Spielberg’s more lighthearted films dealing with the subject of war (by comparison), Empire of the Sun, based on J.G. Ballard’s autobiographical novel, tells the story of a young, privileged English boy named James Graham (Christian Bale) and his struggle to survive in a confinement camp after he is separated from his parents following the Japanese invasion of Shanghai during World War II. The film is not without its heart wrenching moments, but also makes for a great family movie night.

Mystic Pizza (Julia Roberts)

Is it safe to call Julia Roberts America’s sweetheart, not just because she was in the movie America’s Sweethearts, but because of her unflinching charm in films like Pretty Woman, My Best Friend’s Wedding, or Ocean’s Eleven? The beginning of that charm was in a small town pizza parlor.

Mystic Pizza is about three young women (Julia Roberts, Lily Taylor, Annabeth Gish) learning harsh truths about love while working at a pizza place in Mystic, Connecticut. Fun fact: this was also the first movie of Matt Damon, who would later reunited with Roberts on screen in 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven.

Beetlejuice (Winona Ryder)

Winona Ryder has played characters of various time periods from the 15th century in The Crucible to the 24th century in Alien: Resurrection, but the best moments of her career are tied to the ‘80s (especially if you count Stranger Things), starting with this outrageous, visceral 1988 comedy of grim and ghostly proportions.

In Beetlejuice, which arguably set the tone for director Tim Burton’s following career, Winona Ryder plays Lydia, an oddball teen whose clueless parents (Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara) clash with the recently deceased owners of their new home (Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis), who erroneously enlist the help of the vile, but hilarious, title character, played by Michael Keaton. That same year, Ryder starred in the lead role of another legendarily dark comedy, Heathers.

Die Hard (Alan Rickman)

Obviously, the star of the Die Hard franchise is Bruce Willis, but he was already well-known for the hit television series Moonlighting before 1988. The action movie is also famous, however, for being the first film of the late, great Alan Rickman.

Alan Rickman brilliantly plays Hans Gruber, a German thief who has no trouble getting violent to get what he wants, especially when New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) incidentally proves to be a real “fly in the ointment” for him. Before his untimely death in 2015, Rickman went on to several more iconic roles, such as in Galaxy Quest, Love Actually, and, most notably, Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise.

Any other stars of ‘80s movies you think are worth mentioning? Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple? John Cusack in Better Off Dead? Kevin Costner as a dead body in The Big Chill? Let's talk it out.

One might think that Charlize Theron would have no problem scoring a romantic partner. Given her fame, fortune, talent, and beauty, the well-acclaimed Oscar-winning actress/producer practically seems unattainable. Especially to the general public. But Theron doesn't see it that way. As she admitted during the press rounds for her latest film, the political rom-com Long Shot, she's been single for about a decade now, and the gorgeous, well-known celebrity is "shockingly available" — despite what some might think. Here's what Charlize Theron said in an interview.

As she said to Entertainment Tonight Canada, Charlize Theron is not only willing to date again, but she wishes someone would "grow a pair" and ask her out already. There's no denying that she could have many different suitors. But it seems that people might be too intimidated to ask the celebrity to go out on a date. As least, that's what Charlize Theron claims while walking the red carpet for her newest film. Because it is now a decade since she's been dating someone (presumably, since her days dating Sean Penn) and the actress isn't necessarily afraid of getting back out there and going on a date or two — even despite Theron's very busy schedule.

Meanwhile, Seth Rogen, who plays Charlize Theron's love interest in the film, echoed this sentiment. The actor claimed that she's "out there" and currently available. It seems like she isn't necessarily holding off when it comes to dating.

Meanwhile, Charlize Theron has apparently not kept her desire to get back into dating again any sort of secret. She insists that she has made it "very clear" that she is ready to get back into the dating game. It's simply a matter of other people being willing to ask her out, which she thinks doesn't need to be that hard. Alas, Theron remains single. At least, for moment. Maybe that'll soon change.

There you have it. If you — by chance — were looking to date Charlize Theron, the time might've just arrived. Now, granted, that doesn't mean she'll agree to go on this hypothetical date. She could still turn you down. But you'll never know if you don't try, right? So, maybe you need to make the most of it.

After all, it seems like she is looking for someone who is confident enough to ask her out in the first place. If you prove yourself willing to go over that hurdle, you have a better chance than not, it seems. Make of that what you will. Who knows? Maybe you'll find yourself walking down the red carpet as Charlize Theron's newest lover. More than likely, that isn't gonna happen. But who can say? The only thing that is clear right now is that Theron is available, and she's willing to date again. Now, that info is available too.

Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen's new movie Long Shot hits theaters on May 3rd.

When A Star Is Born was first screened, audiences couldn’t stop raving about Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut. "Oscar frontrunner" was being thrown around left and right. As award season has played out, it has certainly been in conversation among the best films of the year, but it’s no longer expected to sweep the night, as other contenders have dominated.

When Oscar nominations were announced, A Star Is Born was recognized in eight categories, but Bradley Cooper’s name was notably missing from the Best Director short list. Actor Sean Penn has now penned an essay with Deadline to explain why he thinks A Star Is Born is being snubbed and how that's a problem. Here’s how he put it, in part:

Per Sean Penn’s words, it looks like Bradley Cooper may be getting overlooked because he’s regarded as a young talent and a “star” perhaps with more work on the horizon. As Penn notes, not recognizing Cooper for the accomplishment of A Star Is Born due to this doesn’t do justice to what he achieved with the musical drama starring himself and Lady Gaga.

In his essay, Sean Penn continued by pointing out the strengths of A Star Is Born, expressing how the love story is about the “flawed contemporary characters we are” and doesn’t pander to the politics of today -- perhaps referencing fellow Best Picture nominees Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman. He also continued with these words:

Sean Penn likely penned this in hopes of elevating A Star Is Born’s chances at some golden trophies following Bradley Cooper’s snub for Best Director -- among other overlooked films of 2018 such as Eighth Grade, If Beale Street Could Talk, Won’t You Be My Neighbor and First Reformed.

A Star Is Born was no question a massive undertaking for Bradley Cooper. He co-wrote the script, starred in the film, and sang original songs live – some of which he helped write -- and he directed the film. For the actor to receive nods for his work as actor, screenplay, etc. but not for helming it all doesn’t make much sense, does it?

Bradley Cooper did break records on the BAFTA nominee list for being the first to be simultaneously be nominated for actor, director, screenwriter, composer and producer. We’ll see how he does when the BAFTA awards will be taking place this Sunday, February 10.

After that, Bradley Cooper’s movie will take on the Oscars -- alongside other contenders including Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma and Vice. He will reportedly be performing “Shallow” live with Lady Gaga at the show on February 24 on ABC.

Hulu is venturing into outer space with its upcoming original series The First, which will follow a group of people working to send a manned mission to Mars for the first time. Sean Penn stars in his first series regular role on the small screen, and he's surrounded by a cast that includes a Designated Survivor vet. The first trailer for the new series has finally hit the web, and it proves that everybody involved with the mission to Mars will be super stressed out. Take a look!

Well, sign me up for not going on any missions to Mars! The trailer for the new series reveals that the visionaries who dream of sending humans to Mars for the first time won't have any easy time of even getting off the ground. It looks like they'll encounter resistance from everybody ranging from officials to their own families, and one young lady appears to have at least attempted suicide due to the pressure. Sean Penn clearly didn't go for a light and fluffy project for his first regular TV role.

The First will follow the lives of the five people who want to fulfill the destiny of eight billion. Set in the near future, the drama will feature the crew as they are forced to make significant personal sacrifices for the larger cause of pioneering space to reach the red planet. As the trailer footage makes quite clear, the astronauts will face more than just personal difficulties. Indeed, there will be very real danger in their endeavor as they attempt something no other astronauts have accomplished before. If successful, the crew will cement their places in the history books. If not, their attempt at pioneering will amount to an ill-fated mission-turned-tragedy.

The first season of The First will premiere on Hulu on September 14. Unlike Hulu originals like Castle Rock (which was recently given an intriguing renewal order), The First won't release new episodes on a weekly basis. No, the full first season of the new series will be available for binge-watching as soon as it goes live on September 14. Whether you're somebody who likes to watch multiple episodes in a row or view in moderation, The First could be a great way to kick off the fall TV season.

The trailer for The First is only the latest exciting development on the Hulu front. The second season of Marvel's Runaways will kick off in December and deliver the show's "first real breadcrumb" connecting to the larger MCU. It presumably won't be showing half the kids suddenly affected by the events of Avengers: Infinity War. A Veronica Mars revival is reportedly in the works at the streaming service as well. Basically, there's a lot to look forward to.

Check out Hulu on September 14 to discover what's in store for Sean Penn and the rest on The First. For some additional viewing options now and in the not-too-distant future, swing by our fall TV guide.

The late Heath Ledger has become fundamentally linked with Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, but when The Joker was teased at the end of Batman Begins in 2005, nobody knew who would play the legendary bad guy. Casting rumors swirled for quite some time, including the possibility that Mystic River star Sean Penn would step into the role. However, during a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Penn denied those rumors and explained:

It looks like we can put that rumor to bed. For over a decade, some fans have believed that Sean Penn declined the role of The Joker in Christopher Nolan's second installment in The Dark Knight trilogy. In his own words, it sounds like Penn wasn't nearly as close to the project as some had previously assumed -- though he does seem to hold the performances of Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson in high regard.

With that said, Sean Penn's remarks during his appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast are also tempered by the fact that he merely knows that he was never offered the gig. Christopher Nolan may have actually considered him for the role before giving it to Heath Ledger; this just means an offer was never officially extended to Sean Penn to accept or turn down.

Of course, aside from this particular story, it's a well-known fact that the hunt for a new Joker is currently in full swing. Suicide Squad star Jared Leto remains Mr. J in the DCEU, but outside of the DC Extended Universe's continuity, The Hangover's Todd Phillips is also in the process of developing a Joker origin movie that will explore the early years of the classic DC villain. Joaquin Phoenix may be the frontrunner to sign on for the film, but as this story clearly shows us, a lot can happen until an actor officially hops onboard.

Sean Penn was apparently never offered a chance to portray The Joker in The Dark Knight, but there's still plenty to look forward to in the DC world. CinemaBlend will bring you more information about the future of the DC slate (which will continue with the release of James Wan's Aquaman later this year on December 21) as new information becomes available to us! As for all of the other films debuting on the big screen this year, check out our comprehensive premiere guide to help get your moviegoing calendars filled out.

One of the most consistently vocal entities within Hollywood, Sean Penn generally attracts a lot of attention for his public appearances. His recent trip to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert could not have been more bizarre, either, thanks to the actor's mental facilities still being muddied by the prescription sleep aid Ambien. As opposed to being a loud and bawdy interview, Colbert's chat with Penn was the kind of surprisingly frank and eye-opening conversation that doesn't come to late night all that often. (Smoking was involved, too.) Check out part of the interview below, especially how bemused Colbert is.

Promoting his new book Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff, Sean Penn already made headlines this week for a CBS Sunday Morning interview in which he spoke out about wanting to quit acting due to a growing disinterest in that side of his career. And to be expected, that subject was broached fairly quickly, though not before Penn admitted that he was still feeling the effects of an Ambien he'd taken to fall asleep after a red eye flight the previous night. And it's a VERY good thing that admission came up so early, because it was necessary to understand why the interview coasted along in such a strangely hypnotic fashion. It also explains why Penn suddenly felt fine to light up a cigarette on stage, as if that was still the late night norm.

The conversation itself did feature some loose-end hiccups here and there, particularly after Stephen Colbert made his Netflix jab, but for the most part, Sean Penn made it fairly clear that he shifted interests from acting to writing because he doesn't want to continue dealing with Hollywood bureaucracy, with middle men micromanaging everything. From a creative standpoint, he said that while some collaborations can be wonderful, that's not always the case, and his views were succinctly whittled down into this claim: "I was never disappointed with me." When one doesn't want to work with anyone else, it definitely helps to be comfortable with oneself, especially when Ambien is involved.

The interview really took a trippy detour when Stephen Colbert started asking Sean Penn about Bob Honey, which first came to life in 2016 as an audiobook that also featured narration from Frances McDormand. Penn shared that the project's earlier conceit -- involving a country-crossing journalist named Pappy Pariah -- was basically hogwash, and his explanation for how he crafted the material is the stuff of mushroom trips. I'm kind of into the idea of a late night talk show starting up where all the guests have to take Ambien before appearing. Wait, no, that actually sounds like a waking nightmare.

Before saying goodbye to thespian duties, Sean Penn will next be seen on the big screen in Farhad Safinia's drama The Professor and the Madman. The two-time Oscar winner is also set to lead his very first TV show with Hulu's upcoming space drama The First, which was created by House of Cards' Beau Willimon.

With other fairly unpredictable guests on the way, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET. To see what other new and returning shows are hitting primetime soon, head to our midseason premiere schedule.

When you think of actors with a capital 'A', Sean Penn is one of the names that comes to mind. The veteran actor, known for serious roles in films like Mystic River and Milk has two Oscars and five nominations to his name. So you would think that he couldn't be happier doing something artistic at which he's talented. But it turns out that Sean Penn doesn't really enjoy acting anymore and struggles to find the importance of it. He laid out his feelings about this, saying:

Say it ain't so, Jeff Spicoli. This is kind of a troubling thing to hear from the actor who has been a part of the industry for so long. Previewing his interview with CBS' Sunday Morning, CBS News highlighted that Sean Penn has felt this way for some time. The way he describes his feelings, it sounds like he can see the merit in working with talented people and can even take something positive from the experience, but he doesn't really love it. It seems like he almost has to talk himself into gleaning something from acting nowadays, and the enjoyment and passion for it doesn't come naturally.

Sean Penn also seems to be questioning whether or not acting is actually making a positive impact. The actor has become increasingly known for his political activism and philanthropic efforts in recent years, so it's not surprising that he is looking at his work through this lens and trying to see if it is making a difference in a world with so many ills. But just because he no longer loves movies doesn't mean that Sean Penn has no joy in life. The actor is promoting his new novel Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff that comes out on March 27. In addition to coming up with weird titles, the actor has said that he enjoys writing. Now, because this is Sean Penn we're talking about here, he writes in longhand, not on a computer, which I'm sure is a blast for his editor.

It's not clear if Sean Penn is officially done acting or will simply be doing less of it as time goes on. Those still hoping to see the actor on screen can look forward to The Professor and the Madman, starring Sean Penn, Natalie Dormer, Mel Gibson and Ioan Gruffudd, due out later this year. He is also expected to have a part in House of Cards creator Beau Willimon's Hulu series The First. If Sean Penn does officially retire from acting, Daniel Day-Lewis style, the industry will miss him. While not everyone's cup of tea, the actor gives committed performances. You also can't begrudge someone for retiring from something that doesn't make them happy in order to pursue something that does.

It's not uncommon for fans to make their own pilgrimage to places where their favorite films were shot, or inspired. However, when that place is in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, it doesn't always go well. A couple of hikers tried to make it out to the real-life location that inspired the book and movie, Into the Wild. Nine days later, they have been recovered in good condition by search and rescue teams.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the hikers, Michael Trigg of South Carolina and Theodore Aslund of Atlanta, left on June 20th to go in search of the bus that Christopher McCandless called home for four months. While they apparently did reach the bus without issue, the pair reportedly were trying to take a shortcut through Denali National Park when they realized they were running late, which is when they got lost. Luckily, the hikers had prepared for the possibility, asking friends to alert authorities if they had not returned by last Friday. When that's exactly what happened, rangers were notified.

In 1992, Christopher McCandless separated himself from his friends and family and hiked into the wilderness of Alaska with plans to live simply off the land. While the time did not end well for McCandless, he was found dead four months later, the experience became the inspiration for a 1997 book, Into the Wild, which in turn inspired a film directed by Sean Penn in 2007. Ever since then, the abandoned bus, which McCandless used as a shelter, has been a destination for interested parties. It's still sitting in the exact same place it was back then.

These two are hardly the first to have rescue parties searching for them on a quest for the Into the Wild bus. I was recently in Alaska myself and heard multiple stories, mostly from angry natives, about people getting lost en route to the bus. It seems to happen every year that at least one party gets lost. There's an ongoing debate in the Anchorage area about whether or not to have the bus removed in order to prevent the fool hearty from getting themselves lost. One person even drowned on her journey. What's not clear is if the bus itself is really the problem. Would people stop making the trip if the landmark didn't exist? It's not clear.

Unfortunately, this means this probably won't be the last story of people needing rescue trying to follow in the footsteps of Chris McCandless. If I can make a personal recommendation: Skip the trip into the wilderness. Instead of making the trip to the bus that McCandless actually used, you can make a trip to the bus that was built for the Into the Wild movie. It's sitting outside the 49th State Brewing Company. It's a much easier trip, and you can have a beer when you're done.

As Hollywood has continued to scour other forms of media for their ideas, video games have become a new refuge. As video games themselves have become more cinematic and story driven it makes sense that you may be able to make a good movie out of them. Games like Assassin’s Creed and Warcraft will be making their bow in 2016, but they’ll be accompanied by a strange bedfellow, the Angry Birds.

The Angry Birds Movie is the latest movie distributed by Sony’s animation division, the studio behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which was a surprisingly good film that took a children’s book that didn’t have much of a plot, and built a compelling story without losing any of the components that made the original unique. Now, they will try to make lightning strike twice when they take one of the simplest games on the market, with essentially no plot whatever, and do their best to turn it into an equally good feature film. Will they do it? We will discover the answer when The Angry Birds Movie hits theaters this summer. Here’s everything we know so far about the movie.

What Is The Angry Birds Release Date?

Angry Birds will be getting a jump start on the summer movie blockbuster season with a May 20 release date. Also opening that weekend are the Russell Crowe/Ryan Gosling starrer The Nice Guys and the Seth Rogen comedy Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Neither is trying to capture the audience that Angry Birds is shooting for, so it’s unlikely that either film will take away from the numbers that the animated comedy is hoping for.

What Is The Angry Birds Rating?

Another thing that points toward the audience of Angry Birds not overlapping so much with other films debuting in May is the rating. While the month will see a host of PG-13 films, like Captain America: Civil War and R rated movies, Angry Birds managed to stick the landing on getting a PG rating. In addition, the Angry Birds rating will see the film compete for an audience with only three other movies that debut in May, Pelé and Dark Horse, which are both smaller films based on true stories, which will have had their releases already, and Alice Through the Looking Glass, the Alice in Wonderland sequel. Only Alice has any real hope of taking viewers away from Angry Birds, but since the film opens a week later, there will still be plenty of time for Angry Birds to rack up a good amount of box office dollars.

The Game

The thing that makes the Angry Birds mobile game so popular and addicting is exactly the same thing that makes it an odd choice for a movie. It’s not very complicated, and it has no specific beginning or end. It’s designed to be a game that you pick up and play for a few minutes at a time, and then put down and forget about, until you pick it up again some time later. There’s not much there. Still, game developer Rovio has turned the Angry Birds brand into a multi-million dollar enterprise that has expanded from a single game into numerous licensed versions as well as a cartoon, and now a movie.

The basic game is simple. Fire different birds out of a slingshot in order to knock down structures inhabited by green piggies. Each bird has different abilities that affect their trajectory and impact. If you take down all the pigs, you move on to the next level and do it again. That’s pretty much it. How will the gameplay translate into a movie? We know a few of the answers.

The Story

The movie will take place on an island inhabited entirely by flightless birds. All of the birds you recognize from the game, and several new editions, live together in this home. Not all the birds are so angry, though. In fact, only the three lead characters of Red, Chuck, and Bomb are undergoing anger management courses. The rest of the birds are very friendly and accommodating. So much so that when a shipful of pigs invades the island, the rest of the birds welcome them with open arms. Only our three Angry Birds suspect that there might be something going on. As we’ve played the game, we assume it has something to do with pigs trying to get their hands on eggs. We also know that when the pigs arrive they will bring several new inventions the birds have never seen before, and one of them is a slingshot.

Ultimately, according to star Jason Sudeikis, the movie is about how anger shouldn’t be a taboo emotion. It’s good to let your feelings out now and then; keeping them bottled up doesn’t help anybody. All in all, it seems to be a fairly solid basis for a movie considering what they started with. At best, it could make for an interesting companion to Pixar's Inside Out.

The Writer

The Angry Birds Movie has been written by Jon Vitti. Originally Vitti was on board to direct as well, but that changed somewhere near the end of 2013. This movie has been in production for a while. Vitti is credited with writing for several TV series over the years including Saturday Night Live, The Larry Sanders Show, and, most notably, The Simpsons. On the cinematic side of things, he was part of the team that wrote The Simpsons Movie as well as Alvin and the Chipmunks and it’s follow-up The Squeakqual. The Angry Birds Movie is the first film where Vitti is credited as the sole writer, so we’ll certainly get a chance to see what he’s made of as a screenwriter.

Interestingly, one of the areas where Jon Vitti seems to be a strong writer is when it comes to music. He’s credited as the writer for both "The Monorail Song" and "Spider-Pig" from The Simpsons, and, as we know that there will be at least one song in The Angry Birds Movie it could turn out to be a highlight.

The Directors

Much like The Angry Birds Movie is the first time out for writer Jon Vitti, it’s also the first directorial effort for a pair of animators. Angry Birds is being co-directed by the team of Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly. Clay Kaytis is a former Disney animator whose credits include Frozen, Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph. Fergal Reilly is a storyboard artist with a history on films like The Iron Giant and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. While both men have extensive animation experience, the fact that this is the directorial debut for both could give the impression that The Angry Birds Movie is either a low priority, or low budget, endeavor for Sony.

However, great directors have to start somewhere. When Fergal Reilly worked on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs it was under first-time feature directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The pair have since gone on to direct standouts 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie, and will soon be directing the Han Solo movie for Disney. No reason to believe that something like that couldn’t begin here.

Red

Our lead Angry Bird is Red. He’s...well...the red one. Voiced by Jason Sudeikis, Red looks to be the defacto leader of our team of frustrated heroes. Throughout the existing trailers, he seems to be the angriest of the birds. Honestly, for a film called The Angry Birds Movie he’s the only one who truly looks to be angry. He snaps at people, picks fights with inanimate objects and straight up punts a kid who won't stop kicking a soccer ball against his home. To be fair, Red appears to have come by his anger honestly. The other kids in school made fun of him and he’s never had any luck in love. It has not been an easy life for the guy. We assume these are skills that will eventually serve him well when it comes time to take on the pigs. Jason Sudeikis has said he took inspiration from, of all places, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, at least as far as the idea that Red feels he is the one sane bird on an island full of morons. He sees that this place has a serious problem, and can’t understand why nobody else does.

Chuck

Chuck is the yellow bird whose name, we assume, is a reference to what you do with him in the game. Chuck will be voiced by Josh Gad of Olaf the Snowman fame. The two characters do appear to have a lot in common, beyond the fact that they sound the same. Chuck doesn’t seem angry so much as goofy. Chuck will also be singing at some point in the movie. It’s apparently part of the deal.

The key difference between Olaf and Chuck is that Chuck runs at much higher RPMs than the Frozen snowman. Josh Gad used a childhood acquaintance who had a tendency to never stop talking, as inspiration. Based on the description, it sounds like Chuck speaks faster than he thinks, which we would expect is a trait that gets him in trouble much of the time.

Josh Gad is an unapologetic Angry Birds addict. Whether that gives him an advantage over his co-stars is unclear. Although, he’s apparently the only chief actor who hasn’t been called back to re-record dialogue, which could be a testament to his skill as a voice actor, or to the level that his addiction helped him create his character.

Bomb

Bomb is big, black, and explosive. He comes across as fairly meek at first but Bomb apparently has something of a short fuse. When he gets excited, startled, or angry, he literally explodes. While this seems to have little impact on him, it does serious damage to the surrounding environment. Bomb will be voiced by Danny McBride of HBO’s Eastbound and Down.

Of the three main Angry Birds, Bomb is one of the characters that we know the least about. He’s not been featured prominently in any of the trailers. This could simply be a coincidence. Or, it could be because the character is of key importance, and they don’t want to give away too much about who Bomb is. Regardless, McBride's style of humor is such that we expect him to be a very different bird that the rest. Also, with many explosions to (possibly) apologize for, we're expecting several fart jokes.

Leonard

Leonard is the lead pig in The Angry Birds Movie and will be voiced by Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader. Very little is known for sure about what the pigs are up to, but since they are the "bad guys" of the Angry Birds world we assume it’s no good.

Apparently, the original inspiration for the character of Leonard was supposed to be Robert Preston’s performance in The Music Man but after one recording session, the directors decided to try a different direction. It’s not clear if they decided the character needed a shift, or if they didn’t like Bill Hader’s impression of Professor Harold Hill. Either way, Hader now calls the role a "Hee-Haw Music Man." What this almost certainly does confirm is that Leonard is a conman and a huckster. Whatever his story; it’s a lie. But, the majority of the island will swallow it hook, line, and sinker.

Matilda

Matilda is one of the major Angry Birds characters, but we don't know that much about her. She's featured prominently on the Angry Birds Movie website, which would imply she's important, but we have only the briefest glimpse of her in the trailer. She’s the leader of the anger management course that the rest of the angry birds are part of. Reportedly, Matilda is a former angry bird herself, who has been able to get her aggression under control. We expect that will change when it comes time for the Angry Birds to take the action to the pigs, and start launching themselves out of slingshots. Matilda will be voiced by another SNL cast veteran, Maya Rudolph, who was most recently seen alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in the comedy Sisters.

The Rest of the Cast

While the names we've gone over would make for a great cast for any comedy, it only scratches the surface of the voices you will hear in The Angry Birds Movie. Country singer and The Voice judge Blake Shelton will be the voice of another of the pigs, named Earl. Peter Dinklage will be Mighty Eagle, a mythical bird that our heroes go in search of for help against the pigs. Kate McKinnon will take on the role of Stella, a young bird who likes to blow bubbles in the game. It will be the second time we hear from her this summer as Angry Birds will hit theaters just before the Ghostbusters reboot, in which she stars. Additional comedians like Hannibal Buress and Keegan Michael Key will also be lending their voices to the animated film. Also, in a truly wild casting choice, super-serious actor Sean Penn was revealed to be a part of the cast about a month ago. See that giant red bird off to the left in the above picture? That's Penn's character, Terence, who, apparently, only speaks in grunts and growls. Perfect, I say. The voice cast looks to be a who’s who of the comedy world (and Sean Penn), which will hopefully translate into one of the funniest movies of the summer.

Generally speaking, voice acting is one of the first things that takes place for an animated movie, so the cast has to be in place before anything else. This makes the announcement of a new actor a strange thing to hear when your movie comes out in little more than a month. That’s exactly what we have here, however, as Sean Penn has joined the cast of The Angry Birds Movie as a new character we have not previously seen in the film. His name is Terence, and he’s apparently the strong silent type.

While it’s unclear if Sean Penn has actually only joined the cast of The Angry Birds Movie recently, or if Sony has simply done a good job of keeping his name under wraps, it’s entirely possible that he truly has only come on board now. While animation on the film is likely complete, or very close to it, according to ET Online, the character of Terence will only communicate in grunts and growls, which would make it exceptionally easy for Penn to add his voice after the fact. You don’t have to lip sync your dialogue when all you do is grunt at people.

Terrence is a giant red bird, several times the size of the other characters in the story. We’ll meet Terence in the same anger management class that Red, the lead bird voiced by Jason Sudeikis, is attending. It’s unknown how Terence will factor into the larger story, if at all; tt’s possible this is more of a cameo type role. Looking back, Terence has been visible in the previous trailers, but primarily in crowd shots so it wasn’t clear that he was anything beyond a background bird. The "big brother bird" is a playable character in the Angry Birds game, so it would make sense that he would play a role in the film, but whether he just makes an appearance or is actually part of the story is unknown.

The story focuses on three of the Angry Birds Red, Chuck, and Bomb, voiced by Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, and Danny McBride respectively. They are the outcasts on their island because they aren’t perpetually happy like everybody else. When a boat full of pigs, led by Bill Hader's character, arrive on the island, most of the birds are friendly and welcoming, while the Angry Birds figure the pigs are up to something.

Sean Penn’s name certainly adds some credibility to a movie we’re still not sold on. It’s an unusual property to make a feature film about, but people have made great movies based on less. We’ll know how well they did when The Angry Birds Movie hits theaters May 20.

Sean Penn really, really liked The Revenant. So much so in fact that he’s called it a "masterpiece" and even compared it to Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. Which is about as high a level of acclaim that anyone can bestow upon a film.

Penn was actually the original choice for John Fitzgerald, the character Tom Hardy plays in The Revenant, which would have reteamed him with director Alejandro G. Inarritu, who he previously worked with on 21 Grams. Penn was given the chance to watch The Revenant before it was released, and he’s insisted that it’s one of the finest cinematic experiences he’s ever had. Not only did he admit that he was "compelled throughout" The Revenant, he also explained to Variety:

Sean Penn is hopeful that The Revenant will usher in a new period for modern cinema that will see "bold" producers supporting just as bold directors, because that’s exactly what happened with Alejandro G. Inarritu and the six producers that helped the filmmaker bring his latest to the big screen. Want to know their names? Well those good folks were Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, David Kanter, Mary Parent, James W. Skotchdopole, and Keith Redmon.

And their good work paid dividends, because The Revenant has been met with impressive reviews, and it currently has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, it’s been widely predicted that Leonardo DiCaprio is well on course to finally win the Best Actor Academy Award for his performance.

There are actually several similarities between the productions of The Revenant and Apocalypse Now, as they were both mired with problems. Several crew members on The Revenant decided to quit because of the harsh filming conditions, and its budget soared from $60 million to $135 million. Production also ran long as it was ultimately completed in August 2015 when it was originally planned to have been done in either April or May.

Apocalypse Now’s production was even worse. It was originally planned that the film would be shot in five months and end in August 1976. But typhoons, a heart attack, overweight actors, destroyed sets, a spiralling budget, and numerous other problems meant that it finally concluded on May 21, 1977. Post production was almost as messy, and it wasn't released until August 15, 1979.

But when it was finally released it was met with instant acclaim and recouped a staggering box office return that instantly put all of its problems in the shade. The Revenant’s production team will be hoping for the same when the epic is finally released on Christmas Day.

The new international trailer for The Gunman has been released and it looks very, very impressive. Not only does it boast one hell of a cast, but it also looks as though it will give each of its actors plenty of room to flaunt their talents. Check out the first trailer for The Gunman below.

It looks as though The Gunman is Sean Penn’s own politically-charged attempt at a Taken film. And that’s something that we should all be pretty excited about. The Gunman is also Penn’s first bona-fide action role, which means that it will show us a side of his skills that we’ve not been privy to before. The film’s simple plot revolves around Sean Penn’s Martin Terrier, an international military operative who wants out in order to settle down with the love of his life, played by Italian actress, Jasmine Trinca. However his employees decide that he can’t retire, and instead they start a game of cat and mouse that results in Terrier traveling across the length and breadth of Europe.

Sean Penn is easily one of the best actors of his generation and it’s a cinematic atrocity that he hasn’t appeared in more films over the last few years. This will be Sean Penn’s first film since his brief appearance in 2013’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, which came just a few short months after he’d been the only good thing in Gangster Squad. In fact since his Oscar-winning turn in 2008’s Milk the only other appearances he has made have been in Fair Game, The Tree Of Life and This Must Be The Place. None of which have allowed Sean Penn to truly flex his acting muscles.

Still not in the mood for The Gunman? Then maybe its brooding first poster might just do the trick.

Sean Penn has surrounded himself with some of the action genre’s most supreme creative talent for The Gunman. Taken director Pierre Morel, who wisely decided to jump ship before the despicable Taken 2 and the abhorrent Taken 3, helped to reinvigorate the career of Liam Neeson with the enjoyable 2008 flick. Meanwhile Joel Silver, who has previously produced the likes of The Matrix, Die Hard, and Lethal Weapon, is on board too. But it’s the supreme ensemble of Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, and Javier Bardem that suggests The Gunman will be an action film that is packed with sensational action, an intriguing plot, and genuine surprises. We’ll see if that’s actually the case when The Gunman hits cinemas on March 20, 2015.

Who could have guessed that, when 21 Jump Street hit theaters a couple of years ago, the comic highlight would be Channing Tatum? The leading man was, at the time, Hollywood's next big thing, but no one knew exactly what kind of performer we had on our hands. Now, with a couple of years to look back, and with 22 Jump Street reaching theaters, we realize we've had an ace comedic performer in our midst.

Hollywood is filled with actors who definitely have a funny bone, but just no opportunity to show it. Sometimes it's typecasting. Sometimes it's the very fact that comedy is very hard. Sometimes it's the overwhelming, deadly-serious genre pictures coming out of the industry every week. Whatever the case, here are a dozen actors that we thought could benefit from a lead comedic role, something silly and lightweight to diversify their careers and show their fans that sometimes, being a movie star means just having a good time.

Hugh Jackman

Has there ever been such a divide between who an actor is onscreen and off? In movies, Jackman is the tortured loner Wolverine, the morally-conflicted Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and the haunted suburban dad Keller Dover in Prisoners. And offscreen, Jackman is a singing, dancing master of ceremonies, a jovial spirit who seems to always be having a good time. Jackman was actually a fine Woody Allen leading man in Scoop eight years ago, and brought a slight daring streak to the first sketch of the execrable Movie 43, right before that movie headed over a cliff. Surely there's something out there for the most likable guy in Hollywood.

Forest Whitaker

Whitaker is a Hollywood lifer who nonetheless seems like the saddest and most serious guy in every movie. Sometimes you want to reach out and give him a hug. And sometimes you want to just cower in fear. The common thread in those performances is Whitaker's intensity, which audiences usually experience in a wide range of films four or five times a year. Why not change it up a little bit, do something weird? Whitaker isn't always a leading man, but it's hard to say he wouldn't generate laughs popping up in a supporting role in some spoof comedy. One look at Whitaker just proves that the guy loves to work, so a little bit of diversity wouldn't kill him.

Lupita Nyong'o

Nyong'o stole Hollywood's heart during the Oscars when she not only took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, but when she gave the best speech of the night. Fortunately, her screen persona is undefined as of yet, though she'll pop up in Star Wars Episode VII. Now is the time to see her and her immaculate smile in something lightweight and charming. If Hollywood can give Paula Patton a Baggage Claim, SOMEONE can get Lupita a fun, jokey script. Buddy comedy with Jennifer Lawrence? Anyone?

Tom Cruise

To us, Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder was a breakthrough for Tom Cruise, a late-career comedic powerhouse from a man previously known as the world's most humorless star. Since then, plans for a Grossman movie and a Ben Stiller teamup called The Hardy Men have both stalled, leading to Cruise continuing to play the usual unstoppable alpha male action hero to diminishing returns. Now with Edge Of Tomorrow underwhelming at the box office, it's the perfect time for Cruise to play a genuine loser, one without a force of personality. What if Cruise channeled that intensity into a beta male role? In movies like Knight And Day, he has shown that he's more than willing to send up his image. He just needs the material.

Russell Crowe

Oh Russ, why the stern face? Audiences this year caught Crowe as a scowling villain in Winter's Tale and as the world's scariest fundamentalist in Noah. For OUR sake, maybe he should do something funny. Crowe's self-seriousness has become something of a parody, but one look at his Twitter account shows an acerbic deadpan personality. Crowe's going to start aging soon, and now's the time to poke fun at himself as a respectable macho leading man before he moves into his grandpa years.

Chris Hemsworth

Out of all the Avengers, Chris Hemsworth is the one who just hasn't gotten a single chance to be really funny outside of superheroes. And yet, Thor is the most clearly comic out of all of them: a Norse god in a red cape walking amongst mortals, totally oblivious to his absolute power. Hemsworth plays the lighthearted fish-out-of-water stuff pretty well, with a slight wink and a nod to the absolute ridiculousness of the premise. While Daniel Bruhl earned awards attention for Rush, Hemsworth was just as good, playing another handsome golden god with swagger that almost feels three dimensional coming off the screen. That sort of charisma is sure to make Hemsworth a huge star outside of Marvel, but it should also help him translate to sillier, more humorous fare: Hemsworth as a stud in a romantic comedy who learns from his hubris is the sort of script that writes itself.

Patrick Stewart

Stewart isn't onscreen much, mostly doing stage work and chipping in with random voice work on Seth MacFarlane shows. But the general public still only thinks of Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier or Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Of course, they're missing out. Did you see him on Extras? It's priceless. Stewart knows full well how his own voice gives the impression of ultimate authority, and how that sort of thing can be mocked and ridiculed. Stewart's in an upcoming indie, Match, a drama where he gets to reveal a soft comedic side as well. But the guy's clearly got a funny bone, so why not let him be overly silly? And can he invite Sir Ian McKellen?

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton is TERRIFYING. And, more importantly, she's heard all your jokes about her possible immortality, her resemblance to David Bowie, her ethereal beauty. It almost feels like her performance in Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive is a snarky play on that persona. But she's more than just a personality, as evidenced by her Oscar win for Michael Clayton. Swinton has a do-it-all sense of daring that would make her boldly leap into any situation with a prankish glee. Adding a sense of mischief to characters in films like Burn After Reading and Snowpiercer is one thing. But allowing yourself to be the butt of a joke is another, and Swinton is totally up for it.

Denzel Washington

Denzel has got that legendary smile and that GREAT laugh, and yet, we only see him use it in pitch-black dramas. He's funny as an unwitting cop in Inside Man, and humorously shady in 2 Guns, but he hasn't made any out-and-out comedies since the eighties. Maybe Washington should re-team with Spike Lee for one of his shambling late-career comedies, where he's the comic tough dad on the block. Or maybe Hollywood can finally get him in a sweet romantic comedy where he plays a stubborn widower who meets someone new. Denzel's one of the industry's best actors, there's got to be a way to use that skill set.

Sean Penn

It's nice to see, as Sean Penn has evolved into the most self-serious screen persona one could imagine, that he's stretching himself by playing an action hero in The Gunman. It's good that Penn hit the gym and is going to try the type of movies he mocked Nicolas Cage for doing, once upon a time. But what about Spicoli? Why are we acting like Jeff Spicoli, the stoner icon from Fast Times At Ridgemont High, never happened? Penn's got the comic timing that could pull off something silly, maybe with the Farrelly Brothers, and nobody's desire to mock their own image should be stronger than Penn's, slowly cultivating a silly Most Interesting Man persona without really realizing how dorky it looks on him. He's got a ton of funny friends in the industry, and a horrible public image problem. Those buddies should hook him up.

Benicio Del Toro

He's got the Oscar, he's considered one of the best actors in the industry... why not let loose a little and show the world your hilarious side? Del Toro is always the best thing about every movie he's in, and he can be very funny, as parts in stuff like The Way Of The Gun and Snatch can attest to. He'll show up next in Guardians Of The Galaxy, playing the wacko supervillain The Collector, a role that may allow him the chance to indulge his inner comic ham (possibly with a slight Flash Gordon influence) so the desire to deflate his intense screen persona is certainly there. We wouldn't complain if Del Toro just played cops, killers and maniacs for the rest of his life, but he's shown he can be a real funny dude. Let's see it.

Cobie Smulders

The one member of the How I Met Your Mother crew that seemingly has been completely handcuffed by her career outside the show. Despite being the comic equal to the rest of the cast, Smulders instead is locked in as stern taskmaster Maria Hill in Marvel's superhero universe, while playing the "straight guy" in lame comedies like Delivery Man and The Slammin' Salmon. She's absolutely gorgeous, with a fanbase and timing derived from an extremely long-running sitcom: couldn't there be some silly role Hollywood can find for her? She shows up in David Wain's They Came Together this summer (with Michael Shannon, who also needs a lighter role), but she's deserving of a comic lead, something that shows her she's not doomed to play Generic Girlfriend roles in between Maria Hill appearances.

Sean Penn has taken on many kinds of roles over the course of his career, from the stoner surfer dude Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High to that time he went full retard to star in I Am Sam, but now he's embarking on a type of part we never imagined him in: action hero. Since November of last year the Academy Award winning actor has been attached to star in the adaptation of Jean-Patrick Manchette's novel "The Prone Gunman" -the movie version retitled The Gunman - and today not only have cameras started rolling, we have gotten our first look at Penn's latest character.

To announce the start of production on the new action film, Silver Pictures and Studiocanal have sent out the above still, which is an image of the movie's star in character as Jim Terrier, an international operative. In the story, which was scripted by Pete Travis (who directed last year's Dredd), Terrier is turned on by his former employers and he is forced to go on the run through Europe. As previously reported, the project has an outstanding supporting cast that includes Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, and Ray Winstone, and the press release for the movie reveals that Mark Rylance (Anonymous) and Italian actress Jasmine Trinca (The Best of Youth) have come aboard as well.

Pierre Morel, who burst on the scene thanks to the revenge thriller Taken, is helming the film - his first since 2010's From Paris With Love (though he has spent that time keeping busy on the small screen). Famed blockbuster producer Joel Silver is working on the film with partner Andrew Rona, and Penn is a producer on the movie as well. Studiocanal will be financing the film and distributing it in foreign territories, but it doesn't look like it has found distribution in the United States yet. The production will be traveling to multiple locations, but shooting will mostly take place in Barcelona and London.

Earlier this year Penn starred as villainous real-life mob kingpin Mickey Cohen in the not-so-great Ruben Fleischer film Gangster Squad, but the second half of his 2013 looks much more promising. In December we'll get to see the result of his collaboration with director/star Ben Stiller in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a retelling of the famous short story adapted by Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness). I had the chance to see a preview of the film earlier this year at CinemaCon, and it immediately became one of my most anticipated titles for the rest of the year. Bardem has Ridley Scott's The Counselor coming out at the end of October; Elba can currently be seen in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim and has Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Thor: The Dark World coming out in a few months; and Winstone will soon be seen in Darren Aronofsky's Noah.

Paul Thomas Anderson is well known for building amazing ensembles - bringing all kinds of ridiculous, A-list talent together for both Boogie Nights and Magnolia - and he appears to be doing it again for his next project, an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's detective flick Inherent Vice. The Master star Joaquin Phoenix came on to replace Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role back at the start of the year, but since the project has picked up steam it has also added Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone and Martin Short. And he's not done yet!

As production gets ready to start rolling this summer, Deadline has gotten word that Josh Brolin has also been added to the fantastic ensemble, and that Sean Penn, who just recently co-starred with Brolin in Gangster Squad earlier this year, is also thinking about signing on. Unfortunately the site doesn't have any information on the characters that the two actors might play in the story, but does say that Brolin's is a "key role."

Adapted by Anderson, Inherent Vice is set in the late '60s/early 70s and centers on a pothead private investigator named Larry "Doc" Sportello (Phoenix). The plot kicks off when the protagonist gets a call from an ex-girlfriend who wants his help in a boiling situation involving her, a real-estate mogul, and the real-estate mogul's wife.

While Brolin had Gangster Squad start off the year, his 2013 is far from over. On October 4th he'll be playing the lead in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For; on October 25th he will star in Spike Lee's Oldboy; and then to close out the year on Christmas he'll have Jason Reitman's Labor Day in limited release.

It's strange to think of the actor that Sean Penn became after breaking out playing Jeff Spicoli in Amy Heckerling's 1982 classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but it's even weirder to think about where he may be going next: to become an action star. The Oscar winning star is now in talks to take the lead in Prone Gunman, a new movie being developed by Joel Silver's Silver Pictures.

The film will be based on the novel of the same name by Jean-Patrick Manchette, and according to THR should Penn take the part he will play Martin Terrier, an international operative who is sent on the run after he is betrayed by his handlers. The trade notes that Penn may be drawn to the project because of its themes, which are described as being "existentialist and involving explorations of politics as well as the human condition." Pete Travis, who is known as a director more than he's known as a writer (he most recently helmed Dredd 3D) is writing the project, an Studiocanal is aboard as a financier, but there is no helmer currently attached. Silver, of course, is best known for movies like The Matrix, Lethal Weapon, Predator, and Die Hard and will be producing along with partner Andrew Rona.

Penn's dramedy This Must Be The Place was just given a limited release earlier this month. He will next be seen alongside Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling and Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad, which Warner Bros. will be releasing on January 11, 2013.

With The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick released his first feature film since 2005's The New World. Before that, the last film he both wrote and directed was 1998's The Thin Red Line. Malick definitely believes in quality over quantity. Whatever his approach, it seems to be working out for him. The Tree of Life received plenty of critical praise, not to mention a Palme d'Or from Cannes and a boatload of other awards. With any film that attracts this much positive attention, it's always fascinating to examine the scenes and concepts and ideas considered but abandoned. Now, thanks to the eagle eyes at Off the Coast of Maine, we can take a look at some of those roads not taken from Malick's The Tree of Life.

Movie City News first spotted the blog post, which includes a pretty extensive collection of stills and images that were officially released, but which include moments or scenes that didn't make the final cut of the movie. This isn't surprising, since Malick often shoots way more footage than he actually uses -- the director is rumored to be working on a cut of Tree of Life that clocks in at six hours.

Off the Coast of Maine has tons of these stills, but we'll post a few selections here. They include shots from the trailer...

...from the Russian website kinopoisk.ru...

...and from various promotional materials and behind-the-scenes shots.

You can also check out The Playlist for some storyboards and concept art from unfilmed scenes in The Tree of Life. They originated in a blog post by storyboard artist Mark Bristol, who has since removed them, so we've chosen not to post them here.

Back when Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu announced that his next directorial effort would be the period revenge thriller The Revenant, it was rumored he might reunite with his Biutiful leading man. Then Javier Bardem moved on to the high-profile gig of playing >a Bond villain, and Inarritu was forced to look elsewhere.

According to Deadline, the Babel director now would like to cast his 21 Grams lead Sean Penn alongside Leonardo DiCaprio for an adaptation of Michael Punke’s novel. The story follows frontiersmen in the 1820 who encounter a bear while on a fur-trapping expedition. When one trapper is mauled so badly he can’t be transported back to safety, his friend hires two men to watch him as he goes for help. The men, however, rob the wounded stranger, convinced he won’t make it. Guess what? He does, and sets out to track those who’ve wronged him.

The site says Inarritu would like Penn to play one of the wicked men who abandoned the mauled frontiersman. I wonder if that means DiCaprio, should he sign on, would play the bear victim who eventually muscles up and tracks the two fiends. Coming off of Django Unchained, this could be back-to-back badass period pieces for the Titanic pretty boy. Then again, Penn’s also hard at work on Gangster Squad, so he’s no slouch in the macho department. While I’m disappointed to hear that Bardem’s out, Inarritu instantly helps The Revenant if he’s able to lure Penn and DiCaprio to the project. We’ll keep you posted.

We've been teased about a Robert De Niro/Martin Scorsese reunion for months now. In December the director said that The Irishman, a movie about mobster Frank Sheeran that has had De Niro attached for years, would be his next project. That dream was dashed, however, when it was reported that he will be making the Jesuit priest movie Silence next. Hopes were raised again a couple weeks ago when it was rumored that the two would be working together on The Comedian, but guess what? That's not happening either.

The New York Post has learned that it won't be Scorsese that directs The Comedian, but rather that Sean Penn is now looking to take the helm with De Niro still attached to star (Variety has since confirmed the story). Based on a script by Art Linson and comedian Jeffrey Ross, the film is about a "aging, bitterly funny stand-up comic." The project will be Penn's first directorial effort since 2007's Into The Wild, which earned two Oscar nominations. The film marks the debut for Ross, who is largely known for his roles in Friar's Club and Comedy Central roasts, but Linson previously wrote What Just Happened?, which also starred De Niro. Production is scheduled to begin next year in New York.

While the movie is supposedly a healthy mix of both comedy and drama, I'm wondering how the laughs will be affected by Penn's presence. Sure, the man used to be known as Spicoli from Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but seems to have lost his sense of humor over the years (case in point: this performance from the 2005 Oscars). Scorsese may be known as a hard hitting director, but even his serious films have moments of levity. It will be interesting to see how the final product turns out.

How does one follow up the tough task of playing a philosophy-spouting, hat-wearing spiritual guide in the underrated The Adjustment Bureau? If you are Anthony Mackie, you go gangster.

Mackie, who also earned an Indie Spirit nomination for playing Jeremy Renner’s right-hand man in Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker, has been added to the impressive Gangster Squad ensemble at Warner Bros., according to Variety. He’ll co-star alongside Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin and Michael Pena in a period police thriller based on actual events surrounding an LAPD bureau created specifically to combat East Coast mobsters who were heading west. The trade says Mackie will play LAPD lieutenant Rocky Washington.

Even if Gangster, directed by Zombieland helmer Ruben Fleischer, comes off as a B-level L.A. Confidential, it will be a project worth tracking. The cast is spectacular, and the ripped-from-the-headlines gambit works even when those headlines are decades old. Plus, the popularity of the crime-solving L.A. Noire video game proves there is an audience hungry for these types of stories, providing they are handled properly. As for Mackie, you can rent his Adjustment Bureau later this month, and see him alongside Hugh Jackman in the robot boxing drama Real Steel later this year.

While we’re nowhere near ready to slap the "prolific" tag on director Terrence Malick, there are rumors that the Tree of Life filmmaker is readying his sixth feature film for release and may even be prepping his production team for yet another movie, which could be shot in the summer and fall.

Let’s back up a tad. Malick’s latest film, The Tree of Life opened in limited release over the weekend and performed well. Early estimates have the Brad Pitt-Sean Penn drama earning more than $350,000 over a three-day span in four theaters. It will expand to more markets in the coming weeks.

And we already know that Malick’s busy finishing yet another drama starring Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem and Rachel McAdams, which at one point was called Burial but currently has no name. Like all of Malick’s films, the details of this one are being kept secret … including its release date.

So why are we getting excited? Because a report in the L.A. Times suggests that Malick has told his loyal production team to keep their summer and fall schedules clear to shoot another potential film, and as the paper points out that “means he expects to be finished with this one in a matter of months.” Now, Malick rarely wraps that quickly, or for that matter launches production on another film. Maybe he wants to do shoots on the documentary film that’s expected to accompany Tree of Life in theaters soon. With Malick, you never can tell, but the safe bet is on a long post-production process, and a delay on the release of the Affleck-Malick collaboration, at least for the time being.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction. If that's true, then the story of CIA officer Valerie Plame's outing by the very government she served certainly qualifies. With a real-life tangle of betrayal, secrets, and scandal, it was just a matter of time until someone brought Plame's story to the big screen. In this case, "a matter of time" meant "until last November," when director Doug Liman brought Fair Game to American theaters. Now the film is headed for home video this March 29th.

As expected, Fair Game will be available on both Blu-Ray ($30.49) and DVD ($22.99) from Summit Entertainment. Naomi Watts plays Plame, with Sean Penn taking the role of her retired ambassador husband, whose article criticizing America's actions in Iraq serves as the catalyst for the White House's leaking of Plame's undercover status. The disc will be light on special features, but the audio commentary with the real-life Valerie Plame-Wilson and husband Joe Wilson should make for a fascinating listen.

You can read Katey's review of Fair Game right here.

The first trailer for Terrence Malick's new film Tree of Life has finally gone online at Apple.com, and you can also watch it embedded in the trailer below (though, as with most things Malick, it really looks best in HD). There's no sign of the dinosaurs rumored to be included in the film, but we do get a good sense of what looks like a story about two generations of a family-- a father raising his children stiffly and harshly in the 1950s or so (Brad Pitt) and the son, now grown (Sean Penn) coping with the legacy of his parents.

It looks beautiful, of course, though with all the cosmic imagery interspersed with glimpses of the typical American childhood, it's a little hard to tell where this might go in the end. And yet, did I mention how gorgeous it is? The Americana iconography looks as stunning as anything Malick has previously made-- even though it looks like there's an unhappy childhood lurking beneath the dusk light and well-worn T-shirts, it's still a place I want to live in. The film also stars Jessica Chastain as the mother-- you haven't heard of her much yet, but she's snagging roles right and left, including one just yesterday in John Hillcoat's The Wettest County in the World-- it's worth seeing the trailer if nothing but for getting a look at someone who's apparently going to be a big star.

Check out the trailer below, and look for more on Tree of Life very, very soon-- it's expected to premiere at Sundance next month.

To coincide with the release of the trailer, Apple has also released the first poster for the film, which takes advantage of what is easily the most beautiful shot in the trailer - Brad Pitt holding the baby's foot. Check it out below.

The Farrelly brothers' Three Stooges movie has been going through hell to get made, with actors like Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Jim Carrey and Paul Giamatti (though not really) all flip-flopping back and forth. Most recent reports have shown that Penn is currently attached to the film, as is Del Toro, but Carrey remains a question mark - until now.

MTV caught up with the actor who not only confirms that he is definitely not doing the project, but also suggests that it may have folded all-together. Explaining why he decided to not take the project, it turns out that it was the weight gain that scared him off and he was unwilling to wear prosthetics.

Fearing for one's own health is most certainly a reason not to take on a movie role, but I'm wondering if Carrey should have a sit down with Christian Bale who will turn 37 in January. As for the comments regarding the project's future, Carrey was fairly vague, saying "I think it's dead. It's dead at least with me." The only thing that I'm trying to figure out is if someone really wanted to see a modern day Three Stooges movie. I'm fairly sure this isn't that big a loss. At the very least you can look here and see what you missed.

Ask someone what the greatest interview program is and you’ll get a lot of different answers. Some people like Larry King Live. Some might go for The Late Show with David Letterman. For some reason, people seem to like The View. They’re all wrong. The greatest interview program in existence is called Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis.

In the latest installment Zach has scored a pretty big guest. Sean Penn stops by to chat about what he’s up to. Unfortunately Zach couldn’t be there because he's away at adult fat camp, so his twin brother Seth steps into handle interviewing duties. Seth, by the way, is the answer to the question: What’s under Zach Galifianakis’s beard? His southern twin brother Seth is.

Here’s Seth interviewing Sean Penn, who it seems also has a twin brother, named Ballpoint:

The Farrelly Brothers have been struggling to get a Three Stooges movie made for years and while the project’s far from dead, right now no one seems to know for sure when it’ll happen or if it does happen, who will be in it. Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, and Paul Giamatti have all at one point or another been rumored to be locked in as Stooges. Right now Sean Penn as Larry, Benicio del Toro as Moe, and Jim Carrey as Curly is the most likely cast, but we’re not here to talk about who’s it in it, we’re here to talk about The Three Stooges script sitting in front of me on my desk.

When the movie finally gets made, this is the screenplay the Farrellys are planning to use. Written by Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, and Mike Cerrone, this Three Stooges script is Stooges through and through. It has all the right rhythms, the right gags, the right amount of gratuitous violence. The Stooges have had a monumental influence on comedy and it incorporates ideas from the people the Stooges have influenced too. There’s a full range of wildly different Stooges inspired comedic ideas from Dumb & Dumber to ¡Three Amigos! to The Family Guy (Seth MacFarlane actually has a critical role in the film, playing himself no less). The script manages not just to duplicate the things the Stooges used to do, but it resurrects the Three Stooges method and puts it in a modern setting. Because of that, maybe you won’t like it if you’re not already a Stooges fan. Maybe you’ll think it’s just a bunch of farts, but here, they’re really creative farts. The Three Stooges contains farting like you’ve never seen before.

It starts with the Stooges as kids and if there’s a clear weak spot in this script it’s the film’s introduction. When we meet them the Stooges are babies left in a sack with a bunch of nuns at an orphanage, and it’s only a microsecond before one of the Stooge babies pulls off a trademark Stooge gag. Frankly, it’s pretty lame. It gets even lamer as the babies get older, and for some inexplicable reason the script has all these out of place, special effects gags worked in while the Stooge orphans run around terrorizing nuns. For starters the script makes it pretty clear that the adult actors who play the adult Stooges will also play Larry, Moe, and Curly as kids. Specifically it suggests they’ll use “FX to miniaturize them and tweak their voices”. Worse the Stooges over the top, childhood gags are directed to be computer enhanced. I’m not sure why, they don’t seem to need it.

Luckily once the script gets past that childhood intro, it really takes off. The tendency towards special effects gags in place of straight up, slapstick comedy is dropped and the boys get down to the business of smacking each other around, fighting, and generally screwing up. Larry, Moe, and Curly are the Stooges here. There’s no mention of Shemp or any of the other replacements who drifted in and out through the years. It’s the holy Stooge trinity. The plot involves a race to save the orphanage which has been their home for thirty years. The nuns are in debt and so Larry, Moe, and Curly set out into the world to earn the money they need.

At first their plan mainly involves standing on a street corner with a sign offering their vaguely defined services for an outrageous sum. This gets them hired as assassins for reasons which only sort of make sense. A woman and her boyfriend want her husband dead and so they convince the Stooges to do it through trickery. This soon backfires and launches the Stooges into a strange adventure together and briefly on separate journeys to different places. It lands one of them on a reality television program, another takes up farming, and the other just sort of wanders around and whimpers. That’s really all I can tell you without spoiling everything. Start guessing.

What’s important is how clearly defined Larry, Moe, and Curly are. They’re written as if they’ve just stepped out of one of their 1940s shorts and onto the page. The world around them is modern and in theory so are they, but much of the time it’s like they’re living in the 40s and don’t seem to notice that everyone else isn’t. The movie never mines this for humor or directly addresses it. It’s a subtle thing really, a simple their fact of existence, a weird side effect which only seems to make the movie’s other gags even funnier. It’s more a product of the reverence the Farrellys have for the characters themselves than any attempt to go retro. Like us, they’ve clearly had these people burned into their heads, and know that a Stooges movie isn’t a Stooges movie unless those three appear as they’ve always been in it.

The closest the script’s writers come to contemporizing Larry, Moe, and Curly is in the way they’ve managed to gross up their gags. While the Stooges aren’t exactly known for scatological humor the Farrelly Brothers are and they’re more than happy to bring that element into the Stooges universe. Yet they do it in a way that I think would have made the Howards proud. You get the sense that if the boys could have gotten away with it back in the 40s, they would have done it exactly like this. They couldn’t and so they threw pies at each other when what maybe they really wanted to shoot each other with urine squirting babies. While almost every other classic Stooges move you can think of made it into the Farrelly Brothers script, the classic banana cream pie fight does not. It’s been replaced by an incredibly sick pee battle and, you know what, it kind of works. What they’ve done is modernize some of the props, without really modernizing the sense of humor. It’s the same Stooge gags, the same Stooge sensibility, but with a few Farrellys fluids.

There are times, however, when the script feels as if the whole thing’s on the verge of going too far into Farrelly territory. There’s a character without an upper lip for instance, who lacks an upper lip mainly because the Farrelly boys probably think it’s funny to have someone with a deformity in their movie. The fact that there’s running gag involving very specific commentary on a since cancelled reality show worked into the story is a little strange too (even if it’s kind of hilarious).

Most of the time the script is Farrelly free and flat out Stooges. It’s all there, the eye-pokes, the silly name gags, the trademark insults. Moe rules the trio with an iron fist, which frequently impacts with Curly’s equally iron head. When Moe’s out of the picture Larry tries to step in to dispense Curly discipline but in a hilarious scene we quickly learn he just can’t slap him around like Moe can. Some of it even transcends slapstick and scat humor, though as a Stooges movie it probably didn’t have to put forward the effort. It does anyway. In particular there’s a hilarious sequence in which Larry attempts to start a solo career which should have people rolling in the aisles. Every Stooge has his day and the movie finds the right balance between keeping them together and breaking them apart briefly so each can shine on his own.

On paper at least, The Farrellys have really pulled it off. Will it appeal to anyone who’s not already a Three Stooges fan? I don’t know. It’s ridiculous slapstick, over the top cartoon violence, and as much feces flinging as the MPAA’s censors can possibly stomach. It’s a live-action Looney Tunes Cartoon for adults who haven’t really grown up. Throw in some kung fu and it could easily be a Stephen Chow film. Much like the Stooges themselves, that’s just not for everyone. Fans though, are sure to be ecstatic. This is The Three Stooges movie you’ve been waiting for. Cross your fingers and hope The Farrellys get it done.

Earlier today we wrote about the news that Israeli actress Liraz Charhi had been added to the cast of Fair Game, the Doug Liman-directed movie about outed CIA operative Valerie Plame. And the casting news just keeps coming-- we've been told that Noah Emmerich has also joined the cast, and will star in the film alongside Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.

The press release doesn't say who the Little Children and Pride and Glory actor will be playing, or whether he'll join the shoot in the Middle East or keep filming back home. In the film Watts will be playing Plame, the CIA agent whose secret identity was revealed as an effort of the Bush White House to get back at her husband, Joseph Wilson (Penn), who had been critical of the administration's efforts to start war in Iraq.