This is the End has more than a few great scenes, from Jay Baruchel leading an exorcism on Jonah Hill to Danny McBride commanding a horde of cannibals. Of course, the film is also notable for its many cameos, including an appearance by beloved singer Rihanna. She plays a fictionalized version of herself (like her-co-stars) and, as a result of working on the film, she became acquainted with them. Among the stars she met was Jonah Hill, who recently shared a wild, weed-related memory from after their time shooting the movie.

Rihanna is the main subject of W Magazine’s Pop Issue, and the spread includes comments from her various friends and colleagues. As part of that, Hill was asked to share his favorite memory of the singer, and he recalled a time at which he and some friends unexpectedly ran into Rihanna, who shared weed with them. And, in a wild turn of events, one of Hill’s friends ended up pooping themselves, with the Superbad alum summing that up in a funny way:

That must’ve been some strong weed! As someone who doesn’t smoke, I definitely can’t speak to the type of reefer that may have been taken (and, quite frankly, I’m not sure I’d even want to know). With that being said, this is a crazy story from Hill, and that’s saying a lot. After all, this is the same guy who’s talked about being hospitalized for snorting too much fake cocaine while filming The Wolf of Wall Street. If anything, though, it was still generous of the “Diamonds” star to share what she had in honor of Hill’s birthday.

Rihanna and Hill don’t share the screen too much in This is the End, especially given the former’s relatively small role. However, the billionaire cosmetics mogul more than makes the most of the screen time she receives, with her standout moment arguably happening when she slaps Michael Cera for hitting her butt. Even now, I can still hear that slap, and I cringe anytime I do.

Goldberg and Rogen’s movie remains a comedy classic more than a decade after its release, and some interesting BTS tidbits have been shared in that time. For example, James Franco apparently wasn’t thrilled about being killed off in the movie, and Craig Robinson talked about having to redo a scene due to improvisation on Rogen’s part. And, funny enough, Rogen and Azizi Ansari reminisced about filming This is the End while promoting Good Fortune last year.

So the legacy of this funny and dark film definitely endures, and I suppose that the subsequent meeting and smoking session between Rihanna, Jonah Hill and co. is an extension of that. Well, at least, I’ll be linking that poop-triggering weed to the funny flick’s lore.

Check out This is the End for yourself by streaming it with a Peacock subscription. Also, look out for newer comedies that are set to hit the 2026 movie schedule.

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

Keanu Reeves Is A Big Fan Of This Is The End

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’ve never been in a movie before, so I’m going to have to take actors’ word for it when they tell me that making movies can be a fulfilling, yet exhausting experience where you’re constantly making little changes here and there. This is true for Best Picture winners, massive superhero spectacles and even some of the best comedies of all time. That last one is based on a story Craig Robinson told me about an experience with Seth Rogen on the set of the cameo-filled 2013 comedy This Is The End.

I recently sat down with Robinson to talk about the home release of The Bad Guys 2, which is available on Digital after debuting on the 2025 movie schedule. During our conversation, I asked the actor behind the master of disguise, Mr. Shark, what the biggest difference was between making an animated movie and a live-action one, and he told me that there are “great advantages” of voice work, “because you can go back”:

When I asked the Office alum if he ever had to “go back” and refilm something due to changes to a character or scene in one of his live-action movies, Robinson shared a story about Seth Rogen and the rest of the This is the End cast while they were filming the 2013 end-of-the-world disaster comedy:

With the 2013 comedy starring actors playing wildly exaggerated versions of themselves, it’s surprising that Robinson, Rogen and the rest of the large ensemble cast didn’t have to go back and refilm more scenes, like that random, yet amazing dance sequence. I mean, I know I would be cracking up filming that over-the-top heavenly scene with the Backstreet Boys and would have to refilm that way too many times.

With Robinson’s background in music, which could open the doors for a Bad Guys musical, I’m sure he was having the time of his life playing a version of himself hanging out in heaven with his best friends getting up to trouble with one of the biggest pop groups of all time.

The Bad Guys 2, like multiple other new and recent movies streaming, is currently available to rent or buy on Digital. It will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD starting October 7.

There is something so infectious about a dance sequence that, even in movies and TV shows in which they occur pretty much out of nowhere and, in theory, should not work, they still do in most cases. In fact, some of the most iconic and beloved numbers in pop culture history do not even come from titles categorized as musicals. Step back in time and review the following most cherished examples of the like.

Napoleon Has "Canned Heat" (Napoleon Dynamite)

While most of the dialogue is extremely quotable and Jon Heder's title character is a one-of-a-kind instant comedy icon, if you ask me, the moment that 2004's Napoleon Dynamite won audiences over is its centerpiece dance sequence. In a last-ditch effort to help his best friend, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), win class president, the nerd busts out some absolutely ridiculous, yet passionate, dance moves in an impromptu routine set to Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat," which earns a roaring round of applause from his classmates.

Nothing Suits Barney Like A Suit (How I Met Your Mother)

In the 100th episode of the beloved TV sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) contemplates whether or not he should give up his suits forever in order to score with an attractive bartender who hates men in business attire. He then imagines an elaborate song and dance number professing his love for his wardrobe called "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit," featuring the rest of the snappily dressed cast.

Tom's Dreams Are Coming True ((500) Days Of Summer)

It is moments like this that make 2009's (500) Days of Summer one of the best romantic-comedy movies of its time. Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is so high on cloud nine after starting up a romance with Zooey Deschanel's title role that he imagines the local townspeople are joining him for a brief dance set to Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams Come True" during his morning commute.

"The Name Game" (American Horror Story)

Some of the most unsettling moments from American Horror Story masterfully utilize the power of juxtaposition, like in one of the most dazzling moments from Season 2, subtitled Asylum. After receiving shock therapy, Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) hallucinates that she is performing a rendition of Shirley Ellis' 1964 pop hit, "The Name Game," with her fellow patients at Briarcliff Manor.

Gutterballs (The Big Lebowski)

Joel and Ethan Coen's 1998 cult favorite comedy The Big Lebowski is home to two of the most iconic movie dream sequences, with the second one easily taking the cake as the most wonderfully uproarious. Knocked out by Jackie Treehorn, The Dude (Jeff Bridges) imagines he and Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore) are the stars of an adult film shot in the style of a Busby Berkeley dance number.

Joel Likes That "Old Time Rock And Roll" (Risky Business)

What is the exact moment that Tom Cruise became a movie star? I like to think that occurred in 1983's Risky Business when the future Oscar nominee, as Chicago teen Joel, with the house to himself, celebrates his independence by dancing and lip-synching to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" in his underwear.

Tina Opens The Movie (Do The Right Thing)

Writer and director Spike Lee prepares you for an unforgettable and subversive cinematic experience with an unforgettable and subversive opening to 1989's Do the Right Thing. The opening credits play over Rosie Perez's character, Tina, dancing solo to Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," making for a certainly unexpected and moving way to start a film with a lot to say about society.

Jim And Pam's Wedding Party Dances Down The Aisle (The Office)

In the episode of the U.S. version of The Office when Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer), the wedding party, instead of the traditional walk down the aisle, dance to Chris Brown's "Forever," which was originally written as a Doublemint Gum commercial. While this act goes against the couple's wishes, it goes down in history as a memorably unique way to start the ceremony.

Nathan And Kyoko Tear Up The Dance Floor (Ex Machina)

Alex Garland is a writer and director who never fails to dazzle his audience, either with thought-provoking sci-fi concepts, brutally honest societal commentary, or epic dance sequences. All three of which are used to perfection in his 2015 technophobic classic, Ex Machina, when Oscar Isaac's shady, eccentric tech billionaire, Nathan, and his companion, Kyoko (Sonoya Mizuno), shift the tone in a rousing way by interrupting Caleb's (Domhnall Gleeson) interrogation by getting busy to “Get Down Saturday Night” by Oliver Cheatham.

"I'm Just Ken" (Barbie)

There had been a dance sequence earlier in 2023's Barbie when Margot Robbie's title hero hosts a party, but that was nothing out of the ordinary, even for a movie taking place in an alternate dimension where dolls are sentient. The film suddenly incorporates an elaborate, traditional Hollywood dance sequence when Ryan Gosling's Ken expresses his frustration with feeling undervalued by Barbie in the Academy Award-nominated track, "I'm Just Ken."

Jenna Thrills Her Colleagues (13 Going On 30)

One of the most iconic scenes from the hit fantasy rom-com, 13 Going On 30, sees Jennifer Garner's Jenna (an '80s teen trapped in the body of her future, adult self) try to liven things up at her company party by getting everyone to recreate the dance from Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

Rue's Relapse (Euphoria)

After giving in to her addictive urges, Zendaya's Rue imagines that she is in a music video for the actor's haunting single, "All For Us," which illustrates the complicated relationship she has with her family as a result of her habits. The sequence culminates in her being carried outside of her house by a sea of dancers in matching outfits, who also serve as her choir, at night, before a marching band joins in. It marks an invigorating, but also tragic, end to the first season of the provocative coming-of-age drama, Euphoria.

The Deetzes Do The Calypso (Beetlejuice)

One of the all-time greatest and funniest musical moments from a horror movie comes from 1988's Beetlejuice. Hoping to scare the Deetzes (Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) and their dinner party guests out of the house, the lingering spirits of Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) use bodily possession to manipulate them into dancing and singing to Harry Belafonte's "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)." Much to their surprise, they enjoy the experience.

Wally, Charley, And Rhonda Channel Bowie (School Spirits)

School Spirits is a TV show told from the perspective of ghosts who have passed away on a midwestern high school campus, where they struggle to cope with the parameters of their afterlife. Wally (Milo Manheim), who was a star athlete in the 1980s, lets off steam by putting on a vinyl copy of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and leading his fellow ghostly friends in a wonderfully choreographed groove through almost the entire school.

Jamal And Latika Are Victorious (Slumdog Millionaire)

Director Danny Boyle's Best Picture Oscar winner, 2008's Slumdog Millionaire, ends with an upbeat dance number set to the Academy Award-winning original song, "Jai Ho" and led by Dev Patel and Freida Pinto as Jamal and Latika. It might have been surprising to some audiences to see this production suddenly include such a sequence, but it honors a longstanding tradition in Indian cinema.

The Kids Rock The Library (The Breakfast Club)

Many have argued that 1985's The Breakfast Club is the greatest high school movie ever made, despite never taking place during school, but a Saturday detention shared by five teens who each represent a different rung of the teen social hierarchy. The unlikely friends attempt to break up the monotony with an impromptu dance to "We Are Not Alone" by Karla Devito.

"Tequila!" (Pee-wee's Big Adventure)

One reason 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure remains a cherished classic is how Paul Reubens' eponymous man-child wins over the hearts of nearly everyone he meets. For instance, he earns the respect of a bar full of bikers with his signature dance to The Champs' rendition of the saxy tune, "Tequila."

Don Dreams Of Bert Cooper Dancing (Mad Men)

AMC's Mad Men had its fair share of off-kilter moments, none more perplexing than when Don Draper (Jon Hamm) suddenly has a vision of the recently passed advertising veteran Bertram "Bert" Cooper (Robert Morse) singing and dancing a performance of "The Best Things in Life Are Free."

Andy Lets The Sunshine In (The 40-Year-Old Virgin)

Judd Apatow's heartfelt, raunchy comedy, 2005's The 40-Year-Old Virgin, ends with Steve Carell's Andy finally losing his "innocence" and expressing his relief through song. The song in particular is The 5th Dimension's "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In," which transitions into a dance in a wide-open field that the rest of the cast joins him for.

"Come On, Little Sister, Let’s Dance” (The Life Of Chuck)

There are not many Stephen King movies with scenes that leave you feeling invigorated and hopeful, but that is the general response to the centerpiece dance sequence in 2025's The Life of Chuck, from writer and director Mike Flanagan. Tom Hiddleston's title character crosses paths with drumming street performer, Taylor (Taylor Gordon), and spontaneously lets the music drive him, even inviting a random young woman named Janice (played by Annalise Basso) to join him, giving a crowd of bystanders the show of their lives.

Will Shows How They Dance In Gelderland (A Knight's Tale)

A Knight's Tale may take place in 14th-century Europe, but it boasts many modern sensibilities in everything from its dialogue to its soundtrack. For instance, in a scene when William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) is forced to come up with a dance to impress the royalty, he receives some help from his "foxy lady," Jocelyn (Shannon Sossamon), and soon the entire dance floor is rocking out to what we hear as David Bowie's "Golden Years."

Raj's Romantic Fantasy (The Big Bang Theory)

In one episode of The Big Bang Theory, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) finds himself attracted to Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), leading him to have multiple daydreams about her, including one reminiscent of an Indian Cinema dance sequence.

Donkey's Swamp Dance Party (Shrek)

At the end of the Oscar-winning, acclaimed kids movie, Shrek, Smash Mouth's cover of The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" plays during Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona's (Cameron Diaz) nuptials before Eddie Murphy's Donkey takes over the vocals, leading the wedding guests in a breathless celebration of the event.

Terry And Holt "Push It" (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

In one of the best episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) goes into labor in the police station during a city-wide blackout. In a hilarious effort to keep her calm and distracted, Lieutenant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) try dancing to Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It."

Dance Of The Dead (The X-Files)

In a Season 7 episode of The X-Files called "Hollywood A.D.," Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate a murder on a movie set, where, at the end of the episode, corpses resting underneath are reanimated and indulge in a passionate ballroom dance with one another.

Harry's Dream (3rd Rock From The Sun)

In an essential and bewilderingly surreal episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun, the Solomons experience their first-ever dreams. This proves to be a startling experience for the extra-terrestrial visitors, except for Harry (French Stewart), who imagines he is in an upbeat, urban Broadway production.

Ed Livens Things Up At The Mental Hospital (Good Burger)

In Good Burger, Ed (Kel Mitchell), Dexter (Kenan Thompson), and Otis (Abe Vigoda) are wrongfully committed to a mental hospital, where Ed responds to the request of a patient played by George Clinton himself to change to the music to something funkier, and tunes it to Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep." He then leads most of the other patients in an impressively choreographed dance routine, which Dexter uses as an opportunity to knock out the guards and escape.

The Siblings Are Alone Now (The Umbrella Academy)

Netflix's series adaptation of the hit comic book The Umbrella Academy has a clever way of introducing its superpowered main characters early on in the premiere episode. The adoptive siblings are seen grooving to Tiffany's cover of "I Think We're Alone Now," each in a different location and boasting a different style of dance.

Backstreet's Back In Heaven (This Is The End)

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's 2014 apocalyptic meta comedy This is the End ends with most of the main characters (actors portraying uproarious versions of themselves) meeting up in the afterlife, where they celebrate their ascent into Heaven with the Backstreet Boys, who also appear as themselves to perform “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”

The Study Group Is Gonna Finally Be Fine (Community)

Community Season 3 begins with Jeff (Joel McHale) daydreaming about a dance number, featuring the entire cast of characters, with a hopeful outlook on the next year at Greendale.

David's Three-Way Dance Battle (Legion)

In the Season 2 opener of FX's unconventional Marvel Comics adaptation, Legion, one of David's (Dan Stevens) memories of the past year shows him at a club where the mutant engages in an intense dance battle with Lenny (Aubrey Plaza) and Oliver (Jemaine Clement).

Lucifer Is Alright (Lucifer)

The series finale of Lucifer opens with the Devil Incarnate (played by Tom Ellis) leading an upbeat ensemble dance sequence set to Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright," which starts at a bar before transitioning to the police station, where Lucifer and Detective Dan (Kevin Alejandro) reenact an iconic moment from Dirty Dancing.

Over the years, countless filmmakers have given us movies where almost no one makes it out alive (or no one at all). We’ve seen it in some of the best horror movies, a few Best Picture winners, and in oh so many crazy disaster films. There’s just something about the whole “safety not guaranteed” aspect that keeps drawing us in.

That said, if you want to check out 32 movies where almost no one makes it out alive, stick around because we’re about to break it all down…

Titanic (1997)

Rose DeWitte Bukater (Kate Winslet) and several historical figures who survived the real-life 1912 sinking survived Titanic, but the vast majority of the characters we met during James Cameron’s massive box office hit sank with the doomed ship. Only if the epic’s protagonist had saved some room for her third-class lover on the infamous door.

Scarface (1983)

As soon as Al Pacino’s Tony Montana was introduced in Scarface, we all knew this rags-to-riches story was going to end in a hail of gunfire. And it did just that, as the film’s antihero is massacred alongside most of his men in his massive Miami estate in the film’s explosive and bloody final scene. Tony wasn’t alone, as all but a few of the characters introduced in this iconic crime film bite the dust before it’s over.

Much like the book on which they are based, the various adaptations of All Quiet on the Western Front have all been dark, terrifying, and heartbreaking antiwar films that show the true cost of combat. Edward Berger’s 2022 take on Erich Maria Remarque’s landmark novel is particularly harrowing, especially in the final moments when a last-minute charge of death and destruction shatters hope and survival.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, one of the best movies in the franchise, is admittedly a little bleak with its depiction of a doomed band of spies trying to steal the plan for the Death Star, but there is some hope in their act of sacrifice. The blast of an operational battle station in the final moments is an awesome show of power and a dreadful end for characters we came to know and love.

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter’s The Thing is a masterclass in tension and paranoia, with its story about a remote research base being taken over by a mysterious shape-shifting alien. If that wasn’t bad enough, the main characters begin getting picked off one by one as the survivors (it ends up only being two in the end) are left trying to make sense of the madness and not knowing if they can trust each other or themselves.

Night Of The Living Dead (1967)

George A. Romero put himself on the map in 1967 with the transformative zombie movie, Night of the Living Dead. On top of introducing heroes that go against the status quo in ‘60s Hollywood, the start of Romero’s legendary horror franchise ended with one of the bleakest moments in horror history.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

It’s hard to say how many of the thieves from the ill-fated diamond heist in Reservoir Dogs make it out alive, but we know that the vast majority of the color-coded crew don’t make it out alive. Either at the hands of their former partners or the police chasing them down, these lowly criminals meet a violent yet unsurprising end in Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut.

The Grey (2011)

Joe Carnahan’s 2011 survival thriller, The Grey, is honestly one of the most intense movies to come out in the 2010s. Starring Liam Neeson as a sharpshooter at an oil facility in Alaska, the movie follows the grieving man and a group of other roughnecks as they attempt to survive a plane crash in a remote part of the state. If that’s not bad enough, the wounded and weary men are targeted by a pack of hungry wolves.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Thanks to a clever and very impressive marketing campaign, The Blair Witch Project felt less like a found-footage horror movie and more like a documentary about a trio of filmmakers getting lost and dying in the woods. With one of the most shocking endings in horror history, this trailblazing 1999 movie left no one alive.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1968)

Though we never see Paul Newman or Robert Redford’s characters die in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, it’s all but guaranteed that these two outlaws die in the final shootout. With figures like this, did anyone expect there to be survivors?

The Departed (2006)

Martin Scorsese’s 2006 crime epic is a remake of a Hong Kong movie called Internal Affairs, but it totally feels like a modern take on a Greek tragedy. Before this one comes to a close, all but a couple of the main characters are in the grave. Heroes, villains, and random characters in one or two scenes, they are all taken down in this Oscar-winning classic.

The Hateful Eight (2015)

A movie primarily set in one location, The Hateful Eight doesn’t hold back with the violence and mayhem. Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western introduces and kills characters at such a high rate of speed that you’ll find yourself pausing and rewinding to make sense of all the carnage.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

One of the best examples of a disaster film, The Poseidon Adventure follows a group of survivors as they attempt to escape a capsized cruise ship. Though there are thousands aboard the ship before a wave tips it over, only a handful of passengers and crew make it out of this race against time.

Dawn Of The Dead (1978)

George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead introduces some of the best zombie movie characters of all time, but going in, you know most are going to either die or turn into an undead ghoul. By the time everything is said and done, only two survivors make it out, which is far cheerier than what Romero originally had planned.

The Northman (2022)

Based on the ancient legend that inspired William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Robert Eggers’ 2022 epic revenge film, The Northman, is a bloody, violent, and mind-bending experience. And just like any tale of vengeance, it’s not one with a happy ending or a lot of survivors.

Alien (1979)

One of the best things about Ridley Scott’s Alien is how the crew of the Nostromo is picked off one by one by the mysterious and deadly xenomorph after each of the Weylan-Yutani employees is introduced and given time to shine on screen. In fact, it’s only Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley and Jones the cat who make it out alive.

Sunshine (2007)

Sunshine, an oft-forgotten collaboration by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, follows eight astronauts as they try to reignite a dying sun. Though the movie does give you some hope that the core cast – Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, and Michelle Yeoh – will survive the mission, it becomes clear that this is a one-way trip to save humanity.

Hereditary (2018)

Ari Aster’s Hereditary is one of the most traumatizing and terrifying horror movies of the past decade, and one that doesn’t leave a whole lot of survivors. In fact, pretty much the entire Graham family is killed in some bloody, fiery, or devastating fashion by the time this is over and done with.

Cloverfield (2008)

When it comes to disaster films with the largest body count, Cloverfield has to be up there on the list. Not only do all the main characters get squashed, eaten, mutated, or killed by the invading alien creatures, but pretty much all of New York City is wiped off the map once the military gets involved.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Don’t let Don’t Look Up’s darkly comedic tone fool you; the 2021 Netflix satirical end-of-the-world disaster film is full of death, destruction, and heartbreak. Even as the members of the ruling class learn centuries after the destruction of Earth, there’s no escaping death.

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is one of the funniest satirical dark comedies of all time. It’s also a political movie with a whole lot of death, especially with the whole ending sequence of atomic warheads detonating around the world, sending what survivors are left into a nuclear winter of epic proportions.

The Alamo (2004)

Before even pressing play on The Alamo back in 2004, we all knew how John Lee Hancock’s historical drama was going to end. One of the most told stories in American history, the Battle of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution, has become the stuff of legends (just don’t ask about the basement). Some 200 Texans, including Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton), Jim Bowie (Jason Patric), and Bill Travis (Patrick Wilson), sacrifice themselves for freedom in this epic.

300 (2007)

Few movies kill off the main character like 300, which sees Gerard Butler’s King Leonidas (and his Spartan soldiers) go out looking awesome. Yeah, it’s sad to see these brave warriors get defeated by the Persian army, but it took A LOT to bring down this king.

The Return Of The Living Dead (1985)

The Return of the Living Dead has to be one of the best horror comedies of all time, as well as a movie that doesn’t end on the happiest of notes. After a zombie outbreak turns Louisville, Kentucky, into a wasteland of brain-eating ghouls, the military gets involved in an attempt to sweep it all under the rug.

Knowing (2009)

Blending elements of sci-fi, thrillers, and disaster films, the 2009 Nicolas Cage movie, Knowing, centers on the discovery of a manuscript that can help predict various disasters in the future. Those familiar with this setup know that survival isn’t likely in this scenario, and that’s what happens when a solar flare turns everyone on the planet into ash.

The Cabin In The Woods (2012)

The Cabin in the Woods is one of the wildest, silliest, and most unique horror movies of the 21st century, and one that kills a lot of people. One by one, a group of college students is killed off by different monsters as they unknowingly become part of a plan to save the world from old gods.

Open Water (2003)

Inspired by true events, Open Water follows a couple as they are mistakenly left behind while scuba diving on vacation. Left alone in shark-infested waters and deteriorating conditions, the couple attempts to survive the situation, which is no easy task.

Silent Night (2021)

Camille Griffin’s Silent Night is one of the funniest, strangest, most brutally honest, and unsettling dark comedies of the past decade. When a deadly fog rolls into England and offers no chance at survival, a group of friends decides to have one final holiday party before dying. But there’s a twist…

Final Destination 5 (2011)

Like its predecessors, Final Destination 5 is a movie about cheating death and what happens if you evade the grim reaper’s touch. Well, in this 2011 installment, a group of survivors think they’ve cheated death for good when they board a plane. However, it’s not just any plane but instead the doomed flight from the first movie.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)

With a title like Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, it should be no surprise that this 2012 romantic comedy starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley was going to end with everyone dying. Despite the obvious ending, this charming little movie has a whole lot of heart and soul.

Melancholia (2011)

There are disaster movies and then there’s Melancholia, Lars von Trier’s 2011 drama about two sisters coming to terms with their lives and past decisions days, hours, and minutes before a planet crashes into Earth. With a heavy focus on the inner and more psychological aspects of impending doom, opposed to the collapse of society outside their picturesque escape, this frightening yet awe-inspiring meditation on life and death is a sight to see.

This Is The End (2013)

This is the End, an over-the-top end-of-the-world disaster film starring Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and some of the biggest comedians of the late 2000s and early 2010s, is an absolute bonkers movie. Going in, you know everyone and their mother is going to die. But it’s what comes after death in this one that’s so much fun.

It is never not a blast to see celebrities make funny cameos in movies or TV shows, or even appear in starring roles, as themselves, especially as a version of themselves that bears little resemblance to their actual personality. Take a look at some of the funniest examples of actors and other artists poking fun at themselves in a hilarious onscreen performance.

Michael Cera (This Is The End)

Each member of the cast of 2013's This Is the End is a celebrity playing an exaggerated version of themselves, but the absolutely wildest of the bunch is Michael Cera. The actor plays dramatically against type as a destructive force of chaos at James Franco's house party... before destructive forces of chaos begin descending upon the entire Earth in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's blistering apocalyptic satire.

Kate Winslet (Extras)

Co-creator and star Ricky Gervais' Hollywood satire, Extras, boasted a gut-busting rotation of celebrity guest stars playing the most ridiculously antithetical versions of themselves, one of the most memorable being Kate Winslet. Years before she took home an Academy Award for The Reader, the English actor appeared in an episode in which she openly obsesses over finding the role that will win her an Oscar.

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

Seinfeld cast member Jason Alexander eventually realized that his hopelessly neurotic character, George Costanza, was the fictional alter ego of co-creator Larry David. However, none of George's self-destructive and alienating flaws on the beloved TV sitcom could compare to David's self-parodic portrayal of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm, on which the comedian would seemingly go out of his way to offend friends, family members, and just about anyone he came into contact with.

Bill Murray (Zombieland)

Out of all the amazing, random Bill Murray cameos to choose from, the most iconic would have to be his appearance in 2009's Zombieland when our four protagonists (Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin) stumble upon him while taking refuge in his mansion. It is actually not too much of a stretch to believe that this is how the comedy legend might live during the zombie apocalypse, from dressing himself up as one of the undead to blend in, to citing Garfield as his one regret before succumbing to an accidental shotgun blast.

Bob Barker (Happy Gilmore)

After decades of maintaining a sunny demeanor as the host of The Price is Right, it was shocking to see Bob Barker appear as anything but in his iconic cameo in 1995's Happy Gilmore. Adam Sandler's title character gets fed up with Barker's incessant criticism of his golfing skills, driving him to show him that "the price is wrong," only to discover that the older man has some real fight in him.

Stephen Hawking (The Simpsons)

Influential theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking played himself on The Simpsons on multiple occasions. One of the funnier instances comes from the Season 10 episode, "They Saved Lisa's Brain," in which he clocks Seymour Skinner in the face with a spring-loaded boxing glove built into his wheelchair.

Prince (New Girl)

As New Girl creator Liz Meriwether recalled in an article for Vulture (via Slate), Prince loved the quirky sitcom, which is why he agreed to guest star in an episode that, essentially, portrays him as some sort of mysterious magical guide. Quite frankly, it is hard to think of this portrayal as much of an exaggeration from the late, great pop star's true, legendary persona.

David Hasselhoff (The Spongebob Squarepants Movie)

Even though most young audience members seeing The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie in 2004 likely were not familiar with David Hasselhoff, it still makes perfect sense that the former Baywatch star would come to SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick's (Bill Fagerbakke) rescue near the end. The actor uses his body as a motorboat to transport the duo back to Bikini Bottom, which was achieved in part with the use of a frighteningly realistic, double-sized replica, which he later brought home with him.

Zach Galifianakis (Between Two Ferns)

Zach Galifianakis has a great reputation as a wonderful talk show guest, despite his alter ego on Between Two Ferns being an absolute disaster as a talk show host. After years of mercilessly roasting celebrities to their faces on Funny or Die's web series, it inspired a mockumentary-style Netflix original movie in which the Hangover star also got to be the butt of the joke.

Neil Patrick Harris (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle)

You might as well call Neil Patrick Harris' performance in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle his audition to play Barney Stinson, considering his highly fictionalized alter ego has much more in common with his role in the How I Met Your Mother cast. The Emmy winner goes further with the uproarious portrayal in the sequels, which reveal the actor is only pretending to be gay to better his career.

Nicolas Cage (The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent)

I can understand why Nicolas Cage was initially reluctant to play himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, especially for the pretty far-out ways the Academy Award winner pokes fun at himself and his unique career in the film. Then again, it does paint him in a largely positive light and even allows him to be the hero of its irreverent, comedic action plot in the end.

David Bowie (Zoolander)

Admittedly, David Bowie's cameo in Zoolander is relatively tame when compared to his out-of-this-world stage presence. However, the idea of the rock 'n roll legend randomly appearing out of nowhere to help judge an impromptu "Walk Off" between Ben Stiller's eponymous male model and his rival, Hansel (Owen Wilson), is still pretty ridiculous.

James Marsden (Jury Duty)

It takes a special kind of performance as one's self to receive an Emmy nomination for it, and that is what James Marsden achieved with Jury Duty. In the Amazon Prime original reality show, a gentleman named Ronald Gladden is called into serve on a trial he does not know is an elaborate prank on him, involving a cast of actors that includes the X-Men and Sonic the Hedgehog actor as a more vain portrait of himself.

Debra Messing (Bros)

Will & Grace star Debra Messing poked fun at her status as an icon in the gay community with her cameo in the LGBTQIA+ rom-com, Bros. The Emmy winner feels compelled to remind Bobby (Billy Eichner) that she is "NOT GRACE" when he asks her for romantic advice when all she wanted to do was tour his museum.

Keanu Reeves (Always Be My Maybe)

In addition to leading classic action movies like Speed and John Wick, Keanu Reeves has become a cameo king with funny, random appearances, such as in Netflix's 2019 comedy Always Be My Maybe. Marcus (Randall Park) is shocked to discover that his childhood friend, Sasha's (Ali Wong), new boyfriend is the actor, who partially improvised his portrayal as a pretentious weirdo who wears glasses without lenses and asks for a meal inspired by "the concept of time" at a restaurant.

John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich)

John Malkovich's performance in director Spike Jonze's inventive fantasy comedy, Being John Malkovich, is a special case of an actor playing an exaggerated version of himself because he is technically playing multiple roles. One famous scene sees the two-time Oscar nominee entering a portal that leads to his own mind, but places him in a nightmarish world filled with people who have his face and can only speak his last name.

LeBron James (Trainwreck)

LeBron James has made a decent living outside of his professional basketball career by playing fictionalized versions of himself in the likes of Space Jam: A New Legacy and the 2023 House Party remake. However, the movie that started it all was 2015's Trainwreck, which portrays him as the best friend of a doctor (played by Bill Hader) who specializes in treating star athletes.

Olivia Newton-John (Glee)

One of the most memorable guest appearances on Glee was the late Olivia Newton-John. The Grease star showed up on the coming-of-age musical-dramedy a couple of times, in which she is portrayed as extremely rude and "hopelessly devoted" to herself.

Bruce Campbell (My Name Is Bruce)

No matter what role he plays, it is hard to see Bruce Campbell as anything other than the hero of the Evil Dead movies, Ash Williams. The Scream King leans into that reputation in the 2007 horror-comedy movie, My Name Is Bruce (which he also directs), as a hard-drinking, washed-up version of himself who becomes the last hope to save a small Oregon town from a malevolent demon.

Jessica Biel (BoJack Horseman)

Netflix's animated Hollywood satire, BoJack Horseman, is especially famous for its uproarious celebrity cameos, one of the funniest being Jessica Biel. Not only does the former 7th Heaven cast member boldly call out her own career low points, but is also portrayed as the spouse of Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins), whom she leaves for her real-life husband, Justin Timberlake.

Eminem (The Interview)

Earlier in his career, Eminem was criticized for lyrics that were interpreted as homophobic, which he pokes fun at in a hilarious way in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's The Interview. Arguably the funniest scene in the 2014 comedy sees the Grammy-winning rap artist speaking to talk show host Dave Skylark (James Franco), to whom he very nonchalantly reveals that he is a closeted gay man.

Kelly Ripa (Broad City)

TV personality Kelly Ripa brilliantly mocks her clean image with her cameo on Comedy Central's Broad City. During a visit to the beloved daytime talk show host's apartment, Abbi (co-creator Abbi Jacobson) discovers that she can be a pretty hard partier, especially when cracks open a jar of moonshine.

Ryan Reynolds (Family Guy)

Many celebrities have stopped by to voice appropriately cartoonish versions of themselves on Family Guy, including Ryan Reynolds, who clearly had a lot of fun with his guest spot. He moves in across the street from the Griffins and appears to take an intense liking to Peter (Seth MacFarlane), who begins to suspect that the actor has a crush on him.

Cher (Will & Grace)

In Season 3 of Will & Grace, Jack (Sean Hayes) becomes uncomfortably attached to a doll modeled after Cher, treating it as if it were the real multi-talented icon, much to the chagrin of his friends. When the real Cher appears to voice her concerns about his obsession, Jack mistakes her for a very convincing drag queen.

Carl Weathers (Arrested Development)

Some of Arrested Development's remarkably clever meta humor involved hilarious cameos by celebrities as themselves, most notably Carl Weathers. The Rocky and Predator star's appearances on the cult favorite sitcom saw him dropping clues of being extremely thrifty, to the point that he would save the meat on a mostly eaten rib to make stew.

Dave Grohl (Studio 666)

Each member of Foo Fighters willfully takes aim at themselves in the 2022 musical horror-comedy movie, Studio 666, but frontman Dave Grohl especially goes wild here. He becomes a threat to his bandmates after becoming possessed by a spirit that haunts the California house where they choose to record their tenth album.

Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

One of Matt LeBlanc's most successful gigs after leaving the Friends cast was playing a very personal role on Showtime's Episodes. The actor earned a Golden Globe for portraying himself as likable but overbearing, as the married creators of a new TV show that he is cast in discover.

Shaun White (Friends With Benefits)

Olympic Gold Medal-winning snowboarder Shaun White seems like a fun, down-to-earth dude, which makes his cameo in Friends with Benefits as anything but that so memorably funny. Because of his interest in Jamie (Mila Kunis), White takes an immediate and very intense dislike toward her platonic, occasional lover, Dylan (Justin Timberlake), threatening him at every turn.

James Van Der Beek (Don’t Trust The B– in Apartment 23)

James Van Der Beek's first major return to TV after leading the Dawson’s Creek cast was a main role on Don’t Trust the B– in Apartment 23 as... James Van Der Beek. The actor's absurd portrayal of the famous best friend to Krysten Ritter’s Chloe is miles away from his true self, but it did somehow predict that he would later appear on Dancing with the Stars.

Ryan Seacrest (Knocked Up)

The timeline of Ryan Seacrest's hosting gigs is so prolific and extensive, he is almost (if not more) famous than many of the people he has interviewed over the years. He acknowledges this in his cameo in Knocked Up, in which the then-E! News presenter portrays himself as comically vain, ill-tempered, and foul-mouthed, which are not good qualities on camera.

Tom Brady (Living With Yourself)

The Netflix sci-fi comedy series, Living with Yourself, stars Paul Rudd as Miles Elliott, who discovers that a life-changing wellness spa has cloned him into a better version of himself when he comes face-to-face with his "flawed" double. In the first episode, Miles sees the New England Patriots quarterback walking out of the spa before revealing he has visited it six previous times, which also happened to be his number of Super Bowl wins at the time.

Al Pacino (Jack And Jill)

If there is one good thing about 2011's Jack and Jill, which stars Adam Sandler as both a family man and his obnoxious twin sister, it is Al Pacino's performance as himself. In the comedy, the Oscar winner expresses affection for Jill, which leads him to star in a "Dunkaccino" ad that he believes should be destroyed moments after watching it.

Some of the most amusing and iconic characters in cinematic history happen to show up the least in their respective films. Even more disappointing is when an already popular character’s involvement in a film is significantly reduced from their previous appearances.

And, then, there are those characters whose opportunity to become something special is ruined by, not just a lack of screen time but a lack of anything to substantially serve the story with. We cover them all in this list of movie roles who deserved more.

Boba Fett (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

It is a wonder how this galactic bounty hunter (originally portrayed by Jeremy Bulloch and voiced by Jason Wingreen) became such a wildly revered Star Wars character as he does very little in his appearances in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Even when Temeura Morrison inherited the character for Disney+'s miniseries, The Book of Boba Fett, he was upstaged by Pedro Pascal's title character of the show it was spun off from, The Mandalorian.

Raoul Silva (Skyfall)

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem’s brilliant performance as elusive cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva in 2012's Skyfall comes in pretty late into the plot. While the payoff to the preceding buildup is effective, the otherwise acclaimed Daniel Craig-era James Bond film could have potentially benefitted from more of his cat-and-mouse game with 007.

Beth March (Little Women)

Writer and director Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated Little Women is considered one of the strongest adaptations yet of Louis May Alcott’s celebrated 1868 novel. However, even its most adoring fans may agree that the March Sister who gets the least time to shine in the 2019 period drama is Beth, portrayed by Eliza Scanlen.

Clubber Lang (Rocky III)

With all the great characters who would recur in the Rocky movies, it is hard to believe that Clubber Lang is not one of them. Mr. T gives such an intense and mesmerizing performance as Sylvester Stallone's onscreen opponent in the 1982 sequel that deserved a later reprise in some way, shape, or form.

Frozone (The Incredibles)

Bob "Mr. Incredible" Parr’s (Craig T. Nelson) best friend and former partner-in-crimefighting, Lucius, better known as Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), is given the chance to show off his abilities in a few memorable moments from 2004’s The Incredibles. However, the ice-powered superhero deserved a more integral role in the acclaimed Pixar movie that could have provided a more solid and justified build-up toward his return from retirement in the final showdown.

Donny Kerabatsos (The Big Lebowski)

The joke about Steve Buscemi’s character in Joel and Ethan Coen’s beloved cult favorite comedy, 1998’s The Big Lebowski, is that he is rarely given a chance to speak by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) for mysterious reasons. However, after finally learning more about Donny after his death from Walter’s impassioned eulogy, we wish we could have seen just a little bit more of his life.

The Five Wives (Mad Max: Fury Road)

One thing that makes George Miller’s 2015 post-apocalyptic thriller one of the best action movies of all time is what it consciously chooses to remain a mystery. However, what actually could have used more exposition in Mad Max: Fury Road is the group of young women (played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton) whom Tom Hardy’s title role and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) are racing to protect from Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).

Batman (The Dark Knight)

Ironically, the most acclaimed installment of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of live-action Batman movies, 2008’s The Dark Knight, is the one that makes Bruce Wayne’s alter ego (Christian Bale) the least interesting character. Actually, one could argue the same thing about Tim Burton’s DC films, 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns, despite many believing that Michael Keaton is the best Batman actor yet.

Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

The core and most important relationship in John Hughes’ hilarious 1986 high school movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, is undeniably that of the eponymous troublemaker (Matthew Broderick) and his best friend, Cameron Fry (Alan Ruck). However, we should still know a little more about Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara), than we do, which is not much at all.

Darth Maul (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace)

Even the most casual fans of the Star Wars movies would likely agree that Ray Park's Sith Lord was killed off way too soon and should have appeared in at least one follow-up to 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Thus, Darth Maul's return in subsequent animated series and a scene from 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story is one of the few widely accepted retcons in pop culture history.

Charon (John Wick)

It is the late Lance Reddick's performance as Charon that made the minor role in 2014's John Wick so intriguing. However, it was not until 2019's Chapter 3 - Parabellum that we finally got just how hard-boiled the Continental's loyal concierge can be.

The Joker (Suicide Squad)

Many audiences might argue that Jared Leto’s iteration of The Clown Prince of Crime could have used even less screen time in 2016’s Suicide Squad. However, there are a few DC fans who believe the Oscar winner had the potential to make a better impression than he did – as evidenced by his appearance in the recut Zack Snyder’s Justice League – and, perhaps, should have been the main villain instead of a wasted B-plot.

Michael Myers (Halloween Ends)

While marketed as an epic final showdown between the quintessential horror movie Final Girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney), 2022's Halloween Ends instead focused largely on the tarnished reputation of a new character named Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) and his ill-fated romance with Laurie granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). With very little screentime for the aging masked boogeyman, the finale to director David Gordon Green’s requel trilogy ended on a severely divisive note.

Boo (Monsters, Inc.)

Much of Boo's backstory is left a mystery, which is why it would have been appreciated to see her return in a sequel to Monsters Inc. instead of the otherwise well-received prequel, Monsters University. Not to mention, what happened to the adorable interdimensional traveler after she returned to her world? There had to have been an intense search for her during the many hours she was gone.

Ned Ryerson (Groundhog Day)

Stephen Tobolowsky’s annoying insurance agent deserved more to do than, essentially, repeat the exact same thing in his brief appearances in the hilarious 1993 time loop movie, Groundhog Day. On the other hand, the popular, bizarre fan theory that Ned Ryerson is really the Devil in disguise and the orchestrator of Phil Connors’ (Bill Murray) insane predicament is proof that the character has achieved icon status.

The Salesman (Sin City)

Perhaps Josh Hartnett’s contract killer, who seems to specialize in assisted suicide, is used the right amount in directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's visually astonishing comic book thriller, Sin City. Then again, the 2005 film noir favorite could have dropped a couple more hints and teases to his story to give "The Salesman" an even more memorable role.

Blanche (Drive)

Considering she was played by an actor who resembles a sultry, Silver Age femme fatale, Christina Hendricks’ role in Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 neo-noir thriller could have been iconic. Perhaps she could have if Blanche was given more than a page’s worth of dialogue in her three scenes from Drive.

Kaecilius (Doctor Strange)

When you cast an actor who has absolutely mastered the art of portraying villainy like Mads Mikkelsen as your antagonist, you better give him enough material to deliver. Unfortunately, the vengeful sorcerer Kaecilius is mostly an afterthought in the MCU’s Doctor Strange – the origin story of Benedict Cumberbatch’s surgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme – and is an even less memorable villain than Dormammu, who only shows up for one fun scene.

Scrat (Ice Age)

He was the face of the marketing for, arguably, Blue Sky Studios’ best-animated movie but is treated as an afterthought, appearing in funny interstitial bits outside of the main storyline. At least Scrat (whose name, a combination of “squirrel” and “rat,” is never even explicitly mentioned in any of the Ice Age movies) got to be the star of his own short spin-offs.

Dracula (Renfield)

Obviously, the star of director Chris McKay's 2022 horror-comedy movie is Dracula’s eponymous familiar, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult). However, the film does not spend quite enough time exploring his one-sided, abusive relationship with the ruthless vampire, who is portrayed brilliantly by Nicolas Cage.

Emma Watson (This Is The End)

A fictionalized version of the Harry Potter movies’ Hermione Granger actor only shows up for one scene in This is the End, in which she assumes a house full of male celebrities have ill intentions for her. Yet, it would have been fun to see much more of Emma Watson and her skills with an axe against the nightmarish circumstances outside in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 2014 post-apocalyptic comedy.

Gorr The Godbutcher (Thor: Love And Thunder)

Some fans of the Marvel movies might say that Christian Bale’s vengeful antagonist is the best thing about Taika Waititi’s follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok. Unfortunately, Gorr the Godbutcher's screentime in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder is, much like the tragic deaths of his family, not justified.

Helga Sinclair (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

In one of the best Disney animated movies from the 2000s, 2001's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, ambitious linguist Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox) is recruited onto an expedition to find the eponymous fabled kingdom by the wealthy Preston Whitmore (John Mahoney). His personal assistant, the attractive Lt. Helga Sinclair (Claudia Christian) is considered the secondary antagonist of the story but boasts far more charisma than the main villain, Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke (James Garner).

Sandman (Spider-Man 3)

The final installment of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy is one of the most essential examples of the superhero movie genre's “too many villains” trope, with three villains fighting for screen time. The one with the most engaging and sympathetic arc – and, thus, the one who, arguably, should have been the only antagonist – is Flint "Sandman" Marko (Thomas Haden Church), whose biological makeup becomes bonded with sand after a bizarre accident.

Wizard (Taxi Driver)

The most deeply underrated character in director Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is easily Peter Boyle's Wizard. The wise veteran cabbie is one of the few characters in the bleak 1976 drama whom Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) could genuinely call a friend and, perhaps, if he was around more, he could have helped steer the disturbed former marine in a more favorable direction.

Boris Podgorny (The Fabelmans)

Judd Hirsch’s Academy Award nomination for portraying a fictionalized version of director Steven Spielberg’s granduncle in 2022's The Fabelmans was well deserved. What the character, Boris Podgorny, really deserved, however, was to play a larger role in the story, as long as it would be accurate to the semi-autobiographical story that the esteemed filmmaker was crafting.

Luna Lovegood (The Harry Potter Movies)

Evanna Lynch portrays Luna Lovegood – a refreshingly positive fan-favorite character from J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter novels. However, most fans of the Wizarding World would argue that the Ravenclaw was significantly underutilized in the blockbuster film adaptations.

Jeff Portnoy (Tropic Thunder)

The famously animated Jack Black has higher billing than Robert Downey Jr.'s Academy Award-nominated role in the cast of 2008's Tropic Thunder. Yet, his role as Jeff Portnoy – an unhinged comedian attempting a serious war movie – gets the least amount of screentime or material to work with in star and director Ben Stiller’s hilarious Hollywood satire.

Lady Sif (Thor)

One of the most heavily underrated MCU characters is Lady Sif, who has appeared in every one of Thor's solo movies but only briefly. We might go so far as to say that Jaimie Alexander’s portrayal of the Asgardian Goddess of War should have her own solo movie, or at least deserves a more substantial role in the franchise.

Rhino (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

Paul Giamatti’s cinematic iteration of the Spider-Man villain, Rhino, makes his grand entrance at the end of the widely reviled sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and was supposed to have a bigger role in a third installment starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. Of course, the poor reception to the 2014 film led to the cancellation of the follow-up before Tom Holland stepped in to play the MCU-canon webslinger.

Officer Benjamin Clawhauser (Zootopia)

Voiced by Nate Torrence, the doughnut-chomping Officer Benjamin Clawhauser is about the funniest character from 2016's Zootopia. For that reason alone, the tiger deserves a more integral role in the family-friendly police dramedy about anthropomorphic animals.

Garraka (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire)

The fifth installment of the Ghostbusters franchise gets its subtitle (Frozen Empire) from the main antagonist's power to create a second Ice Age. However, said malevolent entity, Garraka, officially shows up far too late in the 2024 sequel's runtime.

While fans of musicals know where to go when they want to see characters breaking out in song left and right, there's something joyous about a random music number finding its way into movies across any genre. It has happened far more than you might think. Watch out for these awesome jump scares of song-and-dance numbers in comedies, science fiction, dramas and so forth. They've made iconic movies even more so! 

“Johnny B. Goode” - Back To The Future (1985) 

Even though the crux of Back To Future is as a time travel comedy, it also has one of the greatest music numbers in a movie. During the Enchantment Under The Sea dance, where Marty McFly’s parents are supposed to fall in love, Michael J. Fox performs an electric rendition of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” It’s no wonder the movie has since inspired a Broadway musical. 

“Come and Get Your Love” - Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

There’s been a few notable Marvel music moments over the years, but few compare to Guardians of the Galaxy opening with Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill singing and dancing in the middle of an alien planet to Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” alongside extra-terrestrial creatures. It’s the perfect way to start the trilogy and introduce Star-Lord. 

"Thriller" - 13 Going On 30 (2004) 

In the super fun romantic comedy, 13 Going On 30, Jennifer Garner plays a young girl named Jenna Rink, who dreams she is “thirty, flirty and thriving” and wakes up seventeen years later. In one of the highlight scenes of the film, Jenna brings together a whole party of 30-somethings to do the famous “Thriller” dance from Michael Jackson’s music video. 

“I’m Just Ken” - Barbie (2023) 

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is full of great music scenes and bright pink, but none quite like Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” sequence. In the third act of the movie, Ken breaks into song to express how it feels to be an accessory to Barbie all the time. The original song, reminiscent of "Singin’ In The Rain," earned an Oscar nomination (which surprised Gosling) after being penned by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt for the flick. 

“Day-O” - Beetlejuice (1988) 

Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is a ball of a gothic comedy about a couple who die suddenly and hire a bio-exorcist named Beetlejuice to haunt the new tenants living in their home. One way he causes calamity to the household is by having them sing and dance to "The Banana Boat Song" at the dinner table against their will. 

'You Never Can Tell' - Pulp Fiction (1994) 

Quentin Tarantino’s stylish crime film includes an iconic dance scene between John Travolta’s Vincent Vega and Uma Thurman’s Mia Wallace while they are at an old school diner together. Mia casually has Vincent enter a dance contest with her. When the two characters do the twist, it’s just one of many scenes that make Pulp Fiction one of the best ‘90s movies.   

“You Make My Dreams” - (500) Days Of Summer (2009) 

(500) Days of Summer takes audiences through the unexpected love and breakup story of Summer and Tom, and has a blast playing with structure throughout. In one unexpected scene that depicts how it feels to fall in love, Tom dances in the street with a group of dancers to Hall & Oates “You Make My Dreams.” 

“Peaches” - The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) 

Never did we think Bowser would sing a piano ballad in The Super Mario Bros. Movie! In the 2023 animated film based on the beloved Nintendo franchise, Jack Black’s Bowser confesses his love for Princess Peach by singing “Peaches, peaches, peaches.” It became a viral hit we all couldn’t stop listening to when it hit theaters. 

“You Don’t Own Me” - The First Wives Club (1996) 

The 1996 comedy, The First Wives Club, ends in the best way: a music number! After Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton’s characters complete their goal of getting back at their ex husbands, they celebrate in their matching white suits by singing and dancing to “You Don’t Own Me.” 

“Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” - 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) 

In the romantic comedy, 10 Things I Hate About You, Heath Ledger’s cool guy character, Patrick Verona surprised both Julia Stiles’ Kat Stratford and audiences alike when he randomly broke out into song, with the help of the high school band. Patrick goes all out to woo Kat after being paid off to win her affections, and this scene is a good indicator that he’s going above and beyond. 

“Get Down Saturday Night” - Ex Machina (2014) 

In the A24 science fiction movie Ex Machina, it came out of absolute nowhere when Oscar Issac’s Nathan Bateman starts dancing with one of his A.I. androids to Oliver Cheatham’s “Get Down Saturday Night.” While it’s very much random to see a dance number in such a serious and foreboding film, it adds to the unique character building of Isaac’s role. 

“Cuban Pete” - The Mask (1994) 

Jim Carrey hilariously sings and dances to “Cuban Pete” during The Mask sequence where he ends up coercing the entire police force into singing and dancing with him while they try to pursue his arrest. In a movie as cartoony as The Mask, it’s not necessarily unexpected, but it does make us wish the whole movie was filled with wacky music numbers. 

“I Say A Little Prayer” - My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) 

During Julia Roberts’ My Best Friend’s Wedding, Julianne attends the wedding of her longtime bestie (Dermot Mulroney’s Michael). During one particularly memorable scene, the whole wedding party and guests take part in singing ‘I Say A Little Prayer” after Julianne’s friend George inspires them to. How did they all know the words? 

“Bye Bye Bye” - Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) 

At the beginning of the third Deadpool movie, Marvel fans were certainly surprised to see Ryan Reynolds’ comic book character doing the official dance to *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” in the snow while flinging around the corpse of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine from Logan in a fight against the TVA. What a way to open a movie and bring the Merc with a Mouth to the MCU! 

"I Put A Spell On You" - Hocus Pocus (1993) 

When you place Bette Midler in a movie like Hocus Pocus, you want her to sing, but who knows, the filmmakers could have let us down. Thankfully, director Kenny Ortega, who would go on to helm the High School Musical movies, had the actress sing “I Put A Spell On You” during the 1993 movie to have the witch literally cast a curse over Halloween partygoers during the non-musical. 

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Wayne's World (1992)

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” received a major bump up in pop culture back in 1992 when it was featured in a famous scene in Wayne’s World. While the movie itself is all about music fans, there’s something totally original and fun about this being in the comedy. Then, Mike Myers was cast in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody as a nod to the whole thing, 

"Twist and Shout" - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

John Hughes’ beloved coming-of-age movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, features a massive music number when Matthew Broderick’s high schooler, who is on a wild day of hooky, ends up lip-syncing The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” after jumping on a parade float. 

“Age of Aquarius” - The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) 

At the end of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Steve Carell finally partakes in the deed. To illustrate the joys of this, Carell and the cast have a dance sequence to “Age of Aquarius.” It’s pretty hilarious to see actors like Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen dancing shirtless to the song in the comedy that did not otherwise call itself a musical. 

“Everybody (Backstreet's Back)” - This Is The End (2013) 

During the finale of This Is The End, Seth Rogen and friends find themselves in heaven after facing a particularly hilarious apocalypse. When they get there they are told they can dream up anything and Jay Baruchel thinks up the Backstreet Boys appearing to sing and dance to “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and yes, they fully go into the choreo! 

“Afternoon Delight” - Anchorman (2004) 

During the 2004 goofy comedy Anchorman, Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy randomly breaks into song to belt “Afternoon Delight” after the other guys ask him what being in love is like. In the scene, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner start to sing it with him in perfect unison like they are some sort of barbershop quartet.

"Por Ti Volare" - Step Brothers (2008) 

At Step Brothers’ “Catalina Wine Mixer,” Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly’s characters are coerced into taking the stage. What’s particularly unexpected about this music number is Ferrell singing Italian opera with the song "Por Ti Volaré." It also evolves into a dream sequence and epic drum solo that leaves all attendees speechless. 

“Wise Up” - Magnolia (1999) 

In Paul Thomas Anderson’s fantastic drama, Magnolia, the movie took a turn when all the characters begin to sing Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up.” The music number helps evoke the emotions the characters are collectively feeling even though they are seemingly experiencing them alone. Mann wrote original music for the whole soundtrack but the rest of the songs were not sung by the characters. 

“Try A Little Tenderness” - Pretty In Pink (1986) 

In John Hughes’ Pretty In Pink, Jon Cryer’s Duckie brought down the house in one scene at a record store where he walks in and goes completely all out lip-syncing and dancing to Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” in front of Molly Ringwald’s Andie. 

"Love Me Tender" - Wild At Heart (1990)

David Lynch’s Wild At Heart ends with a music number when Nicolas Cage’s Sailor runs over the hoods and roofs of cars to approach Laura Dern’s Lula and their child to sing Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” to profess his love to her. It’s a callback to a previous moment where Sailor says he’ll only sing that song to his wife. 

“A Place Called Slaughter Race” - Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018) 

While Walt Disney animated movies are most definitely known for their music sequences, the Wreck-It Ralph movies never established themselves as musicals. So when Vanellope Von Schweetz got her own “I Want” song for the sequel from composer Alan Menken, it was completely unexpected, but an excellent chance for Disney to do what it does best! 

“You Always Hurt The One You Love” - Blue Valentine (2010) 

The dramatic tale of a married couple’s relationship over the years, Blue Valentine, starring Ryan Gosling, is no La La Land, but it does employ the music talents of the actor for one music number where his character strums the '60s pop standard on a ukulele in a fun-loving sequence between himself and Michelle Williams.  

“Somebody To Love” - Ella Enchanted (2004) 

In the fairytale rom-com, Ella Enchanted, we were caught off guard when Anne Hathaway’s titular character breaks into song to Queen’s “Somebody To Love” while entertaining a pub full of giants. Hathaway is well-known now for her set of pipes, but at the time she was not yet known to be a singer. 

"Ballet Sequence" - I'm Thinking Of Ending Things (2020) 

Towards of the end of Charlie Kaufman's Netflix movie, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, two ballet dancers perform to represent the perfect ideal of a romance amidst the movie itself showing the realities of the lead's relationship throughout this surrealist movie. 

"Old Time Rock & Roll" - Risky Business (1983)

In what has become an iconic sequence, everyone expects Tom Cruise to roll up pants-free in nothing but a dress shirt and white socks to jam to “Old Time Rock & Roll.” But, considering the rest of the movie is more of a coming-of-age comedy, it’s a rather startling scene in context. 

“As Time Goes By” - Casablanca (1942) 

One of the most memorable elements of the classic Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman movie is the song “As Time Goes By.” The song holds a sentimental value to the movie’s leads and ex lovers, Rick and Ilsa, and comes back to haunt them when they are unexpectedly reunited. It’s one of the most iconic movie songs – as Rick Blaine famously says, “Play it again, Sam.”  

“Why Don’t You Do Right” - Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) 

Sure, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is a Disney movie with cartoon characters left and right, it’s also a completely unique movie that turns the whole plot on its head (a few times over). It’s not a musical, but Jessica Rabbit singing 1936’s “Why Don’t You Do Right?” at a jazz club really sets the tone for what a music number looks like in it. 

"Canned Heat"- Napoleon Dynamite (2004) 

Then there’s the dance sequence in Napoleon Dynamite, where Jon Heder’s Napoleon performs a very skilled dance in front of other high school students to help market his friend Pedro in his election for class president. The best part? Apparently, Heder “winged” the dance sequence, per Business Insider. 

It's so fun to see how music numbers have popped up in movies across all genres over the years. They make the movies more memorable and give the songs an added boost.

Have you ever felt like you exist in a post-apocalyptic movie or TV show? Well, before you start building an underground bunker, stock up on non-perishable food, and practice any other survival tactics you know, take a look back at some of the best dystopian movies (and the genre's finest small-screen entries) and see if the potential causes to civilization's downfall that they provide feel at all familiar to you.

Climate Change Experiment Gone Wrong (Snowpiercer)

In Bong Joon-ho's 2014 adaptation of the French graphic novel, Snowpiercer, a diverse group of passengers boards a self-sustaining bullet train right before an experimental attempt to reverse climate change turns the outside world into an uninhabitable tundra. Seventeen years later, the survivors have set up a caste system from inside the train, but some of the impoverished citizens of the caboose, led by Curtis (Chris Evans in one of his most underrated performances), aim to resist.

Global Outbreak Of Post-Fatal Reanimation (The Walking Dead)

Until an explanation was provided in the post-credits scene from the finale of the short-lived spin-off, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, we never knew what caused the "Walker Apocalypse" in AMC's series adaptation of Robert Kirkman's hit comic book. However, the second season did reveal a unique aspect of the zombie virus, in that all survivors are somehow doomed to be reanimated no matter how they die unless their brain is destroyed.

Flooded Earth (Waterworld)

In Waterworld, global warming worsens enough to melt the polar ice caps, causing mass flooding that leaves the entire Earth fully submerged... or so it seems. Kevin Costner stars in the now beloved 1994 box office flop as a mariner who searches for what is believed to be the last of dry land in this anarchic dystopia.

Mystical Tree (Sweet Tooth)

Based on the DC Vertigo comic book series by Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth tells the story of a deadly virus that broke out at the same time many infants were mysteriously born as human/animal hybrids, causing suspicion that these unique beings were somehow responsible for the pandemic. In the Netflix fantasy series finale, it is revealed that a unique tree with antlers for branches was attacked by an axe-wielding human, inspiring it to kill the human race and replace them with animal-like beings.

Artificial Intelligence (The Terminator Movies)

The first three Terminator movies are, more than anything, time travel movies set in the modern day that provide hints and glimpses of a future eradicated by sentient machines. The fourth installment, 2009's Terminator: Salvation, is the first to be set entirely in the wartorn dystopia in which a grown-up John Connor (Christian Bale) leads a human resistance.

Nuclear Disaster (Fallout)

The long-running video game franchise, Fallout, and its Amazon Prime original series adaptation involves a unique depiction of a world eradicated by nuclear bombs, forcing some lucky people underground and others struggling to endure the surface. It takes place in the distant future, but one in which microprocessors were never invented, causing technological progress to remain largely trapped in the 1950s.

Sound-Hunting Aliens (A Quiet Place)

The A Quiet Place movies depict the ongoing aftermath of an alien invasion that is easy to survive, as long as you watch your volume. The vicious "Death Angels," as they are called, cannot see but have impeccable hearing ability that makes them a danger to anyone who makes even the slightest peep.

Cordyceps (The Last Of Us)

Craig Zobel developed one of the most acclaimed video game adaptations of all time with his HBO series based on the hit PlayStation game, The Last of Us. One of the most interesting things about the show's take on zombie fiction is that the inciting incident — a Cordyceps fungus that turns humans into grotesque monsters — is scientifically plausible.

Unknown, Psychologically Manipulative Phenomenon (Bird Box)

Even though Josh Malerman's novel that inspired Bird Box was published years before A Quiet Place was released, many audiences compared the 2018 Netflix original thriller to it for somewhat understandable reasons. Instead of aliens that force survivors to keep quiet, Sandra Bullock's character and others must shield their eyes from a mysterious force that has a fatal effect on some and a dangerous psychological effect on others.

Universal Loss Of Sight (See)

Jason Momoa leads the Apple TV+ series See, which foretells a global virus that leaves a mere few million survivors, whose descendants are later born blind. The main setting takes place so far in the future that the sense of sight is believed to be a myth among the people, who live in a more primitive and tribal society. 

Depleting Resources And Economic Collapse (Mad Max Movies)

It is never explicitly stated in the Mad Max movies what caused Australia to become a barren, desert wasteland of fire and blood, but there are clues littered throughout George Miller's seminal franchise. The 1979 original depicts a near future with an increased crime rate while the following films show further decay resulting from a rapid loss of natural resources and a ruined economy.

Disappearance Of 2% Of Mankind (The Leftovers)

Imagine if two percent of the world's population suddenly vanished from the face of the Earth. Tom Perotta's novel The Leftovers and co-developer Damon Lindelof's HBO series based upon it does not bother to ask how or why the rapture-esque event occurs but envisions how it would affect those who remain.

Infertility (Children Of Men)

One of the best movies of the 2000s, director Alfonso Cuarón's adaptation of P.D. James' novel, Children of Men, takes place in a dystopian future in which all women have mysteriously lost the ability to have children, ensuring the human race has an expiration date. However, when the first woman to become pregnant in years is discovered, Theo Faron (Clive Owen) is tasked with escorting her through a wartorn world and bringing her to safety. 

Extraterrestrial Infiltration (V)

While the antagonists of most alien invasion movies are pretty upfront about their intentions, the cult favorite miniseries V (and its subsequent series continuation, concluding miniseries called V: The Final Battle, and ABC's 2009 remake) flips the script a bit. Lizard-like creatures from another world don human-like disguises to gain mankind's trust, but their plans to deplete Earth's resources and feed on humans are later revealed.

Mutated Strain Of Ebola (28 Days Later)

What makes 28 Days Later one of the most realistic zombie movies is that the infected are not the living dead, but are alive and not doing very well at all. In director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland's 2003 thriller, a strain of Ebola evolves into a highly contagious virus that instantly turns people into mindless beings of insatiable fury, leading to a mostly desolate London. 

Technological Breakdown (Twisted Metal)

As the 1990s were coming to a close, people feared that once we entered the year 2000, all technology would fail, which is similar to the cyber attack that created the dystopian society in Twisted Metal. Peacock's series adaptation of the video game franchise stars Anthony Mackie as a delivery man traveling through the dangerous lands that exist outside of the walled-off fortresses where the last of the world's major cities stand.

Darkseekers (I Am Legend)

One of Will Smith's best movies is 2007's I Am Legend, in which he plays Robert Neville, who believes he is the last human being alive, due to a virus that he helped create in an attempt to cure cancer. Instead, it turned those infected into nocturnal, zombie-like creatures referred to as "Darkseekers" that fed on the immune survivors, leading to the lonely Earth the doctor must endure on his own.

Alien Invasion (Falling Skies)

From producer Steven Spielberg, Falling Skies depicts the aftermath of extra-terrestrials coming to Earth and destroying all major cities, with the sole intention of extracting an Earthly resource that can power their technology. Noah Wyle leads the series, which ran for five seasons on TNT, as a former history professor who becomes a leading figure of mankind's resistance.

Evil Robot (9)

Director Shane Acker's Tim Burton-produced, feature-length adaptation of his animated short 9, which came out in 2009, begins after humanity is no more and the only living beings left are a group of nine sentient rag dolls. They were created by a scientist who was also forced by a fascist leader to build the robotic device that would end mankind known as B.R.A.I.N.

Vampires (The Strain)

In most vampire lore, the creatures typically keep to themselves, waiting until nightfall to feed on, maybe, one or two victims at a time. However, Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse's FX TV show The Strain — also based on their series of novels — sees the bloodsuckers attempt world domination, leaving a small batch of unbitten survivors to hopefully bring light back into the world.

Dragons (Reign Of Fire)

We often associate dragons with stories set in a fantasy world and at a time way before modern technology existed. However, Reign of Fire, starring Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale, imagines a near future in which most of humanity has been wiped out by the large, winged, fire-breathing beasts.

Global Loss Of Electricity (Revolution)

Creator Eric Kripke's NBC series Revolution takes place years after a worldwide blackout leaves humanity in a state of violent disarray. It would later be revealed that a highly advanced computer virus is what caused electricity to become extinct.

A Combination Of Things (This Is The End)

The point of the 2013 apocalyptic comedy This Is The End is really just to see celebrities like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Emma Watson poking fun at themselves. So, Rogen and co-writer and co-director Evan Goldberg do not harm the story one bit by throwing various doomsday scenarios at you, such as the Rapture, earthquakes, a sinkhole, and giant demons.

Virus Carried Through Precipitation (The Rain)

One of the best horror TV shows on Netflix is a Danish import called The Rain, in which the eponymous, common weather pattern becomes humanity's worst fear. The reason being: that anyone who is touched by rainfall immediately contracts a disease that proves deadly for most, but causes bizarre effects for others.

Zombie Outbreak Via Mad Cow Disease (Zombieland)

Most of the best zombie movies do not even bother to explain how the dead rise from their graves and pass on an appetite for human flesh through bites. Leave it to a horror comedy movie like 2009's Zombieland to come up with a source of the carnage, which Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) reveals in his overhead narration to be a mutated strain of Mad Cow Disease.

Global Animal Attacks (Zoo)

Animals lack ego, ambition, and other qualities that keep humanity at the top of the food chain, but what if they suddenly gain a desire to take the planet back? Authors James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge envisioned this scenario in their 2012 novel, Zoo, which was later adapted into a short-lived CBS series of the same name. 

World War III (Equilibrium)

Writer and director Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium imagines a society in which, in the aftermath of a brutal third World War, human emotion is medically suppressed by law, in addition to all art being banned. Yet, when John Preston (Christian Bale), whose profession involves maintaining order in his dystopian society, accidentally misses a dose, the emotional response leads him to join a resistance against his totalitarian state.

Overpopulation And High Pollution (Terra Nova)

With the world's population rising rapidly and the environment suffering as a result, an ordinary family searches for a new place to call home. They find what they need by traveling back to prehistoric times and joining Terra Nova, which is the eponymous colony from Fox's short-lived sci-fi series.

Vanishing Technology And Government (The Postman) 

If you missed the opening caption that indicates The Postman takes place 16 years in the future, you might be quick to assume this dystopian sci-fi flick is just another Kevin Costner-led Western. While the initial cause of the apocalypse in the 1997 thriller is never made clear, its lingering aftermath involves the complete erasure of modern technology, leaving people to travel by horse, for instance, and a rise in neo-feudalism.

Deadly Exposure To Sunlight (Into The Night)

In Netflix's Belgian sci-fi series Into the Night, the radiation from the Sun becomes too intense for humanity to withstand, causing anyone exposed to its light to drop dead where they stood. This event forces a group of airline passengers to fly wherever the sun has not risen for as long as they can.

Nuclear Holocaust (The Book Of Eli)

The desolate world from 2010's The Book of Eli was brought on by a nuclear disaster that caused a wide depletion of most natural resources... and religion, too. Denzel Washington stars in the title role of a drifter on a mission to bring the last Bible in existence to the right people, if he can survive the treacherous dystopian landscape.

Monsterization (Sweet Home)

Netflix's live-action adaptation of the webtoon Sweet Home takes place in a version of South Korea eradicated by a virus that turns humans into bizarre creatures in a process referred to as "monsterization." The series' hero, Cha Hyun-su (Song Kang), becomes infected by this disease in Season 1, but is one of the few to maintain human characteristics amid his transformation.

Have you ever watched a movie and seen a fictional movie within it that you’d like to watch? I know I have. Sometimes the whole movie is about another movie, and sometimes it’s a brief mention or even just a poster in the background. Here’s my list of the movies within movies that I want to watch one day. 

Tropic Thunder (Tropic Thunder)

I remember the first time I saw the trailer for Tropic Thunder and said to my friend, “Oh, it’s been a while since there was a good Vietnam movie.” Of course, it’s not actually a Vietnam War movie, but they are filming one that I still want to see to this day. All great Vietnam movies have trials and tribulations during production, and this one certainly did too! 

Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red (This Is The End)

This Is The End is one of the most ridiculous movies ever conceived (in a good way), so it makes sense that I would left wanting more. More James Franco and Seth Rogan to be exact and what better way than to follow up the apocalypse with another the creation of a potential Pineapple Express franchise, starting with Pineapple Express 2: Blood Red? Save me from the end of the world, I need to see this movie! 

Habeas Corpus (The Player)

Throughout Robert Altman’s The Player, different stars making cameos make a number of movie pitches at the fictional movie studio. Most of them include the recurring joke that the movie should star Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis. Sure enough, right at the end of the movie, the fictional movie Habeas Corpus is filmed and you guessed it, Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis are the stars. Based on the lone scene show, of Willis rescuing Roberts from the gas chamber, I have to see the rest! I’d like to see the original ending too. 

Napoleon (Get Shorty)

Get Shorty is a movie filled with hilarious ideas for movies, but given the 2023 release of Ridley Scott’s Napolean, it had me yearning to see the version of Napolean starring Danny DeVito’s character, Martin Weir. DeVito hasn’t played a lot of serious roles, so seeing him, as the serious actor Martin Weir, playing a dramatic part would just be fantastic.

The 14 Fists of McCluskey (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood)

Like a lot of movies about Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood features a few fictional movies, including “The 14 Fists of McCluskey” with Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt-double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). There are a bunch of Easter Eggs packed into this one, including a reference back to Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and a clip from a real movie called Hell River from 1974 used as the clip in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Maybe Robert Rodriguez could direct it. 

Coming Home In A Body Bag (True Romance)

Christian Slater’s character, Clarence, in True Romance, is a huge movie fan and I trust his taste in film. His gushing praise of Coming Home In A Body Bag is all I need to hear to want to see it in real life. I love a good ‘Nam movie, and this seems like it could be one of the best. I’m unsure about the potential sequel, however, though it doesn’t seem like it’ll ever make it through production, given the events of the real movie it exists within. 

Bluntman and Chronic (Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back)

In this day and age of superhero movies, what the world needs is a Bluntman and Chronic movie, right? While “Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season” looks pretty hilarious in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, it’s really all about Bluntman and Chronic when you are talking about fake movies in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse. This is one that maybe could actually be real one day, right? I’ll keep believing. 

Angels With Filthy Souls (Home Alone)

In Home Alone, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) uses a clip to scare off the Wet Bandits from a movie called “Angels with Filthy Souls” and as a fan of old gangster flicks, it looks right up my alley. It was decades before I even learned this wasn’t a real movie! I sure wish it was. 

Machete (Grindhouse)

Talking about getting meta with things, Grindhouse is part of a double feature, and while it’s a real movie, it’s sort of presented as a fake one, and within it is another fake trailer for, “Machete,” among a couple of other films. All the films were eventually turned into real movies, but it’s the ones in the trailers I want to see. 

Home for Purim (For Your Consideration)

The Christopher Guest-directed movies have some of the best quotes in movie history and while For Your Consideration doesn’t quite reach the heights of Best in Show and Waiting For Guffman, it’s still great. The idea of a movie about the Jewish holiday of Purim is just perfect for the movie within the movie. In the end, predictably, the movie’s plot is changed to Thanksgiving, but the original idea sounds way more interesting. 

Hyde (Entourage)

The HBO show Entourage had countless fictional movies within the show about Hollywood stars. In the movie, made after the show concluded, included “Hyde” starring Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), who also directed the fake movie. In the real movie, the fake one is a huge hit, and even Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon) wins a Golden Globe for his performance! 

Somethin’s Cookin’ (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

The opening scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit sets up the character of Roger Rabbit perfectly. The struggling toon star is a disaster while trying to film a movie called “Somethin’s Cookin’.” He just can’t get it right and apparently, he had a refrigerator dropped on his head 23 times. Who wouldn’t want to see how it finally turns out? Remember, stars, not birdies! 

The Three Amigos (Three Amigos)

The premise of Three Amigos is pretty classic. A town confuses three B-movie stars (Chevy Chase, Martin Short, and Steve Martin) for actual heroes and hires them to protect their town. It’s all based on a movie the town sees. That’s enough to sell the movie to me. A movie so good they are hired for real? Sold! 

Hail, Caesar! A Tale Of The Christ (Hail, Caesar!)

The Coen Brothers have used the “Capitol Pictures” name in a few of their movies, including Hail, Caesar!, starring George Clooney as a dopey film star in the 1950s. Capitol Pictures is the production company making “Hail, Caesar! A Tale of the Christ” which, judging by the title, sounds like a completely insane premise, especially since Julius Caesar died 44 years before the birth of Christ. I’m in! 

History of the World Part II (History Of The World Part I)

This one is something that we almost actually got to see. Mel Brooks’ classic History of the World Part I ended with a fake trailer for “History of the World Part II.” More than 40 years later, in 2023, Brooks produced History of the World Part II as a TV show for Hulu. The caveat is that the show didn’t include the promised bits the fake trailer included, so we’re still not getting the movie he promised! The show is great, but who doesn’t want to see the three completely inappropriate skits in the original trailer? I do.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day Starring Sylvester Stallone (Last Action Hero)

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Last Action Hero has a great poster for Terminator 2: Judgment Day. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wait, that is a real movie,” you’re not wrong but in Last Action Hero the film stars Sylvester Stallone! As much as I love the actual movie, seeing Stallone as the Terminator would be amazing! 

Coming Up Daisy (Burn After Reading)

The late Cormac McCarthy is one of my favorite writers and his books have been turned into some great movies. The absurd idea that the noir author would write a “chick lit” book that’s being turned into a movie is one of the best jokes in the Coen Brothers’ Burn After Reading and I just have to see it.

Argo (Argo)

“Argo” was the name created by the CIA for the fake movie they used the supposed production of to extract hostages from the US Embassy in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution. In the actual movie, also called Argo, the fictional film is described as a sci-fi flick akin to Star Wars. I’m a big believer that the world needs more great sci-fi so this feels like a missed opportunity for a real movie. 

The Night the Reindeer Died (Scrooged)

Bill Murray’s Scrooged has a lot of over-the-top insanity when it comes to the movies and TV produced by Murray’s character Frank Cross on the TV network he runs. One of those is shown in a commercial on the station that opens the movie, “The Night the Reindeer Died.” Starring Lee Majors as a James Bond-type rescuing Santa at the North Pole. I’m seriously all in on this. It’s too bad Lee Majors can’t be the next James Bond. 

Deception (The Holiday)

Lindsay Lohan and James Franco in an action-adventure hit? Sign me up! All we get to see of this fake movie called "Deception" is a trailer in The Holiday, but Cameron Diaz and her team (including John Krasinski)  really sell it! 

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote)

Former Monty Python member Terry Gilliam is one of my favorite directors and while his movies aren’t for everyone, I love them all. Especially The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, which infamously took almost three decades to complete. Adam Driver stars as a commercial director who is reminded of the first film he directed, also called “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” which leads his character down memory road and on his own quixotic quest. If it’s that good, I’d love to see it, too.

See You Next Wednesday (An American Werewolf In London)

“See You Next Wednesday” is often used by director John Landis in his movies when he needs the name of a fictional film and it has become an Easter Egg for fans of the director. An American Werewolf in London is one example of the movie title being used as an adult film. The name is even seen on a movie poster at the movie theater where Michael Jackson watches the “Thriller” video. 

Jaws 19 (Back To The Future Part II)

Back in the ‘80s, it seemed like the Jaws franchise was going to go forever and get more and more ridiculous as it went. It was such a trope that it found its way into Back to the Future II when Marty (Michael J. Fox) sees a hologram for “Jaws 19.” Of course, now that Back to the Future’s future is in our past we know that the shark franchise didn’t keep making movies, but I sure wish it still did. 

Lightyear (Toy Story)

In 1995’s Toy Story, audiences were introduced to the toy Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen). Buzz was an astronaut from a blockbuster movie that had been turned into one of Andy’s favorite action figures. Of course, this is an example of a movie we finally did get to see when Pixar released Lightyear in 2022, but it was a long wait. 

Action Doctor (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)

In Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Lucas Lee (Chris Evans) is a B-movie star and one of Ramona’s exes that Scott (Michael Cera) has to defeat to win her heart. Scott is a fan of Lee’s and in one scene lays out a number of his movies on DVD, including one called “Action Doctor” which sounds so ridiculous I just have to see it. 

The Old Mill (State And Main)

State and Main is an absurd and hilarious take on the ridiculousness of the movie business. It is about the troubled production of a movie called “The Old Mill” in a town that doesn’t, in fact, have an old mill. We never get to see how the movie turns out and I still want to. 

Stab (Scream Franchise)

In the Scream franchise, “Stab” is the meta-tastic film-within-a-film parody of slasher films in a movie meant to be pretty much the same thing. We’ve heard a lot of the movie, but now we need to see the whole thing! 

Sawdust and Mildew (Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult)

It’s fair to say that Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult is the least funny of the Naked Gun franchise, and mostly forgettable in every way. It actually makes the joke about the bomb at the Academy Awards funnier though, as the producers of “Sawdust and Mildew” stand up. It must have been a box office bomb. Still, I try to see as many of the nominated movies as I can. 

The Dueling Cavalier (Singin' In The Rain)

There are a couple of fake movies in Singin’ In The Rain but the one I want to see is “The Dueling Cavalier.” The movie is so bad that it turns into a Rocky Horror-like showing in the theater with the crowd yelling at the screen and acknowledging how bad it is, making it a must-see in my book. 

Salome (Sunset Boulevard)

The biblical story of Salome has never received a modern telling on the silver screen, but it almost did in Billy Wilder’s legendary Sunset Boulevard. The script in the movie was written by Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), but writer Joe Gillis (William Holden) is working to make it, you know, good. I trust that he could have! 

True Fear (One Cut Of The Dead)

One Cut of the Dead is one of the best zombie movies ever made, and in it, the characters are working to make their own zombie movie, eventually attempting to make the movie with the “real” zombies that are suddenly appearing. A movie about zombies in a zombie movie? I’m all in. 

Logjammin’ (The Big Lebowski)

Okay, so this is probably not a movie I’d want to see in the theater, as it’s of a very adult variety. But let’s be real, it actually looks pretty hilarious as Karl Hungus stops by to “fixin da cable.” while Bunny La Joya’s friend takes a shower. 

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

Bob Barker - Happy Gilmore

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

Neil Patrick Harris - Harold And Kumar Go To White Castle

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

Bill Murray - Zombieland

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

Channing Tatum - This Is The End

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

Luke Hemsworth - Thor: Ragnarok

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

David Bowie - Zoolander

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

Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis - The Player

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

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

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

Jimmy Buffett - Jurassic World

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

Jerry O'Connell - Can’t Hardly Wait

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

Matt Damon - Eurotrip

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

Topher Grace - Ocean’s Eleven

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

Keanu Reeves - Always Be My Maybe

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

Johnny Depp - 21 Jump Street

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

Brad Pitt - Deadpool 2

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

Hugh Jackman - X-Men: First Class

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

Daniel Craig - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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

Kevin Bacon - Planes, Trains And Automobiles

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

Stan Lee - Mallrats

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

Will Ferrell - Wedding Crashers

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

Bruce Springsteen - High Fidelity

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

Martin Sheen - Hot Shots! Part Deux

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

Ben Stiller - Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

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

Stephen King - It Chapter 2

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

Madonna - Die Another Day

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

Micheal Jackson - Men In Black II

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

Elon Musk - Iron Man 2

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

Quentin Tarantino - Sleep With Me

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

Dan Aykroyd - Casper

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

David Letterman - Cabin Boy

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

Mike Tyson - The Hangover

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

Sean Connery - Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

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

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

Another month has arrived where Netflix subscribers are invited to take a look at what’s new and exciting in the platform’s library of digital entertainment. September 2022 is another impressive month, with a wide swath of everything from classics like Clueless to new original movies like Blonde taking a bow. Plus, hotly anticipated series like Cobra Kai are returning to make fans smile once again. 

If you want to take another look at Netflix’s August 2022 new releases, you can head to that listing at your earliest convenience. Otherwise, it’s time to take a couple of steps into the future and see what lies on the road ahead. This is the September 2022 lineup of Netflix’s new releases! 

New On Netflix The Week Of September 1: Clueless, Resident Evil, And More

Where else could you find a zombie apocalypse and a high school retelling of a Jane Austen novel? Kicking off September in high fashion is the Alicia Silverstone classic Clueless, which took the story of Emma and gave it a big '90s makeover. Also, whether or not you're a fan of Netflix's well-played Resident Evil series, you'll probably be delighted to know that the first three Milla Jovovich films are going to be available in the month to come. 

Fenced In - NETFLIX FILM - 9/1/22
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure STONE OCEAN Episodes 13-24 - NETFLIX ANIME - 9/1/22
Liss Pereira: Adulting - NETFLIX COMEDY - 9/1/22
Love in the Villa - NETFLIX FILM - 9/1/22
Off the Hook - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/1/22
Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles: Season 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/1/22
A Cinderella Story - 9/1/22
A Clockwork Orange - 9/1/22
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy - 9/1/22
A Knight's Tale - 9/1/22
A Little Princess - 9/1/22
American Beauty - 9/1/22
Austin Powers in Goldmember - 9/1/22
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - 9/1/22
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - 9/1/22
Barbie Mermaid Power - 9/1/22
The Bridges of Madison County - 9/1/22
Clueless - 9/1/22
Despicable Me - 9/1/22
Despicable Me 2 - 9/1/22
Dolphin Tale 2 - 9/1/22
Friday After Next - 9/1/22
He's Just Not That Into You - 9/1/22
I Survived a Crime: Season 1 - 9/1/22
If Beale Street Could Talk - 9/1/22
The Italian Job - 9/1/22
John Q - 9/1/22
Just Friends - 9/1/22
Little Nicky - 9/1/22
Morphle Halloween Candy Magic Pet - 9/1/22
Next Friday - 9/1/22
The Notebook - 9/1/22
Resident Evil - 9/1/22
Resident Evil: Apocalypse - 9/1/22
Resident Evil: Retribution - 9/1/22
Road House - 9/1/22
Save the Last Dance - 9/1/22
Scarface - 9/1/22
Snow White & the Huntsman - 9/1/22
Story Time Book: Read-Along: S1 - 9/1/22
This Is 40 - 9/1/22
Buy My House - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/2/22
Dated and Related - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/2/22
Devil in Ohio - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/2/22
Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/2/22
Fakes - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/2/22
The Festival of Troubadours - NETFLIX FILM - 9/2/22
Ivy + Bean - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/2/22
Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/2/22
Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/2/22
You’re Nothing Special - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/2/22
Little Women - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/3/22

New On Netflix The Week Of September 4: Cobra Kai Season 5, Chef’s Table: Pizza, And More

Season 5 of Cobra Kai picks right up where Season 4's ending left off, with massive betrayals still looming fresh in the air. That's going to mix in with the smell of some delicious new additions, thanks to programs like Chef's Table: Pizza joining the offerings to Netflix subscribers.  

Call the Midwife: Series 11 - 9/5/22
Cocomelon: Season 6 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/5/22
Once Upon a Small Town - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/5/22
Vampire Academy - 9/5/22
Bee and PuppyCat - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/6/22
Get Smart With Money - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/6/22
Rodrigo Marques: King of Uncouth - NETFLIX COMEDY - 9/6/22
Sheng Wang: Sweet and Juicy - NETFLIX COMEDY - 9/6/22
Untold: The Race of the Century - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/6/22
Chef's Table: Pizza - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/7/22
Indian Predator: The Diary of a Serial Killer - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/7/22
Entrapped - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/8/22
Diorama - NETFLIX FILM - 9/8/22
Cobra Kai: Season 5 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/9/22
End of the Road - NETFLIX FILM - 9/9/22
Merlí. Sapere Aude: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/9/22
No Limit - NETFLIX FILM - 9/9/22
Narco-Saints - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/9/22

New On Netflix The Week Of September 11: Love Is Blind: After The Altar Season 2, This Is The End, And More

Prepare to look deeper into what happened after happily ever after, as Love is Blind: After the Altar returns for another season of seeing what this current batch of newlyweds are up to. Which may or may not be a good time to mention that if you're feeling a little more apocalyptic, This is the End is also going to be coming online this week, 

Ada Twist, Scientist: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/12/22
Colette - 9/13/22
Jo Koy: Live from the Los Angeles Forum - NETFLIX COMEDY - 9/13/22
In the Dark: Season 4 - 9/13/22
Broad Peak - NETFLIX FILM - 9/14/22
The Catholic School - NETFLIX FILM - 9/14/22
El Rey, Vicente Fernández - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/14/22
Heartbreak High - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/14/22
The Lørenskog Disappearance - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/14/22
Sins of Our Mother - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/14/22
Dogs in Space: Season 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/15/22
Intervention: Season 21 - 9/15/22
Terim - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/15/22
The Brave Ones - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/16/22
Do Revenge - NETFLIX FILM - 9/16/22
Drifting Home - NETFLIX ANIME - 9/16/22
Fate: The Winx Saga: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/16/22
Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/16/22
I Used to Be Famous - NETFLIX FILM - 9/16/22
Jogi - NETFLIX FILM - 9/16/22
Love Is Blind: After the Altar: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/16/22
Mirror, Mirror - NETFLIX FILM - 9/16/22
Santo - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/16/22
Skandal! Bringing Down Wirecard - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/16/22
This Is the End - 9/16/22

New On Netflix The Week Of September 18: Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Alchemy, Patton Oswalt: We All Scream, And More

Speaking of endings, the story of the Elric brothers is about to close yet again, with Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Alchemy bringing the re-adaptation of that landmark manga to a close. However, a new beginning is also on the table, since Patton Oswalt: We All Scream marks not only the comedian's latest Netflix special, but also his directorial debut. And he didn't have to transfer his soul to a suit of armor to do it, either!

Go Dog Go: Season 3 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/19/22
Patton Oswalt: We All Scream - NETFLIX COMEDY - 9/20/22
Designing Miami - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/21/22
Fortune Seller: A TV Scam - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/21/22
Iron Chef Mexico - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/21/22
The Perfumier - NETFLIX FILM - 9/21/22
The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/21/22
The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/22/22
Karma's World: Season 4 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/22/22
Snabba Cash: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/22/22
Thai Cave Rescue - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/22/22
A Jazzman's Blues - NETFLIX FILM - 9/23/22
ATHENA - NETFLIX FILM - 9/23/22
The Girls at the Back - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/23/22
Jamtara - Sabka Number Ayega: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/23/22
Lou - NETFLIX FILM - 9/23/22
Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/23/22
Dynasty: Season 5 - 9/24/22
Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Alchemy - NETFLIX FILM - 9/24/22

New On Netflix The Week Of September 25: The Munsters, Floor Is Lava Season 3, Blonde, And More

You've heard it talked about all over town, but now Rob Zombie's The Munsters is finally going to premiere in its streaming home on Netflix. This particular week feels like the one were subscribers are going to be talking, as the Ana de Armas-led adaptation of author Joyce Carol Oates' Blonde also shows up in the queue for this frame. The first NC-17 rated Netflix film in history, it's a project that's already inspired quite a few opinions, and will continue to do so once people have actually seen it. 

A Trip to Infinity - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/26/22
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark: Chapter 2 - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/26/22
Elysium - 9/27/22
The Munsters - 9/27/22
Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy - NETFLIX COMEDY - 9/27/22
Blonde - NETFLIX FILM - 9/28/22
Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga - NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY - 9/28/22
Inheritance - 9/28/22
Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 6 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/28/22
Too Hot to Handle: Brazil: Season 2 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/28/22
The Empress - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/29/22
Anikulapo - NETFLIX FILM - 9/30/22
Entergalactic - NETFLIX SPECIAL - 9/30/22
Floor is Lava: Season 3 - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/30/22
Human Playground - NETFLIX SERIES - 9/30/22
Phantom Pups - NETFLIX FAMILY - 9/30/22
Rainbow - NETFLIX FILM - 9/30/22
What We Leave Behind - 9/30/22

New On Netflix September 2022 TBD

Here's a look at the remaining titles coming to Netflix in September 2022 that haven't secured release dates just yet. 

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners - NETFLIX ANIME
The Great British Baking Show: Collection 10 - NETFLIX SERIES
Plan A Plan B - NETFLIX FILM
Who Likes My Follower? - NETFLIX SERIES

The wealth of fresh faces and old favorites on Netflix is something to marvel at in September 2022. We were only able to highlight some of the notables coming into the fold, and you'll want to check the schedule again to spot some things we didn't mention like the Austin Powers trilogy. 

Just keep in mind that all titles are subject to change and availability, so if something seems to move out of place, you'll know why. With that note, we'll see you back here this time next month, to pour over what October 2022 is brewing for anyone who's on board with the Netflix library! 

We all love a good cameo by a celebrity appearing as themselves for a brief, but fun, little moment. However, what I have always found more amusing is when a famous person portrays themselves in a more prominent starring role from a movie, or in a TV guest appearance that serves as the main focus of that episode (or episodes), or even as the lead of the whole story. With Nicolas Cage playing himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, we wanted to take a look at our picks for some more of the best performances by athletes, musicians, or actors who played themselves.

Neil Patrick Harris (Harold & Kumar Movies)

Future How I Met Your Mother cast member Neil Patrick Harris was still best known as the star of Doogie Howser M.D. when he stole the show in the 2004 stoner comedy classic Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle as a highly dramatized version of himself. The Emmy nominee would reprise the role in two sequels that more heavily blend the actor’s reality with increasingly absurd fiction, including getting kicked out of Heaven by Jesus in A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas after he was previously gunned down by prostitutes in Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. 

Cate Blanchett (Coffee And Cigarettes)

Every vignette in Coffee and Cigarettes - Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 anthology of short films starring celebrities as themselves - is gold, but Cate Blanchett leads one of the more unique and thought-provoking of the bunch called “Cousins.” The segment is, additionally, one of the most profound testaments of the two-time Oscar winner’s chameleonic talent, as she makes it so easy to forget she is playing both herself and her brunette relative, Shelly, who struggle to relate to each other while catching up in a hotel lobby.

James Van Der Beek (Don’t Trust The B**** In Apartment 23)

In 2012, James Van Der Beek made his big return to TV as a series regular on Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 in a role very close to his heart: James Van Der Beek. The actor brilliantly pokes fun at his post-leading the Dawson’s Creek cast career and predicts his future Dancing with the Stars stint as the famous best friend of Krysten Ritter’s Chloe - the title character of ABC’s short-lived, but much-acclaimed, comedy.

Bill Murray (Zombieland)

Most people would consider Bill Murray’s surprise appearance in Zombieland to be one of the greatest cameos of his career (and there are several incredible examples to choose from). However, with only four other characters in the main cast of the classic 2009 zombie comedy, I think we can justifiably count the Oscar nominee’s iconic, hilariously dead-pan portrayal as his post-apocalyptic self as a starring role despite lasting mere minutes. 

Keanu Reeves (Always Be My Maybe)

Another example of a relatively brief appearance that still earns the right to be called a starring role occurs in 2019’s Always Be My Maybe when Marcus (Randall Park) is shocked to learn that his childhood friend (and crush), Sasha (Ali Wong) is dating none other than Keanu Reeves. The John Wick star pulls no punches in his partially improvised portrayal of a wonderfully absurd version of himself in the Netflix original rom-com, in which, during a restaurant double-date, he shows up wearing glasses with no lenses and asks the waiter for a dish that plays with “the concept of time.”

Heather Langenkamp (New Nightmare)

After playing Nancy Kerrigan in two Nightmare on Elm Street movies made her one of the top Scream Queens of the 1980s, Heather Langenkamp would give, arguably, her best performance in the franchise when she returned - not as Nancy, but as herself - in 1994’s New Nightmare. The cleverly meta thriller, in which the actress is taunted by a demon assuming the appearance of Freddy Krueger, also stars fellow horror icon Robert Englund as this new take on the iconic villain and himself as well as writer and director Wes Craven.

The Beatles (A Hard Day’s Night)

The cinematic phenomenon of famous musicians offering a fictionalized peek into their lives off-stage (such as Nick Cave in 2014’s quasi-documentary 20,000 Days on Earth or Foo Fighters in the horror-comedy Studio 666 more recently) arguably began with The Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr exhibit solid comedic timing and profound athleticism while running from a swarm of screaming fans in 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night - the first of a number of dramatized films the Fab Four made together.

LeBron James (Trainwreck)

Pro basketball star LeBron James has portrayed himself onscreen several times and most recently in 2021’s Space Jam: A New Legacy - a sequel to the hit Michael Jordan/Looney Tunes collaboration from 1996. However, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Small Forward received the most acclaim of his acting career so far for playing himself in Trainwreck - star and writer Amy Schumer’s 2015 rom-com which depicts him and Bill Hader’s “sports doctor to the stars” as best friends.

Stan Lee (Mallrats)

Before his heartbreaking death in 2018, Stan Lee perfected the art of the cameo by appearing in countless Marvel movies. One of his first and most prominent acting gigs (for which he was actually mentioned in the opening credits, too) was as himself in Kevin Smith’s 1995 Clerks follow-up, Mallrats. The comic book icon makes you a “true believer” in his acting ability when he shows up for a couple of scenes to give comic book-obsessed Brody (Jason Lee) some much-needed relationship advice. 

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

It is no secret among die-hard Seinfeld fans that Jason Alexander’s deeply neurotic and troublesome character, George Costanza, was heavily inspired by the personality and life experiences of co-creator Larry David. On his follow-up to Seinfeld - the long-running, HBO original comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm - David has earned several Emmy Award nominations for playing a version of himself who makes George look like a saint, burning bridges with Hollywood heavies and alienating friends and average bystanders at every turn.  

Kate Winslet (Extras)

Star and co-creator Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire Extras is chock full of amazing celebrity guest appearances, but Kate Winslet made a damn good case to be considered the funniest in the Emmy-winning comedy’s history. The British Titanic star is seen playing a nun on the set of a film about the Holocaust (which she admits she agreed to star in purely to win an Oscar, having not yet won for The Reader) before later proving herself to be a master in double entendres when offering fellow extra, Maggie Jacobs (Ashley Jensen), phone sex tips.

John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich)

It is a bit rare for an actor to appear in a movie as him or herself while also playing the title character, but 1999’s Being John Malkovich - from from writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze - is also a rare kind of movie, and in many ways, too. The two-time Oscar nominee is understandably shocked and frightened by the discovery that a Manhattan puppeteer (John Cusack) has been using a magical portal to be able to take a walk in his shoes for 15 minutes at a time in this wildly creative comedy.

Bruce Campbell (My Name Is Bruce)

Another rare example of an actor playing themselves in the titular role of a film is Bruce Campbell in My Name is Bruce, which is also the last film the B-movie icon directed himself. Campbell is hilarious in the 2007 horror-comedy as a boozy, washed-up version of himself who is forced to channel his iconic Evil Dead character, Ash Williams, in order to defeat a demon wreaking havoc on a small town in Oregon.

Oprah Winfrey (30 Rock)

Another example of a memorably, and often awkwardly, hilarious guest appearance on an acclaimed TV comedy is Oprah Winfrey on Season 3 of 30 Rock. Liz Lemon (star and creator Tina Fey) is delighted to find the larger-than-life media mogul seated next to her on an airplane and cannot help but seize the opportunity to received a dose of wisdom, but who could really blame her for that?

Kevin Garnett (Uncut Gems)

As much as I agree that Adam Sandler deserved greater awards attention for his lead performance in the relentless 2019 thriller Uncut Gems, I think we should be more angry at the fact that former NBA player Kevin Garnett received no awards attention at all. I would go so far as to say I’m glad the Safdie Brothers did not get the athlete they originally wrote the part for (the Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire) because Garnett is electrifying as himself (circa 2012), whose interest in a rare opal sets off a series of increasingly dire circumstances for the Sandler as self-destructive jeweler, Howard Ratner.

The This Is The End Cast

The whole point of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 2013 directorial debut This is the End is to watch the entire cast (including Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, and many, many more) as hilariously exaggerated versions of themselves who struggle to endure the Apocalypse and a merciless barrage of gags at their expense. Highlights also include an excruciatingly vain (and demonically possessed) Jonah Hill; a lewd, coke-snorting Michael Cera; an axe-wielding Emma Watson; and Channing Tatum employed by a cannibalistic Danny McBride as his sex slave.

You've got to love seeing a famous person let loose and introduce a different, completely fictional side of themselves to the world on screen. I cannot wait to see more examples of actors playing themselves in the future.

If you are reading this, chances are you have watched Silent Night already, and you’re looking for more movies like it. At first, you would think that Camille Griffin’s Christmas black comedy about a family celebrating one final holiday before the end of the world would be in a category of its own, but there are movies out there that share a few similarities. Below is quick yet comprehensive list of movies from genres ranging from dystopian thrillers to end-of-the-world movies, and much much more. Let’s bring in the holiday cheer with an eclectic bunch…

Love Actually (2003)

Written and directed by Richard Curtis, the 2003 Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually follows a dozen or so characters seeking love and new beginnings around the holidays. With a who’s who of British acting talent from around the turn of the 21st Century, this beloved comedy is as entertaining as it is maddening at times.

Why it’s worth checking out: Okay, you are probably trying to figure out what Silent Night and Love Actually have in common besides both featuring Keira Knightley. But, there a few things both movies have, like the way they tackle the United Kingdom’s love of all things Christmas and those group suicides in the final act (just kidding about that part). All joking aside, Camille Griffin has gone on the record to say her pitch reference was Love Actually meets Melancholia.

Rent/Buy Love Actually on Amazon.

Melancholia (2011)

Lars Von Trier’s 2001 psychological drama, Melancholia, follows a broken family, played by Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Kiefer Sutherland, as they prepare for a planet to crash into Earth, a collision that will wipe out all life. The movie also touches on depression, marital issues, and existential dread in the face of death.

Why it’s worth checking out: One of the things that works best with Melancholia is the way in which it plays with your expectations. Even though the movie tells you explicitly that the world is coming to an end, you have this thought in your head the whole time that something is going to work out and all will be saved. Like Silent Night,  though, there is no such luxury or escape from death and the movie is about coming to terms with your own, inevitable mortality.

Stream Melancholia on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Melancholia on Amazon.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)

The 2012 end-of-the-world romantic comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World follows Dodge Petersen (Steve Carell) and Penny Lockhart (Keira Knightley), two neighbors who strike up a close-knit friendship over the course of three weeks while they await an asteroid crashing into the planet. As they attempt to make amends with their pasts and leave nothing unsaid, the pair become inseparable. 

Why it’s worth checking out: A lot of the drama in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is similar to that seen in Silent Night. Both movies feature characters who are dying to fulfill their dreams and say things they’ve always wanted to get off their chest. And, while both are crude and have unsavory characters, they delicately touch on how people will do anything to share one last tender moment before their demise.

Stream Seeking a Friend for the End of the World on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World on Amazon.

The Lobster (2015)

Released in 2015, Yorgos Lanthimos’ dystopian romantic black comedy The Lobster is one of the most surreal movies you’ll see, and follows a man named David (Colin Farrell), who has 45 days to fall in love or he’ll be forced to spend the rest of his life as an animal of his choosing. 

Why it’s worth checking out: This truly bizarre movie, even when compared to the rest of Yorgos Lanthimos’ work, is something to behold. Like Silent Night, it finds the perfect combination of comedy and abject horror. There are times throughout both movies where the subject matter would be too much to take if it weren’t for expertly timed hilarious moments.

Stream The Lobster on Showtime.
Rent/Buy The Lobster on Amazon.

Children Of Men (2006)

With society on the brink of chaos following years of infertility caused by a mysterious pandemic, Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a revolutionary-turned-bureaucrat is given the remarkable task of escorting a pregnant woman (the first in nearly 20 years) to safety. If the human race is to survive to see a better tomorrow, this broken man with a dark past must succeed.

Why it’s worth checking out: Although it’s not a Christmas movie and doesn’t focus on an end-of-the-world type situation, Children of Men leaves you with similar feelings as Silent Night, because of mysterious forces, characters with nihilistic views, and the balance between hope and dread. All of this creates one of the best movies on Amazon Prime.

Stream Children of Men on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Children of Men on Amazon.

Contagion (2011)

The world is thrown into chaos in Contagion when a deadly and fast-moving virus spreads across the globe, killing tens of millions. Steven Soderbergh’s sobering pandemic thriller shows just how quickly things can go awry when the natural order of the world is brought to an end.

Why it’s worth checking out: Like Silent Night, this 2011 thriller is absolutely terrifying in its depiction of a world-ending event and just how quickly humanity can crumble. No one is safe in Contagion, and that is shown time and time again with deaths of major characters, played by actors who you would think were invincible.

Stream Contagion on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Contagion on Amazon.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Taika Waititi’s 2019 dramedy Jojo Rabbit follows a young boy who is torn between staying true to the Nazi Germany regime, and his love for his mother (Scarlett Johansson), who is hiding a young Jewish girl in their home. Over the course of the movie, Jojo turns to his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Waititi) for companionship and guidance. 

Why it’s worth checking out: Although he plays an entirely different character in Jojo Rabbit than he does in Silent Night, Roman Griffin Davis is the moral center of each film. Despite barely being a teenager, the young actor carries himself like a seasoned pro at this point, and is in full command of his emotions and the screen throughout both performances.

Rent/Buy Jojo Rabbit on Amazon.

Arrival (2016)

Denis Villeneuve’s breathtaking and thought-provoking sci-fi alien drama, Arrival, follows linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) as she attempt to communicate with extraterrestrials that have landed on Earth. Louise and her team race against time (and the threat of global war) to understand the aliens and to figure out why they came to Earth in the first place.

Why it’s worth checking out: Just like Silent Night, Arrival is one of those movies where it’s better to know little to nothing at all going in, which allows you to be genuinely surprised by its twists and turns. It’s far more dramatic than Camille Griffin’s Christmas black comedy, but the film’s conversations about exploring the danger and beauty of the unknown make it a great companion piece. 

Stream Arrival on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Arrival on Amazon.

Take Shelter (2011)

Jeff Nichols’ 2011 psychological thriller Take Shelter follows Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon), a man who is driven to brink of madness after having nightmares and experiencing hallucinations of the apocalypse. In an attempt to protect his wife (Jessica Chastain) and daughter (Tova Stewart), Curtis builds a storm shelter, which puts his marriage in a tough spot and makes him the laughing stock of town.

Why it’s worth checking out: One of the best Michael Shannon movies, Take Shelter does a tremendous job of showing just how far someone will go to protect the ones they love from suffering. And, like Silent Night, this 2011 thriller has one of those endings that will have you talking about it for hours.

Stream Take Shelter on Starz.
Rent/Buy Take Shelter on Amazon.

Brazil (1985)

In an attempt to escape his boring life as a bureaucrat, Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) drifts off into a daydream world in which he becomes the hero he could never be in reality. But, as he continues to dive deeper and deeper into this fantastical world, Sam begins to lose his grasp on reality and his sanity begins to suffer.

Why it’s worth checking out: Brazil is without a doubt one of the most bizarre movies set during the Christmas season and uses the holiday in such a manner that is rarely seen. If you were a fan of how Silent Night used Christmas as a way to bring everyone together for the apocalyptic ride, then you have to watch Terry Gilliam’s sci-fi cult classic.

Stream Brazil on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Brazil on Amazon.

This Is The End (2013)

And then there is This is the End, the 2013 end-of-the-world comedy written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. This crude, hilarious, and gory as all hell doomsday film follows Jay Barauchel, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Rogen, and other notable stars playing caricatures of themselves attempting to survive the apocalypse at Franco’s mansion. 

Why it’s worth checking out: This is the End plays like Silent Night if you took out all of the niceties, drama, and children, and instead had a group of man-children trying to save themselves from the inevitable. It has laughs and surprises around every corner and somehow manages to have a lot of heart.

Stream This is the End on Starz.
Rent/Buy This is the End on Amazon.

Well, this should be a good place to start if you want more movies like Silent Night. However, in the event you want more ways to kill a few hours, check out our list of the best movies on Netflix, which is full of great options. 

Over two-plus decades, Jonah Hill has become one of Hollywood's most reliable movie stars, particularly as he proves himself comedically and dramatically with a number of celebrated projects. Whether it's his starring roles in Superbad and the 21/22 Jump Street movies, his standout supporting turns in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and This Is the End, or his Oscar-nominated performances in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, Hill has a flair for playing characters broad or mild-mannered, outlandish or intuitive. This is a trend that continues (one hopes) with his latest performance in Don't Look Up. If you love the acclaimed actor and you want to discover his finest films, here are the movies that you should check out! 

Superbad (2007)

Two dorky high school seniors (Michael Cera, Jonah Hill) clumsily partake in an all-night rager in an awkward —and eventful — attempt to be in the in-crowd. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Following a string of notable supporting turns in often less-than-notable '00s comedies, Jonah Hill finally had a chance to prove himself as a leading man with Greg Mottola's warm, endearing Superbad, a coming-of-age high school comedy that was able to be just the right cocktail of raunchy and sweet, thanks to its semi-autobiographical screenplay by Seth Rogen (who co-stars) and Evan Goldberg and its affectionate performances from Hill and Michael Cera. While Cera has the comparatively harder challenge of playing the more refrained, mild-mannered character, Hill is explosively funny, playing up the heightened absurdities of this uncomfortable teenager in broad, outlandish but also appealing and entertaining ways. The results prove to be both exceptionally funny and unexpectedly tender — even gently moving. While it's not the role that would turn Hill into a two-time Oscar-nominee, it's arguably the most pivotal performance of his vibrant and increasingly exceptional career.

Rent/buy Superbad on Amazon.
Buy Superbad on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)

The rise-and-fall of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) through his epically storied and spectacularly heinous history of criminality and corruption. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Working with one of the actor's greatest filmmaking influences, Jonah Hill appeared eager to prove himself with his splashy supporting turn in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, and he proved himself in spades, resulting in his second Oscar nomination. While he must work around wide-eyed glasses, a frizzy head of hair, and some wonky fake teeth, Hill makes the pompous performance entirely his own, as he plays up the heightened buffoonery of his looney Wall Street blowhard while also grounding the character just enough in this reality to make us believe that he would exist in Jordan Belfort's already larger-than-life orbit. The result is a splendid turn, filled with vigor and vibrancy, and it remains one of Hill's most famous and infamous.

Stream The Wolf of Wall Street on Showtime.
Rent/buy The Wolf of Wall Street on Amazon.
Buy The Wolf of Wall Street on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Moneyball (2011)

Moneyball follows Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's (Brad Pitt) bold attempt to re-assemble this struggling baseball team through new-grade computer analytics.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: In the role that would turn the affable up-and-coming comedy star into an A-list Oscar nominee, Jonah Hill gives what remains one of his best performances as Peter Brand, the tech wiz who has a revolutionary new way of predicting the calculated statistical advantages of this flailing baseball team's players, in Bennett Miller's exceptionally great Moneyball. Even a whole decade later, this standout supporting performance remains fresh and proven, as Hill brings his lovable enthusiasm to the role in spades while also capturing the gentle yearning that's evident in this man's eager-hearted desire to prove his wits and his skills. As a result, this award-nominated turn captures Hill's talents at the right place and the right time, resulting in an expansive career that continues to develop in intriguing ways — especially as he pushes himself more. 

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Buy Moneyball on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

This Is The End (2013)

Several self-absorbed celebrities are trapped in James Franco's lavish house when the biblical apocalypse happens to befall the sinful city of Los Angeles. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Shortly after he became an Oscar-nominated actor, Jonah Hill poked fun at his new image by playing a vain, self-important version of himself in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's This Is the End. Reuniting with the writers that propelled his career in Superbad, Hill doesn't get as many opportunities to shine in this ensemble piece, but his warped self-image allows the actor to have a good bit of fun and play up the strangest of his raunchy comedy career origins. In this commendably bleak and uproarious dark comedy, the actor isn't doing his best work, but he's doing some of his funniest.

Stream This Is the End on Starz.
Rent/buy This Is the End on Amazon.
Buy This Is the End on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

The LEGO Movie (2014)

An extraordinary LEGO construction worker (voiced by Chris Pratt) is recruited for an awesome quest when he's believed to be prophesied for epic greatness. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Though it's not remembered for Jonah Hill's lighthearted portrayal of Green Lantern, it's safe to say that the actor has a small hand in making one of the best animated movies of the past decade with 2014's The LEGO Movie, a buoyant and impressively imaginative take on the popular toy line that proved that writers-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were the real deal, in animation and live-action. Reuniting with his 21/22 Jump Street directors, Hill provides a splashy cameo alongside Channing Tatum. Even with his limited involvement, Hill played a part in building one of the most unexpectedly delightful movies — family-orientated or otherwise — of the 2010s. While it's not on the same level, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part is also a good bit of fun.

Rent/buy The LEGO Movie on Amazon.
Buy The LEGO Movie on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

21 Jump Street (2012)

A pair of down-and-out cops (Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum) are recruited for a retro operation to go undercover in order to track down a synthetic drug ring. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Though perhaps not as pivotal to his career as Superbad, The Wolf of Wall Street, or Moneyball, 21 Jump Street and its 2014 sequel, 22 Jump Street, were key to Jonah Hill's stardom, notably as these R-rated studio comedies showed Hill's talents as a screenwriter in addition to being an affable action-comedy star opposite a surprisingly buoyant Channing Tatum. With its fast and, of course, funny mix of action, lewd jokes, meta-humor and pointed commentary on the sad state of Hollywood and the wobbling genre-at-large, 21 Jump Street surpassed the understandably uncertain expectations to become one of the freshest comedies of the year — quite ironically — while also continuing to demonstrate Hill's quick-to-prove-himself versatility as a lead actor.

Stream 21 Jump Street on Peacock.
Rent/buy 21 Jump Street on Amazon.
Buy 21 Jump Street on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

A Hollywood fixer (Josh Brolin) works to keep the studio happy in the 1950s. 

Why It's Worth Streaming If You Love Jonah Hill: Though he's only one part of an expectedly impressive A-list ensemble, Jonah Hill's Joseph Silverman provides a warmly flustered bit of fun in this fussy period farce's proceedings, playing up the part of an overdressed and overworked busy-man who finds himself easily flummoxed in the presence of a very beautiful woman. It's a glorified cameo in the midst of this gorgeously crafted and reverently produced movie's high-strung antics, but it's another reminder of what Hill can do when he works with writers and directors as immensely talented and well-proven as Joel and Ethan Coen. 

Stream Hail, Caesar! on Netflix.
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Buy Hail, Caesar! on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Cyrus (2010)

Upon forming a mid-life relationship with a beautiful single mother, Molly (Marisa Tomei), divorced John (John C. Reilly) must get over the love affair's biggest hurdle yet: meeting Cyrus (Jonah Hill), Molly's dependent adult son. 

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: It would take the following year with 2011's Moneyball for audiences to appreciate Jonah Hill's dramatic talents, but they were already on display in 2010's underseen Cyrus, an affectionately funny, nicely sad character dramedy that doesn't reach the heights of its star's greatest triumphs, but it's elevated by their affable screen presences. In the lead role, Reilly is given the most flexibility to stretch, but Hill is its biggest success story. In the title role, Hill plays up and leans into the man's oddball tenacities, but never without the recognition of what makes this man grounded in reality, while also being divorced by common society. It's an impressive performance that relies on him being both endearing and off-putting, uncomfortable yet also entertaining. Thankfully, Hill is more than able to find that right balance, and he would continue to impress with similarly nuanced parts. Cyrus isn't his peak, but if you love this talented Oscar nominee, you would be remiss if you didn't see it.

Rent/buy Cyrus on Amazon.
Buy Cyrus on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Following a devastating break-up, Peter (Jason Segel) takes a trip to an exotic resort, only to reconnect with his ex (Kristen Bell) and her cool new boyfriend (Russell Brand).

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Though he's stuck in supporting character mode, Jonah Hill's scene-stealing work is particularly notable in 2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Only a year after the wonderful success of Superbad, this happy-go-lucky performance became an instant favorite — so much so that Hill got a spin-off film alongside Russell Brand with 2010's Get Him to the Greek (though Hill, confusingly, plays a different part). With his childlike enthusiasm and his warm-hearted desire to make the most of an uncomfortable situation, Hill was far from the star of this movie, but his growing star power was already becoming apparent — even with rather minor roles like this scene-stealing turn. 

Stream Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Starz.
Rent/buy Forgetting Sarah Marshall on Amazon.
Buy Forgetting Sarah Marshall on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

A hapless young Viking (voiced by Jay Baruchel) becomes an unlikely friend to a toothless wyvern — at a time when dragons are a grave threat to humanity.

Why It's Worth Watching If You Love Jonah Hill: Similiar to The LEGO Movie, the How to Train Your Dragon movies only see (or, more accurately, hear) Jonah Hill in a minor supporting role. Specifically, he lends his voice to the role of Snotlout Jorgenson, a boastful young man who's eager to strut his stuff as a dragonslayer. Nevertheless, while only a small portion of this franchise's success, he played a part in making one of the most celebrated series of the past decade, particularly by DreamWorks Animation standards, and his comedic chops were well-utilized in this fiery supporting turn. While it's not the role that he'll be remembered for, it's arguable among movie fans that these are some of Hill's very finest movies.

Stream How to Train Your Dragon on IMDbTV.
Rent/buy How To Train Your Dragon on Amazon.
Buy How to Train Your Dragon on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

If you're looking for more good Jonah Hill movies, I'd also recommend Funny People, Knocked Up, Django Unchained, and The Beach Bum. He also gives one of his best performances in War Dogs. Away from acting, Hill became a multi-hyphenate with 2018's mid90s, which the actor wrote, produced, and directed. 

Seth Rogen has been in the business of making movies for a long time and has had a lot of wild encounters while working in the industry of Hollywood. He’s detailed some of these in his new book Yearbook, but also talked out one adventure with Snoop Dogg in particular during a recent appearance on Conan for its final season.

To begin this twisty tale, Seth Rogen recalled that he and a slew of other a-listers made This is the End together about eight years ago. He’s already told a story about Emma Watson and the making of that movie recently, but apparently there was a whole other thing that happened when Rogen invited Snoop Dogg to collaborate on the memorable “Take Yo Panties Off” track for the film. After sharing some pot with Conan O’Brien himself, the actor revealed:

Next, Seth Rogen even repeated a fact that is oft touted about Snoop Dogg: the rapper has a man on staff whose entire job it is to roll joints. However, things apparently took a turn after Rogen had a creative request for the rapper, though the story remains on brand. He noted:

I have so many questions, but unfortunately even the comedian doesn't seem to have the answers. In fact, Seth Rogen also told Conan O’Brien after the ladies left and Snoop had his finished verse there were so many questions still unanswered: Where were the ladies even hanging out before being brought in? What did they do outside of the times Snoop Dogg needed them while writing rap songs?

But don’t take it from me, it’s a lot funnier when a bewildered Seth Rogen shares his experience, though it's worth pointing out the experience did not deter him from hanging out with Snoop Dogg, as they would recap Game of Thrones together years later. You can see the interview clip, complete with Conan O’Brien’s classic take, which involves a bit about the ladies spending time on an air balloon when not needed, below.

There won’t be much more where this came from. While Seth Rogen will likely remain a funny storyteller, Conan O’Brien is wrapping his long tenure as a late night host this week. It’s been a 30-year career for the longtime host, but he's going out on a memorable final week filled with laughs, notable stories, Paul Rudd, and more for O’Brien and his sidekick Andy Richter.

Two years after Emma Watson’s tenure as Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter films ended, the British actress switched things up with an appearance in Seth Rogen’s apocalyptic stoner comedy This Is The End. The 2013 film had Rogen, James Franco and many other famous people playing versions of themselves living in the end of days. Since the movie came out, there have been rumors that Watson left the production early, which Rogen is now clarifying once and for all.

Last week, Seth Rogen addressed rumors of Emma Watson’s early departure from This Is The End by assuring that there were no hard feelings between him and the Harry Potter actress. He claimed that when she returned to set the following day, it was to say goodbye to the production, and she still promoted the film with the rest of the cast. Following his recent words about the situation, Rogen took to Twitter to share a follow-up statement:

As the post explains, Emma Watson did not “storm off the set” of This Is The End during the filming of a scene. Seth Rogen said that the particular scene that she decided not to do had “changed drastically” from what she had initially agreed to. As Rogen remembers it, Watson spoke up about the “uncomfortable position” he believes he placed her in, and he was very happy and impressed she spoke up about it.

Seth Rogen said that he and the Harry Potter star agreed that they would not do the scene together. He felt like he needed to clarify the situation after he believed a narrative had spread regarding Emma Watson being “uncool or professional,” which he called “complete bullshit.” Rogen showed some regret about how he handled the situation at the time, sharing that he wished he had “done more” to prevent Watson’s early exit from the film.

According to the prior rumors, Emma Watson decided to “storm” off set during the filming of the gimp sequence with Danny McBride and Channing Tatum. The report also claimed that at the time, the 22-year-old had a “freak out” moment on set. Rogen’s recent words seem to indicate that it was a dramatization of what actually went down on the This Is The End production.

It’s great to see the actor stand up for the actress, and the quotes he gave GQ Magazine in the midst of his new weed company Houseplant getting off the ground. The story had previously not been addressed, leading some to believe Emma Watson had perhaps been a bit of a diva on the set of This Is The End, and that just doesn’t seem to be true. There’s no beef here between Seth Rogen and Emma Watson.

After the Harry Potter films wrapped, much of the cast we’re looking for ways to expand their horizons on film with projects much different from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. And following her decade run as the booksmart witch Hermoine Granger, Emma Watson jumped to more mature roles in films like Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bling Ring and This Is The End. But while working on the R-rated Seth Rogen comedy, the British actress reportedly quit the film early after refusing to be part of one raunchy sequence, and Rogen recently recalled the situation.

Since 2012, rumors have swirled regarding Emma Watson storming off the This Is The End set due to a scene that involved Channing Tatum wearing a leather thong and playing a gimp to Danny McBride. Seth Rogen has now confirmed the incident but assured there is no ill will between him and the Harry Potter star. In Rogen’s words:

According to the rumors, Emma Watson was well aware what she would be in for on the day she left the This Is The End set early. The actress was 22 at the time when she apparently had a “freak out moment” after Channing Tatum did some breakdancing in the scene. She was also uncomfortable with stars reportedly drinking and smoking weed during filming.

During his recent interview with GQ Magazine, Rogen approached the rumor with empathy for Watson, who apparently returned to set the next day to say her goodbyes. The Harry Potter actress also helped promote the film and made it to the premiere of This Is The End with the entire cast. Rogen continued with:

And to be fair, the This Is The End scene was very raunchy. Chances were Emma Watson had not been in a situation quite like that on a set prior to that point. She may have been overwhelmed with being there on the day or had other personal reasons for leaving. One should also keep in mind that Watson was playing herself in the movie, so that may have made it more difficult for her to disappear into the world of a movie where all of its actors are playing exaggerated versions of themselves. You can check out the NSFW gimp sequence below:

Emma Watson has not signed on a new film since starring as Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women back in 2019. She is reportedly focusing on her relationship with boyfriend Leo Robinton at the moment. Some reports surfaced that she was quitting acting early this year, but her agent has since assured fans that her career is very much alive and kicking.

Remember doing group projects in school? It was my favorite because I could pair up with friends and hang out while we did our work. That’s basically what Seth Rogen, James Franco and more did for 2013’s This is the End, except they got paid millions of dollars and I just got yelled at by my teacher. Fans of the comedy may be wondering if there’s plans for a follow up film and Jay Baruchel recently shared his thoughts on joining a possible sequel.

In a recent interview the How to Train Your Dragon star reminisced on This is the End and entertained the idea of a sequel to the apocalyptic comedy. When asked about returning alongside the rest of the cast, he had this to say:

In his interview with Us Weekly, Baruchel noted that it would be difficult to get the original cast in the same room again, but it would be pretty easy to talk him into a sequel if the scheduling worked out.

This is the End featured an ensemble cast with most characters playing larger-than-life versions of themselves, including major celebrities such as Rhianna, Channing Tatum and even the Backstreet Boys. The inside-joke riddled comedy was helmed by long-time friends Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who teamed up to write and direct.

I, for one, would love to see a sequel to This is the End, but I’m also an absolute sucker for anything the Apatow influenced members of the ‘frat pack’ put out. While a follow-up film, perhaps set in Heaven, is always a possibility, I’m not sure that Seth Rogen would have the time considering the launch of his recent, completely on-brand, business venture.

While the idea of This is the End 2 is a pipe dream at the moment, it would no doubt be cool to see the old gang get back together. A number of the original cast members are currently busy with side projects, including Danny McBride, who has been busy with HBO’s Righteous Gemstones and a surprising involvement in the latest entries to John Carpenter’s Halloween franchise.

Who knows what that creative crew has in store for the next couple of years, I mean anything is possible. Rogen and Franco made a movie about assassinating Kim Jong-Un that threw the entire movie industry into controversy, after all. At least we know that Jay Baruchel is down. Quick, someone get on the phone with Backstreet Boys!

In the past couple decades, Seth Rogen has transformed into one of the most dependably funny filmmakers working in Hollywood today. The smart and consistently funny actor/writer/director has built his brand off of sophomoric comedies and a lot of jokes based on weed and genitalia. That said, it's clear that through his surprisingly eclectic resume, he has continued to push himself as a performer and storyteller. That's allowed his signature brand of comedy to be found in a variety of different genres and allowed himself to find lively, exciting ways to explore his acute worldview in fresh, funny ways.

With the recent release of Good Boys, the latest R-rated comedy produced by the comedian and his working partner, Evan Goldberg, it felt like a good time to look back on Seth Rogen's filmography and celebrate the actor/writer/director's greatest triumphs, while also noting his few scattered misfires. Nobody has a perfect track record, after all. But looking at his resume, it's clear that Seth Rogen has had a hand in some of the most noteworthy and entertaining comedies of the past two decades. Comedy is always subjective, but it's hard to think of many other comedians who go out of their way to make movies that are as enjoyable, heartfelt and hilarious at a consistent clip. But Seth Rogen has continued to prove himself time and time again.

With that in mind, let's take a look at Seth Rogen's best movies, while also taking some time to comment on his, well, less-than-stellar films as well.

The Best Seth Rogen Movies

The Disaster Artist (2017)

In James Franco's surprisingly touching biopic dramedy, based on cult filmmaker Tommy Wiseau and the making of his so-bad-it's-great melodrama disasterpiece, The Room, Franco honored the mysterious filmmaker by taking on both acting and directing duties simultaneously, allowing himself to become the oddball guy as both a performer and filmmaker. Thankfully, however, the movie made by James Franco is notably better than what we got from Tommy Wiseau (if not quite as quotable). One big reason why this film worked where so many other films directed by Franco fell apart is knowing that Rogen played a heavy hand as a producer, both on-screen in the role of real-life script supervisor Sandy Schklair, and behind-the-scenes as well.

This is an emotional and tender, but also often funny and entertaining look at the creative process, and how one's desire to prove themselves and make something big and bold in the art-making process is ultimately more important and meaningful than making something that actually stands up to greatness. The Disaster Artist is a familial effort, allowing Franco to work with his brother, Dave Franco, and his friends, like Seth Rogen and many more. It provides a satirical, yet sympathetic look at what makes the moviemaking process so rewarding — even if the reception isn't exactly what you'd hope it would be.

Neighbors (2014)

A fun and inspired twist on the frat house comedy, Neighbors finally gives us something we didn't often see from those '80s comedies: the perspective of the cranky older neighbors trying to mind their own business without being disturbed by their party-loving lawn-sharers. It's a cheeky reversal that Seth Rogen and director Nicholas Stoller got sufficient mileage from, allowing the perspective of both the recent father (Rogen) and the head of the frat (Zac Efron) to get nearly equal screen-time, allowing neither party (hardy har har) to be either completely antagonistic or totally justified in their stance.

The result is not exactly the best comedy we have gotten from Seth Rogen and his crew, but it's an often enjoyable and consistently amusing R-rated comedy, one that finds the actor both indulging in the juvenile humor that made his brand while also maturing and recognizing that he is getting older, and that he's closer to being a functional adult than the party-loving college students living next door. It's a good transition point for the actor/writer, and it turned into one of his most profitable films to boot. The sequel, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, while solid, didn't earn the same high attendance.

Observe And Report (2009)

One of the more controversial and divisive titles in Seth Rogen's filmography, and among the darker and more disturbing of Rogen's comedies, Jody Hill's sophomore film, Observe and Report, might not be an easy sell — even for some of Rogen's diehard enthusiasts. Yet, if you like your comedy to be a little more on the twisted side of the equation, this unhinged, mean-spirited studio comedy is certainly among the bolder movies Rogen has done. And, in my view, it's one of his strongest and most unflinching performances, proving what the actor could do when he pushes past his likable image.

A film that was inspired by Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver more than anything starring Seth Rogen, prior to its release, Observe and Report had the ugly misfortune of being compared — under rather shallow terms — to Paul Blart: Mall Cop, the Kevin James comedy which came out only a few months before, and it never quite got its due. As I said before, it's one of the few studio dark comedies that is not afraid to really get into some nasty territory, making it an intentionally uncomfortable sit for many views. I don't begrudge anyone who has trouble stomaching some of its character turns. But it's still a stand-out for Seth Rogen, allowing the actor to challenge himself and push himself beyond his usual comfort zone and prove what he can do. It won't win everyone over, but it's one that is definitely worth considering and ultimately one of Seth Rogen's most surprising and underrated titles.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

While The 40-Year-Old Virgin is more of a vehicle for Steve Carrell's budding film career than a full showcase for Seth Rogen's comedy prowess, it was one of the actor's first noteworthy movie appearances. And because he was in quite a few scenes, the rising comedy star arguably stole the show. While certainly the crudest and most foul-mouthed of Carrell's on-screen companions, Seth Rogen's Cal is often showing his rather twisted, yet sweet side —doing what he can to tell his office mate get laid for the first time. Among the most outspokenly sexual members of the bunch, Cal does what he can to make sure Carrell's Andy isn't holding his V-card for long, and his frank and perverted dialogue provides some of the most raunchy and risqué jokes in the movie.

Ultimately, while it's the title that launched Judd Apatow's directorial career and helped Steve Carrell become a marquee name when The Office was starting to become regular viewing for TV viewers around the country, The 40-Year-Old Virgin isn't necessarily celebrated for Seth Rogen's involvement. But his contributions to the laugh department shouldn't be ignored, and his involvement — notably sans shirt — in the "Aquarius" music number towards the very end of the movie alone makes it easy to put this movie on the list of Seth Rogen favorites. He wouldn't be who he is today without it.

Pineapple Express (2008)

Easily among the most celebrated of Seth Rogen's comedies, David Gordon Green's Pineapple Express played a huge part in making the actor a regular at the multiplex. The stoner action-comedy, which was also one of the big movies that helped to crystalize the big screen dynamic between Rogen and his scene-stealing co-star, James Franco, is a light-hearted romp that's not light on laughs, action, drug consumption or violence.

But the R-rated action-comedy also has a big, beating heart, amid the smoking and shooting, for his scrappy low-life characters who become unlikely action superstars in the midst of the movie's fast-moving turn-of-events. That fine mix of raunchiness and sweetness became more consistent than ever in Seth Rogen's resume through this heartfelt, fun-loving comedy, providing Rogen and Franco with another starring vehicle worth cruising at high speeds.

Steve Jobs (2015)

While Danny Boyle's unconventional biopic Steve Jobs is often celebrated for Michael Fassbender's exceptional lead performance in the role of the troubled title genius, one would be remiss to overlook the tremendous supporting work of his co-star Seth Rogen, playing Jobs' disgruntled right wing, Steve Wozniak. It's an exceptional dramatic performance from the typically-comedic actor, once again showcasing Rogen's undervalued acting range.

Given the task of playing one of the more subdued yet pivotal roles in the dramatic film, Seth Rogen provides one of the strongest performances in Steve Jobs, which is no easy task considering the high volume of talent attached to this project. His performance often feels raw and reserved, allowing us to see the frustration and also the acceptance that must come from working with some as egotistical yet undeniably brilliant as Steve Jobs — even if, as Steve Wozniak knows, he is the one who is behind some of the greatest inventions in Apple's history, and even if Steve Jobs will take the credit for his hard work. In the end, then, it's only fitting that Michael Fassbender got most of the praise while Rogen got overlooked, which is why we wish to celebrate it here.

Funny People (2009)

In some respects, Funny People can either be seen as Judd Apatow's misunderstood masterpiece or his most indulgent, overlong movie to date. I'm not quite on either side of the extremes, but I am certainly closer to the former than the latter. Judd Apatow's third film is, once again, a personal and heartfelt examination at lonely, joke-friendly people trying to make it through the tribulations of life as best as they possibly can. With the story focused on a once-respected comedic actor (Adam Sandler) suffering from cancer and potentially months away from his death, however, it's considerably more heavy than the usual light-hearted films we expect from the prominent writer/director/producer. And while it's Sandler's film, Rogen is also quite good.

While Seth Rogen's Ira Wright is a little more mild-mannered and gentle than some of the other Seth Rogen characters we got before then, it's still very much a role from Rogen's enjoyable blend of jokey-but-warm. He is caring and sweet, but he is also believably affable, and it's one of the roles that is best able to channel the everyman charm that has played a big role in the actor's appeal in the comedy scene. Paired well with Adam Sandler giving one of his best performances to date, Funny People provides both actors with a highly respectable and likably sincere look at comedy, living in the entertainment industry and what it means to make people laugh, even when you're crying inside. It lives up to its title, but Funny People is simultaneously a nice comedy and a respectable drama for these typically chuckle-friendly entertainers, and it's a shame that it didn't get a warmer reception upon release.

This Is The End (2013)

Having proven themselves as both writers and producers through a variety of hit-making comedies in the past five-to-seven years, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg finally decided to jump into the director's chairs with the apocalyptic ensemble comedy This Is The End. A horror-comedy with amble room for its talented team of actors to play around with the possibility of being holed up together during the literal apocalypse, This Is The End is both a very fun take on the hangout comedy, one that is given some serious stakes with the world literally ending outside their door, and a nice chance for all the stars to reflect upon their careers — and the highs-and-lows found therein — as they played heightened variations of their celebrity personas.

Benefitted nicely by allowing the talented actors to stay (mostly) restrained to their surroundings, allowing the talented actors to bounce off each other frequently and letting the improvisation comedy come naturally, while never entirely overdoing it in the process, This Is The End was a fine step forward for Seth Rogen as a screenwriter and newly-minted director, as well as another fine showcase of his buddy acting charms working off Jay Baruchel. Even as people are dying left-and-right and dangers lurk outside, there is a softness to the emotional core of the movie, and it was firm proof that Seth Rogen could take his well-proven style of comedy into new genres, expanding himself and his talents in a major way for future projects.

The Night Before (2015)

One of the most underrated movies from Seth Rogen to date, The Night Before was unjustly overlooked upon its release, with its holiday-themed festivities being glazed over in the busy winter holiday movie season. That's a shame, because at its best, The Night Before represents what can be so jolly and bright about a really solid Seth Rogen vehicle. Particularly when it comes to his warm and tidy buddy dynamic with Anthony Mackie and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which makes for a delightful reunion with the actor's solid 50/50 collaborators, including director Jonathan Levine.

A fast-paced, richly-inspired romp that keeps the laughs moving and the warm holiday feelings in mind, The Night Before is a wonderfully well-realized movie about what the importance of the holiday season can be, not merely for what it means to bring people together, but how the holidays are very important reminders of what is lost when we get too caught up in our lives and don't spend time with the people we love. It's a familiar message, but it's one that's told with a bundle of laughs and a lot of heart to boot. If you're looking for a fine holiday classic to add to your collection, I'd make a point to check out The Night Before, just in case you get a little tired of watching A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation later this season.

50/50 (2011)

One of the actor/producer's richest efforts in the dramedy category, 50/50 (much like Funny People, funny enough) tackles one of the toughest topics —cancer —and turns it into a rich, poignant look at life, friendship, humanity and what it means to be alive, even when you are potentially on the verge of death. It's a powerful, gently touching movie, and the irreverent-yet-sympathetic comedic styles of Rogen's well-established brand of comedy prove to be a great combination for this movie, one that is almost effortlessly able to blend laughs and tears into a complete and satisfying package. The result is one tremendously tender triumph, and it's another showcase for how the movies that allow Rogen to stretch himself warmly become his best.

Benefitting nicely from the firm buddy friendship of Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, while also being paired with screenwriter Will Reiser's autobiographical screenplay and commendably nuanced direction from Jonathan Levine, 50/50 takes what could've easily been too sentimental and saccharine, and turns it into a richly affecting look at life and laughter, resulting — in my opinion — in one of the best films from Seth Rogen to date.

Superbad (2007)

Just a couple short months after Seth Rogen became the new leading man in comedy with his heartfelt and immensely charming lead performance in Knocked Up, Rogen proved that his talents extended behind-the-scenes in addition to in front of it with his screenwriting debut (alongside his regular collaborator Evan Goldberg) in Superbad. The R-rated coming-of-age comedy, which is quite easily among the most personal of his projects to date, focuses on the hardships of learning to say goodbye to your best buddy, and recognizing that sometimes life will take you away from the people you love the most, even if the emotions felt between you are still palpable and strong. It became one of the most sincere, winsome bromances of the '00s.

That said, the comedy is still as crude as the day is long. And this comedy, which focuses on a day-in-the-life of these socially-awkward high school teenagers trying to find the night of their lives before they find themselves in college several miles away, is both relatable and bombastic, finding a nice mix of realistic and over-the-top while never going too far in either direction. It's benefitted nicely from the influence of indie director Greg Mottola, who gives the movie its nice blend of heartfelt character beats while staying true to the raunch and silliness you expect from a juvenile comedy in this vein. It remains one of Seth Rogen's finest accomplishments, and it's the film that firmly solidified his status as one of Hollywood's major new comedy makers.

Knocked Up (2007)

When deciding which of Seth Rogen's movies are the best, there are clearly several different options to choose from. The actor has provided an abundance of riches to the comedy world, and it's apparent that he is only continuing to find his stride as an actor, writer, director and producer. But if you must pick the best, it's hard to overlook Knocked Up, the comedy that firmly proved to moviegoers that writer/director Judd Apatow is the real deal and the movie that richly put Seth Rogen into leading man territory. It's easily one of the smartest, most delightful, most human and heartfelt comedies of the 21st century.

Based on what happened between Judd Apatow and his wife, Leslie Mann, when it came to the birth of their first daughter and the formation of their relationship, Knocked Up finds Seth Rogen in an unlikely one night stand with Katherine Heigl's Allison Scott, a woman who is ultimately very much out of his league. And together, when they are thrust into a pregnancy that neither of them anticipated, they begin to form a cuddly and likable bond, one that grows stronger as the audience warms up to their dynamic more and more. It's a romantic comedy that even those who aren't fans of the genre can appreciate immensely, and that's benefitted enormously from the wonderful performance from Seth Rogen, which is filled with life, care and an abundance of sympathy and sincerity, even during the most outlandish comedy beats. It's a highly likable film, and it's arguably still Rogen's best.

The Worst Seth Rogen Movies

Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009)

While Seth Rogen has one of the most distinctive voices in Hollywood today, there haven't been too many movies that have taken advantage of those vocal talents. To be clear, there are several animated movies featuring Seth Rogen, but many of them either have Rogen in a very minor role (Kung Fu Panda, for instance) or they don't find the actor living up to his full potential (like Sausage Party). Alas, Monsters Vs. Aliens is one of the most underwhelming animated movies in recent years, neither allowing its goofy and promising premise to flourish or let Rogen excel in his voice talents.

As the voice of B.O.B., a one-eyed slimeball who can twist and contort himself in a number of ways, Rogen is at least one of the standouts of the film, getting some of the biggest laughs and providing his likably goofy charm to the animated role. Alas, it's ultimately just a middling movie with very little living up to its potential. While it gave Seth Rogen a chance to expand himself into both animation and family-friendly entertainment, it is sadly a dud.

The Green Hornet (2011)

As this worst list would suggest, Seth Rogen tends to strike out more than he succeeds whenever he moves outside his R-rated comfort zone. While the actor/writer likes to experiment with genre and tone in a variety of projects, it's often the ones that land either PG or PG-13 ratings that tend to misfire. It is clear, then, that The Green Hornet was an ambitious, but underwhelming effort for the actor/writer/producer, hoping to expand himself into a blockbuster for his outsized persona, but not cracking the formula right, despite his best efforts. Sony's superhero project wasn't very super after all.

Taking on writing in addition to acting duties for this reimagining of the masked crime fighter, Seth Rogen tried to translate his lighthearted charm into this silly, good-natured take on the material. But it felt half-hearted in a way that most Seth Rogen films, whether good or not, often feel entirely whole-hearted. With a confused blend of tones and comedic stylings, the result was the rare lackluster miscalculation from Seth Rogen that's not so much bad, but entirely mediocre, which in some respects makes it worse. But The Green Hornet's failure was one that taught Rogen and Evan Goldberg a very valuable lesson that they continued to apply later: it's better to make lower budget risks than to try to conform into any big-budget expectations.

The Guilt Trip (2012)

A mother-son road trip dramedy with Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand: what could go wrong? Alas, The Guilt Trip, while almost entirely gentle and good-natured, was a disappointing misfire. Meant to be something in the vein of a James L. Brooks heart-tugger, with a liberal dose of love and laughs, The Guilt Trip isn't too far removed from some of Rogen's better movies. Only, this time, it would be more wholesome than dirty comedy. But The Guilt Trip is overly sentimental and saccharine in a way that most Rogen movies tend to avoid being, resulting in a comedy that's disposable and forgettable in a way that Rogen movies tend not to be, even when they aren't entirely successful. The result is something you don't usually get from a Seth Rogen movie: a boring, bland and ultimately middling effort, with nothing in the way of character of personality to make it stand out or succeed.

While it's nice to have the rare Seth Rogen movie that you can't take your grandma to see and not feel awkward about it, The Guilt Trip is hopelessly underwhelming, lacking anything resembling distinction or visual flair, even though the movie does have a nice heart in the right moments. While both Rogen and Barbara Streisand have a nice on-screen dynamic, which helps to make some of the listless comedy have a bit of a kick, it's not enough to make it something worthwhile, resulting in a disappointing and unsuccessful comedy that does go down smooth, but it leaves very little to reflect upon. And worse of all, it's light in the laughs department, making something that would live out its legacy in Wal-Mart bargain bins, then hopefully forgotten.

There are a few other Seth Rogen movies that didn't get mentioned here. For instance, Drillbit Taylor, which became another PG-13 misfire from screenwriter Seth Rogen, is best left forgotten. Additionally, Paul, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Like Father, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Zack and Miri Make a Porno and The Interview, are likable enough, but they are neither the best nor worst we've seen from Seth Rogen. (Though, that said, there's something to be noted about The Interview almost starting a war, which isn't something you can say about a lot comedies out today — good or bad.)

I also liked Take This Waltz, but it does not quite make its way into the top ten for Seth Rogen. And its not exactly a "Seth Rogen movie," though it is definitely one that I appreciated. I'm also not a fan of The Lion King (2019), but I'm not here to pick fights. And there are a lot of folks here who liked it.

Do you agree or disagree with these selections? Let us know in the comment sections how you feel about this ranking.

Everyone loves a good end-of-the-world movie! The genre goes back, well, to the beginning of storytelling probably and it’s been a part of Hollywood since the beginning too.

Classics like The Day The Earth Stood Still in 1951 and Night Of The Living Dead in 1968 have become firmly entrenched in the zeitgeist of American movie culture. As this list shows, the reasons and results of the end of the world or the impending apocalypse can be as varied as any other trope in Hollywood. In fact, while the films don’t always work, when they do, they often become instant classics.

So, of course we've decided to compile some of these classic movies. Please note: all are pretty different from each other, but have common themes – either mankind causes the end of the world, or another force does, like mother nature or even aliens. The first one on the list is the latter.

War Of The Worlds (1953)

War Of The Worlds, originally a book published in the 19th century by sci-fi legend H. G. Wells, has been brought to life in almost every form of media in the 20th and 21st centuries. There is, of course, the famous radio broadcast by Orson Welles in 1938. There was the Tom Cruise movie in 2005 and there was even a short-lived TV show in the '80s.

Still, the best is the 1953 movie that, even for its age, is still pretty darn scary. If you aren’t familiar, in the flick the world is invaded by aliens that destroy pretty much everything in their wake and earth’s weapons -- including a nuclear bomb! -- do nothing to stop them. As they maraud their way through America, the main characters are chased from location to location before finally being saved by… mother nature.

Does the world actually end? It doesn’t. Eventually the aliens don’t succumb to the fighting will of humans, but to the treachery of biology. They are not immune to Earth’s bacteria.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)

Proving the subject of the end of the world can work in any genre, even rom-coms, there is Seeking A Friend For The End Of World. The movie stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley as neighbors who break up with their respective significant others and end up falling in love with each other as an asteroid rapidly approaches earth.

It doesn’t seem like it should, but somehow, Seeking A Friend For The End Of World works, both as an end-of-the-world movie and as a slightly corny, but still sweet romantic comedy. It’s actually a fairly plausible story, and the encounters that Steve Carell and Keira Knightley’s characters have as they make their trek “home” are also pretty believable, like the orgy in a diner scene. You have to assume that people could easily react like that to the end of the world, right?

Does the world actually end? It does. Or we can assume it does, as the last scene features the two leads lying in bed, lamenting the short time they had together as (we can guess) the world ends when the asteroid strikes it. Yet, we can feel good about it, because these two love birds found each other before the end.

Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worry And Love The Bomb (1964)

Back in the Cold War days, many people were convinced that a man-made atomic apocalypse was going to happen at any moment. This was never truer than it was in the early and mid-sixties. The Soviets had the bomb and they were putting missiles in Cuba. The end was near and Stanley Kubrick was all over it with the farcical and brilliant Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worry And Love The Bomb.

With an all-star cast that included Slim Pickens, George C. Scott, and Peter Sellers playing three different roles, Dr. Strangelove is disturbingly hilarious. It’s as harrowing as any other movie set during the end of the world, with the world on the brink of nuclear destruction and no one seemingly competent enough to stop it (and not wanting to stop it). Peter Sellers' brilliance is on full display, playing three different and messed up characters, including the diabolical Dr. Strangelove and the straight forward and dour President Merkin Muffley.

Does the world end? We can assume it does, yes. The final scene, after Slim Pickens rides his nuke to destruction over the Soviet Union, is a classic movie moment, and the men in the war room know the end is near and have made plans. The movie ends with dozens of mushroom clouds rising around the world, meaning certain destruction.

The Wandering Earth (2019)

Did you know that the third highest grossing movie of 2019 is a movie The Wandering Earth? Only The Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel have made more. It’s a pretty astonishing feat, considered it wasn’t made by Hollywood and it only made about $5 million at the box office in the United States. It made an incredible $690 million in China though, where it was made.

The Wandering Earth is also pretty good as this genre goes, though like many movies set during the end of the world, the plot is completely ridiculous. Set in 2061, the sun is dying and about to explode and mankind, led by the Chinese, of course, come together to build giant engines that will push Earth out of the solar system and safely away from the sun. So, yeah, you need to suspend reality completely and just let the CGI flow over you.

Does the world end? We’re not going to spoil it, but the major drama occurs when earthquakes take out most of the engines pushing the earth as it approaches Jupiter, which the earth must whip around to gain the momentum out of the solar system. Will Earth make it or will it collide with Jupiter? The Wandering Earth is on Netflix, so check it out!

28 Days Later… (2002)

The zombie apocalypse is one of the most popular tropes in end of the world movies. 28 Days Later… is no different, but it does it better than any of the previous zombie movies. Danny Boyle’s classic 28 Days Later... is dark and scary and filled with dread, like any good end-of-the-world movie should be. It has set the standard for all zombie stories since.

Like many others, the end of the world in 28 Days Later… is caused by humans, when eco-terrorists unleash a virus that spreads rapidly through Great Britain, turning victims into zombies while the military tries to instill marshal law.

Does the world end? No, it doesn’t but that doesn’t mean this isn’t on the bleakest movies on the subject. The deep foreboding mood overwhelms viewers and sucks them into the story right from the start. 28 Days Later… is scary and tense and one of the best of the best in the genre.

This Is The End (2013)

This Is The End turns the genre completely on its head by making it all seem hysterically over the top. The cast is made up of a who’s who in Hollywood, all playing themselves, - over-the-top versions of themselves – that are attending a party at James Franco’s house when the rapture occurs. The cast includes Franco, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Kevin Hart, Raul Rudd, Craig Robinson, Rihanna, Jason Segal and many, many more.

The movie is filled with laugh-out-loud moments from the unbelievable cast, all of whom show a willingness to make fun of themselves and everyone else in the movie. Is there anything funnier (or grosser) than Danny McBride’s big moment in the movie? It’ll have you in tears.

Does the world end? Yep, it sure does, but don’t worry, it ends happily with the Backstreet Boys entertaining everyone in heaven.

The Road (2009)

On the complete other end of the spectrum is one of the bleakest movies ever made, based on one of the bleakest books ever written by Cormac McCarthy. The Road follows a man, played by Viggo Mortensen, and his son as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world after an undefined disaster. They face all kinds of threads in the dark, cloud-covered world where everything is basically just a shade of grey.

The movie’s modest budget but first rate cast, including Mortensen, Charlize Theron as his deceased wife, Guy Pearce, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Robert Duvall is a testament to how powerful the material the film was based on is. There is almost no hope throughout the movie, except for a brief moment at the end, and even then, it’s left very ambiguously.

Does the world end? Well, it basically has already ended and there is little evidence to suggest things won’t completely die off in the future. There are still some people still slogging through the bleak life, but it sure doesn’t seem like any of them will last very long. There is the possible hope at the end, but given how bleak the movie is overall, it’s hard to have much faith in that hope.

Children Of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuarón doesn’t direct a lot of movies, but when he does, they are almost always brilliant. His shelf is filled with awards for movies like Gravity, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and Roma. Because of that impressive resume of films, his end of the world movie, Children Of Men, is often overlooked. That is a big mistake.

Set 18 years in the future, Children Of Men stars Clive Owen, who leads a cast that includes Michael Caine, Julianne Moore, Charlie Hunnam, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in a future where it’s been 18 years since an woman has become pregnant due to a pandemic that struck humankind. While there are people hoping to reverse the situation, mankind seems doomed without a way prorogate the future. Kee, played Clare-Hope Ashitey becomes the first woman on earth to become pregnant and it becomes a race to escape the Great Britain and find people that can help her and possibly all of mankind by saving her and her baby.

Does the world end? Unknown. The movie, after a series of scary and forbidding events, does end with hope, so maybe Kee and her baby live and the knowledge learned from studying them saves the world. Of maybe it doesn’t, the film doesn’t give a definitive answer.

Of course, we could go on and on here, there will likely never be a shortage of end of the world films, but these are the cream of the crop as they stand today. What do you think? Let us know in the comments and vote for your favorite below!

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It's been a long time since the star children of Harry Potter played their magical characters, and the actors have done what they can to convince audiences they're more than the heroes of the magical world. Daniel Radcliffe has taken on a series of bizarre roles, Rupert Grint has made the jump to television, and Emma Watson has starred in a bunch of different movies that feature different characters with totally different attributes.

Sure, she may not have portrayed a corpse Swiss army knife, but Emma Watson's movies since Harry Potter have shown there's so much more to her acting ability than what she did as Hermione Granger. For those who may be unaware, or those who recognize this and just need more chances to appreciate that, here are the movies that really drive that point home.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

Emma Watson isn't the main star in The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, but she definitely stands out in her co-starring role in the coming-of-age story. Her portrayal of Sam is a perfect compliment to Logan Lerman's Charlie, who has a lot on his plate he can't reconcile. Sam doesn't always understand the magnitude of that, but it all works out for the two of them in the end.

Of all the Emma Watson movies, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is a great show of her ability to play a teen that is a vast departure from anything Hermione Granger. She's not neurotic, meddlesome, or even the most level-headed character. For those who think Watson doesn't have more to offer the world outside of Harry Potter, this is the movie that will shut most critics up. The movie is definitely different than the book, but still very good.

This Is The End

Emma Watson movies tend to have a serious tone, and one won't be finding a lot of intentional comedy in her works. This Is The End is the exception to this rule, as Watson joins an ensemble cast of actors playing fictitious representations of themselves in an apocalyptic setting. Emma Watson doesn't have as much screen-time as others in the cast, but it's safe to say her scene is one of the movie's more memorable moments.

Part of that is due to the aggression in Emma Watson's This Is The End scene, in which she misunderstands a conversation between the main cast of men. It leads to Watson taking some heavy swings with a fire ax, and uttering a litany of swears one doesn't typically hear the actress say in her movies. It's a nice change of pace, and offers evidence that comedy is something she should pursue more often.

Noah

Darren Aronofsky's Noah is one of the more controversial Emma Watson movies on this list, as the adaptation of the biblical epic was banned in some countries and was considered somewhat polarizing in certain religious circles. For all complaints that were lodged against the movie, it still skews fresh by Rotten Tomatoes' aggregate ranking systems, and is lauded for the performances by its all-star cast that included Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, and Anthony Hopkins in addition to Watson.

Emma Watson plays Ila, who is Noah's daughter-in-law and the wife of his son Shem. She's still in the role of a young adult, but obviously the biblical context makes her more of an adult in many regards. The crowning moment in this Emma Watson movie comes when Ila begs Noah not to sacrifice her children. The raw emotion of Watson and her pleading that they at least die peacefully is a powerful moment, and certainly one of the highlights in the film.

Beauty And The Beast

With The Lion King and Aladdin premiering in 2019, no doubt the year will be a reckoning for Disney's live-action adaptations for animated classics. One of these movies with the largest box office total so far is Emma Watson's Beauty And The Beast, a movie that has some detractors, although there are more critics who are positive on the film than negative.

One thing viewers may notice about Emma Watson movies is that, even when they aren't universally acclaimed, few ever point a finger at her performance. This is the case with Beauty And The Beast, as many enjoyed her portrayal of Belle and instead pointed toward some of the other casting and creative decisions made by the film. For those strictly watching for a great Emma Watson performance, this movie gives us a view into a world where Emma Watson is a princess, thus further diversifying her Hollywood resume.

The Circle

One of the most recent entries on this list is The Circle, an Emma Watson movie that place her character in the world of tech. The Circle explores the increasingly accessibility of technology, and the consequences of using said innovative tech in our everyday lives. The subject matter and insane cast which includes Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan and many others had a real chance to tell a poignant tale about technology, and stun audiences for years to come.

The Circle was viewed as a disappointment from critics, who felt the movie didn't do enough to differentiate itself from other popular tech-based movies and shows of the era, but it still highlights Emma Watson in a totally different role than we've seen her play in the past. Perhaps one day she can tackle another modern-day thriller that gets better reviews.

The Bling Ring

By far one of the most obscure projects in this lineup, The Bling Ring is an Emma Watson movie that film buffs should check out. Watson teamed up with director Sofia Coppola in a movie based on a criminal group the film gets its name from. Watson stars alongside others as part of a group of teens obsessed with fame and yearning for the finer things in life. To achieve this, they attend the parties of celebrities and rob their homes.

The movie didn't exactly stun at the box office, yet it's cool to see Watson play a narcissistic character largely unconcerned with the crimes she's committed or any consequences she may face for them. For those looking for an Emma Watson movie where she portrays a character who is the exact opposite of Hermione Granger, this is it.

Emma Watson fans are encouraged to share their favorite non-Harry Potter roles by the actress, and make a case for why their selection is mandatory viewing. Be sure to stick with CinemaBlend in the meantime for updates on all things related to movies, television, and pop culture.

While most of the characters in Rogen and Goldberg’s This Is The End find a way to get raptured and taken off to heaven, that was not the fate that wound up being orchestrated for James Franco. Instead, a plan to "sacrifice" himself in the third act of the movie goes horribly awry, and he winds up getting eaten by Danny McBride and his team of cannibals. It’s hysterical to see unfold watching the film, but apparently James Franco has carried a bit of a chip on his shoulder about it ever since he did the movie.

Last December – approximately six months after the release of This Is The End - I had the opportunity to travel to the set of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s new film, The Interview, and while sitting down to interview Franco, Rogen and Goldberg it was revealed that the former has not only not forgiven his friends for killing him off, but also constantly mentions it. The subject came up while Franco was discussing the personality of his character, David Skylark, in the new film. Describing his latest on-screen personality as a "suit-wearing dude who is very much about his appearance," the actor said that the way Skylark was scripted was similar to the way he was originally written into This Is The End. He then added that that he got the role in The Interview because Rogen and Goldberg "probably felt guilty" about murdering him in their last movie – which got an instantaneous reaction from the two directors.

"He thinks we made a terrible mistake," Goldberg said.

"He’s never gotten over that," Rogen added, laughing heartily. "He literally brought it up five minutes ago."

Naturally, this is as un-serious a grudge as you’ll ever find in Hollywood. After all, Franco and Rogen came up together in the industry, first co-starring together in the short-lived Freaks and Geeks before appearing alongside each other in big features like Pineapple Express and This Is The End. Franco may be kind of upset that he didn’t wind up going to heaven in Rogen and Golberg’s directorial debut, but don’t expect it to derail years of successful collaboration.

James Franco and Seth Rogen will next be appearing with each other in The Interview, which will be in theaters on December 25th. If that’s just too long a wait for you, I would recommend reading my full set visit report here and then follow that up by going to the second page of this article to check out the movie’s hysterical red band trailer.

There are few things Hollywood movie studios do more than obsess over release dates. Amidst conflict and cooperation with other studios, they are put together years in advance like a giant jigsaw puzzle. In theory, you would think every single movie would scratch and claw to get the easiest competition possible, but sometimes, the best thing a flick can do is find the biggest, most splashy entry on the calendar and position itself as counter-programming.

This past weekend, the counterprogramming to Captain America 2 was the adorable-looking 39-minute IMAX documentary Island Of Lemurs: Madgascar. It made just under two hundred thousand dollars and was unable to crack the Top 10. For thirty-seven theaters, that was a halfway decent performance, but it certainly wasn’t enough to take any real money out of Disney’s wallet. The same cannot be said for every film counterprogrammed against superheroes, however. Some of them, surprisingly, against all odds, crushed at the box office. And some of them, of course, didn’t.

From romantic comedies to family entertainment, let’s take a look back at the films that have squared off against the biggest superhero movies over the past decade or so.

Man of Steel

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This Is The End

When It Happened: June 14-June 16, 2013

The Backstory : The summer is always an extremely busy time for movies, and the middle of June is well within that window. Consequently, there are very few weekends where a moderately budgeted comedy can open without any other films competing for its adult male demographic. So, Seth Rogen and company decided the best call was simply to attack the biggest bully on the block and hope all the good buzz would be enough to get those who prefer their comedy raunchy to the theater.

What Happened:

Why It Happened : Man Of Steel roared into the number one slot with a gigantic take, but This Is The End actually held its own. More importantly, many of the people who went with Superman the first weekend returned to see Rogen and friends that following weekend when it made more than $13 million. Eventually, the flick was able to gross more than $100 million in North America to go along with a further $25 million plus overseas, which is pretty damn good for a movie that occasionally feels like a giant inside joke.

The Amazing Spider-Man

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Savages

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Katy Perry: Part Of Me

When It Happened: July 6-8, 2012

The Backstory: With Brave opening at the end of June and The Dark Knight Rises opening in mid-to-late July, Savages saw an opportunity to syphon a little money away from a new superhero franchise that wasn’t battle-tested. With a premise about marijuana and shared girlfriends, Oliver Stone and company probably thought they would have edginess going for them, and the producers of Katy Perry’s documentary probably thought they would have the teenage girl market cornered.

What Happened:

Why It Happened: The Amazing Spider-Man won the weekend in terms of grosses, but the biggest story was actually how incredibly well Ted held up. After swearing its way to more than $50 million in its first weekend, the film held on for more than $30 million. That, coupled with an almost $20 million hold from Brave, forced all of the other flicks to fight over a pie that wasn’t nearly as juicy as expected. In the end, The Savages couldn’t even break $50 million domestically. Part Of Me made more than half of that, which given their casts, subject matters and budgets, means the former was a disappointment and the latter a raging success.

Green Lantern

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Mr. Popper's Penguins

When It Happened: June 17-June 19, 2011

The Backstory : June, 2011 was a really weird month for movies. No one had any idea how JJ Abrams’ much advertised Super 8 would open on June 10, nor did they have any idea how its principle competition, the second week of X-Men: First Class would do. With Transformers 3, Deathly Hallows Part 2M and Cars 2 all coming up, however, Green Lantern and Mr. Popper’s Penguins both picked the 17th.

What Happened:

Why It Happened : Well, the fact that you haven’t seen a sequel to either of these movies should offer some kind of clue. Mr. Popper was eventually able to return a tidy profit on its initial investment, but Green Lantern barely made back its budget when you include foreign sales, as well. For a superhero movie to be considered a success, it can’t just win is weekend. It needs to absolutely dominate. It needs to suck as many dollars out of the marketplace as possible because it gets to keep a large percentage of those dollars, and a big splashy win can generate momentum and create more big splashy weekends to follow. That obviously didn’t happen here.

Thor

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Jumping the Broom

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Something Borrowed

When It Happened: May 6- May 8, 2011

The Backstory : OMG. Why would two movies want to open against Marvel? Well, at this point, Marvel wasn’t exactly the Marvel we know now. The first two Iron Man flicks had already crushed, but it still wasn’t clear whether Kevin Feige and company would be able to translate that success into a larger brand that would support big, splashy openings. Perhaps more importantly, it still wasn’t clear whether women would want to come out and support an adaptation of a comic book most of them had never read. So, two romantic comedies jumped into the fray, hoping they could grab a corner of the market and do some real business.

What Happened:

Box Office for the Weekend Of May 6 – 8, 2011

WR = Weeks In Release | LW = Position Last Week

1. Thor *

WEEKEND: $66,000,000 | TOTAL: $66,000,000 | WR: 1 | LW: N/A

2. Fast Five

WEEKEND: $32,519,000 | TOTAL: $139,853,000 | WR: 2 | LW: 1

3. Jumping the Broom *

WEEKEND: $13,700,000 | TOTAL: $13,700,000 | WR: 1 | LW: N/A

4. Something Borrowed *

WEEKEND: $13,155,000 | TOTAL: $13,155,000 | WR: 1 | LW: N/A

5. Rio

WEEKEND: $8,200,000 | TOTAL: $114,902,000 | WR: 4 | LW: 2

6. Water for Elephants

WEEKEND: $5,600,000 | TOTAL: $41,614,000 | WR: 3 | LW: 4

7. Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family

WEEKEND: $3,900,000 | TOTAL: $46,806,000 | WR: 3 | LW: 3

8. Prom

WEEKEND: $2,425,000 | TOTAL: $7,800,000 | WR: 2 | LW: 5

9. Soul Surfer

WEEKEND: $2,100,000 | TOTAL: $36,679,000 | WR: 5 | LW: 7

10. Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil

WEEKEND: $1,880,000 | TOTAL: $6,714,000 | WR: 2 | LW: 6

Why It Happened : Buoyed by really good reviews and a surprisingly good trailer, Thor opened really big. Jumping The Broom also over-performed, turning Paula Patton into a rising star and offering studios further evidence that people would show up to support minority-led flicks. Something Borrowed, however, was a bit more of a disappointment. It offered further evidence that John Krasinski might not be as big of a draw as Office fans hoped, and for Kate Hudson, well, it was just more bad news.

Green Hornet

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The Dilemma

When It Happened: January 14-January 16, 2011

The Backstory : Wait, what the hell is the difference between Green Hornet and Green Lantern? How many times did we hear that in late 2010? A lot. Neither one of the two was exactly a huge property, but studios were hoping something could be made of each. Here, Green Lantern, errr no, Green Hornet, was turned over to Seth Rogen in hopes he could craft an interesting and original franchise that appealed to a younger base. The Dilemma, on the other hand, elected for more serious subject matter and banked on the combination of Vince Vaughn and director Howard appealing to older audiences.

What Happened:

Why It Happened : Neither one of these movies generated nearly as much buzz as hoped. The Green Lantern mildly amused fans and was able to go a little north of $200 million before it was done, but I’m not sure anyone in the entire world spent very much time advocating for a sequel. Years from now, it will be remembered as a curious experiment that didn’t totally work. For The Dilemma, the results were a little worse. The film never made back its initial budget, and for the first time, people started really questioning whether Vince Vaughn’s best days were behind him, a theory that has only added more and more evidence as the years have passed.

Iron Man 2

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Babies

When It Happened: May 7-May 9, 2010

The Backstory : Everyone knew Iron Man 2 was going to blow a science-sized, badass hole into the world’s wallet when it opened. Love for the first film was almost universal, and we were all remembering why we fell in love with Robert Downey Jr before he went off the drug rails back in the day. As such, there weren't really a lot of demographics to go after from a counter-programming standpoint, except for the middle-aged women who like to say "awwww" grouping. Enter Babies, the most adorable movie ever released, this side of Island Of Lemurs.

What Happened:

Why It Happened : Apart from Iron Man 2, not a single film was able to make more than $10 million at the box office. Tony Stark completely and utterly dominated all comers, including poor Babies that was almost completely swept away amidst the crazy superhero storm. That being said, the movie held pretty well through subsequent weeks and was able to generate almost $10 million, which was probably a healthy little profit considering how cheap it likely was to make.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

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Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

When It Happened: May 1-May 3, 2009

The Backstory : Holy Jesus! Remember when Matthew McConaughey used to make movies like Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past? This was less than five years ago. He seriously read this script and committed. Now, he wouldn’t take this movie for $25 million. I’m not sure if it’s more amazing how time flies or how many X-Men movies Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has been in. Jesus. Despite some problems with piracy, Fox still felt great about Wolverine opening big here, but Warner Bros was confident they might be able to attract some who weren’t interested in the franchise.

What Happened:

Why It Happened : Jackman took those claws and absolutely laid into the box office en route to almost $400,000,000, but in a bizarre twist of fate, reviews were so mediocre and audience reaction was so blah, Fox decided to turn the franchise over to a completely different team to basically act like this film never happened. As for Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past, it actually did pretty well (+$100,000,000), but I’d like to think it’s aggressive mediocrity did something to open McConaughey’s eyes and decide to actually maximize all of his talent.

The Dark Knight

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Mamma Mia!

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Space Chimps

When It Happened: July 18-July 20, 2008

The Backstory : This is almost shocking in retrospect. Easily the most universally beloved superhero movie of the past few decades opened up against two films with real budgets. Mammia Mia is actually super enjoyable too. It’s crazy to think they didn’t find another weekend, but regardless, I guess the thought process here was women would willingly abandon Heath Ledger’s final movie and Batman rolled into one splashy ball in favor of a musical.

What Happened:

1) The Dark Knight ($158,411,483)

2) Mamma Mia ($27,751,240)

7) Space Chimps ($7,181,374)

Why It Happened : You could search long and hard and I’m not sure how many weekends you could find with 2 debuting films that both made more than $600,000,000 at the world box office. That almost seems like a Jeopardy trivia question to me, but I suppose it proves one universal truth about the box office, one that may be hammered home on May 6, 2016. If two movies are good enough, the average person will go out of their way to see both. They might not double feature it on Friday, but they’ll go the next night or the next weekend.

Spider-Man 3

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Lucky You

When It Happened: May 4-May 6, 2007

The Backstory : Spider-Man was an extremely well-established franchise at this point, and no one really wanted to go near it. Warner Bros, however, had almost no confidence in Lucky You; so, the powers that be decided to quietly dump it here without a ton of advertising support and absent any momentum at all. I guess they thought making it disappear would be better than actually trying and failing.

What Happened:

1) Spider-Man 3 ($151,116,516)

6) Lucky You ($2,710,445)

Why It Happened : Following the release of grittier and dark superhero stories, many opinions on Spider-Man 3 would be revised a little bit, but at the time, many were ready to declare the film the best the genre had ever offered. It took in more than $800,000,000 at the global box office and was a raging success on pretty much every front. Lucky You was a spectacular failure and couldn’t even make back 1/5th of its budget. In fact, I bet a pretty high percentage of people have completely forgotten the film even exists.

Superman Returns

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The Devil Wears Prada

When It Happened: June 30-July 2, 2006

The Backstory : Thanks to the good will built up by The Usual Suspects and his work on the X-Men franchise, most people thought Bryan Singer was the man to introduce Superman to an entirely new generation. In theory, he offered a perfect balance of craftsmanship and mass appeal, but Fox obviously wasn’t so sure. Studio executives didn’t think Singer would be able to corner the female demographic; so, they slotted Devil Wears Prada against it and the second weekend for Adam Sandler’s Click.

What Happened:

1) Superman Returns ($52,535,096)

2) The Devil Wears Prada ($27,537,244)

Why It Happened : Superman Returns got really good reviews, but it just never got up and flew as expected. The numbers weren’t embarrassing or anything, but they weren’t enough to let Singer continue with the franchise. The Devil Wears Prada, on the other hand, over-performed and wound up taking home almost as much money as the superhero offering in global gross. As always, never, ever underestimate Meryl Streep. She’s never been afraid of any role. Why would she be afraid of Superman?

Blade 2

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E.T. 20th Anniversary

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Sorority Boys

When It Happened: March 22-March 24, 2002

The Backstory: The first Blade did extremely well at the box office, but with an R-Rating and extremely violent sensibilities, its sequel wasn’t expected to be a big draw with families. So, producers decided to put E.T. back into theaters, hoping to attract all of the families who had already taken their kids to see Ice Age, released one week prior. God only knows who thought teenage boys would rather go see Sorority Boys than Blade 2, but with a pretty small budget, Buena Vista had plenty of margin for error.

What Happened:

1) Blade II ($32,528,016)

3) E.T. ($14,223,110)

8) Sorority Boys ($4,127,903)

Why It Happened: The Blade franchise is awesome. I really hope Marvel is able to get complete control back from New Line because a re-imagined look at that world could be incredible. Regardless, the Wesley Snipes-led movies always performed at the box office, and round 2 was no exception. It was able to win the weekend here, despite an impressive second week performance from Ice Age. For being a re-release, E.T. also did extremely well, further lining everyone involved’s pockets.

Last year was a pretty fantastic one for movie music. Directors like David O. Russell, Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino and Ben Affleck made not only fantastic films, but also beautifully crafted soundtracks that blended perfectly with the story and visuals on screen. The mix created some stunning, haunting, exciting, uplifting and thrilling movie music moments that we will remember for years to come. As a result, 2013 had a lot to live up to, but looking back on the last twelve months reveals that this year’s crop of filmmakers were more than up for the task.

As I’ve done for the last four years, I’ve taken a detailed look back at all of the films that have hit theaters this past year searching for the best movie music moments I could find. While there was a large crop to choose from, I’ve narrowed it down to my 10 favorites of the year. Will yours make the list? Read on to find out!

Stoker

"Duet" by Phillip Glass

Uncle Charlie, the character played by Matthew Goode in Chan Wook-park’s dark horror Stoker, is a man that Winston Churchill may have described as a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. His niece, India (Mia Wasikowska) never even heard of him before her father’s death, and any story about where he’s been the last few years ends quickly and with few answers. Even small claims about not being able to play the piano turn out to be lies, as seen in the incredibly powerful sequence where India and Charlie team up on a piano bench to play the hypnotizing "Duet" by Phillip Glass.

As the plot of Stoker unfolds we learn that there is a deep natural bond that exists between India and Charlie, but it’s their paired performance tickling the ivories that first really informs their strange, important connection. As Glass wrote the music directly for the film, the audience is meant to believe that the two are composing the piece together on the spot (building on the piano work that India is seen practicing earlier in the movie), and it’s a perfect blend of the fantastical, phenomenal and disturbing that the two characters are able to perform so beautifully in sync. The aesthetic of Stoker is all about swirling together the horrific and the beautiful, and no scene in the movie does that better than Charlie and India’s duet.

Inside Llewyn Davis

"Please Mr. Kennedy" by Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver

It would be impossible to have a conversation about the best movie music moments of 2013 without mention of Joel and Ethan Coen’s extraordinary Inside Llewyn Davis. The tale of a Greenwich Village folk singer trying to get back in the early 1960s, the film shows a deep appreciation for the genre at the heart of the story and takes great pride in the real performances by the actors. From Oscar Isaac’s heartbreaking rendition of "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me," to a troupe of Irish singers in nice sweaters singing an a cappella version of "The Auld Triangle," this entire list could entirely consist of songs from the Coens’ latest bit of genius, but if I’m going to pick one it has to be the in-studio performance of "Please Mr. Kennedy."

An intentionally bad song that is partially based on a track from a folk outfit called The Goldcoast Singers back in 1961, "Please Mr. Kennedy" represents the exact level of phony that the eponymous Llewyn (played by the excellent Oscar Isaac) can’t stand, which makes the sequence in the film where he performs it all the funnier. Amazing as that is, however, it’s actually the supporting cast that makes the scene so perfect. Between Justin Timberlake’s ridiculously cheery disposition and terrible lyrics and Adam Driver’s bizarre baritone vocal stylings both before and during the song’s performance, you’re laughing from the moment the sequence starts until it ends. And then, of course, there’s the way that the song comes back to bite Llewyn in the ass at the end of the story…

The Lone Ranger

"The William Tell Overture" by Hans Zimmer

Like many critics, I can’t say that I was a big fan of Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger. It’s far too long, Johnny Depp’s shtick wears thin, the framing device is incomprehensible, and a good number of talented actors in the supporting cast are totally wasted. Most of the movie is a slog to get through, but that all changes at one very specific moment: when the film begins to play the titular character’s famous "William Tell Overture" theme.

The song is used to dramatically announce the beginning of the third act and the action sequence that concludes the plot, and like a bolt of lightning it sends the film’s energy level through the roof and actually turns the movie into what the audience actually paid to see. What we get to watch on the big screen is great all by itself, as the Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer) and Tonto (Depp) ride alongside and on top of a train in order to stop the bad guys and their plan, and the score – which was adapted by Hans Zimmer – helps generate tons of excitement. In the long run, the film’s use of the William Tell Overture" is an example of too little, too late, as it was incorporated way past the movie’s point of no return, but the sequence still goes down as one of my favorite movie music moments of 2013.

This Is The End

"When The Shit Goes Down" by Cypress Hill

Given the size of the ensemble and the fact that the film was helmed by two first time directors, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s This Is The End is an amazingly even comedy that gives all of its stars – including James Franco, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill and Jay Baruchel – ample individual time in the spotlight. But if a standout from the cast has to be selected, it’s Danny McBride. The movie makes the actor seem like he is absolutely the last person on the planet who you want to be stuck in the apocalypse with - as his selfishness and petulance seemingly knows no bounds – and the performance created some of the best scenes in an overall hysterical feature. And it all kicks off with an amazing movie music moment.

Knowing how much trouble and chaos the character winds up creating in the film, I can imagine that Rogen and Goldberg spent a good amount of time picking out the perfect introduction song for Danny McBride, and they totally nailed it with a track by Cypress Hill. Featuring a chorus that repeats the line "When tha shit goes down ya better be ready," there is a great foreshadowing element to all of the terribleness that McBride is about to unleash on all of his "friends," and the beat gives him something perfect to dance to as we watch his feet cross through Franco’s house down to the kitchen (where he will do his part to waste the group’s food supply). Thanks to the song selection we know everything we need to know about McBride within 30 seconds of his arrival on screen, and that’s what a great movie music moment does.

Frozen

"Let It Go" by Idina Menzel

Disney’s Frozen offered a number of memorable musical moments, among which was Josh Gad’s snowman character Olaf hilariously and obliviously daydreaming about how great it’ll be to do "whatever snow does in summer," and a group of trolls enthusiastically singing about accepting people’s flaws with "Fixer Upper," but no song was quite as powerful and moving as Elsa’s "Let it Go," the song she sings as she abandons the castle and her newly acquired crown in favor of being free to use her frosty super powers whenever and however she wants.

In addition to sufficiently making up for the Idina Menzel sung song we were so unfortunately denied in Disney's Enchanted, "Let it Go" is also an outstanding demonstration the Broadway star’s powerful vocals in a tune that emphasizes her character’s frustration, which set a course for her to become an unintentional almost-villain — or at the very least, a misunderstood woman with powers not entirely within her control. The "Let it Go" sequence is thrilling and moving, and both audibly and visually stunning all at once. Watching Elsa belt out her song while shedding her gloves and building herself a beautiful ice castle in the mountains, we’re torn between feeling happy for her, for being free to finally be herself and embrace the things that make her special, and sad for her for having no place else to do that but near the top of a mountain, all by herself. (by Kelly West)

The Spectacular Now

"Live Fast Live Hard Die Young" by Faron Young

It’s not hard to see why the Sutter, the free-wheeling protagonist of James Ponsoldt’s The Spectacular Now would be attracted to the song "Live Fast Live Hard Die Young" by Faron Young. First released in 1955, the song’s message about living life to the fullest and leaving behind a good looking corpse fits perfectly with his personal philosophy regarding living in the moment and never bothering to think too far into the future. Unfortunately, it’s this personal connection that also leads to one of the most devastating moments in the film.

Sutter plays the song on a jukebox for his estranged father, Tommy (Kyle Chandler) at a bar hoping that it will bring them together, Sutter not only believing his dad to have the same philosophy as himself, but also a memory of hearing it when he was a kid and his parents were still together. This reach leads to nothing but rejection, however, as Tommy not only dismisses the song but also his son’s memory. The reunion only deteriorates further from there, but even after the song has ended you can still practically hear it echoing as Sutter learns who his father really is and who he may be destined to become. It’s one of the most crucial scenes in the film, and the song choice is perfect.

The World’s End

"I’m Free" by The Soup Dragons

In Edgar Wright’s The World’s End, Simon Pegg stars as a man who knows exactly who he is. During his teenage years, the black trench coat-wearing Gary King decided that he just wanted to live life to have fun, and that’s exactly what he did (of course, that also meant starting up some terrible drug and alcohol habits). He prides himself on his freedom, so naturally when he first heard the song "I’m Free" by The Soup Dragons he connected with it to the point that it can practically be called his anthem.

The song first appears in the movie shortly after Gary’s childhood friends have all arrived back in their hometown of Newton Haven and get picked up by their "leader" in his hunk of shit car to go on their drinking marathon. Watching Gary sing along to the track you can see that he’s filled with glee, but also notice his intense desperation to get his friends in on the fun (which just about works until Gary creepily admits that the song is being played off a cassette mixtape). Beyond just being a song he listens to, however, the lyrics have practically become mantra. What does Gary tell the Network at the end when asked what the human race wants? "We want to be free to do what we want."

The Kings of Summer

"Pipe Drumming" by Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso and Moises Arias

Suburban life does not fit Joe (Nick Robinson) and Patrick (Gabriel Basso), the two leads of Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ coming-of-age dramedy The Kings of Summer. Both of them have parents and homes that they can’t stand, and in an act of rebellion against the system they team up with their odd friend Biaggio (Moises Arias) to leave civilization behind and make a fresh start for themselves deep in the woods. They build their shelter by hand and make plans to live off the land. It’s a return to nature, and one that’s ushered forward by a loud drumbeat created by hitting sticks against a giant metal pipe.

I will admit that a big reason for this entry’s inclusion into the list is because the beat the drummers create is just so catchy, but it’s also just impressive how it evokes memories of childhood and elegantly fits with the movie’s themes. Most men – and probably more than a few women - can think back on their childhood walking through the woods and hitting trees, rocks and pipes with sticks – be it to create rhythm or just with the intention of destroy stuff. With his film Vogt-Roberts gives us a meaningful and reflective look at a very specific age and the pipe scene definitely hits on that (if you’ll pardon the pun).

Her

"The Moon Song" by Scarlet Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix

Following a successful collaboration on a re-recording of "Wake Up" for Where The Wild Things Are, director Spike Jonze and the band Arcade Fire reteamed to create the score for the sci-fi romance Her, and the result is spectacular. The band’s almost haunting guitar and drum work beautifully accentuate the sense of loneliness in the film’s atmosphere and it has a lasting effect even after you’ve left the theater. Great as their work in the movie is, though, it’s actually Scarlet Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix’s duet performance of Karen O’s "The Moon Song" that creates not only the film’s best movie music moment, but one of the best of the year.

Over the course of Her the relationship between the emotionally fragile Theodore (Phoenix) and the conscious operating system Samantha (Johansson) undergoes a number of wonderful ups and heart-shredding downs, but the performance of "The Moon Song" comes pleasantly during an upswing. Theodore and Samantha decide to take a vacation together, and while resting together in bed he picks up a ukulele and the two of them sing while looking up at a giant full moon in the sky. It’s the kind of moment that’s photographed in your memory forever when thinking about a relationship with someone and it’s stunning to watch in the context of the story.

Spring Breakers

"Everytime" by James Franco

While he may have a few duds on his filmography, James Franco really is an incredibly talented perform, and he has never demonstrated that more clearly than with his performance in Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers. The actor fully disappears into his role as the corn-rowed gangster/rapper/drug dealer Alien and elevates the film’s crazy level to 11 as the character leads a group of college girls on a crime spree around St. Petersburg, Florida. The real insanity of the performance and the story, though, comes towards the middle of the film when Alien and his girls sit by a piano and sing a rendition of the Britney Spears song "Everytime."

Alien sings the song to express his love to his "soulmates" – which seems to work quite well – but it’s the way that the tune operates against the tone that makes it such a great movie music moment. Most of the film’s soundtrack is comprised of dubstep and hard beat techno, so when Alien starts belting out a pop ballad you can’t help but raise an eyebrow and laugh. Let’s also not forget that this is a movie starring a group of former Disney princesses and that Britney Spears used to be a Mickey Mouse Club member, so the whole thing works on multiple levels.

With contemporary classics like Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds and Kill Bill to his credit, Quentin Tarantino inspires an intense fandom that can be downright competitive. I’ve witnessed this competitiveness on several occasions when—upon learning I’m a blogger—his devotees have asked me on whether or not I like Tarantino’s works (overall, I do), and then challenged to an informal trivia off. Did I know that he has a cameo as a scalped Nazi in Basterds? Did I know his first production jobs were in porn or that he had a small role as an Elvis impersonator in an episode of the Golden Girls? (It’s true! See that below thanks to What Culture.)

Considering Tarantino himself is an obsessive fan of classic Hollywood cinema as well as various genres, including martial arts, grindhouse, and exploitation films, it makes sense his fans would be similarly amped up. But even the most devoted Tarantino admirer might have a hard time with the challenge I set before you now.

The Quentin Tarantino Archives has released a list of the esteemed director’s favorite films of the year so far. Personally, I was surprised by several of his picks, so I thought I’d test the rest of you to see if from the twenty films listed below you can figure out which titles are really on his top ten. Don’t cheat and click the link above, because what fun would that be?

Here are 20 releases from 2013, presented in alphabetical order with the names of their directors. Share your guess in comments on this page if you dare, then go to the next page to see which are actually on Tarantino’s list, and how many you got right.

Afternoon Delight (Jill Soloway)

A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III (Roman Coppola)

Before Midnight (Richard Linklater)

Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen)

Drinking Buddies (Joe Swanberg)

Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach)

Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón)

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (Tommy Wirkola)

Kick Ass 2 (Jeff Wadlow)

Movie 43 (Peter Farelly, Elizabeth Banks, James Gunn, etc.)

Pain & Gain (Michael Bay)

Spring Breakers (Harmony Korine)

Stoker (Park Chan-Wook)

The Canyons (Paul Schrader)

The Conjuring (James Wan)

The Heat (Paul Feig)

The Last Stand (Jee-Woon Kim)

The Lone Ranger (Gore Verbinski)

Trance (Danny Boyle)

This Is The End (Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg)

Okay, now that you’ve mulled it over and made your selections, here is the actual list in alphabetical order (Tarantino evidently hasn’t ranked them yet):

Afternoon Delight (Jill Soloway)

Before Midnight (Richard Linklater)

Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen)

Drinking Buddies (Joe Swanberg)

Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach)

Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón)

Kick Ass 2 (Jeff Wadlow)

The Conjuring (James Wan)

The Lone Ranger (Gore Verbinski)

This Is The End (Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg)

As you should expect from a filmmaker with as many diverse influences as Tarantino, this list is all over the place. You’ve got critical darlings like Before Midnight, Blue Jasmine, Frances Ha and Gravity. Though critically loathed, Kick-Ass 2’s inclusion makes sense on some level thanks to its heaps out outlandish violence, of which Tarantino is often a fan and defender of. Then there’s some genre love to the horror hit The Conjuring. A bit surprising is the inclusion of two indie comedies that have gained little notice, Afternoon Delight and Drinking Buddies. And while I wouldn’t have guessed the hysterical This Is The End would be on his list, that too makes sense as it plays into his apparent affection for heated and hilarious dialogue between dudes. Its critique of Hollywood celebrity culture is just gravy.

Lastly there's The Lone Ranger, a movie neither critics nor audiences warmed too, making it one of this summer's biggest flops. I can’t pretend to understand what Tarantino sees in that one, but would be fascinated to hear the garrulous director go off about it. Of course, it’s only October, so this list is still fluid. Maybe when his final ranking comes out we’ll revisit this game and see how well we really know one of our favorite contemporary auteurs.

In the comments, tell us how you did on your guesses, and share what you think will appear on this list by year's end!

I’m still somewhat surprised that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s celebri-pocalypse comedy This is the End exists, much less stands as one of the funniest films we've seen this year. For anyone who liked it the movie, one of the first thoughts the mind went to walking out of the theater might have been, “I wonder what kind of jokes didn’t make it into the film” - knowing that home releases for comedies are usually loaded with alternate takes, extended scenes and blooper reels. The film’s Blu-ray and DVD hit stores today, and MTV has released an exclusive clip from the Blu-ray’s blooper feature, as seen above. Lasting less than 90 seconds, the clip is just long enough to get me interested, but short enough to piss me off that it isn’t funnier. Well played, whoever chose this section to give MTV.

At the same time, this video might still be too long for some. It's no secret that there are good number of people dislike many of the actors making up the cast of this movie (Craig Robinson and Jay Baruchel are largely absent when the Internet namecalling happens), but I enjoy them all enough consistently that I didn’t mind listening to about 90 minutes of one-liners and 17 minutes of "other stuff." The fact that this clip heavily features Robinson is only a coincidence I’m sure. It’s a shame that the cursing gets bleeped, since there’s so much of it. Not everybody needs to hear Danny McBride say “dick” a bunch of times, but it’s become such a natural thing to hear at this point in his career. Can you imagine if Fox aired an edited version of Eastbound and Down?

Rogen also told MTV his theory behind what made this comedy work for both critics and audiences. “I think a lot of movies with big casts do a thing where they break everyone up and distribute the people throughout the movie and maybe there’s one scene that they’re all in together,” he said. “We really went out of our way to not do that. A lot of the movie is all six of us together in one room…It’s really hard to get them to pay attention, but once you do, they’re very, very funny.” Experiences are usually made funnier when a group of friends are around, even if there are one or two odd ones out. This Is The End is the perfect kind of movie to watch in a group setting. Sure, people might end up laughing or talking over the plethora of jokes made in the movie, but it gives it a better rewatch value, I suppose.

If you’re still unsure about buying the horror comedy you check out the first nine minutes of the film, courtesy of the film’s YouTube page. This is before the apocalypse stuff in the movie goes down, but you’ll get the hint. It's just a shame that they didn't title this video “This is the Beginning.”

Apocalyptic-themed movies, including comedies, have been trendy for a few years now, but that didn’t stop Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg from producing the apocalyptic comedy This is the End. As it turns out, this is a good thing, since the film is both audacious and a riot for any celebrity enthusiasts. Fans of the film will be pleased to learn This is the End will be hitting Blu-ray, DVD and Digital this fall. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has the film planned for an October 1 release, which does mean fans will have to wait a little while to get their hands on the release.

If you are a fan of bonus features, both the This is the End Blu-ray and DVD sets will come chock full of them. The release will offer over 90 minutes of extra footage and other bonus features. This sounds like a lot until you realize that a good chunk of these 90 minutes is probably devoted to the audio commentary. As amusing as Rogen and Goldberg are, I’m not sure they will provide the most insightful of commentaries. The rest of the extras are likely to be short, funny segments. If you are more into deleted scenes and gag reels with comedy sets, you’ll want to stick with the Blu-ray.

In the film, Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Emma Watson, Jay Barachel and more all play themselves on the night of a part in present-day Los Angeles. Things are going pretty well, until the big earthquake comes and fire and brimstone cover the city of Los Angeles. The remaining celebs bunker down to try to make it through what seems to be the apocalypse. This may seem like a pretty big spoiler alert if you were just clicking to check the set out, but it’s all in the trailer for the film, so I’m not really giving anything away that the studio didn’t.

The R-rated flick is already available for pre-order over at Amazon. Additionally, if you were hoping to avoid paying list price for the film, the site already has copies available at a sale price. Peruse the list of extras below, and decide whether or not the film is worth owning.

This is the End DVD Bonus Features

• Commentary with directors Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
• Directing Your Friends featurette .
• Marketing Outtakes
• Cast Featurette
• Redband Sizzle Trailer
• Aziz Haunts Craig Confessional
• James & Danny Confessional
• Jonah Confessional
• Seth & Jay Confessional

This is the End Blu-ray Bonus Features

• All the DVD extras
• Deleted Scenes
• This is the Gag Reel
• Line-O-Ramas Blooper Reel
• Meta-Apocalypse
• Let's Get Technical
• Party Time
• The Cannibal King
• The Making of “The Making of Pineapple Express 2”
• “Jay & Seth vs. The Apocalypse - The Original Short”

Oh my God, are they back again? Friends and writing partners Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg crushed it when they scripted the crude coming-of-age comedy Superbad years ago, but they really upped the ante with This is the End, an end-of-the-world dark comedy they not only wrote but also directed. Starring a batch of Rogen's bros/recurring collaborators, the wildly funny feature followed what happens to Rogen, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill and a cluster of other comedy stars (like a coked out Michael Cera) when the Rapture descends on Los Angeles. By fearlessly poking fun at their personas, this crew won over audiences and critics, earning rave reviews and $60 million dollars in just two weeks of domestic release.

Considering the film only cost $32 mil to make, it's little surprise that prospects of a sequel are being considered. "But wait," you might wonder. "How do you make a sequel to a movie that is literally about the end of everything?" Well, while doing press to promote the film's upcoming UK release, Goldberg dished on how such a thing could occur to Screen Daily:

He continued with an even more confounding consideration, "We have a lot of ideas: a heaven and hell, for example, and a Garden of Eden version where Danny [McBride] is Adam.” Basically, at this point it sounds like Goldberg and Rogen are just spit-balling weird ideas. But what are the chances of This is the End 2 actually coming to fruition? The simple answer at this point seems to be slim to none. For one thing, Goldberg is quick to admit it was a bit of great luck that allowed them to align the schedules of their stars the first time around, adding, "I honestly don’t know if we could get the guys together (again).”

But the bigger obstacle might be Rogen. When Goldberg was first asked about the possibility of a sequel, he responded candidly, saying, “If you ask me, I’d say there’s a good chance of sequel. If you ask Seth, he’d say no. So, we’ll see.”

Personally, I think This is the End is terrific, and could well be the funniest movie of the summer. But part of why it worked was because of its outrageous premise, following stars who have no idea how to take care of themselves thrown into a situation of absolute inescapable chaos. Whether scrounging for food, arguing over masturbation etiquette, or scaring the hell out of Emma Watson, this bumbling band of bros was rip-roaringly funny. A major part of that was their willingness to make themselves—well a version of themselves—look like absolutely damnable assholes. Would it be as funny the second time around when the stakes would be forced to be much, much lower? I doubt it.

Thankfully, Goldberg and Rogen already.have a different project on tap The pair are set to helm The Interview, a comedy that will star Franco and Rogen as a talk show host and his producer who become accidentally entangled in an assassination plot to kill Korean dictator Kim Jung-un. With Sony backing the project, The Interview is expected to shoot this October.

With so many titles to choose from, Netflix Instant's library can be overwhelming. So we bring you this biweekly column as a tool to cut through the clutter by highlighting some now streaming titles that pair well with the latest theatrical releases.

Looking to Man of Steel, This is The End, and Monsters University for inspiration, we've pulled together a selection of Superman stories, star-studded self-parodies, and coming-of-age cartoons.

Man of Steel

Henry Cavill stars in this action-adventure that sees Superman forced to face-off with his biological father's foe, a ruthless General called Zod. Amy Adams and Michael Shannon co-star; Zack Snyder directs. Read our review here.

When I confessed by personal ambivalence about the Man of Steel, some of you shared your suggestions for Superman titles that would turn me around and make me Team Supers once and for all! Thankfully, some of these titles are now streaming.

Justice League Unlimited (2004) Featuring an ensemble that contains Green Lantern, The Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and of course the Man of Steel (plus many, many more), this animated series came highly recommended by Superman fans. Seasons one and two are now available, and within are tons of match-ups of colorful heroes and menacing villains. Plus there's loads of smirking banter and finely crafted action sequences. Oh, and guys, Batman sings the blues in one ep. Literally. Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, and Phil LaMarr are just a few of the actors who lend their voices to this epic animated series.

Superman vs. The Elite (2012) In an age where its not super villains but terrorists that strike fear in the hearts of civilians, is Superman's version of justice out of date? When a team of vigilante heroes called The Elite arise and take terrorist to task by playing judge, jury, and executioner, Superman has to stand against them. But it's a battle that will force him to reconsider his own principles. This animated movie is dark, and clued me into an intriguing side of Superman I'd never seen before. George Newbern, Pauley Perrette, and Robin Atkin Downes lend their voices. Michael Chang directs.

Superman Cartoons (1942) If you're looking to go old-school, check out this collection of ten cartoons from the 1940s with a total combined running time is just shy of an hour and a half. The animation is Looney Toons level, but there is something undeniably charming about these animated adventures that utilize Superman standards from The Daily Planet, scoop-seeking Lois Lane, and Krypton. Also, there's a T-Rex trouncing Metropolis, and Superman doesn't fly yet! He literally leaps from one tall building to another to traverse the skyline. While the previous Superman offerings might be too much for younger audiences, this one is suitable for the whole family.

This is The End

During a celeb-stuffed party at James Franco's house, the apocalypse descends. After sinkholes and unexplainable mayhem lay waste to most of the partygoers, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson flee back with Franco into his obnoxious home to try to escape the end of the world. Dark humor and self-parody unfold. Michael Cera, Emma Watson, and Mindy Kaling co-star. Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen direct. Read our review here.

The key to self-parody is essentially this: figure out what your public persona is, then either flip it totally on its head, or amp it up to 11. The stars of This is The End manage this with outrageous jokes and visual gags that can't be unseen. Basically, they are in good company with the self-mocking stars below.

Being John Malkovich (1999) Perhaps the most perfect example of an actor poking fun at their own persona, John Malkovich co-stars in this twisted dark comedy about love and identity, not only playing himself as a pompous performer but also playing versions of himself as overtaken by puppeteers who've invaded his brain. And then of course there's the scene where he plays absolutely every role. John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener co-star. Spike Jonze directs.

The Trip (2010) Following their ego-free self-parody in the heady 2005 comedy Tristram Shandy, Brit wits Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon reteam for this "documentary" that follows the pair of frenemies on a trip across England on which they dine on gourmet cuisine and relentlessly compete for attention and laughs. Michael Winterbottom directs.

Happy Gilmore (1996) For something as gleefully mindless and goofy as This Is The End, revisit this early Adam Sandler vehicle. Sure, the plot revolves around a failed hockey player's hijinks-studded efforts to get into the pro-golf circuit. But one of the film's most memorable moments is when Price is Right's legendary host and animal enthusiast Bob Barker gets into a brawl with the cocky golfer. Julie Bowen co-stars; Dennis Dugan directs.

Monsters University

Before they were best buds working side by side at Monsters Inc, Mike and Sulley were classmates at Monsters University. But they didn't start off on the right foot. In fact, they kind of hated each other. John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprise their roles. Dan Scanlon directs. Read our review here.

Despite being a prequel, this Pixar effort is garnering great reviews. But if you want more stories of monsters, heroes reaching their potential, and cartoon college tales, we have got you covered!

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) In this collaboration between Tim Burton and Henry Selick, we learned that monsters have dreams too! Sure, Jack Skellington is at the top of his game as a scarer on Halloween, but he dreams of a new challenge…like Christmas. Convinced he can do a bang-up job of marshaling in this chipper holiday, he and his creature colleagues kidnap Santa and essentially steal Christmas, much to the chagrin of children who find toys that could kill under their trees. Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, and Catherine O'Hara lend their voices; Henry Selick directs.

Hercules (1997) In Greek mythology, Hercules is the ultimate hero and a literal god. But in this Disney adventure, his story gets lots of color and a gospel chorus! Having been snatched from his place on Olympus by coup-planning Lord of the Underworld Hades, Hercules is left on Earth as a babe in the wilderness. No longer immortal, but still with superhuman strength, this son of Zeus must reclaim his place among the gods by proving himself a true hero. Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, Susan Egan and James Woods lend their voices; Ron Clements and John Musker direct.

An Extremely Goofy Movie (1999) Going to college is an experience that for many cements our independence from our parents. Unfortunately for Max, he is followed to college by his newly unemployed father, who is well meaning but…well, goofy. Watch the trailer for this and tell me Arrested Development season 4 doesn't share some eerie similarities. Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, and Pauly Shore lend their voices; Douglas McCarthy directs.

When we first heard about Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's directorial debut This is the End, we were on the fence about how it would turn out. With a cast that includes Rogen and recurring collaborators James Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson and Michael Cera, it seemed to have a solid start. Plus Rogen and Goldberg showed their sharp skills at crafting an outrageous but heartwarming (in a bromance-way) narrative with Superbad. But with all these stars playing themselves, would this be an entertaining comedy that pokes fun at their celeb personas against the backdrop of the apocalypse? Or would This is The End be a series of in-jokes that would only be amusing to Rogen's circle of friends?

We were thrilled to report it's the former, a fearless and funny movie that gets celebrity schadenfreude right. And among its many virtues is a finale that is a total showstopper that features a surprising cameo and has had audiences dancing in their seats. But it turns out this bonkers resolution was not how Rogen and Goldberg originally scripted the end. (Spoilers for the end of This is the End follow!)

Vulture caught up with Goldberg, the comedy's co-writer/co-director, and asked him how in the hell he and Rogen came up with the idea of wishing for a Backstreet Boys reunion in heaven complete with rousing performance of their hit "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." He confessed that the idea originally came from one of the writer's wives, but he doesn't specify whether it was Mrs. Goldberg or Mrs. Rogen, A.K.A. Lauren Miller, co-writer of the wonderfully wacky sex-comedy For a Good Time, Call… Then he went on to explain the original scripted ending had Seth and Jay ascending into heaven to come face to face with none other than Morgan Freeman.

See, Morgan Freeman has played God before in Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty. So it's funny that he'd actually be God…or something. Honestly, this sounds like it would have been such a weak final bit killing the momentum of the many that worked shockingly well before. Thankfully, this idea got tossed because Freeman had no interest in signing on. So, Rogen persisted with the wife-suggested Backstreet Boys cameo, and the boy band (can we still call them that?) was happy to get on board. Rogen, who describes himself as a huge fan, recounts, "The Backstreet Boys were like, 'Yeah! Of course we would be in heaven. Why wouldn't we be? We bring joy to the world.'"

And Rogen and the Boys didn't say their shared song and dance for the movie either. Back in April, The Backstreet Boys performed at one of Rogen's charity fundraisers for The Alzheimer's Association, Hilarity For Charity. Of course, they invited him onstage, which you can witness in the vid below:

After an incredibly successful marketing campaign that's been generating all the right kinds of excitement for months, Man of Steel finally flew into theaters this weekend, dominating the box office and breaking the record for the highest ever opening in the month of June.

With $113 million, the second attempt at a reboot of the Superman film franchise easily captured the top spot over the weekend, but fell well short of this year's biggest opening: Iron Man 3's $174 million debut. While the DC comic hero couldn't stand up against the Marvel cash cow, he did better than the last debacle of a Superman relaunch. Superman Returns only banked $52 million on its first regular three day weekend back in the summer of 2006.

Opening a little ahead of the weekend, Man of Steel's domestic total now sits at $125 million. While sales are likely to stay solid, the movie has a long way to go and only the slimmest of chances to beat out this year's biggest earner Iron Man 3 which fell just shy of breaking the $400 million mark this weekend.

Bowing in at a respectable second place, rated-R apocalypse comedy (a very niche genre indeed) This is the End took in $20 million. Add in the $12 million it earned during Wednesday and Thursday and you have a nice total to match the movie's reported $32 million budget.

Sofia Coppola's latest offering The Bling Ring got huge attention in the five locations where it debuted, banking $210,000 this weekend for an impressive $42,000 per theater, a best for the writer/director.

For the full weekend top ten, check out the chart below:

Everybody knew Man of Steel was going to be huge this weekend, but the size of it's box office so far ought to surprise even the most devoted Supes supporters. According to the early numbers at Deadline Man of Steel pulled in an estimated $46 million on Friday, including between $9 and $10 million from midnight shows alone. It's now on track for $120 million for the weekend proper, with another $12 million on top of that if you count a series of showing on Thursday night held as a promotion from Wal-Mart (yes, that really happened). That's more than twice what Superman Returns made on its opening weekend in 2006-- that film debuted to $52 million and topped out with just $200 million in the United States, a number Man of Steel ought to be able to pass after its second weekend.

Unlike other recent blockbusters like Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness, Man of Steel didn't open overseas before debuting in the U.S., so it's busy tearing up international box office as well. The Hollywood Reporter writes that it opened in 24 markets and made $17.6 million on Friday, putting it on track to make $82 million by the end of the weekend. By the time the weekend is over, Man of Steel will have nearly made back what the studio reports it cost to make.

The weekend's other new release, This Is The End, obviously isn't doing Man of Steel-sized business, but pretty well for an R-rated comedy. It made an estimated $6.9 million on Friday, putting it on track to cross $30 million by the end of the weekend thanks to its Wednesday opening date. Both Man of Steel and This is the End have been well-received by audiences, earning A- and B+ CinemaScores, respectively. Man of Steel got a good review from us, has settled on a fairly low 57% Rotten Tomatoes score, while This Is The End has been well-reviewed by us and nearly everybody else, boasting an 87% on RT.

Let us know in the comments what you're seeing this weekend, and head over here to discuss Man of Steel with spoilers after you've seen it. We'll have the full weekend box office numbers for you tomorrow.

In its red band trailer, the apocalypse comedy This is the End teased tons of carnage that will hilariously take the lives of celebs like Rihanna, Michael Cera, and Aziz Ansari. But most memorably, the NSFW promo showcased Harry Potter star Emma Watson as a badass starlet/survivalist! With an axe she busted her way into James Franco's house/slapdash strong hold and scared the hell out of its stoner inhabitants (Franco, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, and Craig Robinson). In the latest clip, she shares with them what she has seen out in this world that is falling apart at the seams. Check it out above thanks to ScreenCrush.

So what brand of world-ending disaster is overtaking Hollywood? According to Watson, it is obviously zombie invasion. That theory doesn't explain the horrific sinkholes and nightmare fuel creature sounds the trailers have teased so far. But the real joy of this clip is seeing the funny feature's frightened heroes putting aside their terror to attempt flirting with the bedraggled yet undeniably gorgeous Watson.

Penned by Rogen and his Superbad co-writer Evan Goldberg, This is the End is one of a string of apocalypse comedies coming out. But it's notably the only one that has celebrities playing comical versions of themselves in crisis. Its cast list promises appearances from a wide array of noteworthy funny people, including Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Mindy Kaling, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Martin Star, Kevin Hart, and Jason Trost.

This is the End is hitting theaters on June 12th.

Anyone who has ever seen a Seth Rogen film knows that he has a healthy appreciation of marijuana. Not only do his characters regularly smoke, the guy even wrote a movie - Pineapple Express - which is titled after a specific strain. So it should come as a surprise to exactly nobody that This is the End, the new film that Rogen co-directed with writing partner Evan Goldberg, not only features a good amount of pot smoking, but that it would even have a tie in to the "holiday" 4/20.

The promo seen above comes to us via the official Sony Pictures YouTube channel, and while you might think that it's been released one day early, presumably they're just trying to get the word out about the munchies promotion. Either that or somebody decided to just make a three-day weekend out of it.

In the film, which will be in theaters June 12th, Rogen and Jay Baruchel (playing themselves, like every other actor in the film) decide to attend a party at James Franco's palatial Los Angeles home when the unexpected occurs: the start of the biblical apocalypse. Stuck together with Franco, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, and Craig Robinson, the group tries to survive a world that has been taken over by demons, zombies and every other horrible thing you can imagine. For more about This Is The End be sure to check out Katey's set visit report and interviews, as well as my chat with the directors at WonderCon last month and coverage from CinemaCon this past week.

After Disney's big presentation this morning, which featured an extended look at The Lone Ranger and the first screening of Monsters University, it was Sony's turn this evening to show off their upcoming slate, which showed a good deal of material from just about every movie that the studio has coming out in 2013.

While most of the footage shown, from films like Elysium, Carrie, White House Down, After Earth, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Grown Ups 2 and Smurfs 2, has already been released online or shown in some capacity to the press, there was still plenty of new stuff to get excited for, as detailed below!

This Is The End

We’ve actually seen quite a bit from This is the End as of late, between the WonderCon footage shown down in Anaheim last month and the recently released red band trailer and new clip, but the Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg-directed comedy had even more to show the crowds at CinemaCon. In addition to some quick clips showcasing all kinds of giant horned demons and skull-faced zombies, the reel also delivered a hilarious fight between James Franco and Danny McBride.

In the scene, McBride and Rogen are busy digging a hole in the floor (for an unexplained reason) when Franco emerges on the floor above them holding a porno and complaining that somebody ejaculated all over it. McBride confesses to the deed, but is completely unapologetic about it, saying that he has no control over where he orgasms, and a huge argument breaks out between the two of them, capped with Franco saying that he’s going to shoot McBride’s dick off and McBride retorting that he doesn’t have enough bullets. The movie arrives in theaters on June 12, and for more about it be sure to check out our own Katey Rich’s set visit report and interview with the entire cast and the directors.

Captain Phillips

Back in 2009, Captain Richard Phillips was on a cargo ship off the coast of Africa when his boat was hijacked by Somali pirates. During the ordeal, the captain acted with incredible bravery and helped protect his crew members in the face of death, and it was clear even then that the story would make for an incredible film. Thanks to director Paul Greengrass and star Tom Hanks, that idea will come to fruition later this year, and tonight we got our first look at the movie.

The footage began with Phillips (Hanks) looking at a radar and growing concerned about two blips heading towards the ship. Looking into the distance he sees two skiffs, and decides to call it in for help. While the woman on the other line isn’t too concerned about the situation, thinking that they are probably just fisherman, Phillips knows better and has his fears confirmed when the men on the skiffs begin to open fire. The captain and his crew try to get the pirates away by using hoses off the edges of the ship, and Phillips even attempts to hit one of them with a flare, but is unsuccessful. He warns his crew that they cannot let the pirates get their ladders attached to the boat, but the mission is unsuccessful and the pirates come aboard. We hear voiceover of Phillips telling his crew to take advantage of the fact that they know the inner workings of the ship and the Somalis don’t. The final shot of the reel has a pirate holding a huge gun to Phillips’ head saying, "Look at me – I am the captain now."

Captain Phillips arrives on October 11th.

American Hustle

Seeing as the movie is still deep in production, the presentation didn’t deliver a great deal of footage from American Hustle, the new movie from director David O. Russell, but what it did deliver was a great sense of tone and style. The clip didn’t feature much more than quick shots of the film’s cast, which includes Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, but the various looks of the characters are absolutely fantastic.

Reminiscent of Argo, which is actually set in the exact same late-70s time period, both Bale and Cooper sport heavy beards (with the former in yellow-tinted aviator sunglasses); Renner was seen wearing a white suit and a pompadour hairstyle; and Lawrence and Adams were shown dressed stunningly, the Silver Linings Playbook star shown in a beautiful white dress and The Fighter actress’ shoulders cloaked with a fur. The film won’t be in theaters until December, so it will be a while before any footage becomes widely available, but it looks as though the film could be a highlight of this year’s award season.

For more of our CinemaCon 2013 coverage head over HERE!

On some set visits, you spend a lot of time talking to the people who make the film look the way it does, from the production designers to the costumers to the director, all of them showing you their amazing special effects and the unique world they've created, usually within a soundstage. And while the effects on This Is The End will no doubt be impressive-- directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg still seemed slightly amazed that Sony even gave them the budget they had-- the movie is really all about the talking, and the comedic spark between the six main characters, all of whom we've seen playing friends in one combination or another for years.

There's Rogen and James Franco, who met over a decade ago playing buddies on Freaks & Geeks. There's Rogen and Franco and Danny McBride and Craig Robinson, who were at the center of the stoner action comedy Pineapple Express. There's Rogen and Jonah Hill and Jay Baruchel, who were three of the slacker roommates in Knocked Up. And behind it all there's Rogen and Goldberg, childhood friends who wrote Superbad together when they were 13 and who are making their directing debut on This Is The End, which at moments looked like an expensive excuse to get all their friends together and improvise in a giant set that was supposed to be James Franco's Los Angeles mansion.

You've probably caught one of the many hilarious trailers or clips for This Is The End, which show off the party at Franco's house that gets disrupted when, well, the world seems to be ending. But for how the movie came together, how the guys improvise together on the set and how they avoid keeping in too many in-jokes, check out this compilation of the interviews we conducted on This Is The End's New Orleans set last June. And for everything you need to know about This Is The End, click here.

The whole project started with "Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse," a short that debuted online in 2007 and was rumored to become a feature film not long after.

Baruchel: It’s been six, seven years that I’ve been waiting for this thing to finally get going and I’m still blown away that people think our little short can be a movie, so it’s pretty neat to see it come to fruition.

The short happened because a friend of ours named Jason Stone, who is over there at video village. He was graduating from USC and he kind of wanted a calling card for potential directing gigs so he and Evan came up with this silly idea of me and Seth being stuck in an apartment together and just bitching at each other, so we went to USC and shot for two days on this awesome set that these kids built and yeah, that was it.

Was there ever a point when the feature version was just going to be the two of you or was it always going to be more people?

Baruchel: Oh, I have no idea. Yeah. I think maybe at the very beginning, but I think that would have limited the scope of the thing and the voices that could be in it. I think just him and I made sense for seven minutes or a trailer but I think for a whole movie people would probably get sick of just the two of us…

Goldberg: The basic idea was: What’s the biggest concept we could do at the cheapest price possible? And that lends itself to making a big movie. We never wanted to do a small version but we would’ve. If it came down to it.

Rogen: I mean we made an End of the World movie in that short, for like literally like zero dollars. So that was kind of the idea, was to make an epic giant movie that, you know, was somewhat contained at times so you could kind of afford to spend your money on the big stuff when you needed to basically. I mean, visual effects have come so far at this point, you really can do a lot with not a little money.

Goldberg: Like Chronicle kind of blew our fucking minds.

Rogen: Yeah, we look to movies like Chronicle and Cloverfield and a lot of movies that use practical effects in great ways. Those were really what guided us and let us know what we could do something that was visually epic and gigantic but for a price that we could do whatever the fuck we wanted basically.

When Rogen and Goldberg finally had a script ready for the feature version-- and a studio willing to finance it-- they started assembling the story specifically for each actor, but only once they could get the schedules worked out.

Rogen: We talked to all these guys about doing it like before we started writing.

Goldberg: We never ever thought they’d all do it - just by scheduling and all that.

Rogen: Yeah, we told them. We were like: “We don’t want to write a fucking movie with you guys in it if you guys aren’t going to do it. So just let us know if it’s something you think you would do.” And everyone said yes and so then we wrote it, after having talked to them all. So we knew we could do it basically.

Robinson: Everyone said I was the first one to say, I'm in. I don’t know if this had been done with people just, everybody's using their real names and stuff like that, so I thought it was ambitious and exciting.

Hill: It was right after I finished Jump Street, I think. I came over to Seth's house and they discussed it with me. There are a few people in my career I've been lucky enough to work with who I would do anything for, and Seth and Evan are those guys. If they ask me to show up, I show up. It doesn't really matter what it is.

McBride: They were fishing around for when was a window of time when everybody would be available. Somehow the continents shifted and everyone could take off for these three months just to come here and have fun.

Rogen: We have some friends that weren’t able to do it, but when you watch it, you’ll notice that not every single person we’ve ever worked with was in it. That’s because a few of them had scheduling conflicts.

Each of the actors were asked to play themselves, but all of them different in some way-- McBride is a much more obnoxious version of himself, Hill a much sweeter one, and Baruchel is presented as the "friend from out of town," even though he acts as much as his co-stars. Some of the actors were on set wearing their own clothes, while others were quick to point out how different they were from their characters.

Goldberg: We definitely started off with everyone being full-blown assholes and then realized that it was too silly and we kind of give them each more realistic characters.

Rogen: Not everyone is an asshole. I don’t think any of these guys are really playing themselves in any real way, but I think every character is rounded to some degree within the reality of the movie.

McBride: Everybody is definitely portrayed in a way that is a little more grotesque than they normally are. Seth oddly enough doesn’t really have any negative attributes in this movie. (Laughs) He comes off as courageous, bold… I don’t know.

Baruchel: I think they take the aspects of our personalities that are most conducive to punchlines and story arcs and exacerbate them, so it’s a tightrope. There’s definitely some stuff I do or say in this movie that real Jay wouldn’t do or say but yeah, it’s strange. We are ourselves and we’re not. It’s kind of Curb Your Enthusiasm-ish in that respect.

Franco: When we started talking about it in pre-production, they said "You're sort of playing the version of yourself that's the most distant from you who you are." Part of that has to do with the dynamics they need for the film. There are aspects of me-- like I'm an actor, I like art, I like Seth-- that the character shares, but it's pushed to a goofy extreme. The character's, y'know, stupider, he's got the emotional level of a 13-year-old. They all do, I think. And you know, he's just a little shallower than I like to think that I am.

Robinson: I don’t think I am as whiny. I cry a lot in this movie, for the silly factor, but I don’t think I am that cry babyish. I think I'd be more like, "Yeah, bring it mother fucker."

Hill: I wanted to play a version of myself – and they'd originally written it differently – but someone who always saw the sympathy in a situation. Someone who was overly sympathetic to everything. And I poke fun at myself. Obviously everyone does in this movie. I went to dinner with an actor who was shooting out here the night before we started shooting, and he had a big diamond stud earring in his ear. So the day we started shooting I said I wanted to wear a big diamond in my ear and they thankfully let me do that.

Robinson: [wearing a T-shirt that says "Take Yo Panties Off] I had a similar t-shirt on at one of the parties that these guys throw, this was a few years back and they remembered it, and they wanted us all to be as close to our actual selves as possible. Literally, some days I have worn these actual jeans to set and then switched into them, into these actual jeans. It's the most comfortable I've probably been [on-set].

McBride: It’s just funny when you read it and you read the fate of your character, you kind of invest a little more, like “Really? This is what happens of me? This is what these guys think of me?” Then you realize everybody gets shit on.

Franco: This is I think unusual because it's being done in a mainstream, commercial movie. But I think other shows, like reality shows, like the Osbournes pushed it further than what we're doing, the Kardashians push it further than what we're doing. You think you're getting a real taste of who they are. I hope nobody watches this and thinks "Oh, that's what they're really like." There are ways to push it further. This is just, this is new because of the commercial film frame and bringing it into a heavy effects kind of film. LIke if the Kardashians suddenly were fighting aliens or something like that, sorta like that.

Baruchel: At this point, who the fuck cares? Like people will infer what they infer, I’ve learned that a long time ago, and if I got worried about people assuming I’m like the characters I play I probably would have quit ten years ago. In those rare moments when I’m faced with that, I just remind myself that less than a quarter of actors can feed themselves from acting and I’ve been able to have a career doing that for 18 years, so that trumps any of that stereotyping issue.

All of the actors have worked together previously, of course, and their comfort with each other showed clearly on set. Some were more open than others about how much this reunion meant to them personally.

McBride: I’m trying to think of when we have all been in the same room together. Independently we have all been together, but yeah this is union hasn’t happened… I think my wedding was the last time all four of us [Franco, Rogen, Robinson and McBride-- the Pineapple Express crew] were together, yeah, in a swimming pool filled with piss.

Hill: My college experience was making movies with these guys. We all started out together and have grown and evolved in different ways. To have everyone assembled together for a movie like this, and have had them start together, is rare. I know this is my last comedy for the next year, year-and-a-half probably, so it feels like a cap to my early 20s. I don't know how to put it without making it sound like it wasn't important for anyone else, only me, but it's rare to get to work with this many people you've known for years and years and years. The next three things I'm doing are more hardcore, emotionally, and this is really fun. It's cathartic and fun, there's no other adjective I have for it. It's fun, there's no pressure or intensity, it's just really a laugh.

Robinson: We definitely done some hanging, seen some suns come up, like… One night we went to the House of Blues, we went at 2:30 and just hung out and then everyone sharpened themselves up… We had some dinners, went on a swamp tour. You know, New Orleans, you got to get your rhythm, this town will exhaust you, but it's been fun every night.

There are drastic differences between each take we see them shoot, with Rogen, Goldberg and even some of the actors throwing out line suggestions while the camera rolls. As you'd expect from guys who have worked this long with Judd Apatow, improv is highly encouraged, and Rogen and Goldberg know they're setting themselves up to find the movie in the editing room.

Rogen: The truth is we’ve had a hundred billion conversations with every element of this movie, literally, for the last six years when we started thinking of it. We kind of know how we want everything to be in a general way, and then there’s the general throw out any idea you want during the scene rule.

McBride: It’s one of those things where you really have to be really paying attention to what’s happening in a scene. You’ve got to be able to feel those rhythms of when someone is going for a run you’ve got to be able to step back and let them do it. It does become that game where it’s like you don’t want it to be like every single person is just trying to fill every blank space with a joke and I think all of these guys have been really good about that, like you can kind of sense when it’s somebody’s turn to do something.

Rogen: It’s so silly to have all these guys in a movie together and not let them riff-off each other. You know, that was always our plan. It’s not that different then from capturing stunts at times. We put as many cameras on it as we can and we hope something fucking awesome is going to happen - and that is kind of what it’s like. So it would be silly for us to be too, strict with the lines because these guys - most of them are movie writers in their own rights. So it’s silly to not get their ideas and shit like that.

McBride: All of these guys, from Jay to Franco to Craig, everyone has worked with these guys before and they know the routine and much improv is involved and so yeah, it’s just easy. You’re just in the scene and if you’re on a good run, Seth and Evan will encourage you to keep going or throw things your way if you’re going down the wrong path. It’s actually been very easy working with them as directors.

Baruchel: This flick is their voice, 150%. It’s obviously a collaboration—that’s not just lip service—but they encourage it. You guys will see that they foster that atmosphere. That being said, this is Seth and Evan effectively given a blank slate to do whatever they want with. I won’t go so far as to say carte blanche but damn near close, as close as they’ve come so far. As a friend and a fan of theirs, that’s kind of exciting.

Rogen: I mean I think our style is probably closest to Judd in the way that he is willing to completely let a new scene materialize on the day and in the moment. We haven’t worked with that many other people and on our movies you know, the ones that aren’t Judd movies, there’s usually a different writer than director - so there’s some level of respect that happens. The director won’t just suddenly say like, “Throw out all the fucking lines go crazy!” But since we’re both, we can do that, which is nice and there have been some scenes that we’ve done one take of and it’s like “This isn’t right” and we’ll literally, completely, re-write all of it in a few minutes. Or we’ll just improvise for an hour and see if something better comes up and it usually does and then we’ll just go with that version.

As a movie that pokes fun at a bunch of Hollywood actors who have no idea how to deal with real danger, This Is The End is crammed with jokes about each star's previous work-- right down to James Franco's giant mansion, which he concedes was probably supposedly built with his Spider-Man money (though he says "I'm sure Seth has made more money than I have.") But all of them are aware that the in-jokes can only go so far before the audience gets irritated.

Baruchel: There’s a lot of shitting on each other’s work in this movie. The only concern with that stuff is for my money, the average working class person that buys tickets probably couldn’t care less about shit like that. Nobody goes to the movies to see a movie about people talking about movies. Aside from that, no, we’ve been able to say whatever we want.

Robinson: Nothing is off limits… nothing is off limits. We had some Office moments. In fact I poked fun of myself in a scene that comes after this, when I go outside and I'm like what's going on, "It's me, Daryl from The Office." That happened.

The film went into production as End of the World and had started as a short called Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse. They settled on This is The End after the film was finished, but Rogen admitted they were having a hard time settling on anything at the time.

Rogen: We suck with titles, we’ll be the first to admit it. If it’s not completely apparent what the movie should be called, then we have a hard time with it. So, this is what we’ve got for now. We’ll see what happens.

Were people just wanting to know what “Apocalypse” this was?

Rogen: No, we just couldn’t legally clear that title. Fox owns it! Titles are a motherfucker. Everyone owns every fucking title in the universe. Like they’re all registered with MPAA and it’s crazy. It’s really hard to get a title. Even with 50/50, Disney owned it. We had to call fucking Sean Bailey to get permission to use it. And I’ve called Tom Rothman over and over [for the rights to use "Apocalypse" in the title] - they won’t let it go.

" 'More blood' is something that's said often on this set."

And here I thought I had traveled to New Orleans last June to visit the set of a comedy. It starred a laundry list of likable dudes from the Apatow orbit-- Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride-- and was marking the directorial debut of Rogen and his childhood friend Evan Goldberg, with whom he wrote Superbad and Pineapple Express. It was a movie that took place entirely in James Franco's house. It had Franco wearing a velour tracksuit. How serious could this shit get, anyway?

Not especially serious, as it turned out, but that doesn't mean that blood won't be spilled-- or that Michael Cera won't be impaled by a lamppost-- when This is the End opens in theaters on June 12. A giant party at James Franco's house-- Franco insists he doesn't even own a house, for the record-- is suddenly interrupted by a very big, very apocalyptic event that traps the six main characters inside the mansion. On the set Rogen dismissed a glimpse of a monster we'd seen in the sizzle reel and said "Who knows if that’s a place-holder creature or what? Jay could be a demon this whole movie." But it's clear the cause of the apocalypse isn't really the point-- nor was it in "Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse," the short that inspired the movie. This is the End gives Rogen and Goldberg an excuse to trap their funniest friends inside a room, give them a huge crisis to argue about, and let them riff for the length of a 50-day shoot.

"I mean, we have a script," Rogen insists, after Goldberg jokes "We're shit writers." Rogen continues, "I’m sure we got a take of it here and there but it’s so silly to have all these guys in a movie together and not let them riff-off each other. You know, that was always our plan." In the scene we watched them shoot, the guys take turns drawing straws-- well, drawing matches-- to see who will have to go outside to get more food and water. Each actor did the scene in their own close-up, with Rogen offering direction from just off-camera, or in the case of his own shot, right in front of it (he screwed up one take by accidentally looking into the lens). But Franco would toss in suggestions of his own, and the takes would stretch on longer to accommodate more ad-libs, more room for each actor to show his stuff. It's the kind of thing you can imagine happens on other comedies, but not nearly as smoothly-- and with as much affection-- as with a cast that knows each other this well.

Of course, that friendliness wouldn't be any fun at all to watch onscreen, which is why each actor-- while playing a character with his name-- has been transformed into a far more extreme version of himself. "I cry a lot in this movie, for the silly factor," admits Robinson, who draws the unlucky burnt match in the scene was saw them shoot. "I don’t think I am that cry babyish. I think I'd be more like, "Yeah, bring it mother fucker." Though Baruchel has been acting since he was a teenager, he's turned into the "friend from out of town" for the movie, and admits "they definitely pounced on the self-righteous holier than thou aspects of me, so there’s a lot of preaching in this." And Franco, pretending to own a mansion that contains a painting of his own name, says he had to agree to the biggest stretch of all:

In the end we didn't get to see any of the copious fake blood-- after lunch they set up for a stunt shot, in which a character is yanked outside the house by a mysterious force-- but the film's trailers have revealed plenty of that gore, including a movie that took shape from what seemed like endless ad-libs. Even though Rogen and Goldberg said they had a full hour of the movie cut together-- and this was just halfway through the shoot!-- they knew how much of it was still to take place in the editing room, when they had to sort through thousands of ad-libs to find a story worth following. "We’re shooting more than we’ll use," Goldberg admits. Rogen continues:

The final proof comes June 12. For more on the film, come back later today for more of our conversations with the cast, plus some serious soul-searching about who wound up playing a character closest to their real selves.

You’ve read about the panel this past weekend at WonderCon, you’ve seen the fake Pineapple Express 2 trailer; and you’ve watched the most recent Red band spot. But now it’s time to get up close and personal with the two men behind This Is The End.

This past weekend I tripped down to the Anaheim Convention Center where I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with both Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the writers and directors of the new apocalyptic comedy due out this summer. The film marks the duos’ directorial debut after previously teaming up to write Superbad, Pineapple Express and The Green Hornet, and they’re working with one very out-there concept, having some of the biggest names in comedy come together to play themselves in a world taken over by demons and hellfire. Check out our conversation below, in which Rogen and Goldberg talk about the joy of killing off famous people, how directing the film changed their approach to the script, finding a relatable core within all the craziness, and the movie’s bizarre Harry Potter connection.

How much of the fun of this project was getting the opportunity to put your friends into an apocalyptic situation and then just kill them?

Seth Rogen: The most. That was a lot of fun. I mean we definitely wanted it to be funny for the audience, but that was also a big conversation we had. I mean, yeah, it’s funny to see famous people to get killed graphically and it’s even funnier when they’re themselves for some reason.

Evan Goldberg: It’s just fortunate that our friends merit a budget to make a movie because they’re actors [laughs].

Seth Rogen: Yeah, I know.

How gnarly does this movie get?

Evan Goldberg: Oh, it gets gnarly. I wouldn’t say Saw gnarly, but it’s pretty graphic.

This project, it started as Jay and Seth Vs. The Apocalypse, which is a really small kind of idea where you have these two guys trapped in a room. Was there ever a point where you guys were drafting that small version of the script or was it always this big ensemble comedy?

Evan Goldberg: We just made that for a student film project for Jason Stone who made the movie with us and then years later when we were doing better, we realized... we were just discussing what we could do and we kept coming back to the idea of actors playing themselves and we put in a whole bunch of different ideas over the years and then we realized the first idea was the right idea.

Seth Rogen: We had just done so many movies that were all about two guys that we wanted to make it about a group of guys, like a bigger group dynamic and it is definitely still hinged on two guys, because we’re not that good [laughs], but early on we felt like what if it was like six guys or something like that, seven guys and we thought that could give us more of a Real World-y vibe almost that we thought was really funny and then we realized that, yeah, it could also be kind of a bigger movie than just guys stuck in a house which is also a fun idea.

So, is it you and Jay? I mean, would you say that it does kind of does boil down to the two?

Seth Rogen: Well, yeah, I mean the real emotional story of the movie is about how Jay’s my old friend and these other guys are my new friends and they kind of don’t get along too well and I’m kind of stuck in the middle, and I invite Jay to this party at Franco’s house which he doesn’t really want to go to ‘cause he doesn’t like those guys that much and then the apocalypse happens and we’re all stuck together, basically, and we all have to work out this shit that we’ve all been going through.

Evan Goldberg: That being said, if you like Craig or Jonah or Franco or anybody else in the movie, you won’t be disappointed.

Seth Rogen: Oh, yeah, no, I mean and they are in it. They are really part of the other group and it’s really about how the old friends versus the new friends, which we thought was a really relatable place to start with a fucking batshit crazy movie, basically [laughs].

When you are approaching these characters, I mean these are people that you’ve known for years. Are you putting their personalities perfectly up on the screen or kind of a heightened version or completely different?

Evan Goldberg: No, no, no. No one is actually like, exactly the same, but some of them are heightened versions.

Is that just to save your own asses because of what we’re going to see? [laughs]

Evan Goldberg: We came to agreements with them. Some of them have full character takes. Some said, “I just want to play a crazy asshole version of myself.”

Seth Rogen: A lot of these guys are really... we’re all really dumb in the movie is probably the biggest thing. We deal with the apocalypse very poorly, I would say on the grand scale of how a rational human would behave in that situation and I think everyone plays very self-centered kind of temperamental versions of themselves. Honestly, it wasn’t, I don’t think it was about how they were being reflected as themselves. I think, as actors, at first we just wrote a little too much into shit they had all done before, and I think it took some of them being like you know, “I’ve been the loud, obnoxious guy a lot of times. What if we flipped it and I was the super nice guy?” or something like that. That was actually really helpful. I don’t think it was how they wanted to be portrayed as themselves. I think more thought just, as actors, it was a chance to do something else.

Evan Goldberg: Something different.

Seth Rogen: And it was that much funnier because it was as themselves.

And this is the first time you’re directing also, but obviously you’ve collaborated as writers for a long, long time. How much did that collaboration change? Was that collaboration in your writing process similar to how you guys directed together?

Seth Rogen: Yeah, it was exactly the same. Yeah, we’ve worked together so much over the years in so much stuff. Yeah, it was very seamless. There was no real...

Evan Goldberg: We know each other so well we can make assumptions of what the other will do, like one of the things the crew always says is, “If I ask one of you and then you’re not there and the other guy is there, 99% of the time, you’ll say the same exact thing.” So, it lets us move really fast. You don’t have to discuss it.

Seth Rogen: Exactly, yeah.

And did you guys know you were going to end up directing it while you were writing the script?

Seth Rogen: We hoped it, yeah.

Evan Goldberg: Yeah, we hoped it. There was a point when we... And then we eventually realized that no one else could, because to get these guys, the specific group we needed...

Seth Rogen: It wouldn’t have worked...It literally wouldn’t have worked if you weren’t friends with all of them .

When you were writing, did that affect how you were working from a visual standpoint?

Seth Rogen: Yeah. Honestly, it was nice because we always write visual cues into our scripts. They just get ignored a lot - sometimes for better and sometimes for worse, but it was nice writing something knowing it would actually be executed the way we pictured it and so I think we did write a few things a little differently than we would have, because I think we knew... but it was also, normally someone else would take some of our more boring sequences and make them visually interesting, and now we knew that was up to us to do [laughs]. And so I think that played into also it also a little bit.

You guys also, just as writers, you’ve worked with some great directors, I mean Jonathan Levine, Michel Gondry, Greg Mottola. So I mean, how much did you guys get influenced from them just in terms of how you approached this film?

Evan Goldberg: Tons, I mean everybody that we’ve ever worked with, pretty much, Judd [Apatow] and all those guys, everybody.

Seth Rogen: And we’ve been very fortunate and I think we’ve worked with a good mix of directors too, which is nice. We’ve worked with some visually amazing directors…

There’s Michel Gondry [laughs]

Seth Rogen: …some people who are very good with emotional stuff...

Evan Goldberg: Gondry compared to Judd, big difference.

Seth Rogen: Exactly, but Judd, when it comes to the emotional reality stuff is better than everyone so we were very fortunate to have this mix of influences and we spent a lot of time with all of these people, so...

Evan Goldberg: Jody Hill and Michael Dowse make shit dark and gritty.

Showing off the most awful sides of life [laughs]

Both: Exactly!

Seth Rogen: So, I think that’s what nice about the movie. It is visually interesting, I hope... it’s a little more of an action film than people probably expect it to be, but it’s because we worked with all of these people and had so much fun together.

Also, you are dealing with this cast of the funniest people we have working in movies today. So, how much do you rely on them then just on a day to day basis to contribute to their scenes?

Evan Goldberg: As the directors, we feel the need to make sure we’ve got it covered. Everything they do is just a stupendous amount of icing on that cake. We think we could make it good no matter what, but they do make some incredible contributions.

Seth Rogen: It’s amazing what they contribute and sometimes you just can’t believe it. Sometimes the jokes they come up with, like that joke in the trailer where it’s “James Franco didn’t suck any dick last night?” I think that was actually improvised...I think that’s literally how it was improvised, how we used it in the trailer and we were all standing there, like “Holy shit! That’s fucking crazy,” and it was amazing. I still watch the movie and notice the shit some of the guys do.

Evan Goldberg: The physical things, like they all do these weird little physical changes to their characters that I’ve never seen them do.

Seth Rogen: Or there would be like a second of silence and one of the guys will say something that works and lands and gets a laugh and I’m still blown away. And I think the fact that most of them know each other really helped that. It was great. It was amazing to watch sometimes. I mean, it was six guys. That’s not easy to do.

Evan Goldberg: And they’re all so good at improv which means they have incredible memories. Everyone helped everyone. Literally in the circle of friends they’d be like, “Craig, you forgot that...oh, thanks, dude. Good call.”

Seth Rogen: And then if they liked each other’s bits, then they would help. It was great. They all really supported each other.

I heard early on there was some conversation about Daniel Radcliffe being in the film. I’m curious about that story and also was that directly related to Emma Watson being in there?

Evan Goldberg: No, it wasn’t involved with Emma Watson.

Seth Rogen: It was a totally unrelated. I mean, we wrote the part for the people, so obviously there was a Daniel Radcliffe and we wrote the part to him about and it went much farther than he wanted it to and honestly...

Evan Goldberg: In hindsight he made a very logical choice [laughs].

Seth Rogen: I don’t think that we approached it as fresh as we could have.

Evan Goldberg: We were excited to meet him and we just kind of, we were too excited

Seth Rogen: But the Emma thing, we’re just Harry Potter fans! [laughs]

If you have a hankering to see some celebrities die horrifically during the apocalypse, then Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's This Is The End is the movie made especially for you. Thanks to this brand new red band trailer from Machinima, we now what it looks like to see Rihanna fall in a pit that goes straight down to hell and Michael Cera getting coked out of his mind and impaled on a light post. The movie looks totally gruesome and messed up, but, most importantly, hilarious.

The movie is actually the directorial debut for Rogen and Goldberg, who adapted the film from the short they made Jay & Seth vs. The Apocalypse. As seen in the trailer, the movie features Jay Baruchel (playing himself, like everyone else in the cast) flying in from Canada to visit Rogen in Los Angeles. While there they attend a massive, celeb-stacked party at James Franco's house...but things begin to go all kinds of wrong when they realize that they're living through the biblical apocalypse.

We've been hearing a lot about the apocalyptic comedy over the last few days, as the cast assembled at WonderCon down in Anaheim this past weekend, and we got a fake out Pineapple Express 2 trailer earlier today in honor of April Fools Day, and there's surely more to come. Will Craig Robinson get any tougher? Will the group get revenge against Emma Watson? What the hell is that beast-like thing roaming through the house? All of those questions will answered when the film hits theaters June 12.

At the start of This Is The End, directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg bring together all of their frequent co-stars and collaborators, from Jonah Hill to Danny McBride to Craig Robinson, together for a massive party at James Franco’s house. Sounds like a great time, right? Who wouldn’t want to spend a night hanging out with some of the biggest and funniest comedy stars in the entire world? As fun as it sounds, however, the enjoyment level probably does decrease quite a bit when you realize that outside of the house the entire world is falling apart as a result of the biblical apocalypse. Or perhaps it just ratchets the fun up another notch…

You saw and laughed at the amazing Red Band trailer that was released for the film back in December, but now Rogen and Goldberg are bringing the This Is The End experience to WonderCon. Follow our live-blog below to find out all about the new comedy, as well as details about the special footage their set to present!

3:55: Danny McBride! Craig Robinson! Seth Rogen! Evan Goldberg on stage! Rogen wears a Wolverine costume and is disappointed nobody else dressed as the X-men… but then Evan Goldberg comes dressed in an S&M costume

3:56: Time for the green band trailer!

4:00: The trailer will likely be online soon, but here’s a brief description: Jay Baruchel arrives at the airport, and meets Seth Rogen, who enthusiastically tells him that they’re going to a party at James Franco’s house. Around the party we see numerous celebrities, including Mindy Kailing, who is complaining about how much of an ass Michael Cera is being (we see Cera slap Rihanna on the ass only to get a huge slap across the face. After a few big quakes, we cut to outside where it is clear the world is ending. There’s a shot of Aziz Ansari gripping on to the side of a pit, begging for help. Craig Robinson just leaves him, but when he grabs Kevin Hart’s ankle, Hart begins to kick him in the face numerous times. Demons! Crashing cops cars! Emma Watson then bursts on to the scene and hits Seth Rogen in the face with an axe - then it cuts to Danny McBride talking into a camera saying that that she ended up stealing all of their stuff.

4:01: They chose James Franco’s house because he was the only one with a special house among the members of the cast. Craig Robinson says it wouldn’t have worked at his place because he’s in a one bedroom apartment.

4:02: Seth Rogen says that the number of celebrities who die is in the double digits – and in very graphic ways. They took particular pleasure in killing David Krumholtz and Martin Starr, though. They killed most of the people they wanted to see dead.

4:03: Now it’s time for a clip! Seth and Jay Baruchel are at James Franco’s house and the begin of the end of the world happens. Simple set up!

4:04: An extended version of the scene at the beginning of the trailer, the footage begins at the start of the apocalypse. After the house shakes, Franco tries to calm everyone down, thinking that there’s an earthquake. When the house shakes again everyone runs - but when they get outside they see that the hills are on fire and it becomes very clear that it's the end of the world. Everyone stops in their tracks. Paul Rudd comes running in from out of nowhere with a huge bottle of champagne. Completely oblivious to what's going on, Michael Cera addresses the crowd complaining that somebody stole his cellphone. Behind him we see a sink hole open up, but he doesn't seem to notice. The pit extends to a light pole behind him, and when it comes down it stabs through Cera's chest. As the blood pours out, the hole in the ground gets bigger and the pole starts to stand upright, taking Cera with it. Up on top of the pole, he reaches into his pocket and finds his phone, apologizing to everybody. The pit gets bigger and bigger and eventually Cera falls to hell, which leads to total panic! Rihanna falls! Jay Baruchel hangs on the edge! While running away Paul Rudd steps on a woman’s head, and completely crushes it in. Martin Starr, also clinging to the side of the pit, is hit by a rock and falls, followed by David Krumholtz. We then see the Aziz Ansari scene play out, only it ends with a zap of electricity cutting off his hand - which remains gripped around Kevin Hart's leg. After jumping around trying to shake it off he falls and the scene ends.

4:07: Danny McBride says that Jay Baruchel would be the most likely survivor because he doesn’t add much. Craig adds that he loves canned food and probably is already stocked up. Seth says he lives on cigarettes and Skittles.

4:08: Seth says that the movie reflects on life in a way because he has this friend, Jay Baruchel, from Canada, and that he doesn’t get along as well with Seth’s celebrity friends. And they need to sort out their issues during the apocalypse.

4:09: Evan says that The Avengers was helpful because it was at its best when it was the whole team together. Seth adds that if you liked The Avengers you’ll like this movie.

4:10: Danny McBride went around message boards to figure out flops and such to make fun of everyone with.

4:11: The rule of their comedy is “let them go.” At some point every actor said to Seth and Evan “I don’t want to be myself saying that because it’s despicable” - except for Michael Cera.

4:12: Michael Cera is the most out of character for himself – as he is a giant coke head.

4:13: Another clip! Seth Rogen says that Jonah Hill gets possessed by an evil spirit and has been tied to the bed. Starting with a title card that says,"The Exorcism of Jonah Hill" we see the group of friends enter into the bedroom, everyone holding candles with the exception of Jay who has a cross made out of kitchen utensils and a bible. After calling to Jonah, the demon says “Jonah Hill is no more.” Jay stars screaming, "The Power of Christ compels you," which only leads to mockery by Hill "Oh does it? Oh does it compel me?" Seth mocks Jay for just quoting The Exorcist, but Jay says that they must have done their research. Jay then gets on the bed and keeps it up, and Jonah starts to actually seem hurt. The room begins to shake, and Jonah is in more and more pain until Seth screams for Jay to stop and tackles him off the bed.

4:14: Time for some fan questions!

4:15: Thoughts on Edgar Wright’s The World’s End? Seth says that they don’t know much about the project. They talked about it a little bit, but there’s no real overlap between the projects.

4:16: Danny McBride confirms a new season of Eastbound and Down

4:17: How much improvisation is on set? Evan says that improv helps bad writing – Craig adds they were improving all the time as a result.

4:18: The movie wasn’t really a reaction to all the apocalyptic films that have come out recently, but instead a follow-up to the short Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse

4:22: Was there anything in the movie that went too far? Apparently it was a challenge to have everyone play themselves. Seth says it rubs people the wrong way in the studio world. They lied and said they would shoot in a way that would allow them to have the characters not play themselves – which was a total lie.

4:23: When it came to effects, the studio just gave them money and said good luck. But they did a few pre-vis mockups of the action scenes, and they went for it. They do eventually leave the house.

4:25: Is a Freaks and Geeks reunion in the cards? This movie is halfway there and they would love to do it, but nobody has called

4:26: Who was the most excited to play the exaggerated version of themselves? The group agrees that it was Michael Cera. The first scene he shot was Cera slapping Rihanna on the ass, and Cera getting slapped – and it was all real.

4:26: Last question! Was there a point where they realized that they realized they had the clout to get it made? Basically, they still had to struggle to get it made. Seth jokes that Green Hornet did well overseas.

4:23: That’s all she wrote!

For more of our WonderCon 2013 coverage, be sure to click over HERE

When you stick Seth Rogen, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill and Danny McBride all in a room together you know that their conversation is going to be extremely funny. But if you put that same conversation against the backdrop of the end of the world it just takes it all to a while new level of hilarious. And in the first trailer for This is The End the crew of comedians make it work brilliantly.

With Judd Apatow's This is 40 in theaters this weekend it's only appropriate that we see a Red Band preview for the directorial debut of Rogen and his writing partner Evan Goldberg. The project is based on the short film Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse and you can get your first restricted look at the new comedy below.

For starters it needs to be said that This is the End is a much better title than The End of the World, as it was formerly known (and now it's much harder to confuse it with Edgar Wright's The World's End). Secondly, I now cannot wait for this movie to come out. I loved watching McBride take down each one of his friends and if they can keep that level of funny going throughout we should be in for a real treat in 2013.

And as an extra treat Sony has also released the film's first poster via Yahoo!, and you can check it out below:

The story begins with James Franco (playing himself) throwing a huge party for all of his friends in his Los Angeles mansion, but things go horribly, horribly wrong when the end of the days suddenly strikes and the survivors must try and survive in the post-apocalyptic world. The list of actors is far too long to put here, but you can find all the names in our Blend Film Database. This Is The End will be in theaters June 14, 2013

While it feels like it took forever to get going, Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse is finally becoming a real movie. Now titled simply The Apocalypse, the project got a big boost late last year when Seth Rogen said that the movie would be going into production in 2012 and that Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, James Franco and Craig Robinson had joined the cast and will be playing themselves. Now, however, the most important part of filmmaking may be coming together: money.

THR has learned that Sony is now in talks to both finance and distribute The Apocalypse. The film will mark the directorial debut of both Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who are best known as writing partners who produced scripts for Superbad, Pineapple Express, Green Hornet and the upcoming Neighborhood Watch (they also wrote the script for The Apocalypse). The story will follow Rogen, Hill, McBride, Franco, Robinson and Jay Baruchel as they are holed up in Franco's Los Angeles apartment. A source close to the trade said that the film's budget will be somewhere in the $30 to $40 million range. There have actually been multiple suitors for the project, but Sony is the leader. The film is based on a short that Rogen and Baruchel did which you can see below:

I'm so happy that this film is moving forward. As I expressed multiple times while covering Roman Polanski's Carnage, I'm a huge fan of sticking a bunch of people in a room and having them scream at each other for 90 minutes. I have total faith in this group of comedians and I sincerely hope they don't let us down.

It was around this time last year when we hipped you to this clip, a fake trailer in which Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel survive the Apocalypse together, and then get on each other’s nerves. At the time, nobody was entirely sure what it was supposed to be for, we did however know that it was one minute and twenty-five seconds.

Well now we know what Seth and Jay were up to with their Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse trailer. They were pitching a movie. A movie which is now a reality. Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse is being turned into a feature film by Mandate Pictures, according to HR. Wait, isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Don't you make the movie first and then the trailer?

Since their names are kind of in the title, Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel will star, and the script is being written and produced by Seth and his lifetime friend/Superbad writing partner Evan Goldberg, whom the folks at Mandate have had the good sense to give complete creative control.

The story is exactly what it seems to be in the trailer. The world is ending, unfolding, and being invaded by monsters. Meanwhile, two guys are trapped in a crummy apartment together getting on each others’ nerves. It’s entirely likely that we’ll see a lot of Seth Rogen peeing in a bucket.

By way of reminder, here’s another look at the trailer for Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse: