Where would we be without the oddball intensity of Crispin Hellion Glover? We wouldn’t have the elegant, menacing Thin Man from the “Charlie’s Angels” films. Or sweetly nerdy George McFly. Let’s celebrate his most memorable screen characters.
‘The Doors’ (1991)
Tri-Star Pictures
In a cameo as reclusive art icon Andy Warhol, Glover is at his most mellow in Oliver Stone’s biopic. He comes off as a pop-art version of gee-whiz George McFly as tells Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer), “Wow. We really like your music.”
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‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ (2010)
MGM
The intense part of this time-traveling comedy is watching in suspense to see when multi-tasking ski lodge employee Phil Wedmaier will lose his arm! Surely while chainsaw-carving an ice sculpture.
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‘Alice in Wonderland’ (2010)
Disney
With Johnny Depp maxing out the eccentricity quotient as the Mad Hatter, that leaves Glover as the rather dashing, if still evil, Knave of Hearts. Just check out the YouTube fan videos dedicated to shipping him with Alice (Mia Wasikowska).
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‘Epic Movie’ (2007)
20th Century Fox
Who do you get to send up Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka? Glover. (They first worked together on “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” btw.) No hard feelings on Tim Burton’s part, who later hired Glover for “Alice in Wonderland.”
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‘American Gods’ (2017-2019)
Starz
Who else but Glover could have delivered this opening dialogue to main character Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle): “I know your blood type and your recurring nightmare. B-positive and an orchard of bones.” As Mr. World, the New God of globalization and the leader of the New Gods, Glover is dapper, sinister and kind of an amalgamation of every role he’s ever played.
‘River’s Edge’ (1987)
Island Pictures
In this dark drama based on a true story, when a teenager kills his girlfriend, his friends all come to view the body. And neglect to tell the police. Glover plays Layne, who makes it his solemn duty to keep the cover-up going. As the story goes, Glover’s performance was so hyperactive, the distributors insisted they add a line to the script about his character being a speed freak.
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‘Charlie’s Angels’ (2000)
Columbia Pictures
Everything the mute Thin Man does is sinister, whether it’s smoking a cigarette or wielding a sword. Until the sequel, when we learn that the hair-grabbing fetishist has a thing for Dylan (Drew Barrymore). And it’s… reciprocated! All too briefly.
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‘Willard’ (2003)
New Line Cinema
Reviews of this remake of the 1971 cult film weren’t kind, but most critics agreed: Glover was born to play the twitchy lead character, who trains rats to do his evil bidding.
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‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
Universal
When Marty McFly goes back in time, getting his teenage mom to fall for dweeby George McFly is a tall order. How many shy nerds can deliver a line like “You’re my density” and make it sound both overwhelmingly sweet and bizarrely creepy? Lucky for Marty, his existence is assured when George proves to be as romantic as he is awkward. (The franchise dropped Glover from future installments, alas. But this one outing proved to be timeless.)
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‘Rubin and Ed’ (1991)
Working Title Films
If you think Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp were the oddest indie actors working in the ’90s, you must not have seen a bewigged, platform-shoed Glover high-kicking in this buddy comedy.
It’s peak Glover: He stars as an eccentric young man whose mother won’t return his stereo unless he makes some friends. His road trip buddy? A guy looking for a place to bury his frozen cat.
‘Late Night with David Letterman’ (1987)
NBC
Arguably, the oddest character Glover ever played is… himself. In this infamous Letterman appearance (that predates “Rubin and Ed”), the incredibly nervous actor is sensitive to the audience laughing at his wig and his platform shoes. He reads tabloid stories about his eccentricities, then then challenges Letterman to an arm wrestling contest. Then he nearly takes out the late night host with a high kick.
Before he became the motion-capture king behind King Kong, Gollum and Caesar the ape, Andy Serkis was an Emmy and BAFTA-nominated character actor. Here’s some of his best non-digital work.
Smeagol – ‘Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
New Line
Serkis’s performance as Gollum is so impressive, it’s easy to forget he briefly appears as the rather Hobbit-like Sméagol before the Ring gave him “unnatural long life.” As Sméagol he goes in an instant from a fairly amiable fisherman (although the way he baits that worm is a bit off) to a murderer when his cousin finds the Ring while fishing.
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Mr. Alley – ‘The Prestige’ (2006)
Warner Bros./Disney
Serkis unveils a flawless American accent (and a wink of mischief) as Nikola Tesla (David Bowie)’s assistant in Christopher Nolan‘s grim drama about rival magicians.
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Lumpy – ‘King Kong’ (2005)
Universal Pictures
Not only did Serkis perform the part of Kong in Peter Jackson‘s epic, he also played doomed cook Lumpy, who is attacked and eaten by giant worms. Would have been smarter if he hadn’t wasted all his ammo on harmless (but giant) insects.
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William Hare – ‘Burke & Hare’ (2010)
IFC Films
If anyone can make grave-robbing and trading in corpses funny, it’s Serkis, Simon Pegg and John Landis.
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Richard Kneeland – ’13 Going on 30′ (2004)
Columbia Pictures
When Jenna (Jennifer Garner) busts out with “Thriller,” everyone is reluctant to join in. But soon, even her too-cool boss (Serkis) is on the dance floor. And who’s the only one moonwalking? That’s right, Andy Serkis.
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John D’Auban – ‘Topsy-Turvy’ (1999)
Pathé Distribution
Serkis steals the show as the disapproving choreographer of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, “The Mikado.” He takes issue with all of Gilbert (Jim Broadbent)’s directions to the cast, muttering. “I haven’t laughed so much since my tights caught fire in ‘Harlequin Meets Itchity Witch and the Snitch.’”
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Colleoni – ‘Brighton Rock’ (2010)
Optimum Releasing
Serkis is a smooth, well-connected gangster facing off with a teenage upstart (Sam Riley) in this adaptation of the Graham Greene novel.
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Capricorn – ‘Inkheart’ (2008)
New Line Cinema
If you’re a British character actor, you’re going to play more than your share of villains, including this heartless, rather campy bad guy who just loves duct tape.
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Martin Hannett – ’24 Hour Party People’ (2002)
United Artists
In this look back at the Manchester music scene that gave rise to bands like Joy Division, Serkis is the world’s most demanding sound engineer. He demands that the band’s drummer play “faster, but slower.” He’s not satisfied until the drum kit is rebuilt … on the roof of the studio.
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Bill Sikes – ‘Oliver Twist’ (1999)
ITV
Taking on one of literature’s most notorious villains, Serkis steps into the nefarious character’s shoes with visible delight.
Ulysses Klaue – ‘Black Panther’ (2018)
Marvel
He first appeared in the Marvel movie “Age of Ultron,” but this one-armed South African mercenary is one of the highlights of “Black Panther.” Whether gleefully spilling all the tea about Wakanda or shooting up a casino, he’s having the time of his rotten life.
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Rigaud – ‘Little Dorrit’ (2008)
BBC/WGBH
Serkis received an Emmy nomination for his role as a Dickensian murderer with a multitude of aliases.
Ian Dury – ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’ (2010)
Lipsync Productions
In his first lead role, Serkis earned Best Actor nominations from BAFTA and the British Independent Film Awards for his audacious portrayal of the British punk/new wave musician. He even did his own vocals!
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Watch Andy Serkis’ latest movie as director ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ in theaters on Oct 1st, 2021.
In the mood for a romance movie? We listed the best romantic comedies to watch to for you.
‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961)
Holly Golightly is an eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire. But when young writer Paul Varjak moves into her apartment building, her past threatens to get in their way.
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‘Annie Hall’ (1977)
A Woody Allen classic. New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.
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‘Manhattan’ (1979)
Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend’s mistress.
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‘Moonstruck’ (1987)
No sooner does Italian-American widow Loretta accept a marriage proposal from her doltish boyfriend, Johnny, than she finds herself falling for his younger brother, Ronny. She tries to resist, but Ronny lost his hand in an accident he blames on his brother, and has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls deeper in love, she comes to learn that she’s not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
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‘Bull Durham’ (1988)
Veteran catcher Crash Davis is brought to the minor league Durham Bulls to help their up and coming pitching prospect, “Nuke” Laloosh. Their relationship gets off to a rocky start and is further complicated when baseball groupie Annie Savoy sets her sights on the two men.
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‘Say Anything…’ (1989)
A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college.
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‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ (1994)
Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.
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’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999)
Buena Vista Pictures
Still one of the funniest, sweetest, and most quotable teen romcoms. We wish Heath Ledger were still here, singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.”
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‘The Best Man’ (1999)
Universal
Writer Harper (Taye Diggs) has to decide who he really loves: girlfriend Robin (Sanaa Lathan) or old flame Jordan (Nia Long). And survive the fallout from writing about all his friend’s complicated love lives.
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‘Never Been Kissed’ (1999)
20th Century Fox
Drew Barrymore is Josie, who was a geeky unpopular teen, and is now a reporter who’s assigned to go undercover at a high school. She gets a crush on her English teacher (Michael Vartan) and, yes, by the end of the film, she does get her first kiss from him — in full view of the cheering students.
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‘Notting Hill’ (1999)
Universal
A chance encounter between an ordinary bloke (Hugh Grant) and a movie star (Julia Roberts) leads to an unexpected romance. The supporting cast is what really makes this film, especially Grant’s gross roommate (Rhys Ifans). And the scene where Grant bluffs his way (terribly) through a press junket when he drops in to see Julia on the wrong day at her hotel is pure movie magic.
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‘Bring It On’ (2000)
Universal Pictures
New cheer captain Torrance (Kirsten Dunst) has her hands full: Recruiting a new cheerleader, coming up with new (not stolen) routines, and making peace with a rival school. Is there time for the cute, mix-tape-making brother (Jesse Bradford) of new BFF Missy (Eliza Dushku)? Yes, yes there is.
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‘High Fidelity’ (2000)
Touchstone Pictures
John Cusack is a record store owner (yeah, OK, this movie is 19 years old) who is obsessed with making the perfect music mix. And winning back his ex-girlfriend, who trots out a series of rebound boyfriends in front of him. Eventually (after lots of great tunes and voiceover), he gets over his fear of commitment. They reunite to a surprisingly great cover version of “Let’s Get It On” by Jack Black.
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‘Meet the Parents’ (2000)
Universal
It’s an uphill battle when Teri Polo brings home fiancé Ben Stiller, who can’t go 60 seconds without embarrassing himself in front of her parents. And her perfect ex, Owen Wilson. This is still silly, sublime perfection.
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‘Miss Congeniality’ (2000)
Warner Brothers
“You think I’m sexy. You want to kiss me.” Another magical Hollywood makeover turns uncouth FBI agent Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) into a total hottie so she can go undercover at a pageant. Fellow agent Eric (Benjamin Bratt) can’t resist and we can’t blame him.
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‘Return to Me’ (2000)
MGM
In this vastly underrated romcom, grieving widower Bob (David Duchovny) meets Grace (Minnie Driver) and romance ensues. And then they both realize she, a heart transplant recipient, has his dead wife’s heart. The supporting cast is terrific, including Grace’s BFF, Bonnie Hunt (who also directed). The ending couldn’t be more romantic. Swoon.
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‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001)
Miramax
In the first Bridget Jones movie, our favorite Brit romcom heroine is torn between upper-class snob Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and her cad of a boss (Hugh Grant). And then there’s the unfortunate incident with the Playboy bunny outfit.
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‘Kissing Jessica Stein’ (2001)
Fox Searchlight
Single Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) finds the perfect-sounding mate in the personals: Except it’s a woman, not a man. She decides to roll the dice and begins a start-stop-go relationship with Helen (Heather Juergensen) in this funny, heartfelt indie.
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‘Legally Blonde’ (2001)
MGM
Elle Woods, the most unlikely feminist icon, gets into Harvard Law to follow her douche-y ex. She ends up fighting justice on all fronts, teaching women the almighty “bend and snap,” and lines up a far better bf in Luke Wilson.
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‘The Princess Diaries’ (2001)
Buena Vista Pictures
Mia (Anne Hathaway) finds out she’s a princess and gets a fab makeover — and ends up with the cute, guitar-playing guy (real musician Robert Schwartzman, lead singer of Rooney). Of course, by the second film there’s another guy in the picture. We also love the relationship between Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews) and her bodyguard (Hector Elizondo).
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‘Amélie’ (2001)
UGC Fox Distribution
In this dreamily, gorgeous French film, imaginative Amélie (Audrey Tatou) sees the world in the most fanciful way. She finds her soulmate in Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz), who likes to collect abandoned photo booth pictures. It only gets more whimsical from there.
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‘About a Boy’ (2002)
Universal Pictures
In this very funny film based on the Nick Hornby novel, single guy Hugh Grant pretends to be a single dad to attract single moms… all goes well until new gf Rachel Weisz learns his “son” (Nicholas Hoult) isn’t his son at all. Fortunately, all is put right when he makes a complete fool of himself to save Hoult from the same fate.
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‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (2002)
Twentieth Century Fox
Still one of our go-to romcoms. Jess (Parminder Nagra) just wants to play football like her hero David Beckham, but her traditional family disapproves. One incentive to keep playing, the handsome coach (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers in a rare good-guy role).
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‘Brown Sugar’ (2002)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan are childhood friends who share a love of hip-hop — and, they eventually admit — each other. The soundtrack (and the music cameos) are on fire.
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‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ (2002)
IFC Films
It’s the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time for a reason. The timeless story of how once-mousy Toula (Nia Vardalos) meets and marries Ian (John Corbett) is all the funnier thanks to her hilarious family.
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‘Something’s Gotta Give’ (2003)
Columbia Pictures
In one of the most complicated of romcom relationships, Diane Keaton starts dating Jack Nicholson, who was first dating her daughter! Why she ends up choosing the unfaithful old fart over hot young doctor Keanu Reeves, we’ll never know. Keaton received her fourth Best Actress Oscar nomination for the film.
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‘Love Actually’ (2003)
Universal Pictures
What’s your favorite storyline in Richard Curtis’s Christmas-set smorgasbord? We’re fond of author Jamie (Colin Firth) proposing to housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz) in terrible Portuguese. And, of course, Prime Minister Hugh Grant falling for the tea girl (Martine McCutcheon). Not so much into the stalking of Keira Knightley. (Sorry, Andrew Lincoln.)
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’13 Going on 30′ (2004)
Columbia Pictures
Jennifer Garner does “Big” in this charming romcom in which she avoids becoming a Mean Girl and ends up with the right guy after all (Mark Ruffalo). Oh and nobody cuts a rug to “Thriller” quite like her.
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‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ (2005)
Universal
Geeky 40-year-old virgin Andy (Steve Carell) manages to woo Trish (Catherine Keener)… until she starts thinking his oddness means he’s a serial killer! Features one of the most epic grand gesture third-act scenes set to ’80s rockers Asia’s “Heat of the Moment.” And of course, the “Kelly Clarkson!” waxing scene.
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‘The Holiday’ (2006)
Columbia Pictures
Two unlucky-in-love women, an American (Cameron Diaz) and a Brit (Kate Winslet), swap houses for the holidays and (of course) find romance. Romcom queen Nancy Meyers wrote and directed.
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‘Enchanted’ (2007)
Disney
Amy Adams is perfection as Giselle, an animated princess who finds herself in gritty, real-life NYC. Luckily, there’s a flesh-and-blood Prince Charming Patrick Dempsey), who can’t help falling for her. Favorite bit: Giselle summoning the birds — and rats and roaches — of the city to help her clean his apartment.
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‘Knocked Up’ (2007)
For fun loving party animal Ben Stone, the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she’s pregnant.
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‘Juno’ (2007)
Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.
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‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (2008)
Universal Pictures
Running into your ex and her new rock star boyfriend on vacation? Awkward! Conveniently for Peter (Jason Segel), hotel concierge Rachel (Mila Kunis) is into guys on the rebound.
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‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ (2008)
Focus Features
While we do care about aspiring actress Amy Adam’s many loves in this period comedy, we are far more invested in down-on-her-luck governess Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) finally hooking up with well-heeled Joe (Ciarán Hinds) after several missed opportunities.
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‘The Proposal’ (2009)
Touchstone Pictures
It’s a bumpy ride to love for obnoxious boss Margaret (Sandra Bullock) and her beleaguered assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). He agrees to act as her fiancé so she won’t be deported (she’s Canadian). Has that not ever led to true love in the movies?
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‘500 Days of Summer’ (2009)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Hopeless romantic Joseph Gordon-Levitt reflects on what went wrong with ex Zooey Deschanel in this wonderfully offbeat indie.
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‘Just Wright’ (2010)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
A reminder that Rebel Wilson is not the first plus-size star to do a romcom. And that in this story that has physical therapist Queen Latifah working with injured b-ball star Common, we are so rooting for him to get wise to gold-digger Paula Patton and get with the Queen instead.
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‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ (2011)
Warner Bros.
Emma Stone falls for Ryan Gosling and his not-Photoshopped abs in this very funny film with almost as many romantic storylines as “Love, Actually.”
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‘Bridesmaids’ (2011)
Annie’s life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.
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‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012)
After spending eight months in a mental institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife.
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‘Pitch Perfect’ (2012)
Universal
When Beca (Anna Kendrick) sings Jesse (Skylar Astin)’s favorite song, “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” that’s the key to cementing their romance. And winning the singing competition, of course.
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‘About Time’ (2013)
Universal Pictures
Richard Curtis directs this tale of time-traveling Tim (Domhnall Gleeson), who gets endless retakes to woo the girl of his dreams (Rachel McAdams). Have your tissues ready for this one: It’s as heartbreaking as it is funny.
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‘Enough Said’ (2013)
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Sadly, this change-of-pace role for “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini was one of his last: He romances Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who inconveniently is good friends with his ex (Catherine Keener). Both leads and writer/director Nicole Holofcener racked up a number of awards nominations (deservedly so).
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‘The Spectacular Now’ (2013)
A24
Yay, a coming-of-age Shailene Woodley romance where no one dies! Reminiscent of ’80s classics like “Say Anything…,” this comedy-drama feels refreshingly real. She and Miles Teller won a Special Jury Award for Acting at the Sundance Film Fest.
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‘Sing Street’ (2016)
Lionsgate
Before she was Freddie Mercury’s muse in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Lucy Boynton was inspiring Cosmo (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) to form a band, just so she can be their videos. Set in ’80s Dublin, this mostly feel-good comedy from the director of “Once” is gold. Unhappily, the great original songs were overlooked at Oscar time.
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‘The Big Sick’ (2017)
Lionsgate
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani and real-life wife Emily Gordon wrote this Oscar-nominated film about how they met, broke up (he never even told his family about her!) and ultimately reunited. Kumail plays himself and Zoe Kazan plays Emily.
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‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (2018)
Warner Bros.
Rachel (Constance Wu) is shocked to discover that her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) belongs to an incredibly wealthy family. And his mother (Michelle Yeoh) is not a fan of hers. Challenge accepted!
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‘Juliet, Naked’ (2018)
Lionsgate
Annie (Rose Byrne) has been in a dead-end relationship with Duncan (Chris O’Dowd) for years. He’s obsessed with musician Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke), which, in a hilarious twist, leads to Annie hooking up with Duncan’s idol. Another Nick Hornby gem.
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‘Palm Springs’ (2020)
When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated when they find themselves unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other.
Netflix can cross another big item of its company bucket list, as they’ve wooed legendary director Martin Scorsese to the fold. Even better, this biographical crime drama features Scorsese working with dome familiar faces. Robert De Niro stars as labor union leader Frank Sheeran, the man famous for killing mob boss Jimmy Hoffa (played here by Al Pacino).
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Green Book (2018)
Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South in the days when African Americans, forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line, relied on a guide called The Negro Motorist Green Book.
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Moonlight (2016)
A24
After the biggest Oscar mix-up of all time, this moving indie won Best Picture over “La La Land.” It also scored wins for Mahershala Ali and Best Adapted Screenplay. It received 8 noms in all, including for its stunning cinematography and director Barry Jenkins.
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Spotlight (2015)
Open Road Films
This tense, true-life drama about a team of Boston journalists who exposed decades of abuse in the Catholic church won Best Picture and Original Screenplay, as well as nominations for Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo.
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Argo (2012)
As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA ‘exfiltration’ specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
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The King’s Speech (2010)
The King’s Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George (‘Bertie’) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country into war.
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Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Jamal Malik is an impoverished Indian teen who becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ but, after he wins, he is suspected of cheating.
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There Will Be Blood (2007)
Paramount Vantage
Daniel Day-Lewis collected his second Best Actor Oscar as larger-than-life Daniel Plainview. Cinematographer Robert Elswit also won an Oscar. The film was nominated for 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
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The Departed (2006)
Warner Bros.
The crime drama that finally won Best Picture and Best Director for Martin Scorsese. No noms for any of the stellar cast… except for Mark Wahlberg. Wha?!
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Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Warner Bros.
Star Hilary Swank and director Clint Eastwood won their second batch of Oscars for this boxing drama. It also won Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman and Best Picture.
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A Beautiful Mind (2001)
He saw the world in a way no one could have imagined. John Nash (Russel Crowe) is a brilliant but asocial mathematician fighting schizophrenia. After he accepts secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish.
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Gladiator (2000)
In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army’s most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus’ devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
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American Beauty (1999)
Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter’s attractive friend.
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Good Will Hunting (1997)
MIramax
It didn’t win Best Picture, but those feel-good wins for an overwhelmed Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor) and screenplay (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck) gave us some of our favorite Oscar moments ever.
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Jerry Maguire (1996)
TriStar Pictures
Ready for something upbeat after all those downer dramas? Cuba Gooding Jr.‘s star athlete is every bit as entertaining as his unforgettable acceptance speech. Also nominated: Tom Cruise and director Cameron Crowe.
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Braveheart (1995)
Enraged at the slaughter of Murron, his new bride and childhood love, Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a platoon of the local English lord’s soldiers. This leads the village to revolt and, eventually, the entire country to rise up against English rule.
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Forrest Gump (1994)
Life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna get. A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do. But despite all he has achieved, his one true love eludes him.
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Schindler’s List (1993)
Universal
Steven Spielberg‘s acclaimed Holocaust drama won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography. Stars Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were nominated (and robbed)?
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Howards End (1992)
Sony Pictures Classics
Emma Thompson won Best Actress for this sumptuous Merchant-Ivory film. It also won awards for screenplay and art direction. It was nominated for Best Picture, Director, Cinematography, Costume Design, Music, and Supporting Actress (Vanessa Redgrave).
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Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Orion
The first horror film to win Best Picture at the Oscars (it also won Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director) remains one of the greatest films of the genre. Anthony Hopkins was perfection as Hannibal Lecter and we’re right there with Clarice (Jodie Foster) for every heart-stopping moment.
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Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
The story of an old Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her black chauffeur, Hoke. From an initial mere work relationship grew in 25 years a strong friendship between the two very different characters in a time when those types of relationships where shunned.
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Rain Man (1988)
A journey through understanding and fellowship. Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt’s father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.
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Terms of Endearment (1983)
Paramount
This mother-daughter tearjerker scored 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Shirley MacLaine) and Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson) and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Paramount
Steven Spielberg‘s ode to B-movie serials is not only one of the greatest popcorn films of all time, it won 5 Oscars: Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects, and a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing. Best Picture went (controversially) to “Chariots of Fire.”
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Rocky (1976)
When world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed wants to give an unknown fighter a shot at the title as a publicity stunt, his handlers choose palooka Rocky Balboa, an uneducated collector for a Philadelphia loan shark. Rocky teams up with trainer Mickey Goldmill to make the most of this once in a lifetime break.
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The Godfather (1972)
Paramount
Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
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The French Connection (1971)
The famous car chase still makes audiences gasp and New York City was rarely grittier than in William Friedkin’s police thriller that won Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Best Actor for Gene Hackman as dogged cop Popeye Doyle.
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In the Heat of the Night (1967)
United Artists
This blistering crime drama in which a black cop from Philadelphia (Sidney Poitier) investigates a crime in the deeply racist South won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Rod Steiger. (Poitier won his Best Actor Oscar for “Lilies of the Field.”)
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To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Universal
A landmark American film that’s still enthralling, more than 50 years later. Gregory Peck won a Best Actor Oscar for his career-defining performance as noble lawyer Atticus Finch, who defends a black man (Brock Peters) unjustly accused of rape.
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Gone With the Wind (1939)
MGM
This hasn’t-aged-so-well Civil War epic swept the field with 10 Oscar wins, including the first-ever win for a black actor: Hattie McDaniel. For that alone, it’s a landmark film.
Here are the best slasher pics that all fans of the horror movie genre should see.
25. ‘Disturbing Behavior’ (1998)
Dimension
Not a great film, but a decent premise, at least — it’s a high school version of “The Stepford Wives,” with delinquent teens turned into overachieving, fascist automatons. Katie Holmes and James Marsden are the well-scrubbed leads, but Nick Stahl steals the movie as the most tormented of the teens.
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24. ‘The Slumber Party Massacre’ (1982)
This chiller, about teen sleepover guests menaced by a power-drill-wielding serial killer, was written as a genre parody (by “Rubyfruit Jungle” novelist Rita Mae Brown, of all people), but it was shot as a straight horror film. It works on both levels, scary and tongue-in-cheek.
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23. ‘Urban Legend’ (1998)
Dimension
Here’s one about a copycat killer whose murders mimic famous urban legends. A cast that includes Jared Leto, Joshua Jackson, Alicia Witt, and Rebecca Gayheart give this premise more credibility than it merits.
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22. ‘My Bloody Valentine’ (1981)
Not just the name of a cool band, “My Bloody Valentine” was also perhaps the goriest of the early wave of holiday-themed slasher movies. Here, the target is a Valentine’s Day dance in a mining town beset by gruesome tragedy. The killer is armed with a miner’s pickaxe and has a fondness for cutting out people’s hearts and putting them in candy boxes. How festive.
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21. ‘Sleepaway Camp’ (1983)
You’d think “Friday the 13th” would have had this territory covered, but you’d be wrong. Typical exploitation fare, but for a gender-bending shocking-twist finale worthy of “Psycho.”
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20. ‘The Faculty’ (1998)
Dimension
Robert Rodriguez’s tongue-in-cheek teen horror movie, written by “Scream” scribe Kevin Williamson, probably deserves a better reputation than it’s earned over the years. The tale of a high school whose students believe their teachers have been taken over by alien parasites is not that original, but it’s well-executed — thanks to Rodriguez’s inventive direction and a cast of future all-stars that includes Elijah Wood, Jordana Brewster, Josh Hartnett, and Jon Stewart.
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19. ‘I Was a Teenage Werewolf’ (1957)
Today, it’s considered camp, but back then, the idea of a teenage monster was actually considered shocking. This movie launched a series of similar exploitation films in which puberty, adolescence, and delinquency are conflated with monstrous metamorphoses. It was a huge hit, and it made a star out of Michael Landon in the lead role.
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18. ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1992)
Yeah, this horror-comedy lacks the dark brilliance of the TV adaptation that followed, but the original movie, for all its “Valley Girl”-with-vampires silliness, is actually not that bad. That climactic prom night vampire attack certainly hints at where Joss Whedon would go with the series.
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17. ‘Last House on the Left’ (1972)
This early Wes Craven film is adapted from no less arty a source than Ingmar Bergman’s “The Virgin Spring.” Two teenage girls are tortured, raped, and murdered by a Manson-like gang, but their parents capture the killers and wreak bloody vengeance. Craven later remade the movie when he could command a real budget, but the original, in all its cheap, exploitative glory, is the one to watch.
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16. ‘Prom Night’ (1980)
Sony
Long before “I Know What You Did Last Summer” came this cult-fave entry in the group-secretly-responsible-for-manslaughter-stalked-by-vengeful-killer genre. Jamie Lee Curtis cemented her early scream-queen reputation as the dead girl’s sister, whose prom night is ruined by the relentless slasher.
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15. ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (1997)
The kids-stalked-by-hook-handed-killer plot is no more original than the urban legend that spawned it. Still, as with other Kevin Williamson horror movies, this one benefits a lot from the casting, which includes Jennifer Love Hewitt (in her first ghoulish role), “Scream” alumna Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr., and Ryan Phillippe.
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14. ‘The Blob’ (1958)
Fox
Steve McQueen’s first feature film lead came as the teen hero in this tale of a small town whose populace is rapidly being consumed by a mass of alien Jell-O. The film’s clever centerpiece involved the blob attacking an theater full of teens watching a horror movie. (Meta!) The 1988 remake with Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith isn’t bad, either.
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13. ‘The Craft’ (1996)
Sony
A coven of teen witches uses magic to obtain the usual teen-girl wants: boyfriends, clear skin, etc. Of course, they go too far (especially freaky Fairuza Balk), and a cosmic comeuppance is in order. Known more for its style than its scares, this one was still frightfully influential.
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12. ‘Fright Night’ (1985)
This fondly-remembered horror comedy about a teenage boy who discovers that his suave neighbor, played by Chris Sarandon (“The Princess Bride”), is a vampire but can’t convince anyone except for a cheeseball TV horror-movie host (Roddy McDowall). Pick this over the Colin Farrell remake.
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11. ‘Final Destination’ (2000)
New Line
A nightmare vision keeps a group of teens from boarding what turns out to be a doomed plane, but Death will not be cheated. It soon picks off the survivors one by one, by staging a series of elaborate, lethal accidents. As the franchise continued, the killings became increasingly complex — and far-fetched. Still, there’s much to be said for a horror villain that can’t be defeated, only put off for a while.
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10. ‘Ginger Snaps’ (2000)
Motion International
This Canadian cult-classic launched a franchise and brought something fresh to the werewolf genre. Here, the afflicted heroine’s monstrous changes are linked to her beginning menstruation and burgeoning sexuality. The result is both scary and a smart critique of the horrors of puberty for girls in our society.
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9. ‘The Lost Boys’ (1987)
WB
This horror comedy earned a lot of derision for giving us the Coreys (Haim and Feldman), but it works on many levels — gothic teen romance (between bitten Jason Patric and Jami Gertz), teen peer pressure cautionary tale (if a gang of teen vampires tries to recruit you, just say no — especially if creepy Kiefer Sutherland is the gang leader) — comic-book parody, and seedy frightfest.
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8. ‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)
You never forget your first visit to Camp Crystal Lake, especially if you’re a promiscuous teen. Before Jason became an unstoppable, hockey-masked killer in the later entries, it was his mom who did the slashing, back when the premise was still fresh.
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7. ‘It Follows’ (2014)
RADiUS
This bare-bones teen horror thriller centers on a young teen and her friends plagued by some sort of curse (its origins and specifics are intentionally, terrifyingly, vague) that spreads like an STD. That aspect makes the film even more relevant and clever as it slow-burns toward one hell of an unsettling climax.
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6. ‘IT’ (2017)
WB/New Line
Stephen King scored his most successful (commercially) adaptation with this record-breaking hit, that pit the teens of Derry against the murder-fueled clown Pennywise. The rest is box office history.
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5. ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)
If other slasher films implicitly punished teens for bad behavior, this one went after them merely for thinking bad thoughts. Not even your subconscious is safe from Freddy Krueger. Yeah, this franchise-launcher has a lot of lame imitators to answer for. On the other hand, it also gave us Johnny Depp. So there’s that.
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4. ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)
Joss Whedon co-wrote with director Drew Goddard one of the best modern horror films, full of meta references to many movies on this list. In doing so, they successfully pay homage to — and subvert — the genre. Ever wonder why so many teens meet stab-happy deaths at the titular location? “Cabin” answers that question with an intricate (and terrifying) “upstairs, downstairs” mythology that involves zombie pain worshipers, werewolves and, of course, a mer-man.
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3. ‘Carrie’ (1976)
MGM
The first Stephen King novel to be translated to the screen, “Carrie” remains a well-executed film of bullying and horrific revenge. It’s a cautionary tale about religious extremism, an allegory about the terrors of puberty and female adolescence, a hear-wrenching showcase for Sissy Spacek in the title role, a source of iconic moments (Worst. Prom. Ever.), and a brutally effective Brian De Palma scare machine, right down to that shocking final shot.
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2. ‘Halloween’ (1978)
Universal
John Carpenter’s classic pretty much wrote the rules for teen slasher films as we know them. Michael Myers is, of course, one of the scariest horror villains ever, and Jamie Lee Curtis is one of the great scream-queens of all time. The rest of the franchise may have come to seem rote, but the original is still plenty terrifying.
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1. ‘Scream’ (1996)
Dimension
Before the franchise descended into (deliberate?) self-parody, Wes Craven‘s slasher saga managed to spoof a tired genre while revitalizing it for a new generation. It works as both a parody and a damn scary movie on its own terms.
This fall brings some big movies, including “Frozen II,” “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” and the second chapter of “IT,” as well as Oscar hopefuls “Joker,” “Ad Astra,” “Harriet,” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” to name a few.
Here’s 33 movies you’re going to want to see in theaters. (Check back later for our Winter/Holiday preview closer to December. )
The members of the Losers Club are all grown-up, but no less haunted by the evil Pennywise in “Chapter Two.” We can’t wait for the conclusion to this horror epic, whose stellar cast is led by Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, and, of course, Bill Skarsgard as the child-eating clown they can’t seem to escape.
Ansel Elgort stars as Theo in this mystery based on the best-selling book by Donna Tartt. Theo was just 13 when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The search for the truth about that day — and the missing painting of a goldfinch — unravels in surprising ways.
The TV series comes to the big screen as the Crawleys and their staff prepare for a royal visit from the King and Queen of England. Naturally, there will be scandal, romance and intrigue. Written by series creator Julian Fellowes and starring the original cast — at least those who were still standing at the series’ end.
Brad Pitt is an astronaut trying to unravel the mystery of his father’s doomed mission 30 years ago in James Gray‘s “paranoid space thriller.” Between the (mostly) rave reviews this is getting and Pitt’s acclaimed turn in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” could he be a double Oscar nominee this year?
Sylvester Stallone returns as John Rambo for the fifth — and supposedly final — film in the franchise, this time facing off against a ruthless Mexican cartel. As he says in the trailer (set to “Old Town Road,”) he’s ready for a bloody showdown: “I want revenge. I want them to know that death is coming. And there’s nothing they can do to stop it.”
Renée Zellweger plays iconic singer/actress Judy Garland as she arrives in London for a series of sold-out concerts in 1968. (As Garland fans know, the singer passed away the next year at age 47.) Zellweger, who is doing her own singing, will release her first ever solo album of Judy Garland covers in conjunction with the film.
Teenager Yi (Chloe Bennet) helps a young Yeti named Everest reunite with his family — and protect him from a wealthy collector (Eddie Izzard) and an obsessed zoologist (Sarah Paulson) in this family film.
A decade after Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his brilliant Joker in “The Dark Knight,” Joaquin Phoenix takes another potentially awards-worthy run at the legendary character in a film that shows how an ordinary man became a supervillain.
Natalie Portman plays an astronaut who begins to unravel after she returns to Earth. It’s from Noah Hawley, the creator of mind-bending FX series “Legion,” and is loosely based on the real story of an astronaut who broke very bad.
Oscar Isaac is Gomez Addams and Charlize Theron is Morticia in this animated version of our favorite ooky, gooky family. Now we just want a live-action version since Isaac is such perfect casting as Gomez. Hollywood, make it happen.
Will Smith is an assassin who faces off with a younger version of himself (also Smith, who’s been digitally de-aged.) Ang Lee directs this sci-fi thriller.
Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe play 19th century lighthouse keepers trying to keep from going insane in the second film from Robert Eggers, director of the indie horror movie “The Witch.” Based on the trailer, we’re guessing sanity does not prevail.
Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) flies into a rage with the announcement of Aurora (Elle Fanning)’s engagement to Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson, who replaces Brenton Thwaites in the role). The sequel adds Michelle Pfeiffer as cross-bow-wielding Queen Ingrith, whose possessiveness of Aurora sets up an epic battle.
10 years after the first film, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and occasionally each other.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, and Nicholas Hoult star in this drama about the historic battle between inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse over which electrical system — “alternating current” or “direct current” — would become the industry standard.
Tony-winning actress Cynthia Erivo of “Widows” and “Bad Times at the El Royale” stars as legendary ex-slave and abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who helped hundreds of slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Kasi Lemmons (“Eve’s Bayou”) directs.
Edward Norton directs and stars in this mystery about a man with Tourette’s syndrome trying to solve the murder of his detective mentor (Bruce Willis). It’s based on the terrific 1999 novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem.
Original “Terminator” star Linda Hamilton is back as Sarah Connor for the first time since “T2” and we are stoked. She’s joined by Mackenzie Davis as a human-cyborg hybrid sent from the future to protect a young woman (Natalia Reyes) who’s targeted for termination. That’s not gonna happen on Sarah’s watch.
“The Haunting of Hill House” director Mike Flanagan helms this highly anticipated to Stephen King’s “The Shining,” with Ewan McGregor playing a grown-up, deeply troubled Danny Torrance. Need we say more?
Shia LaBeouf wrote the screenplay for this semi-autobiographical look at a troubled child star’s life — and plays his own father — in this Sundance favorite. Noah Jupe stars as young actor Otis, with “Manchester by the Sea” star Lucas Hedges playing Otis in his 20s. Alma Har’el (“Bombay Beach”) directs.
“Crazy Rich Asians” star Henry Golding romances “Game of Thrones”‘s Emilia Clarke in this romcom set during the holidays. Is there a tragic twist? Twitter seems to think so!
Christian Bale and Matt Damon play, respectively, a fearless race car driver and a race car designer, who are Ford’s best bet to beat racing giant Ferrari in this Oscar-baiting biopic directed by James Mangold.
The first team-up of Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Helen Mirren is a definite must-see. McKellen is a con man who finds himself falling for the wealthy woman he’s targeting (Mirren). This thriller reunites McKellen with his “Gods and Monsters” and “Mr. Holmes” director Bill Condon.
In the sequel to one of Disney’s biggest hits, we get to know more about Anna and Elsa’s mother, Queen Iduna (Evan Rachel Wood) and more about how Elsa gained her powers. Sterling K. Brown plays new character General Mattias, who was a soldier in the Arendelle army.
America’s most beloved movie star as America’s most beloved children’s TV host: Tom Hanks plays Mr. Rogers in this biopic that’s sure to be a three-hanky pic. The trailer alone had us tearing up.
Chadwick Boseman is a disgraced NYPD detective looking for redemption during a citywide manhunt in this crime thriller. Irish director Brian Kirk has helmed some of our favorite shows, including “Luther,” “Game of Thrones” and “Penny Dreadful.”
An all-star cast, including Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Toni Collette, are suspects in the murder of a wealthy patriarch. It’s up to detective Daniel Craig to solve the crime in this eagerly anticipated mystery from “Looper” and “Brick” director Rian Johnson.
We’re riveted by the explosive trailer for this modern-day Bonnie and Clyde story starring “Get Out”‘s Daniel Kaluuya and newcomer Jodie Turner-Smith. While out on their first date, they get pulled over by a cop. When the traffic stop takes a violent turn, they have to go on the run together. The film is from writer Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe and director Melina Matsoukas.
We’re very sad to share the news that actress Valerie Harper, best known for her roles on the ’70s sitcoms “Rhoda” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” passed away earlier today.
Her family confirmed Harper’s death to ABC News. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, but Harper, who just turned 80 on August 22, had been battling lung cancer since 2009.
She announced in 2013 that she had leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition in which cancer cells spread into the membranes surrounding the brain.
Despite her illness, she continued working, including appearing on “Drop Dead Diva,” “2 Broke Girls,” and “Hot in Cleveland.” She was also a contestant on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2013.
She won four Emmys and a Golden Globe for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-1977) show and its spinoff, “Rhoda” (1974-1978).
During the course of her long career, Harper was nominated for eight Emmys, and six Golden Globes. She was also nominated for a Best Actress Tony in 2010 for her role in the play “Looped.”
But he’ll be playing a mean-spirited motel owner who holds a tiger captive in the upcoming film “The Tiger Rising.”
It’s based on the Kate DiCamillo’s 2001 best-selling children’s book of the same name about a shy 12-year-old boy named Rob who becomes fascinated with the caged Bengal tiger.
Queen Latifah plays a “mysterious maid” in the film and and Madalen Mills (“Jingle Jangle”) will portray the girl who befriends Rob.
Ray Giarratana, the visual FX director on films including “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” is directing.
Earlier this year, Quaid played a deranged homeowner “The Intruder,” who stalks the couple who’s just bought his house. So we’re a little less inclined to buy insurance from him these days. (He’s currently starring in ads for Esurance).
The teaser, posted today to Twitter, gives us a glimpse of the “new scenes and action sequences” including Peter (Tom Holland) operating a spider drone-bug and an extended cut of his fight in the Iron Spider suit.
The extended cut of “Spider-Man: Far From Home” will play in select theaters through Labor Day in the U.S. and Canada, including 233 IMAX and large format locations.
So far, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” has earned $380.2 million domestically and more than $1 billion worldwide. That makes it the highest-earning Sony film of all time.
“The Haunting of Bly Manor” cast keeps growing: Creator Mike Flanaganshared on Twitter today that “iZombie” actor Rahul Kohli is joining the upcoming Netflix series, as is Catherine Parker, who played flapper Poppy in “The Haunting of Hill House.”
Her two young charges (who, in the novella, may or may not be possessed by ghosts), will be played by Amelie Smith and Benjamin Ainsworth.
Kohli, medical examiner Ravi Chakrabarti on “iZombie,” will be a series regular, reportedly playing a man who has returned to the country to take care of his ailing mother.
Flanagan also announced that T’Nia Miller and Amelia Eve are joining in unknown roles.
Parker previously starred in Flanagan’s 2011 horror film “Absentia.”
“The Haunting of Bly Manor” is slated to debut on Netflix in 2020.
The famous car chase still makes audiences gasp and New York City was rarely grittier than in William Friedkin’s police thriller that won Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Best Actor for 
Today, it’s considered camp, but back then, the idea of a teenage monster was actually considered shocking. This movie launched a series of similar exploitation films in which puberty, adolescence, and delinquency are conflated with monstrous metamorphoses. It was a huge hit, and it made a star out of Michael Landon in the lead role.
