Moviefone Editorial

Tag: hail-caesar

Best George Clooney Movies of All Time Ranked!

George Clooney as Jay Kelly in ‘Jay Kelly’. Cr. Peter Mountain/Netflix © 2025.

George Clooney is a living legend!

The beloved actor, director, and Oscar-winner has appeared in some of the most popular movies of the last twenty-five years.

His new movie, ‘Jay Kelly‘, which teams Clooney with Adam Sandler, debuts on Netflix December 5th.
Pe5HPDw575nGckx5v0bM65
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best George Clooney movies of all time.

NOTE: For this list, we are only including movies that Clooney appeared in and not films that he directed but did not act in.

Without further ado, let’s begin!

Related Article: George Clooney Talks Netflix’s ‘Jay Kelly’ and Working with Adam Sandler

20) ‘Wolfs‘ (2014)

(L to R) George Clooney and Brad Pitt in ‘Wolfs’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

Hired to cover up a high-profile crime, a fixer (Clooney) soon finds his night spiralling out of control when he’s forced to work with an unexpected counterpart (Brad Pitt).
QF813DVhSuRJqIgoAzdgt5

19) ‘The Midnight Sky‘ (2020)

A lone scientist (Clooney) in the Arctic races to contact a crew of astronauts returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe.
Es8a44Ji7Dk3WSDe3KvPk6

18) ‘Money Monster‘ (2016)

Financial TV host Lee Gates (Clooney) and his producer Patty (Julia Roberts) are put in an extreme situation when an irate investor takes over their studio.
20073851

17) ‘The American‘ (2010)

Dispatched to a small Italian town to await further orders, assassin Jack (Clooney) embarks on a double life that may be more relaxing than is good for him.
59952

16) ‘The Monuments Men‘ (2014)

Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action drama focusing on seven over-the-hill, out-of-shape museum directors, artists, architects, curators, and art historians who went to the front lines of WWII to rescue the world’s artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their rightful owners. With the art hidden behind enemy lines, how could these guys hope to succeed? Starring Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Cate Blanchett.
59952

15) ‘The Ides of March‘ (2011)

George Clooney in ‘The Ides of March’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

Dirty tricks stand to soil an ambitious young press spokesman’s (Ryan Gosling) idealism in a cutthroat presidential campaign where ‘victory’ is relative. Also starring Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, and Jeffrey Wright.
10056310

14) ‘Three Kings‘ (1999)

A group of American soldiers (Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube) stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold hidden near their base, and they embark on a secret mission that’s destined to change everything.
6628

13) ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ (2001)

Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean (Clooney) is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny’s hand-picked crew of specialists (including Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle) will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).
10060

12) ‘Syriana‘ (2005)

The Middle Eastern oil industry is the backdrop of this tense drama, which weaves together numerous story lines. Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) is an American lawyer in charge of facilitating a dubious merger of oil companies, while Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon), a Switzerland-based energy analyst, experiences both personal tragedy and opportunity during a visit with Arabian royalty. Meanwhile, veteran CIA agent Bob Barnes (Clooney) uncovers an assassination plot with unsettling origins.
19139

11) ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox‘ (2009)

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (Clooney) bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family. Also featuring the voices of Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Michael Gambon, and Owen Wilson.
28110

10) ‘Hail, Caesar!‘ (2016)

George Clooney in ‘Hail, Caesar!’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

When a Hollywood star (Clooney) mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer (Josh Brolin) to get him back. Also starring Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Channing Tatum.
20071095

9) ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?‘ (2000)

In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts (Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson) search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them. On their journey they come across many comical characters and incredible situations. Based upon Homer’s ‘Odyssey’.
8154

8) ‘Gravity‘ (2013)

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), a brilliant medical engineer on her first Shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The Shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone-tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness of space.

The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.
10043545

7) ‘Burn After Reading‘ (2008)

When a disc containing memoirs of former CIA analyst Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of gym employees, Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt), they see a chance to make enough money for Linda to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo, and those in their orbit. Clooney plays Harry Pfarrer, a U.S. Marshal having an affair with Cox’s wife (Tilda Swinton).
28109

6) ‘Out of Sight‘ (1998)

Meet Jack Foley (Clooney), a smooth criminal who bends the law and is determined to make one last heist. Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) is a federal marshal who chooses all the right moves … and all the wrong guys. Now they’re willing to risk it all to find out if there’s more between them than just the law.
2932

5) ‘Jay Kelly‘ (2025)

George Clooney as Jay Kelly in ‘Jay Kelly’. Cr. Peter Mountain/Netflix © 2025.

Famous movie actor Jay Kelly (Clooney) embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager, Ron (Adam Sandler).
Pe5HPDw575nGckx5v0bM65 mupuPOYF

4) ‘The Descendants‘ (2011)

With his wife Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie) on life support after a boating accident, Hawaiian land baron Matt King (Clooney) takes his daughters (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller) on a trip from Oahu to Kauai to confront a young real estate broker (Matthew Lillard), who was having an affair with Elizabeth before her misfortune.
10058091

3) ‘Up in the Air‘ (2009)

Corporate downsizing expert Ryan Bingham (Clooney) spends his life in planes, airports, and hotels, but just as he’s about to reach a milestone of ten million frequent flyer miles, he meets a woman (Vera Farmiga) who causes him to rethink his transient life. Also starring Anna Kendrick.
34956

2) ‘Good Night, and Good Luck‘ (2005)

The story of journalist Edward R. Murrow’s (David Strathairn) stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts in the early 1950s. Also starring Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella, and Jeff Daniels.
23166

1) ‘Michael Clayton‘ (2007)

George Clooney in ‘Michael Clayton’. Photo: Warne Bros.

A law firm brings in its “fixer” (Clooney) to remedy the situation after a lawyer (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit. Also starring Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollack.
27887

December 7, 2025
Best Scarlett Johansson Movies of All Time!

Scarlett Johansson arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Scarlett Johansson is one of the most popular and talented actresses in the world!

She was born in New York City, and made her first film appearance in 1994’s ‘North‘. Since then she has starred in several Woody Allen movies like ‘Match Point‘ and ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona‘, as well as appearing in several Wes Anderson films including ‘Asteroid City‘ and ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘, and of course, playing Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has also been nominated for 2 Academy Awards and 5 Golden Globes.

Her latest movie, ‘Jurassic World Rebirth‘, which is a continuation of the popular dinosaur franchise and opens in theaters on July 2nd. In honor or her new film, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Scarlett Johansson’s impressive career, including her latest.

Let’s begin!

20. ‘Iron Man 2‘ (2010)

Scarlett Johansson in ‘Iron Man 2’. Photo: Marvel Studios.

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.
4cOBZDQjuTEdYwsIsMkmE

19. ‘The Horse Whisperer‘ (1998)

The mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) of a severely traumatized daughter (Johansson) enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer (Robert Redford) to help the girl’s equally injured horse.
2392

18. ‘The Avengers‘ (2012)

When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
33907

17. ‘Ghost World‘ (2001)

Two quirky, cynical teenaged girls (Thora Birch and Johansson) try to figure out what to do with their lives after high school graduation. After they play a prank on an eccentric, middle aged record collector (Steve Buscemi), one of them befriends him, which causes a rift in the girls’ friendship.
9822

16. ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ (2018)

As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
20083432

15. ‘Jurassic World Rebirth‘ (2025)

Scarlett Johansson is Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Five years after the events of ‘Jurassic World Dominion‘, covert operations expert Zora Bennett (Johansson) is contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.
iDV9ECfrlJVXq7MAkRW8k1 52IMk3HW

14. ‘Captain America: Civil War‘ (2016)

Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron‘, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
65108

13. ‘Match Point‘ (2005)

Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a former tennis player, looks for work as an instructor. He meets Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), a wealthy young man whose sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer) falls in love with Chris. But Chris has his eye on Tom’s fiancee Nola (Johansson).
23105

12. ‘The Prestige‘ (2006)

A mysterious story of two magicians (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale) whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy — full of obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences.
23879

11. ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘ (2025)

The story of a family and a family business.
840FXz1A16r7w6COVuUvH

10. ‘Black Widow‘ (2021)

Scarlett Johansson in Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Widow.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Natasha Romanoff (Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
tT8ZzfW3h27psN6LzQLDl4

9. ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona‘ (2008)

Two girlfriends (Rebecca Hall and Johansson) on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter (Javier Bardem), unaware that his ex-wife (Penélope Cruz), with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.
32858

8. ‘Her‘ (2014)

In the not so distant future, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user’s every need. To Theodore’s surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system (Johansson). This unconventional love story blends science fiction and romance in a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.
62095

7. ‘Hail, Caesar!‘ (2016)

When a Hollywood star (George Clooney) mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer (Josh Brolin) to get him back.
20071095

6. ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier‘ (2014)

After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
54664

5. ‘Lucy‘ (2014)

Scarlett Johansson in ‘Lucy’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

A woman (Johansson), accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
10127142

4. ‘Jojo Rabbit‘ (2019)

A World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.
hnry0MTmLaWTAlHL2NJZb

3. ‘Marriage Story‘ (2019)

A stage director (Adam Driver) and an actress (Johansson) struggle through a grueling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal extremes.
0rytDjVry1kydeixMTPEC6

2. ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ (2019)

After the devastating events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
P4hIwBTPRnwELWrG1VOML2

1. ‘Lost in Translation‘ (2003)

Scarlett Johansson in ‘Lost in Translation’. Photo: Focus Features.

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo — the young, neglected wife (Johansson) of a photographer (Giovanni Ribisi) and a washed-up movie star (Bill Murray) shooting a TV commercial — find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other’s company, away from their lives in America.
16075

July 11, 2025
Best Movies About the Entertainment Industry

Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

Hollywood loves telling stories about itself!

Premiering on Apple TV+ March 26th is the new series ‘The Studio‘, which stars Seth Rogen as newly appointed studio head trying to navigate his way through Hollywood.
3Z8dS8WtrS9Wwus72tDJ
And returning to Max for its fourth season on April 10th is the award winning series ‘Hacks‘, which stars Jean Smart as legendary stand-up comedian, Deborah Vance.
AulZezx8OrKuKzuMPlPnE3
In honor of the release of both series, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies about the entertainment industry.

NOTE: For this list, we are including any film that revolves around the movie, television, radio, or music industries.

Let’s begin!

20. ‘Entourage‘ (2015)

The cast of 2015’s ‘Entourage’ movie. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), together with his boys, Eric (Kevin Connolly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and Johnny (Kevin Dillon), are back…and back in business with super agent-turned-studio head Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven). Some of their ambitions have changed, but the bond between them remains strong as they navigate the capricious and often cutthroat world of Hollywood.
vDvD0vmfu0cHSwr8XtYQQ

19. ‘The Artist‘ (2012)

(L to R) Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo in ‘The Artist’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), a young dancer set for a big break.
10059592

18. ‘Babylon‘ (2022)

Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy in ‘Babylon’ from Paramount Pictures.

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
INbdFjETdVDtpMjNWNclT1

17. ‘Better Man‘ (2025)

Jonno Davies as “Robbie Williams” in ‘Better Man’ from Paramount Pictures.

Follow Robbie Williams‘ journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.
GOk86B5ZoTU5teNlU4IaW

16. ‘State and Main‘ (2001)

(L to R) Rebecca Pidgeon and Philip Seymour Hoffman in ‘State and Main’. Photo: Fine Line Features.

A movie crew invades a small town whose residents are all too ready to give up their values for showbiz glitz.
8388

15. ‘Hitchcock‘ (2012)

Anthony Hopkins in ‘Hitchcock’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Following his great success with ‘North by Northwest,’ director Alfred Hitchcock (Anthony Hopkins) makes a daring choice for his next project: an adaptation of Robert Bloch‘s novel ‘Psycho.’ When the studio refuses to back the picture, Hitchcock decides to pay for it himself in exchange for a percentage of the profits. His wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren), has serious reservations about the film but supports him nonetheless. Still, the production strains the couple’s marriage.
1372160

14. ‘For Your Consideration‘ (2006)

The cast of 2006’s ‘For Your Consideration’. Photo: Warner Independent Pictures.

The possibility of Oscar gold holds the cast and crew of an independent film in its grip after the performance of its virtually unknown, veteran star generates awards buzz.
23568

13. ‘Ed Wood‘ (1994)

Johnny Depp in ‘Ed Wood’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

The mostly true story of the legendary “worst director of all time”, who, with the help of his strange friends, filmed countless B-movies without ever becoming famous or successful.
1120

12. ‘The Disaster Artist‘ (2017)

James Franco in ‘The Disaster Artist’. Photo: A24.

An aspiring actor (Dave Franco) in Hollywood meets an enigmatic stranger by the name of Tommy Wiseau (James Franco), the meeting leads the actor down a path nobody could have predicted; creating the worst movie ever made.
0sLzqBE2HpWOzGOnXVwcV2

11. ‘Saturday Night‘ (2024)

(L to R) Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Jane Curtain (Kim Matula), Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris), Alan Zweibel (Josh Brener) and Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) in ‘Saturday Night’. Photo: Sony Pictures.

At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of ‘Saturday Night Live‘.
gG3Efafs8vdcvlnRLZXLV3

10. ‘My Favorite Year‘ (1982)

Peter O’Toole in ‘My Favorite Year’. Photo: MGM/UA Distribution Co.

Fledgling comic Benjy Stone (Mark Linn-Baker) can’t believe his luck when his childhood hero, the swashbuckling matinee idol Alan Swann (Peter O’Toole), gets booked to appear on the variety show he writes for. But when Swann arrives, he fails to live up to his silver screen image. Instead, he’s a drunken womanizer who suffers from stage fright. Benjy is assigned to look after him before the show, and it’s all he can do to keep his former idol from going completely off the rails.
22154

9. ‘Get Shorty‘ (1995)

(L to R) John Travolta and Gene Hackman in ‘Get Shorty’. Photo: MGM/UA Distribution Co.

Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami mobster who gets sent by his boss, the psychopathic “Bones” Barboni (Dennis Farina), to collect a bad debt from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a Hollywood producer who specializes in cheesy horror films. When Chili meets Harry’s leading lady (Rene Russo), the romantic sparks fly. After pitching his own life story as a movie idea, Chili learns that being a mobster and being a Hollywood producer really aren’t all that different.
1633

8. ‘La La Land‘ (2016)

(L to R) Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in ‘La La Land’. Photo: Lionsgate.

Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
20075898

7. ‘Bowfinger‘ (1999)

(L to R) Steve Martin and Heather Graham in ‘Bowfinger’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

On the verge of bankruptcy and desperate for his big break, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) concocts a crazy plan to make his ultimate dream movie. Rallying a ragtag team that includes a starry-eyed ingenue, a has-been diva and a film studio gofer, he sets out to shoot a blockbuster featuring the biggest star in Hollywood, Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) — only without letting Ramsey know he’s in the picture.
6428

6. ‘Hail, Caesar!‘ (2016)

Josh Brolin in ‘Hail, Caesar!’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

When a Hollywood star (George Clooney) mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer (Josh Brolin) to get him back.
20071095

5. ‘Private Parts‘ (1997)

Howard Stern in ‘Private Parts’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

The life and career of shock-jock superstar Howard Stern is recounted from his humble beginnings to his view from the top. Possessing a desire to be an on-air personality since childhood, Stern meanders through the radio world, always with his supportive wife, Alison (Mary McCormack), by his side. Landing a gig in Washington, D.C., Stern meets Robin Quivers, who will become his long-time partner in crime. When the two move to New York, they face the wrath of NBC executives.
3586

4. ‘Boogie Nights‘ (1997)

The cast of ‘Boogie Nights’. Photo: New Line Cinema.

Set in 1977, back when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, idealistic porn producer Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) aspires to elevate his craft to an art form. Horner discovers Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg), a hot young talent working as a busboy in a nightclub, and welcomes him into the extended family of movie-makers, misfits and hangers-on that are always around. Adams’ rise from nobody to a celebrity adult entertainer is meteoric, and soon the whole world seems to know his porn alter ego, “Dirk Diggler”. Now, when disco and drugs are in vogue, fashion is in flux and the party never seems to stop, Adams’ dreams of turning sex into stardom are about to collide with cold, hard reality.
4919

3. ‘A Star Is Born‘ (2018)

(L to R) Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in ‘A Star Is Born.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
MqtVDDoPqEVykdrslEGWD5

2. ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood‘ (2019)

(L to R) Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt star in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’

Los Angeles, 1969. TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), a struggling actor specializing in westerns, and stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), his best friend, try to survive in a constantly changing movie industry. Dalton is the neighbor of the young and promising actress and model Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), who has just married the prestigious Polish director Roman Polanski (Rafał Zawierucha).
NUuaLCQAamVNuURlc9OMa2 IUaJfmsh

1. ‘The Player‘ (1992)

Tim Robbins in ‘The Player’. Photo: Fine Line Features.

A Hollywood studio executive (Tim Robbins) is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected – but which one?
6330

April 4, 2025
Every Coen brothers Movie, Ranked

(L to R) Best Director winners Ethan and Joel Coen backstage during the 80th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Joel and Ethan Coen, better known as the Coen brothers, practically created their own genre and are one of the most acclaimed and celebrated directing teams of all time!

Beginning their career with modern classics like ‘Blood Simple,’ ‘Raising Arizona,’ and ‘Miller’s Crossing,’ the brothers went on to direct such beloved films as ‘The Big Lebowski,’ ‘O Brother Where Art Thou,‘ ‘Burn After Reading,’ and the Oscar-winning ‘Fargo‘ and ‘No Country for Old Men.’

In 2021, Joel Coen directed his first film without his brother, ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth,’ starring Denzel Washington. Now, opening in theaters on February 23rd is Ethan Coen’s new solo directing effort entitled ‘Drive-Away Dolls,’ which stars Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan.

In honor of Ethan Coen’s new film, Moviefone is counting down every film the Coen brothers have ever directed together or apart.

NOTE: For this list we are only including the Coen Brothers full-length feature films, both together and solo, but we are not including their documentaries or participation in anthology movies like ‘Paris, je t’aime.’

Let’s begin!

20. ‘Intolerable Cruelty‘ (2003)

(L to R) George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones in ‘Intolerable Cruelty.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

A revenge-seeking gold digger (Catherine Zeta-Jones) marries a womanizing Beverly Hills lawyer (George Clooney) with the intention of making a killing in the divorce.
14035

19. ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs‘ (2018)

Tim Blake Nelson is Buster Scruggs in ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,’ a film by Joel and Ethan Coen. Photo: Netflix.

Vignettes weaving together the stories of six individuals in the old West at the end of the Civil War. Following the tales of a sharpshooting songster (Tim Blake Nelson), a wannabe bank robber (James Franco), two weary traveling performers (Zoe Kazan and Jefferson Mays), a lone gold prospector (Tom Waits), a woman traveling the West to an uncertain future (Tyne Daly) and a motley crew of strangers undertaking a carriage ride.
JDQqdXWJjx76ubBOsUUMk2

18. ‘A Serious Man‘ (2009)

Michael Stuhlbarg in ‘A Serious Man.’ Photo: Focus Features.

It is 1967, and Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlberg), a physics professor at a quiet Midwestern university, has just been informed by his wife, Judith (Sari Lennick) that she is leaving him. She has fallen in love with one of his more pompous acquaintances, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed).
29878

17. ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There‘ (2001)

(L to R) Billy Bob Thornton and James Gandolfini in ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There.’ Photo: USA Films.

A tale of murder, crime and punishment set in the summer of 1949. Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a barber in a small California town, is dissatisfied with his life, but his wife Doris’ (Frances McDormand) infidelity and a mysterious opportunity presents him with a chance to change it.
765

16. ‘The Ladykillers‘ (2004)

Tom Hanks in ‘The Ladykillers.’ Photo: Touchstone Pictures.

An eccentric if not charming Southern professor (Tom Hanks) and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord, a sharp old woman (Irma P. Hall).
17278

15. ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)

Denzel Washington in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth.’ Photo: A24.

From Academy Award©-winning filmmaker Joel Coen comes the propulsive, boldly cinematic ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth,’ starring Oscar-winners Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand as the devious, ill-fated “Macbeth” and “Lady Macbeth.” An original, striking reimagining of the classic Shakespearean tale portrayed in sumptuous black-and-white cinematography, ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ finds the titular general and his loyal wife older and warier, desperately striving against a merciless ticking clock as they attempt to seize upon a final opportunity for power. In the chaos that ensues, their grasp on the throne unravels, terror mounts and regret enshrouds every inch of their wretched world.
JFwS1tSWb4hniApnYXLsw

14. ‘Barton Fink‘ (1991)

(L to R) John Turturro and Jon Polito in ‘Barton Fink.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

A renowned New York playwright (John Turturro) is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.
5131

13. ‘Blood Simple‘ (1984)

Frances McDormand in ‘Blood Simple.’ Photo: Circle Films.

The owner of a seedy smalltown Texas bar (Dan Hedaya) discovers that one of his employees (John Getz) is having an affair with his wife (Frances McDormand). A chaotic chain of misunderstandings lies and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.
3572

12. ‘O Brother Where Art Thou‘ (2000)

(L to R) John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson and George Clooney in ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

In the deep south during the 1930s three escaped convicts (George Clooney, John Turturro and Tom Blake Nelson) search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman (Daniel von Bargen) pursues them. On their journey they come across many comical characters and incredible situations. Based upon Homer’s Odyssey.
8154

11. ‘Raising Arizona‘ (1987)

(L to R) Holly Hunter and Nicolas Cage in ‘Raising Arizona.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

When a childless couple (Holly Hunter and Nicolas Cage) decide to help themselves to one of another family’s quintuplets their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.
7750

10. ‘No Country for Old Men‘ (2007)

Javier Bardem in ‘No Country for Old Men.’ Photo: Miramax Films.

Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
25145

9. ‘Fargo‘ (1996)

Frances McDormand in ‘Fargo.’ Photo: Working Title Films.

Jerry (William H. Macy) a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt but he’s got a plan. He’s going to hire two thugs (Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife (Kristin Rudrüd) in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law (Harve Presnell). It’s going to be a snap and nobody’s going to get hurt until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge (Frances McDormand), a coffee-drinking parka-wearing and extremely pregnant investigator who’ll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her smalltime investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom, you betcha.
1957

8. ‘True Grit‘ (2010)

Jeff Bridges in ‘True Grit.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Following the murder of her father by a hired hand, a 14-year-old farm girl (Hailee Steinfeld) sets out to capture the killer. To aid her she hires the toughest US Marshal she can find, a man with true grit, Reuben J Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges).
1430122

7. ‘Drive-Away Dolls‘ (2024)

(L to R) Margaret Qualley as “Jamie” and Geraldine Viswanathan as “Marian” in director Ethan Coen’s ‘Drive-Away Dolls,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Wilson Webb / Working Title / Focus Features.

Jamie (Margaret Qualley), an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.
HOEVCE84KnZdeP6ojElze6 tY0ZUBp7

6. ‘Hail, Caesar!‘ (2006)

Channing Tatum in ‘Hail, Caesar!’ Photo: Universal Pictures.

When a Hollywood star (George Clooney) mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer (Josh Brolin) to get him back.
20071095

5. ‘The Hudsucker Proxy‘ (1994)

(L to R) Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tim Robbins in ‘The Hudsucker Proxy.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

A naive business graduate (Tim Robbins) is installed as president of a manufacturing company as part of a stock scam.
8865

4. ‘Millers Crossing‘ (1990)

1990’s ‘Miller’s Crossing.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Set in 1929, a political boss (Albert Finney) and his advisor (Gabriel Byrne) have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman (Marcia Gay Harden).
3574

3. ‘Burn After Reading‘ (2008)

Brad Pitt in ‘Burn After Reading.’ Photo: Focus Features.

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of gym employees, Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt), they see a chance to make enough money for Linda to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo, and those in their orbit.
28109

2. ‘Inside Llewyn Davis‘ (2013)

Oscar Isaac in ‘Inside Llewyn Davis.’ Photo: CBS Films.

In Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, gifted but volatile folk musician Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) struggles with money, relationships, and his uncertain future.
10068818

1. ‘The Big Lebowski‘ (1998)

Jeff Bridges in ‘The Big Lebowski.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Jeffrey ‘The Dude’ Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddleston), a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes, and large sums of money.
5809

February 21, 2024
Best Channing Tatum Movies

Channing Tatum as Mike Lane in Warner Bros. Pictures’ musical comedy ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo: Claudette Barius. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Channing Tatum is one of the most popular actors working today.

The dancer turned actor first gained attention for his work in ‘Step Up’ and has since gone on to star in the ‘G.I. Joe,’ ’21 Jump Street’ and ‘Magic Mike’ franchises, as well as acclaimed films like ‘Foxcatcher,’ ‘The Hateful Eight,’ ‘Hail, Caesar!,’ ‘Logan Lucky,’ and ‘The Lost City.’

Tatum’s latest movie, ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ the third film in the series, is scheduled for release in theaters on February 10th. Once again directed by Steven Soderbergh, the new movie also stars Salma Hayek Pinault.

In honor of the release of ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ Moviefone is counting down the 30 best films of Channing Tatum’s career.

Let’s begin!

30. ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra‘ (2009)

Paramount Pictures

From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. JOE team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro (Christopher Eccleston) and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos. Starring Tatum, Ray Park, Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, and Marlon Wayans.
38926

29. ‘The Dilemma‘ (2011)

Longtime friends Ronny (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Kevin James) are partners in an auto-design firm. They are hard at work on a presentation for a dream project that would really launch their company. Then Ronny spots Nick’s wife (Winona Ryder) out with another man (Tatum), and in the process of investigating the possible affair, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. As the presentation nears, Ronny agonizes over what might happen if the truth gets out.
10039653

28. ‘The Son of No One‘ (2011)

A rookie cop (Tatum) is assigned to the 118 Precinct in the same district where he grew up. The Precinct Captain (Ray Liotta) starts receiving letters about two unsolved murders that happened many years ago in the housing projects when the rookie cop was just a kid. These letters bring back bad memories and old secrets that begin to threaten his career and break up his family. Also starring Katie Holmes, Juliette Binoche, Tracy Morgan, and Al Pacino.
10053469

27. ‘Fighting‘ (2009)

Small-town boy Shawn MacArthur (Tatum) has come to New York City with nothing. Barely earning a living selling counterfeit goods on the streets, his luck changes when scam artist Harvey Boarden (Terrence Howard) sees that he has a natural talent for streetfighting. When Harvey offers Shawn help at making the real cash, the two form an uneasy partnership.
31269

26. ‘Coach Carter‘ (2005)

Based on a true story, in which Richmond High School head basketball coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) made headlines in 1999 for benching his undefeated team due to poor academic results.
19345

25. ‘Jupiter Ascending‘ (2015)

Warner Bros. Pictures

In a universe where human genetic material is the most precious commodity, an impoverished young Earth woman (Mila Kunis) becomes the key to strategic maneuvers and internal strife within a powerful dynasty. Also starring Tatum, Sean Bean, and Eddie Redmayne.
10118984

24. ‘Magic Mike XXL‘ (2015)

Three years after Mike (Tatum) bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.
20061972

23. ‘Stop-Loss‘ (2008)

A veteran soldier (Ryan Phillippe) returns from his completed tour of duty in Iraq, only to find his life turned upside down when he is arbitrarily ordered to return to field duty by the Army. Also starring Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant and Abbie Cornish.
24475

22. ‘Dear John‘ (2010)

While Sergeant John Tyree (Tatum) is home on two weeks leave from Germany, he meets Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) after he dives into the ocean to retrieve Savannah’s purse that had fallen off a pier. John eventually falls in love with Savannah, who promises to write to him until he returns from overseas.
37012

21. ‘The Book of Life‘ (2014)

The journey of Manolo (Diego Luna), a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Also featuring the voices of Tatum, Zoe Saldana, and Ice Cube.
59819

20. ‘22 Jump Street‘ (2014)

Columbia Pictures

After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. Now they don’t have to just crack the case – they have to figure out if they can have a mature relationship. If these two overgrown adolescents can grow from freshmen into real men, college might be the best thing that ever happened to them.
10125018

19. ‘Smallfoot‘ (2018)

A bright young yeti (Tatum) finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human (James Corden). News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village.
jy8kBTkehLVGBBRWVqb5K7

18. ‘Public Enemies‘ (2009)

Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger’s (Johnny Depp) charm and audacity endear him to much of America’s downtrodden public, but he’s also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first Public Enemy Number One and assigns his top agent, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), the task of bringing him in dead or alive. Tatum plays Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd.
32262

17. ‘Side Effects‘ (2013)

A woman (Rooney Mara) turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband’s (Tatum) upcoming release from prison. Also starring Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
57075

16. ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation‘ (2013)

Framed for crimes against the country, the G.I. Joe team is terminated by Presidential order. This forces the G.I. Joes into not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Ray Park and Tatum.
53532

15. ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)

Focus Features

In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian’s Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia – to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father’s memory, and retrieve the lost legion’s golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.
1408260

14. ‘Haywire‘ (2011)

A black ops soldier (Gina Carano) seeks payback after she is betrayed and left for dead. Also starring Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas, and Michael Douglas.
10014848

13. ‘The Vow‘ (2012)

Happy young married couple Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Tatum) are, well, happy. Then a car accident puts Paige into a life-threatening coma. Upon awakening she has lost the previous five years of memories, including those of her beloved Leo, her wedding, a confusing relationship with her parents, or the ending of her relationship with her ex-fiance (Scott Speedman). Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.
52482

12. ‘Step Up‘ (2006)

Everyone deserves a chance to follow their dreams, but some people only get one shot. Tyler Gage (Tatum) is a rebel from the wrong side of Baltimore’s tracks and the only thing that stands between him and an unfulfilled life are his dreams of one day making it out of there. Nora (Jenna Dewan) is a privileged ballet dancer attending Baltimore’s ultra-elite Maryland School of the Arts.
25911

11. ‘White House Down‘ (2013)

Capitol Policeman John Cale (Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl (Joey King) with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation’s government falling into chaos and time running out, it’s up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
10085035

10. ‘Dog‘ (2022)

Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

‘Dog’ is a buddy comedy that follows the misadventures of two former Army Rangers paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime. Army Ranger Briggs (Tatum) and Lulu (a Belgian Malinois dog) buckle into a 1984 Ford Bronco and race down the Pacific Coast in hopes of making it to a fellow soldier’s funeral on time. Along the way, they’ll drive each other completely crazy, break a small handful of laws, narrowly evade death, and learn to let down their guards in order to have a fighting chance of finding happiness.
HkuRFWagkMY22tmx9dv7D5

9. ‘Logan Lucky‘ (2017)

Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Also starring Daniel Craig, Riley Keough, Katie Holmes, Sebastian Stan, Seth MacFarlane, and Hilary Swank.
6sgLIIpOjUyPvSONt1DFP5

8. ‘The Lost City‘ (2022)

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.”

While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever. Also featuring Brad Pitt.
OrrUgGKkfGJatEGBYTUQk

7. ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle‘ (2017)

When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises, Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) are forced to work together with the American agency known as the Statesman to save the world. Also starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Jeff Bridges, and Tatum.
20074199

6. ‘The Lego Batman Movie‘ (2017)

A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett) must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, including the Joker (Zach Galifianakis), while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan (Michael Cera) who wishes to become his sidekick. Also featuring the voice of Tatum as Superman.
20081343

5. ‘Hail, Caesar!‘ (2016)

Universal Pictures

When a Hollywood star (George Clooney) mysteriously disappears in the middle of filming, the studio sends their fixer (Josh Brolin) to get him back. Also starring Tatum, Jonah Hill, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton.
20071095

4. ‘21 Jump Street‘ (2012)

In high school, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) was a dork and Jenko (Tatum) was the popular jock. After graduation, both of them joined the police force and ended up as partners riding bicycles in the city park. Since they are young and look like high school students, they are assigned to an undercover unit to infiltrate a drug ring that is supplying high school students synthetic drugs. Also starring Brie Larson, Dave Franco, and Ice Cube.
50931

3. ‘Foxcatcher‘ (2015)

The greatest Olympic Wrestling Champion brother team (Mark Ruffalo and Tatum) joins Team Foxcatcher led by multimillionaire sponsor John E. du Pont (Steve Carell) as they train for the 1988 games in Seoul – a union that leads to unlikely circumstances.
10071409

2. ‘The Hateful Eight‘ (2015)

Bounty hunters seek shelter from a raging blizzard and get caught up in a plot of betrayal and deception. Directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, and Tatum.
20069251

1. ‘Magic Mike‘ (2012)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Mike (Tatum), an experienced stripper, takes a younger performer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film also stars Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Olivia Munn, and Matthew McConaughey.
10059666
Zqonqqzu

February 11, 2023
The 16 Best Movies About Making Movies

Warner Bros/Universal/Fox/Filmways

Hollywood loves turning the camera on itself. Movies about making movies let filmmakers poke fun at the absurdity of their jobs, examine the dark side of ambition, and recreate long-lost eras. With that in mind, and the current zeitgeist-capturing energy of “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” we wanted to highlight 16 of the very best movies about making movies.

“The Stunt Man” (1980)

20th Century Fox

Peter O’Toole plays a manipulative director who lets a criminal (Steve Railsback) hide out on his set if he does the incredibly dangerous stunts required. Could make a great double-feature with Burt Reynolds’ similar “Hooper.”

“Living in Oblivion” (1995)

Sony Pictures Classics

Steve Buscemi has his hands full trying to direct an indie film in this underrated comedy. Among his headaches: A leading man who insists on wearing an eye patch and an actor (Peter Dinklage) who objects to appearing in a dream sequence just because he’s a dwarf.

“Saving Mr. Banks” (2013)

Disney

Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) and “Mary Poppins” creator P.L. Travers ( Emma Thompson) butt heads over the making of the classic 1964 film. She objects to the songs, any animation and just about everything else, in this surprisingly heartwarming and underrated film.

“The Disaster Artist” (2017)

A24

James Franco cowrote, directs and stars as Tommy Wiseau in this “making of” biopic about the cult sensation “The Room.” He won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and was joined onstage by the real Wiseau. (Whom he wouldn’t let near the microphone. Awkward!)

“Shadow of the Vampire” (2000)

Lions Gate Films

What if the actor playing the vampire in the silent film “Nosferatu” was a real vampire? Willem Dafoe plays Max Schreck, who’s not just starring in the film, but also picking off the cast and crew one by one. A charming and funny film that also serves as a compelling alternate history tale.

“Blow Out” (1981)

Filmways Pictures

In this Brian De Palma thriller, John Travolta stars as a sound effects technician, whose main job is supplying the appropriate screams and spooky sounds for low-budget horror films. While out recording one night, he becomes an ear-witness to the murder of a presidential hopeful. The final scene will gut you.

“Bowfinger” (1999)

Universal Pictures

Unable to land big star Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) for his movie, aspiring filmmaker Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) plans to shoot the film around him on the sly. When that fails, he casts a dimwitted lookalike (also Eddie Murphy). As real as it is funny.

“The Player” (1992)

Fine Line Features

Robert Altman‘s meta-movie is about a producer (Tim Robbins), who kills the screenwriter he thinks has been sending him death threats. Featuring cameos galore, a long opening shot about a long opening shot, and a star-studded movie-within-a-movie, this is essential viewing, thrilling and hilarious.

“Postcards from the Edge” (1990)

Columbia

In this film adaptation of Carrie Fisher‘s book (which is very much about her real-life relationship with mom Debbie Reynolds), Meryl Streep is an actress whose drug problems make her a liability on set. She’s forced to take roles the real-life Meryl would never do, like a cheesy cop movie where she’s tied to a cactus at one point. Funny, funny stuff.

“The Artist” (2011)

Warner Bros.

It might have been a bit light to walk off with Best Picture and Best Actor, but this ode to the silent era is still delightful. Especially the dog. (RIP, Uggie.)

“Tropic Thunder” (2008)

Paramount

One of the funniest movies ever made about moviemaking brings together a Tom Cruise-esque action star (Ben Stiller, who also directed), a ridiculously dedicated method actor (Robert Downey Jr.) and a coked-up comedian (Jack Black) for a Vietnam war film. (And keep in mind this is a movie where Cruise appears looking nothing like himself.) When the filming stops and the real violence starts, they don’t even realize it.

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019)

Sony

Although we never see Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and stuntman Cliff Booth ( Brad Pitt) on a movie set, Quentin Tarantino‘s ninth film is very much an ode to Hollywood’s dream factory and the end of an era. By the film’s end, Rick has re-invigorated his fading career with several spaghetti westerns, which almost make up for the fact he didn’t land the Steve McQueen role in “The Great Escape.”

“Hail, Caesar!” (2016)

Universal Pictures

The Coen Bros. deliciously revisit the studio era, dropping in on dizzying dance routines, swimming spectacles, and religious epics. Standout scene: Alden Ehrenreich is a cowboy star who’s been upgraded to a prestige society pic. The “trippingly” sophisticated patter keeps tripping him up, however.

“A Star is Born” (1954)

Warner Bros.

The best version of the oft-told “rising star who marries a self-destructive has-been.” Judy Garland‘s character wins an Oscar in the film — a devastating scene where her drunken husband (James Mason) crashes her acceptance speech to beg for a job. The Oscar was rightfully Judy’s in real life as well, but went that year to Grace Kelly for “The Country Girl.”

“Sunset Blvd.” (1950)

Paramount

A faded silent movie star (Gloria Swanson, who really was a silent movie star) plots her return to the big screen with the help of a broke screenwriter (William Holden) in Billy Wilder‘s savage noir. This American dream is rotting from the inside out. The final scene, “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up,” is legendary.

“Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)

MGM

This smart, funny send-up of Hollywood’s transition from the silent era to talkies is still the best movie ever made about Tinseltown. Getting diva Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) miked up is just one of the priceless set-ups. Trivia: The voice dubbing over Lina’s awful one? Jean herself, not Debbie Reynolds.

August 13, 2019
Josh Brolin Was ‘Blown Away’ by ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Story

No matter the era, Josh Brolin has a pretty firm handle on Hollywood.

If you missed brothers Joel and Ethan Coen‘s most recent movie, “Hail, Caesar!,” you’ve got a new opportunity to check out the flip-side of “Barton Fink,” their poison-pen take on the conflicts between Hollywood and creativity. The film, which features Brolin as a studio fixer — the squasher of potential star scandals detrimental to box office business — is, even with its somewhat cynical lens trained on spoiled celebrities with bad judgment, a loopy love letter of sorts to a bygone cinematic era where even the by-any-means-necessary fixer’s just doing his best for the image of the system and its stars.

The second in a now-emerging Brolin Acting Dynasty — his dad, James, paved the way; daughter Eden is following in his footsteps — Brolin, who brings a distinctive heart and conscience to a role that might have been played one-note ruthless, has a keen sense of what Hollywood was, is, and will likely be, as he preps for the most anticipated role of his diverse and much-admired screen career: the Mad Titan himself, Thanos, in two upcoming “Avengers: Infinity War” movies.

Moviefone: What I love about your Eddie Mannix is how much he loves Hollywood. Tell me about finding that element of this guy, who you might think is going to be this brutal, leg-breaker, studio-fixer type, but he has — in his mind at least — Hollywood’s best interests at heart.

Josh Brolin: I do, I truly believe that. He has his boss’s interest at heart. And his boss, his business, is Hollywood, so I think he’s very loyal in that way. He’s kind of like a mafioso in that way: it’s like, whatever the godfather says is what you do.

But I also think. as an aside for him, he truly appreciates and loves it, which is like, I’m just thinking about it now because it’s been a while. When he goes into the confessional, and he’s just like, “What’s the right thing, and what’s the thing that I want? And the right thing would be able to get money, but is that really the right thing? Being bought off, is that the right thing? Whereas here, I feel like a laborer: it’s a pain in the ass. I’ve got girls with mermaid sh*t on who are pregnant, they don’t know who the father is. They’ve got another guy who’s disappeared who’s a drunk, who he’s probably f*cking some extra.”

All the craziness of the children that he’s trying to round up and make sure that they behave. And yet, that could all go away, and he could make three times the money, but he doesn’t want to because it’s like … because it’s his life. This is what he does. This is what he knows.

When you did your research — and I know you did your research — on the real-life Eddie Mannix, that inspired the character and that era? What captivated you about that time in Hollywood history? And what made you go, “God if I was around then, there’s no f*cking way I could live with this?”

As an actor … the amount of debauchery that went on was kind of unprecedented. You could never get away with, I mean, look at me. Look at my life. I stopped trying to get away with it, because you can’t get away with it, because there’s too many iPhones. There’s too many people. There’s too much social media. It’s like, everybody has a walkie-talkie basically now. You know? And back then, it wasn’t like that. Therefore, people’s shadow sides, people’s dark sides, were able to manifest and continually manifest …

… I mean, I read and heard so many stories, man. And I’m like … guys who were making, on the average, $30,000, got into the movie business and were suddenly making the equivalent of $500,000,000 a year. I mean, all that breeds, for the most part, is wrongdoing. You know? And yet, Eddie, the real Eddie, when I researched him, is not a nice guy. I mean, really not a nice guy. So it’s more a hybrid of like, I can’t remember the PR guy’s name, but it’s more Thalberg, Mayer…

Howard Strickland.

Yeah, Strickland, exactly. It’s like those four guys wrapped into one. He’s much nicer. Even though he was a tough guy, he really cared. That’s what came across, is how much he cared about these kids.

Did the Hollywood system ever try to control you? Or did they let you do your thing and let the chips fall where they may?

It depends on the personality too, man. I don’t think that I was insulting. A lot of people rebel, and in their rebellion, they’ll be insulting. I think I ended up doing what I did, but I think I was nice to work with. I was always professional.

So I think that naturally … it’s not cosmetically naturally, but the fact that I found the Coens, and the Coens found me, and that I really enjoy working with them and they really enjoy working with me because we have similar sensibilities. There’s not a lot of pretense there, but we also like, we like manifesting stories that we find interesting, as opposed to pandering to something that we think is going to be the most successful. So I’ve been very lucky in that way.

People say, “I like your résumé, I like what you’ve chosen.” I always appreciate that. I would still do “Jonah Hex” again. I don’t like the way it turned out at all, but I do think that there’s a good movie there. I think my intention was right. You’re never going to be perfect, man. You just do your best.

Your dad came up during the shift of power, from the studios to more in the hands of the talent and the filmmakers. Do you like to hear war stories from his days in the trenches?

Yeah, he didn’t have a lot of war stories. He was under contract at Fox, I think, first, and then Universal. So I do remember: I didn’t grow up in LA, but I do remember the whole, like, “This is what you’re going to do.” He was on the tail end of that. I mean, he was in the ’60s and ’70s, and we’re talking about the ’50s and ’40s, where I think it was much more like, you’re going to do six movies for us this year, and you can’t work for another studio, or a studio has to buy you out from us. All that kind of stuff. That wasn’t really … that didn’t really exist.

But my dad was being, what do you call it, what’s the word? Groomed, to be an actor. Had to go to dance class, and had to go to fencing class, and all that stuff. Then I think he was let go. They were like, this guy’s not going to work out. Okay, so we’ll let him go, and then another studio may pick you up and try to do the same thing. So, yeah, those kinds of stories I got to hear, and they weren’t horror stories at all. It was just a totally different mentality. Now, it’s much more individualized.

Now that your daughter Eden’s career is kind of catching fire, do you feel like you’ve got war stories you want to share with her? She works in a different Hollywood than the one you came up in.

Yeah, it is a different. There’s more opportunity now, in like TV being almost a better, more creative medium. It’s a great time for her. It’s an amazing time. Hollywood’s always changing, man. It’s always changing. Why do you think it’s so different now? It’s always changing. It’s changing with the times. It’s changing with the economy. But it comes down to: What do you want to do? You want to work obviously, but you also want to tell good stories.

Or when I saw “Manson’s Lost Girls,” I go, “Okay, that’s a Lifetime movie” — the general perception of a Lifetime movie is it’s not going to be very good. And not only do I think it was pretty decent, but I thought she was amazing in it. I thought she had created a full-blown character. And I go, “That’s when the individual’s talent overwhelms you being manhandled, nothing but manhandled.” I think people really started to see that talent. She’s starting to work more and more. So the talent’s winning out right now. We’ll see.

You famously get to slap George Clooney, and there’s another kind of confrontation with Ralph Fiennes and Alden Ehrenreich, which is not physically an altercation, but a real actor-director showdown. Have you seen that kind of stuff go down on sets? Have you seen it get heated and tense and almost dangerous?

Huge. Not dangerous, ever, but hugely tense, hugely tense. It was kind of like the David O. Russell thing. Nobody should see that. That’s just part of what it is. And it’s also really fun. Sometimes days are so fun, you’re like, “I shouldn’t be being paid for this. It’s just ridiculous. What we’re doing is ridiculous.” But at the same time, it depends on the movie, the mood of the movie, the tone of the movie, what it is you’re doing.

That’s why I call it a profession of humiliation, because you go out there and it’s a total unnatural act, what you’re doing. You have to manipulate yourself into certain mindsets that may not be so attractive in order to fulfill the vision of the director or the script that you’ve chosen to do.

But yeah, things can get really wacky. I enjoy it thoroughly. I like when they get tense. I like when they get fun. I like the whole thing. That’s why I do it. It’s a very colorful experience. My whole thing man is I get to my deathbed at the end of my life and I look back and I just have one big chuckle before I go. And so far, it’s working. And the more that the Coen brothers are involved, the better it is for me.

“Avengers: Infinity War” is going to be a singular film experience that you’re going to be asked to talk about most likely to the end of your days. So, tell me, where are you now as far as your anticipation, your excitement, for the whole thing, and to go fully into character rather than these cameos that you’ve done?

Yeah, I sat at a table and I listened to the story from beginning to end, which was … you know, sometimes you go around and you go, “Oh, it’s a great movie. Or this is a great experience,” and you kind of know that it’s not. This is the opposite.

First of all, from a publicity point of view, or an interest, I’ve gotten more publicity playing Thanos, even though I haven’t done it yet, than all other movies combined. If there’s any blurb of publicity at all for me, it includes Thanos in some way or another. “By the way, he’s got “Hail, Caesar!” coming out. But don’t forget about Thanos — that’s coming out,” which is amazing, which is really cool.

Then the other side of it is really how much it means to people. It all comes down … these stories … these Avengers stories all come down to this conclusion, and that’s our involvement. Basically, my character against everybody. And it’s really fun what they’ve chosen to do with the story. I think it’s brilliant, personally. I was blown away, and had goose pimples pretty much 50% of the time that I was listening to what was going on, and pretty amazed that I’m going to be involved in it. So it’s a big thing that’s coming up.

“Hail, Caesar!” hits DVD and Blu-ray June 7th. “Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1” is due in theaters May 4th, 2018.

%Slideshow-380907%

June 7, 2016
Alden Ehrenreich to Play Han Solo in ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff

After thousands of actors auditioned for the part, Disney and Lucasfilm have finally found the next Han Solo: Alden Ehrenreich.

Ehrenreich, who had a scene-stealing part in the Coen Brothers’ latest flick, “Hail Caesar!,” isn’t a household name, but that should change with this casting. He’ll take on the iconic role, originated by Harrison Ford, in his own “Star Wars” spinoff flick, tentatively titled “Han Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

Deadline first reported that Ehrenreich was the frontrunner back in April, beating out a bevy of other actors, including Jack Reynor and Taron Egerton, for the coveted role. Page Six claimed the exclusive on confirming the actor’s casting late Thursday, with both Deadline and Variety also posting their own confirming reports. According to Variety, it’s likely that Ehrenreich will shoot a small cameo that will be inserted into the other “Star Wars” spinoff, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” which is due in theaters in December. Production on the Solo solo flick will then begin in January of 2017.

Earlier this week, Chris Miller, who’s co-directing “Han Solo” with Phil Lord, tweeted out his excitement about getting to work on the film. No word yet from the directors, or Ehrenreich himself, about the casting, though we expect an official announcement from the Disney and Lucasfilm brass any day now.

Can’t wait to get “shooting”!#MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/HlteYut6m0

— Chris Miller (@chrizmillr) May 4, 2016

“Han Solo: A Star Wars Story” is due in theaters on May 25, 2018.

[via: Deadline, Page Six, Variety]

Photo credit: AFP/Getty Images

%Slideshow-362025%

May 6, 2016
Box Office: Why Moviegoers Are Tired of Zombies and Nicholas Sparks

Sure, it’s hard to guess which movies will be big enough draws to pull people away from their living rooms on Super Bowl weekend. But the studios were wrong about nearly every new offering this weekend, and so were the box office analysts.

The only new release that performed as expected was the Coen Brothers‘ period Hollywood spoof “Hail, Caesar!“, debuting in second place with an estimated $11.4 million. That’s pretty weak, even for filmmakers as cultish as the Coens. Yet it was still far better than this weekend’s other new wide releases, “The Choice” and “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” — both of which opened well below expectations. It’s enough to make you wonder if moviegoers have lost interest in both Nicholas Sparks and zombies.
Sparks, the novelist whose tearjerking romances have been adapted into such hits as “The Notebook,” used to be one of Hollywood’s most reliable brands, generating 11 movies over the past 17 years. His “Dear John” opened on Super Bowl weekend six years ago with $30.5 million and became his second biggest hit. So maybe it wasn’t a big stretch to think “The Choice” would be smart “chick-flick” counterprogramming to this weekend’s testosterone fest.

But Sparks’ movies have been on a downward trend in recent years. 2014’s “The Best of Me” and 2015’s “The Longest Ride” were his lowest openers and lowest overall grossers — until now. “Choice” premiered in fifth place with $6.1 million. Blame poor reviews and a lack of star power to attract audiences.
As for “Zombies,” there was enough precedent behind it for pundits to place it on top of their predictions for the weekend, guessing it would take in at least $12 million. Seth Grahame-Smith’s Jane Austen spoof had been a bestseller in 2009. Star Lily James‘ “Cinderella” was a female-audience hit around this time last year. The romantic comedy/zombie tale “Warm Bodies” did well on Super Bowl weekend three years ago, opening with $20.4 million toward an eventual $117.0 million worldwide gross. And women like both horror movies and Jane Austen.
So, why did “Pride” fail to crack the top five, debuting with just an estimated $5.2 million, less than half of what experts predicted? Audiences didn’t think much of it, giving it an underwhelming B- CinemaScore. And critics didn’t think much of it either, with its 41 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. James isn’t really a box office draw; the success of “Cinderella” owes less to the “Downton Abbey” alumna than to Disney’s brand and marketing. Period horror also hasn’t been as big a draw lately as studios had hoped — (cough) “Crimson Peak.”

Another factor worth noting is that competition from holdovers remained strong. “Kung Fu Panda 3” held the top spot ($21 million) and “The Revenant” topped $150 million in domestic earnings with a third place finish of $7.1 million. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” in fourth place with an estimated $6.9 million, became the first movie to earn more than $900 million in North America and the third to earn more than $2 billion worldwide. All three of these holdovers saw modest declines of less than 50 percent from the previous weekend. All three also have strong guy appeal (though in the case of “Panda,” the guys may be dads dragged to the cartoon by their kids).
Which brings us to the other factor: maybe the idea of female-oriented counterprogramming on Super Bowl weekend is outdated. Aside from “Dear John,” “Warm Bodies,” and 2008’s “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert Tour” (still the best Super Bowl weekend debut ever, at $31.1 million), there’s not an extensive history of women-targeted films performing well opposite the Super Bowl.

Maybe more women enjoy football than Hollywood conventional wisdom believes. Even if not, it’s almost never a good idea to open two films at once that are chasing the same audience. Given a choice between “The Choice” and “Zombies,” it shouldn’t be surprising that many women would choose the Broncos and Panthers instead.
%Slideshow-361729%

February 7, 2016
11 Essential Coen Brothers Movies

%Slideshow-360852%Have filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen been getting too conventional?

Already this decade, they’ve made a classical western (“True Grit“) and written three relatively irony-free scripts for other directors (including Angelina Jolie‘s “Unbroken” and Steven Spielberg‘s “Bridge of Spies“).

Fortunately, for fans of the brothers’ earlier work, their new period Hollywood farce, “Hail, Caesar!” (opening Feb. 5), looks like it could be a return to form — full of absurd, satirical touches, with maybe just a little food for thought. If you’re wondering why the writing-directing-producing-editing siblings are such a big deal, or how they got to where they are now, go back and watch these gems from their three-decades-plus career.

February 4, 2016