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As always with awards season, there have been many declarations of whether the group of nominees or winners would be the best or worst films ever to take home Best Picture. To help us quantify that statement, we jumped into Oscar history and filled in any of our blind spots over the last few weeks. Here is our ranking (from worst to best) of every Best Picture winner from the Academy Awards.

97. Cimarron (1931) FandomWire Best Picture Rankings – Cimarron Directed by Wesley Ruggles

While the Western has struggled with depicting non-white characters since the beginning of the genre, Cimarron is beyond many of its contemporaries. It’s hard to fully explain how racist Cimarron comes across in 2025, especially in its depictions of black and Indigenous characters. However, Cimarron is also boring beyond compare. Unlike Gigi, which was wildly celebrated as one of the great Oscar winners of all time, Cimarron only took home three wins,...

Turns out, when you’ve won Best Picture, most of the time, the only place you can go after that high is down.

Opening this weekend at the box office is “Mickey 17,” the first film from director Bong Joon Ho since his film won Best Picture for “Parasite” back in 2019. “Parasite” was something of a unicorn, an international film that crossed all borders and became a $259 million global commercial hit and an awards circuit sensation. Even with Robert Pattinson helping his cause, that’s going to be a tough benchmark to surpass. Warner Bros. is projecting a $40-50 million global opening weekend.

The difference this time is director Bong is working with a major studio, Warner Bros., rather than indie distributor Neon, and “Mickey 17” will open wide on 3,400 screens domestically, whereas “Parasite” at its peak only hit 2,000.

But when a director’s movie wins Best Picture, does their next one perform better?...

In the wake of Amazon’s surprise acquisition of creative control over the James Bond franchise from longtime stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the e-commerce giant faces a critical choice: What filmmaker will guide 007 into its new era?

There might be no time to die, but for Amazon, the right choice might be worth waiting for.

According to half a dozen industry insiders that spoke to TheWrap, Christopher Nolan remains both the top choice and the perfect filmmaker to reinvigorate Bond. Last week, another outlet reported that Nolan almost came close to directing a Bond movie after “Tenet,” yet he opted to direct “Oppenheimer” instead because Barbara Broccoli wouldn’t grant him final cut. Nolan is currently filming Universal’s “The Odyssey” which is set for theatrical release on July 17, 2026, so Nolan’s schedule might not align with Amazon’s immediate plans, but waiting for him to complete...

Earning his second Best Actor Oscar 22 years after his first, Adrien Brody entered the history books as the first leading actor to win two statuettes on his first two attempts on Sunday.

He won for his role as an ingenious, haunted architect in Brady Corbet’s epic, following his win in 2003 for Roman Polanski’s biographical World War II drama “The Pianist.”

And by wining Best Actor on Sunday, Brody not only made history but also preserved his place among Oscar milestones. Had 29-year-old Timothée Chalamet won in the category for “A Complete Unknown,” he would have become the youngest Best Actor victor ever, beating Brody’s own record from 2003.

Brody is the 11th leading actor to win twice in the top category.

“Acting is a very fragile profession,” Brody opened his acceptance speech. “It looks very glamorous, and certain moments it is, but the one thing that I’ve...

Adrien Brody took home his second Oscar on Sunday — Best Actor for The Brutalist — putting him in rarefied air: He is the eighth performer to boast a perfect 2-for-2 record at the Oscars.

The first seven to achieve this are:

1. Luise Rainer: Best Actress for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937)

2. Vivien Leigh: Best Actress for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

3. Helen Hayes: Best Actress for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1932) and Best Supporting Actress for Airport (1970)

4. Kevin Spacey: Best Supporting Actor for The Usual Suspects (1995) and Best Actor for American Beauty (1999)

5. Hilary Swank: Best Actress for Boys Don’t Cry (1999) and Million Dollar Baby (2004)

6. Christoph Waltz: Best Supporting Actor for Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012)

7. Mahershala Ali: Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight (2016) and Green Book (2018)

See The complete list of Oscar winners

Brody nabbed his first Best Actor Oscar for...

In the 21st century, 25 films have so far won Best Picture. A lot has changed over the past 25 years around the world and within the Academy. That evolution is partly reflected in this century’s list of Best Picture winners, which contains films that are both beloved and oft-derided. In the case of some, their Best Picture wins have even directly strengthened or worsened their reputations.

Now, ahead of the 2025 Oscars, here is where you can currently stream all of the Best Picture winners of the 21st century so far.

“American Beauty” (DreamWorks Pictures) “American Beauty” (1999)

The Best Picture winner at the 2000 Oscars, “American Beauty” is director Sam Mendes’ divisive drama about a white suburban American family slowly coming apart at the seams. It is available to stream now for free on Pluto TV.

“Gladiator” (Universal Pictures) “Gladiator” (2000)

This crowd-pleasing epic about a Roman general (Russell Crowe) who is forced...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Anthology Film Archives

A Volker Spengler retrospective brings three films by Fassbinder; films by Ozu and Pudovkin play in Essential Cinema.

Museum of the Moving Image

Snubbed Forever continues with films by Bogdanovich and a 35mm print of Fritz Lang’s Scarlet Street.

IFC Center

Hideaki Anno’s Love & Pop plays in a new restoration; Herzog’s Nosferatu, Mulholland Dr., Funeral Parade of Roses, Dogra Magra, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas show late.

Roxy Cinema

Saturday brings Susan Seidelman’s She-Devil on 35mm and Wild at Heart.

Film at Lincoln Center

The career-spanning Frederick Wiseman retrospective has its final weekend.

Film Forum

Tales from the New Yorker includes films by Hitchcock, Spike Jonze, the Marx Brothers, and John Huston; Godard’s A Woman Is a Woman continues in a new 4K restoration; Addams Family Values screens on Sunday.

Hollywood drama alert! The cast of the 1997 crime thriller L.A. Confidential is making headlines again, but not for a reunion. It all started after Guy Pearce recently tore up while recalling his disgraced co-star Kevin Spacey’s troubling behavior on set. Thereafter, actress Kim Basinger just dropped a surprising take on Pearce’s claims.

Kevin Spacey in a still from House of Cards | image: MRC, Netflix

While Guy Pearce hinted at having a rough time with the Oscar-winning actor who allegedly targeted him, Kim Basinger appeared to maintain her distance from the controversy. Saying that she can neither deny nor corroborate Pearce’s remarks, the actress seemed to avoid the whole drama by simply stating that she doesn’t really know Kevin Spacey.

Guy Pearce claimed to be targeted by Kevin Spacey on the set of L.A. Confidential Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential (1997) | image:...

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Toasting the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary this year? Dogfish Head is supplying the beer.

The craft brewery, which turns 30 this year, is continuing its “long, strange trip” with the Dead in the form of the Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale. The sessionable, tropical-hop-forward ale is wrapped in eye-catching Steal Your Face cans that any Dead Head will recognize from across the bar. Unlike Dogfish Head’s previous Grateful Dead releases,...

Conclave won Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first movie to defeat Anora at one of the top industry guilds.

The win allows the Oscars Best Picture race to keep some intrigue heading into next weekend. Anora had previously won top honors at the Producers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards, and Writers Guild Awards. Since the SAG Awards started giving out its film ensemble honor, only five movies have swept the top industry guilds: American Beauty, Slumdog Millionaire, No Country for Old Men, Argo, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. All five movies won Best Picture.

Now, this is a race. Conclave heads into the Oscars next week with some significant wind at its back, having also won Best Film honors at the BAFTA Awards last week. It is also heavily favored to win Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. If Conclave pulls off the Best Picture upset,...

Exclusive: Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Nick Stahl (Let the Right One In) and India Marie Cross (Wicked City) will star alongside Caleb Landry Jones in Down the Arm of God, an indie drama co-written by Jones and Peter Brunner, which is being introduced at EFM by Kinology.

Inspired by real stories, Down the Arm of God follows a young pastor through a harsh winter in a small Texas town, where his mission to help the homeless is faced with resistance by his congregation, exposing deep-seated prejudices and systemic failures.

Directed by Brunner, the film is rooted in real-life interviews and firsthand accounts of homeless individuals surviving on the streets. More than just a narrative about homelessness, Down the Arm of God is the result of years of direct collaboration with the homeless community — not just as subjects, but as partners and storytellers shaping the film with their lived experiences.

Luc Besson is producing for EuropaCorp,...

Kevin Spacey was once one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood starring in the House of Cards and other renowned projects. However, he was later exiled from the industry in 2017 after actor Anthony Rapp accused him of s*xual abuse in 1986, when Spacey was around 26, and Rapp was 14.

Kevin Spacey in Peter Five Eight | image: Forever Safe Productions

Thereafter, although Anthony Rapp’s accusations were dismissed, Kevin Spacey faced several more allegations of s*xual misconduct, leading to his career’s downfall. However, despite the notorious reports that have surfaced surrounding Spacey, the actor seems to be getting fierce support from his “old friend” Brian Cox.

Brian Cox retaliated against the industry’s treatment of Kevin Spacey Brian Cox in a still from Succession | image: HBO

Veteran actor Brian Cox, known for his appearance in Succession and his role as Colonel William Stryker in X2: X-Men United, has never...

Filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke is underway in Los Angeles on Street Smart, an indie drama said to mark a return to the gritty, immersive storytelling of her films Lords of Dogtown and Thirteen. Cast for the ensemble piece includes Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan), Yara Shahidi (Sitting in Bars with Cake), Michael Cimino (Never Have I Ever), Daniel Zovatto (Woman of the Hour), Sylvester Powell (All American: Homecoming), Kaitlyn Kemp (The Razor’s Edge), Miles McKenna (Goosebumps), and pro skateboarder Isiah Hilt.

Co-written by Hardwicke and 13 Reasons Why‘s Nic Sheff, Street Smart offers a look into the lives of a lively group of unhoused young adults in the iconic beach town, who come together with humor and a bit of Robin Hood-style larceny, forging unbreakable bonds and redefining what it means to be a family.

Poster Child Pictures’ Natalie Marciano is producing alongside...

Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning actor known for his roles in “American Beauty” and “The Usual Suspects,” is facing a new civil lawsuit in London, alleging sexual abuse.

The lawsuit was filed at London’s High Court on February 12, marking another legal challenge for the 65-year-old actor just over 18 months after he was acquitted of all charges in a high-profile criminal trial.

Details of the Lawsuit

The civil suit involves actor Ruari Cannon, who is suing Spacey along with two organizations connected to London’s Old Vic Theatre, where Spacey served as artistic director between 2003 and 2015.

Legal firm Fieldfisher, representing Cannon, confirmed the lawsuit but did not provide specific details of the allegations.

The lawsuit is separate from previous cases, as it does not involve any of the accusers from Spacey’s 2023 criminal trial.

During that trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court, Spacey faced charges of sexually assaulting four men...

After "Casino Royale," the very best Bond movie ever made, debuted in 2006, Sony Pictures and longtime Bond custodians Eon Productions delivered what is still seen as a historic blunder of a follow-up. "Quantum of Solace" was, in fact, one of the biggest disasters in 007 history, but not for the reasons claimed at the time. Despite making $591 million worldwide, claims that the film was, as Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal surmised, "a model of mediocrity," became the dominant view, and Eon got spooked.

The company went back to the drawing board, bringing on "American Beauty" and "Revolutionary Road" director Sam Mendes to helm Bond's next outing. Then came another blow: In 2010, MGM, which had distributed all of the Eon Bond films, went bankrupt.

Thankfully, the James Bond saga found its way regardless, and "Skyfall" debuted in 2012 to stellar reviews and a $1.1 billion global box office take, making it the...

Even though film is primarily a visual medium and the cinematographer has such an influential role in the final product, the Best Cinematography Oscar rarely matches the Best Picture winner. Last year’s Oppenheimer was an outlier, landing both awards, and the 2025 Academy Awards could yield similar results. But before Oppenheimer, the Best Picture winner was awarded Best Cinematography only three times since 2000.

This year, the five Best Cinematography nominees include three Best Picture nominees: frontrunner The Brutalist, potential spoiler Dune: Part Two (which won in this category for the first film in 2022), and the incredibly fraught Emilia Pérez. The other nominees are Maria (giving legendary cinematographer Ed Lachman his fourth nomination and second in as many years) and Nosferatu (putting Robert Eggers‘s longtime friend and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke back in the category following his surprise nomination for The Lighthouse).

Other data points to consider. Four of the five...

Back in March 2000, just a few weeks before the 72nd Academy Awards, something crazy happened—one of the boldest heists in Hollywood history. A shipment of 55 Oscar statuettes, meant for the big winners of the night, completely vanished from a loading dock in Los Angeles. Can you imagine? These weren’t just any trophies; they were the actual Oscars that stars had been dreaming of their whole lives!

When the news broke, it sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. Everyone was talking about it—how could something like this even happen? The Academy was in full panic mode, and law enforcement wasted no time getting involved. The LAPD and even the FBI jumped on the case, trying to track down the missing awards. For a while, it was a total mystery. People speculated that maybe it was an inside job, or maybe someone had stolen them to sell on the black market.

Robert De Niro won his second Oscar in 1981 for playing a boxing champ in Raging Bull. And now he has been chosen as the acting champ when it comes to Academy Awards.

His performance for the Martin Scorsese film from 1980 has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Actor winner ever, according to a Gold Derby ballot cast by 21 of our film experts, critics, and editors, who ranked all 97 male leading actors.

Anthony Hopkins finished second for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), with Marlon Brando following in third for The Godfather (1972). Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), and Gregory Peck for To Kill a Mockingbird (1961) rounded out the top five.

At the bottom of the list of the Best Actor winners is Warner Baxter for In Old Arizona (1928). George Arliss in Disraeli (1929), Lionel Barrymore for A Free Soul (1930), Paul Lukas for Watch on the Rhine (1942), and Paul Muni for The Story of Louis Pasteur...

A fresh month brings an exciting batch of new streaming options for Paramount+ subscribers. The service is adding a wide array of modern and classic movies to its platform in February, and more than enough to ensure that you will not have to go looking far for something to watch. Whether you are in the mood for a somber crime drama, a breezy sci-fi thriller, an entertaining rom-com or even a good old-fashioned tearjerker, Paramount+ has you covered.

Here are the best movies coming to the platform in February.

“Attack the Block” (Optimum Releasing) “Attack the Block” (2011)

A blast of slick, stylish sci-fi action, writer-director Joe Cornish’s “Attack the Block” follows the members of a teenage street gang — led by the undaunted Moses (then-newcomer John Boyega) — as they are forced to defend the South London public housing block they call home from a sudden alien invasion. Featuring a number...

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Jan. 29, 2025 Lady Gaga opens up about Joker: Folie à Deux bombing

While promoting her newest album Mayhem, which drops on March 7, Lady Gaga spoke with Elle about Joker: Folie à Deux being a flop at the box office and with critics. “People just sometimes don’t like some things,” she said. “It’s that simple. And I think to be an artist, you have to be willing for people to sometimes not like it. And you keep going even if something didn’t connect in the way that you intended.” Speaking about her fear of failure, she added, “When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem.” While the Joker sequel was snubbed at the Oscars, it did pick up a leading six Razzie Award nominations. But, don’t forget:...

Richard J. Bosner has been a producer on several films over the years, including Fruitvale Station, Black Bear, and Paint, and now he has made his feature directorial debut with the horror film Devoted, based on a short film called Devotee, which he made last year. Variety reports that Bosner assembled a strong cast for the film, including Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Skeet Ulrich (Scream), Elizabeth Marvel (Helstrom), Lin Shaye (Insidious), Alicia Sanz (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series), and Nick Stahl (Carnivale).

Now making its way through post-production, Devoted is produced by Bosner, along with Robert Ogden Barnum, Eric Binns, and Carissa Knol. Danny Chan, Dana Guerin, John Frank Rosenblum, Matt Rhodes, Tyler Transki, Michael Sklut, and Sam Maydew serve as executive producers.

The story centers on a woman (Suvari), who takes guardianship of her estranged sister (Marvel), the only survivor of a recent mass cult suicide. Yet her...

Annette Bening is set to star alongside Anya Taylor-Joy in the upcoming Apple TV+ limited series “Lucky,” Variety has learned.

It was announced that Taylor-Joy would star in the series back in December. It is based on the novel of the same name by Marissa Stapley. The book was a New York Times bestseller and a selection for Reese Witherspoon’s Reese’s Book Club.

Per the official description, Taylor-Joy stars as “a young woman who left behind the life of crime she was raised in years ago, but must now embrace her darker, criminal side one final time in a desperate attempt to escape her past.”

Bening will appear in the role of Priscilla. This marks the second major TV role she has lined up in the past few years, with Bening having recently starred in the Peacock drama “Apples Never Fall.” That show was based on the book...

Mena Suvari (American Beauty), Skeet Ulrich (Scream), and Elizabeth Marvel (“House of Cards”) will star in the upcoming horror film Devoted, Variety reports.

Lin Shaye (Insidious), Alicia Sanz (“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series”), and Nick Stahl (Sin City) round out the cast.

The plot follows a woman (Suvari) who takes guardianship of her estranged sister (Marvel), the only survivor of a recent mass cult suicide. Yet her happiness at their reunion soon turns to terror as her sister’s influence turns her and her husband’s (Ulrich) life into a savage nightmare.

Fruitvale Station, Black Bear, and The Manor producer Richard J. Bosner writes and directs in his feature debut.

Bosner helmed a proof-of-concept short titled Devotee to generate interest in the feature. It premiered at HollyShorts Film Festival last year.

“Devoted weaves my passion for classic horror and the occult into a suspenseful exploration of fear and the...

Indie streamer Nebula has unveiled its first original scripted series, dark anthology Sub/liminal with Oscar winner Dan Jinks on board to executive produce.

Sub/liminal is touted as resembling The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror as it explores power dynamics in human relationships and what happens when those relationships go off kilter. The first season will be six standalone episodes, with stories from Nebula content creators brought to the screen by seasoned directors and producers.

The series is set to begin production later this year and underlines efforts by Nebula as an indie streaming platform to work with big name Hollywood players.

“Dan Jinks has an Oscar. I’m doing whatever he says,” Nebula CEO Dave Wiskus said in a statement.

For his part, Jinks, who produced the Oscar-winning American Beauty movie, which starred Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, welcomed collaborating with Nebula as it looks to compete in...

Indie streaming service Nebula has set its first-ever scripted original series, “Sub/liminal,” with Oscar-winning producer Dan Jinks on board to executive produce.

Per Nebula, “The new dark anthology series from the indie streamer will be in the vein of The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror. The show will explore power dynamics in human relationships, and what can happen when those relationships fall out of balance.”

The six-episode first season of “Sub/liminal” will feature stories from Nebula creators made in partnership with seasoned directors and producers. Nebula CEO Dave Wiskus will executive produce alongside Jinks.

“Sub/liminal” is set to begin production later this year.

“I’m very much looking forward to working with Dave Wiskus and the amazing writers and directors he has assembled at Nebula for this exciting new series,” Jinks said.

Wiskus added: “Dan Jinks has an Oscar, I’m doing whatever he says.”

The series...

After Sister Wives fans saw that Christine Brown Woolley’s dad, Rex Allred, was in attendance at her wedding, some questions arose. One is, does Rex still live as part of the Apostolic United Brethren polygamist lifestyle?

Sister Wives Shows Christine Brown Woolley’s Parents Together

In the latest episode of Sister Wives, Christine Brown Woolley and David Woolley tied the knot. Among the attendees were both Christine’s mom, Ruth Anne Stevens, and her dad, Rex Allred. However, Christine and Annie were estranged for many years because of the embarrassment she felt after she left her dad. But they reconnected and were on good terms at the wedding. Some fans might remember that Kody Brown was attracted to Christine’s “royal” status within the Aub. Rex’s dad, Rulon Allred, was the prophet and one of the founders of the church.

Christine Brown talking to her dad, Rex Allred.

Mayfair Witches season 2 improves compared to its first installment, with the supernatural drama getting a better showing on Rotten Tomatoes. The second television show set in the shared Immortal Universe, which is based on the Anne Rice novels, Mayfair Witches premiered after 2022's Interview with the Vampire. It stars Alexandra Daddario as Dr. Rowan Fielding, a neurosurgeon who learns she is connected to a powerful family of witches and soon gets pulled into a dangerous and high-stakes world.

Mayfair Witches season 2 debuted on AMC and AMC+ on January 5 and is off to a strong start on Rotten Tomatoes. The supernatural drama from creators Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding holds an 83% based on six reviews. The score is likely to fluctuate as more viewers are added, as season 1 ultimately has 36 reviews. For now, the score, as it currently stands, represents an improvement over season 1's 44%.

What The Reviews Mean For Mayfair Witches...

The Franchise won’t be getting any sequels: HBO has cancelled the showbiz satire after just one season, TVLine has confirmed. (Our sister site Deadline first reported the news.)

Himesh Patel starred as Daniel, the first assistant director on a big-budget superhero movie that’s part of a Marvel-esque cinematic universe. Daniel Brühl co-starred as pretentious director Eric Bouchard, with Aya Cash as producer Anita and Billy Magnussen and Richard E. Grant as actors Adam Randolph and Peter Fairchild. Armando Iannucci (Veep) and Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) served as executive producers, with Mendes directing the pilot.

More from...

Year 2024 has officially come to a close, which means it’s time to recap some of the best documentaries, and there were a lot.

From the top of the year all the way down to December, the documentary did not disappoint. The world was taken aback after Investigation Discovery released its highly-anticipated four-part docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids of TV,” which details the numerous workplace abuse allegations involving several Nickelodeon shows and former Nick writer-producer Dan Schneider. Plus, we got an inside look at the making of “We Are the World” with Netflix’s “The Greatest Night in Pop,” and we visited wildlife matriarchies across the globe in Disney’s “Queens.”

Check out our list of the top 10 best documentaries from this year.

Vince McMahon in “Mr. McMahon.” (Credit: Courtesy of Netflix) ‘Mr. McMahon’

“Mr. McMahon” a six-part series, details the rise of World Wrestling Entertainment...

Sturgill Simpson paid tribute to the Grateful Dead for the band’s Kennedy Center Honors, playing a twangy country cover of the band’s classic “Ripple.”

Simpson performed the song in front of Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann, the Dead’s three surviving members. He was joined onstage by Don Was as well as the late Phil Lesh’s grandson Grahame to interpret the track off 1970’s American Beauty.

Simpson’s grown more acquainted with the Dead’s music in recent years, particularly as he joined some of...

American Beauty stirred a lot of debate when it hit screens in 1999. Directed by Sam Mendes, the film explores complex and often uncomfortable themes. Mena Suvari played Angela Hayes, a confident yet shallow teenager who catches the attention of Lester Burnham, a man in the throes of a midlife crisis, portrayed by Kevin Spacey. Angela is the 17-year-old best friend of Lester’s daughter, making the situation even more unsettling.

Mena Suvari in the movie American Beauty | Credit: DreamWorks Pictures

Over the years, Spacey himself has been embroiled in controversies following accusations of abuse. Interestingly, Suvari once opened up about her own discomfort while working on the film, which remains a topic of discussion when revisiting the movie’s themes and its troubled legacy.

Mena Suvari felt weird with Kevin Spacey’s acting method

Mena Suvari opened up about a strange experience she had while filming American Beauty back in 1999. At the time,...

In an era when network television focused on family-friendly sitcoms, Alan Ball and HBO decided to go the opposite way and made Six Feet Under, a drama series that revolved around a family of undertakers. The concept was risky with each episode beginning with a death and the exploration of grief taking up the majority of the storyline.

However, the show found a warm welcome from audiences who were looking for a better class of content on their TV sets. HBO had marketed itself as a more artistic side of the TV business and had already created popular shows like The Sopranos and The Wire. Hence, when they approached Ball by saying his show was too dark, he had the perfect response.

Alan Ball’s Six Feet Under Was Initially Deemed Too Dark For TV A still from Six Feet Under | Credits: HBO

Alan Ball’s Six Feet Under is...

Ridley Scott may have inadvertently revealed some major casting news during a Q&a with Christopher Nolan last night in Los Angeles.

During a conversation with Christopher Nolan that followed a screening of Gladiator II at the Directors Guild of America, Scott confirmed his next project will be thriller The Dog Stars. When Nolan asked if Paul Mescal will star in the film, Scott initially said yes before correcting himself that Mescal’s schedule may prevent them from reuniting.

“Maybe,” Scott said, via The Hollywood Reporter. “Paul is actually stacked up,...

Kevin Spacey is a name synonymous with award-winning performances in films like American Beauty and The Usual Suspects. Later in his career, he became widely recognized for his portrayal of Frank Underwood in House of Cards. However, not many people may know that he is no stranger to the world of video games and left his mark there as well.

Spacey played a major role in CoD Advanced Warfare. | Image Credit: Raven Software

In 2014, when Call of Duty Advanced Warfare was released, it was revealed that Spacey was one of the lead actors in the game, playing Jonathan Irons, the main antagonist. However, he soon found out that while he was a well-known name in the film industry, his name didn’t carry the same weight in the gaming world.

Kevin Spacey’s Role in Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Spacey was shocked to hear the player’s reaction to his role.

While it’s not uncommon for a filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination for directing their first narrative feature—directors to do so since the turn of the century include Emerald Fennell, Jordan Peele, Benh Zeiltlin, Tony Gilroy, Rob Marshall and Spike Jonze—it’s very rare for a film debut to win best director. Only six have accomplished the feat: Marty’s Delbert Mann, West Side Story’s Jerome Robbins (sharing the Oscar with co-director Robert Wise), Ordinary People’s Robert Redford, Terms of Endearment’s James L. Brooks, Dances With Wolves’ Kevin Costner and American Beauty’s Sam Mendes. This year, the best director race is packed […]

The post Awards Season Analysis: First Time Filmmakers in the 2024 Race first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

While it’s not uncommon for a filmmaker to earn an Oscar nomination for directing their first narrative feature—directors to do so since the turn of the century include Emerald Fennell, Jordan Peele, Benh Zeiltlin, Tony Gilroy, Rob Marshall and Spike Jonze—it’s very rare for a film debut to win best director. Only six have accomplished the feat: Marty’s Delbert Mann, West Side Story’s Jerome Robbins (sharing the Oscar with co-director Robert Wise), Ordinary People’s Robert Redford, Terms of Endearment’s James L. Brooks, Dances With Wolves’ Kevin Costner and American Beauty’s Sam Mendes. This year, the best director race is packed […]

The post Awards Season Analysis: First Time Filmmakers in the 2024 Race first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Ringo Starr has commented on reports that Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) will play him in an upcoming biopic about The Beatles. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer discussed the speculation in a recent interview with “Entertainment Tonight’s” Kevin Frazier.

“I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons,” he said. “I hope not too many!” When asked if he had any advice for the actor, Starr showed off his basic drumming tutorial and added, “I’m not asking you to play like me, but you have to have the movement to do this stuff. A lot of people come to the gigs we’re doing and say, ‘My son is taking drum lessons,’ and I say, ‘Not too many I hope.’ You’ve got to let them get their own feel.”

It’s been 60 years since The Beatles first landed in the United States and Beatlemania is still going strong.

Ringo Starr seems to have confirmed that Barry Keoghan will play him in the Starr-centric film in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight this week, the Beatles drummer weighed in when asked about the rumored casting, telling the network, “I think he’s great, I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons. I hope not too many.”

While Starr’s remark gives some validity to the Keoghan rumors that had surfaced recently, another source would not confirm the casting based on Starr’s statements. They told Rolling Stone...

Theres always that strange transition period in horror movies where things can get lost in the shuffle. The 70s and its nihilism broke late in the decade to swerve into masked killers and the slasher genre. That heyday was far shorter than people remember but the late 80s did something similar in transitioning to straight to video smash successes and a crazy number of sequels and adaptations. That well, too, would dry up, and when Wes Craven released Scream in 1996, the landscape would shift to smart slashers and then found footage. The teen slasher era was first with things like Urban Legend, Scream sequels, Disturbing Behavior, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and hell, even Final Destination posits literal death as a slasher villain. These are more along the lines of the top shelf example but one that could qualify for a best horror movie you never saw And...

The Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece “The Godfather” (1972) has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Picture winner ever. The results are from a recent Gold Derby ballot cast by 29 of our film experts and editors, who ranked all 96 movie champs.

Ranking in second place is the Michael Curtiz classic “Casablanca” (1943). Following in third place is the powerful Steven Spielberg film “Schindler’s List” (1993). Rounding out the top five are Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II” (1974) in fourth place and Billy Wilder‘s “The Apartment” (196o) in fifth place.

At the bottom of the list of the Best Picture winners is “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952) from Cecil B. DeMille. Just above that film in the rankings are “Cimarron” (1931) from Wesley Ruggles, “The Broadway Melody” (1929) from Harry Beaumont, “Crash” (2005) from Paul Haggis, and “Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956) from Michael Anderson.

Our photo gallery above features the full top 10. See the complete rankings of all 96 films below.

The Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece “The Godfather” (1972) has been voted the greatest Oscar Best Picture winner ever. The results are from a recent Gold Derby ballot cast by 29 of our film experts and editors, who ranked all 96 movie champs.

Ranking in second place is the Michael Curtiz classic “Casablanca” (1943). Following in third place is the powerful Steven Spielberg film “Schindler’s List” (1993). Rounding out the top five are Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II” (1974) in fourth place and Billy Wilder‘s “The Apartment” (196o) in fifth place.

The worst among 96 Best Picture winners is “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952) from Cecil B. DeMille. Just above that film on the bottom of the rankings are “Cimarron” (1931) from Wesley Ruggles, “The Broadway Melody” (1929) from Harry Beaumont, “Crash” (2005) from Paul Haggis, and “Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956) from Michael Anderson.

Our photo gallery below features the full top 10. See the complete rankings of all 96 films below.

In 1994, David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg -- three of Hollywood's biggest power players -- united to form a brand-new major motion picture studio called DreamWorks, something that hadn't been attempted in decades. The trio of execs had three stipulations: they wouldn't make any more than nine films a year, they would be allowed to make movies for other studios, and they would be able to go home in time for dinner.

For three years, the trio would wrangle contracts and make deals with various music, film, and television entities to make sure it was standing on solid ground and could handle being the outsize business entity they wanted it to be. In 1997, DreamWorks finally released its first three movies: "The Peacemaker," "Amistad," and "Mouse Hunt." The year after, the studio broke into feature animation with the bad-but-popular CGI insect film "Antz" and the highly acclaimed and very good "The Prince of Egypt,...

There is a surprising growing trend among 2020s movies of reversing one of Hollywoods more problematic tropes surrounding age gaps in the romance movie genre. Romance movies often explore somewhat idealistic worlds where fate brings two people together in a light-hearted and sometimes comedic adventure, making them the perfect watch for those who want to kick back and relax. However, there are a lot of rom-com movies that have not aged well for modern audiences due to controversial themes, such as the Hollywood trope of casting an older man and a younger woman to play the main love interests.

Recently, Christopher Nolans hit movie Oppenheimer was the subject of age gap controversy as Cillian Murphy (47) is 20 years older than Florence Pugh (27), despite them playing a couple in a romantic relationship in the movie. Furthermore, Jenna Ortega and Martin Freemans erotic thriller, Millers Girl, has faced some backlash as a result of their 31-year age difference,...

The best Annette Bening movies and TV shows prove that she is one of the top actresses in Hollywood history. However, she also has one disappointing fact about her career. She is one of the few actors to ever earn nominations at the Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys, yet never walk away with a single win. Bening got her start working in theater for a Shakespeare company in the 1980s and then finally moved into movies right as the decade was coming to an end.

Bening earned her first Tony nomination before she made her name in movies and TV shows, but when she took on the role of con artist Myra Langtry in The Grifters, she picked up her first Oscar nod, and her film career was officially rolling. Bening went on to earn Oscar nominations four more times, with roles in American Beauty, Being Julia, The Kids Are All Right,...

Denzel Washington is back on the big screen this weekend in “Gladiator II,” with advance word calling his performance one of the highlights of Ridley Scott‘s long-awaited sequel. Was there any doubt the actor would steal the show? With his 70th birthday next month, Washington used his “Gladiator II” press tour to reflect on his life and career, including a long-form look back publishing in Esquire?

Continue reading Denzel Washington Admits He “Got Bitter” After Kevin Spacey Won The Best Actor For ‘American Beauty’ at The Playlist.

When thinking of movies that made a mark in history, American Beauty definitely comes to mind. The 1999 film is still remembered today for exploring the search for deeper meaning in life and shining a light on male vulnerability. Wes Bentley was one of the actors who gained the most from the project, and ever since, his work has been highly praised and in demand.

Wes Bentley in Yellowstone (Credits: Paramount+)

What’s most interesting is that even after 25 years, he’s still closely associated with it. The actor is currently part of the cast of Yellowstone, one of the most popular series today, but what many people don’t know is that American Beauty played a key role in landing him that part. It seems Bentley is still reaping the rewards of the film to this day.

Wes Bentley’s Career Is Still Influenced By American Beauty Wes Bentley in...

Denzel Washington wasn’t too pleased to lose the Best Actor Oscar to “American Beauty” star Kevin Spacey — so much so, in fact, that he felt bitterness over his “Hurricane” loss for years to come.

The actor (who later won the top Oscar for “Training Day”) revealed in an interview with Esquire published Tuesday that the resentment of the situation lasted “for about 15 years.”

The topic arose mid-interview while discussing his filmography. That’s when he recalled the night he lost to Spacey at the 2000 Academy Awards.

“At the Oscars, they called Kevin Spacey’s name for ‘American Beauty.’ I have a memory of turning around and looking at him, and nobody was standing but the people around him. And everyone else was looking at me,” Washington explained. “Not that it was this way. Maybe that’s the way I perceived it. Maybe I felt like everybody was looking at me.

Denzel Washington is about to grace us with his new villain character in Gladiator II, where he looks to be having the time of his life. He’s currently doing the promotional blitz as the Ridley Scott sequel hits theaters soon. Washington would whet everyone’s appetites with some of his planned projects after Gladiator II. Black Panther 3 is something interesting that he revealed is on his radar when he explained, “I played Othello at 22, I’m now going to play it at 70. After that, I’m playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.”

Esquire recently did a profile piece on Washington as he promotes Gladiator II and the iconic actor gets very candid and honest about certain struggles he faced during his career. A revelation included how...

Denzel Washington recalls his bitterness over losing out on two Oscars, revealing that he stopped voting. Washington remains one of the most respected actors working in Hollywood today, appearing in popcorn hits and prestige awards fare. He can next be seen as part of the cast of Gladiator 2. Washington has been widely celebrated at various awards ceremonies, including the Academy Awards, winning two and being nominated for eight others since 1988's Cry Freedom.

In a recent piece he wrote for Esquire, recounting key moments of his life in his own words, Washington reveals that he didn't take two particular Oscar losses very well. He was nominated for both Malcolm X (1992) and The Hurricane (1999), losing to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman (1992) for the former and Kevin Spacy for American Beauty (1999) for the latter.

Washington recalls the experience of losing to Spacey, in particular, and how the moment ultimately...

Denzel Washington is looking back on how he felt after losing the Best Actor Oscar to Kevin Spacey in 2000. The Gladiator II star, who had already won one Oscar and earned three other nominations before that ceremony, was nominated again for playing Rubin Carter in 1999’s The Hurricane.

He competed against Spacey for American Beauty, Russell Crowe for The Insider, Richard Farnsworth for The Straight Story, and Sean Penn for Sweet and Lowdown. In the end, Spacey took home the award, though Washington did win the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama that year.

“At the Oscars, they called Kevin Spacey’s name for American Beauty,” Denzel remembers. “I have a memory of turning around and looking at him, and nobody was standing but the people around him. And everyone else was looking at me. Not that it was this way. Maybe that’s the way I perceived it.