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Does Any Other Tom Cruise Movie Rival Mission: Impossible – Fallout’s 98% Rotten Tomatoes Score? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise’s latest Mission: Impossible installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, is finally out in Indian theatres and will hit the big screens in the US next week. The movie has received a critics’ score of 80% on the reviews aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. A decent score but much lower than the highest-rated Mi film, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, which boasts an outstanding Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%. But is there any other film starring Tom Cruise that has surpassed Mission: Impossible – Fallout’s 98% Rotten Tomatoes Score? Read on to find out.

The Tom Cruise Film Which Comes Closest To Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Let us tell you that no other Tom Cruise movie, be it in the Mi universe or otherwise, has a higher or equal Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score...

Tom Cruise has revealed he and the ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ team are “thinking and talking about many different stories” for the sequel.The 62-year-old actor is set to reprise his role as pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the upcoming follow-up to the 2022 blockbuster, and has now shared he and the creative team are currently exploring different avenues of where to take the ‘Top Gun’ story next.During an appearance on the Australian ‘Today’ show, Cruise said: “Yeah, we’re thinking and talking about many different stories and what could we do and what’s possible.“It took me 35 years to figure out ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, so all of these things we’re working on, we’re discussing ‘Days of Thunder’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’.”The ‘Mission: Impossible’ star added he was working on “numerous other films” at the moment, including Alejandro Iñárritu’s first English language movie since 2015’s ‘The Revenant...

When the idea was first mooted at the back-end of the 20th century, making a big-screen adaptation of the hit 1966-73 show Mission: Impossible smacked of studio IP-grab desperation, the kind of lazy thinking that, at around the same time, gave us The Saint (1997), a film now best forgotten and humbly described on Rotten Tomatoes as merely “watchable,” mostly by fans of the late, great Val Kilmer. Production troubles on that first M:i were legendary, since it went into production without a script that anyone could agree on and, more perplexingly, starred Tom Cruise at a time when his stock was rising as a movie star in serious, glossy Oscar-winning movies, not pulpy American TV reboots.

Thirty years later and here we are: Tom Cruise is the biggest Hollywood movie star in the world bar none, the M:i franchise has beaten its primetime namesake’s seven-year winning streak three times over,...

As the world’s leading movie star, Tom Cruise accomplished a pretty easy mission by touching down at the Cannes Film Festival Wednesday night and whipping the city into a frenzy ahead of the Palais premiere of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.

Joined by his close friend and franchise collaborator, filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, Cruise walked the red carpet after signing a slew of autographs and posing for selfies with fans lining the barricades on the Croisette. Fans held Cruise memorabilia, from posters of The Last Samurai to a DVD of Mission: Impossible II. One fan set up a shrine to Val Kilmer, the late co-star of Cruise’s Top Gun.

Cruise and the cast arrived to a musical group performing the famous Mission: Impossible theme. They walked up the carpet, with orchestra players positioned up the red carpet steps of the Palais. McQuarrie took numerous selfies with the cast on an otherwise phone-free carpet.

Illustration by What’s on Netflix

We’re fast approaching the midway point of the year, so what does June have in store for us? Welcome to your early preview, looking ahead at what’s coming up throughout June 2025, including all the announced upcoming series and movies, whether they be Netflix Originals or licensed titles, specifically for the United States.

As always, while this list covers all the new additions, we’re also separately tracking all the departures for June 2025 here. If you want to look even further ahead on the Netflix calendar, we recently published a look at the biggest Netflix Originals coming up over the Summer, and we’re still keeping track of all 2025 releases here.

Note: We typically get word of new releases throughout the month and expect a full list courtesy of Netflix on one of the Wednesdays in the last two weeks of May. We...

Less than two months after Val Kilmer’s death, his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Tom Cruise has been effusive in praising the actor while talking to Sight and Sound magazine. The pair first played rival fighter pilots Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 action movie Top Gun, before they returned for its 2022 sequel. In this second installment, Iceman has terminal throat cancer, which was a contributing factor to Kilmer’s death in real life. Cruise describes how the late actor still embodied his character despite being unable to speak, explaining, “He was Iceman.” (via Collider)

Kilmer returns as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick during a three-minute scene in which Maverick goes to his character for advice. “It was like time had not passed,” Cruise told Sight and Sound, in reference to working with his Top Gun rival again 35 years after the first movie’s release. “We were laughing and it was joyous.

Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise have been reported to be rivals for as long as one can remember, with both of them deemed competitive while striving for the top spot in the entertainment industry. The former’s upcoming movie F1 is expected to take this very rivalry to the next level, especially since it is being compared to the latter’s Top Gun film series.

But while this soon-to-be-released sports-action movie is expected to put up a fair competition to Cruise’s action-adventure aviation sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, it already seems to be lagging behind in comparison. To say the least, Pitt’s flick might not be able to beat what the 2022 masterpiece achieved, for these three understandable reasons.

Brad Pitt’s F1 lacks heroism, while Tom Cruise’s Top Gun depicts that perfectly Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick | Credits: Paramount Pictures.

As greatly anticipated as Brad Pitt‘s upcoming F1 movie is,...

Reports have confirmed the development of Top Gun 3, with Tom Cruise returning to his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The previous film, Top Gun: Maverick, turned out to be the highest-grossing film in Cruise’s career. The film featured a bunch of young stars, many of whom went on to build a reputable career since the 2022 film.

A third film in the series would probably be incomplete without these young stars returning to their roles. However, bringing them would make the movie a very expensive affair, given their current star value. Cruise’s salary alone would be a massive cost for the film, as his reported salary for the second film was $100 million (via Variety).

While it took 36 years for the second movie to materialize, the third movie is expected to arrive very soon, offering a fitting conclusion to Cruise’s iconic character.

3 stars who will blow up the...

As hard as it might be to believe, Batman Forever is turning 30 years old this year. The Joel Schumacher movie was the epitome of '90s modernity at the time of its release, going bigger than ever before with lavish visuals, over-the-top costumes and styling, and some very outlandish storytelling (though nowhere near as outlandish as its 1997 sequel Batman and Robin).

It ended up being exactly what Warner Bros. was looking for at the time, telling a relatively serious Batman story against a very unserious, marketable world with colorful villains and a lot of one-liners. But even with all of the film's success, there were clearly two very different films within that project, and one was seemingly crying out to be seen - one that Joel Schumacher himself wanted audiences to see.

That wish might finally come true, as the Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever is finally being screened for the public.

As Tom Cruise prepares to star in what could be his final Mission: Impossible film, the acclaimed actor reveals why he resisted returning to another big action franchise for decades. Cruise shares why he opted against featuring in a second Top Gun film before finally agreeing to reprise his role in Top Gun: Maverick.

Speaking at a British Film Institute (BFI) event this past weekend (via Deadline), Cruise claimed he was asked by Paramount Pictures on multiple occasions to make a sequel to 1986's Top Gun following its critical and commercial success. Despite his performance in Top Gun further launching his rise to stardom, Cruise wanted opportunities to show his acting range and decided to focus on other projects. "They really wanted me to make Top Gun over and over. But I wanted to develop my talent in different areas, and I wanted more challenges," he said.

Also starring the late Val Kilmer,...

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise doesn't usually address movies he's not currently promoting. Today, the star of franchises like Top Gun and Mission: Impossible mostly spends his time designing mind-bending stunts and promoting the latest Ethan Hunt adventure. But at the same time, he remains very reserved about his career. Nevertheless, the actor recently took the time to reflect on his polarizing erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Cruise described the "unique experience" of making a film alongside another Hollywood legend, director Stanley Kubrick. In a very unusual moment of honesty, he also spoke about his wife at the moment, Nicole Kidman, being a "great actress" and how she was selected to play Alice, a casting decision that required him to pull some strings.

Per a report by Deadline, Cruise participated in an interview with Sight and Sound magazine, where he spoke about Eyes Wide Shut. The 1999 Stanley Kubrick thriller saw the...

Taylor Sheridan added another hit to his filmography with last year’s Landman, which was a success with audiences and critics alike. The series was renewed for a second installment shortly after the first season’s conclusion, and a major update will almost certainly add to its hype.

According to reports, actor Sam Elliott will reunite with Sheridan for the second installment. Given Elliott’s experience and popularity in the Western genre, the second season will have some heavy lifting to do. The biggest challenge ahead of season 2 is undoubtedly living up to Val Kilmer’s greatest Western, and here is why.

Sam Elliott reunites with Taylor Sheridan for Landman season 2

Actor Sam Elliott is known for his work on several critically acclaimed Western projects. The veteran Oscar-nominated actor previously collaborated with producer Taylor Sheridan for his epic period Western series 1883, appearing in the lead role of Shea Brennan.

Sam...

Following the release of the now cherished and somewhat infamous release of The Snyder Cut, fans have a newfound interest in alternate cuts of major comic book movie blockbusters. One of the most discussed is Joel Schumacher’s cut of 1995’s Batman Forever. Dubbed The Schumacher Cut, the filmmaker’s original vision for the Batman outing has now received some hugely exciting release news.

To celebrate the DC movie’s 30th anniversary, The Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever is set to be screened in a movie theater in Los Angeles on May 29, with the theater stating that the screening will be available to “Monthly members only!” with “Extremely Limited Seating!” While this showing of The Schumacher Cut is clearly extremely restricted, it surely marks good news for a potential wide release of the coveted director’s cut.

According to World of Reel, The Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever still needs...

Playing a rock star in Rock of Ages apparently didn’t satisfy Tom Cruise’s instinct to sing onscreen. Reflecting on his career at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London last night, the actor admitted that he hopes to do a musical—or several.

“Definitely musicals,” Cruise said when asked what is still on his bucket list as a performer. “Drama, action, adventures. It’s endless. My goals are endless.”

The event, “Tom Cruise in Conversation,” was held ahead of the actor receiving the BFI Fellowship, the organization’s highest honor,...

Top Gunand Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise recalls his final scene with the late, great Val Kilmer.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Cruise recently discussed his work alongside Val Kilmer in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick. Although Kilmer only utters a couple lines of dialogue in the film due to his then-ongoing battle with throat cancer, Cruise noted that this didn't hold his co-star back whatsoever. "It was amazing being on set for Top Gun: Maverick because it was like time had not passed. We were laughing and it was joyous. And then we started acting and it's just, you see it... he became Iceman."

"The power that this guy has, even not saying anything, to become that character. You see how even the sniff that he gave, he was Iceman. And you saw the dynamic between these friends. It was very special, to say the least, for me personally." Cruise added, "He didn't even have to speak.

The late Val Kilmer was one of the finest actors of his generation, and several movies were elevated because of his presence in them. In fact, if he had not appeared in Top Gunall those years ago, perhaps Top Gun: Maverick would never have happened over 30 years later, and that was once a real possibility until Tom Cruise convinced him to star in the 1986 movie.

As Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, Kilmer gave one of the performances that he continues to be best known for, and one that led directly to his involvement in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. In a recent interview, though, Cruise recalled how his co-star and friend did not originally want to be part of the movie, and took some convincing to do so. Cruise told Sight & Sound:

“I felt so grateful that he decided to make the film. We did a lot to get him in the movie.

Maverick and Iceman may have clashed in the skies, but off-screen, Tom Cruise had nothing but admiration for his Top Gun costar Val Kilmer. In a new cover story with Sight and Sound magazine, Cruise opened up about Kilmer’s unforgettable performance as Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in both the original 1986 film and its 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick, describing the experience of working with him as “exhilarating.”

“First of all, I felt so grateful that he decided to make the film,” Cruise said. "We did a lot to get him in the movie. Originally, he just didn't want to make the movie: ‘I don't want to be a supporting, I want to star in films.’ I was calling his agent, and [director] Tony Scott was hunting him down and meeting in an elevator with Val, and he was like, ‘Please, Val, please.’”

Kilmer eventually came around and joined the film as Iceman – a cold,...

Maverick and Iceman had a bond on screen, and Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer had one off, as Cruise detailed in a new interview in which he praised his late costar. In a career retrospective for Sight and Sound, Cruise said it was “amazing” that he got to reconnect with Kilmer for the 2022 action drama Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to 1986’s Top Gun. In Maverick, as Cruise once again played Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Kilmer had a cameo as Maverick’s rival-turned friend, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. It was Kilmer’s final onscreen role before his death from pneumonia at age 65 this April. “It was like time had not passed,” Cruise told the magazine as he recalled filming Maverick scenes with Kilmer (per Deadline). “We were laughing, and it was joyous. And then we started acting, and it’s just, you see it… he became Iceman.” Kilmer’s role in Maverick was largely silent,...

Tom Cruise found it "very special" to have Val Kilmer return for 'Top Gun: Maverick'.The 62-year-old actor reprised his 1986 role of Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell for the 2022 sequel and found it "beautiful" that his co-star - who died last month from complications related to pneumonia following a long period of ill health - was able to make a brief comeback as his rival-turned-ally Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky, which was a "joyous" experience for them both.Tom told Sight and Sound magazine: "To come back all those years later, and it was amazing being on set for 'Top Gun: Maverick' because it was like time had not passed. We were laughing and it was joyous."And then we started acting and it’s just, you see it… he became Iceman. The power that this guy has, even not saying anything, to become that character. You see how even the sniff that he gave.

During a press event in Seoul promoting Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise declined to respond to a question concerning former President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policy on films produced abroad. The question referred to the film’s international shooting locations and whether the production might be subject to such tariffs.

“I’d like to ask this question to anybody who’s up for it,” the reporter began, according to a translated exchange at the event. “I saw that it was filmed in many different locations around the world, including Africa. We all are aware of the tariffs that President Trump has been imposing on overseas productions and films. So, is this particular movie under that tariff? And how much of the film was shot overseas?”

Cruise responded off-mic to the moderator: “We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you.” The moderator acknowledged the direction and moved the conversation forward.

Tom Cruise has spoken for the first time about how he suggested to Stanley Kubrick that his then wife Nicole Kidman star opposite him in 1999s Eyes Wide Shut “because obviously she’s a great actress.”

The actor makes the rare public acknowledgement of Kidman’s thespian abilities in the May issue of Sight and Sound, the film magazine published by the British Film Institute.

Cruise will be honoured by the BFI on Monday with the awarding of a distinguished BFI Fellowship.

He joins the ranks of other BFI Fellows including giants of the calibre of David Lean, Bette Davis, Akira Kurosawa, Orson Welles, Thelma Schoonmaker, Derek Jarman, Martin Scorsese, Satyajit Ray, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G Wilson, Spike Lee and Christopher Nolan.

The actor-impresario will also discuss his career In Conversation at the BFI cinema complex on London’s Southbank on Sunday evening. Cruise activity is at full speed ahead...

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning North America Box Office Projection: Compared To His Last Memorial Day Film, Top Gun Maverick ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, aka Mission Impossible 8, will be released over Memorial Day weekend, clashing with Disney’s live-action movie Lilo & Stitch. However, they have separate target audiences, so the box office collections are less likely to get hampered. However, as the latest projection goes, it will be less than his last Memorial Day release, Top Gun: Maverick. Keep scrolling for more.

Top Gun 2 was released in 2022, and it was the sequel to Cruise’s breakthrough movie Top Gun, which came out three decades ago. The sequel features Tom as the naval aviator Maverick alongside Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val Kilmer. The movie follows Maverick confronting his past while training...

Tom Cruise, the man who has been ruling our hearts for as long as we can remember, is one of those rare actors who have been at the top of the Hollywood food chain for decades. Tom Cruise doesn’t do blockbusters; he Is the blockbuster. And when you pair that kind of star power with the legendary Ridley Scott – visionary master behind masterpieces like Blade Runner and Gladiator – you’d expect fireworks to go off, right?

Thus, when the two paired up to bring the epic dark fantasy adventure, Legend (1985), to life, there should’ve been magic. Here, “should’ve” is the keyword because even Tom Cruise’s star power fails once in a lifetime. Yeah, he seriously regrets this one, and not for the reasons you may think.

Why Tom Cruise regrets Legend Tom Cruise in Legend (1985) | Credits: Universal Pictures

Ridley Scott doesn’t just make movies; he...

Florence Pugh Worldwide Box Office Beats Ryan Gosling Career Total Collection ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

English actress Florence Pugh is being praised for her heartfelt performance in Thunderbolts*. The film’s decent opening has helped the actress surpass a significant milestone at the worldwide box office. She has surpassed Ryan Gosling as one of the highest-grossing Hollywood stars, a remarkable feat indeed. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Florence made her acting debut in 2014’s The Falling and gradually gained recognition for her powerful and versatile performances. On the other hand, Gosling started his career as a child actor and got his breakthrough in 2001’s The Believer, over a decade before Pugh got into acting. She even clashed with Gosling in 2023 as Oppenheimer and Barbie clashed. Although Florence had limited screen time, it still stood out.

After Barbie, Ryan Gosling’s The Fall Guy failed to impress the audience and thus was not a box office success.

Miles Teller is to star in the comedy film 'Possum Song'.The 38-year-old actor is to lead 'Sing Sing' director Greg Kwedar's upcoming flick as a Nashville star who had secretly stolen the songs for his hit debut album.'Possum Song' will follow singer Eddie (Teller) as he faces mounting pressure to finish his follow-up solo album - or risk losing everything. With a new wife and a baby on the way and just as hope begins to fade, he encounters an unlikely source of inspiration: a magical possum with extraordinary musical talent. But their collaboration comes at a steep and potentially perilous price.As well as starring in the movie, Teller is to produce 'Possum Song' with Lee Stobby, while Kwedar and Clint Bentley also produce under their Ethos banner.Kwedar will be working from a script written by Isaac Adamson, while FilmNation Entertainment is to...

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions is boarding the North American theatrical release of Joshua Zeman’s documentary “Checkpoint Zoo,” which chronicles a “daring rescue led by a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers, who risked their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in a zoo behind enemy lines during the initial days of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.”

Appian Way joins Noah Media Group and Ghost Robot, with Abramorama handling North American theatrical release rights and Osmosis Global handling worldwide sales. The film’s North American theatrical release will begin in New York City later this summer, with screenings hosted by the director and featuring special guests.

“As a filmmaker, it’s so rare to find a story that is so uplifting – so hopeful— that it brings tears to your eyes. That’s the power of stories about animals. Watching these men and women, dodging bombs while carrying...

Magic. A thing which is often magical is a rare occurrence in Hollywood. Once in a blue moon, two actors reunite for a sequel set years after the original film premiered.

Well, this blue moon is upon us as iconic actresses Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are reuniting for a sequel to a classic film, which was released back in 1998. The sequel, titled Practical Magic 2, will be as iconic as it sounds, with Warner Bros. going all out with a hype post.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman will return after 18 years!

An American romantic-fantasy-comedy movie titled Practical Magic premiered in theaters worldwide in 1998. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock played the leading roles.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic | Credits: Fortis Films

Directed by Griffin Dunne, the film depicted Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, who descend from a long line of witches.

When the world thinks of Tom Cruise, he is often reduced to the films that he has starred in. While this is no small feat, and he has one of the most impressive filmographies of all time, they seem to forget that he is so much more than an A-list celebrity. Being a feeling, passionate creature, his life has been public from the moment he gained a reputation.

Unfortunately, this also means that sadder moments of his life end up becoming headlines. Most recently, his former co-star and close friend, Val Kilmer, passed away. This prompted many to check in on him and ask how he is dealing with the painful news.

Even though some time has passed, it would seem that Cruise doesn’t know what to do with all the grief he is feeling. However, sources close to him claim that he is putting it in quite a heartwarming place.

Batman, a character with a rich history in comics, has been portrayed by numerous actors across various mediums, from live-action films to animated projects. Some actors have had brief appearances as the Caped Crusader, while others have portrayed him for years.

Now, DC fans have taken it upon themselves to rank these actors, setting aside box office and critical success. This fan-made list, compiled on Ranker, is for fans by fans.

24. Anthony Ruivivar (2353 Votes)

Anthony Ruivivar voiced Batman in the animated series “Beware the Batman” for 26 episodes, although he never portrayed the Dark Knight in live-action.

23. Jimmy Kimmel (3359 Votes)

Jimmy Kimmel provided the voice of Batman in ‘Teen Titans Go!’. He reportedly took on roles in movies primarily because his children were fans of the source material.

22. Robert Lowery (3694 Votes)

Robert Lowery played Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1949 film serial ‘Batman and Robin.’ As a result, his portrayal featured a...

Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer's Batmanfilms are currently being housed in one place. The iconic movies, based on the DC Comics superhero, are currently streaming on Tubi.

Tubi has officially added three of the most iconic films in The Dark Knight's history to its ever-expanding content library. These include 1989's Batman and its sequel, Batman Returns, both starring Michael Keaton. Rounding out the list is 1995's Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer. The three features made their debut on the platform on May 1.

Directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren, 1989's Batman introduced Michael Keaton's instantly iconic take on Bruce Wayne and the titular Caped Crusader. Batman also starred Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier/The Joker, Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, and Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent.

The film was a massive hit upon its release, raking...

Michael Keaton famously starred as the Dark Knight in both of Tim Burton's Batman movies, and his performance remains a favorite for many fans of the DC character. The role could have gone to the actor's Beetlejuice co-star, Alec Baldwin, but Burton didn't feel he was right for the role.

Baldwin discussed the subject during a recent interview for his brother Stephen Baldwin's podcast One Bad Movie. He noted how his ex-wife, Kim Basinger, has a role as Vicki Vale in the original Batman film by Burton. Baldwin then explained that Basinger told him that she'd spoken with Burton about why he wound up casting Keaton as Bruce Wayne. This was said to be because Burton was looking for someone who'd make a more believable Bruce Wayne than Batman, and the director was having trouble imagining Baldwin such a troubled character.

"Well, back then, he said, he told my ex-wife,...

There are tons of films celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025. When it comes to the superhero genre, 1995’s Batman Forever is at the top of that list. The Val Kilmer-starring film from director Joel Schumacher turns 30 years old and DC is going all out to celebrate the character’s second 90s big-screen adventure. This included new nostalgic action figures from Spin Master earlier this year, but now Lego is joining the Bat-Mania with a new set sure to have fans racing out of the Batcave.

The 909-piece set is the Batman Forever Batmobile. This version of The Dark Knight’s famous car has a molded windshield, rotatable wheels, authentic decorations and an opening cockpit. Like the Batmobile in the film, the car appears to feature blue lights throughout to make it as screen accurate as possible.

While not as memorable or beloved as Tim Burton and Michael Keaton’s Batmobile,...

Exclusive: I caught up with Carolco co-founder Mario Kassar, who had two recently deceased artists on his mind, and how they helped shape his highest-flying foreign sales company of the ‘80s. That would be director Ted Kotcheff, who essentially launched Carolco with First Blood, and Val Kilmer on The Doors, playing the iconic singer Jim Morrison even though Tom Cruise was desperate to play The Lizard King.

Kotcheff was integral in First Blood, even as the pic almost imploded when Sylvester Stallone decided his Rambo character wasn’t going to die, like in the book and the script. The film’s financing was structured heavily around Kirk Douglas, who on the morning of shooting, was set as Rambo’s handler Col Trautman. Determined that his character had to put his tortured Vietnam vet protégé out of his misery, Douglas was aghast at the Frankenstein monster he created, and the actor...

Miles Teller is to star in Paramount Pictures' 'Winter Games'. Paul Downs Colaizzo is to direct the Winter Olympic Games movie, which is currently in development, from a script penned by himself and Pat Cunnane. Sources have told Deadline that 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor Teller is attached to the project, which he will also produce alongside Tim and Trevor White. The movie will tell the story of the huge pressure on Winter Olympic Games competitors, and it'll focus on two main characters - a "self-sabotaging hockey legend" and a "perpetually overlooked skier". The characters will "navigate romance and redemption in the Olympic Village" amid their quests to win Olympic gold.Teller is no stranger to working with Paramount Pictures, having done so in 2022's 'Top Gun: Maverick' alongside Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, Jennifer Connelly and the late Val Kilmer, who passed away this month aged 65. 'Winter...

Now in its third week of release, Angel Studios’ animated offering The King of Kings appears to be slowing down. The movie’s release was timed to capitalize on the Easter weekend, which it did. But it has now started losing theaters to newer movies, especially at the domestic box office. The King of Kings recently passed what will likely be its final milestone, as it attempts to generate whatever little extra revenue that it can from overseas markets. The movie opened in the wake of The Chosen: Last Supper series, and ended up comfortably out-grossing it.

It has now made nearly $55 million domestically, and another $4 million from overseas markets, for a cumulative global haul of almost $60 million. Produced on a reported budget of $15 million, The King of Kings is the second-biggest hit in Angel Studios’ history. The outfit specializes in content aimed at religious audiences, barring the occasional misinformation-spreader...

The film industry has borne many great actors and actresses, who have distinguished themselves for their singular acting talent and compelling on-screen presence. Among these handful is Colin Farrell, whose name resonates with the kind of powerful performances that leave an indelible mark on the audiences.

However, long before his remarkable performance in The Penguin, the actor was close to quitting acting due to one failed film starring Angelina Jolie that ended up being particularly disastrous.

The film that made Colin Farrell nearly quit acting Angelina Jolie and Colin Farrell in Alexander | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Colin Farrell is known for his dynamic talent and the deep emotional range he brings to every role. Hailed as one of the most talented actors of his generation, his resurgence in DC’s The Penguin alone proves why he is revered and every bit deserving of the praise often bestowed upon him.

However,...

Sandra Bullock became a star with her breakthrough film Speed, but it was her string of hits in the late ‘90s and 2000s that made her a household name. One of those beloved modern-day classics is the action comedy Miss Congeniality, which put Bullock on the map. The film was a huge hit at the box office and even got a sequel, which was not as loved.

The film is set during a beauty pageant and follows FBI agent Gracie Hart infiltrating the pageant as a participant to bust a bomb threat. One of the most hilarious scenes in the film is when the show’s host, William Shatner, asks a participant for her perfect date. Her answer is the reason why April 25 is so important to Sandra Bullock fans.

Why is April 25 the perfect date to rewatch Sandra Bullock’s Miss Congeniality? A still from Miss Congeniality | Credits: Warner Bros....

Ranking Every Live-Action Batman Actor By Box Office Success (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Over the years, Gotham’s favorite brooding billionaire, aka Batman, has been played by everyone from a Twilight vampire to an American Psycho, and every version brought its own cape, growl, and gadgets to the big screen. With Batmobiles revving since 1989 and fans still lining up like it’s Joker season, Batman remains one of Hollywood’s most bankable masked vigilantes.

But forget fan polls and online debates, today, we’re letting cold, hard cash do the talking. From nipple suits to noir vibes, we rank every Batman actor based on their box office muscle. Who’s Gotham’s real moneymaker? Is Christian Bale still the box office Bruce Wayne to beat, or did Robert Pattinson sneak in with his eyeliner and vengeance? Grab your grappling hook and calculator, because it’s time to see which Caped Crusader...

Many years ago, onlookers watched with bated breath as Wyatt Earp marched out to confront ... Wyatt Earp. It was the mid-'90s, and two rival films about the legendary Wild West lawman were vying for the cinemagoer's buck: First up, on Christmas Day 1993, was George P. Cosmatos's "Tombstone," followed six months later by Lawrence Kasdan's "Wyatt Earp." Twin movies were a regular phenomenon in the '90s: You had "Deep Impact" versus "Armageddon," "Dante's Peak" versus "Volcano," and even "Antz" versus "A Bug's Life." But the dueling Westerns had a lot more at stake, because there was a significant beef between the two productions.

Kevin Costner was set to star in "Tombstone" before falling out with screenwriter Kevin Jarre, moving on to develop his own epic biopic of the frontier marshal with Lawrence Kasdan. Rather than let things lie, however, rumors circulated that Costner had tried using his...

Actors in comedies are frequently called upon to sacrifice themselves on the altar of dignity to bring a gag to life. In Will Forte's 2010 SNL-original comedy MacGruber, several of these ego-killer visual gags are on full display - such as Forte's celery distraction scene, an image forever emblazoned on most viewers' minds. But in a movie rife with silly bits and crude jokes, there was one joke that the late Val Kilmer, who played the dastardly villain Dieter Von Cunth, refused to do.

In a recent appearance on The Lonley Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, MacGruber director Jorma Taccone recalled making the film and where the Top Gun star drew the line on what he was willing to do for comedy:

"There was one joke, though, that he refused to do. We did want to cut his penis off and shove it in his mouth. That was...

Writer-director Jorma Taccone discusses his bizarre first meeting with Hollywood icon and MacGruberstar Val Kilmer.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Taccone recently recalled driving out to Malibu to meet Kilmer at his home for a conversation about his role as the villainous Dieter Von Cunth in 2010's MacGruber feature film. "I go in the house, and he's on the balcony...throwing these little chips or something into the ocean, and he's going, 'Are you a king? Are you a king?' I was like, 'What? What?' And he comes back into the room. He's turned away from me. And he comes back into the room, and he starts tossing these little paper chips at me...and I'm like, 'What are these?"

"And I started looking at them, and it takes me, like, a couple minutes to figure out that he was invited to Mardi Gras that year to play King Bacchus,...

Unlike The Chosen: Last Supper trilogy, which couldn’t quite pull off a resurrection over the Easter weekend, fellow faith-based release The King of Kings successfully attracted the majority of its target demographic to theaters. The animated movie exceeded expectations in its debut weekend, and fell by just 10% in its sophomore frame. It claimed the number three spot on the domestic box office charts, finishing behind two Warner Bros. hits — director Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Jared Hess’ A Minecraft Movie.

The King of Kings grossed over $17 million this weekend, after having generated $19 million in its debut weekend. The film’s running domestic total stands at over $45 million. It’s the second-highest-grossing movie for Angel Studios, behind the unexpectedly successful yet hugely controversial blockbuster Sound of Freedom. In its debut weekend, The King of Kings broke The Prince of Egypt’s record for the biggest debut haul for an animated biblical film.

Chicago – Val Kilmer passed away on April 1st, 2025, after a long illness. He was once praised by Roger Ebert, “if there is an award for most unsung leading man of his generation, Val Kilmer should get it.” Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com took an Exclusive Portrait of Val Kilmer in 2012.

Val Edward Kilmer was born in Los Angeles. He subsequently became the youngest person in his era to be accepted into the Julliard School’s Drama Division. His first major film role was in the cult classic “Top Secret!” (1984), which paved the way to his next phase of breakout starring roles.

Val Kilmer in Chicago, circa 2012

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

He followed his debut with the beloved comedy “Real Genius,” then his notable turn in “Top Gun” (and later an unforgettable appearance in “Top Gun Maverick” in 2022 for his last role). These films...

Tom Cruise’s longest-running role on the big screen is playing Ethan Hunt, a rogue spy who works for a shadowy government agency. His character has more in common with CinemaCon than might meet the eye. For decades, rival studios have used the Las Vegas convention of theater owners to see what the competition has coming down the pike. Executives and their minions aren’t barred from attending each other’s studio presentations. They slip in and out without any interference or hassle.

“It’s incredibly important,” says one veteran studio executive, who like many of his compatriots has attended the show for years. Imagine if automakers were allowed to obtain an early peek of a competitor’s line-up and even prototypes. “We are all jockeying for position,” continues the exec. “I find it very beneficial, especially as you are looking down the road. Something may come out of CinemaCon...

Even though Ben Affleck liked playing Batman, he certainly doesn't seem to miss wearing the iconic batsuit, as he described it as "horrendous." Ben Affleck played Bruce Wayne / Batman in the Dceu films Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Justice League, and The Flash. Despite the initial fan reaction to Affleck's casting being overwhelmingly negative, the same audience that initially rejected him eventually came to embrace his depiction of the Caped Crusader and still wants him to return to the role. Yet Affleck certainly doesn't sound nostalgic about putting on the cape and cowl again.

Speaking with GQ about his expansive career, when the subject of 2023's The Flash came up, Affleck was asked if that film had his favorite Batsuit. Affleck revealed that he hated wearing not just that Batman costume but all of them, describing them as "horrendous to wear" and "the least fun part" of playing the iconic superhero.

"Top Gun" star Tom Cruise has a memorable big screen history with Val Kilmer. Not only did the two actors rise to fame in the 1980s, but they played rivals in the blockbuster air combat film that would eventually result in a sequel that gave them a heartfelt reunion. That sequel also served as a fond farewell for Kilmer, who had been suffering from throat cancer but still managed to make a wonderful appearance in "Top Gun: Maverick," where his previously cocky character Tom "Iceman" Kazansky was suffering from the same ailment as Kilmer in real life, eventually dying in the movie years before Kilmer would actually pass away in 2025.

However, Cruise and Kilmer almost had a much different "Top Gun" reunion on the small screen over two decades earlier, thanks to "Saturday Night Live."

In a recent episode of "The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast," which is a must-listen for fans of "SNL,...

If there’s one major celebrity you might be surprised to learn never hosted SNL, it’s Tom Cruise. Not only that, but he hasn’t even made a cameo in Studio 8H. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying, as Cruise was once almost pulled into a sketch featuring his old Top Gun buddy Val Kilmer, until time outran Cruise.

As former SNL writer Michael Schur remembered, Kilmer was serving as host of one season 26 episode, playing a version of his Top Gun character, “Iceman”, now working for Delta. Learning that Tom Cruise was on hand, the SNL team came up with a plan to finally recruit him for a cameo while he watched the sketch unfold. The idea was for Cruise to enter the scene and bring Kilmer out of his scenario while paying homage to Top Gun.

But in a very non-Tom Cruise move, the short window had passed,...

Tom Cruise has performed death-defying stunts, danced around in his underwear and defiled at least one talk show host’s couch, but he’s somehow never been on Saturday Night Live.

Even though Cruise has been a massive star for more than four decades, he hasn’t hosted, or even made so much as a brief cameo in the long-running sketch series. Cruise did once show up in a “Celebrity Jeopardy” sketch, but only in the form of host Ben Stiller.

SNL’s lack of Cruise content hasn’t been for lack of trying. In Live From New York: An Uncensored History Of Saturday Night Live talent coordinator Marci Klein admitted that “in terms of desirable hosts, we of course always want to get Tom Cruise. I’m always trying to get him.”

Well, it turns out that Cruise came extremely close to making a surprise appearance on the show,...

We all know Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson, the sharp, often hilariously awkward vice president of Dunder Mifflin’s regional sales division on The Office. With her role as the complex and, at times, unpredictable Jan, she became a household name in television history. But what if we told you that Melora had already made her mark on another hit NBC show long before her time at Dunder Mifflin?

Yes, Hardin was part of one of the most memorable Friends episodes, and no, it’s not one of the big season finales or major plot twists you might be thinking of. It’s a quirky, one-off guest appearance that might have slipped under the radar for many fans.

Melora Hardin guest-starred in one episode of Friends

In 1995, at the height of Friends‘ first season, Melora Hardin made a brief but unforgettable appearance on Friends in the episode The One with the Stoned Guy.

The cause of actor Val Kilmer’s death has officially been revealed.

Kilmer died on April 1 at the age of 65. According to the death certificate, his death was due to pneumonia. Underlying causes were cited as chronic respiratory failure, acute hypoxemia respiratory failure (low oxygen delivery), and squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) on the base of the tongue. Other contributing factors were listed as malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula (an abnormal connection between the trachea and skin).

Kilmer is best known for his roles in Batman Forever, Top Gun and The Doors. Over the years, his Hollywood films have raked in more than $3.8 billion.

His daughter, Mercedes, first shared news of his death.

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. In his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, he opened up about his tumultuous medical history, writing, “Reports emerged that I was in denial. Well, denial is a funny thing. I...