• Nicole Kidman has played a wide range of roles on the big screen.
• She won an Oscar playing Virginia Woolf, was the villain in "Paddington," and even played Aquaman's mom.
• She next stars in the erotic thriller "Babygirl."

Nicole Kidman has done everything in her career from winning an Oscar portraying legendary author Virginia Woolf to playing Aquaman's mother.

In her latest movie, "Babygirl," she plays a powerful CEO in a kinky, illicit love affair with one of her young interns.

It's yet another example of her impressive range, which has captivated audiences for decades.

But not all of her choices have been winners. Though "Practical Magic" has found a cult following in the years since its release, it was largely panned by critics at the time. And "The Goldfinch," an adaptation of the beloved book of the same name, didn't measure up to the source material.

With the help of Rotten Tomatoes, we've broken down the 10 best and 10 worst movies of Kidman's career, according to critics.

Note: This list does not include movies that were released straight-to-cable or documentaries Kidman narrated.

Here are the worst movies of Nicole Kidman's career.

10. (tie) "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (2023)

In the panned sequel to the 2018 DC Comics movie "Aquaman," Kidman returns as Atlanna, Aquaman's mother and the former queen of Atlantis. One critic said the movie "spectacularly misfires."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%

10. (tie) "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus" (2006)

Critics didn't get this movie, in which Kidman plays the famed photographer Diane Arbus, saying it wasn't nearly as daring as its subject.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%

8. (tie) "Practical Magic" (1998)

Though audiences weren't into Kidman and Sandra Bullock playing sisters descended from witches, the movie has since found a following and a sequel is in development.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 26%

8. (tie) "The Stepford Wives" (2004)

This adaptation of the famed 1972 novel didn't sit well with critics. In this version, Kidman plays a TV executive who moves to the quaint Connecticut town of Stepford and quickly realizes nothing is what it seems.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 26%

6. "The Goldfinch" (2019)

This adaptation of the beloved book of the same name was criticized for being boring and flattening its characters into broader ideas.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

5. "Bewitched" (2005)

In this meta remake of the classic TV series, Will Ferrell plays an actor cast in the remake of "Bewitched," only to find out that his wife (Kidman) is, in fact, a witch. Unfortunately, critics complained the movie wasn't genuinely funny.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 23%

4. "The Invasion" (2007)

If you haven't figured out yet, remakes and Nicole Kidman don't mesh. Here she stars opposite Daniel Craig in a remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." It didn't turn out well.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 20%

3. "Just Go With It" (2011)

Kidman shows off her comedic chops in this Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston rom-com, but the movie was panned as cliché and predictable.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%

2. "Queen of the Desert" (2015)

Werner Herzog cast Kidman in this forgettable biopic on British archaeologist Gertrude Bell.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 18%

1. "Trespass" (2011)

Kidman teamed with Nicolas Cage for this dull crime thriller in which they play a married couple who are taken hostage by extortionists.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 9%

Here are Nicole Kidman's best movies, according to critics.

10. (tie) "Boy Erased" (2018)

Kidman plays a Baptist parent who forces her gay son (Lucas Hedges) to take part in a conversion therapy program.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

10. (tie) "The Hours" (2002)

Kidman won a best actress Oscar for her portrayal of famed author Virginia Woolf.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

6. (tie) "The Others" (2001)

This supernatural thriller stars Kidman as a mother with two photosensitive children who believe ghosts are in their house (or are they really the ghosts?).

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

6. (tie) "Lion" (2016)

Kidman plays the adoptive mother of an Indian boy who was separated by his family back in India and reconnects with them 25 years later.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

6. (tie) "Dead Calm" (1989)

This Australian thriller stars Kidman and Sam Neill as a couple sailing through the Great Barrier Reef when they come across a man (Billy Zane) fleeing a sinking ship. Things get complicated from there.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

5. "Rabbit Hole" (2010)

Kidman stars alongside Aaron Eckhart in this drama as a couple grieving after the death of their child.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

4. "To Die For" (1995)

Kidman scored a Golden Globe win for her portrayal of a small-town weather reporter who wants her husband Larry (Matt Dillon) killed and enlists a high school boy Jimmy (Joaquin Phoenix) who has the hots for her to do the deed.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

3. "The Northman" (2022)

In this Viking tale from Robert Eggers, Kidman plays the Queen mother to a prince, played by Alexander Skarsgård.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

2. "Flirting" (1990)

In one of the final Australian-produced films Kidman made before jumping to Hollywood, she plays one of the lead roles in this coming-of-age drama set in a New South Wales boarding school.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

1. "Paddington" (2014)

In the first movie based on the beloved children's book character, Kidman plays evil taxidermist Millicent Clyde, who is on the hunt for Paddington.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

• James Mangold spoke to Business Insider about his Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown."
• Mangold explained why Timothée Chalamet spoke in Dylan's voice on set even when he wasn't filming.
• He called the real Dylan's willingness to give notes on the script a "huge gift."

Writer-director James Mangold remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing five years ago when he decided to make a Bob Dylan biopic.

He was in a hotel room in Canada for the Toronto International Film Festival when he paused prepping for the world premiere of his 2019 movie "Ford v Ferrari" to take a meeting with Timothée Chalamet, then a young actor on the cusp of superstardom.

It didn't take long for Mangold to realize he'd found his Dylan. By the time Chalamet left the room, the two agreed to make a movie on the life and times of one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in American music.

Things might not have gotten off the ground as quickly as they'd hoped — COVID happened, Chalamet went and made the first "Dune" movie, Mangold made "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" — but throughout those five years, the two continued to stay in contact and made separate pilgrimages to see Dylan.

Finally, "A Complete Unknown," which depicts Dylan's rise to fame alongside Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and his controversial switch from acoustic guitar to electric in the mid-1960s, is in theaters.

Mangold is one of the few directors working today who has the skill and Hollywood studio experience to pull off a Bob Dylan biopic. After finding success with his 2005 Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," which earned its stars Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar nomination and Reese Witherspoon an Oscar win, Disney's Searchlight Pictures arm knew the project was in capable hands.

"A Complete Unknown" is not a carbon copy of "Walk the Line." While the latter delved deep into the dynamic between Johnny Cash and June Carter, "A Complete Unknown," which Mangold co-wrote with Jay Cocks ("Gangs of New York"), examines the myth-building of Dylan and how his talents elevated the 1960s folk music scene.

But just as Mangold used "Walk the Line" as a showcase for Phoenix's talents, he's done the same with Chalamet in "A Complete Unknown." From talking in Dylan's voice even when the camera wasn't rolling to doing his own singing and even growing out his fingernails (more on that later), Chalamet immersed himself in the aura of Dylan, resulting in the best performance his career so far.

Business Insider spoke to Mangold over Zoom about Chalamet's dedication to the role, whether the disappointing box office for "Dial of Destiny" has made him hesitant about developing his upcoming "Star Wars" movie, and if he thinks Bob Dylan will ever watch "A Complete Unknown."

Business Insider: You've now had sit-downs with Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan while making their biopics. Have you developed a go-to icebreaker for when you first meet legends?

James Mangold: No. I don't have one. But the good thing is the script is the icebreaker. They've invited me into their homes or their spaces because they've read a script I've written. So we have something to talk about. I mean, when I met with Bob the ice breaker was, charmingly, him waxing poetic about loving my old movie "Cop Land." So that in itself was trippy and flattering. 

Do you think Dylan will ever watch "A Complete Unknown"?

I have no idea.

What's your gut telling you?

I honestly have no idea. The reality is I spent a lot of good time with him and I felt like I got a good feeling for him. He does things when he's ready, he gets involved with things when he's ready, he makes comments when he's ready.

I sympathize with his quandary. Do I ever want to watch a movie where some dude is playing me and acting out significant moments in my life? Is that going to be nothing but pleasant or is it going to be weird as hell? So the fact that he took the time to read my script, give me notes, give me advice, chip in ideas, show me where he would make lifts in some songs, and give me the benefit of his wisdom and his insight about that period so I might even dig deeper into those scenes, that was a huge gift and all the generosity I could ever expect from him. 

Watching D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan documentary, "Dont Look Back," confirmed something that's in your movie: Dylan had some gnarly fingernails.

Yeah. 

Did Timmy grow those out or were fake nails put on him?

Yeah, he was growing them. If you look earlier in the movie, there are some scenes where they aren't as long. By the end, he had some full-on Nosferatu going on. 

A lot has been written about Timmy being Method during filming, specifically speaking in the Dylan voice when you weren't shooting. I would imagine a lot of that has to do with him just not wanting to lose the voice, right?

Timmy's not the only person who's ever done that, that's true for most of the actors in my movies doing dialects, they don't just do it and fall out of it the second the scene ends because —

There's a fear of losing the voice.

Well, you're also trying to make it more and more internalized. You're trying to make it something you don't have to think about. So, if you're turning it on and off, you're kind of making yourself hyper-aware of it. If you're just deciding to live in it, that's a whole other deal. 

Boyd Holbrook plays Johnny Cash in the movie. Was there ever a thought to call Joaquin Phoenix to see if he would do the Johnny Cash scenes?

The thought occurred to me, but then I realized he'd be 20-30 years too old to be playing the part. 

But you know movie magic, James! The hair and makeup department would have helped him look younger. 

Okay, but then what am I servicing? This kind of meta-movie universe stuff that has plagued us enough? I'm a big fan of making a movie and giving the public the movie. Don't try to suture the movie to another movie, just own it. Otherwise movies just become this hyper-expensive television series in which we never stop making new episodes every couple of years. 

Speaking of episodic films, you're currently developing a "Star Wars" movie. Are you less confident working on that seeing what happened with the reception for "Dial of Destiny"?

Well, "Dial of Destiny" has an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean, yes, they would have hoped it made more money, but I actually don't have a lot of shame about a movie that's liked by 87% of its fans.

The issue with "Star Wars" isn't my worrying about if there's an angry or resentful group that is somehow disappointed in what I did in "Dial of Destiny." Honestly, that's their prerogative, that's part of what makes movies great is you can think they're awesome or you can think they're terrible. I can't please everyone and I'm sorry they don't like it.

But in relation to "Star Wars," the bottom line is I don't even know if that's the next movie for me. That's something that Beau Willimon and I are working on writing and all the other tripwires and judgments along the way. I don't want to make it unless it's excellent.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

• Crisis PR is in the spotlight after Blake Lively filed a blockbuster complaint against Justin Baldoni.
• Lively's suit alleges Baldoni smeared her in the press in retaliation for harassment complaints.
• Crisis management experts say tough tactics are part of the game but warned against going too far.

What started as the story of a bombshell lawsuit from a famous actor against her director and costar has since turned into a tale of two PR campaigns and a reckoning in the broader public relations industry.

After Blake Lively filed a complaint Friday accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of their film "It Ends with Us" and a retaliatory smear campaign in the press, publicists were abuzz picking apart how both camps responded to the news.

A key asset in Lively's suit is the reams of messages included that paint a picture in which Baldoni, his publicist Jennifer Abel, and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan detail plans to direct the conversation away from Lively's sexual harassment allegations by enlisting journalists and an online fixer to create, publish, and amplify negative stories about her.

The messages in the suit — and its allegations of astroturfing, a controversial practice in public relations that exists in a legal grey area — offer a peek behind the curtain of crisis PR, one that industry figures who spoke with BI say is giving their profession a bad name.

"Who is the real victim behind the smear campaign?" Molly McPherson, a crisis communications manager, said in an Instagram post breaking down her thoughts on Lively and Baldoni's ordeal. "It's PR. It's public relations."

The lawsuit introduced crisis PR and the practice of astroturfing to the general public

Hollywood is full of public relations firms big and small. Most work with studios, distributors, or directly with talent in the day-to-day grind of promoting their work, building relationships with the media and influencers.

Crisis management is an entirely different animal. They're called in when a controversy or scandal hits the client that's too out of hand for the publicist to deal with on their own.

"A crisis management person is hired to make sure all the assets are protected," a veteran crisis management publicist told BI. Unlike regular publicists, who "don't want to get their hands dirty," crisis PR firms are trained for this very purpose. "I know how to bob and weave, jump in and jump out," the source added.

The proposed campaign to damage Lively's reputation, as outlined in her complaint via quotes from Nathan's messages to Abel and Baldoni, included "social manipulation" on platforms like Reddit and "full social account take downs." In the messages, Nathan suggested having a full social crisis team on hand to "start threads of theories" about Lively and Baldoni's rumored feud, and the "creation of social fan engagement to go back and forth with any negative accounts, helping to change [sic] narrative and stay on track."

"All of this will be most importantly untraceable," Lively's suit quotes Nathan as saying.

Lively's lawsuit argues that these tactics in Abel and Nathan's alleged smear campaign on behalf of Baldoni went "well beyond standard crisis PR" by deploying the controversial practice of astroturfing, a tactic that, when applied to public relations, involves publishing sentiments on the internet or in the media to falsely create the illusion of public consensus or a "grassroots movement."

"Millions of people (including many reporters and influencers) who saw these planted stories, social media posts, and other online content had no idea they were unwitting consumers of a crisis PR, astroturfing, and digital retaliation campaign," Lively's suit reads, adding that the campaign blurred "the line between authentic and manufactured content, and creating viral public takedowns."

The crisis management experts who spoke to BI didn't see anything wrong with Baldoni's team coming up with worst-case scenarios for how to change the narrative were Lively to take her harassment allegations public. Several PR people say tough tactics are part of the game. But they were split on the tactic of astroturfing.

"It's not frowned upon, just amateurish," the veteran crisis management publicist said. "It gives experts a bad name. Like they saw it work in a movie and thought it was a brilliant idea."

Other Hollywood publicists were more stern in their assessment.

"I honestly thought it was used more in politics than entertainment," one longtime entertainment publicist told BI. "That's just a dirty tactic."

Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman called Lively's claims against Baldoni "completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious."

In a follow-up statement, he said Nathan's company The Agency Group (TAG PR), which was hired by Baldoni, "operated as any crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources," a reference to Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

"The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively's own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on," the statement added.

BI contacted Abel and Nathan and didn't receive a response about PR tactics.

Experts say Baldoni's camp also made one key mistake

For all the PR wizardry happening as both sides respond to the story in the press, there's one move Abel and Nathan made that the veteran crisis management publicist said was a huge mistake.

"Never put anything in texts," the vet crisis management publicist said. "That was a rookie move."

The consequences are still unfolding. On Tuesday, Stephanie Jones, the owner of the publicity firm that represented Baldoni before Abel broke out on her own, sued the actor, Abel, and Nathan accusing Abel and Nathan of orchestrating a smear campaign against both Lively and herself behind her back and accusing Abel of covertly stealing Jones' clients when exiting the firm.

In an email Tuesday, Abel provided BI with a different account of how she left Jones' firm, including text messages showing she submitted her resignation and was open with plans to start her own public relations firm.

Now, even crisis managers need crisis managers to repair the profession's image.

"It does give the industry a black eye, and I think it should be a cautionary tale," a prominent industry figure who runs a crisis management firm told BI.

"If you don't know that you can't go that far," the person said, if you don't know that you can't "dupe media, that's troublesome."

• James Mangold spoke to Business Insider about his Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown."
• Mangold explained why Timothée Chalamet spoke in Dylan's voice on set even when he wasn't filming.
• "A Complete Unknown" is in theaters now.

Writer-director James Mangold remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing five years ago when he decided to make a Bob Dylan biopic.

He was in Canada for the world premiere of his 2019 movie "Ford v Ferrari" at the Toronto International Film Festival. In the midst of final prep for the screening in his hotel room, he paused to have a meeting with Timothée Chalamet, then a young actor on the cusp of superstardom.

It didn't take long for Mangold to realize he'd found his Dylan, and by the time Chalamet left the room, the two agreed to make a movie on the life and times of one of the most beloved singer-songwriters in American music.

Things might not have gotten off the ground as quickly as they'd hoped — COVID, Chalamet went and made the first "Dune" movie, Mangold made "Indian Jones and the Dial of Destiny" — but throughout those five years, the two continued to stay in contact and made separate pilgrimages to see Dylan.

Finally, "A Complete Unknown," which depicts Dylan's rise to fame alongside Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and his controversial switch from acoustic guitar to electric in the mid-1960s, will see the light of day (it hits theaters Christmas Day).

Mangold is one of the few directors working today who has the skill and studio maneuvering know-how to pull off a Bob Dylan biopic. Already having found success doing a Johnny Cash biopic in 2005 with "Walk the Line," which earned Joaquin Phoenix as Cash a best actor Oscar nomination and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter an Oscar win, Disney's Searchlight Pictures arm knew the project was in capable hands.

"A Complete Unknown" is not a carbon copy of "Walk the Line." For "Line," Mangold delved deep into the Cash/Carter dynamic, with "Unknown," which he co-wrote with Jay Cocks ("Gangs of New York"), the filmmaker examines the myth-building of Dylan and how his talents elevated folk music in the 1960s beyond what musicians in the genre like Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) and Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) ever dreamed.

But just as Mangold used "Walk the Line" as a showcase for Phoenix's talents, he's done the same with Chalamet for "A Complete Unknown." From talking in the unique Dylan voice, doing his own singing, and even growing out his fingernails (more on that later), Chalamet immersed himself in the auro of Dylan, resulting in the best performance so far of his career.

Business Insider chatted with Mangold over Zoom about Chalamet's dedication to the role, whether the disappointing box office for "Dial of Destiny" has made him hesitant about developing his upcoming "Star Wars" movie, and whether he thinks Dylan will ever watch "A Complete Unknown."

You've now had sit-downs with Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan while making their biopics. Have you developed a go-to icebreaker for when you first meet legends?

No. I don't have one. But the good thing is the script is the icebreaker. They've invited me into their homes or their spaces because they've read a script I've written. So we have something to talk about. I mean, when I met with Bob the ice breaker was charmingly him waxing poetic about loving my old movie "Copland." So that in itself was trippy and flattering. 

Do you think Dylan will ever watch "A Complete Unknown"?

I have no idea.

What's your gut telling you?

I honestly have no idea. The reality is I spent a lot of good time with him and I felt like I got a good feeling for him. He does things when he's ready, he gets involved with things when he's ready, he makes comments when he's ready. I sympathize with his quandary. Do I ever want to watch a movie where some dude is playing me and acting out significant moments in my life? Is that going to be nothing but pleasant or is it going to be weird as hell? So the fact that he took the time to read my script, give me notes, give me advice, chip in ideas, show me where he would make lifts in some songs, and give me the benefit of his wisdom and his insight about that period so I might even dig deeper into those scenes, that was a huge gift and all the generosity I could ever expect from him. 

Watching D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan documentary, "Dont Look Back," confirmed something that's in your movie: Dylan had some gnarly fingernails.

Yeah. 

Did Timmy grow those out or were fake nails put on him?

Yeah, he was growing them. If you look earlier in the movie, there are some scenes where they aren't as long. By the end, he had some full-on Nosferatu going on. 

A lot has been written about Timmy being Method during filming, specifically speaking in the Dylan voice when you weren't shooting. I would imagine a lot of that has to do with him just not wanting to lose the voice, right?

Timmy's not the only person whose ever done that, that's true for most of the actors in my movies doing dialects, they don't just do it and fall out of it the second the scene ends because —

There's a fear of losing the voice.

Well, you're also trying to make it more and more internalized. You're trying to make it something you don't have to think about. So, if you're turning it on and off, you're kind of making yourself hyper-aware of it. If you're just deciding to live in it, that's a whole other deal. 

Boyd Holbrook plays Johnny Cash in the movie. Was there ever a thought to call Joaquin Phoenix to see if he would do the Johnny Cash scenes?

The thought occurred to me, but then I realized he'd be 20-30 years too old to be playing the part. 

But you know movie magic, James, the hair and makeup department would have helped him look younger. 

Okay, but then what am I servicing? This kind of meta-movie universe stuff that has plagued us enough? I'm a big fan of making a movie and giving the public the movie. Don't try to suture the movie to another movie, just own it. Otherwise movies just become this hyper-expensive television series in which we never stop making new episodes every couple of years. 

And speaking of episodic films, you're currently developing a "Star Wars" movie. Are you less confident working on that seeing what happened with the reception for "Dial of Destiny"?

Well, "Dial of Destiny" has an 87% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean, yes, they would have hoped it made more money, but I actually don't have a lot of shame about a movie that's liked by 87% of its fans. The issue with "Star Wars" isn't my worrying about if there's an angry or resentful group that is somehow disappointed in what I did in "Dial of Destiny," honestly, that's their prerogative, that's part of what makes movies great is you can think they're awesome or you can think they're terrible. I can't please everyone and I'm sorry they don't like it. We do our best, if I could please 100% of everyone all the time, I would, but that's a tough thing. But in relation to "Star Wars," the bottom line is I don't even know if that's the next movie for me. That's something that Beau Willimon and I are working on writing and all the other tripwires and judgements along the way. I don't want to make it unless it's excellent.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

• Beyoncé performed at halftime during the Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
• The performance paid homage to Texas and Mexican cultures through costumes and cameos.
• Beyoncé also wore a custom look designed by Lindsey James Show Clothing, styled by Shiona Turini.

Beyoncé took over the field at halftime during the Christmas Day game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans, which streamed live on Netflix. And it was such a visual and musical spectacle that you might've missed some things.

The Houston native performed eight songs from her "Cowboy Carter" album during her 12-minute performance at NRG Stadium in Houston. The spectacle fittingly included several nods to Texas, Mexican, and rodeo culture and an appearance from her daughter, Blue Ivy.

Since you might have missed some easter eggs, cameos, references, and details, we rounded them up:

Beyoncé's performance included several nods to her hometown culture of Houston.

During her performance, Beyoncé included several nods to Texas and Houston culture, superficially Western and rodeo culture.

She began the sprawling show singing "16 Carraiges" while sitting on a white horse. She wore a custom white cowboy hat designed by ASN Hats, a Cowboy Carter sash, and a Roberto Cavalli coat from the designer's archive.

The horse was pulled by a man always wearing a cowboy hat, wide belt buckle, and cowboy boots.

As the horse walked into the stadium, it passed several low-rider cars, popular in Houston, that sat in front of an American flag seemingly wrapped in plastic.

Later in the performance, Beyoncé performed a line dance, another nod to Texas and rodeo culture.

Cameos in the performance also made clear that Bey wanted to celebrate rodeo culture, such as the inclusion of bull-riding icon Myrtis Dightman, Jr. and the first Black Rodeo Queen in Arkansas, Ja'Dayia Kursh.

Beyoncé also paid tribute to Mexican culture.

During her performance on the field, Beyoncé said, "One, two, tres!" It seems as if the pop star was attempting to include the 2.7 million Spanish speakers in the city of Houston.

One of her outfits also resembled the pattern of a mariachi singer.

Lastly, Mexican Cowgirl Melanie Rivera was spotted among the crowd of performers.

Beyoncé performed with her daughter, Blue Ivy.

Beyoncé has collaborated with her firstborn, Blue Ivy, many times over her career, and Christmas Day was the latest. It marked the first time the 12-year-old performed onstage with her mom since 2023's Renaissance World Tour.

While Blue Ivy performed choreography behind and beside Beyoncé, she notably appeared to be the only dancer on the field who didn't wear a platinum blonde wig.

Beyoncé's longtime dance captain, Ashley Everett, returned.

The biggest Beyhive fans spotted Beyoncé's longtime dance captain, Ashley Everett, was among the hundreds of dancers on the field. Her appearance comes after she was absent from Bey's Renassaince World Tour.

Everett became famous as one of two dancers in Beyoncé's iconic "Single Ladies" music video.

Even the Houston Texans owners got in on the fun.

During the performance, Beyoncé recreated a traditional homecoming parade, complete with a car caravan and the appearance of two "homecoming" queens — Miss Rodeo Texas Princess 2004 and Miss Rodeo Texas 2015.

In one of the cars was also Texans owner Cal McNair and his wife Hannah — another nod to Houston.

The performance had a homecoming feel.

Beyoncé had her own homecoming, as the Houston native returned to perform during this Christmas Day performance. She made that plain by bringing a Texas homecoming game vibe to her performance, complete with drum majors, line dancing, and performers sporting sashes. She also featured 200 members of Texas Southern University's Ocean of Soul Marching Band.

• Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "The Brutalist."
• Guy Pearce told BI that the ending and how his character exits the movie is "brilliant."
• "It's important what the audience imagines," he said.

Brady Corbet's three-and-a-half-hour epic "The Brutalist" is filled with eye-popping visuals and moving sequences as it chronicles the life of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian Jew who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to post-World War II America. It all leads to a shocking end centered around Guy Pearce's character, the bombastic wealthy industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren.

The bulk of the movie focuses on Van Buren commissioning Tóth, an architect, to create a massive community center. The endeavor stretches Tóth's talents and patience for most who work with him, but he seems to always have Van Buren's support. Van Buren even helps Tóth get his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) to the US and allows them to live on his estate during the center's construction.

Years into the project, Tóth and Van Buren travel to Italy to order the marble needed to complete the community center. The two enjoy a party there one evening, and Van Buren rapes Tóth. Tóth returns home a changed man, filled with anger towards everyone.

By the end of the movie, Tóth tells his wife what happened in Italy. She then barges in on Van Buren and his family having dinner with guests. Erzsébet calls Van Buren a rapist in front of everyone, which leads to an argument, and Van Buren's son Harry (Joe Alwyn) forces Erzsébet from the room.

Once things calm down, Van Buren has disappeared. Harry begins to search the house for his father while also seemingly having a panic attack. When no one can find Van Buren in the house, they expand their search around the estate and through the unfinished community center.

He is never found.

Pearce doesn't know what happened to Van Buren — but that's not the point

Pearce told Business Insider he didn't have much discussion with Corbet, who cowrote the screenplay with his wife Mona Fastvold, about Van Buren's dramatic exit.

"That was on the page," Pearce said. "It was pretty clear in the script that we go out of the room, we come back, and the dinner guests say, 'He's gone to bed,' and then Joe goes looking for me, and I'm not in bed, and we just don't know where he's at. He's become nothing."

Pearce said looking for answers to what really happened to Van Buren isn't the point. "It's not important even to know what happened to him, it's important what the audience imagines," he said.

"I think the unsatisfactory nature of a character who is so present and so dominant and so controlling then just evaporates — I thought it was brilliant."

After watching the movie, Pearce said what struck him about the scene was how it raised the question of if this was the first time Van Buren sexually assaulted someone.

"Watching how that scene played out — while I was busy hiding behind a chest of drawers in that dining room so I wasn't caught on camera — watching Joe run around as desperate as he was looking for me, there was something there that tells us that there's more to this," Pearce said. "It was harrowing stuff." 

"The Brutalist" is now playing in theaters.

• Disney is remaking a number of animated classics into live-action movies.
• Some are remakes while others are origin stories or sequels to existing live-action adaptations. 
• Among its current remakes are a live-action "Moana" and "Lilo & Stitch."

Despite Disney's late 2024 live-action release, "Mufasa: The Lion King," making substantially less ($35 million) than its 2019 "The Lion King" CGI-fueled release ($191.7 million) in its opening weekend at the domestic box office, the studio still has plans for two live-action adaptations of beloved animated movies coming in 2025: "Snow White" and "Lilo & Stitch."

And there are plans for more beyond that. Here's everything we know about the upcoming live-action releases of Disney's animated classics. 

Kirsten Acuna contributed to a previous version of this story.

"Snow White" is set for March 21, 2025.

Disney is working on a live-action version of its first animated classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Marc Webb ("The Amazing Spider-Man") directs the upcoming adaptation with "West Side Story" star Rachel Zegler playing the iconic Disney princess. Gal Gadot assumes the role of her stepmother, the Evil Queen.

"Snow White is the girl you remember, but she's definitely made for the modern age," Zegler told the D23 crowd in 2022. "There's such an emphasis on what it really means to be the fairest of them all. For Snow White, it's coming to terms with finding herself and finding her inner voice and finding a sense of agency so that she can be a just ruler and a wonderful queen."

The fairy tale will have new music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who wrote the songs for "The Greatest Showman" and "La La Land." 

Disney will release a live-action adaptation of "Lilo & Stitch" on May 23, 2025.

Emmy winner Courtney B. Vance will play Cobra Bubbles in the film, according to Deadline. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen will also star. Maia Kealoha will play Lilo. Dean Fleischer Camp ("Marcel the Shell With Shoes On") will direct.

The director of the original movie, Chris Sanders ("The Wild Robot"), will return to once more voice Stitch.

"Moana" will be released July 10, 2026.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson announced Disney's working on a live-action "Moana" during a pre-recorded video for a Disney shareholders meeting in early April 2023.

Johnson will reprise his role from the hit 2016 movie as Maui.

"I'm deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of 'Moana' to the live-action big screen," Johnson said in a statement released by Disney.

"This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people's grace and warrior strength," he added. "I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me."

Auli'i Cravalho announced on Instagram she won't reprise her role as the Disney princess. Instead, she'll serve as an executive producer.

This follows the animated box office hit "Moana 2" released at the end of 2024, which has become the studio's "hottest IP."

A live-action "Hercules" is expected to get a theatrical release.

The DisInsider first reported the 1997 animated film about the son of Zeus will get a live-action remake.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Avengers: Endgame" directors Anthony and Joe Russo will produce, but not direct, the film. Guy Ritichie, who directed "Aladdin," will direct.

Joe Russo described the film in November 2022 as a musical that will be "a little bit more experimental in tone."

Danny DeVito and James Woods lent their voices in the animated film. Ariana Grande performed a solo six-part harmony of the movie's "I Won't Say I'm In Love" in 2020, prompting many fans to suggest she'd be the perfect Meg. It's unclear at this time whether music will be a part of the film.

Disney is working on an adaptation of 1996's "Hunchback of Notre Dame," but it's in limbo.

Deadline reported in 2019 that a live-action version of Disney's 1996 movie about an orphaned Quasimodo living in the bell tower of Notre Dame was in the works. Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, who teamed up on "Pocahontas," will write the music, while Josh Gad ("Frozen") is producing.

Deadline reports the live-action film will adapt both the 1996 Disney film and the Victor Hugo novel. It's not clear whether or not the remake will be for Disney's streaming service or a theatrical release. 

Gad has said the script is "one of the best" he has read and expressed his hope that Disney will let them make the live-action adaptation.

In May 2023, Menken gave ComicBook.com an update: "It's a tough one, because the Hunchback movie, Hunchback story involves a lot of real, real issues that are important issues and should be explored to be discussed. And there has to be an agreement about how we deal with those issues... It sits in this limbo right now."

"Robin Hood" is getting remade for Disney+.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the remake will be directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada and will head to Disney+.

In June 2022, Chris Evans said he'd love "a crack" at playing the character since he's a big fan of the animated film.

A sequel to the live-action "Aladdin" may still be in the works, but the star doesn't seem hopeful.

Variety reported that John Gatins and Andrea Berloff are writing a sequel to the 2019 film with producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich returning.

Lin told Business Insider in August 2019 they were discussing a sequel.

"I can't talk too much about the sequel just yet, but know that we are hearing fans' desires to see another 'Aladdin' movie and feel like there's more story to tell," Lin told BI after the film crossed $1 billion at the box office.

Director Guy Ritchie told Collider in February 2023 he "would very much like to" return for a sequel, adding they've "been kicking some ideas around."

However, in March, star Mena Massoud sounded less hopeful, telling fans on Twitter a sequel was "very unlikely at this point."

Disney released two popular direct-to-video sequels for "Aladdin" in the '90s, including "The Return of Jafar" and "Aladdin and the King of Thieves." Variety reported the sequel will be completely original and not based on the straight-to-video films.

Disney has not officially announced the sequel.

An Aladdin spinoff, featuring Prince Anders, is in development at Disney+.

In 2019, THR reported that Billy Magnussen's "Aladdin" character would get his own spin-off movie on Disney Plus. The film is not supposed to be a sequel.

Anders is a prince who unsuccessfully sought Princess Jasmine's hand in marriage in the 2019 film.

In May 2022, Magnussen told Screen Rant the film was still moving forward and in the process of rewrites.

 

Disney is reportedly remaking 1963's "The Sword in the Stone," which follows a young King Arthur and his lessons with the wizard Merlin.

The remake will be written by "Game of Thrones" writer and producer Bryan Cogman. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was named as the director in January 2018.

In 2024, Fresnadillo, who directed the Netflix movie "Damsel," gave an update to Collider on the project: "I was attached a long time ago, and I prepped a lot for Disney for that movie. I don't know exactly what happened, but the studio decided to hold the project. So right now it's in a holding situation, and I don't know what's going to happen, to be honest. But I think it's a great story. I would be so keen to make it if they decided to greenlight the project."

"Bambi" will be getting remade for a new generation.

According to Variety, the remake of the 1942 film won't be live-action with a real deer, rabbit, and skunk. Disney will utilize the technology that helped bring "The Lion King" remake to life to look photorealistic.

In 2023, Deadline reported that Sarah Polley ("Women Talking") was on board to direct, but a year later The Wrap reported that she had exited the project.

We haven't heard updates on the rest of these films in a while. "The Jungle Book" sequel was originally announced years ago.

Before the release of Disney's remake of 1961's "The Jungle Book," the studio already started planning a sequel. The movie was a huge success, grossing nearly $1 billion at the box office.

According to The Hollywood Reporter in 2016, Jon Favreau was expected to return to the director's chair for "The Jungle Book 2" along with Justin Marks to return for the sequel. There is no set release date for the movie.

Peter Pan's fairy companion Tinker Bell was reportedly getting her own live-action film, too.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote about a movie in 2015 that would star Reese Witherspoon. 

Disney was reportedly in talks to remake Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach," which was adapted as a stop-motion film in 1996.

No new information has been released since 2016. 

• Blake Lively sued her "It Ends with Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment on December 20.
• Lively also alleged Baldoni made attempts to damage her reputation.
• Here's everyone who's spoken out in support of Lively, including former costars and directors.

Blake Lively sued her "It Ends with Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni on December 20 for sexual harassment and an attempt to damage her reputation.

The news comes months after the movie's promotion leading up to its August release was overshadowed by rumors of a feud between the stars.

In the complaint, obtained by Business Insider, Lively said she met with Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath during production to address the "hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production of the film."

The meeting resulted in all parties agreeing to a number of stipulations, including "no more showing nude videos or images of women, including the producer's wife," to Lively (who is addressed as "BL" in other parts of the complaint) or her employees.

It also required "no more mention of Mr. Baldoni or Mr. Heath's previous 'pornography addiction' or BL's lack of pornography consumption to BL or to other crew members."

During the movie's late summer press tour, social media users criticized Lively's lighthearted approach to the movie's marketing, which led to a wave of backlash. Reports also began to surface that Lively and Baldoni feuded during production and had made separate cuts of the movie (Lively's ultimately won).

Lively said in the complaint that Baldoni and his team engaged in "social manipulation" to destroy her reputation through a "sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation for Ms. Lively exercising her legally protected right to speak up about their misconduct on the set, with the additional objective of intimidating her and anyone else from revealing in public what actually occurred."

Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, said in a statement to BI that the claims made in the complaint were "categorically false" and "intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media."

"It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation, which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions," the statement said.

A representative for Lively referred BI to a statement shared with The New York Times on Saturday.

"I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted," the statement said.

She also told the outlet that neither she nor her representatives ever spread negative stories about Baldoni or Wayfarer Studios.

Since the lawsuit, Lively has received a wave of support from family and people she has worked with in Hollywood.

Here's who has spoken out in support of Lively.

Her "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" costars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel released a joint statement.

Since starring in the 2005 movie "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and its 2008 sequel, Lively, Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Bledel have remained close friends.

In a joint statement released on Instagram, Ferrera, Tamblyn, and Bledel showed support for Lively.

"As Blake's friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation," the statement reads. "Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us,' we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding."

"We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment," the statement continued. "We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others. For anyone seeking more information or engaging in this important conversation online, please read the full legal complaint in the investigative reporting by Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for the New York Times."

So has "It Ends with Us" author Colleen Hoover.

In an Instagram Stories post, the author wrote:

"@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met."

"Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."

And Lively's "A Simple Favor" director Paul Feig.

The "Bridesmaids" filmmaker directed Lively in the 2018 whodunit "A Simple Favor," and the two recently wrapped on a sequel.

"I've now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she's one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I've ever worked with," Feig wrote on X. "She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it's awful she was put through this."

Lively's half-sister Robyn also showed her support.

Robyn Lively, Blake's half-sister who also starred in "It Ends with Us," posted on Instagram to show her support.

"She is one of the kindest, most honest and loving humans I know. Blake isn't a villain. She's a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions," she wrote.

Lively's "In Ends with Us" costar Brandon Sklenar has shown support.

Sklenar, who starred as Atlas in "It Ends with Us," wrote on his Instagram Stories, "For the love of God read this," linking to The New York Times story that highlighted the lawsuit. He also included a heart emoji next to Blake Lively's handle.

Another of Lively's "It Ends with Us" costars, Jenny Slate, says she stands by her "loyal friend."

Slate, who plays Allysa in the movie, gave a statement to Today.com supporting her costar.

"As Blake Lively's castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation," Slate said. "Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her."

She continued: "What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side."

Amy Schumer, who has mocked Lively in the past, has shown support.

The comic posted on her Instagram Stories the words "I believe Blake."

It's a surprising show of support as Schumer back in 2015 mocked Lively on her show "Inside Amy Schumer."

"Deadpool & Wolverine" director Shawn Levy posted the New York Times article in a show of support.

Levy, who has worked with Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds multiple times, most recently on "Deadpool & Wolverine" (and gave Lively a cameo in the movie), took to his Instagram Stories to support Lively.

"Proud to call @blakelively a friend," he wrote, and linked to the New York Times story.

Nick Viall supports Lively and said he tried to warn everyone about Baldoni.

The Bachelor Nation alum took to TikTok to show support for Lively. He also noted that he received pushback when he tried to warn his listeners about Baldoni on an episode of his podcast "The Viall Files" back in August.

"I'm not here to gloat; I'm honestly just happy that the truth is out about this guy and, more importantly, how wrong ya'll were about Blake," he said.

Christina Ricci

Ricci posted an Instagram Story in which she shared a quote about misogyny and tagged the writer Rebecca Woolf.

"Re: Blake Lively (and Amber Heard TBH) misogyny exploits the jealousy women feel for each other — specifically when it comes to beautiful women & girls. The fact that 'mean girls' are always beautiful is no coincidence. The ease in which women are manipulated into hating each other (even feminist women) is something no one wants to talk about. This is (yet another!) reminder to question our willingness to burn ANY woman. That includes beautiful, successful women who dare to have a voice."

• 2024 was full of great movies.
• Big spectacles like "Wicked" and "Dune: Part Two" captured viewers' and critics' attention.
• Smaller dramas like "Civil War" and "The Substance" also packed a punch and prompted discourse online.

Giant sandworms! Singing witches! Horny tennis players! The best movies of 2024 offered a wide array of cinematic pleasures — and a double dose of Zendaya.

Below are Business Insider's best movies of 2024. Scroll to the end to see entertainment correspondent Jason Guerrasio and senior editor Caralynn Matassa's personal top five movies of the year.

"A Complete Unknown"

Almost twenty years after director James Mangold gave us the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," he's returned to the space with a look at Bob Dylan's transition from acoustic to electric.

As much as the music will dazzle Dylan fans, it's the acting that's the highlight. Timothée Chalamet delivers one of the best performances burgeoning career, getting Dylan's voice and mannerisms down perfectly. — Jason Guerrasio

"A Different Man"

Sebastian Stan gives one of two standout performances this year in "A Different Man." The surreal, twisty psychological thriller follows Stan as Edward, an introverted, struggling actor with neurofibromatosis (a disorder causing facial differences) who is cured through an experimental procedure. Reinventing himself as "Guy" doesn't quite give him the dream life he'd hoped for, though.

The darkly comic film from writer-director Aaron Schimberg also features great supporting performances from Renate Reinsve (who had her breakthrough in 2021's "The Worst Person in the World") and Adam Pearson as Oswald, a confident and charismatic man who also has neurofibromatosis. — Caralynn Matassa

"Alien: Romulus"

For this latest trek back into the sci-fi world of "Alien," director Fede Álvarez takes full advantage of the IP by weaving a story that touches on the original movie and the world of "Prometheus." The result is a thrill ride that will satisfy fans of the franchise and scare the hell out of the newbies who have never seen an "Alien" movie. — JG

"Anora"

Sean Baker made a name for himself as one of the most acclaimed independent filmmakers, and for good reason. He excels at slice-of-life movies (2017's "The Florida Project" and 2021's criminally underrated "Red Rocket") that spotlight marginalized communities.

His latest, "Anora," centers on the titular sex worker played by "Scream 5" standout Mikey Madison. The film landed the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's highest honor, thanks to Madison's subtly powerful performance and Baker's propulsive script. — CM

"The Apprentice"

It shouldn't come as a shock that the most polarizing movie of the year was one about Donald Trump's rise to power as a New York City real estate tycoon.

But take away your political views and opinions on Trump (which, I know, is hard), and this movie from director Ali Abbasi is a fascinating exploration of how those with power and influence move through the world.

And then there are the performances by Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Trump's fixer and mentor Roy Cohn, both of which should be recognized during award season. — JG

"Babygirl"

Nicole Kidman gives one of the best and boldest performances of her decadeslong career in "Babygirl." The erotic thriller, written and directed by "Bodies Bodies Bodies" filmmaker Halina Reijn, puts the female gaze on a distinctly male, often-problematic genre, tackling female sexuality, gender, and power dynamics as Kidman's Romy Mathis, a high-powered CEO, pursues a secret affair with her intern (Harris Dickinson). — CM

"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F"

I wasn't expecting a "Beverly Hills Cop" sequel made on Netflix to give me some of the biggest laugh-out-loud moments this year, but that's exactly what happened.

Director Mark Molloy certainly understood the assignment: lean in to what made the first two movies so beloved (let's not talk about the third one).

Focusing on Eddie Murphy's jokes, big action sequences, and that memorable soundtrack, the fourth movie in the franchise became one of the surprise delights at the movies this year. — JG

"The Brutalist"

One of the boldest epics made in some time, this three-and-a-half-hour drama shot on VistaVision is an exquisite exploration of one immigrant's drive for the American Dream in post-World War II America.

Directed and co-written by Brady Corbet ("Vox Lux"), "The Brutalist" follows fictional character László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-born Jew who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to the US in the late 1940s. Over three decades, Tóth, a talented architect, struggles to make a living and get his wife (Felicity Jones) to the States. Then a wealthy man (Guy Pearce) changes his life.

With masterful production design, photography, score, and performances, this is a movie that will stay with you long after you've seen it. — JG

“Challengers”

Zendaya dazzles in Luca Guadagnino's sporty, steamy drama.

As a former tennis great thrust into a love triangle with two other players, her now-husband Art (Mike Faist) and her ex-boyfriend Patrick (Josh O'Connor), Zendaya delivers one of the most layered performances of her career as she navigates love, lust, and mind games. — JG

“Civil War”

Alex Garland's latest showcases a United States that has been ravaged by civil unrest.

Kirsten Dunst is magnificent as a hardened war journalist in an existential crisis who travels from New York City to Washington, D.C. to cover the story. The war scenes are brutal and devastating, but that's the point. — JG

"Conclave"

Ralph Fiennes leads a drama filled with Shakespearian-level mystery, backstabbing, and intrigue as the Cardinal-Dean in charge of the papal conclave. In the process, he finds himself investigating scandals and secrets as the choices narrow for who will become the next pope.

Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini are also outstanding in supporting roles. — JG

"Deadpool & Wolverine"

After a bevy of delays that included Fox being bought by Disney, COVID, and the strikes by the writers and actors in Hollywood, we finally got the third "Deadpool" movie. And it was worth the wait.

From the brawls with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the endless Disney IP jokes, and a fight with countless Deadpools, the movie is the rare payoff for fans of superhero movies in the post-"Endgame" era of the MCU. — JG

“Dune: Part Two”

Denis Villeneuve's continuation of his adaptation of Frank Herbert's beloved sci-fi novel takes us back to Arrakis, where Paul (Timothée Chalamet) goes from the hunted to the hunter as he teams with the Fremen to fight his enemies and becomes a Messiah in the process.

Like the first movie, the visuals are stunning, but the sequel also features more Zendaya as Paul's love interest, heightening the stakes by the end. — JG

"The Fall Guy"

Though "The Fall Guy" underperformed at the box office, David Leitch's love letter to stunt performers is one of the most enjoyable movie-watching experiences of the year.

A big reason for that is the performances from Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, whose chemistry as they navigate an on-and-off relationship while coping with movie-making madness is off the charts. — JG

"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"

George Miller's latest trek into the Wasteland may not be as jaw-dropping as his magnum opus "Mad Max: Fury Road," but the auteur of action still dazzles with breathtaking shots of desolate sandy vistas and ultra-violent car chases.

The major highlight is Anya Taylor-Joy as Imperator Furiosa (originally played by Charlize Theron in "Fury Road"). With very little dialogue, Taylor-Joy must use facial expressions and a multitude of stunts to convey her character's origin story and complex emotional arc. It's well worth the ride. — JG

"Gladiator II"

Twenty-four years after the Oscar-winning original, Ridley Scott returns to the Coliseum with a new star (Paul Mescal) and bigger fights. The result is an enjoyable mix of blockbuster thrills and nostalgic callbacks to the first movie.

But what sets "Gladiator II" apart is Denzel Washington, whose devilish, scenery-chewing performance as a gladiator owner with plans of getting his hooks into the Roman Senate elevates the movie whenever he's on the screen. — JG

“The Greatest Night in Pop”

The song "We Are The World" brought together the greatest musicians in pop and rock, but the story of how it came together makes the song even more remarkable.

This Netflix documentary from Bao Nguyen features never-before-seen footage and candid interviews recounting a single evening in Los Angeles that would become a defining moment for pop culture in the 1980s.

The documentary is replete with fascinating details about how the song and its ensuing celebrity spectacle came to be. From seeing how Michael Jackson created the hook to watching musicians like Cyndi Lauper and Huey Lewis give it their all recording long into the night, "The Greatest Night in Pop" is a must-see for anyone who lived through or loved the '80s music scene. — JG

"Hard Truths"

On a surface level, Pansy Deacon, the lead character of "Hard Truths," isn't someone you'd root for. She's a deeply depressed, angry middle-aged British woman who takes her fury out on anyone and everyone around her, from fellow shoppers at the supermarket to her own browbeaten husband and adult son.

The film starts out almost comically, as Pansy finds every imaginable reason to rant and rave at everything from babies with pockets (what do babies need pockets for anyway?) to the salesperson attempting to help her buy a couch. Marianne Jean-Baptiste infuses Pansy with so much heart and deep-seated pain that you can't help but feel for her, even as you're horrified by her behavior.

Writer-director Mike Leigh's unique filmmaking process (he and his cast start off without a script and collaboratively develop the characters) results in one of the most stunning performances of the year. — CM

"Incoming"

Hollywood is still trying to perfect this generation's high school movie. "Incoming" gets pretty close.

Following a group of friends who are the only freshmen invited to a party thrown by a senior, this raunchy comedy uses staples from the high school genre and mixes them with today's culture to concoct a hilarious movie. — JG

"Inside Out 2"

After a lot of confusion and frustration within the walls of Pixar over its COVID-era release strategy, the beloved animation house is having a much-deserved big-screen resurgence thanks to "Inside Out 2."

In the sequel to the Oscar-winning 2015 original, we catch up with Riley's key emotions like Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) right when Riley hits puberty. And just like that, new emotions like Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) show up wanting to be in control of Riley's feelings.

The movie is a funny and emotionally charged journey that highlights those impressionable years when we can no longer lean on our parents to make the right choices; it's now on us. — JG

"Longlegs"

Beyond having the most brilliant marketing campaign of the year, "Longlegs" is also genuinely freaky.

Osgood Perkins channels "Silence of the Lambs," mixed with devil worship and possessed dolls for good measure, for a crazy genre mashup: a police procedural horror movie. Maika Monroe gives an understated performance as traumatized FBI agent Lee Harker, who's investigating a series of murder-suicides that all point back to one mysterious figure: Longlegs.

The eventual reveal of what's going on — and the physical reveal of Nicolas Cage's Longlegs, a noteworthy entry in the actor's list of batshit roles — is disturbing and memorable. — CM

"The Last Showgirl"

Pamela Anderson gives a career best performance as an aging Las Vegas showgirl who must come to terms with losing her job when her revue abruptly closes.

Anderson holds nothing back as she plays a character who still is intoxicated by the glitz and glamour of the strip of yesteryear but comes to the harsh realization that show business has nothing left for a woman her age.

Ironically, after decades in the limelight, this is the role that is finally getting Anderson the recognition for her acting that she deserves. — JG

"Moana 2"

Originally planned as a TV series, Disney made the right move by turning this instead into a feature-length sequel to the beloved 2016 original.

This time, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) must defeat an evil God who controls an island so that all islands across the sea can be reconnected.

The higher stakes, new characters, and catchy songs make the movie a worthwhile continuation of a story audiences couldn't wait to return to. — JG

"Nickel Boys"

Some viewers criticized RaMell Ross's bold decision to shoot "Nickel Boys," an adaptation of Colson Whitehead's 2019 novel, in a first-person point-of-view, where we see through the eyes of the character speaking. To that, I politely say: You're wrong, sorry.

The immersive filming style works perfectly to put the audience right in the mix as Elwood and Turner, two Black boys sent to a reform school called the Nickel Academy (based on an actual school in Florida), struggle to survive amid the racist institution's many often deadly abuses.

Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson give a pair of breakout performances as Elwood and Turner, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is devastating as Hattie, Elwood's devoted grandmother. It's a tough watch, but a worthy one. — CM

"Nosferatu"

Looking back on the work of Robert Eggers, his obsession with telling stories set long ago has led up to this: an adaptation of the iconic gothic vampire tale.

With exquisite production design, makeup, and effects to transform Bill Skarsgård into the creature of the night, and a tour-de-force performance by Lily-Rose Depp as a woman overcome by a spell that fills her with desire and fear, this is Eggers' masterwork. — JG

"Queer"

Yep, both of Luca Guadagnino's 2024 releases made this list. "Queer" is a very different film from "Challengers" in many ways, but both cement Guadagnino as a filmmaker with an innate understanding of desire and a master at evoking it onscreen.

Based on William S. Burroughs' 1985 novella, the movie follows William Lee, a gay American expat living in 1950s Mexico City, who becomes obsessively infatuated with the much younger Eugene Allerton. Daniel Craig's no-holds-barred performance as Lee, a stand-in for Burroughs himself, establishes him as one of the most talented and versatile working actors today. It's also gorgeously shot, courtesy of Guadagnino's go-to cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. — CM

"Rebel Ridge"

There's always one Netflix movie that comes out of the blue every year and grabs attention. This year, it was "Rebel Ridge."

Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier ("Blue Ruin"), this impressive action movie gives a jolt to the genre with its gritty take. It's also a showcase for Aaron Pierre, who is on his way to big-screen stardom (he also voiced the title character in Disney's end-of-year release, "Mufasa.") — JG

"Strange Darling"

JT Mollner's thriller "Strange Darling" flew under the radar this year, but boy, is it a trip.

The story is told in a destabilizing nonlinear format; it's a clever narrative trick to make you think the movie is something it's not. Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner are knockouts as the two leads, keeping viewers transfixed and with our hearts in our throats. It's also beautifully shot by Giovanni Ribisi (yes, the actor) in his feature debut as a cinematographer. — CM

"The Substance"

"The Substance" is not for the faint of heart. French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat established herself as a genius of phantasmagoria with her debut feature, 2017's "Revenge," but she takes things up several notches in her follow-up.

The satirical feminist body-horror movie is completely insane, in the best way. It's a disgusting, disturbing, and extremely real fable of female self-hatred that goes off the rails (complimentary) like few movies I've seen before.

Demi Moore grounds it all as Elisabeth Sparkle, a washed-up middle-aged celebrity who's driven to try the mysterious drug dubbed The Substance after being fired from her aerobics show on her 50th birthday. Margaret Qualley is positively demonic as Elisabeth's younger and more perfect self Sue, the product of that black market serum fated to be Elisabeth's downfall. — CM

"Twisters"

This summer, we learned that if you mix Glen Powell and tornadoes, you've got yourself a hit.

This sequel to the 1996 hit "Twister" features more GGI-fueled storms and chemistry so hot between Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones that audiences were bummed they didn't kiss at the end — everything you need from a hit summer blockbuster. — JG

"Wicked"

I was prepared to be a hater heading into "Wicked." After all, how could someone successfully adapt one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time? After being blown away by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's performances, I'll gladly admit I was wrong.

As the movie's seemingly endless press tour has demonstrated, Erivo and Grande have incredible chemistry as Elphaba and Glinda, two witches who were once best friends before their paths diverged. Erivo is devastating as the lost, deeply lonely but resolute Elphaba, while Grande imbues so many layers into her performance as Glinda. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience with a showstopping finale, even if it's not the most technically impressive film on this list. — CM

"The Wild Robot"

Based on Peter Brown's popular books, "The Wild Robot" weaves one of the most emotional yarns of the year. The movie tells the story of Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), a robot who washes up on a deserted island and learns the ways of the wildlife that inhabits it, leading to her becoming the guardian of an orphaned gosling.

Beautiful to look at, with animation that has a watercolor quality, it's the uplifting story that elevates this movie from an impressive fantasy tale to a work that will be cherished by audiences for years to come. — JG

Jason's top five of 2024

1. "The Wild Robot"
2. "The Apprentice"
3. "The Brutalist"
4. "The Substance"
5. "Conclave"

Caralynn's top 5 of 2024

1. "The Substance"
2. "Hard Truths"
3. "Queer"
4. "Anora"
5. "Nickel Boys"

• Timothée Chalamet plays Bob Dylan in the movie "A Complete Unknown."
• He was so immersed in the role that he even grew his fingernails long like Dylan.
• "He had some full-on Nosferatu going on," director James Mangold told BI of how Chalamet looked by the end of filming.

If you look close enough while watching "A Complete Unknown," in which Timothée Chalamet completely immerses himself in playing Bob Dylan, you'll notice what many online have pointed out — Chalamet's nails are quite long.

Some even observed Chalamet's lengthy nails when photos from the set were released online. A TikTok video highlights them, and journalist Hunter Harris dedicated an entire post on her Substack back in June to Chalamet's "aprés nail tips."

So, are those fake nails, or did Chalamet grow his out for the role?

"Yeah, he was growing them," "A Complete Unknown" director James Mangold told Business Insider. "If you look earlier in the movie, there are some scenes where they aren't as long, but by the end, he had some full-on Nosferatu going on."

There are theories online about why Dylan grew out his nails — from the nails helping him fingerpick while playing his guitar to simply having bad hygiene. We couldn't find Dylan on the record to explain. Business Insider reached out to the 83-year-old to find out, but he didn't respond to our very important query on this matter.

For Chalamet, however, it's another example of how deep he went into the role for the biopic, which is out Christmas Day. A November Rolling Stone cover story chronicled how the actor submerged himself into the character while filming, including keeping to himself on set, always speaking in Dylan's voice, and singing his songs like "The Times They Are A-Changin.'"

'A Complete Unknown' director said he understands why Chalamet did Method acting on set

Mangold scoffed at the "Method" acting narrative, saying that Chalamet speaking like Dylan even when cameras weren't rolling is a trick actors often do when playing a character with a unique voice.

"Timmy's not the only person whose ever done that, that's true for most of the actors in my movies doing dialects," he said. "They don't just do it and fall out of it the second the scene ends."

"You're also trying to make it more and more internalized. You're trying to make it something you don't have to think about," Mangold continued. "So if you're turning it on and off, you're kind of making yourself hyper-aware of it."

"A Complete Unknown," which also stars Scoot McNairy, Edward Norton, and Elle Fanning, will be released in theaters on December 25.

Guy Pearce is the first to admit that he never wanted to be a movie star.

"I didn't have that sense of ambition," Pearce, 57, tells Business Insider in his crackling Australian accent. "I just wanted to work as an actor. On the outside, you think you want fame and big Hollywood movies; none of that is how I function."

Yet Pearce has dealt with fame for close to 40 years across two continents thanks to his wide array of memorable roles, which date back to his late teens when he was a heartthrob on the 1980s Australian soap opera "Neighbours."

Even then, being famous was disarming.

"'Neighbours' was a great experience, but the fame side of it was hard work," Pearce recalls. "Coming out of 'Neighbours' and not getting the work I wanted to get but still getting chased down the street whenever I went to the shopping center, the two things messed with my mind."

Pearce finally caught a break when turned his soap star image on its head to star as a drag queen in 1994's "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," a role his then-agent tried to talk him out of taking. Three years later, he would make his way to the United States to play the by-the-book detective Edmund Exley in "L.A. Confidential" and break into Hollywood. He's gone on to star in over 50 movies, including Christopher Nolan's mind-scrambling neo-noir "Memento," the Australian Western "The Proposition," and Ridley Scott's "Alien" prequel "Prometheus."

Though Pearce is definitely famous, it's now on his own terms. Unlike the Hollywood stars who bring the same persona to every role, he's never played the same type of role twice.

This time, he's digging into his dark side to play Harrison Lee Van Buren, a wealthy industrialist with a sociopathic edge in Brady Corbet's award-season contender "The Brutalist," in theaters on Friday.

Pearce says he's drawn to fully-formed characters, and in reading Corbet's script about the epic journey of immigrant architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody), the Van Buren character "jumped off the page."

"I do my best work when I don't have to go back and create something," Pearce says. "Like an orchestra member who turns up, and there's the score, and you play the score. That's how acting should be."

For BI's latest Role Play interview, I caught up with Pearce — who was dressed in the casual, non-famous attire of a black t-shirt and blue jeans — at the A24 offices in Manhattan to talk about why he wasn't initially interested in acting in America, why he's never worked with Nolan since "Memento," and how "Iron Man 3" made him amenable to doing blockbuster movies again after an awful experience on 2002's "The Time Machine."

On being told playing a drag queen would ruin his career and auditioning for 'L.A. Confidential'

You found fame in Australia with "Neighbours" in the late 1980s, then followed that with a few Aussie movies, and then "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" came along. Was there any hesitation, coming off the fame of "Neighbours," to play a drag queen?

Well, I didn't sit there thinking things were good after "Neighbours." When I finished "Neighbours" at the end of 1989, I couldn't get a job to save myself. Nobody wanted to put the guy from a TV soap in their movie. So I wasn't riding a good wave.

"Priscilla" coming around, [director] Stephan [Elliott] said this at the time, he thought it was a fun joke to stick a guy from the soap in a dress. And that was fine with me. There was no question in me doing it.

I remember one of the agents at this agency in Sydney I joined after "Neighbours" told me, "I suggest you do not do this movie, this could ruin your career." And I was like, "Nope, I'm absolutely doing this, it's a fucking great script." So that was luck that I held my ground. And I'm still with the agency, but that agent left. 

So when "L.A. Confidential" came along, were you finally at ease about your career? Was your goal to get work in the States?

No. No. I never had any desire to get to America. I just thought, if I'm going to be out of work, why am I going to be out of work in America? I'd rather be out of work in Australia. What happened was I went to America to promote "Priscilla" and my agent said you should meet some agents in LA. And I said, "I'm not trying to work in Hollywood. I barely can work in Australia. Why would I try?" She said, "Meet this one agent." I said fine.

We met and I got along great with him, his name is Chris Andrews. He said, "I'll represent you." I said, "Fine, but I'm not coming over here and doing pilot season, I'm not going to do that. I don't have enough money." He said, "Come stay at my house." So I came back in 1995 a couple of different times and auditioned for stuff and would stay at his house, and that's how I got "L.A. Confidential." 

What was the audition like?

When I first went in, it was just a reading on tape. ["L.A. Confidential" director] Curtis [Hanson] wasn't even in the room. In fact, it was the last audition I did in late 1995 while I was in LA, so fight after I flew back to Australia. In January, Chris calls and tells me they want me to come back and do a proper screen test. I was like, "No, I'm not fucking flying back."

So Curtis called me and said, [speaking in an American accent] "Guy, I think you should come back." So basically, he had already decided, but he needed me to do the screen test so he could prove to the studio that I was the right guy. But he couldn't say I had the role. I showed up, and it was almost like shooting a scene; it was on a dressed set, costumes; they cut my hair to look like Ed Exley; it was a crazy thing. 

And during filming people would come up to me and say, "You got this off of 'Priscilla'? How did Curtis see you as Ed Exley in that role?" Turns out Curtis never saw "Priscilla." It call came from that first reading on tape that I did. 

How close were we to an "L.A. Confidential" sequel?

At a certain point, Curtis called me and said, "Just so you know, I'm talking to ["L.A. Confidential" author James] Ellroy about specifically writing a sequel." It would have been ten years later. And he wanted me to be involved. I told him I'm on board, no question. And Russell [Crowe] would return as well. Curtis' whole thing was it needed to be the same team, Warner Bros., me, Ellroy, Russell. It was a no-brainer for me. That got developed to a certain degree and then Curtis got sick and sadly passed in 2016. 

On why he hasn't worked with Christopher Nolan since 'Memento'

If the myth is true, "Memento" is kind of the opposite of what happened on "L.A. Confidential." Instead of the director calling you, you called the director. 

Well, I had always read these stories about directors saying how committed actors were to landing a role: "They slept on my porch, I knew he was the guy." I remember reading these and thinking, "Does that really work?" So I read "Memento" and really loved it, I met with Chris and then I watched "Following." I was really locked in and wanted to do it.

So I go to my agent, Chris, and I tell him, "I think I should ring Chris Nolan just so he knows that I'm really keen to do this." So I did, and I said, "I'm really sorry to do this but by all accounts this seems to work in this town, I'm really keen to do your movie, I would really love to do this." And in typical Chris Nolan fashion, he just said, "Well, okay, thank you for letting me know." I just felt if other actors are in the running he should know I really wanted to do it. 

I believe actors like Charlie Sheen and Alec Baldwin were also in the running.

I have no idea. I remember Jeff Goldblum was in the mix, and Brad Pitt was the first ask. I felt, this script is so good I'm going to lose this to a name actor, I have to put my hand up. Also, I was cheap. 

Are you surprised you haven't worked with Nolan since?

We nearly worked together a couple of times, but there was an executive at Warner Bros. who admitted to my agent that I was not someone he believed in and ever wanted to work with, so he was never going to work with me. And I'm glad we found that out because, for a while, it was weird that I could never get another job at Warner Bros.

But we found out because Chris offered me a role in "Batman Begins." This was at a time when he wanted Bruce Wayne's mentor to be around the same age as him. So I flew to London to see Chris, and by the time I landed, he was told that Warner Bros. was never going to employ me. So I get there and he goes, "Hey... do you wanna see the Batmobile?" And we went out to dinner and I flew home just puzzled.

I have no idea why this executive felt this way, he supposedly told Chris, "I don't get Guy Pearce, I'm never going to get Guy Pearce, I'm never going to employ Guy Pearce." So that never happened. 

Then Chris talked to me about "The Prestige." He was talking to Jude Law and I about it. And next thing you know he went and made it with Batman [Christian Bale] and Wolverine [Hugh Jackman]. [Laughs.] But, again, Warner Bros. was involved. And listen, if I can only work with Chris Nolan once in my life, I'm fine with that.  

(Ed note: WB and Nolan did not respond to BI's requests for comment.)

The job that made him swear off studio movies until 'Iron Man 3'

2002's "The Time Machine" was the first and only time you were the lead in a major Hollywood blockbuster. After that you didn't make a studio film again for years. How did your experience on that movie shape your career going forward?

I definitely realized that I wasn't cut out for the studio world. 

Did that leave a bad taste in your mouth?

Absolutely. I just wanted to get back to what I felt comfortable doing. I just felt like the studio world was too big for me. I remember one of the executives telling me three or four times on that movie, "You know, the time machine itself, that's the star of the movie." And not that I needed anyone to pump up my ego, but I just remember a couple of times going, "Okay, yep. Got it. No worries." It was difficult.

Right after doing that I went and reshot the ending of "The Count of Monte Cristo." So at that time I was fried and I had enough of Hollywood. I was a pretty horrible person to everyone around me because of exhaustion. So I realized I'm a character actor, I'm not that guy. So I took a big step back. 

Who was more fun to play, Peter Weyland in "Prometheus" or Aldrich Killian in "Iron Man 3"?

I think Aldrich Killian was probably more fun. I mean, Peter Weyland was hard work because I was literally wearing an exoskeleton and five hours of prosthetic makeup. 

Did you know what the hell was happening in "Prometheus"?

I think the movie is brilliant, but I'll say, if you don't get what's happening in the first five minutes then you're lost for the rest of the movie. And I had the benefit of listening to Ridley [Scott] talk about it before we started shooting.

I loved it, but it was a tough experience physically. I couldn't sit down because of this metal frame thing. So between shots they would just lean me against the wall. 

But with both of those roles, them being on big Hollywood movies, by then, I had a big rethink about how to function. Aldrich and "Iron Man 3" was an opportunity to kind of dip my foot back into the water of the studio world. The pressure isn't on me. It's a good character. So I got to do what I want to do in that world.  

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

More from this series

• The moment Luke Wilson knew 'Old School' would be a hit: 'There were kids high-fiving in the parking lot'
• Billy Bob Thornton ad-libbed his famous 'Friday Night Lights' speech after being betrayed
• David Duchovny had a very specific idea for how to make his 'Zoolander' cameo funny

• Guy Pearce said he missed roles in Christopher Nolan's films because a Warner Bros. executive was not a fan of his work.
• Pearce told BI that Nolan wanted him for "The Prestige" and "Batman Begins," but WB blocked him.
• "If I can only work with Chris Nolan once in my life, I'm fine with that," Pearce said.

Guy Pearce has never worked with Christopher Nolan since starring in 2000's "Memento," but it's not from a lack of trying.

Years after Nolan cast the Aussie in his backwards-told neo-noir, in which Pearce plays a man looking for his wife's killer, he wanted him to team up with another star for his 2006 movie, "The Prestige," about two rival magicians set in Victorian London.

"He was talking to Jude Law and I about it," Pearce told Business Insider in a recent interview while promoting his upcoming movie, "The Brutalist."

"And next thing you know, he went and made it with Batman and Wolverine," he continued, referring to Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman. "But Warner Bros. was involved."

Before Nolan could move forward on "The Prestige," he made the first movie in his beloved Batman trilogy, 2005's "Batman Begins." Warner Bros. would release both. ("The Prestige" was released internationally by WB and domestically by Disney).

During that time, Pearce said he and his agent realized that an executive at WB wasn't a fan of the actor since Nolan's attempt to cast him in "Batman Begins" was also halted.

"There was an executive at Warner Bros. who admitted to my agent that I was not someone he believed in and ever wanted to work with, so he was never going to work with me," Pearce told BI. "And I'm glad we found that out because, for a while, it was weird that I could never get another job at Warner Bros."

"We found out because Chris offered me a role in 'Batman Begins,'" Pearce continued. "This was at a time when he wanted Bruce Wayne's mentor to be around the same age as him. So I flew to London to see Chris, and by the time I landed, he was told that Warner Bros. was never going to employ me."

Pearce said what transpired left him "puzzled" as instead of meeting with Nolan to talk about the movie, the filmmaker showed him the Batmobile, took him out to dinner, and sent him back on his way.

"I have no idea why this executive felt this way. He supposedly told Chris, 'I don't get Guy Pearce. I'm never going to get Guy Pearce. I'm never going to employ Guy Pearce.' So that never happened," he added.

WB did not respond to comment for this story.

A year after "Batman Begins" opened in theaters, Nolan came out with "The Prestige," starring Bale, who played Batman in his trilogy, and Jackman.

Looking back, Pearce said he's not bitter about missing out on working with Nolan again. "Listen, if I can only work with Chris Nolan once in my life, I'm fine with that," he said.

Nolan did not respond to a request for comment.

• Mike Judge's film "Idiocracy" became a cult hit despite initial studio neglect.
• Like Judge's previous film "Office Space," DVD rentals helped "Idiocracy" gain popularity.
• Luke Wilson told Business Insider he has a sequel idea he's pitched to Judge.

Since its release almost two decades ago, Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" has become a beloved comedy, even and perhaps especially as people have begun drawing similarities between its plot and real-life events.

Though star Luke Wilson says it's the movie that fans still bring up to him the most, he calls its eventual success "the biggest surprise." When the film was initially released by 20th Century Fox in 2006, the studio had no faith in it.

"I'll never forget I was reading the LA Times before the movie opened, and I saw a small ad that said 'Idiocracy,' and only three theaters were listed," Wilson told Business Insider in his interview for our Role Play series. "So I called Mike Judge, and he told me the studio dumped the movie. I was bummed out."

The movie went on to only make $440,000 at the domestic box office.

Judge had been through this before. His previous movie, "Office Space," opened in 1999 with zero notice, though it would go on to become a pop-culture sensation once it hit DVD and cable in the early 2000s.

"Idiocracy" had the same post-theatrical success. In 2007, it took in $9 million in DVD rentals, 20 times its domestic gross.

In the comedy, Wilson plays Joe, who agrees to an experiment that, due to unforeseen events, results in him being in hibernation for 500 years. He awakes in a future where the population is illiterate and obsessed with big-box stores and the president is a former professional wrestler.

The movie gained pop-culture notoriety during Donald Trump's first run for president. At the time, "Idiocracy" screenwriter Etan Cohen tweeted, "I never expected #idiocracy to become a documentary."

Wilson has always been game to do a sequel, and told BI he often pitches Judge on the idea.

"I've always told him, how about me and Terry Crews and Dax Shepard coming back to the present day," Wilson said. "We see Terry's Camacho character become president, Dax's character runs a movie studio. I'm always pitching that to Mike. He gets a kick out of it."

Business Insider contacted Mike Judge for comment but didn't receive a response.

Luke Wilson's experience filming Wes Anderson's 1996 movie "Bottle Rocket" was many things: his film debut, a family affair (his two brothers Owen and Andrew also starred), and the start of a long relationship with Anderson.

It was also a bit of a nightmare.

"I love this Bob Dylan album 'Blood on the Tracks,' and he's got this quote about it where people will say to him, 'Bob, I love "Blood on the Tracks,"' and he'll say, 'I don't know how people can get enjoyment out of something that caused me such pain,'" Wilson told Business Insider.

"I read that and thought that was really funny," he continued. "That's what rings true for me with 'Bottle Rocket.'"

The offbeat crime caper about a heist gone wrong wasn't a commercial success, but it did offer Wilson a crash course in the often frustrating business of movie-making.

"All we ever heard was, 'The studio doesn't like it.' 'They don't know what you guys are doing.' 'They don't like the dailies,'" Wilson recalled. "And me being like, 'What are dailies?'"

Nearly three decades later, Wilson, 53, is a seasoned veteran who's found his niche playing soft-spoken straight-man roles in comedies like "Blue Streak," "Legally Blonde," "Old School," and "Idiocracy."

For his latest role, Wilson brings his comedic chops to Netflix in Liz Feldman's new series "No Good Deed." Like Feldman's previous Netflix hit, "Dead to Me," the series is a star-studded ensemble piece that blends elements of comedy and thriller.

Wilson stars alongside Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow, Abbi Jacobson, Denis Leary, and his "Legally Blonde" castmate Linda Cardellini as JD, a soap opera actor who is in a bidding war for a house he believes will solve all his problems.

It was exactly the kind of role Wilson knew he could chew on. "Depressed out of work soap opera star… I thought, 'I like the sound of that,'" he said.

For the latest edition of Business Insider's Role Play series, Wilson breaks down how he and his brother launched their careers after connecting with fellow Texas native Wes Anderson, auditioning for "Blue Streak" at Martin Lawrence's house, and his efforts to convince "Idiocracy" director Mike Judge to make a sequel.

On 'Bottle Rocket' and why he's never been competitive with his brother Owen

Business Insider: 1996 marked your screen debut in the indie classic "Bottle Rocket," which was directed by Wes Anderson and cowritten by him and your brother Owen, who also stars in it. What were your acting aspirations back then? 

Luke Wilson: We always really loved movies. For me, Owen, and our brother Andrew that was our focus. Me with my friends, it was talking about what movies are coming out this weekend, if they are rated R, how are we going to get into them? What theater are they at? Do we wait for a cool-looking guy in line to buy us tickets, or does one of us go to a G movie and then open the back door? When I think back on it, that was what hooked me. I would study TV Guide to see what year a movie came out, who was in it, just like how people study box scores.

And then you're suddenly on the big screen yourself.

Yeah. But not until Owen met Wes Anderson at the University of Texas did we get the idea that we were going to try to make a very low-budget movie.

That movie launched not just your career, but your brother's. What was it like going out for work while at the same time knowing Owen was also trying to start his career? Would you two audition for the same stuff?

I'm sure it happened occasionally, and who knows what happens with casting and directors, but Owen quickly went and did some big-budget movies like "Armageddon" and things like that. I was kind of doing indie stuff and smaller roles.

People always ask if we were competitive, and we never were. I always looked at it as we're from the same company, we're from the same family, and we love each other. We're not trying to hijack each other. 

On his favorite Wes Anderson movie and the moment he knew 'Old School' would be a hit

Out of all the Wes Anderson movies you've done — "Bottle Rocket," "Rushmore," and "The Royal Tenenbaums" — which is your personal favorite? 

The most exciting and interesting thing for me was "Tenenbaums." With "Rushmore," Wes was hitting his stride, but with "Tenenbaums," suddenly you're acting with Gene Hackman, Angelica Huston, Danny Glover, Ben Stiller, and Gwyneth Paltrow. All of a sudden it was all of these people and shooting in Manhattan, which to me was the most exciting. It seemed like things suddenly exploded. 

How involved were you with the costuming of your character in "The Royal Tenenbaums"? It's become so memorable. 

It was all Wes. I do remember we did have one battle. We're at this tailor, this little place in New York downtown, and I'm standing up on a wooden crate. The person is measuring me for this suit, and the cuff is getting higher and higher, and I'm like, "Can we get below my calf muscle, please?" Wes pulled me in a corner and dressed me down, so I had to just let it go. 

Out of "Legally Blonde," "Old School," and "Idiocracy," which one of those are you most shocked is still beloved today?

I was just talking to Linda Cardellini, and we certainly had no idea that "Legally Blonde" was going to hit. It's certainly not my milieu or the kind of movie I'm into — I saw "Election" and thought Reese was great and I wanted to work with her.

With "Old School," I'll never forget the test screening in the Valley. After it I walked out and there were kids high-fiving in the parking lot and repeating Will and Vince's lines. This is ten minutes after seeing the movie for the first time. So I kind of knew that was going to work.

But "Idiocracy" might be the biggest surprise. It seemed like such an odd, funny movie, and I like Mike Judge so much and knew him from Austin. Mike has such a great offbeat sense of humor, and I thought things were funny, but I didn't know if it would translate. And Fox wasn't really giving him the money for the effects and set pieces.

I'll never forget I was reading the LA Times before the movie opened, and I saw a small ad that said "Idiocracy," and only three theaters were listed. So I called Mike Judge, and he told me the studio dumped the movie. I was bummed out.

So I was so surprised when it became popular. It is the movie that gets brought up the most to me. Not just election time but over the years. It's really special because it was something that couldn't be denied despite a studio putting the hammer down on it. 

On sweating through an audition for 'Blue Streak' at Martin Lawrence's house and his idea for an 'Idiocracy' sequel

One movie that always sucks me in whenever it's on is "Blue Streak." Honestly, for how great Martin Lawrence is in it and a young Dave Chapelle, it's your work as the straight man opposite Martin that's the glue. Did you and Martin talk a lot between scenes about how far you were going to take the straight act?

I think I've done well with comics because I have such love for them. I have such admiration for stand-up comics. I mean, "You So Crazy" to me is up there with Richard Pryor's "Live on the Sunset Strip." It's just unbelievable. I really loved "Martin" the TV show.

I had just gotten into town so I did a read with the casting director, and then they sent me to a reading with Les Mayfield, the director, and things were looking good, but I had to go read with Martin. So, I'll never forget this: I drove to Martin's house, and I'm waiting outside his house just sweating. I walk in and read with Martin and he's got some friends with him, and Martin just starts laughing with his friends about the way I look and my voice. From then on we got along great. 

Sony is developing a sequel. Have they called you?

I know we've talked to them about it. Whenever I run into Martin we've always talked about a sequel. We have also tried to work on some different things over the years and they just haven't happened. He's one of my favorite people. But hopefully, Carlson will be there if there's a "Blue 2."

How in the world did you end up in "Jackass Number 2?" 

[Laughs.] I'm not so sure how I got in that either. Probably one of those things where I got a waiver jammed in front of my face and didn't know what I was signing. 

So you weren't buddies with those guys?

No. I didn't really know those guys. 

Here's the kicker, Luke. Your footage didn't even make the final cut. It's a deleted scene. 

Yeah. I don't really have much of a memory of that. I don't know why. [Laughs.] 

Do you think Mike Judge will ever do an "Idiocracy" sequel?

Oh, I always call Mike and tell him. He's always busy and always working on a script. But I've always told him, how about me and Terry Crews and Dax Shepard coming back to the present day. We see Terry's Camacho character become president, Dax's character runs a movie studio. I'm always pitching that to Mike. He gets a kick out of it. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

• This year marked the 34th anniversary of "Home Alone."
• The holiday comedy launched the career of Macaulay Culkin and showed Joe Pesci in a new light.
• Here's what the cast of "Home Alone" is up to now.

It's been 34 years since the comedy "Home Alone" hit theaters and became an instant classic. It made $467 million at the box office, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 1990 and it spawned an entire franchise.

Thanks to Macaulay Culkin's memorable performance, this movie — about a boy who is left home alone and must devise ways to protect his home from burglars during Christmas — has become a must-watch over the holidays, decades later.

The Chris Columbus-directed movie also benefited from Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern's slapstick physical comedy and John Williams' score, which makes you warm inside.

Let's check in on the cast and see what they are doing now 34 years later.

Megan Angelo contributed to a previous version of this story.

Macaulay Culkin

Kevin, played by Culkin, is the bratty youngest kid of the McCallister family, who, after being left home by mistake when his family rushes off on a flight to Paris, learns to appreciate them.

His mea culpa occurs after he spends days alone, having to fend for himself. Oh, and he also has to ward off burglars Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), known as the Wet Bandits.

The performance by Culkin, who was 10 at the time of filming, was so good it would define his career.

Macaulay Culkin is now married with two kids.

Culkin, 44, had unbelievable fame through most of his childhood due to "Home Alone" and its sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." He continued to be one of the top child actors in Hollywood with movies such as "My Girl" and "The Good Son."

His fame was also heightened due to his friendship with Michael Jackson. Culkin even starred in his 1991 music video for "Black and White."

In 2005, at Jackson's trial for sexual child abuse, Culkin testified that he slept in the same bed with Jackson, but was never molested by the pop star, per Vanity Fair.

In 1994, he took a pause from acting and wasn't seen on screen again until 2003 when he made a guest appearance on "Will and Grace."

Since then, he's occasionally appeared on TV, even parodying himself in "Home Alone" for a Google Assistant commercial in 2018. Since 2019, he's appeared in episodes of shows such as "Dollface," "American Horror Story," "The Righteous Gemstones," and will appear in the second season of "Fallout."

He also is the cofounder of the pizza-themed comedy rock band Pizza Underground and the CEO of a satirical pop-culture website and podcast called Bunny Ears.

In terms of his personal life, Culkin has been in a relationship with fellow former child star Brenda Song since 2018. They have two children.

Joe Pesci

Pesci starred as Harry, a burglar obsessed with the McCallister house.

Pesci's Harry is the perfect villain for a kid-friendly movie. One-half of the "Wet Bandits" (because they flood the houses they steal from), Harry thinks he's got all the angles figured out. That includes how to do the big score of robbing a block of big fancy houses as their owners are all away for Christmas.

But Harry, with his shiny gold tooth, didn't count on Kevin to ruin his plans to rob the McCallister house, which he's always had his eye on.

Joe Pesci has semi-retired from acting.

When "Home Alone" came out, Pesci was known best for his tough guy roles in Martin Scorsese movies such as "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas," which opened the same year as "Home Alone" and would earn Pesci an Oscar.

Pesci's silly performance as Harry showed a different side of the actor and led to more comedic movies, such as "My Cousin Vinny," and playing the bumbling sidekick to Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the "Lethal Weapon" movies.

Since "Lethal Weapon 4" in 1998, Pesci, 81, has appeared in fewer movies. In 2019, he teamed up with Scorsese once more for the director's Netflix epic "The Irishman." Four years later, in 2023, he had a main role in the Peacock series "Bupkis," which was loosely based on the life of its star, Pete Davidson.

Daniel Stern

Stern played Marv, the other half of the "Wet Bandits."

Stern's Marv is so memorable because he plays perfectly across from Pesci's Harry.

Though Harry is the leader, Marv thinks he's his intellectual equal (though what neither of them know is that they are both idiots) which leads to great comedic moments as the two try to outsmart Kevin.

And then there's Stern's physical comedy, which is the secret sauce of this movie.

Daniel Stern is a dependable character actor.

Stern has been a Hollywood fixture going all the way back to his first movie, 1979's "Breaking Away." But around the time of the "Home Alone" release, Stern was at the height of his fame.

He was the narrator of the hit TV show "The Wonder Years," and a year after "Home Alone," he starred in another hit comedy, "City Slickers."

Most recently, the 67-year-old starred in the Hulu series "Shrill" and the Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind."

Catherine O'Hara

O'Hara played Kevin's mom, Kate, who, after realizing he's home alone, travels back to be with him.

Kate, along with her husband Peter (John Heard), are definitely up there as a pair of the worst parents in movie history.

Not only do they not double-check the head count to make sure all the kids are with them as they rush to their flight to Paris in the first "Home Alone," but they also lose track of Kevin again in the sequel, "Lost in New York."

Catherine O'Hara won an Emmy for "Schitt's Creek" in 2020.

O'Hara, 70, has gone on to have an incredible career playing a wide range of characters.

For years, she was best known for her work on Christopher Guest mockumentaries, such as "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind." She also frequently collaborated with Tim Burton, with voice roles in "A Nightmare Before Christmas," "Beetlejuice," and "Frankenweenie."

More recently, she's found huge acclaim for her role on the hit TV show "Schitt's Creek." At the 2020 Emmys, she won for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her performance in the final season.

Since "Schitt's Creek" wrapped, she's busier than ever. Since 2020, O'Hara has appeared in "Elemental," "Pain Hustlers," "Argylle," "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," and "The Wild Robot." In 2025, she's joining the cast of "The Last of Us."

Heartwarmingly, O'Hara was on hand to help present her on-screen son, Macaulay Culkin, with his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2024. He even called her "mama," and she called him "darling baby."

Devin Ratray

Ratray played Kevin's older brother Buzz, who loved to bully and scare his younger sibling. In other words, the perfect evil older brother.

With no care at all for Kevin, he spends most of the beginning of the movie teasing, tormenting, and scaring his younger brother.

Buzz even tells Kevin that their neighbor Old Man Marley kills people with his shovel, which turns out not to be true.

Devin Ratray pleaded guilty to domestic violence in 2024.

As an adult, Ratray, 47, starred in Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" and has worked multiple times with Steven Soderbergh ("Side Effects," "Mosaic," "Kimi"). He also had a cameo role in the Disney+ sequel to "Home Alone," "Home Sweet Home Alone" as an older Buzz — he's a police officer now.

However, Ratray has also experienced legal troubles. In 2021, he was arrested in Oklahoma while attending a fan convention for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, per Deadline. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence, People reported.

After his arrest in 2021, another woman came forward accusing Ratray of raping her in 2017. CNN reported in 2022 that the NYPD was investigating the case. Ratray denied the accusations in a call with the outlet. He did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Hope Davis

In one of the first roles of her career, Davis plays the French airport ticket agent who has to give the McCallisters the bad news that there are no flights back to Chicago.

Though she has a great French accent, Davis is not French — she's from New Jersey.

Hope Davis has been nominated for numerous awards.

Since her small role in "Home Alone," Davis, 60, has built a successful acting career.

She's best known for her dramatic work in movies such as "About Schmidt" and "American Splendor." Davis also played Tony Stark's mother, Maria, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In 2022, she was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding guest actress in a dramatic series for her performance as Sandi Furness in "Succession."

This year, she had a guest role in the Apple TV+ thriller miniseries "Before," which starred Billy Crystal and Rosie Perez.

Kieran Culkin

Culkin played Fuller, Kevin's youngest cousin.

Fuller is best known as the family bedwetter (and the character tasked with shameless product placement as he sips a can of Pepsi at the dinner table).

Kieran Culkin is best known for "Succession."

Unlike his brother, Macaulay, Kieran didn't experience the early pressure of superstardom, making it possible to steadily build a career in Hollywood — though he did appear in "Father of the Bride" and "She's All That" while he was still a kid.

Along with scoring great roles in movies such as "Igby Goes Down" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," he found his stride playing the despicable (and somehow lovable) Roman Roy in "Succession."

He received four Golden Globe nominations in a row for playing Roman, winning on his fourth try for the final season. He also received three Emmy nominations, winning for the final season as well.

In 2024, he co-starred in the dramedy "A Royal Pain" alongside Jesse Eisenberg as a pair of cousins trekking through Poland on a Holocaust tour. He's receiving plenty of buzz for his portrayal of Benji.

Roberts Blossom, who played Old Man Marley, died in 2011.

Old Man Marley, Kevin's creepy-looking neighbor who Buzz says is a killer but turns out to be a nice grandpa, was played by character actor Roberts Blossom.

Having close to 60 roles over his career, including "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "The Last Temptation of Christ," Blossom will forever be known for his role in "Home Alone."

Blossom died at the age of 87 in 2011, per the Los Angeles Times.

Kevin's dad, Peter, was played by John Heard. He died in 2017.

John Heard played Kevin's dad, Peter, who stays back with the family in Paris when Kate returns to Kevin.

Heard starred in countless hit movies, including "Big" and "Awakenings," and TV shows. He earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Detective Vin Makazian on "The Sopranos."

Heard died in 2017 at the age of 71, according to The New York Times.

The polka-loving Gus Polinski was played by John Candy. He died in 1994.

John Candy was good friends with "Home Alone" producer John Hughes, so he agreed to do a cameo in the movie.

In it he plays Gus Polinski, "the polka king of the Midwest," who helps Kate get back to Kevin by driving her home.

Director Chris Columbus told Business Insider in 2020 that most of the lines Candy said as Gus were improvised. Candy's contribution led to some of the funniest moments in the movie.

Candy was an established star when he showed up on "Home Alone." He had already starred in hits such as "Splash," "Trains, Plains, and Automobiles," "Spaceballs," and "Uncle Buck."

Candy died in 1994 at the age of 43.

• If you're looking for something different to watch on Netflix, you've come to the right place.
• We've highlighted 11 titles you've probably never seen but should watch.
• Check out movies like "Sea of Love," "The Thin Blue Line," and "Silverado."

Ian Phillips contributed to a previous version of this article.

Note: Numerous Netflix titles drop off the streaming service monthly so the availability of titles below may change.

"Blue Jay"

Jim Henderson (Mark Duplass) is back in his hometown to sell his late mother's house when he bumps into his high-school girlfriend, Amanda (Sarah Paulson). They end up spending the day together, leading to a lot of laughs and some shocking revelations.

Duplass, who also wrote the screenplay, and Paulson are fantastic together. If you're looking for a different kind of love story, this is for you.

"Casting JonBenet"

If you can't get enough of Netflix's new docuseries "Cold Case: Who killed JonBenét Ramsey," we recommend this fiction/doc hybrid the streamer made in 2017.

"Casting JonBenet," Kitty Green's directorial debut ("The Assistant," "The Royal Hotel"), explores the unsolved murder in a unique way: by filming the casting of a fake movie about the JonBenét murder.

Green hires actors who live in the region of Colorado where the Ramseys lived. Some of them even know the family. The movie is made up of actor auditions and reenactments of key events, like the police news conference after the murder, and JonBenet's parents, John and Patsy, being interviewed by police. A handful of actors portray the main figures of the case in these moments — yes, even young girls as JonBenét.

The movie is a fascinating study of our own obsessions about the case rather than a search for answers.

"Compliance"

If you're looking for something very different, check out this movie.

Written and directed by Craig Zobel ("Mare of Easttown," "The Penguin"), this disturbing movie is based on "strip search phone scams" that went on in the early 2000s.

In the movie, like the real-life instances, someone calls a fast-food restaurant claiming to be a police officer, and then convinces the manager over the phone to conduct a strip search of a female employee.

The movie stars Dreama Walker as the employee, Ann Dowd as the manager, and Pat Healy as the caller impersonating a police officer.

"Emily the Criminal"

After a nonexistent theatrical release in 2022, this thriller has found a second life on Netflix.

Aubrey Plaza plays a woman crippled by student debt and unable to find a good job due to a criminal record. She decides to get into the credit-card scam game, leading her down a dark path in the Los Angeles crime scene.

"Kicking and Screaming"

No, we're not talking about that Will Ferrell soccer movie. This 1995 movie was Noah Baumbach's feature directing debut, showcasing his talent for mixing comedy with middle-class malaise. Here, he looks at a group of college graduates who are having trouble becoming real adults.

Josh Hamilton, Parker Posey, and Eric Stoltz round out the ensemble cast.

"Oldboy"

Park Chan-wook's beloved film follows a man who seeks revenge after being imprisoned for 15 years. Get ready for a fun and twisted tale with an impressive single-shot fight sequence.

"The Other Side of the Wind"

In 2018, 48 years after Orson Welles began production on what would become his final feature film, Netflix finally released what was meant to be Welles' Hollywood comeback. 

Chronicling the last day of a filmmaking legend's (John Huston) life, the movie plays with a film-within-a-film storytelling style, rapid editing, and numerous types of film stock to tell a moving story about life and legacy.

Keep an eye out for a Dennis Hopper cameo, a stunning performance by Oja Kodar, and a scene-stealing role from Welles' longtime friend, fellow filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich.

"Sea of Love"

This late-1980s erotic neo-noir thriller stars Al Pacino as Frank Keller, a New York detective trying to track down a serial killer who is using a singles' column in the newspaper to find victims.

Ellen Barkin plays Helen Cruger, a woman at the top of Frank's suspects list. There's just one problem: he's falling in love with her.

John Goodman, Richard Jenkins, and Michael Rooker all give great performances, too.

"Silverado"

This classic 1985 Western from director Lawrence Kasdan ("The Big Chill") follows a group of misfit friends as they try to clean up the town of Silverado.

Filled with great gunfights and banter, it's highlighted by an ensemble cast that includes Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Jeff Fahey, and Linda Hunt.

"The Squid and the Whale"

Noah Baumbach's acclaimed early 2000s dramedy stars Jesse Eisenberg as a young man living in Brooklyn in the early 1980s who is dealing with the divorce of his parents, played by Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney.

"The Thin Blue Line"

Errol Morris' acclaimed documentary proved a man was wrongly convicted of murder and also uncovered the man who actually did the crime.

Using beautifully shot reenactments and engaging interviews, this chilling exploration inside the mind of a killer is considered one of the best non-fiction works ever created.

• Disney's "Moana 2" broke Thanksgiving box office records, bringing in $380 million globally.
• In previous years, Disney struggled at the Thanksgiving weekend box office with "Wish" and "Strange World."
• Originally created as a series, "Moana 2" was shifted to a film, boosting Disney's theatrical strategy.

First, Disney proved it was still king of the summer movie season with the enormous success of "Deadpool & Wolverine." Now, the studio has also reclaimed its hold on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with "Moana 2."

The sequel to the beloved 2016 animated movie brought in over $380 million worldwide in its first five days in theaters, which included over $220 million domestically. The latter is a new five-day Thanksgiving box office record, surpassing the $125 million "Frozen 2" earned in 2019.

The success of "Moana 2" was much needed for Disney, and for its animation division in particular, as the past few Thanksgivings have not been so bountiful.

For roughly the last decade, the Disney titles released over Thanksgiving were usually guaranteed box office coin, with animated fare like "Coco" (2017) and both "Frozen" movies (2013, 2019) notching major wins for the studio. But 2022 and 2023, the post-COVID years when audiences began returning to theaters, were a bust: "Strange World" and "Wish" took in $19 million and $32 million respectively on their five-day Thanksgiving opening weekends in 2022 and 2023.

In 2024, Disney is faring better. The over $1 billion take "Inside Out 2" made in June proved that audiences were out of the COVID-era haze of waiting to see Disney animated titles at home, especially Pixar movies. The success of "Moana 2" confirms that families want to see their animation on the big screen.

And it was Disney's fast thinking at the eleventh hour that kept the momentum going.

"Even the Disney brass were apparently unaware how beloved this property was as it was very close to going straight to streaming," Exhibitor Relations senior analyst Jeff Bock told Business Insider.

That's right. The "Moana" sequel was originally developed as a series for Disney+.

"Moana: The Series" was announced at the Disney Investor Day in 2020, with the plan being to delve deeper into the characters and mythology in the "Moana" franchise. But in February 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the change from series to sequel, stating on an earnings call that Disney executives were "impressed" by early footage and felt it "deserved a theatrical release."

Looking back on the sequel's journey to the screen, codirector David Derrick Jr. said that starting with the larger scope a TV series provides ultimately strengthened the story when it was adapted into a feature.

"What the series gave us was an opportunity to get to know these characters intimately, the way you can with a series, but what we were doing in the story just begged for a bigger and bigger screen," he told Collider.

"So, as soon as we funneled all of the learnings from our new characters through Moana's journey, it actually just strengthened Moana's growth and the theme of the story. So, there wasn't, for me, anything left out from the series. We were able to learn things from the series that just supercharged the feature."

Pivoting from series to feature was also a savvy business decision. After the COVID box-office slump, many studios realized that movies released exclusively in theaters didn't just bring more profitability in the initial release, but also fueled secondary windows like streaming.

Perhaps Disney brass realized in the four years from announcing the series to changing it to a feature-length film that despite the slumping box office, rededicating itself to a "Moana" theatrical release would generate more profit than it would if it were a streaming release alone.

Even after "Moana 2" eventually hits streaming, there will be more "Moana" coming. The live-action version of the movie, which stars Dwayne Johnson in the flesh as Maui, is coming in summer 2026.

But should Disney be scared of "Moana" burnout?

"I doubt it," Bock said. "'Moana' is officially the hottest IP in Disney's vast kingdom. 2026 is the perfect spacing."

• Here are the six best movies on Netflix in December.
• Blake Lively stars in "It Ends with Us."
• Watch Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in one of his earliest movies, "Faster."

End the year by watching these movies on Netflix.

"Faster" (December 1)

Marking one of The Rock's earliest movie roles after ending his wrestling career, here he plays an ex-con who sets out to avenge his brother's death.

"Little" (December 1)

This comedy stars Marsai Martin, Issa Rae, and Regina Hall.

Hall plays Jordan, a bossy businesswoman who finally goes too far when she insults a child. The child wishes that Jordan would become a kid again, and Jordan then becomes her 13-year-old self.

Comedy ensues as now bossy teen Jordan goes through school. Rae plays Jordan's assistant who now pretends to be her aunt.

"Zero Dark Thirty" (December 1)

In the Oscar-nominated film, director Kathryn Bigelow chronicles the nearly decadeslong manhunt to track down and kill Osama bin Laden.

Jessica Chastain delivers one of the best performances of her career as Maya, a CIA intelligence analyst who has spent her career trying to track down bin Laden.

"Shiva Baby" (December 7)

Marking the directorial debut of Emma Seligman ("Bottoms"), this comedy follows the dysfunctional life of Danielle (Rachel Sennott) as she goes to a shiva where her ex-girlfriend (Molly Gordon) and her sugar daddy (Danny Deferrari) are both in attendance.

"It Ends With Us" (December 9)

Based on the popular Colleen Hoover novel, this romantic drama stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, who finds herself in a toxic relationship that reminds her of what she witnessed her parents go through when she was a child.

"Mad Max: Fury Road" (December 30)

After decades in development hell, director George Miller finally made the fourth title in his "Mad Max" franchise in 2015.

Tom Hardy took over for Mel Gibson in the role of Max, a loner in a postapocalyptic wasteland. But it's the eye-popping action sequences and introduction to a new character in the franchise, Furiosa (Charlize Theron), that turned this movie into an instant classic.

• "Gladiator" opened in theaters in 2000.
• It became a box office sensation and won the best picture Oscar. Russell Crowe also won the best actor Oscar.
• "Gladiator II," starring Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal, is now in theaters.

Ridley Scott's 2000 historical film "Gladiator" set the stage for its sequel to continue to captivate the box office today.

The original film follows Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of the emperor, who kills Meridius' wife and child. Relegated to slavery, Meridius becomes a gladiator to seek his revenge.

The movie was one of the highest-grossing of 2000, taking in over $460 million worldwide and earning Crowe a best actor Oscar and a best picture win.

Twenty-four years after the movie's release, the sequel, "Gladiator II," starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, is in theaters. On opening weekend, it hit $55.5 million in ticket sales and more than $1000 million worldwide.

Here, we look back on the cast from the original movie and where they are now.

Russell Crowe played the movie's lead, Maximus Decimus Meridius.

Maximus Decimus Meridius was the lead character in "Gladiator." At the movie's start, he's the general of a dominant army for the Roman empire and emperor Marcus Aurelius' successor to his throne. After Aurelius is murdered by his son, Commodus, Meridius is thrown into slavery, and his family is murdered. Meridius seeks out his revenge as a gladiator.

Crowe went on to become one of the biggest stars of the 2000s.

Crowe won the best actor Oscar for his performance as Maximus.

From there, the New Zealand-born actor would become one of the biggest movie stars of the 2000s, starring in acclaimed titles like "A Beautiful Mind," "Cinderella Man," and "American Gangster."

In June, Crowe appeared on the podcast Kyle Meredith With... and discussed his movie's sequel, "Gladiator II."

"I'm slightly uncomfortable with the fact they're making another one — because, of course, I'm dead, and I have no say in what gets done," Crowe said at the TK minute mark, referring to his Maximus character dying at the end of the first movie.

"But a couple of the things I've heard, I'm like — no, no, no, that's not in the moral journey of that particular character, but I can't say anything. It's not my place; I'm six foot under. So we'll see what that is like."

Joaquin Phoenix played the villain Commodus.

Commodus is the main villain in "Gladiator." He kills his father, Marcus Aurelius, after learning that he has decided to make Maximus Decimus Meridius his successor to the throne. He then takes full power of the Roman Empire.

Phoenix forged a successful acting career and scored an Oscar for 2019's "Joker."

Joaquin Phoenix received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for "Gladiator."

Since the movie, Phoenix has forged a career filled with acclaimed work that often showcases his attraction to daring and challenging roles.

After starring in M. Night Shyamalan's blockbusters "Signs" and "The Village" and receiving a best actor Oscar nomination for the 2006 Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line," Phoenix focused more on unique projects during the 2010s.

Phoenix was Oscar-nominated for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 drama "The Master." He also found acclaim for playing a lonely guy who falls in love with an operating system in 2013's "Her."

Phoenix would win an Oscar for the 2019 movie "Joker," in which he played the beloved DC Comics villain in a movie that gave the comic book genre a more dramatic feel. The movie would become one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time. It'd later be beaten by 2024's "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Since then, Phoenix's received praise for performances in indie films like "C'mon C'mon" and "Beau Is Afraid." However, he got mixed reactions for playing Napoleon Bonaparte in "Gladiator" director Ridley Scott's biopic on the French military commander, "Napoleon," and the "Joker" sequel, "Joker: Folie à Deux," which was a box office bust.

Connie Nielsen played Commodus' sister, Lucilla.

She is Marcus Aurelius' oldest child. Throughout the movie, she fights off the incestuous advances of her brother, Commodus. She is also the mother of Lucius.

Nielsen is one of the few original actors who returned for the sequel.

At that point in her career, "Gladiator" was the biggest hit the Danish actor had starred in.

She went on to star in the 2002 thriller "One Hour Photo" opposite Robin Williams and the 2013 Lars von Trier erotic drama "Nymphomaniac."

In 2017, she landed a role in another box office hit by playing Queen Hippolyta in "Wonder Woman." Later that year, she would reprise the role in "Justice League" and 2020's "Wonder Woman 1984."

She returns as Lucilla in "Gladiator II."

Oliver Reed played gladiator trainer Antonius Proximo.

The gruff gladiator trainer buys Meridius and turns him into a gladiator worthy of fighting in Rome.

Reed died while filming "Gladiator."

Reed was one of the most acclaimed actors of his era. He was known for playing macho roles in movies from the 1960s and 1970s, such as "Oliver!" "The Three Musketeers," and "Tommy."

Reed died in 1999 while filming "Gladiator." Known for his heavy drinking, his hard-partying reputation led to his passing.

During a break from filming in Malta, Reed encountered officers from the Royal Navy on shore leave at a bar who challenged the actor to a drinking contest.

"He dropped down dead in the floor of a pub," Scott told Variety in 2020 for an oral history of the movie. "He probably had a couple of pints and said, 'I don't feel good,' laid on the carpet and died."

According to the Variety oral history, Reed had promised Scott he wouldn't drink while shooting, leading to the 61-year-old actor drinking on the weekends.

His official cause of death was a heart attack.

Djimon Hounsou played Meridius' friend, Jaba.

Jaba is the gladiator who befriends Meridius.

Hounsou has been working consistently since "Gladiator."

Three years before "Gladiator" opened in theaters, Hounsou landed his big break when Steven Spielberg cast him as the lead in his 1997 drama "Amistad."

Following the success of "Gladiator," Hounsou continued to land steady work, highlighted by costarring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2006 thriller "Blood Diamond," for which he received an Oscar nomination.

Since then, he's played Korath the Pursuer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was The Wizard in "Black Adam" and the "Shazam!' movies, and most recently starred in Netflix's "Rebel Moon" movies as General Titus.

Richard Harris played the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The Roman emperor whose decision to make Meridius his successor leads to his power-hungry son killing him.

The legendary actor went on to play Dumbledore in the "Harry Potter" movies.

Like Reed, Richard Harris was a legend on the screen.

The Irish actor was a star from the late 1960s through the 1980s. He played various roles, from King Arthur in the 1967 musical "Camelot" to an English aristocrat in the 1970s Western "A Man Called Horse." Harris' talents made him not just a box office draw but a beloved actor of critics.

Along with receiving two Oscar nominations over his career (1963's "The Sporting Life" and 1990's "The Field"), Harris also won a Grammy in 1968 for his rendition of "MacArthur Park."

For many, he's best known for the role he took a year after "Gladiator." He played Professor Albus Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

The latter would mark his final role before his 2002 death. Michael Gambon would take over the role in the acclaimed series.

Ralf Moeller played the intimidating gladiator Hagen.

Proximo's chief gladiator who befriends Meridius and Jaba.

"Gladiator" marked a career-high for Moeller.

Moeller began bodybuilding at 17 and was the German national champion in 1984.

He turned to acting four years later and quickly found work in Jean-Claude Van Damme's action movies "Cyborg" and "Universal Soldier."

Moeller would follow "Gladiator" by starring opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in 2002's "The Scorpion King."

Since then he's starred in a bevy of B-level action movies.

Tommy Flanagan played Meridius' loyal servant, Cicero.

The loyal servant of Meridius is killed while trying to help him.

Flanagan is usually cast in tough guy roles.

This Scottish actor often gets cast in tough guy roles due to the scars on his face, the result of a knife fight he got into while working as a DJ before his acting career took off.

His first movie role was in Mel Gibson's 1995 epic "Braveheart." He also starred in "Face/Off" and "The Game" before landing the Cicero role in "Gladiator."

Since then, he's starred in "Sin City," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," but is most remembered for playing Filip "Chibs" Telford on the hit FX series "Sons of Anarchy."

Tomas Arana plays Quintus, the commander who turns on Meridius.

A Roman army commander who betrays Meridius (though comes around to be back on his side at the movie's end).

Arana has always had a knack for playing the bad guy.

Arana has made a career of playing the bad guy onscreen.

From "The Hunt for Red October" to "The Bodyguard," that dastardly stare has made him perfect for the villain role.

Since "Gladiator," he's starred in smaller roles in "The Bourne Supremacy," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

Derek Jacobi plays Gracchus, the Roman senator who tries to help Meridius.

The Roman senator opposes Commodus' rule and tries to free Meridius from slavery.

Jacobi has been a fixture in period movies for years.

Jacobi has an esteemed career on the stage and screen, leading to him receiving two Emmys, a Tony, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in 1994.

Since "Gladiator," he's been one of the go-to British actors whenever Hollywood produces period movies, starring in "Gosford Park" to "The King's Speech."

He reprises his role in "Gladiator II."

Spencer Treat Clark plays Lucilla's son, Lucius.

Lucius, the son of Lucilla, idolizes Meridius.

Clark is being a good sport about Mescal being cast as Lucius in "Gladiator II."

The year 2000 was a breakout one for Clark. The same year he played Lucius opposite Russell Crowe in "Gladiator," he was also seen alongside Bruce Willis as his onscreen son in the M. Night Shyamalan thriller "Unbreakable."

Since then, he's starred in TV shows such as "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D," "Animal Kingdom," and "Manhunt." He also returned for the "Unbreakable" sequel, 2019's "Glass."

When word about a "Gladiator" sequel came out, which focused on the Lucius character now all grown up, some online questioned why Mescal was taking over the role and not Clark.

Scott addressed the recasting in a 2023 interview with Deadline on why Mescal, who became a hot commodity in Hollywood after starring in the 2020 series "Normal People," was right for the Lucius role.

"I'm always looking for someone, something new and fresh," he told the trade. "I mean, fresh is terribly important. So they're not carrying … baggage is a terrible word for what they've done before because it's great stuff, but you will remember he just did this character already."

Clark, who is now 37, is taking all this in stride. In an interview with People in October, he fully supported Mescal.

"The movie looks so good, and Paul's going to do such a great job," he said. "I've actually heard great things about the movie."

• "Moana 2," a sequel to the 2016 hit Disney film, is now in theaters.
• The movie has a dramatic ending.
• It has big implications for the future of the franchise, including a possible "Moana 3."

Warning: Major spoilers below if you haven't seen "Moana 2."

"Moana 2" follows the titular hero on another adventure at sea, and it concludes with a thrilling ending.

In the Disney sequel, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) must find the lost island of Motufetu, which the evil god Nalo has sunk to the bottom of the sea.

On her new quest, the wayfinder has some more help from her village as members Loto, Moni, and grumpy farmer Kele join her. (Heihei the rooster and Pua the pig, her sidekicks from the first "Moana" movie, are also along for the ride, as well as a member of the Kakamora coconut pirate tribe, who were antagonists in the 2016 film).

And, of course, there's the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), who, by the end of the movie, teams up with Moana.

When they all get to Nalo, the plan is for Maui to raise the island from the sea using his hook while Moana and the others distract Nalo, which has taken the form of a ferocious storm.

All goes according to plan until Nalo strips Maui of his demigod powers. It's now up to Moana, who dives into the ocean and touches the island, breaking Nalo's curse.

In the process, it seems Moana has been killed. While held in Maui's arms, Moana's ancestors appear and not only bring her back to life but turn her into a demigod like Maui.

This transformation is revealed when she holds her trusty oar after coming back to life. Like Maui's hook, it now has special powers. Once she touches it, the oar glows, and a tattoo appears on Moana's arm, chronicling her saving Motufetu.

It's not clear yet if Moana will have shape-shifting powers like Maui, but the ending teases that when she puts her oar in the water she'll get some kind of powers.

A mid-credits tease for 'Moana 3' shows the adventures aren't over yet

The movie concludes with Moana, her crew, and Maui all returning to Moana's island and celebrating that tribes from all over the oceans are reconnected now that the Nalo curse is broken.

But a mid-credit scene reveals that Nalo isn't done yet.

It turns out that Matangi, a servant of Nalo who helps Moana in the middle of the movie, was not released from the god's powers after Motufetu was raised. Still under the thumb of Nalo, the mid-credit scene teases that Matangi will be helping Nalo as the god sets out to take on Moana.

And Nalo isn't the only one looking for payback. The scene also teases the return of Tamatoa, the enormous singing crab from the first "Moana" movie.

While Disney hasn't officially confirmed "Moana 3" yet, there's clearly plenty of story left to tell.

"Moana 2" is now in theaters.