Entertainment
10 Greatest Action Movie Villains of All Time, Ranked
A major reason we continue to adore action films is the heroes who lead the crusade and save the day. But the truth is, every great hero needs an equally great villain. The day couldn’t be saved if the villain didn’t do something nefarious! With such a rich catalog of action flicks, determining who the greatest villain is is no easy feat, but we’re here to save your day and give you 10 iconic baddies whose impact has gone beyond the screen.
The 10 villains on this list are simply iconic. Their work on screen is notorious. Some are known for their despicable and dastardly deeds. Others have been a thorn in our protagonists’ side for ages. No matter what, they have also influenced the genre and the bad guys who followed. Some villains have appeared across multiple films, while others were one-and-done. Together, they made evil look cool.
10
Le Chiffre
‘Casino Royale’
The truth is, we could make this list an entire best-of James Bond villains, but we’ve been there, done that. Instead, the ones that do appear here are crucial players in the franchise and villains at large. We begin with Le Chiffre. Though the character did appear in the 1967 satire iteration of Casino Royale, as played by Orson Welles, the predominant version of the Bond villain came in the 2006 film. Kicking off the Daniel Craig tenure as 007, he faced off against the terrorist financier in a high-stakes poker game at a casino in Montenegro. An associate of SPECTRE, Le Chiffre’s genius proved to be a great threat to Bond. Not a mastermind like other villains, Le Chiffre was a snake in a tuxedo. Best known for the infamous torture scene, Le Chiffre served as a perfect sparring partner for Bond.
Played by Mads Mikkelsen, Le Chiffre is a chilling presence, instilling fear with just one look. One of the more intellectual minds Bond faced off against, Le Chiffre is a desperate, flawed survivor rather than a world-dominating mastermind. Driven by fear, Le Chiffre goes to great lengths for success, and cool under pressure, he provided the perfect psychological counter for the agent. Grounded in his menacing presence, Mikkelsen’s performance elevates Le Chiffre as a top-tier villain. Anyone who can come close to defeating Bond gets bonus points.
9
Tony Montana
‘Scarface’
Being the protagonist in a story doesn’t guarantee you’ll be a hero. Though you may be the hero of your own destiny, Tony Montana is known as a villain for his actions in the film Scarface. Played by Al Pacino, Tony is a ruthless Cuban refugee who arrives in Miami and rises from poverty to become a powerful, wealthy drug kingpin before his violent empire crumbles. Driven by desperate ambition, Tony’s takeover of a cocaine cartel comes at a cost. Loosely based on the Al Capone-era mobsters, Tony is all bravado. Known for the nickname “Scarface” after being slashed in the face as a young man, his rise to villain, not hero, comes through his unapologetic ruthlessness.
Tony is a man who rules by sheer willpower, street intelligence, and fearlessness. He is loud and fiercely proud of his identity. The truth is, Tony Montana’s cultural footprint is vast. Pacino’s portrayal is not only iconic but also one of his best. He completely transforms into the role. With a thick Cuban accent and signature white suit, Tony’s violent paranoia and fatal disregard for limits make him a fascinating anti-hero. His larger-than-life arrogance has made him a pop culture icon. As a fictional character, Tony serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of money and power and how they reveal one’s true nature. Though we fondly remember this villain for the catchphrase “Say hello to my little friend,” the man we call Scarface is a rich character study of how villains can lead a story just as well as heroes.
8
Bill
‘Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2’
Like our previous entry, being the titular character comes with some great perks. But unlike Scarface, Bill is not the main character. Instead, he’s the catalyst of the hero’s journey in Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece films Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2. Portrayed by David Carradine, Bill is the former leader of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, the Bride’s (Uma Thurman) former lover, and the father of her daughter. Known by name in the first film before being seen in the second, Bill is a deliciously complex and deeply layered mastermind. Bill leads by sheer reputation. The utterance of his name brings both fear and respect. He engages in mind games in which intellectual and emotional actions serve as weapons in their own right.
He may be able to wield a weapon and disarm any enemy with his martial arts prowess, but what makes Bill a brilliant villain is how real he is to the hero. He’s not a mysterious mastermind the Bride must defeat. Their personal connection makes him a unique film villain. He’s a lethally arrogant foil whose psychological warfare leads to the infamous bloodbaths, and he’s more of an emotional obstacle than a physical one. He’s the architect of The Bride’s trauma who made her the ruthless protagonist we champion in both films. There have certainly been dominating villains who don’t need to fill the screen to assert their dominance, but none like the Snake Charmer. Bill proves the greatest threats are the ones that are closest to home.
7
Agent Smith
‘The Matrix’
The world of science fiction action movies was forever changed when the Wachowskis gave the world The Matrix. Not only one of the greatest films in terms of craft, but The Matrix is also renowned for its world-building. To create a dangerous simulated reality for Neo (Keanu Reeves), he needed an adversary to defeat. His name was Agent Smith. Played by Hugo Weaving in the original trilogy, Agent Smith is a sentient computer program and enforcer for the Machines designed to police the virtual world. He evolves into a rogue computer virus capable of replicating itself. Agent Smith is driven by a nihilistic outlook with a mission of destroying the Matrix, the Machine world, Zion, and humanity as a whole.
Known for his signature sunglasses, sharp black suit, and always referring to the protagonist, Neo, as “Mr. Anderson,” Agent Smith is just plain cool. Agent Smith is a premier action villain because he serves as the perfect foil to the hero. The action sequences they engage in are top-tier. Whether as an authoritative enforcer or reality-threatening virus, Agent Smith is a menace to Neo, exactly as a villain should. Weaving brought an exceptional performance to the screen through his commanding, dry, and relentless pursuit. Add in his hauntingly chilling monologues, and Agent Smith is a fascinating character study. The character evolves in The Matrix Resurrections, in which Jonathan Groff and Yahya Abdul-Mateen play interactions of the character, but they’re still rooted in Weaving’s take.
6
Blofeld
James Bond
There is no more iconic Bond villain than Ernst Stavro Blofeld. A criminal mastermind with aspirations of world domination, Blofeld has been the face of the Bond baddies for decades. Codenamed Number 1, Blofeld became the architect of the evil villain archetype. Focused on a tour of terrorism, extortion, and revenge, Blofeld appeared in an array of films in various capacities. His first two film appearances were never via name or face; all viewers saw was his lower body, which was visible as he stroked his trademark white cat. Much like Bond himself, there have been a variety of actors who have tackled the part in the various Bond eras. From Telly Savalas and Donald Pleasance to Max von Sydow and Christoph Waltz, every actor has brought new insight to the infamous villain. Only Waltz, who also had a new backstory, didn’t take on the bald Blofeld, who notoriously inspired Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers franchise.
Blofeld is a brilliant, calculating tactician aiming for complete and total domination. By creating SPECTRE, Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, Blofeld’s utter control spans beyond his on-screen appearances. Like a good action villain, Blofeld’s psychology is rooted in vendettas. It’s deeply twisted and personal, but wonderful for the plot. Blofeld is the epitome of an action villain because he has no tolerance for failure. And failure only means coming back harder the next time. Because he’s not on the ground running the mission, Blofeld’s character also set the blueprint for how henchmen operate. Blofeld has a resume of devastating actions, including assassinating Bond’s new wife, Tracy, right after their wedding in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In the history of James Bond, Blofeld is a shape-shifting threat, yet no matter the version, he remains an incredible antagonist.
5
The Joker
‘The Dark Knight’
When it comes to the best Batman villain, hands down, the answer is The Joker. The character has been played multiple times in various forms in a variety of projects, but for the sake of this list, we are going to focus on Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning iteration of The Dark Knight. Even though we generalized other entries, this one is necessary. Let’s discuss. The grinning, clown-makeup villain has always served as a major foil for Batman, but up against Christian Bale’s version, a nuanced monster emerged. In The Dark Knight, Joker is a psychopathic, anarchist mastermind. Thematically, he is the ultimate opposition to Batman. The Caped Crusader stands for law, order, and the belief that humanity can be saved. That’s not the case for Joker. He believes that civilization is a fragile illusion and that everyone is inherently corruptible under the right pressure. And there lies the inciting event.
Instead of serving up typical superhero film tropes, Joker embodies pure, unpredictable chaos, testing the psychological limits of both Gotham’s citizens and Batman himself. Through Ledger’s legendary performance, the villain was seen as more than a gimmick. He operates without an overly sympathetic, tragic backstory. By giving the character a rich history to play with, the objectives are more tangible, realistic, and most importantly, believable. Joker manipulates the environment, both physically and psychologically. He pushed Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to utter madness. He forces Batman to break his strict moral code. Joker did what no other iteration could do. The Dark Knight version of the Joker goes beyond the comics, becoming a key figure in cinema history.
4
Scorpio
‘Dirty Harry’
Sometimes, the greatest villains in cinema are the ones that are inspired by the world around us. Such is the case for Charles “Scorpio” Davis, the main antagonist in the original Dirty Harry. loosely inspired by the real-life Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area, the psychopathic serial killer is a former stadium groundskeeper who extorts the city by going on a sniping spree, kidnapping a young girl, and holding a bus full of children for ransom. Though Inspector Harry Callahan’s (Clint Eastwood) morality is grey, making him a fascinating antihero without certainty, the villain of this story is Scorpio. Played by Andy Robinson, Scorpio acts as the perfect dark foil for Harry. He is completely remorseless, unhinged, and calculating. Because he knows that Harry will use dirty tactics, he pushes the legal system to its absolute breaking point.
Scorpio is based on real-world terror, which makes him a fervently horrific presence. He takes sheer pleasure in his actions, which involve the safety and lives of the innocent. His willingness to go to extremes and derive pure joy from it makes him despicable. It’s purely sadistic and outwardly cowardly. His utter disregard for human life sets him up as one of the worst individuals, but he is a masterfully crafted character. Robinson’s chilling performance helped make the film a massive cultural phenomenon, cementing Scorpio as the quintessential antagonist in gritty crime cinema. Many have tried to replicate Scorpio’s reign of terror; very few have come close.
3
Raoul Silva
‘Skyfall’
Being the greatest Bond villain and the greatest action movie villain is slightly different, as the criteria change. Raoul Silva may not have the top slot in the former, but he certainly soars to the top in the latter because of Javier Bardem’s career-best performance. The main antagonist of Skyfall, Silva is a former MI6 agent-turned cyberterrorist with a personal vendetta unlike any the Bond universe has seen. Silva has a thirst for revenge upon being betrayed and left to die by M (Judi Dench). Having the insight and ability to maneuver as a prestigious MI6 agent, Silva can infiltrate the organization that essentially told him his life was meaningless. Silva’s homicidal resentment stems from a mother-son relationship gone sour.
Known for his bleached-blonde hair, eccentric wardrobe, and calculated, eerie demeanor, Silva serves as a dark mirror image. And when he reveals the aftermath of the hydrogen cyanide capsule, nightmares are officially born. Using the fears of modern tech anxieties, Silva was a foe of the digital age. A villain filled with bitter rage, Silva was driven to the brink of insanity and lacked all semblance of morality. There’s a pathos to him that no other villain has had. It may be a shock that the villain actually succeeds in his mission to kill M, but it ultimately propels Bond. Vengeance can be similar yet different depending on perspective. Bardem’s visceral performance makes him a formidable villain that you love to watch in action. There’s a quiet demeanor to him in his pristine form, but bubbling inside is a monster. His iconic monologue while holding Bond prisoner is how a great actor portraying a villain should deliver such material. Silva is the blueprint for the modern bad guy.
2
The T-1000
‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’
The Terminator was a good sci-fi action film. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is an extraordinary sci-fi action film. A key cog in that assessment is the brilliance of its villain, the T-1000. After meeting the original Terminator and seeing how near-indestructible he was, the sequel had to find an even better foe. Played by Robert Patrick, the upgraded android assassin was sent back in time to kill a young John Connor (Edward Furlong). The villain is most notorious for its make-up: the T-1000 is made of a liquid metal called mimetic polyalloy. This composite allows it to regenerate from damage, form its limbs into stabbing blades, and mimic others’ appearances. The T-1000 serves as a genius evolution of the franchise’s villains, solidifying it as a long-running pop culture series.
The T-1000 masterfully combines the relentless, unstoppable nature of a slasher villain with terrifyingly sleek sci-fi technology. Opposed to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s brute force as T-800, the T-1000 is a mimetic polyalloy nightmare. Because he can serve as a chameleon out in the world, he stalks his prey by disguising himself through voice and appearance. Then, he could literally slip through the cracks and get in or out of places with ease. The T-1000 is a fervent threat because you simply cannot predict its next moves. Whether posing as a Los Angeles police officer or in total liquid form, the T-1000 was a great threat. Patrick’s chilling performance allowed the film to supersede its predecessor — not a simple task.
1
Hans Gruber
‘Die Hard’
Controversial to some and praised by others, Hans Gruber is the GOAT. Bruce Willis was phenomenal as John McClane, but Die Hard would never have launched a franchise without its seminal villain, Hans Gruber. Brought to life by the late, great Alan Rickman, Hans Gruber looked the part of a premier supervillain in an average Joe world. The iconic, calculated German terrorist and master thief orchestrates the takeover of the Nakatomi Plaza skyscraper in Los Angeles to steal $649 million in bearer bonds. Setting up a hostage situation that pits hero versus villain, Hans Gruber is always five steps ahead and pivots brilliantly when things go wrong. Establishing the gold standard of villains post-Die Hard, Hans Gruber replaced one-dimensional Cold War-era villains with an intellectual threat who forces the hero into a psychological chess match.
Hans Gruber can morph into anything to stay ahead of McClane. When they have their first face-to-face encounter, his ability to play a frightened, escaped partygoer keeps his ploy moving, requiring McClane to catch up. By then, Hans Gruber had established a new alias. There are no henchmen needed, as Hans Gruber is a credible, hands-on threat. Whether manipulating the FBI or having his men shoot the glass to stall a barefoot McClane, this villain knows how to win. But, of course, the moment we all discuss this unofficial Christmas film is his literal fall from grace. It’s so iconic that it’s still imitated in action thrillers today. Rickman’s performance is perfectly raw and wonderfully camp. For that, Hans Gruber is simply scrumptious. Christmas doesn’t start until the villain drops!
- Release Date
-
July 15, 1988
- Runtime
-
132 minutes
- Writers
-
Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza, Roderick Thorp
- Producers
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Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver
Entertainment
“The Pacifier” director points out 'Nazi subplot' in the Vin Diesel movie
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Adam Shankman’s 2005 film also starred Brittany Snow, Carol Kane, and Brad Garrett.
Entertainment
Teresa Giudice’s Daughter, Milania, Arrested After Violent Incident
Milania Giudice, daughter of “Real Housewives of New Jersey“ star Teresa Giudice, has built an impressive social media following. However, she recently took a break from posting, and now it’s come to light that the 20-year-old college student was recently arrested following what was referred to as an instance of domestic violence.
This comes as her dad, Joe Giudice, currently lives in the Bahamas following his release from prison for fraud.

According to Us Weekly, Giudice was arrested in Montville Township, New Jersey, on May 14. This action by local police came after she was accused of being involved in a domestic violence incident. Per the report, this all happened at around 6:12 in the afternoon.
Giudice was charged with simple assault and purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury. There was a hearing on May 19, but the social media influencer didn’t enter a plea.

Giudice has amassed over 500k followers on TikTok. Oftentimes, she makes multiple posts a day, including one on the day of the domestic violence instance, where she could be seen wearing a green jacket, a dark colored shirt, and a pair of white pants. The video used a sound that says, “You are a diva, a young, beautiful diva.”
After that, Giudice didn’t post on the platform until May 2, when she could be seen wearing a cream-colored dress with the back mostly out. She has since resumed her regular posting schedule.
‘RHONJ’ Fans Are Reacting To The Shocking Arrest

Following the public announcement that Giudice had been arrested, many are offering their reactions on social media. For the most part, they’re mentioning some of Teresa’s past antics from the show, namely the iconic table flip from season one.
One person said, “Like mother, like daughter.” Someone else wrote, “I honestly wonder what happened. Was this a boyfriend?” After that, a different “RHONJ” watcher chimed in, saying, “This is actually not surprising to me at all.” This comment then prompted another social media user to note, “She’s always been a little spitfire lol.”
Someone else joked, “Aggression runs in the family.” Lastly, some commentators noted that her arrest occurred during filming of the upcoming season of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” meaning it will likely be mentioned on the show.
They said, “IN THE MIDDLE OF FILMING YESSSS.”
Teresa Previously Opened Up About How Milania Handled Joe’s Prison Sentence

Both Teresa and her husband served time behind bars after being found guilty of fraud. She served from January until December 2015, whereas he was behind bars from March 2016 until the same month in 2019.
Following her release, Teresa opened up at BravoCon in 2019 about how she attempted to make the situation as normal as possible. Per PEOPLE, she said, “It breaks my heart. It’s hard. I try to compensate. Whatever they say. I jump over hoops for them, for whatever they’re going through. Whatever they say to me, I try to do for them, just for the situation. They’re amazing kids.”
Regarding Milania, she shared that she had “the hardest time” before saying that “she’s turned it around.” According to the “RHONJ” star, “She saw a therapist last year, and she’s doing better in school. She lost over 40 lbs. She put it in her head, and she did it.”
Teresa then said, “I hope they all keep going on the right track. As a mom, that’s what you do it for.” She continued reflecting, saying, “My girls had to grow up quick because of everything we’ve been through. As a mom, you never know if you’ve done a good job or not. But watching my girls, they’re pretty amazing. They grew up quick.”
Milania Just Finished Her Sophomore Year

Giudice is a student at the University of Tampa studying public relations. She started in the fall of 2024 and has now finished her sophomore year. Ahead of her most recent academic year, she appeared on her sister Gia Giudice‘s podcast “Casual Chaos” and gave an update.
She said in June 2025, “I love college. I love everything about it.” Regarding her living arrangements for her second year, Giudice shared, “So I’m going to live in an apartment my sophomore year with one roommate. I’m really excited about that.”
Entertainment
Millie Bobby Brown Reveals Why She Always Wanted To Adopt
Millie Bobby Brown is opening up about one of the biggest dreams she has carried since childhood: becoming a mother through adoption. The “Enola Holmes 3” star got candid during an appearance on “Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce,” where she reflected on building a family with husband Jake Bongiovi and why adoption was always part of her vision for the future. Brown and Bongiovi first announced in August 2025 that they had welcomed a baby girl through adoption, later asking for privacy as they entered parenthood.

For Brown, adoption was never a backup plan. In fact, it was something she dreamed about from an early age.
“Always, always wanted to adopt,” Brown shared on Thursday’s podcast episode. “It was always part of my childhood dreams. Every time I was at home and I was, you know, 5, 6 years old, my parents were like, ‘You had your baby dolls.’ They were all adopted. I never had any of them myself. And I never pretended I was pregnant.”
At the same time, Brown clarified that she still hopes to carry children of her own someday. “It’s not because I don’t want that. Hopefully one day that’s in my future,” she explained.
Still, the actress emphasized how deeply meaningful adoption remains to her: “Adoption is love, adoption is forever.”
Millie Bobby Brown And Jake Bongiovi Took Their Time With The Process

Brown also revealed that she and Bongiovi carefully considered what the adoption journey would look like before growing their family.
Before pursuing acting full-time, Brown shared that she initially studied social work, later switching her focus to veterinary medicine, a path that further shaped her perspective on adoption. “I loved the aspect of adoption in my social work courses… so meaningful and important,” she said.
The actress explained that learning more about birth mothers and the adoption experience helped shape the couple’s approach.
“I also learned what it, you know, speaking to, and reading a lot about being a birth mother and what that journey is,” Brown shared. “So for me, my husband and I took a lot of time to focus on what that story and what that journey looks like. And then we embarked it.”
The Couple Has Kept Their Daughter’s Life Private

Since welcoming their daughter, Brown and Bongiovi have intentionally kept much of their family life out of the spotlight. The pair have not publicly revealed their daughter’s name or shown her face online.
When announcing the adoption last year, the couple shared a heartfelt statement. “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,” they wrote at the time. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in peace and privacy.”
Brown Says Her Mom Has Become Her Parenting ‘911’

As Brown continues adjusting to life as a mom, she recently admitted that parenting has come with plenty of unexpected moments, and a few panicked calls to her own mother. The “Enola Holmes 3” actress opened up about motherhood in a UNICEF video shared June 1 as part of the organization’s “My Parenting Journey” series.
Brown, who serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, revealed that some of her biggest parenting worries come when her daughter does something unfamiliar. “They are doing something and you’re like, ‘Is that normal? Do they do that?’” Brown shared.
Like many first-time parents, the actress admitted she often turns to family for reassurance. “And you know, I’ll call my [mom]. She’s just like my 911. ‘[Mom], did I do this? Did my siblings do this?’” Brown said.
Thankfully, her mom usually has a calming answer ready. “And she is like, ‘Oh, that’s completely normal. They do that all the time.’”
Millie Bobby Brown Says Motherhood Has Brought Unexpected Judgment

While Brown has embraced motherhood, she admitted the experience has also come with criticism from other women.
“I was like, ‘This is vicious. You are vicious,’” Brown said of some reactions she has received since becoming a mom. “And I don’t have time for angry women that just need to feel like they need to bring you down, especially when it comes to motherhood. I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
The actress previously reflected on her first Mother’s Day while speaking to Extra in May, emphasizing that every kind of motherhood deserves celebration.
“We’re all mothers, and no matter if we’re adoptive mothers, birth mothers, or you know, whatever, like a maternal figure,” Brown said. “Everybody should be celebrated. Everybody is raising beautiful children, hopefully, and we’re raising the next generation. So, of course, women should be celebrated in every way and every day.”
Entertainment
Panthers Coach Dave Canales Opens Up About Cancer Scare
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales underwent a procedure to remove a small spot of cancer from his nose, he revealed at Carolina’s minicamp on Tuesday, June 9.
Canales, 45, said that it was a spot of basal cell carcinoma that was discovered during a routine screening two months ago.
“It’s a good reminder not to take these things for granted,” Canales told reporters. “It was a basal cell type of skin cancer in a small spot, and they were able to get it off. So I’m really appreciative.”
Basal cell carcinoma is a highly curable and common form of skin cancer. It often presents as a “slightly transparent bump on the skin” and is usually found on parts of the body that receive the most sunlight, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Canales said his mother also dealt with skin cancer in her 40s, which made him diligent about using sunscreen.
“You can imagine a Southern California kid playing outdoor sports and then getting into coaching, right?” Canales said.
Canales is entering his third season as Panthers head coach, his first such opportunity in the NFL. After going 5-12 in year one, he led Carolina to the playoffs in 2025-26, where the Panthers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round.
Dave made headlines in January when passages from the 2022 book he coauthored with his wife, Lizzy Canales, resurfaced. The book, titled, “This Marriage? The Question That Changed Everything,” goes in-depth about what Dave called the “secret life” he was living, which included infidelity.
“I would be out with my friends and take my ring off, acting like I was single depending on who was around,” Dave wrote. “This didn’t happen all the time, but I left a crack in the door for deceit.”
Dave and Lizzy got married in 2006 and they share four children: Ashby, Ben, Bea and Amaya.
“I cheated on Lizzy for the first time at my bachelor party one month before we got married,” he added. “From the start of our relationship, I was binge drinking and going out with my friends, without Lizzy. Before I was ever unfaithful to her, I was already there in my mind. Bad habits combined with addiction made it hard for me to resist temptation.”
The couple opened up about their marital problems in an effort to help other couples going through similar situations.
“We had to really think about how exposed we would be as a couple who already existed in a very public profession,” Dave wrote in the preface. “Sharing our scars meant being willing to tell people the truth of how our marriage failed.”
Entertainment
Forget Pedro Pascal, This Mandalorian Actor Is Secretly Hollywood Royalty
By TeeJay Small
| Published

If you were to run up to a stranger on the street and ask them who portrays Din Djarin, they’d probably say “What? Who are you?” If you really pressed them about it, they’d eventually offer the name of Hollywood A-lister Pedro Pascal. While Pascal does provide the voice of the Mandalorian throughout the Disney+ show, he rarely suits up and cradles Grogu these days. Instead, that responsibility falls squarely on a man by the name of Brendan Wayne, who just happens to be John Wayne’s grandson.
Thanks to a profile in Variety, we now know that Brendan Wayne is responsible for bringing the physicality of Din Djarin to life in most episodes of The Mandalorian. If you’re looking to spot him specifically, just keep an eye on Mando’s neck, as well as his cowboy stature. Per Wayne himself, “I have the longest neck, so I have a little more space between my cowl to the cape … You see the angles when [Mando] sits at his hip, there’s a reason why people are like, ‘That looks like John Wayne.’ It’s because it’s me. That’s just my natural resting body.”
Brendan Wayne Honors The Cowboy Code

Wayne apparently auditioned for the role back in 2018, where he met with series director Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni. As the story goes, Wayne suited up for a screen test, and offered some prudent advice about how an actual cowboy would walk, talk, and gun down aliens among the stars. His cowboy experience comes primarily from his mother, whom he says insisted upon honoring the “cowboy code” in his childhood home.
In case you’re not familiar with John Wayne, he was an iconic western actor from the golden age of Hollywood. He often portrayed cowboys or folk heroes in his work. Though his films are lesser known to modern audiences, Wayne remains a symbol of old Hollywood, especially for fans of the classics and film historians. If you’ve got living grandparents, bring up John Wayne to them and watch as they light up with memories of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and El Dorado.
The Suit Makes The Man, But The Man Makes The Suit!

Obviously, Pedro Pascal is responsible for donning the armor any time Djarin removes his helmet to deliver a steely-eyed line to the camera. Still, the characters’ creed insists that he leave his helmet on at all times, so body doubles such as Brendan Wayne are responsible for wearing the full 62-pound costume throughout most shoot days. Back in the first season of The Mandalorian, Pascal wore the suit much more often. These days, there’s no need to pay his Marvel-sized salary for scenes where his face won’t be on camera.
The added benefit of having Pedro Pascal out of the armor is job security for people like Brendan. As he explains in his Variety profile, his renewed contract “gave my children and us some peace of mind.” During the first two seasons of the show, he would still bartend on the weekends, just to ensure he’d have a steady paycheck if Disney didn’t need him. These days, he’s walking ten paces and drawing down on aliens on a fairly regular basis. He says “It was life-changing. Even as just an actor, I got to create a character on a show who is literally defining an era of Star Wars.”

So the next time you’re looking for a fun fact, or dogging out your pals at a Star Wars trivia event, be sure to keep this one in your back pocket. Turns out The Mandalorian isn’t just a fresh take on a western format, it also employs a fresh version of a western icon.
Entertainment
Why Scooter Braun, Sydney Sweeney Didn’t Sit Courtside at MSG
Scooter Braun attended game 4 of the NBA Finals alongside girlfriend Sydney Sweeney — but they didn’t sit courtside with other A-listers.
Braun, 44, revealed in an Instagram comment on Thursday, June 11, that Sweeney, 28, “surprised me with tickets” to the game, which is why they didn’t sit in celebrity row at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Post claimed that Sweeney was “pushed off” the court in a headline published on Thursday, which is what prompted Braun’s explanation.
The music mogul further explained that the seats Sweeney purchased were “in the same section” as Braun’s dad and brother. Sweeney bought the tickets “so I could share it with them,” he added.
“Let’s keep things positive and get One more!” Braun’s comment concluded.. “Greatest game of all time. Can’t stop smiling.”

Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post / MEGA
The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs during Game 4 in NYC on Wednesday, June 10. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to clock Braun and Sweeney seated a few rows behind Taylor Swift, who attended the game with two of the Haim sisters and Mariska Hargitay.
Wednesday’s game was the closest Braun and Swift have been since their years-long business dispute started in 2019. At the time, Braun acquired Swift’s masters from her former record label, Big Machine.
Swift famously slammed Braun when discussing the situation on social media. In the years that followed, Swift started rerecording her backlog, creating Taylor’s Version of several albums — including Fearless, Red, Speak Now and 1989 — before obtaining ownership of her original catalog.
Swift announced in May 2025 that she had successfully bought back the rights to her music.
“I’m trying to gather my thoughts into something coherent, but right now my mind is just a slideshow,” she shared at the time. “A flashback sequence of all the times I daydreamed about, wished for, and pined away for a chance to get to tell you this news.”
Swift continued, “All the times I was thiiiiiiiis close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away. But that’s all in the past now.”
The singer noted that she has been “bursting into tears of joy” after hearing the good news.
“I really get to say these words,” she added. “All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me.”
When asked for a response to Swift’s business win, Braun stayed diplomatic.
“I wish everybody the best,” he told TMZ.
Entertainment
DJ Akademiks Fires Back At Lil Baby Following Video
DJ Akademiks and Lil Baby have had a rocky relationship for years. Their issues reportedly began around 2022. Akademiks frequently criticized Lil Baby’s music following the release of ‘It’s Only Me.’ He also believed songs contained shots aimed at him. Over time, the tension seemed to cool. Akademiks even gave some of Lil Baby’s newer music positive reviews. However, things seemingly shifted again when Akademiks resumed criticizing Lil Baby’s music and standing in the industry. As of 2026, Akademiks was upset after he alleged that Lil Baby’s assistant snuck him over his public comments about the rapper. The pair were also linked to a potential boxing match through Adin Ross. However, the event never came together. Now, the feud appears back in the spotlight after a recent video seemingly reignited tensions between the two sides.
RELATED: DJ Akademiks Clears The Air After Viral Post Suggested He Fueled Rumors About Kai Cenat’s Ex Gabrielle Alayah & NBA YoungBoy (VIDEOS)
DJ Akademiks Goes Off After Lil Baby Seemingly Mentions Him In A Video
On Tuesday, a video of Lil Baby went viral on social media after the rapper seemingly mentioned DJ Akademiks in a behind-the-scenes clip from his latest music video. In the clip, Lil Baby reportedly said, “F*** Akademiks, that n**** the feds.” DJ Akademiks quickly reacted on X, writing: “Half of Atlanta rappers documented on audio tape talking to cops, including half the n***** he still calls ‘twin’… is this n**** stupid? If I’m the feds… Young Thug the lieutenant, I report to him.”
DJ Akademiks Shades Multiple Atlanta Rappers As He Continues Responding To Lil Baby
With no letup in sight, DJ Akademiks continued firing off posts aimed at Lil Baby while also bringing other Atlanta rappers into the conversation. In additional tweets, he appeared to accuse several rappers of cooperating with law enforcement and suggested they should have a group name before doubling down with more remarks.
He wrote, “Before I let a rat lover like Lil Baby ever call me the Feds I quit hip hop. U gon call ur fellow Atlanta rappers rats before u talk bout big Ak if it’s the last thing to do. U young thug gunna Gucci. Yall need a group name.”
Akademiks later added: “Lil baby. And the Atlanta rat rappers ain’t finna escape. Imma make sure of it. Detective Gucci. Lieutenant young thug and sergeant Lil baby. We on yall a** now.”
While he claims he isn’t referring to every Atlanta rapper, noting that artists like 21 Savage and Future aren’t included, Akademiks later took the drama to his livestream. There, he claimed several Atlanta rappers called his phone asking to be left out of the situation. According to Akademiks, they told him they have love for him and agreed with some of his points, but wanted him to ease up on the Atlanta talk. He claimed they told him: “They [all] said, ‘F*** Baby, you’re saying the truth, but don’t make it a full Atlanta thing.’”
Akademiks alleges many Atlanta rappers called him to say they’re on his side amid his ongoing feud with Lil Baby
“They [all] said ‘f*** Baby, you’re saying the truth but don’t make it a full Atlanta thing’” pic.twitter.com/soyuky55RK
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) June 10, 2026
Social Media Weighs In On The Feud
Folks quickly gathered under The Shade Room Teens to react to DJ Akademiks’ posts. Some defended Lil Baby. Others felt Akademiks made a few valid points. Many also shared their thoughts on the ongoing feud.
Instagram user @happythoughts8441 wrote, “Lil baby got say one word just to have ak on a rant lol baby really the goat 😂”
Instagram user @bjfrmdabottombackup2 added, “Ak still mad wham cameraman exposed him for getting slapped wit his security there and they didn’t do nun 😂”
While Instagram user @gpeezy._ wrote, “He been moving diff since he got the OVO chain”
Instagram user @howardmiyah53 wrote, “I blame y’all for making AK think he’s the sponsor of hip-hop 😭 y’all agreeing with man when this man got a weird case behind him”
Instagram user @smartelyk_2.0 added, “Can u go outside by yourself?Ask yourself that question while you online before you start popping off….WE DONT BELIEVE YOU AK 😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @kill_dagme wrote, “I can’t stand AK but Atlanta rappers do got a track record of snitching 🤷🏾♀️ “
Instagram user @classiqdevine wrote, “dont mention my husband. @gunna dont worry, i got this 💯”
Instagram user @jordancheyenne._ added, “21 savage not even from america like gone fr 😭😭😭”
While Instagram user @_ pyrexlivin._ wrote, “when ak is wrong hes WRONG, but when hes right…hes right 😭🙏🏽”
RELATED: DJ Akademiks Says He’ll ‘Fight’ Lil Baby For Free Or For Money: ‘I Will Choke You To Death’
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Milla Jovovich’s Extremely R-Rated, 2000’s Crime Thriller Is An Unfairly Overlooked Revenge Plot
By Robert Scucci
| Published

I don’t know about you, but when I think of Milla Jovovich, I think of the first Resident Evil (2002), which I quite liked, and then the rest of the Resident Evil movies, which … yeah. The point is that I never paid much attention to her career outside of that franchise and maybe a couple of other bangers like The Fifth Element. She just wasn’t on my radar, so I probably missed out on a bunch of great films, like 2007’s .45, a straight-up crime thriller centered on a domestic abuse-fueled revenge arc carried out by Jovovich’s character.
It’s a lean thriller that has a lot going for it, but it isn’t without issues when it comes to structure and characterization. The chemistry between Milla Jovovich and Angus Macfadyen is reason enough to check this one out, but I’d be lying if I said the third act wasn’t frustrating as hell, which I’ll get into soon.
Couples That Sell Guns Together, Don’t Have Fun Together

.45 is the story of Kat’s (Milla Jovovich) volatile relationship with her small-time criminal boyfriend, Big Al (Angus Macfadyen). Big Al likes to think he calls all the shots, but Kat isn’t innocent in her willingness to move guns and other stolen wholesale items out of their New York City apartment. Always coming and going is Vic (Sara Strange), Kat’s ex-girlfriend, who never sticks around for long because Big Al is a loose cannon, and because she still has feelings for Kat that she’s trying to work through. One of Big Al’s frequent collaborators, Reilly (Stephen Dorff), is also in love with Kat and only continues to work with him so he can stay close to her.
Vic and Reilly both keep tabs on Kat and Big Al’s relationship because Big Al is incredibly territorial and abusive, both physically and emotionally, and they want to make sure she’s safe. It’s demonstrated pretty quickly that Kat isn’t safe at all after Big Al sees her interacting with Jose (Vincent Laresca), a rival criminal she’s secretly selling guns to on the side. Though Big Al doesn’t know about Kat’s side hustle, he completely flies off the handle when he sees her lighting Jose’s cigarette becuase he interprets it as her flirting with the man. The scenes that follow are not for the faint of heart, as they contain some brutally effective depictions of domestic abuse.

Trapped in an abusive relationship she’s afraid to leave out of fear for her life, Kat is approached by Liz (Aisha Tyler), a representative from a local battered women’s support group who also develops feelings for her. Clearly in distress over her living situation, Kat is afraid to make the changes she needs to make, prompting Vic, Reilly, and Liz to help her come up with a plan that will remove Big Al from her life once and for all.
The Most Difficult Parts To Watch Are The Best Performed
The real meat and potatoes of .45 is the dynamic between Big Al and Kat. Their relationship is beyond toxic, and neither of them are innocent. While they’re both criminals, Big Al is more often than not in the wrong, which becomes obvious through the way he treats his girlfriend. Kat loves to push buttons and antagonize people, especially Big Al, when she feels it’s warranted, but nobody deserves to have hands laid on them the way she does once Big Al starts to spiral. Everybody sees it but her. She’s so locked into this lifestyle that she has no idea what her next steps should be.

The abuse sequences are difficult to watch, to say the least, but they’re acted superbly. Kat is a strong woman struggling to break the cycle of abuse, and when things hit critical mass, you can see every conflicting emotion written across her face. She can either stick with the devil she knows or take her chances elsewhere, which could put her in even more danger if Big Al actually follows through on some of his more unhinged threats. Angus Macfadyen is also the perfect loose cannon, doing a superb job channeling that small-ball, “If another guy even looks at you, I’m going to kill you both” kind of energy.
Where .45 loses points, however, is its quasi-mockumentary setup, which strips the film of much of its suspense. Throughout the movie, we get testimonials told in hindsight from Kat, Reilly, Vic, Liz, and even Big Al’s mother, all discussing the relationship dynamic. This is almost always a bad move in a thriller, especially when half the tension comes from wondering whether somebody is going to get killed. Since they’re all talking about these events after the fact, it’s reasonable to assume they’ve already made it out of the situation that drives the central conflict.

Another aspect that rubbed me the wrong way is how fixated everybody is on Kat. They’re all crushing on her hard, talking about how much they love her and how badly they want to be with her. There is eventually a payoff to all of this, but the whole thing reminded me of that Frasier episode where Frasier’s ex-fiancée Diane, who left him at the altar during her Cheers days, shows up in Seattle after writing a play about their relationship in which every single character talks about how amazing she is. The supporting characters here often feel too one-dimensional to fully support an otherwise complex story about the toxic relationship connecting them all.
Still, .45 is an effective thriller about a criminal couple who can barely hold it together while everybody on the sidelines waits for one of them to get thrown in jail or killed. The strong chemistry and characterization between its two leads are reason enough to tune in, but don’t say I didn’t warn you about some of the supporting characters knocking the film down a couple of pegs.


As of this writing, you can stream .45 for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
Karmelo Anthony’s Grandmother Calls Verdict “Racist” & “Biased”
Karmelo Anthony’s case continues to spark conversation online. Now, videos circulating on social media show members of his family reacting to his 35-year prison sentence. One viral clip follows his grandmother, Toni Hayes, after she left the Texas courthouse, while another shows Karmelo’s mother, Kayla Hayes, continuing to defend him and push for justice.
RELATED: Karmelo Anthony Supporter Reportedly Arrest For Unlawfully Carrying A Weapon Following Viral Protest Confrontation (WATCH)
Karmelo Anthony’s Grandmother Speaks Out Following His 35-Year Sentence
A now-viral video featuring Karmelo Anthony’s grandmother, Toni Hayes, has sparked conversation across social media. In the footage, Toni heads toward a vehicle and chants, “Prejudice!” “Racist!” and “Biased!” as supporters and protestors gathered outside the Collin County Courthouse in Texas. Many of Karmelo’s supporters quickly joined in and repeated Toni’s chants. Before leaving in the vehicle, Toni said, “They sent that message that they can do whatever the f*** they want to do.” While supporters shouted, “We love Karmelo! We love him!”
Karmelo’s Mother Continues To Defend Him After His Verdict
Along with the viral video of Karmelo’s grandmother, clips from his parents’ interview with CBS News have also gained traction across social media following his prison sentence. During the interview, Kayla Hayes said she knows her son isn’t a murderer and insisted that he would never hurt anyone. “I know my son. My son is no murderer.” Kayla continued, “My son didn’t intend to hurt anyone. My son was defending himself and that’s what hurts so bad.” She also said that her family and Karmelo’s loved ones will keep fighting for justice on his behalf. “We’ve just been praying and keeping the faith.”
Karmelo’s Attorney’s Formally File Notice Of Appeal Following 35-Year Prison Sentence
Shortly after receiving his 35-year prison sentence, officials transferred Karmelo Anthony to a Texas state prison. A new mugshot shows Karmelo with a noticeably different appearance, including a shaved head and what appears to be a sleeveless prison-issued tunic. Officials moved Karmelo from county jail to state prison on Wednesday, June 10, where he will begin serving his 35-year sentence in the death of Austin Metcalf.
Meanwhile, Karmelo and his legal team have continued to challenge the outcome of his case. His attorneys filed a notice of appeal, and a lawyer Mike Howard said in a statement that the defense believes the court must consider additional issues moving forward.
“After the conclusion of the trial yesterday, we gave the court our official notice that Karmelo Anthony is filing an appeal. We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider. An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American,”
RELATED: UPDATE: Karmelo Anthony’s NEW Appearance Has Social Media In Shock Amid State Prison Transfer (PHOTO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Explosive, R-Rated 70s Sci-Fi Exploitation Is A Proto Mad Max Warzone
By Robert Scucci
| Published

It’s easy to forget that post-apocalyptic thrillers existed before 1979’s Mad Max because George Miller not only perfected the formula, but successfully built out decades of wasteland folklore that most modern counterparts don’t hold a candle to. There are some gems out there, however, like 1975’s A Boy and His Dog, as well as some rough concepts that are great on paper but fumble the execution, like 1978’s Deathsport.
Deathsport has all the trappings of a solid, low-budget, post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, but it doesn’t quite have that x-factor that George Miller’s vision proved itself to have. It’s got laser-equipped dirt bikes known as Death Machines and clear power structures at play, but it’s lacking that “every man for himself” vibe portrayed so well in the Mad Max films. But for something made with a $150,000 production budget, Deathsport isn’t without its charm, and there are plenty of bright orange, accelerant-fueled practical explosions to fill the barren scenery with some pretty solid action spectacle.
Let The Games Begin!

Deathsport takes place “a thousand years from tomorrow” after the Neutron Wars have turned the world into a Mad Max-style wasteland. The story follows legendary and curmudgeonly Range Guide Kaz Oshay (David Carradine), a wandering warrior who gets captured by the city-state of Helix and thrown into the brutal spectacle known as Deathsport, which basically involves riding around on dirt bikes with lasers that go “pew pew.” While participating in the game, he teams up with fellow Range Guide Deneer (Claudia Jennings), who has been captured while escorting a group of refugees across the desert away from Lord Zirpola’s (David McLean) deadly regime. The two quickly form an alliance after learning that a young girl named Tara has been taken by mutant cannibals during Deneer’s capture.
After surviving torture, prison, and a rigged Deathsport match filled with unsanctioned landmines, Oshay and Deneer escape Helix and head into the wasteland. Along the way, they rescue Tara, evading pursuing Death Machine riders every step of the way. Meanwhile, Oshay is driven by a personal vendetta against Ankar Moor (Richard Lynch), the man responsible for his mother’s death.

Ultimately, Deathsport is a pretty straightforward tale of two badass drifters escaping an oppressive city-state, rescuing a kidnapped child, and settling an old score in the process.
Proves A Concept George Miller Perfected
While George Miller is far from the first person to explore the wasteland with the Mad Max films, it’s clear to me after watching Deathsport that he’s the one who changed the post-apocalyptic subgenre forever. Deathsport’s fatal flaw is that it throws us into a state of disrepair and then tries to cram a thousand years of societal breakdown into an 82-minute runtime, while Mad Max shows us the beginning of the end and builds out the lore from there. It’s a brilliant way to set up a franchise, whether Miller knew it at the time or not.

It’s worth noting, however, that David Carradine couldn’t have been a more perfect pick for the lead role, as he had already starred in 1975’s Death Race 2000, a brilliant satire that centers around similar gameplay. For my money, Death Race 2000 is the superior film because it’s so tongue-in-cheek that it has you smiling wryly at the fact that everybody thinks it’s socially acceptable to commit vehicular manslaughter so long as it’s gamified in an arena setting.
Deathsport is definitely rough around the edges and plays like a more stripped-down, proto-version of Mad Max, but it’s also a neat look at cinematic history from this era. Economic recession and fuel rationing had a lot of progressive filmmakers worrying about the then-current state of the world, which resulted in an influx of this type of movie over a very short amount of time, with Mad Max leading the charge once it unexpectedly burst onto the scene in 1979.


If you’re looking for a familiar spin on the by-now very popular cinematic setup that the Mad Max universe has dominated for decades, you can stream Deathsport for free on Tubi as of this writing and enjoy a very similar story from a wholly different angle.
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