Entertainment
10 Most Exciting Movie Masterpieces of All Time, Ranked
One of the most impactful aspects that the medium of filmmaking holds over various other forms of entertainment is its ability to excite and amp up audiences in a rush of adrenaline more than any other art form. While obviously not every film is going to go for this style of exciting, high-octane approach, the films that do focus on sheer excitement above all else can turn out to be wildly effective if the excitement lands with audiences. The films that truly capture the exciting possibilities of the medium stand as some of the best masterpieces of filmmaking.
What’s especially interesting is that what inherently excites audiences will continue to change and shift with each different generation and the always-increasing technological advancements of what is possible in filmmaking. Certain films, in their inherent excitement, have left a massive influence upon the genres they’re a part of, directly impacting various other films hoping to recapture their excitement. Several of these highly acclaimed masterclasses have been celebrated as among the greatest filmmaking achievements of their respective eras.
10
‘RRR’ (2022)
Indian cinema has been on an absolutely explosive run of wild, high-energy blockbuster masterclasses in the modern day, with easily the most prominent and widely acclaimed of these films being RRR. This explosive buddy action film twist on the story of two real-life Indian revolutionaries took the world by storm with its exceptional action and spectacle that never gets boring during its 3-hour runtime. Through its use of stylish slow motion and mesmerising set pieces, RRR captivates and leaves audiences in a constant state of shock and awe.
The film has become an icon of Indian action films and helped show the world just what the region was capable of in terms of creating exciting, well-crafted blockbusters that could easily compete with the best action films of the modern era. Even as the Indian action industry has continued to grow and evolve in the years since its overwhelming success, RRR still stands as a defining pillar and one of the best action films of the 2020s.
9
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (2018)
The Mission: Impossible franchise has continued to stand as one of the premiere examples of consistent action filmmaking greatness and exceptional spectacle at its absolute best, with no singular entry quite exemplifying this like Mission: Impossible – Fallout. From an intricate long-shot skydiving sequence to an amazing climax involving a helicopter and disarming a bomb, Fallout exemplifies the greatest, most exciting aspects of the franchise and amplifies them to their absolute limits.
At this point in the franchise’s history, the filmmakers have a fundamental understanding of not only what makes the franchise so effective, but also what makes it continuously compelling and exciting to audiences who have loved it since the very first entry. It sees Tom Cruise doing what he does best as an action protagonist, being a part of mesmerizing stunts that keep audiences engaged and excited from beginning to end.
8
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)
An icon of 80s adventure films that brought together the legendary talents of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas to create a masterclass love letter to adventure films of old, Raiders of the Lost Ark is pure cinematic magic in an adventure blockbuster package. It weaves together a sprawling, globe-trotting adventure that continuously finds strength thanks to the electrifying screen presence of Harrison Ford in the lead role and Spielberg’s masterful vision for directing.
This flawless action movie makes the absolute most out of the medium with exciting and engaging sequences one after another, each one managing to make the film feel more timeless and iconic than the last. Through its exciting and highly engaging sense of action and characters, the film quickly cemented itself as one of the defining blockbuster achievements of the 80s and has persisted in pop culture ever since its release.
7
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)
The Best Picture-winning sci-fi action fan favorite that exudes sheer creativity and limitless possibilities with its premise and execution, Everything Everywhere All at Once immediately won over critics and audiences alike with its distinct charm and electrifying execution. It makes the absolute most out of its multiversal story in terms of action, comedy, and everything in between to create an experience that is as hilarious as it is captivating and mesmerizing to watch unfold.
However, action and comedy alone are only two of the pieces that make up the sustained genius and staying power of this modern-day classic, as its distinct emotional core and gripping themes struck a nerve with audiences in a way very few action films have ever been able to do. This, in turn, manages to make its wild antics and explosive action all the more memorable and impactful, as it adds additional weight and layers of depth to this chaotic, explosive cinematic experience.
6
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Superhero movies continue to be at the forefront of blockbuster conversations as some of the most popular and successful films of the modern era, yet no superhero film has come close to the sustained mastery and explosive filmmaking prowess of Christopher Nolan‘s Batman masterpiece, The Dark Knight. This universally beloved action film stands for everything that makes Batman such a compelling character, with a great reflection on the sacrifices of unsung heroism and featuring some of the best, most layered villains in blockbuster history.
Nolan’s distinct style of blockbuster filmmaking leads the way to not only some exceptional, high-spectacle sequences that make the most out of the then-latest technologies, but also layering this action with depth and symbolism that makes it all the more effective and stylish in execution. In terms of a true crowd-pleasing experience of sheer excitement, The Dark Knight stands as Nolan’s most approachable and captivating experience to date, with Batman as a character being as exciting as he’s ever been on the big screen.
5
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
Forever changing the sci-fi and action genres with its sleek style, captivating worldbuilding, and revolutionary action sequences, The Matrix is continuously celebrated as a monolithic achievement of spectacle filmmaking mixed with thought-provoking narrative. The Wachowski sisters go all out in terms of their groundbreaking approach to stylish action, making each action sequence feel like a massive leap forward for what was possible with action filmmaking in the digital era.
The film utilized its overwhelming sense of style and personality to amplify each sequence of the film, using slow-motion to transform its heroes into icons of action and telling a layered story of free will and breaking free of the confines of society. It has continued to stand as a classic of the genre and one of the most influential action films leading into the 21st century, with its exciting execution playing a major part in the film’s continued staying power and success.
4
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings trilogy is often considered to be the absolute apex of fantasy epics, and while each film manages to be exciting and breathtaking in its own way, the finale of the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, features the trilogy’s most exhilarating moments. Concluding all the build-up of the trilogy, The Return of the King is a sheer fantasy spectacle at its very best, utilizing the most compelling aspects of the groundbreaking visuals and production to create one of the best epic fantasies ever made.
All the inherent strengths that make the entire trilogy so timeless and exceptional in their craft and execution are at their very best in The Return of the King, featuring the best performances, best visuals, and especially the best spectacle of the entire trilogy. The entire trilogy wouldn’t be nearly as celebrated if this finale didn’t stick the landing, with The Return of the King often being considered one of the greatest finale films of all time thanks to its raw, unfiltered craft and spectacle.
3
‘Jaws’ (1975)
While many modern horror films don’t come to mind when considering widely exciting films in their execution, Steven Spielberg’s original blockbuster masterpiece, Jaws, stands tall as the absolute height of what is possible with a horror film in terms of spectacle and excitement. While it initially draws in audiences with its fear and tension caused by the ruthless death and destruction of the shark, it fully transforms into a pure display of adrenaline and excitement during its climactic showdown between the shark and those looking to hunt it down.
The previous horror elements only further amplify the excitement of its later moments, as the audience is fully aware of the death and destruction that the shark is capable of, making their honorable mission all the more impactful and exciting. Even at one of the earliest stages in his career, Jaws exemplifies just how much fundamental knowledge that Spielberg had over how to draw up excitement and flair from a cinematic experience, giving large moments the bombastic execution they deserve to succeed.
2
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)
Often considered to be the absolute height of what is possible in terms of contemporary action filmmaking, Mad Max: Fury Road seamlessly combines practical sets and action with stylish digital flourishes to create one of the most striking and jaw-dropping action films ever made. The film simply exudes shock and awe with each passing moment, managing to consistently one-up itself in terms of mesmerizing action sequences that manage to get the audience that much more excited and enthralled in the film.
It’s a perfectly directed blockbuster that builds upon the concepts that George Miller established with his original trilogy and amplifies their greatest attributes, utilizing a budget and technology that simply weren’t possible in the past. Between all the explosions, death, and madness of the wasteland, there is a brilliance to the execution of Fury Road that has made it the definitive action classic of the modern era. Few action films have even come close to its masterful understanding of the genre, now over a decade since its release.
1
‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ (2004)
On the one hand, it may be considered cheating to consider the combination of both Kill Bill volumes, known as Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, for this list, considering that both volumes were originally released separately. However, considering this film was always originally envisioned to be experienced as one singular action epic experience, it’s hard to deny this story from being considered in its complete vision. As a complete vision, The Whole Bloody Affair is an unmistakable masterclass of excitement, keeping the audience excited and invested from the first second until the credits roll.
Quentin Tarantino‘s absolute greatest action film is at its greatest when taken as a whole, with the explosive action of the first half complementing the character moments and tension of the second half perfectly. It’s a story that lives and dies by the excitement and spectacle of its execution, whether it be through explosive action sequences or hardened showdowns with deep history between its combatants. Its recent theatrical rerelease late last year further cemented it as a pure cinematic spectacle and a beacon of excitement in the cinematic form.
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These rom-coms, war films, and tearjerkers are certainly classics to us.
One adventure film has spent years being treated like an afterthought, which is kind of unfair when the movie itself is this inventive. Directed by Jon Favreau, the 2005 adventure takes a simple domestic setup and sends it spiraling into a surprisingly tactile, imaginative space fantasy. The whole thing has a handmade charm to it, from the practical effects to the escalating chaos inside the house, and that helps it feel warmer than a lot of bigger family blockbusters from the same period.
What really carries Zathura, though, is the sibling dynamic at the center. The young cast makes the growing tension and eventual bond between the brothers feel natural, which gives the film more emotional weight than you might expect from something involving killer robots and a board game that launches planets at your living room. It never overplays that heart, but it’s there, and it gives the movie a lot of staying power.
Now that it’s streaming free on Pluto, Zathura has another shot at being appreciated for what it actually is instead of what people lazily compare it to. It’s one of the most charming family sci-fi adventures of the 2000s, and it deserves a proper rediscovery. The cast of Zathura includes Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, Bridge to Terabithia) as Walter, Jonah Bobo (Crazy, Stupid, Love) as Danny, Dax Shepard (Employee of the Month, Hit and Run) as the Astronaut, Kristen Stewart (Twilight, Spencer) as Lisa, Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River) as Dad, and Frank Oz (The Blues Brothers, Knives Out) as the Robot.
Is ‘Zathura’ Worth Watching?
The late Roger Ebert believed that the reason Zathura works is because it taps into the old-school thrill of a board game coming to life and turns it into a fun, imaginative space adventure. The movie follows two brothers whose boring afternoon gets completely derailed when a mysterious game sends their house into orbit and throws one wild danger after another at them. What makes it land is its sense of playful wonder. The special effects have a handmade, pulpy feel, the kids are easy to root for, and the movie understands that adventure should feel exciting without becoming too scary.
Zathura is streaming now on Pluto.
It’s easy to forget that Michael Mann‘s 2006 feature film adaptation of the 1980s crime television series Miami Vice was considered a major disappointment upon release. In the 20 years since Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx inhabited the roles of Crockett and Tubbs, the film’s cult status has grown into a beloved critical darling that has inspired a massive fanbase. At long last, a new generation is set to take another crack at this source material, with Top Gun: Maverick‘s Joseph Kosinski at the helm and Austin Butler and Oscar-winner Michael B. Jordan in the starring roles.
Set up at Universal Pictures with Nightcrawler‘s Dan Gilroy behind the page, Miami Vice ’85 is scheduled for a May 19, 2028, theatrical release. It’s been a long journey to finally get a re-imagining of Miami Vice on the screen again. Kosinski and his team have a tall task ahead of them, but Universal has curated the perfect crew for this score.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski Has Big Plans for Austin Butler and Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Miami Vice ’85’
A reboot of Miami Vice felt too good to be true, but the recent announcement that Joseph Kosinski will likely not return to direct Top Gun 3 indicates that he is fully committed to bringing Miami Vice ’85 into existence. We received our first glimpse of the film through loose plot details shared by Variety, which promises to be an exploration of the glamour and corruption of Miami in the mid-1980s, hence the title (Mann’s film was contemporary, making it an insightful time capsule of 2006 fashion and technology). The original TV series influenced the style and culture of the 1980s, and Kosinski’s film hopes to tap into that evergreen audience thirst for the decade’s glossy aesthetic.
‘Pirates of the Caribbean 6’: Is Disney’s Action Epic Officially Happening? [Exclusive]
Will Jack Sparrow set sail one last time?
After being rumored last fall, Austin Butler and Sinners‘ Michael B. Jordan, have been confirmed to play the Miami narcotics officers. Elsewhere, Butler is allegedly following Michael Mann to a follow-up to one of his own films, Heat 2. Glen Powell was initially eyed to play Crockett, which would’ve reunited him with his Top Gun: Maverick director.
Is That Tom Cruise ‘Miami Vice ’85’ Casting Rumor True?
The most enticing rumor during the film’s development is the potential casting of Tom Cruise as the villain opposite Jordan and Butler. So far, there is no hard evidence corroborating this claim circulating online, but considering Cruise’s past partnerships with Kosinski in Oblivion and Top Gun: Maverick, as well as his pursuit of more challenging, against-type roles in a post-Mission: Impossible world, the casting wouldn’t be a shocking turn of events. This would be Cruise’s first villainous role since Collateral, coincidentally directed by Michael Mann. Not only would this expand Cruise’s horizons as an actor, but his rumored role in Miami Vice ’85 could be a passing of the baton from the past generation’s premier leading man to the faces of the next generation.
Universal Studios Continues To Take Big Creative Swings
“Premium large format” is a phrase that studios love to hear, as IMAX, Dolby, and other high-end exhibition models have proven to boost box office numbers and maintain a film’s lifespan in theaters. Variety also reported that Miami Vice ’85 will be shot for IMAX screens, optimizing the premium traits of the format. Kosinski has plenty of experience behind IMAX cameras as the director of Top Gun: Maverick and last year’s F1. The addition of IMAX photography and exhibition suggests that Universal is treating the upcoming movie as a marquee event. Along with their 2026 lineup, which includes Disclosure Day and The Odyssey, the studio has shown interest in platforming auteur voices in big-budget, star-driven projects, balanced by their reliable box office juggernauts in Illumination and Dreamworks animated movies.
Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler Are Perfect for ‘Miami Vice ’85’
Miami Vice ’85 sees its key principal creative artists entering this exciting project at the ideal time in their careers. Jordan, newly minted in the rarefied class of box office stars with critical adoration, could turn this film with an already passionate pre-existing audience into another cultural event like Sinners. Butler’s robust filmography and mindset of working with visionary directors continues with Miami Vice ’85, a reboot that nonetheless feels fresh relative to the modern landscape. Years since Elvis, he is due to carry an event movie on the strength of his name. The film was originally slated for an August 6, 2027 release, with Universal also pushing the date for its fourth installment in the Mummy franchise.
As of April 2026, the rest of the plot details, production notes, and cast of Miami Vice ’85 have remained under wraps. In an era where information spreads rapidly and constantly, the more mystery, the better. Most people don’t need to be sold on a Miami Vice reboot, let alone a two-hander starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler. Let us be surprised, no matter how long we have to wait.
If you’re a Prime Video subscriber, it’s hard to look past one show as the must-watch title on the streamer at the moment. After a shaky fourth season that received mixed reviews from most critics and audiences, The Boys returned to form with an explosive Season 5 opener early last month. Since then, weekly releases have seen Karl Urban‘s Billy Butcher, Jack Quaid‘s Hughie Campbell, and more face a world dominated by Antony Starr‘s Homelander as twists and turns keep many millions of viewers gripped.
Called “one of the show’s best” seasons in Nate Richard‘s review for Collider, the final outing in Eric Kripke‘s superhero series is certainly a must-watch right now. However, it isn’t the only show proving popular on Prime Video, with an 8-part Dexter replacement quietly continuing its streaming run almost two months after its debut. The show in question is Scarpetta, based on a book series by Patricia Cornwell, which debuted on March 11 and became an instant hit on streaming, topping Amazon’s most-watched series list in its first week.
The show boasts an impressive collection of talent both in front of and behind the screen, with veteran director David Gordon Green working on a trio of Season 1 episodes. The show’s ensemble includes Nicole Kidman, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Ariana DeBose, and Simon Baker, among many other notable faces. After its continued streaming success, Scarpetta has now hit an impressive new milestone. At the time of writing, the series has passed 50 days on the Prime Video streaming charts, as per FlixPatrol.
Nicole Kidman Is Also Dominating Another Streamer
Trust one of Hollywood’s best to simultaneously dominate two of the world’s biggest streaming platforms. As Scarpetta hits this latest milestone, Kidman’s other new project, the Apple TV hit Margo’s Got Money Troubles, continues its run near the top of the charts. Also starring the likes of Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman, and Michelle Pfeiffer, the series has gained impressive reviews from critics, scoring a near-perfect rating of 97% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Later this year, Kidman will return to a cult favorite as Practical Magic 2 hits theaters, with Kidman and Sandra Bullock reprising their roles as Gillian and Sally Owens.
Scarpetta is available to binge in full on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more of the latest streaming stories.
- Release Date
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March 11, 2026
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Elizabeth Sarnoff
- Directors
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David Gordon Green, Charlotte Brändström
Some movies don’t just feel nostalgic. They feel like memory itself. Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film captures fandom, youth, music obsession, and emotional growing pains with a warmth that never tips into sentimentality. It’s a coming-of-age movie, a backstage drama, and a love letter to the kind of rock-and-roll mythology that can completely take over your life when you’re young.
Almost Famous sticks around because of how human it feels. Patrick Fugit (Gone Girl, First Man) is great as William Miller, but the movie is packed with performances that have only grown in stature over time, while Crowe understands that the allure of this world is inseparable from the loneliness inside it, and that tension gives the movie real emotional weight.
Fugit plays 15-year-old William Miller, who lands the opportunity of a lifetime writing for Rolling Stone magazine following touring rock band Stillwater. Set in the 1970s, it’s a perfect representation of the era’s rock culture as it takes viewers on William’s adventures on the road. The story is inspired by Crowe’s own experiences as a teenage journalist, and his work on the film won him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Almost Famous earned widespread praise from critics too, also nabbing a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Who Stars in ‘Almost Famous’?
Alongside Fugit, the cast includes Kate Hudson (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) as Penny Lane, Billy Crudup (Watchmen, Big Fish) as Russell Hammond, Frances McDormand (Fargo, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as Elaine Miller, Jason Lee (Vanilla Sky, Chasing Amy) as Jeff Bebe, Zooey Deschanel (Elf, 500 Days of Summer) as Anita Miller, and Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, The Master) as Lester Bangs.
One of the best things in Almost Famous is its unforgettable soundtrack, which includes instantly recognizable hits from legends like Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and David Bowie. The soundtrack brilliantly captures the essence of the 1970s rock scene, which enhances the film’s story and provides quite a treat for music lovers. Adding to the thrill, the film also includes original songs performed by the fictional band Stillwater, with “Fever Dog” emerging as a fan favorite.
Almost Famous is streaming now on Pluto.
- Release Date
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September 15, 2000
- Runtime
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124 minutes
- Director
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Cameron Crowe
Taylor Frankie Paul is explaining why she was seen in an embrace with Dakota Mortensen’s mom during the former couple’s custody and protective order hearing.
After a fan Instagram account shared video footage of Taylor hugging Cheyenne Cranford Mortensen inside Salt Lake City’s Third District Courthouse on Thursday, April 30, Taylor provided context via the comments section.
“That was my goodbye to a family my older kids and I loved deeply❤️🩹” Taylor, 31, explained. (Taylor and Dakota share 2-year-old son Ever. Taylor shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with her ex-husband Tate Paul.)
During the court hearing, a judge issued Taylor and Dakota, 33, protective orders against each other.
A judge has issued a big ruling regarding Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen’s ongoing legal battle. “This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” a judge said during a protective order hearing on Thursday, April 30, regarding the pair’s custody arrangement. “What I’ve seen […]
Utah Commissioner Russell Minas ordered Taylor and Dakota to stay 100 feet away from each other for a period of three years.
Minas described their relationship as “dysfunctional” as he handed down the orders.
“This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” Minas said on Thursday. “What I’ve seen from the evidence even post [the] last hearing, there seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other. … You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents.”
“I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict,” the judge added. “You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict. I’m going to leave the current order in place. I need to think a little bit more about this lifting of supervision. I have mixed feelings about it.”
Taylor Frankie Paul and Cheyenne Cranford Mortensen. (Photo by Bethany Baker – Pool/Getty Images)
Dakota was granted temporary custody of Ever in March amid allegations of domestic violence between him and Taylor. Taylor is currently allowed up to eight hours of supervised visitation with the toddler. There were no changes made to the custody arrangement on Thursday.
Dakota filed for a temporary protective order against Taylor in March amid two police investigations into domestic violence allegations involving the exes. Taylor was granted her own temporary protective order against Dakota in April.
Taylor’s attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, addressed the court hearing via a statement shared with Us Weekly on Thursday.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have tried to coparent son Ever since their fall 2024 split. Paul and Mortensen welcomed their first baby together, the MomTok content creator’s third, in March 2024, months before they called it quits. As Paul and Mortensen navigated jointly raising their son, […]
“Today’s hearing was a significant step forward as the Court entered protective orders requiring that Taylor’s ex-partner stays far away from her,” he told Us.
“Taylor was incredibly candid with the Court that she is not perfect and owned her faults, which is in direct contrast to how the other party presented their argument, despite evidence and input from law enforcement that showed otherwise,” Swinyard continued. “Taylor feels solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors and shared only part of their stories, and she remains grateful for the outpouring of support she continues to receive. She looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the Court to make progress in the custody case.”
There’s a film that has the kind of energy that never really goes out of style. Joe Cornish’s alien invasion thriller is funny, fast, rough around the edges in the best way, and packed with the kind of confidence that makes a cult movie stick around long after its initial release. It takes a familiar genre setup and throws it into a South London housing estate, then lets the characters, the setting, and the film’s chaotic attitude do the rest.
A huge part of what makes Attack the Block work is how naturally it balances tones. The movie is genuinely funny, but it never undercuts the danger. The creatures are properly menacing, the action is scrappy and intense, and the young cast gives the whole thing a lived-in feel that keeps it from ever seeming too polished. You can see why it became such a breakout title for John Boyega. Even before the bigger franchise work came along, he already had the screen presence to anchor something this lively.
Now that it’s streaming free on Pluto, Attack the Block is in a perfect position for rediscovery. It’s still one of the most inventive and entertaining sci-fi movies of its era, and it’s exactly the kind of film that benefits from viewers stumbling onto it and immediately wondering why it isn’t talked about even more.
The cast of the movie includes Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, They Cloned Tyrone) as Moses, Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Adult Life Skills) as Sam, Alex Esmail (Casualty) as Pest, Franz Drameh (Edge of Tomorrow, Gran Turismo) as Dennis, Leeon Jones (The Intent 2) as Jerome, Simon Howard (Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars) as Biggz, and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) as Ron.
Is ‘Attack the Block’ Any Good?
Collider’s review stated that Attack the Block is a fast, funny, and genuinely great alien invasion movie that flips the genre on its head by making a group of South London teens its heroes. The film starts by asking viewers to follow characters who do something awful, but it wins you over quickly through sharp writing, strong performances, and a ton of energy. Boyega stands out right away as Moses, giving the gang’s leader real presence and making him far more interesting than he first appears.
Attack the Block is streaming now for free on Pluto.
- Release Date
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May 12, 2011
- Runtime
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88 minutes
- Director
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Joe Cornish
- Writers
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Joe Cornish
Many celebrities have strong opinions about the Met Gala — but some stick to their convictions more than others.
Gwyneth Paltrow was one of the first stars to publicly admit that she didn’t have a great time at the fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
“Do you want me to be honest? … It sucked,” Paltrow told USA Today in 2013. “It seems like it’s the best thing in the world, you always think, ‘Oh, my God, it’s gonna be so glamorous and amazing and you’re going to see all these people,’ and then you get there and it’s so hot and it’s so crowded and everyone’s pushing you.”
The Oscar winner added that it’s “so un-fun,” “boiling,” “too crowded” and she “did not enjoy it at all.” Despite declaring, “I’m never going again,” Paltrow returned to the Met steps in 2017 and 2019.
Scroll through for stars who have admitted they don’t want to be invited back:
The Met Gala is the most fashion-focused red carpet event of the year, but the clothes aren’t the only reason the event is such a success — there’s also a huge potential for hilarious celeb interactions.
The glamorous party brings together stars from the worlds of movies, music, sports, fashion, politics and more, meaning that celebrities who don’t usually run into each other get the chance to chat over drinks at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Though it’s a highlight of Hollywood’s social calendar, it’s tough to score an invite — and even tougher to document what goes on inside. In 2015, attendees reportedly received a notice banning the use of social media during the event. The policy seems to have been relaxed in recent years, but selfies are still generally frowned upon.
That hasn’t stopped some celebrities from teaming up for some truly epic mirror shots in the bathroom. In 2017, Kylie Jenner snapped a photo that included her sisters Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner as well as Lily Aldridge, Diddy, ASAP Rocky, Brie Larson and more.
In 2014, Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, staged one of the most memorable Met Gala moments of all time when they turned a mishap into something adorable. After the “Hold Up” songstress dropped a ring she was wearing, the “99 Problems” rapper dropped to his knee to pick it up — and pretended to propose again right there on the red carpet.
Keep scrolling for a look back at the funniest celeb interactions at the Met Gala.
By Robert Scucci
| Published
The Simpsons is undeniably one of the greatest and most well-known cartoon sitcoms of all time, but the series we celebrate today was almost entirely scrapped by its producers before it even got off the ground. These days, when an animated series launches, it’s fully developed. Character quirks are established right out of the gate, the animation style is locked in, and the entire creative process is a well-oiled machine before a premiere hits the airwaves. The Simpsons, on the other hand, got off to a very rough start when it transitioned from a series of crude shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show to a full-blown animated sitcom.
Rife with continuity errors and wildly inconsistent animation, Season 1 of The Simpsons is a rough showcase of raw potential. It was so raw that the series was nearly canned due to a failure to launch on time, thanks to a disproportionate amount of behind-the-scenes chaos. Character design was all over the place. Barney had blonde hair, Moe and Milhouse had black hair, Smithers was a Black man, Mr. Burns’ office at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant looked completely different, and, most insane to think about, the episode that was supposed to kick off the entire series, “Some Enchanted Evening,” ended up airing as the season finale because the animation studio they outsourced to botched the job so badly that 70 percent of the episode had to be overhauled.
While the show seemed doomed from the start, we’re fortunate that Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon stuck to their guns and stuck their necks out for the show that would eventually become the master template for adult animated series for decades to come.
Animation And Continuity Was Tragically Bad
Most long-running animated series go through some growing pains on the animation front, and that’s expected. As more efficient ways to produce a show materialize, animation becomes sharper, smoother, and more fluid.
The same can be said for live-action shows, as better shooting and lighting methods are implemented and budgets are opened up to allow for more sophisticated productions, making later seasons look far superior to earlier ones.
South Park is an excellent example of animation evolving over time. The show was originally produced in a stop-motion style with construction paper sets and characters. Once Trey Parker and Matt Stone figured out how to produce episodes using computers and editing software, the show’s aesthetic gradually improved into the style we’re familiar with today. That’s just show business, and every animated series, no matter how well-developed before premiering, will evolve visually to some degree.
For The Simpsons, though, it’s comical how inconsistent the animation is in Season 1. The original Simpsons shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show were animated by Klasky Csupo, with the process handled in-house. When The Simpsons was picked up as a series, animation duties were split across multiple studios as a cost-cutting measure because the show was the first of its kind and a massive creative risk for Fox at the time. As a result, character and background layouts were produced in Los Angeles, while coloring and filming were handled by AKOM, a South Korean animation studio.
When “Some Enchanted Evening” came back for test screenings at Gracie Films, James L. Brooks reportedly said, “This is sh*t,” the room cleared out, and the show’s future was suddenly in question. The premiere was delayed by months while the animation was reworked, and had the next completed episode been just as bad, the entire project may have been scrapped. Fortunately, “Bart the Genius” came back looking more refined, with only minor tweaks needed to get it ready for air.
The Christmas special, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” which was originally intended to air later in the run, ended up becoming the series premiere, creating a major continuity issue with the family dynamic. In this episode, Homer, down on his luck after losing his Christmas bonus, takes a side gig as a mall Santa and loses his meager paycheck at the dog track. He then adopts the losing greyhound, Santa’s Little Helper, presenting the dog to his family as both a new pet and a Christmas gift.
With the episode order scrambled and most of the season already in the can, we’re asked to ignore the fact that The Simpsons technically begins with the family adopting a dog, only for that dog to barely appear again until Episode 11, “The Crepes of Wrath,” and even then mostly in the background. Had the episodes been completed properly from the start and aired in their intended order, there would have been a clear progression. The Simpson family would have no dog, we’d spend most of a season with them, and then they’d adopt one who would become a regular presence.
Homer Wasn’t Always A Total Idiot
These days, it’s easy to forget that “Jerkass Homer” wasn’t always the default. Back in The Tracey Ullman Show days, Dan Castellaneta’s performance had more of a Walter Matthau influence. Homer came across as a wholesome father figure. He was dimwitted at times, but he could also serve as the voice of reason when in his element.
He wasn’t outright stupid. He was a lower-middle-class guy trying to do right by his family, but with clear blind spots. He didn’t know what he didn’t know. He wasn’t willfully ignorant, but he could be selfish in the way a lot of working-class dads are when they try to carve out a little peace for themselves in a chaotic household.
By Season 2, Homer was fatter, louder, and far less self-aware. The version of Homer we recognize today was starting to take shape, but he was still in an active stage of development as Castellaneta refined his vocal delivery, and the writers worked to shape him into a more complex character. Most of Homer’s early characterization came from The Tracey Ullman Show, which made sense in short bursts, but needed to be expanded once The Simpsons became a full sitcom.
What Could Have Been
If you own The Simpsons DVDs, you can find original footage from “Some Enchanted Evening,” and it’s clear that delaying its release was the right call. Roughly 70 percent of the episode was rewritten and reanimated, and if you look closely, you can still spot traces of the original version in what ultimately aired to over 14 million viewers. It’s a rough demo and a final master, all in one episode, and it’s jarring.
The finished episode plays like a confident introduction to the Simpson family. After heavy revisions, each character feels distinct enough to carry forward into future seasons. The strange reality, though, is that we only got that version because the original was bad enough to force a complete overhaul.
But show business is still a business. To keep the show alive, episodes had to air, intended order or not. Because of that, Season 1 doesn’t make much sense from a continuity, and sometimes, even a characterization standpoint. When you consider the alternative, it had to happen this way, or we probably wouldn’t still be talking about The Simpsons in 2026.
The Simpsons had a chaotic start, and Season 1 still holds up as a diamond in the rough. What’s more frustrating to think about is how many creators today will never get the same level of leeway. There are likely countless shows that never made it past a rough first pass because studios decided they weren’t worth the trouble.
There’s no denying that The Simpsons helped pave the way for shows like South Park and Family Guy to become household names, but it’s wild to think about how many missteps happened behind the scenes before the show truly hit its stride.
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