First things first: The Lord of the Rings is the apex of cinematic fantasy. A flawless adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s literary masterpiece, Peter Jackson‘s three movies are spectacular examples of how large, epic-scale spectacle can go hand-in-hand with emotional, riveting, and deeply rewarding storytelling. The result is three movies that are not only genuine modern masterpieces but also the best examples of cinematic fantasy.

That being said, just because The Lord of the Rings is perfect, it doesn’t mean that some movies can’t be better. Think of it this way: Goodfellas is a brilliant gangster movie, but The Godfather is arguably better. In the case of fantasy, very few movies can claim to be better than Jackson’s trilogy — in fact, only three. Whether because of their approach, worldbuilding, or more affecting storylines, these fantasy movies outrank LOTR in the fantasy department, ever so slightly. It’s important to note that these fantasies cover similar topics as Jackson’s movies — after all, it would be silly to compare a high fantasy epic like LOTR to a fairy tale like Beauty and the Beast — and they might just do it better.

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)

Quite possibly the hottest take on this list, Hayao Miyazaki‘s Howl’s Moving Castle is nothing short of a modern masterpiece. A simple yet profoundly powerful statement on war and its futility, the film is Studio Ghibli’s best and one of the most faultless entries into the fantasy genre. Adapted from the eponymous novel — and I mean really adapted — the film follows Sophie (Emily Mortimer), a young hatmaker who finds herself cursed by the Witch of the Waste (Lauren Bacall). Now turned into an old woman (Jean Simmons), Sophie must venture into the unknown to seek the help of the powerful wizard Howl (Christian Bale).

Miyazaki created Howl’s Moving Castle in response to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, and it’s genuinely tragic how its anti-war message could perfectly resonate in 2026. Beautifully animated and ingeniously crafted, the film presents a distinct, Steampunk-influenced world with just enough lore to be compelling without overwhelming. Its message about the beauty and freedom of old age is especially resonant today, in a society obsessed with youth that discards and often forgets its elders. The characters are endearing and deeply relatable, especially Sophie, a unique heroine among Ghibli’s canon whose greatest strength lies in her empathy and warmth. Howl’s Moving Castle is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and its message has not only aged beautifully but has also grown more important in the decades since its release.

‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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No director has mastered the fantasy genre in the 21st century as perfectly as Guillermo del Toro. From Gothic tales like Crimson Peak and Frankenstein to subversive fairy tales like The Shape of Water and his take on Pinocchio, del Toro is the true master of modern fantasy. However, his magnum opus is undoubtedly 2006’s Pan’s Labyrinth, quite possibly the greatest dark fantasy to ever grace the silver screen. Set in Francoist Spain, the film centers on young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a girl traveling with her pregnant mother to the countryside, where her stepfather, the sadistic Captain Vidal (Sergi López), hunts for rebels. Soon, Ofelia meets a faun, who tells her she’s the reincarnation of a princess and must undergo a series of tasks to reclaim her throne.

Overflowing with creativity and a biting, brutal approach to the horrors of war and tyranny, Pan’s Labyrinth is a masterclass in fantasy filmmaking, the likes of which we hadn’t seen before and haven’t seen since. The film is part sinister fairy tale, part war movie, and del Toro pulls no punches in portraying the ruthless nature of conflict. For their part, the fantasy elements are just as unforgiving, with Ofelia facing all manner of difficulties, most famously the sinister Pale Man. Yet, the core of Pan’s Labyrinth is all human. Del Toro explores the importance of rebellion in the face of injustice and despotism, using the premise to blur the lines between reality and fantasy and showcasing the unique and ultimately invincible power of imagination, as many of his projects do. The result is a triumph of the genre, a towering achievement that has aged like the finest of wines.

‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)

Image via AB Svensk Filmindustri

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Ingmar Bergman is one of the best directors in cinematic history. He’s also among the most controversial, which has only made him a more fascinating, albeit understandably tricky to discuss. Among his remarkably strong oeuvre, perhaps the project that stands out the most is The Seventh Seal, his existential historical fantasy starring Max von Sydow as a medieval knight and Bengt Ekerot as the personification of Death. The two face off in a chess match, as Death comes to claim the knight’s life at the height of the Black Plague ravaging Europe.

Highly allegorical, The Seventh Seal blends religious messages with a profound examination of the nature of life and death. Although war is in the background, the Crusades are crucial to the desolate, broken world that Bergman builds here. Von Sydow’s knight is disillusioned and cynical, aiming to perform one last great deed before the end of a life he now considers aimless. Faith is also a strong theme, with Bergman pondering the concept of “the Silence of God” and the apparent futility of faith itself. Most impressively, The Seventh Seal finds just the right balance between artistic pretension and meaningful storytelling. Make no mistake, it is a pretentious movie, but there’s genuine power in its existential message about God, conviction, meaning, and the pursuit of logic in a world where nature will always win.

Jane Fonda poked fun at not being involved in Barbra Streisand’s tribute to the late Robert Redford tribute at the 2026 Oscars.

“I want to know how come Streisand was up there doing that for Redford,” Fonda, 88, quipped during an interview with Entertainment Tonight on Sunday, March 15. “She only made one movie with him, I made four!”

Fonda pointed out that she has “more to say” about Redford, adding, “I was always in love with him. [He was] the most gorgeous human being and had such great values. He did a lot for movies — he lifted up independent movies.”

Streisand, 83, honored Redford with a speech and performance during the awards show’s In Memoriam segment on Sunday.

“After I read the first script of The Way We Were, I could only imagine one man in the role and that was Robert Redford. But he turned it down because he said the character had no backbone,” she recalled about Redford, who died at age 89 in September 2025. “He doesn’t stand for anything — and he was right. So many drafts later, Bob finally agreed to do it. He was a brilliant, subtle actor, and we had a wonderful time playing off each other because we never quite knew what the other one was going to do in a scene.”

Streisand praised Redford for his advocacy. “He was thoughtful and old,” she shared. “I called him a little intellectual cowboy who blazed his own trail. I miss him now more than ever.”

The actress concluded by singing “The Way We Were” from the pair’s iconic film.

When news broke of Redford’s death last year, Streisand shared an emotional statement via Instagram.

“Every day on the set of The Way We Were was exciting, intense and pure joy,” Streisand wrote in September 2025. “We were such opposites: he was from the world of horses; I was allergic to them! Yet, we kept trying to find out more about each other, just like the characters in the movie.”

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Related: Jane Fonda Through the Years: Her Life in Photos

Jane Fonda comes from a family of actors, but she quickly made a name for herself and became an icon in her own right. Born in 1937 to Frances Ford Seymour and movie legend Henry Fonda, Jane became interested in acting as a teen after starring alongside her dad in a charity performance in Nebraska. […]

She continued: “Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever. The last time I saw him, when he came to lunch, we discussed art and decided to send each other our first drawings. He was one of a kind and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him. #RobertRedford.”

Fonda, meanwhile, told Us Weekly in a statement: “It hit me hard this morning when I read that Bob was gone. I can’t stop crying. He meant a lot to me and was a beautiful person in every way. He stood for an America we have to keep fighting for.”

Over the years, Fonda and Redford worked on multiple projects together, starting with the 1960 film Tall Story. The duo appeared alongside Marlon Brando in the 1966 film The Chase and in Barefoot in the Park the following year. Fonda and Redford reunited a decade later for The Electric Horseman.

Fonda and Redford also teamed up for the 2017 Netflix movie Our Souls at Night, which marked one of his final leading roles before stepping out of the spotlight.

Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale have yet to tie the knot, but their romance is still burning strong.

The duo began dating in 2012 and welcomed their first child, son Rocco, four years later. Along with sharing parenting duties, Byrne and Cannavale have worked together multiple times throughout their romance, from 2014’s Annie and Adult Beginners to 2015’s Spy.

“Making a film is an intense experience,” the actress told Who magazine months before giving birth to her eldest son. “To experience it with your boyfriend is quite fun.”

Son Rafael joined the brood in November 2017. As their family grew, the pair put marriage on the backburner.

“I keep going, ‘Let’s get around to it, let’s do it.’ And then, you know, you have a baby, and then, oh, there’s another baby,” the Neighbors star told the Sydney Morning Herald in July 2021. “It was kind of like that for us.”

Scroll down for a look back at Byrne and Cannavale’s unconventional romance:

2012

The couple began dating two years after Byrne’s split from ex Brendan Cowell.

2016

Cannavale revealed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert that Byrne gave birth to their “beautiful” baby boy.

2017

Us confirmed the arrival of baby No. 2, another son.

2019

When asked whether she and the Sing 2 star wanted more kids, the Troy actress told Us, “I can’t even think about that, I’m so busy.”

As the couple prepared to star alongside one another in a production of Medea at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Byrne called Cannavale her “biggest champion” throughout the process. “I make half as much as she does,” he told Vanity Fair. “Down the middle. Half. I work too much in the theater, perhaps.”

2020

The Mrs. America star exclusively told Us that her little ones aren’t too interested in their parents’ careers, teasing, “They couldn’t care less about anything except whatever they keep up with at the moment.”

She also shared a sweet tribute for Cannevale on Valentine’s Day that year. “First selfie with my forever Valentine @fullyrosebyrne nearly 8 years ago,” Byrne wrote.

2021

Nearly 10 years into their marriage, the duo still hadn’t tied the knot. “I keep going, ‘Let’s get around to it, let’s do it.’ And then, you know, you have a baby, and then, oh, there’s another baby,” the Golden Globe nominee told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It was kind of like that for us.”

2023

The twosome held hands at a special screening of Martin Scorcese’s Personality Crisis: One Night Only documentary on April 11.

Related: Rose Byrne Defends Bobby Cannavale Missing Golden Globes for Reptile Expo

Rose Byrne is clarifying why longtime partner Bobby Cannavale was at a reptile expo instead of the 2026 Golden Globes. “Never in my life will I announce something like that on a major awards show again,” Byrne, 46, told The New York Times in an interview published on Sunday, February 22. “Everyone was thinking it’s […]

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2024

The couple kept a low profile throughout 2024, only stepping out for the Ezra premiere in New York City.

2025

The couple made a rare joint appearance at the Blue Moon premiere.

2026

Cannavale held his wife’s hand as they attended the 98th Academy Awards to celebrate her nomination for If I Had Leg I’d Kick You.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 20 seconds ago

Happy Madison Productions is best known for producing Adam Sandler movies because it’s his company. However, he also produces films for associates like Rob Schneider, Allen Covert, and Nick Swardson. One of the wildest, most outrageous of these movies is the stoner comedy Grandma’s Boy.

Grandma’s Boy Is Absolute Chaos

The movie is about Alex (Allen Covert), a video game aficionado and play tester for game developer Brainasium. The corporation is running the final tests on Eternal Deathslayer III, created by boy genius programmer JD (Joel David Moore of Dodgeball as a guy who thinks he’s an android) and overseen by Samantha (Scooby Doo’s Lina Cardellini), a hot new manager who has been hired to ensure the game is released on time.

Alex is secretly developing his own game, Demonic, but when he suddenly finds himself homeless, he has to scramble for a place to stay. His best friend Jeff’s (Nick Swardson) place is out of the question, and his weed dealer, Dante (fellow Happy Madison alum Peter Dante), lives in a chaotic environment that includes a tribal shaman and a monkey learning taekwondo.

Alex finds himself living at his grandmother’s house, where he is subject to endless leftovers, even more chores, and three wacky old ladies: Grandma Lilly (played by Doris Roberts of Everybody Loves Raymond), the sexy vixen Grace (seductively played by Shirley Jones, best known for The Patridge Family), and the pill-guzzling Bea (Shirley Knight of As Good as It Gets). Sure, he’s got time to work on his game, but only when he can keep Grandma from hogging it up so she can play it. But when all three of Alex’s worlds of video games, weed, and Grandma collide, the madcap results will change Alex’s life.

A Stacked Cast Firing On All Cylinders

The supporting cast is as ensemble as the main cast, featuring Schneider, fellow Saturday Night Live alumni David Spade and Kevin Nealon, and an early appearance from Jonah Hill. The offbeat characters, from fellow gamers at Brainasium to the caustic vegan restaurant waiter to Dr. Shakalu, decorate the film with hilarious absurdity as Alex stumbles through his life and his budding romance with Samantha.

The jokes aren’t limited to stoner humor, either. There are plenty of video gaming references, including a heavy match of Frog Bog on an Intellivision, proving the movie really knew its source material. Many, many raunchy jokes abound, especially when manchild Jeff meets the seductress Grace. Alex’s boss, Mr. Cheezle (Kevin Nealon), is a lampoon of eccentric money and new age pondering. The three old ladies are just as zany as the younger characters are. The pot jokes, like a commentary on names of weed strains and the use of a bong as a flower vase, are present, but this isn’t a Cheech and Chong movie and it has other jokes to tell.

Just As Good As The Unrated Version

I own the unrated version of Grandma’s Boy, but I checked out the R-rated streaming version to see what the differences were. The rated version surprised me by keeping many of the raunchiest jokes in the movie, nipping and tucking in a few places where it pushed the envelope just a little too far, such as the conclusion of Jonah Hill’s 13-hour marathon with the Milk Maid. Surprisingly, the infamous reason Alex can’t stay with Jeff is still there in its full, explicit glory.

For a rowdy ride through the world of video games and one of Doris Roberts’ best performances, check out Grandma’s Boy on Hulu. Despite the fact that it’s an edited version, it’s still the same hilarious movie.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 15 seconds ago

At the 2026 AwesomeCon in Washington D.C., history was made during the Once We Were Spacemen podcast panel. Nathan Fillion, co-host of the podcast alongside Alan Tudyk, announced to the assembled nerds that Firefly is coming back as an animated series.

While no one thought we’d ever actually get more Firefly outside of the comic books, the news was made even better: the original cast is returning. Yes, that includes Alan Tudyk, since the upcoming series between the end of the 2001 series and Serenity, the animated series, will include Wash. 

Getting the Band Back Together

For the last few weeks leading up to the AwesomeCon panel, Nathan Fillion has been releasing teaser videos walking up to his old co-stars’ homes and saying, “It’s time.” Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Staite, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and, of course, Alan Tudyk, all appeared in the social media clips. Sadly, Ron Glass, who played Shepared Book, passed away in 2016. He’d be right there with the rest of the crew. 

The only notable absence is series creator Joss Whedon, who has nothing to do with the upcoming project as his Hollywood exile is still in effect following multiple #MeToo accusations and the disastrous Justice League production. Instead, the upcoming Firefly animated series is being run by Marc Guggenheim, one of the masterminds behind Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, and Tara Butters, known for Marvel’s Agent Carter and the cult hit comedy series, Reaper. Given their pedigree, the show already appears to be in good hands, but then there’s the animated studio, Shadow Machine, which you might recognize from BoJack Horseman, Clone High, and Robot Chicken. 

An Animated Series Avoids The Legacy Reboot Trap

Firefly’s return, 21 years after Serenity, is a huge surprise to the legion of fans, who refer to themselves as browncoats after the same rebel army Mal and Zoey fought for against the Alliance. After years of false starts, video games that never materialized, and the continued success of the cast keeping them too busy to ever make a reunion possible, all hope had been lost. An animated series may not be ideal to some, but it’s the best possible outcome for a revival series. 

The death of Wash in Serenity would complicate a sequel series, and if it were a live-action series set 20 years later to explain why everyone looks older, that’s 20 years of off-screen story development. No series could satisfy fans by filling in decades of information that long after the fact. There’s no connection to any of it, no emotional stakes, and it would literally be a history lesson. 

An animated Firefly gives us the young characters that the fans know and love from the short-lived series, and doesn’t have to explain why Wash is back in the pilot’s chair. The choice also allows River to move like the anime character she was already meant to be. It’s better this way than a live-action legacy series that never gets off the ground. There’s currently no release date for the new Firefly animated series.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

Worf is one of the most popular characters in Star Trek, and for good reason: appearing in three shows and four movies as his iconic character, Michael Dorn has spent more time onscreen in this franchise than any other actor. Fortunately for him, the writers really loved Worf, giving him meaty storylines revolving around his tangled family history and fractured Klingon society. They also gave him Troi and Jadzia Dax (two smoking hot fan favorites) as his romantic partners.

At the time, hooking a warlike Klingon up with an emotional Betazed and an ancient body swapper likely felt very transgressive. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation missed the opportunity to give this character a mate that nobody would see coming, and fans would likely still be picking their jaws off the floor, all these decades later. You see, there was once a plan to hook Worf up with Selar, the Enterprise’s resident Vulcan doctor!

Today Is A Good Day To Swipe Right

It all started with the script for the TNG’s “The Emissary,” which is the Season 2 episode where Worf falls in love with the future mother of his child, K’Ehleyr. The characters worked well onscreen together, which is partially due to actors Michael Dorn and Suzie Plakson having such amazing chemistry. But given the other women who would fall in love with him on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, the decision to pair Worf up with another Klingon was a little obvious.

That’s exactly how Tracy Tormé felt about this decision. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, Tormé was an early TNG writer responsible for such ambitious episodes as “The Schizoid Man.” While the story has some solid qualities, most fans love one thing about this episode above all else: Suzie Plakson, who makes her Star Trek debut as Dr. Selar, a Vulcan medical officer working for Dr. Beverly Crusher.

You Know What They Say About Girls With Pointy Ears

While Selar ended up being a very minor character, Tormé originally wanted her to be a romantic love interest for Worf. Unfortunately, his plans were vetoed once the TNG staff began working on “The Emissary,” a script that called for Worf to fall in love with a Klingon woman. In a way, you could say the producers compromised: because she had impressed them so much as Dr. Selar, they ended up hiring Suzie Plakson to play K’Ehleyr.

However, Tormé was unimpressed, later calling the decision to pair Worf up with another Klingon “obvious.” He summed up his objection to this plot point quite succinctly: “Had it been a Vulcan, it would have been a lot more interesting.” He has a real point here, especially considering that the cool and logical Vulcans are pretty much the polar opposites of the hot-blooded and passionate Klingons.

After butting heads with notorious TNG showrunner Maurice Hurley enough times, Tormé left the show after Season 2. However, the spirit of his idea to romantically pair up Worf with someone completely different from himself lived on. This is part of why the writers eventually hooked him up with Deanna Troi: the peace-loving, hyper-emotional Betazed was the last person fans expected to end up with the ship’s brooding Klingon. Deep Space Nine took this idea to an even greater extreme, having uptight control freak Worf fall in love with and eventually marry a free-spirited Trill who just wants to have fun.

More Than Just A Pretty Face

As for Dr. Selar, she never appeared onscreen again, though the Vulcan doctor is mentioned by name several times throughout The Next Generation. However, the late, great Star Trek author Peter David gave Selar a very meaty role, making her the chief medical officer of the Excalibur in his non-canonical New Frontier series of books. There, she found her own surprise romantic partner: Burgoyne 172, a hermaphrodite alien as outgoing as s/he is frisky.

I’ve always been a big fan of Worf, and his crazy love life is just one of the things that made this hulking Klingon so compelling. But I have to admit, it would have been hilarious to see him dating a Vulcan, especially one played by the insanely talented Suzie Plakson. Fortunately, she would continue to grace Star Trek for many more years to come, each time as a completely different character. But these very different roles all had something important in common: each was more epic than the one before!

Selma Blair is not letting her MS battle stop her from stepping out on the 2026 Oscars red carpet with style!

The actress, who has been open about her health challenge with multiple sclerosis (MS), showed that beauty is limitless with her outstanding look on the red carpet. Her love for fashion shone through, turning heads at the event.

Selma Blair’s journey with MS has been an emotional rollercoaster since her diagnosis in 2018. The ups and downs she’s faced were not kept behind closed doors as she continues to undergo treatment, managing the incurable condition.

Selma Blair Turns Heads With Her Outfit At The 2026 Oscars

Blair stunned the crowd and fans with her fit for the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar party on Sunday as she stepped onto the red carpet. The star wore elegance like a breeze, clad in a glamorous black dress, holding her matching black cane. The outfit was an all-black flowing gown that completely covered her feet and shoes. The actress turned heads in her gown, which featured a voluminous skirt and a black striped lattice pattern from the waist up.

The stripes were designed over a skin-matching toned fabric, which gave the impression of a sheer dress. The gown also highlighted Blair’s hips with the intriguing bodice tilted top, her arms owing to the sleeveless design, and her neck thanks to the low neckline. The event photos show Blair keeping it chic with the accessories. 

The star rocked a thick diamond choker, along with bracelets on each wrist and what appears to be two enormous diamond rings on her left ring finger. Her blonde locks were neatly pulled back into a sleek ponytail, adding highlights to her lightly glammed face.

Behind The Movie Star’s Red Carpet Look

As the fashion mogul she is, Blair did not disappoint with her outfit choice for the party; however, she did not take this fashion decision into her hands. Her dress was custom-made and designed by Tamara Ralph.

Blair graced the grounds at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), holding a black cane with a curved silver handle that complemented her daring, sheer dress, which was a statement to her advocacy for disability visibility.

The cane she proudly flaunted was more than a fashion statement; it served as her mobility aid for the night due to her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). The “Cruel Intentions” star has kept her battle with the illness in the spotlight. Last year, she attended the Vanity Fair party with a different mobility aid: her service dog, Scout.

Selma Blair Advocates For People With Disabilities Through The Fashion World

In 2023, Blair collaborated with her friend and designer Isaac Mizrahi and QVC to produce an inclusive clothing line that celebrates accessible fashion. The Blast shared that her motive was to help people like her by creating outfits with more accessible features than are readily available.

The collection called  Isaac Mizrahi Live! x Selma Blair was created through help and joined forces with the disability community. The TV star shared that it had been a long-time dream for her since her diagnosis in 2018. The pair drew inspiration for the adaptive clothing fits from the 53-year-old’s determination and fortitude to push through despite her pain and struggles.

The clothing line’s features include easy-open necklines, stretch fabrics, magnetic closures, and flat seams, all made in accordance with universal design principles. Mizrachi also took time to incorporate other qualities, such as washability, affordability, and the use of very soft textiles.

The ‘Legally Blonde’ Star Draws Support From Her Son

Blair shares her teenage son, Arthur, with her ex-boyfriend Jason Bleick. With MS, which may affect a patient’s vision, cognitive abilities, and balance, the actress notes that most times her fatigue gets overwhelming. Coupled with the fear of losing her voice to the disease, she strives to make as many memories with her son as possible, including her recent venture to record music for Arthur.

The Blast reported that as she navigates through her career, illness, and being a single parent, she finds comfort in having Arthur by her side. Last year, in an interview, the movie star praised her son for being “brave” and always taking “great care” of her when she needed support amid her MS battle.

Blair’s support system has played a pivotal role in her journey. She continues to create awareness about her condition by sharing regular updates with the public. Her strong advocacy pushed fellow screen star, Christina Applegate, to get tested for MS when she started experiencing the tingling sensation in her feet. Applegate, upon noticing this symptom, got her diagnosis for multiple sclerosis in 2021.

Selma Blair’s Journey Has Been A Rough Path 

The actress who shared the news of her illness, writing “I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy,” also opened up about the difficulties she faced in healthcare. She revealed that she faced a ton of gender bias and misdiagnosis in the medical world.

Blair explained that doctors dismissed her pain and symptoms, attributing them to menstruation and relationship-related issues. She recounted a time when a doctor told her to get a boyfriend to help take away the pain she was going through.

“I knew the pain was real. I thought it was. But I did start to convince myself, ‘You’re overly sensitive. There’s nothing wrong with you. Get it together, you lazy, lazy whatever,’” she shared. Blair also noted that her male peers who experienced similar symptoms were taken seriously and attended to immediately, while she was often dismissed.

Before her diagnosis came through, the older male doctors she saw labeled her as dramatic and never even ordered an MRI to investigate the reason behind the balance issues, headaches, and recurring fevers she complained about.

Jamie Foxx was one of the names mentioned by Michael B. Jordan during his acceptance speech at the 95^th Academy Awards.

Foxx later returned the love with a series of emotional posts on Instagram celebrating his former co-star’s big Oscars victory. The pair previously worked together in the 2019 legal drama “Just Mercy.”

Jordan took home the trophy for Best Actor after earning widespread acclaim for portraying twin characters in the period vampire film “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler.

In one of his posts, Foxx was full of praise for Jordan’s performance in the film, especially the fact that he played two roles.

For this, the “Django Unchained” star argued that Jordan deserved two Oscars.

Jamie Foxx Says Michael B. Jordan Is ‘Operating In Rare Air’ After Oscars Win

As he accepted his award, Jordan made a point of acknowledging every Black winner of the accolade before him.

“I stand here because of the people who came before me,” the actor said. “Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. And so many others who kicked doors open so that actors like me could walk through them.”

Foxx appeared overjoyed to welcome Jordan to the exclusive club. He also promised him a worthwhile after-party to celebrate the achievement.

“Congratulations, my brother,” Foxx wrote. “You’re operating in rare air right now. Celebrate it to the fullest… and trust me, the after-party is going to be crazy.”

Foxx Shared Multiple Instagram Posts In Jordan’s Honor

As the evening went on, Foxx shared several Instagram posts celebrating Jordan’s historic achievement.

In one of the uploads, he reposted a clip of the newly crowned Best Actor delivering his speech acknowledging those who paved the way for him. Foxx captioned the moment: “Words can’t express how proud I am of you. You deserve this and so much more. Congratulations, my brother.”

The multi-talented star shared several other tributes, including montages highlighting Jordan’s many roles throughout his career.

One clip featured Jordan’s character from “The Wire” asking, “So, how do you become a king?”

Another montage showed Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character Rocky Balboa declaring, “It’s your time.”

Jamie Foxx Says Jordan ‘Changed The Culture’

Foxx and Jordan have frequently spoken about each other with deep admiration, even before they eventually co-starred in “Just Mercy.”

In 2018, Foxx hosted the BET Awards, where he praised the cultural impact of Jordan’s performance in “Black Panther.”

“You moved everybody; everybody was moved by that. You changed the culture,” Foxx said.

He then invited Jordan to the stage and asked him to repeat a line from the film that Foxx described as “so significant for today.”

The Killmonger actor responded by quoting his character’s powerful final words from the movie: “Burn me in the oceans with my ancestors [who] jumped from the ships because they knew that death was better than bondage.”

The ‘Black Panther’ Star Calls Foxx His ‘Big Brother’

That same year, the pair joined forces for a basketball shoot-off as part of Jordan’s MBJAM’s fundraiser for Lupus LA.

Speaking to ET Online on the sidelines of the event, Jordan revealed that the sport had actually played a key role in strengthening his relationship with Foxx.

“I met Jamie when I was really young and first moved out here,” Jordan said. “Playing basketball together, we had a lot of mutual friends, and he’s just always been a mentor and a big brother to me.”

The “Creed” star also expressed his admiration for Foxx’s wide range of talents. “He’s a multi-faceted, talented man who can do so many different things,” Jordan said.

Jamie Foxx Promotes His New Song ‘Somebody’ On Instagram

Over the past year, Foxx has been steadily returning to the spotlight following the serious medical emergency he suffered in 2023.

Before celebrating Jordan’s Oscar win on his Instagram, the singer had already taken to the platform to promote his latest single.

“Somebody” is the title of Foxx’s new ballad, which he released on the eve of Valentine’s Day this year.

In the post, the artist can be seen holding a rose and standing on a boat deck out on the ocean at night.

Superimposed on the image is text that reads: “Jamie Foxx. Somebody. Available on all streaming platforms.”

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for Paradise Season 2 Episode 6.

If viewers thought that the first season of Hulu’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi series Paradise was intense, the show’s return ups the ante on a variety of fronts. Not only does the story finally move beyond the Colorado bunker to confirm what life has been like for the survivors left behind on the surface, but the situation inside Paradise has never been more fraught, with increased security and monitoring even before Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) makes an extreme move to take her power back. On the surface, Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) has flown away from the bunker in an effort to reunite with his wife, Teri (Enuka Okuma), but their reunion is proving more complicated than he could have foreseen.

Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with several cast members, including Brown and Nicholson, about some of their characters’ most pivotal moments over the first six episodes. Over the course of the interview, which you can watch above or read below, Brown explains why the Dan Fogelman-created series will never become too bleak, while Nicholson reveals what Sinatra is thinking about that big group, led by Thomas Doherty‘s Link, that just showed up outside the bunker, as well as her ever-complicated dynamic with Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom).

COLLIDER: Sterling, there’s a lot more story that takes place outside the bunker this season, including flashbacks with new characters and a really strong sense of what it’s been like for survivors on the surface, but it always feels like the show circles back to emphasizing the innate goodness in people. What kind of conversations did you and Dan [Fogelman] have about always trying to showcase kindness between the survivors over the tone that a lot of these other post-apocalyptic narratives tend to take, where they’re a little bit more brutal?

STERLING K. BROWN: I think that’s an astute observation, and I think that’s sort of core to who Dan is as a person, and what he wants to point the world towards, is that in a global catastrophe, what have you, there’s a tendency to either become very selfish or selfless, and that you can afford and try to keep things to yourself, or you can open yourself up and recognize that there is a greater level of community and existence that we have when we share ourselves with each other, rather than keeping ourselves apart.

So, I think he wasn’t interested in the bleakness of the world so much as how it affects people and what it pulls out of you. I think in his own little way, he’s always saying that moving towards the light is good for everyone. It’s not a zero-sum game, right? I think especially in today’s world, there’s this prevailing feeling that if somebody gets something, somebody else has to lose something. The rising tide can lift all boats. A win for me can be a win for everybody else. So, I think it’s subtle, but I think it’s present, for sure.

Julianne Nicholson Reveals Sinatra’s True Intentions Toward Link’s Group in ‘Paradise’ Season 2

“No one else can come inside.”

Image via Hulu

What’s happening on the surface sits in sharp contrast to what’s happening in the bunker in Season 2, where there’s this increased sense of paranoia, law and order have really taken this more militaristic feeling. Julianne, Sinatra still sits at the heart of it. Even though, initially, you believe that she may be knocked down, she’s not out at all.

BROWN: “I get knocked down, but I get up again…” [Laughs] That’s great.

I loved the twist [of] the breath mint reveal.

BROWN: [Laughs] It’s so good!

JULIANNE NICHOLSON: I don’t think I knew that when we were filming it. I think that I figured it out later. I don’t know why the ball dropped later. I was like, “Oh, no, it’s not just his breath.” [Laughs]

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Not only does it leave the door open for her to basically walk back through and assume her seat of power again, but then it builds to Link and the caravan that is setting up outside the bunker, and how Sinatra is going to deal with it. Do you feel like Sinatra really has any intention of negotiating in good faith, or is her outlook, “What do I have to do to get rid of these people?”

BROWN: Oh, this is good.

NICHOLSON: No. I think she wants to get rid of these people. No one else can come inside. Paradise has been designed within a fraction of a millimeter of its life to be able to maintain this amount of people for X amount of time. So, she is not interested at all, and she’s trying to give them something that they want and send them on their way.

Sterling K. Brown Explains How He Became the “Baby Whisperer” in ‘Paradise’ Season 2

“I’m kind of like Cesar Millan, but with babies.”

Image via Hulu

Sterling, I just spoke with Shailene [Woodley], and obviously, the circumstances around what happens with Annie this season are so heartbreaking, but it is very sweet to see you carrying around a little baby this season. How much of the parenting knowledge that Xavier extends this season came from your own experience, or Dan’s, or any of the writers’?

BROWN: I have way more experience than Fogelman with kids. He’s just got one, and he’s only about five years in. I’m 14 years into the game, Carly. And let us emphasize, for the spoilers of it, it’s not just a baby. I like little white babies. I like to carry little white babies around. It makes me very happy. I think it’s a delightful picture. No, I love babies. Actually, my whole career, I’ve always had babies and children in my sphere, and off-camera, I will go to the nurse or to the moms, and I hang out with the babies so we get a sense of comfort with one another, so when we get on screen with each other, the baby knows me. It is one of my favorite things to do. I’m kind of like Cesar Millan, but with babies.

NICHOLSON: He’s the baby whisperer.

BROWN: I’m the baby whisperer. So, yeah, it’s great — mostly for me. And I think Dan actually likes putting me in scenes with children because I think he knows I’m just a 50-year-old child to begin with.

NICHOLSON: Wait, because then you have all those little kids, as well.

BROWN: That’s right.

NICHOLSON: That’s so sweet.

Pivoting to an almost mother-daughter relationship that’s maybe a little less maternal, but I get the feeling this season with Sinatra and Jane that Jane almost regards Sinatra as the mother that she never had. Julianne, what do you think Sinatra’s feelings are towards Jane, especially in the wake of the shooting in the finale of Season 1?

NICHOLSON: She’s not giving it all away to Jane at this point. It was so fun to do that scene that Jane and Sinatra have together that our fantastic Ken Olin directed, where they’re figuring out, sussing out, what Sinatra remembers and what Jane feels comfortable sharing. It’s a really fun relationship to play with Nicole [Brydon Bloom]. She’s such a wonderful actor, and I do think she looks at Sinatra as sort of a mentor or mother figure, like somebody to look up to. But Sinatra, again, is keeping both eyes open. Fool me once.

New episodes of Paradise Season 2 premiere Mondays on Hulu.