By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 22 seconds ago

It’s hard to imagine Dakota Fanning in the Star Trek universe (although we’d kill to have her get a cameo in Strange New Worlds). However, we got the next best thing in 2017 with the Fanning-starring dramedy Please Stand By. It’s the kind of movie that will make you laugh and cry (sometimes at the same time), and you can now stream this ambitious indie film for free on Tubi, YouTube, and Pluto TV.

A True Star Trek Fixation

What’s the premise of the movie? Dakota Fanning plays a young autistic woman who brightens up her days living in a San Francisco group home by fixating on Star Trek, her one true passion. Eventually, Paramount holds a screenwriting contest, and Fanning’s character gets ready to mail in her mammoth 450-page Trek script in the hopes of winning the $100,000 prize.

When she misses her chance to mail it, she decides to deliver the script herself, resulting in a Quixotic quest that we do not doubt Mr. Spock would have deemed “fascinating.”

Please Stand By is a dramedy in the truest sense of the word, and most of what will make you alternate between laughing and crying comes from Dakota Fanning’s powerhouse performance. As a young autistic woman, she is particularly vulnerable to scams and swindles, and the movie offers an unflinching look at the many dangers she faces once she steps outside of the familiar environment of the group home.

But the movie finds a lot of comedy in her character’s love of Star Trek, leading to occasional broad comedy scenes (our favorite involves a police officer who wins her trust by speaking to her in Klingon).

An Exercise In Earnestness

Star Trek infuses the entire film in ways both subtle and obvious, and it’s difficult not to view Dakota Fanning’s self-appointed mission as her own Away Team trip to unfamiliar lands. Much like Kirk or Picard before her, she must leave an area where she is safe and knows everyone around her and venture into a strange new world full of exotic characters and bizarre situations.

She’s not literally going where “no one has gone before,” of course, but she’s going where she hasn’t gone before, and the film offers a very wholesome theme that this kind of inner journey is just as valid as external ones.

And speaking as huge Star Trek nerds, we were pleasantly surprised by what a love letter this movie ended up being to the franchise started by Gene Roddenberry. In the hands of a different writer, Dakota Fanning’s character could have been a mean-spirited satire of Star Trek fans as awkward nerds who don’t really understand anything outside their favorite fictional world.

Fortunately, she comes across as someone who is both earnest and guileless, and we are left with the impression that it’s better to be a pure-hearted fan that doesn’t understand the world than to be like the honorless petaQs who take advantage of her.

A High-Water Mark For Dakota Fanning

In the hands of director Ben Lewin and screenwriter Michael Golamco, Please Stand By delivers the kind of heartwarming story that makes us smile through our tears.

Critics didn’t fully know what to think of it: on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently has a 58 percent rating from critics, who collectively deemed that Dakota Fanning gives it enough of a Star Trek focus to put a new spin on familiar coming-of-age beats. Audiences, meanwhile, gave the film a 70 percent rating, and that number is likely to go up now that more fans can stream the movie from multiple touchpoints.

Interestingly, the movie has a fairly explicit connection to Star Trek: Dakota Fanning is joined by Alice Eve, who plays her sister. As you may remember (though if you blocked it out, we wouldn’t blame you), Eve played Carol Marcus in the J.J. Abrams film Star Trek Into Darkness. Actor and Comedian Patton Oswalt is also in the film, and five years after this movie was released, he played a minor Trek role by lending his voice to an episode of Picard.

Long story, not very short, Please Stand By is a great film filled with wonderful actors and headlined by what may be a career-best performance from Dakota Fanning. It’s simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, and it has enough of a geek focus to keep even the most jaded Star Trek fans entertained. And if you’d like to experience it yourself, no transporter is necessary.

As of this writing, Please Stand By is streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, YouTube, and Fandango at Home.

By Sean Thiessen
| Published 27 seconds ago

Tom Cruise’s name is nearly synonymous with stunts. These days, he is best known for his high-flying antics in Top Gun: Maverick and for his long-running role in the Mission: Impossible franchise. But in films like the 1993 thriller The Firm, Tom Cruise flexes not his muscles but his dramatic chops, and his gripping performance is streaming now on Paramount+.

It Took A While, But A Dream Team Was Assembled

Based on author John Grisham’s novel of the same name, The Firm is a taut legal thriller packed with riveting twists and moral dilemmas that make the genre so compelling. Tom Cruise stars as Mitch McDeere, a fresh-faced Harvard Law School graduate who takes a cushy position at a prestigious law firm. The pay and perks come at the cost of grueling hours, which Mitch spends discovering that the firm is not as interested in upholding the law as it is bending it. When the shady dealings of Mitch’s new employer yields a body count, the FBI approaches Mitch to help take the firm down.

Tom Cruise anchors The Firm, joined by Gene Hackman, Holly Hunter, Ed Harris, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Hal Holbrook, David Strathairn, and Gary Busey. The shimmering ensemble turns in a set of powerhouse performances under the direction of legendary filmmaker Sydney Pollack.

However, the cast of the film almost looked very different. Charlie Sheen and Jason Patric were early contenders for the role of Mitch, but producers Scott Rudin and John Davis wanted to go bigger. As the budget nearly tripled from $15 million to $42 million, Rudin and Davis asked Tom Cruise to lead The Firm.

Saturday Night Fever director John Badham and Die Hard director John McTiernan were both in the running to helm The Firm, with Tom Cruise even expressing interest in sitting in the director’s chair. Politics and personalities turned the situation into a mess, and Paramount Communications president Stanley Jaffe handpicked Sydney Pollack to direct.

Gene Hackman did not join The Firm until the film was already deep into shooting. Meryl Streep was considered for Hackman’s role, but John Grisham fought the gender swap, delaying casting.

A Transitional Period For Tom Cruise

The Firm eventually made its case in theaters on June 30, 1993. Fueled by the star power of Tom Cruise and the rest of the film’s ensemble, The Firm surged to a $270 million gross, the highest for an R-rated film all year. The Firm also became the highest-grossing adaptation of a John Grisham novel ever made.

During The Firm’s opening week, John Grisham and Michael Crichton accounted for the top six books on the New York Times paperback bestseller list. In 1993, Crichton also saw the biggest adaptation success of his career with the release of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park.

The writers were not the only ones having banner years in ‘93. The Firm was nominated for two Academy Awards. Holly Hunter was up for Best Supporting Actress, and composer David Grusin was nominated for Best Original Score. Tom Cruise had previously been nominated as an actor for 1990’s Born on the Fourth of July, and would later be recognized for Jerry Maguire and Magnolia.

Performances from the cast of The Firm were, to many critics, the best component of the movie. Tom Cruise and Holly Hunter were particularly celebrated, but the film’s screenplay left many critics and audiences wanting more.

Adapted by David Rabe and Robert Towne, the screenplay for The Firm takes a bit of the stink off of the protagonist that Grisham crafted in his novel. Though Tom Cruise still delivers a compelling performance, some argued that polishing the film’s main character zapped energy, suspense, and ethical conundrum from the story.

The Firm was one of the last movies Tom Cruise made before Mission: Impossible; only Interview With the Vampire separates them. The Firm is arguably the end of an era in Cruise’s career, delivering the final performance of Cruise as a young man and paving the way for his image as a more adult actor.

The Firm may not be the most famous Tom Cruise movie, but it is a gripping entry in his vast and varied filmography. His career looks different than it did in 1993, but his commitment to great movies has never changed. Action star Tom Cruise is awesome, but we will also have a soft spot in our hearts for the Tom Cruise of movies like The Firm, and we can visit him anytime on Paramount+.

Bold and the Beautiful explodes as Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) is feeling so good about her launch over at Logan. But there is trouble coming and it might be down to Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and a huge legal issue that could stop Katie Logan (Heather Tom) and Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) right in their tracks and kill Hope’s collection for good.

So, we’re going to follow some red flags that Bold and the Beautiful has been waving about what could go wrong that could derail Hope’s big launch and it could actually ruin Katie’s fashion house when she has nowhere left to turn.

Bold and the Beautiful: Red Flags and Contractual Issues

All right, let’s talk about red flags. So, one big one popped up in late April when Hope and Steffy were talking about Forrester Creations putting her line on hold. Hope was upset. But Steffy said they had to prioritize Eric Forrester’s (John McCook) new couture collection to try and erase his collection for Logan from everybody’s minds.

And Hope pushed back and she reminded Steffy that she has a contract with them and that promises were made to her. But she pushed back on Hope and then Steffy was saying that the contract allows Forrester Creations the right to adjust and make business decisions. And she insisted to Hope that this is just good business. But she told Steffy that it felt personal.

Hope’s Rocky Road at FC on B&B

I cannot recall one time ever over the years that Hope brought up having a contract with them. And yes, that makes sense in the business world. But not the soap world necessarily. Because Steffy has cancelled Hope’s line or put it on hold many times in the past.

And Steffy even fired her before and you know, Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) made her do that walk of shame. But never once in all that time did Hope mention having a contract with Steffy and Ridge’s company. But I think there’s a reason for it to come up when Hope was talking to Steffy before Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton). And Katie started pitching Hope to come to Logan and work where she’s wanted.

Then once Liam and Katie convinced her to join them, Hope told Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) that she was going to take a leave of absence. And Hope, Steffy, and Ridge all have worn out the phrase leave of absence. And it sure seemed bizarre for Hope to even take a leave rather than just quit.

Bold and the Beautiful: Hope’s LoA is Huge Flag

Why wouldn’t she just tell Steffy she’s tired of all the broken promises and just say, “I quit.” and walk out. So, that’s the second red flag. This is all very deliberate. If Hope had quit, then it would draw a legal line in the sand. Because she would no longer be an employee of Steffy and Ridge’s anymore. But as it stands now, Hope is still very much an employee of Forrester Creations and she’s now sneaking around with her brother Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) and going in the back door of Spencer Tower to work on that collection.

And Brad Bell rarely pulls off surprises as a writer and he usually drops really heavy-handed hints. If you’ve been watching Bold and the Beautiful for a while, I’m sure you already know this. And since they’ve beaten it to death that Hope is on a leave of absence, that’s got to be important.

Bold and the Beautiful: The “Hope” Wordplay and Foreshadowing

By the end of this week, Steffy is demanding answers from Katie. However, it may not be about Hope. I’m not sure that Steffy figures it out by then. It feels too fast. Unless, of course, she drops by Brooke’s house to talk to Hope, who should be relaxing and enjoying her leave from Forrester Creations. But she’s not been at Brooke’s place much. Hope has been non-stop over at Logan collaborating with Deke. Because they are racing to get that launch ready to go.

And the last time that Steffy was over there talking to Hope, that was when another red flag cropped up that I want to mention. It’s them using the word hope as a noun, not a name. It happened again when Katie was talking to Brooke. She was grilling Katie about her next designer and what is ahead for Logan.

And this was when Brooke was basically saying that Katie’s doomed to fail since the Eric thing was a one-off. Then Katie said she wasn’t going to fail and said, quote, “I have hope.” And she meant it literally, as in, “Hey, Brooke, I have your daughter Hope. That’s why I won’t fail.”

And that was the second time it happened like that. So the first time was in a chat between Steffy and Hope over at Brooke’s place. That’s when Steffy was trash-talking Logan and then Hope asked Steffy if she really thought that Katie was doomed to fail and that her fashion house wouldn’t last. So, Steffy said she didn’t see any hope for Logan at all.

Bold and the Beautiful: Legal Ramifications and Contract Breaches

So, with those red flags, I feel like the Bold and the Beautiful writers are heavily foreshadowing a rough road ahead for Katie as she tries to rush out the Hope Collection and get it launched before Brooke, Ridge and Steffy find out. But here’s the thing. Even if Katie and Bill get the launch released and they blindside them, even if Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) finds the real big blue diamond and it’s around Hope’s neck when she and Deke walk the runway at Logan. And even if they get applause and accolades from the fashion press, it can all still blow up in their faces.

I think Steffy is going to be the one who gets suspicious and follows up. But no matter whenever she and Ridge find out that Hope went behind their backs and was creeping around with Katie and the Logan bunch and the Spencer bunch, there’s going to be H E double hockey sticks to pay. And Steffy might pursue a legal remedy. Because they keep flogging the words leave of absence over and over. I think it’s about more than just Hope lying to her mom Brooke. It might be about how Logan is going to go down in flames.

Bold and the Beautiful: Hope Looks Doomed

Even if Hope’s collection goes ahead and makes its official debut, even if it’s a hit with the press, even if it sells a ton, none of that may matter. And here’s why. Steffy and Ridge are still Hope’s employers, she is still an official Forrester Creations employee. And as she mentioned, she is under contract. And under California law, that could give Steffy and Ridge a whole lot of room to do something legal to ruin Katie’s fashion house and it may actually destroy it.

In California, a creative contract like Hope would have would include clauses. One would be exclusivity, meaning she can’t work for another company while she is still a Forrester Creations employee. There may also be a clause about no moonlighting. That’s common.

That means Hope has to be loyal only to Forrester Creations while an employee. So, she can’t go work for anybody else for any reason. and sneaking around with Deacon to make a new collection for Katie would put Hope in breach of contract. So, it’s very possible that Steffy could push Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and tell him to file an injunction to stop Hope’s collection at Logan and that could wreak havoc on Katie and Bill.

Bold and the Beautiful: Things Look So Bad for Logan

So, even if the collection launched and sales come in for Hope’s line, an injunction would bring that all to a screeching halt. They wouldn’t be able to fulfill the orders. Bill might actually have to refund all the sales. Steffy and Ridge could also sue for damages in addition to getting an injunction blocking the launch.

And if the launch still happens before any legal action is taken, the court could just say fine, Katie can’t fulfill the sales orders. So, Carter might be able to sue for Forrester Creations ownership of those designs. By the way, also if Deke had sketched any of them while he was still at Forrester Creations, even if they were rejected for the Hope for the Future collection. Because they would have been done on Forrester Creations time and with their sketch pads and all that kind of stuff.

So, Steffy might actually take down Logan because Hope lied and took a leave of absence instead of just quitting. However, if it goes that way, I’m going to go ahead and call it sloppy. Because Bill’s a businessman who knows contracts and he would have insisted that Hope quit. Because her signing a contract with them at Logan isn’t enough while she’s still active under her Forrester Creations contract. So, we’ll see how it goes.

Nicole Kidman may not have been sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, but she still found herself part of the action. The Oscar winner had an adorable reaction after Taylor Swift and sisters Este and Alana Haim honored her with custom Knicks-themed T-shirts during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The trio’s pun-filled fashion choices quickly went viral as the New York Knicks mounted a historic comeback against the San Antonio Spurs.

Swift and the Haim sisters leaned fully into wordplay for the star-studded matchup, wearing DIY tribute shirts inspired by celebrities and the Knicks.

Swift rocked a shirt reading “Stevie Knicks,” a nod to Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks, while Este Haim sported “Knickole Kidman” and Alana Haim wore a shirt reading “Knickleback,” referencing the rock band Nickelback.

The group’s courtside look instantly caught attention online as fans praised the playful fashion moment. Mariska Hargitay even joined in on the fun, later changing into her own “Stevie Knicks” shirt after arriving at Madison Square Garden in a simple black top.

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Nicole Kidman Had The Sweetest Response

Kidman clearly appreciated the shoutout. After clips of Swift and the Haim sisters showing off their custom shirts spread online, the “Big Little Lies” actress reposted a video of the trio to her Instagram Stories. “Right there with you girls!” Kidman wrote, adding basketball and heart emojis.

She later reshared a Reel by the Haim sisters that featured the group’s pun-heavy fashion moment. “My girls! I just wanna have fun!” Kidman captioned the upload.

So far, neither Stevie Nicks nor Nickelback has publicly reacted to the now-viral tribute shirts.

Taylor Swift’s Love Of Puns Is Nothing New

For longtime Swift fans, the playful shirt choice felt very on brand. The Grammy winner has become known for leaning into puns and wordplay, especially in recent years.

Swift famously sparked a wave of viral fan reactions after revealing she spends a surprising amount of time thinking about sourdough bread, even gifting homemade loaves to friends and decorating bread bags with handwritten puns inspired by her music.

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Fans have since created countless Taylor-inspired baking jokes online, from “Are You Bready For It?” to “You Knead To Calm Down” and “It’s A Loaf Story, Baby Just Say Yeast.”

Madison Square Garden Was Packed With Celebrities

The Knicks’ dramatic 107-106 comeback win, the largest in NBA Finals history after erasing a 29-point deficit, brought out plenty of famous faces.

Alongside Swift, the Haim sisters, and Hargitay, stars including Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock, Spike Lee, and Sydney Sweeney all packed Madison Square Garden for the unforgettable Game 4 thriller.

Swift and Jenner were later seen sharing a friendly courtside hug following the Knicks’ dramatic win, a moment that caught fans’ attention given Swift’s complicated history with Jenner’s sister, Kim Kardashian.

Taylor Swift’s Courtside Appearance Comes Amid Wedding Buzz

Swift’s headline-making night at Madison Square Garden also comes as she prepares for her next major chapter with fiancé Travis Kelce. The Grammy winner and the Kansas City Chiefs star announced their engagement in August 2025 after nearly two years of dating, quickly becoming one of entertainment’s most talked-about couples.

In recent weeks, speculation surrounding the pair’s wedding plans has intensified, with rumors swirling that Madison Square Garden itself could play a role in the celebration later this summer. While neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed the details, reports suggest the couple is planning a highly private, tightly controlled event.

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A report further claimed the venue could accommodate thousands of guests, fueling fan speculation that Swifties might be included in the festivities or surrounding celebrations.

Why Pulling Off A Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce Wedding Could Be A Major Challenge

If reports surrounding Swift and Kelce’s rumored wedding plans are true, keeping the event private may prove to be one of the biggest hurdles.

Luxury wedding planner Colin Cowie, who is not involved in the couple’s alleged plans but has organized weddings for celebrity pairs including Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, as well as Don Henley and Sharon Summerall, recently weighed in on the unique challenge a Swift-Kelce wedding would present.

“Everyone’s going to want to know what it would be like to be a front row attendee at this wedding,” Cowie said, also suggesting that maintaining privacy for an event of that scale would require extensive planning and security. “It’s going to be a massive undertaking to keep this under locks.”

For a couple with Swift and Kelce’s level of fame, and one of the most dedicated fanbases in pop culture, keeping wedding details from leaking could prove nearly impossible.

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Social media users are reacting to an apparent post from Karmelo Anthony‘s alleged girlfriend following his conviction and sentencing for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf.

RELATED: UPDATE: Karmelo Anthony Found Guilty & Sentenced To 35 Years In Prison For Fatal Stabbing Of Austin Metcalf (PHOTOS)

More On The Apparent Post From Karmelo Anthony’s Alleged Girlfriend Following His Conviction & Sentencing

According to The U.S. Sun, Karmelo Anthony’s alleged girlfriend, Valeria Perez, took to TikTok following his conviction and sentencing on Tuesday, June 9. In the caption of a video reposted to an apparent backup account, Perez wrote, “Hold your head high, my sweet boy. You’re not alone we’re fighting for you, always. I love you more than words [red heart emoji]…”

See the TikTok, which featured various photos of the pair, by clicking here.

Social Media Users Are Reacting To The Apparent Post From Karmelo Anthony’s Alleged Girlfriend

TikTok users entered the comment section of the post from Karmelo Anthony’s alleged girlfriend.

TikTok user Diona Lane wrote, “Justice for Karmelo”

While TikTok user Kennedi Mccorkle added, “girl be so real…”

TikTok user Bash wrote, “Praying for you both princess”

While TikTok user ragexrae added, “Girl don’t make me cry… he had a family!”

TikTok user YKbosswhit wrote, “Stay strong sweetheart…”

While TikTok user Kamm.3_ added, “Your dude has the temperament of a child. Threw half of his life over a damn tent and ego…”

TikTok user Jaysten wrote, “Justice for Karmelo”

While TikTok user thejuicendsqueeze added, “FREE MELO… continue loving him out loud ! We are all routing for him !”

More On His Conviction & Sentencing

As The Shade Room previously reported, Karmelo Anthony was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday, June 9. Furthermore, the decision was handed down by an all-white jury following the fatal stabbing of fellow high school student Austin Metcalf on April 2, 2025. The stabbing reportedly occurred after an apparent conflict during a track meet.

Subsequently, his lawyers reportedly filed their notice of appeal. This, as his alleged uncle and parents spoke on his sentencing, and as a new mugshot of the 19-year-old surfaced.

RELATED: UPDATE: Karmelo Anthony’s NEW Appearance Has Social Media In Shock Amid State Prison Transfer (PHOTO)

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’

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

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’

Image via Universal Pictures

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’

Image via Miramax Films

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’

Image via Warner Bros.

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

Image via United Artists

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’

Image via Warner Bros.

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’

Image via Warner Bros.

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’

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

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’

Image via Universal Studios

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’

Image via 20th Century Studios

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!

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Release Date

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July 15, 1988

Runtime

132 minutes

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Writers

Jeb Stuart, Steven E. de Souza, Roderick Thorp

Producers

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Lawrence Gordon, Joel Silver

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Adventure stories go way back. We’re talking centuries, or even millennia. Long before fantasy epics, spy thrillers, and action blockbusters dominated popular culture, readers were captivated by tales of daring voyages, hidden treasure, dangerous quests, and journeys into the unknown.

With that in mind, this list looks back at the greatest adventure books ever written, the ones that truly built the genre into what it is today. From 17th-century classics to more modern bangers, these tales have come to define what adventure should be. They span a range of styles and tones, but all offer entertaining plots, memorable characters, and a sheer sense of unadulterated excitement at venturing into the unknown.

10

‘Robinson Crusoe’ (1719)

Image via Daniel Defoe

“I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side.” Robinson Crusoe remains surprisingly readable for a novel that’s over 300 years old. The title character is stranded on a deserted island following a shipwreck, where he must draw on all his resourcefulness to make it out alive. It’s one of the most influential adventure books, introducing so many of the genre’s core ingredients: the castaway hero, the struggle against nature, survival through ingenuity, and the exploration of unknown lands.

Beyond its impact on the adventure genre, Robinson Crusoe is widely regarded as a milestone in English literature more generally, and a major breakthrough in the development of realist fiction. Indeed, the book’s attention to detail was unusual for the time, going in-depth with everything from building shelter and growing crops to taming animals.

9

‘Don Quixote’ (1605)

Image via Maple Press

“Too much sanity may be madness.” At first glance, Don Quixote boasts a simple premise: an aging man reads too many chivalric romances, loses his grip on reality, and wanders Spain believing himself to be a heroic knight. Accompanied by his practical and increasingly loyal squire Sancho Panza, Don Quixote embarks on a series of wandering misadventures, mistaking inns for castles, windmills for giants, and ordinary people for figures from epic legend.

Yet Miguel de Cervantes transforms that setup into one of the most important novels ever written. The protagonist’s delusions create endless humor, but the novel never treats him as merely a joke. Readers laugh at his mistakes while also admiring his courage and idealism. In many ways, he’s more noble than the supposedly sane people around him. Indeed, the character gave us the word “quixotic,” someone or something that is exceedingly idealistic.

8

‘Eye of the Needle’ (1978)

Image via Penguin Publishing Group

“You can’t stop what you can’t see.” Eye of the Needle is a taut espionage story from Ken Follett, the author of beloved historical epics like The Pillars of the Earth. It follows Henry Faber, a ruthless German spy operating in Britain during World War II, who uncovers crucial intelligence about the upcoming Allied invasion plans. As British intelligence closes in, Faber becomes trapped on a remote island alongside a lonely, unhappily married woman, creating a deadly psychological cat-and-mouse game.

The narrative momentum here is off the charts. Follett keeps us hooked by constantly escalating the danger and upping the stakes. Readers understand the danger Faber poses, which makes every close call feel agonizingly suspenseful. It also helps that Faber himself is an unusually complex antagonist. Rather than being a cartoon villain, he’s intelligent, disciplined, resourceful, and often disturbingly sympathetic despite his brutality.

7

‘Master and Commander’ (1969)

Image via W. W. Norton & Company

“The lesser of two weevils.” This book was the basis for the Russell Crowe blockbuster Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. In it, Captain Jack Aubrey and ship surgeon Stephen Maturin navigate naval warfare during the Napoleonic era aboard the HMS Sophie. A huge part of what makes the novel extraordinary is its immersive authenticity. Author Patrick O’Brian convincingly shows us the ups and downs of shipboard life, down to the painstaking details of nautical maneuvering.

At the same time, the book is no dry history lesson. The characters are colorful and the action scenes compelling. The naval battles, in particular, are among the finest ever written, emphasizing leadership and strategy as much as raw violence. Every engagement becomes a tense contest of intelligence and nerve, where so much comes down to the captain’s ability to make split-second decisions.

6

‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas’ (1870)

Image via Penguin Random House

“The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe.” Another classic that practically spawned a whole subgenre, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas follows Professor Aronnax after he is captured aboard the Nautilus, a revolutionary submarine commanded by the mysterious, brilliant Captain Nemo. Together, they journey across the oceans, encountering underwater forests, giant sea creatures, shipwrecks, and hidden civilizations beneath the waves.

The book radiates a sense of wonder throughout, envisioning the sea as an almost magical frontier, boasting hidden treasures as well as threats like monstrous squids. This central idea, that of cutting-edge technology transporting people to completely unknown worlds, would form one of the pillars of the entire sci-fi genre. Finally, Nemo himself is simply a great character, idealistic and troubled, neither hero nor villain, driven by competing motivations.

5

‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ (1844)

Image via Penguin Random House

“All human wisdom is contained in these two words: wait and hope.” Revenge stories existed long before The Count of Monte Cristo, but few have ever matched the sheer scale and satisfaction of Alexandre Dumas‘ masterpiece. It centers on Edmond Dantès, a young sailor falsely imprisoned after being betrayed. After years of isolation, Dantès escapes, discovers a hidden fortune, and reinvents himself as the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo in order to systematically destroy the men who ruined his life.

Every stage of the protagonist’s journey feels like an adventure in its own right. The prison escape is thrilling, the treasure hunt is exhilarating, and the Count’s carefully orchestrated campaign of revenge unfolds with the suspense of a masterfully constructed thriller. The novel constantly introduces new twists, disguises, schemes, and revelations to keep readers engaged across its considerable length (1200 pages!).

4

‘The Hobbit’ (1937)

Image via HarperCollins Publishers

“I’m going on an adventure!” The Hobbit is one of the most imaginative, groundbreaking fantasy stories ever, but it’s also simply a wonderful and breezy adventure. Here, the quiet life of comfort-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins is interrupted when the wizard Gandalf recruits him to accompany thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim their mountain homeland from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo encounters trolls, goblins, giant spiders, elves, and the mysterious creature Gollum deep beneath the Misty Mountains.

It’s classic hero’s journey stuff. Bilbo’s growth from a timid homebody into a resourceful adventurer gives the story its emotional power. While the plot is relatively straightforward, it’s hugely elevated by the rich, vivid backdrop. Middle-earth is one of the fully realized places in all of literature, thanks to the depth and care with which J. R. R. Tolkien fleshed out its history, cultures, and languages.

3

‘The Three Musketeers’ (1844)

Image via Wordsworth Editions

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“All for one, and one for all!” Alexandre Dumas strikes again. In The Three Musketeers, young swordsman d’Artagnan travels to Paris hoping to join the King’s Musketeers, only to become entangled in political conspiracies, forbidden romances, and dangerous rivalries alongside Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Dumas writes his story with infectious enthusiasm, constantly propelling the story through duels, secret missions, betrayals, and narrow escapes.

The pace is truly relentless. The plot constantly moves forward, carrying readers from one thrilling situation to the next. Duels lead to conspiracies, conspiracies lead to secret missions, and secret missions lead to even greater dangers. The novel also excels at combining adventure with political intrigue. Set during the reign of Louis XIII, it weaves fictional heroes into real historical events involving powerful figures like Cardinal Richelieu.

2

‘The Lord of the Rings’ (1954)

Image via Harper Collins

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“I wish it need not have happened in my time.” Fantasy literature is divided into two eras: before The Lord of the Rings and after it. Building on the solid foundation of The Hobbit, Tolkien’s magnum opus follows Frodo Baggins after he inherits the One Ring and embarks on a journey to destroy it. He’s joined by a lovable fellowship of companions, though their path is perilous and haunted by tragedy.

Importantly, the adventure here is driven by character rather than spectacle alone. The protagonists each undergo meaningful growth throughout the story. Sam’s loyalty, in particular, has become legendary because it embodies the novel’s belief that ordinary acts of courage can change the course of history. Aside from the magic and balrogs and giant spiders and orcs, The Lord of the Rings is fundamentally a story about friendship, sacrifice, hope, mortality, corruption, and the burden of responsibility.

1

‘Treasure Island’ (1883)

Image via Cluny Media

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“Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest. Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!” The Platonic ideal of the adventure novel, and the origin point for modern pirate mythology. Treasure Island follows young Jim Hawkins after he discovers a treasure map connected to the legendary pirate Captain Flint. Jim joins an expedition to locate the buried treasure, only to discover that many of the crew members, including the charismatic Long John Silver, are secretly pirates planning mutiny.

The plot wastes very little time, moving quickly from mystery to voyage to conflict. Every stage of the adventure introduces new threats and complications. That said, the book’s greatest strength is probably the characters. Long John Silver, in particular, is a phenomenal creation. He’s charming, intelligent, humorous, ruthless, and endlessly adaptable. Both Jim and the reader are often unsure whether to trust him, fear him, admire him, or all three at once.

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Treasure Island

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Release Date

July 19, 1950

Runtime

96 minutes

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Director

Byron Haskin

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