Continuing on with the Top 25 Highest Grossing Actors of All Time, we’ve arrived at Day 2 covering the thespians making up numbers 20-16. If you missed part 1 featuring nos. 25-21, you can find that here:
Franchises: The Meet the Parents, Night at the Museum and Madagascar series
Highest Grossing Picture: Meet the Fockers – $279 million
Numbers of $100M+ Earners: 11. There’s Something About Mary, Meet the Parents, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Meet the Fockers, Madagascar, Night at the Museum, Tropic Thunder, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Little Fockers, Madagascar: Europe’s Most Wanted.
Lowest Grosser: If Lucy Fell – $2.4 million
19. Emma Watson
Career Earnings: $2.6 billion
Franchises: The Harry Potter series
Highest Grossing Picture: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – $381 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, This is the End, Noah.
Lowest Grosser: The Bling Ring – $5.8 million
18. Liam Neeson
Career Earnings: $2.7 billion
Franchises: The Star Wars, Dark Knight, and Taken series. Clash of the Titans/Wrath of the Titans.
Highest Grossing Picture: Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace – $474 million
Numbers of $100M+ Earners: 7. Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, Taken, Clash of the Titans, The Dark Knight Rises, Taken 2, The LEGO Movie.
Lowest Grosser: Lamb – $5,000
17. Matt Damon
Career Earnings: $2.7 billion
Franchises: The Bourne and Ocean’s series.
Highest Grossing Picture: The Bourne Ultimatum – $227 million
Numbers of $100M+ Earners: 10. Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, Ocean’s Eleven, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Ocean’s Twelve, The Departed, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Bourne Ultimatum, True Grit.
Lowest Grosser: Margaret – $46,000
16. Will Smith
Career Earnings: $2.7 billion
Franchises: The Bad Boys and Men in Black series.
Highest Grossing Picture: Independence Day – $306 million
Numbers of $100M+ Earners: 12. Independence Day, Men in Black, Enemy of the State, Wild Wild West, Men in Black II, Bad Boys II, I, Robot, Shark Tale, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Hancock, MIB 3.
Lowest Grosser: Where the Day Takes You – $390,000
Which stars are at the top of the mountain when it comes to overall domestic box office grosses? Well, this trusty blogger has your answers in my new series. This will be a five-part series revealing the Top 25 Highest Grossing Actors of All Time from #25 to #1.
When looking at the performers who make up the list, you’ll notice some very big names aren’t listed. Brad Pitt. Jim Carrey. Nicolas Cage. Denzel Washington. Why? Well, as you’ll see, it helps to be an actor involved in a successful franchise… or franchises. Therefore – some of the names may well surprise you.
Let’s get to it, shall we?
25. Tommy Lee Jones
Career Earnings: $2.4 billion
Franchises: The Men in Black series. The Fugitive/U.S. Marshals. *Jones also made one time appearances in ongoing franchises with Batman Forever and Captain America: The First Avenger.
Highest Grossing Picture: Men in Black – $250 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 8. The Fugitive, Batman Forever, Men in Black, Double Jeopardy, Men in Black II, Captain America: The First Avenger, MIB 3, Lincoln.
Lowest Grosser: House of Cards – $322,000
24. Stellan Skarsgard
Career Earnings: $2.5 billion
Franchises: The Marvel Universe (Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest/Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. *Skarsgard also appeared in Angels&Demons, the Da Vinci Code sequel.
Highest Grossing Picture: The Avengers – $623 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 9. Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Mamma Mia!, Angels&Demons, Thor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World.
Lowest Grosser: Boogie Woogie – $2,000
23. Helena Bonham Carter
Career Earnings: $2.5 billion
Franchises: The Harry Potter series. *Bonham Carter also appeared in Terminator: Salvation.
Highest Grossing Picture: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – $381 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 9. Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Terminator: Salvation, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Les Miserables.
Lowest Grosser: The Theory of Flight – $73,000
22. Orlando Bloom
Career Earnings: $2.5 billion
Franchises: The Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Hobbit series.
Highest Grossing Picture: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – $423 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 9. Black Hawk Down, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Troy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Lowest Grosser: Main Street – $2,500
21. Julia Roberts
Career Earnings: $2.6 billion
Franchises: The Ocean’s series.
Highest Grossing Picture: Ocean’s Eleven – $183 million
Number of $100M+ Earners: 11. Pretty Woman, Sleeping with the Enemy, Hook, The Pelican Brief, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, Erin Brockovich, Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve, Valentine’s Day.
Lowest Grosser: Fireflies in the Garden – $70,000
That’s all for now! I’ll be back tomorrow with numbers 20-16!
As we’re moving deep into the 2014 Summer Movie Season – on this here blog I’ve been reflecting on what has come in the summers before us. Days ago, I wrote a post reflecting on the hits, notable pictures, and flops from 20 years ago in 1994. Today – we focus on the season from a decade ago with 2004’s summer entries.
We’ll start with the Top Ten, but what is notable is some of the comedies that weren’t on that list that spawned endless catchphrases and became massive cult classics:
Onto the Top Ten:
10. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Domestic Gross: $114 million
Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller teamed up for this well-received sports comedy which received 70% positive support on Rotten Tomatoes. While this was a solid hit, Vaughn’s biggest comedy would come one summer later with a certain pic costarring Owen Wilson.
9. Fahrenheit 9/11
Domestic Gross: $119 million
It’s not often you see a documentary in the top ten summer hits, but in the summer of 2004 the country was focused on an upcoming Presidential election between Bush and Kerry. Michael Moore’s examination of the Iraq War struck a chord with viewers and became the highest grossing documentary of all time.
8. Van Helsing
Domestic Gross: $120 million
Don’t let its #8 ranking fool you because Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman was considered a major flop upon release. With a reported $160 million budget, it couldn’t recoup that stateside and a potential franchise for Jackman stalled immediately. Good thing he’s got another character he can go back to time and time again.
7. Troy
Domestic Gross: $133 million
Wolfgang Peterson’s Trojan War saga starring Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, and Eric Bana under performed a bit domestically (with its reported $175 million budget) but made it up overseas.
6. I, Robot
Domestic Gross: $144 million
While not reaching the heights of his previous summer hits Independence Day or Men in Black – Will Smith’s I, Robot did respectable business. Based on a short story by Isaac Asimov, it received mixed reviews from critics and a planned sequel never materialized.
5. The Bourne Supremacy
Domestic Gross: $176 million
Goodwill left over from the 2002 original The Bourne Identity propelled this Matt Damon sequel to gross over $50 million more than its predecessor. A third Bourne feature would follow three years later before Damon left the franchise and Jeremy Renner took over in 2012.
4. The Day After Tomorrow
Domestic Gross: $186 million
Roland Emmerich returned to doing what he does best (showing the world getting destroyed) and audiences rewarded him for it. Starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhall, Tomorrow is the highest non-sequel on the list and it took in over half a billion worldwide.
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Domestic Gross: $249 million
Alfonso Cuaron took over directing duties from Chris Columbus in this third franchise entry. While many (including myself) consider this the best of the series, it surprisingly has the lowest domestic gross of all eight Potter flicks.
2. Spider-Man 2
Domestic Gross: $373 million
Generally considered one of the best superhero movies of all time and the best of this particular franchise, Spider-Man 2 was a massive hit even though it couldn’t quite match the $403 million performance of the 2002 original.
1. Shrek 2
Domestic Gross: $441 million
DreamWorks Animation easily ruled the summer as the sequel featuring the vocal work of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz took the top spot. Of the four Shrek entries, it is the biggest grosser and outshined its predecessor by nearly $180 million dollars.
Beyond the top ten, there are four particularly notable pictures which achieved major cult status:
14. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
It made a decent $85 million upon release, but as we all know, the Will Ferrell comedy has gone onto to becoming one of the most quoted flicks in memory. A 2013 sequel followed.
15. The Notebook
Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, The Notebook caused audiences to fall in love with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams and brought in $81 million.
27. Napoleon Dynamite
With a tiny $400,000 budget – the quirky comedy Napoleon Dynamite with Jon Heder came out of nowhere and posted a $44 million domestic gross. Like Anchorman, it became an endlessly quoted picture.
38. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
It made a meager $18 million upon release, but this stoner comedy became an instant cult classic and spawned two sequels.
And now we move to the flops of the summer:
21. The Stepford Wives
Frank Oz’s remake of the 1975 film cost $90 million to make and earned just $59 million. Critics weren’t impressed and audiences ignored the sci-fi comedy starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, and Christopher Walken.
25. King Arthur
Training Day director Antoine Fuqua teamed up with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley for this retelling of the medieval legend. With a $120 million budget, Arthur tanked stateside with only $51 million.
29. Catwoman
Warner Bros. surely regrets spending $100 million on this critically lambasted Catwoman feature which starred Halle Berry and Sharon Stone. It earned only $40 million. The silver lining for the studio: one summer later, a certain Chris Nolan would reinvigorate their superhero fortunes with Batman Begins.
And that’s what was going on ten years at the multiplexes, my friends!
Last summer I wrote two blog posts discussing that season’s top films (and flops) from 20 years ago and 10 ten years ago. In that spirit, we shall do it again beginning with the summer movie season of 1994 some two decades in our rearview.
While we may be focused on Godzilla and the X-Men and Spider-Man and Transformers and not yet trained dragons in 2014, summer 1994 proved that when it came to predicting the #1 highest grossing picture, you never knew what you were going to get.
As I did last year, I will start with the top ten grossing pictures from 10 to 1 and then discuss some other notable titles, as well as some flops.
10. Wolf
Domestic Gross: $65 million
Mike Nichols may be known more for dramatic titles such as The Graduate, Carnal Knowledge, and Silkwood – but in 1994 he turned to the horror genre with Wolf, a mature retelling of the Wolfman tale. He got some big names to contribute – Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, and James Spader. The film received mostly positive reviews and I count myself as a fan.
9. The Client
Domestic Gross: $92 million
Josh Grisham fever was its peak at this time as The Firm with Tom Cruise and The Pelican Brief with Julia Roberts were blockbusters the previous year. The Client with Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones continued the hot streak even though it didn’t reach the grosses of the aforementioned pics. Sarandon received an Oscar nomination for her role and the movie spawned a short-lived TV series one year later.
8. Maverick
Domestic Gross: $101 million
Mel Gibson reteamed with his Lethal Weapon series director Richard Donner for this western/action/comedy based on the 1950s TV show. Jodie Foster and original series star James Garner rounded out the cast. Critical reaction was mostly positive and while the $100M haul was solid, its gross was a bit on the low end of domestic expectations.
7. The Mask
Domestic Gross: $119 million
In February of 1994, Jim Carrey became a massive box office force with his starring debut Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. This special effects driven comedy would go even further in solidifying that status. It also introduced the world to Cameron Diaz, in her first major movie role. A sequel in 2005 Son of the Mask minus Carrey was quickly and deservedly forgotten.
6. Speed
Domestic Gross: $121 million
A surprise hit – the well-constructed and suspenseful Speed from director Jan de Bont turned Keanu Reeves into an action star and gave Sandra Bullock her breakout role. Dennis Hopper was a rock solid villain, too. Like The Mask, this too spawned a ridiculed sequel in 1997 minus Reeves.
5. Clear and Present Danger
Domestic Gross: $122 million
Harrison Ford was fresh off his megahit The Fugitive when his second Jack Ryan flick Clear and Present Danger managed to out gross its predecessor Patriot Games two years earlier by $40 million dollars. It remains the highest grossing Jack Ryan picture domestically.
4. The Flintstones
Domestic Gross: $130 million
Many expected the film version of the famous Hanna-Barbera cartoon to be the summer’s top grosser with its huge marketing tie-ins. It didn’t turn out that way, though its $130M take was decent. Reviews were mostly bad, however, and while Universal planned this as a franchise – we would never see John Goodman as Fred, Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma, Rick Moranis as Barney, or Rosie O’Donnell as Betty return. A 2000 “sequel” with an all-new cast fizzled.
3. True Lies
Domestic Gross: $146 million
The previous summer, Arnold Schwarzenegger had experienced an unexpected box office flop with Last Action Hero. His reteaming with Terminator director James Cameron in this action/comedy got him back in the good graces of audiences. This well-reviewed flick also featured a fine performance from Jamie Lee Curtis as Schwarzenegger’s wife who’s oblivious that he’s an international super spy. The pic also has the distinction of featuring career best work from Tom Arnold!
2. The Lion King
Domestic Gross: $312 million
Disney was five years into its animation resurgence (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) when this came along and out earned them all. A classic from the moment it was released, The Lion King remained the highest grossing traditionally animated picture until just last year when Frozen overtook it. The film is also well-remembered for its Elton John soundtrack.
1. Forrest Gump
Domestic Gross: $329 million
If you would’ve polled 100 people in early 1994 as to what would be the summer’s biggest earner, I’ll venture to guess nobody would’ve said Forrest Gump. The journey through history of a simple yet remarkable man captured the hearts of audiences across the U.S. upon its July release. The reward? Besides being the year’s largest hit, it also earned Oscars for Best Picture, Director (Robert Zemeckis) and Actor (Tom Hanks), earning the performer his second Academy Awards in consecutive years following his 1993 Philadelphia victory. It also spawned a whole lotta catchphrases.
Outside of the Top Ten, here are some other notables flicks from the season 20 years ago:
12. The Crow
Arriving in theaters more than a year after star Brandon Lee was tragically killed on the set of the film, The Crow resonated with audiences to the tune of a $50 million gross.
13. Natural Born Killers
Oliver Stone’s wild tale of media sensationalism gave Woody Harrelson his first acclaimed dramatic role. The controversial pic, costarring Juliette Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, and Robert Downey, Jr., earned a solid $50 million.
And now… for the flops of the season:
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold whiffed with both critics and audiences. While the 1991 original earned $124 million, the sequel managed a sad $43 million. Sequelitis also caught up with Eddie Murphy as Beverly Hills Cop III also was drubbed by critics and viewers alike. The third installment took in $42 million while the first earned $234 million in 1984 and II made $153 million in 1987.
Universal Pictures was hoping to turn The Shadow with Alec Baldwin into a franchise, but its meager $32 million gross ended that prospect in a hurry.
Wyatt Earp starring Kevin Costner was looked at as a potential blockbuster but mixed reviews and the fact that well-received Earp flick Tombstone had come six months prior meant this only made a paltry $25 million.
Finally, while Julia Roberts had already starred in successful rom coms – it turned out filmgoers weren’t clamoring to see her chemistry with Nick Nolte in the flop I Love Trouble, which petered out at $30 million.
And there you have it, folks! That’s what was happening 20 years ago at multiplexes across the nation. I’ll be back with my overview of summer 2004 very soon!
Think there’s too many sequels this summer? Of course you probably do. We’ve had Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Hangover Part III, Monsters University, Despicable Me 2, The Smurfs 2, Grown Ups 2, Red 2, and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. That’s ten by my expert counting abilities… or the number of fingers on both your hands (I hope). And there’s Kick-Ass 2 opening Friday. That goes up to eleven.
If we journey back ten summers ago, though, 2013 seems a little light when it comes to sequels. The summer of 2003 gave us 14, yes 14, sequels. Some did well. Others… not so much. Last week, I went over the summer of 1993 and showed you the Top 10 Hits from twenty years ago.
Tonight, we do the same for 10 years ago where half the list is sequels. I’ll cover the others as well, in addition to some notorious Lone Ranger size flops from a decade past. Let’s go!
10. Seabiscuit
Domestic Gross: $120 million
Before he moved on to direct the first Hunger Games picture, Gary Ross had a sizable hit with this true life horse tale starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, and William H. Macy. It picked up a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. There was no sequel for this… though Seabiscuit: Back in the Saddle begs to be made.
9. 2 Fast 2 Furious
Domestic Gross: $127 million
Call me crazy, but I’m in the minority in believing that this sequel actually improved on the first one. 2 Fast 2 Furious knows it’s trash but has fun with it. It did not match the $144M domestic haul of the original but that didn’t stop this film franchise from rolling on… and it still is.
8. Hulk
Domestic Gross: $132 million
Don’t let the fact that it ranks #8 fool you. Hulk from director Ang Lee was considered a pretty big disappointment after it managed its $132M gross after a massive $70 million opening. Why did it fall so fast? Well, audiences pretty much hated it. I don’t think it’s terrible, but it left much to be desired. 2008’s The Incredible Hulk was an improvement.
7. Bad Boys II
Domestic Gross: $138 million
Will Smith’s second sequel in two summers (2002’s Men in Black II came first) was exactly what you’d expect from Michael Bay: big and kinda dumb with elaborate action sequences and lotsa stuff blowin’ up!
6. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Domestic Gross: $150 million
It’s certainly third in quality after the terrific first two entries in the series, but Terminator 3 is passable entertainment (even if Arnie is starting to show his age by this time).
5. X2: X-Men United
Domestic Gross: $214 million
Generally considered the best of the franchise so far (I agree, though First Class is close), X2 solidified the X-Men series as one of high quality after a very solid first entry in 2000.
4. Bruce Almighty
Domestic Gross: $242 million
Jim Carrey experienced some box office disappointments in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but Bruce Almighty brought him back in a huge way. He was wise enough not to participate in the disappointing sequel, Evan Almighty.
3. The Matrix Reloaded
Domestic Gross: $281 million
Many analysts figured this was the film to beat in the summer of 2003. Its $281M haul was terrific, but it left some moviegoers wanting more. They took their frustration out on the third entry, The Matrix Revolutions, which came out later that year (it earned a mere $139 million). My opinion: does it hold a candle to the original? No. Does it have one of the greatest action sequences ever? Yes… the freeway chase.
2. Pirate of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Domestic Gross: $305 million
It may be easy to forget now, but Johnny Depp was not a bankable star ten years ago and Pirates was certainly not considered a surefire hit. Then it came out and audiences went crazy over it (Johnny even got his first Oscar nomination for it). Sequels of lesser quality would follow… and are still coming.
1. Finding Nemo
Domestic Gross: $339 million
Pixar managed to rule the summer of 2003 with this fish tale that family audiences embraced. The studio is finally getting around to making a sequel which comes out in 2015.
And now for the other sequels…
There was Spy Kids 3D, which earned a solid $111 million. And American Wedding, which took in $104 million. Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle was a bit of a letdown. It made $100 million but the original made $125M. There was Legally Blonde 2, which earned $90 million (barely less than the first in 2001). Freddy vs. Jason scared up $82 million. Rugrats Go Wild took in $39 million. Jeepers Creepers 2 made $35 million.
Lots of sequels, huh? There are two more, though, that were major duds. First – Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. The Angelina Jolie flick made $65 million, only half of what the 2001 original earned ($131M). Ouch.
And then there’s the horrible movie idea that is Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd. Apparently New Line wasn’t bright enough (dumb… if you will) to realize that audiences might not want to see a Dumb and Dumber pic without Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Who knew? The result: a $26 million gross. The first one made $127 million. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb… DUMB!!!
There were more box office flops that weren’t sequels. How about The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, an ill-conceived idea based on Alan Moore’s graphic novel that managed only $66 million. It also marked Sean Connery’s final film appearance unless he decides to come out of retirement (unlikely).
We have Hollywood Homicide, which proved that moviegoers weren’t keen on a buddy cop comedy with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett. It earned just $30 million.
And finally… Gigli. This Ben Affleck-Jennifer Lopez vanity vehicle is one of the more well-known flops of all time. The Bennifer collabo made an embarassing $6 million.
And there you have it, my friends! Your summer movie history from ten whole years ago…
As we move towards the end of the summer 2013 movie season, I thought it would be interesting to revisit the movies that captured audience’s attention some 20 long summers ago. While crowds this summer have been drawn to Iron Man, the Minions, and Superman – it was a different story two decades ago. The top ten hits of summer ’93 reveals a surprising number of adult-oriented fare mixed with family pics… and especially an extinct species ruling everything. After going through the Top 10, I’ll also touch on some big misfires that season… equivalent to this year’s The Lone Ranger or White House Down.
Here we go:
10. Rookie of the Year
Domestic Gross: $53 million
In summer 1993, it was Dennis the Menace that was expected to be the season’s biggest family flick. It didn’t turn out that way (it was #11). Instead, its underwhelming performance paved way for Rookie of the Year to break into the top ten. A high-concept comedy about a 12 year-old breaking into the big leagues, Rookie was a solid performer that kind of came out of nowhere. And it’s got Gary Busey in it!
9. Rising Sun
Domestic Gross: $63 million
Based on a Michael Crichton bestseller, Rising Sun stars Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes as mismatched detectives investigating a murder that may have been perpetrated by the Yakuza. I remembered not liking this very much when I first saw it, but it’s grown on me since. This, by the way, will not be the end of seeing movies based on books by Crichton on this list. Far from it…
8. Dave
Domestic Gross: $63 million
A warmhearted and fun comedy from director Ivan Reitman, Dave stars Kevin Kline as a doppelganger for the President of the United States. When the real POTUS falls into a coma, Dave is recruited to become leader of the free world. If you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth it with fine performances from Kline and Sigourney Weaver as the First Lady.
7. Free Willy
Domestic Gross: $77 million
Another family flick that exceeded expectations, this whale tale captured the hearts of audiences… and it’s got that syrupy but effective Michael Jackson song in it too!
6. Cliffhanger
Domestic Gross: $84 million
After a number of box office disappointments in the late 80s and early 90s, Sylvester Stallone made a big comeback with Cliffhanger, a highly entertaining action flick. Also features some delicious overacting from John Lithgow as the main villain.
5. In the Line of Fire
Domestic Gross: $102 million
Fresh off winning Best Picture and Best Director for Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood kept the hot streak going with this terrific thriller about an aging Secret Service agent who might have met his match. John Malkovich is fabulous as a demented ex-Government operative who is determined to take out the President.
4. Sleepless in Seattle
Domestic Gross: $126 million
This effective and well-regarded rom com teamed up Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan with the late Nora Ephron for the first time in a loose remake of An Affair to Remember. The film was a huge hit for Hanks and later that year, he would star in Philadelphia, for which he won the first of two Oscars in a row.
3. The Firm
Domestic Gross: $158 million
Based on the enormous John Grisham bestseller, The Firm was eagerly awaited and it capitalized with huge b.o. numbers. From director Sydney Pollack, its all-star cast features Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Holly Hunter, and…. Gary Busey!
2. The Fugitive
Domestic Gross: $183 million
Quite simply, The Fugitive is one of the greatest action thrillers ever made. Period. Based on the well-known TV series, Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Richard Kimble in director Andrew Davis’s thrilling pic. Tommy Lee Jones won Best Supporting Actor as the lawman chasing the good doc.
1. Jurassic Park
Domestic Gross: $357 million
There was little doubt that Steven Spielberg’s dino epic would be the summer’s #1 picture and it certainly delivered. For those too young to have experienced it in the theater, its visuals at the time were truly mind-blowing. They still are. Jurassic has spawned two inferior sequels (a fourth is being made), but the original is still a special film.
And now for the disappointments…
Many analysts 20 years ago had Last Action Hero pegged to be the summer’s #2 highest grosser after Jurassic. After all, it starred Arnold Schwarzenegger (the biggest movie star on the planet at the time) and was from director John McTiernan, who made genre classics Predator, Die Hard, and The Hunt for Red October. It didn’t turn out that way. Publicity for the pic was toxic with rampant stories of a bloated budget and bad test screenings. Last Action Hero grossed a disastrous $50 million. Truth be told, in hindsight, it’s far from a great film but not nearly as bad as its reputation.
Another high-profile flop: Sliver. Based on another bestseller (from Ira Levin), the film received a lot of publicity due to it being Sharon Stone’s follow-up to the blockbuster Basic Instinct. Audiences rejected it wisely after stories of a troubled production and negative reviews. It earned only $36 million. While the film is mediocre at best, it does feature UB40’s top-notch version of “Can’t Help Falling In Love”… so let’s all enjoy it, shall we?
In 1992, a “Saturday Night Live” skit turned into box office gold when Wayne’s World made a killing. Months later, the same could not be said for Coneheads. It made an anemic $21 million.
And finally… summer 1993 proved that a popular video game does not make a popular movie. Especially if it’s just completely terrible. That was the case for Super Mario Brothers starring Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, and Dennis Hopper. Mario and Luigi’s movie careers ended with an embarrassing $20 million gross.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane, my friends!
Hip hop has been going strong for over 30 years and the musical genre once seen as a fad is now a permanent part of the soundtrack of our lives. The world of rap has also turned out an impressive array of artists who’ve translated their talents from the music world to the silver screen. Tonight on the blog, my personal list of the Top Ten Rappers Turned Actors.
10. Ice-T
Before becoming a reality TV star and having a hit show with “Law&Order: Special Victims Unit”, Mr. T was one of the O.G. rappers to become a movie star, with credits that include New Jack City, Ricochet, Trespass, and Surviving the Game.
9. RZA
The founder of the groundbreaking group Wu-Tang Clan makes the list just as much for his behind-the-scenes work in film. Last year, he directed the Russell Crowe martial arts flick The Man with the Iron Fists. RZA also brilliantly did the score for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films. His straight acting credits include Ghost Dog, American Gangster, and Funny People.
8. Ludacris
The “Stand Up” rapper earns his place here due to being part of the massively successful Fast and Furious franchise and appearing in an Oscar-winning Best Picture, 2005’s Crash. That same year, he gave a solid supporting performance in Hustle&Flow. We’ll forgive him for Fred Claus. But he also gets points for his song “Get Back” being featured so memorably with Tom Cruise dancing to it in Tropic Thunder.
7. LL Cool J
LL’s actual movie career has been spotty at best, filled with box office disappointments that include Toys and Rollerball. On the bright side, there was Any Given Sunday. However, it’s his TV career that gets him this spot with a successful sitcom “In the House” and hit drama series “NCIS: Los Angeles.”
6. Tupac Shakur
As with his great rap career, who knows how big Tupac’s movie career would have become? He was well on his way before that fateful Vegas night in 1996. The late rapper’s credits include Juice, Poetic Justice, Above the Rim and Gridlock’d.
5. Eminem
Memo to Marshall Mathers: make another damn movie! His 8 Mile in 2002 was hip hop’s Purple Rain and proved the artist to be quite a good actor. Since then, he made a cameo as himself in Funny People and on “Entourage”.
4. Queen Latifah
The “U.N.I.T.Y.” rapper received an Oscar nomination for Chicago, headlined the hit comedy Bringing Down the House with Steve Martin, and was featured in other titles ranging from Set It Off to Hairspray. Latifah also starred in the hit FOX comedy “Living Single”.
3. Ice Cube
Who would’ve thought one of the most controversial rappers at one time would transition his career to starring in family-friendly titles like Are We There Yet? He made a splash with his debut in John Singleton’s 1991 classic Boyz N The Hood. Other credits include the Friday franchise, Anaconda, Three Kings, the Barbershop films, and 21 Jump Street. He directed 1998’s hit The Player’s Club.
2. Mark Wahlberg
There may be a whole young generation who don’t even remember “Marky Mark” as a hip hop artist. Talk about a successful transition! Wahlberg’s movie credits are truly impressive: Boogie Nights, Three Kings, Planet of the Apes, The Italian Job, The Other Guys, The Fighter, and Ted, to name a few. He was Oscar nominated for The Departed. Quite an accomplishment for someone who was once best known for rapping with his shirt off.
1. Will Smith
No real contest here. His films have earned a combined $2.6 billion domestically. This includes the smash hits Independence Day, Enemy of the State, I Robot, Hitch, and I Am Legend. Of course, there’s also the Bad Boys and Men in Black franchises. And there’s two Oscar nominations – for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness. And there’s that hit TV show that got him started acting in the first place, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. DJ Jazzy Jeff’s movie career has been considerably less impressive.
There’s your top ten, my friends! Other rappers that have made their mark in movies include DMX, Snoop Dogg, T.I., Mos Def, and Eve.
Of course, there are always example of popular rappers (at the time) making missteps:
And we have also have the occasional actor who wrongly thinks he can rap:
So, based on history, keep an eye on 2 Chainz or Drake or Nicki Minaj coming to a theater near you. And how long until Macklemore gets that Oscar nomination?
Since the beginning of this century in particular, the superhero film genre has exploded with nearly all major comic book stars getting their movie… or in several cases, movies. Every summer now brings us 2 or 3 tentpole titles with superheroes as the headliner. The 2013 summer frame is no different. This Friday, we’ll see the eagerly awaited Iron Man 3. In June, the Superman franchise gets restarted with Man of Steel. In July, Hugh Jackman is back as The Wolverine. This November – a Thor sequel. Next summer, we see new entries in the Spider-Man, Captain America and X-Men franchises.
With all the talk in the movie world focusing on Mr. Tony Stark this week, I felt it was time to reveal my personal list of Top Ten Superhero Movies. I will start by saying this – I’m not a comic book guy. Nothing against them (far from it) but I simply never got into reading them. So my judgments are in no way based on faithfulness to the source material – a factor that fanboys understandably often use.
And with that said, here we go:
10. X-Men: First Class (2011)
After the disappointing 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand and underwhelming X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009,many including I were skeptical about X-Men: First Class in the summer of 2011. Those fears were quickly alleviated. Matthew Vaughn’s restart of the franchise has a cool 1960s vibe and terrific performances from James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Charles Xavier and Magneto. The sequel out next summer, which brings in the characters of the original trilogy with the new cast, sounds promising.
9. Watchmen (2009)
Based on Alan Moore’s beloved graphic novel, Watchmen is a dark and challenging experience that is a fascinating spin on the superhero genre. Director Zack Snyder gives us a visual feast and the fact that he’s directing this summer’s Man of Steel is reason enough to be excited.
8. Batman (1989)
I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the first Batman from director Tim Burton. Yes, the later Chris Nolan entries would be an improvement, but 1989’s original is a lot of fun with Jack Nicholson hamming it up gloriously as The Joker. Batman would change the way movies were marketed forever and is in many ways responsible for opening the door for the flood of superhero flicks to follow.
7. Iron Man (2008)
No one was really sure how this picture would perform when it kicked off the 2008 summer movie season. We quickly discovered how flat out awesome Robert Downey Jr. would be as Iron Man/Tony Stark. The rest is history. It’s hindered a bit by a disappointing last half hour, but otherwise the first Iron Man is a triumph.
6. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Sam Raimi’s Spidey trilogy got off to a strong start with the 2002 original, but it’s the sequel where Raimi was free to employ his trademark style. Spider-Man 2 is a blast as Spidey battles Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock. I was never a huge fan of Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, but the second installment in the franchise is a winner.
5. X2 (2003)
Just like with the Spidey franchise, the X-Men franchise saved the best for second. I’m a big admirer of the original as well, but it’s X2 that excels. Bryan Singer would leave the franchise after this one, leaving Brett Ratner to helm the just OK third installment. Singer would go on to direct his own disappointing superhero movie, Superman Returns. He’ll return to the X-Men franchise to try and redeem himself with the First Class sequel, out next summer.
4. Superman (1978)
Richard Donner’s event pic is the true O.G. superhero flick, with Christopher Reeve well-cast as Superman/Clark Kent and Gene Hackman having a blast as Lex Luthor. The sequel is very good, too. However, the third and fourth installments were pretty bad.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
Yes, I know it’d be #1 on many lists. We all know how awesome Heath Ledger is as The Joker and how exciting and tense the movie is. There just happens to be two others I’d put a little higher.
2. The Avengers (2012)
Bringing together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, and Scarlett Johansson in that leather outfit turned out to be a masterstroke. Joss Whedon is now a God among fanboys because The Avengers delivered on every level, including having the largest box office opening of all time. The climactic battle sequence (Cleveland rocks!) is deliriously fun.
1. Batman Begins (2005)
As time has gone by, I’ve found myself partial to Chris Nolan’s first crack at the Batman legend. Don’t get me wrong – The Dark Knight is great and The Dark Knight Rises is solid, too (it almost made the list). Batman Begins gets my personal top spot because Nolan brilliantly reshaped the franchise with Christian Bale perfectly cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne.
And there you have it! Quibble away with my choices if you must. And let’s see if Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, or The Wolverine join the top ten when they debut over the next couple of months.
***Blogger’s Note: I originally wrote this piece on Facebook notes in June 2012, a few months before my blog’s inception. The list hasn’t changed since then, so I’m republishing for your viewing pleasure.
Two reasons I write this today:
1) I love making lists
2) I get asked a lot “What’s your favorite movie of all time?” since people know I’m a big movie buff.
So, after a lot of thought, here are my top ten movies of all time. But before that, here’s an extensive list of other movies in no particular order that are probably in my top 50 or so:
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Star Wars (1977), National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), Vacation (1983), Reservoir Dogs (1992), Halloween (1978), Seven (1995), Groundhog Day (1993), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Boogie Nights (1997), North by Northwest (1959), Psycho (1960), E.T. (1982), Jaws (1975), Goldfinger (1964), Casablanca (1943), Midnight Run (1988), Scarface (1983), Alien (1979), Kill Bill – Vol. I and II (2003/2004), The Game (1997), Rear Window (1954), Strangers on a Train (1951), The Departed (2006), Heat (1995), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Dr. Strangelove (1964), The Jerk (1979), Dumb and Dumber (1994).
And… now… my Top Ten of All Time (for today at least)
10. The Exorcist (1973) – quite simply the most scary thing ever put to film. I tried to watch it when I was 13 and had to turn it off, but was later able to appreciate this is the most effective and by far the greatest horror film ever made.
9. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – the best Star Wars film. Period.
8. Taxi Driver (1976) – one of many Martin Scorsese masterpieces with Robert De Niro’s best performace ever.
7. Airplane! (1980) – my favorite comedy of all time. I laugh hard every single time I watch it, which has been many times.
6. Die Hard (1988) – the best action movie of all time and it’s influenced pretty much every action movie that’s followed it. Hans Gruber rivals Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter as the best movie villain ever.
5. Vertigo (1958) – you’ll notice above I have several other Hitchcock movies listed. Vertigo gets in the Top Ten because it was Hitchcock at the top of his game, with an amazing performace by Jimmy Stewart and the incredible twists and turns you expect in a movie from the greatest director ever.
4. GoodFellas (1990) – every time I watch it, I can’t believe how brilliant it is. Scorsese’s best with unforgettable performaces, camera work, soundtrack, etc… It’s got everything.
3. Pulp Fiction (1994) – Quentin Tarantino has literally yet to make a movie I don’t love, but Pulp Fiction is his masterpiece so far. I saw this movie more times in the theater than any other movie. I’ve seen it countless times, but still find myself watching it every time it’s on.
1/2. The Godfather and The Godfather – Part II (1972/1974) – … and it’s not even close. There’s these two movies and then everything else. The only thing I can’t decide is which to rank #1 and #2, which could change on a day to day basis. So I’ll just list them as the top two. They’re both perfect movies. I’ve often said Pacino’s performance and transformation from a kid out of military school in #1 and a cold-blooded Mafia don in #2 is the best film acting ever.
It’s been nearly two decades since Mr. Jim Carrey has become a giant movie star. In 1994, Carrey capitalized on the promise he showed on the groundbreaking Fox sketch comedy show “In Living Color” by starring in three huge hits: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber.
His impressive box office streak started in ’94 would experience speed bumps in later years, with forgettable comedies like Fun with Dick and Jane and Yes Man. He would also delve into dramatic territory with titles like Man on the Moon and The Majestic.
This Friday, Carrey co-stars with Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi in the comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. With Carrey in the limelight right now, it felt like an appropriate time to name my top five Carrey pictures.
There’s a lot you won’t find on here. I didn’t particularly care for either of the Ace Ventura pictures. Or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. While I liked The Mask and Bruce Almighty (two of his biggest hits), they didn’t make the cut. Same with Me, Myself, and Irene. And while he was an obvious choice to play The Riddler in Batman Forever, the film itself was a mediocre exercise that previewed the disaster that would be its follow-up, Batman and Robin. So what did make the cut? Read on:
5. Liar Liar (1997)
This perfect vehicle for the star has a simple and effective premise: Carrey is incapable of lying after his neglected kid makes a wish. Not an easy task for the fast-talking lawyer Carrey plays. Audiences responded and Liar Liar earned $181 million domestically.
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
This strange mix of romance, comedy, and science fiction from director Michel Gondry (from a clever script by Charlie Kaufman) gave deserved indie cred for Carrey. It features Carrey in a fine performance with the best cast he’s ever worked with, including Kate Winslet, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Wilkinson.
3. The Cable Guy (1996)
Audiences didn’t know what to make of this dark comedy when it premiered in the summer of 1996. The Cable Guy made $60 million domestic, well below Carrey’s previous five pictures. Since then, it’s become a cult classic. It should be. It’s filled with hilarious moments and a wonderfully out there Carrey performance. It features a terrific supporting cast including Matthew Broderick, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and Leslie Mann. Ben Stiller did directing duties.
2. The Truman Show (1998)
Carrey’s first foray into dramatic territory is still his best. Peter Weir’s The Truman Show is a film as timely today as it was fifteen years ago (maybe more so), focusing on a seemingly normal fellow who has no clue his entire life is being filmed as a reality show. Carrey gives a fantastic performance, as does Ed Harris as the show’s creator.
1. Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Most of us can quote the film endlessly and it’s one of those movies you pretty much have to watch when it’s on. Dumb and Dumber is simply one of the funniest movies ever made. The Farrelly Brothers masterpiece features one of the greatest comedy duos of all time – Mr. Carrey and Mr. Jeff Daniels. Just reading this, you’re probably thinking “Pills are good!!!”, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance…”, and about that poor parakeet Petey.
So there you have it. My personal faves for Jim Carrey.
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