Category: Money Making

For some of us, 2010 feels like just yesterday—Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” echoed from our chunky iPods, skinny jeans were all the rage, and the first Avatar movie captivated audiences. Once in its awkward teenage phase, Facebook dominated social media with its blue-and-white interface. Digital cameras were all the rage, taking photo after photo, professional or not. It does not feel like 14 years ago, and we are sorry to report that it actually was.

iPods

Remember the thrill of hunting down that perfect new album, importing it to your iTunes library, and curating the perfect playlist? In 2010, iPods were not mere devices but cultural symbols. They soundtracked our commutes, workouts, and study sessions.

Proudly pocketed or clipped to backpacks, they delivered our favorite tunes anytime. Eventually, iPhone memory improved, and streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify entered, offering vast music libraries on-demand, which led to the downfall of the iPod.

Netflix Red Envelope Era

Young people associate Netflix with streaming, but once upon a time, it was a mail-order DVD rental service. When it came out, Netflix disrupted the market with iconic red envelopes, symbolizing convenience and affordability. Let’s not forget the thrill of curating your queue and the suspense of waiting for the next envelope to arrive.

As high-speed internet arose, Netflix pivoted to streaming, eclipsing physical media with its vast, convenient content library. The red envelopes, once symbolic, faded into nostalgia with the streaming era’s dominance.

The World Ending In 2012

Okay, be honest. We all harbored fears of an apocalypse, thanks to the whole “world ending in 2012” prophecy. Whispers about the ancient Mayan calendar sparked theories predicting December 21st, 2012, as doomsday.

This led to disaster movies thriving at the box office, survivalist shows booming, and everyone concocting their theories about the impending chaos. However, the hype promptly died when December 2012 came and went, with the world still functioning as usual.

Phone Books

It was 2010 when we relied on hefty phone books for contacts and local businesses. We flipped through the yellow pages for the business directory, our favorite pizza place, and the white listings to contact our family, friends, and everyone’s home lines.

Though bulky and occasionally outdated, they held a certain charm, proving handy when the internet faltered or batteries died. Today, those trusty phone books are relics, replaced by the sleek magic of smartphones and the omnipresent Google.

Digital Cameras

Before selfies became a daily ritual, posing with friends in front of landmarks or making silly faces with digital cameras was a must. DSLRs were the rockstars of photography—bulky, powerful, and equipped with interchangeable lenses, attracting both amateurs and professionals.

Once smartphones vastly improved their tiny cameras, clicks turned into taps, and digital pinches replaced the whoosh of zoom lenses.

DVDs

Before Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, we’d relish the thrill of choosing a movie—holding the case, reading the back, and envisioning scenes. We’d gather around the TV, popcorn bowls in hand, anticipation buzzing.

Deleted scenes, bloopers, and behind-the-scenes features gave us a sneak peek behind the curtain, deepening our connection with the movie.

Landline

Most kids today can’t imagine sharing one phone with their entire household. Many of us remember the dial tone before pressing the numbers and that satisfying “click” as we hung up.

However, like all things, technology evolved, and sleeker and faster smartphones emerged, transcending physical location constraints. Now, texts fly back and forth with lightning speed.

CRT TVs

CRT TVs, short for Cathode Ray Tube televisions, dominated the market for decades before being overtaken by flat-screen technologies like LCD and LED. Sure, CRT TVs were not sleek; they took up half the room and weighed a ton, and their picture quality was nothing compared to TVs today.

There was something warm about it—or maybe it’s those memories of cozy movie nights with popcorn and friends and the glow of the screen illuminating everyone’s faces.

802.11n Routers

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, 802.11n routers were game-changers, enabling movie downloads in minutes and seamless online activities. Thanks to them, sharing cat videos on YouTube, pixel-free video calls, and relatively smooth online gaming became realities.

However, the reign of 802.11n had to yield to newer, faster Wi-Fi standards like 802.11ac and 802.11ax, leaving our 2010 selves in awe of their unprecedented speeds. Still, the 802.11n router will forever occupy a special spot in our hearts, symbolizing the exhilarating leap into high-speed internet connectivity.

Blackberry Phones

It’s hard to imagine a time when iPhones were second in popularity to bulky Blackberries. These iconic phones offered lightning-speed BBM chats and the joy of crafting emails on a physical keyboard. BlackBerry was unmatched for business users in the early 2000s.

However, trends shifted, and the mighty BlackBerry gave way to the iPhone’s touchscreen and Android’s open-source allure. Suddenly, the once-prized physical keyboard felt a tad old-school.

Gladiator Sandals

Multi-strapped sandals, wrapping up the leg, were the “it” shoe of 2010, adorning celebs, fashion bloggers, and the coolest classmates. Whether a classic flat pair for a music festival or a fierce knee-high version for a night out, gladiator sandals added edge (and some height) to your look.

Yet, like all trends, they faded, possibly due to their popularity or the rise of minimalist styles. But who knows? Maybe they’ll have a comeback someday.

Physical Maps

Who would use physical maps when our smartphones have built-in GPS? In 2010, paper maps, like the iconic Thomas Brothers maps, were indispensable for road trips and navigating towns.

Vibrant colors, intricate lines, and tiny symbols hinted at hidden gems, inviting adventure. Tracing our fingers on paper maps and plotting our course brought a thrill with each turn. Best of all, paper maps never required the internet or failed us at inconvenient times.

Newspaper Classifieds

Recall those Saturdays dedicated to grabbing the hefty newspaper for news and the classifieds section. Before instant Google searches, newspapers were the main avenue for reaching a broad local audience.

Classifieds were brimming with ads—used cars, furniture, job openings, and garage sales. While the digital age brings convenience, it can’t replicate the charm of that Saturday ritual with its ink-stained pages.

Silly Bandz

2010 was when the coolest things on your wrists weren’t Apple Watches but Silly Bandz—those colorful, flexible bracelets made of silicone rubber shaped like animals, objects, letters, and numbers. Sure, the fad eventually faded, replaced by the next shiny thing.

Just thinking about Silly Bandz right now transports you back to a simpler time when trading a sparkly unicorn for a neon-green T-Rex was the most significant decision of the day.

Farmville

Farmville wasn’t just a game but a phenomenon—a social network farming simulation on Facebook. Players created virtual farms, planted crops, and raised animals. You could help friends harvest, trade blue ribbons, and collectively unlock new crops and animals. It was the ultimate icebreaker, sparking conversations and friendly competition.

Unfortunately, the original FarmVille ended in 2020 when Adobe discontinued support for Flash Player, which the game relied on.

24-Hour Walmarts

Walmart started discontinuing 24-hour operations in 2013, and by 2021, all stores had shifted to a standard schedule from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Back then, Walmarts were late-night hangouts or a go-to-stop when you ran out of milk.

Although there are no more 24-hour Walmart stores for understandable safety reasons, it’s a nostalgic thought that we once could buy ice cream and gummy bears at 3 a.m.

Affliction Shirts

Remember rocking those Affliction shirts in the 2010s? Many cool guys saved up for the edgy, alternative, and rock and roll-inspired graphic tees. Trends shift, and today’s fashion landscape may differ, but those Affliction shirts serve as more than just clothes.

They’re a nostalgic portal to a time when individuality reigned supreme, and self-expression wasn’t just tolerated but celebrated.

MySpace

MySpace in 2010 was more than a social media platform; it was a cultural phenomenon—where you could rank your top 10 friends, discover music, and create unique profiles. MySpace’s emo fashion trends embraced individuality and pushed boundaries.

Today, MySpace is still technically alive, but it’s a shadow of its former self, with a smaller user base and a primary focus on music, serving as a promotional platform for artists.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has all kinds of nooks and crannies to hide secrets and Easter eggs. Every cluttered shelf and dark corner is a potential hiding spot for treasure waiting to be found. These spots have been used to their utmost potential in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley to conceal nods to those who made the Wizarding World possible, to the books and movies, and to what had come before.

After reading, try to keep these easter eggs in mind for your next visit to Universal Orlando. Maybe you’ll be able to spot them yourself!

1. Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hog’s Head Tavern Fireplace Initials

The little pub nestled in the back of the Three Broomsticks holds a secret within. No, it isn’t the moving mounted hog head behind the bar (but that is still cool!). It’s on the opposite wall in the form of a fireplace. Depending on how dark it is, it can be tricky to see, but the frame of the giant fireplace has initials carved into it.

Some of those initials belong to the team behind the creation of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including the project coordinator.

2. The Vanishing Cabinet

With the addition of Diagon Alley also came the infamous dark wizard hangout, Knockturn Alley. One of the areas to visit in this dark corner of the world is Borgin and Burkes, complete with a familiar triangular cabinet in the corner.

If that wasn’t cool enough, stick your ear up to it; you’ll hear the little bird Draco Malfoy used to test if it worked chirping. Putting your hand on the door, you’ll even be able to feel it fly around inside.

3. Alastor Moody’s Trunk

The Vanishing Cabinet isn’t the only secret Borgin and Burkes holds. On the opposite side of the shop, you can hear quite the ruckus near your feet. If you follow it, you will find Mad-Eye Moody’s trunk that we see him trapped inside during Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), under a table of odds and ends.

The banging and shouting seem to imply that someone else is trapped inside.

4. Jaws for Jaws

Before Diagon Alley came to Universal Studios Florida, the area was reserved for the attraction based on Jaws from 1975. The ride was actually quite beloved by visitors, so the creators of the Wizarding World paid homage to the opening day attraction.

One way is through various shark jaws filled with teeth scattered around. Take a peak in the big glass cabinet in Borgin and Burkes for one set, and the other is in the window of Mr. Mullpepper’s Apothecary behind the shelves filled with jars.

5. The Hand of Glory from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

If you ever got scared of the dried-out hand that grabs the young Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, be weary when entering Borgin and Burkes.

There is a corner display housing this strange artifact, and if you linger around long enough, it may just try to snatch you, too!

6. The Cursed Opal Necklace

The opal necklace played a decent role in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) as one of Draco Malfoy’s failed attempts to dispose of Dumbledore. However, it first appeared in The Chamber of Secrets when Harry first goes to Borgin and Burkes and sees it for sale.

We can see it in the shop again in the Wizarding World. It is above the grabby Hand of Glory in the same cabinet, complete with the same warning Harry saw when he had first seen it.

7. A Parseltongue Speaking Snake

Close to Gringotts Wizarding Bank is a little shop known as the Magical Menagerie, filled with merchandise themed after different magical creatures. Next to the alley between it and the restrooms, you’ll find a sizable snake in the window. At first, this may look like Nagini, Voldemort’s slithery companion, but it isn’t.

However, that doesn’t stop it from speaking Parseltongue to curious guests. But be weary of telling people what you hear. Sometimes, you may actually understand what the snake is saying, and then you’ll get odd looks from your family after you try to explain that you heard it talk, and now they wonder if you’re the next heir of Slytherin – not that we are speaking from experience or anything!

8. Eavesdropping the Daily Prophet

Walking through the main area of Diagon Alley, you should come across a door with a familiar sign above it for the famous wizard newspaper, the Daily Prophet.

Going up the door and listening carefully, you’ll be able to hear reporters for the Prophet inside working away on their stories.

9. Beverages of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard are an iconic piece of young witches and wizards’ nighttime routine. The stories get plenty of recognition in Diagon Alley in the form of a frequent show sharing the tales with others through the use of puppets and performances.

However, there is another, more subtle method, too, in the form of two beverage locations. First is The Hopping Pot, which takes its name from the story “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot.” The second is The Fountain of Fair Fortune, which gets its name from the story of the same title.

10. A Familiar Owl in Kings Cross

Along with Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, the expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter added a bit of London to Universal Studios Florida. And with London came Kings Cross Station. You can board the Hogwarts Express and Travel to Hogsmeade from here, but while waiting for your train to arrive, be sure to look around.

In the area where you wait to board the train, a cart full of luggage ready to travel to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry can be seen with a famous snowy owl in her cage. Hedwig will look around at the people passing by while her cage rests on the trunk of a certain wizard with the initials “HP.”

11. Gilderoy Lockhart’s Robes

If you ever wanted to get a closer look at a particularly pompous peacock of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, you’re in luck!

Next to other impressive robes, such as those of Professor McGonagall, you can find an outfit that unmistakably belongs to Gilderoy Lockhart in Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.

12. A Mournful Voice in the Girl’s Bathroom

As any good theme park area should, Hogsmead in Islands of Adventure has restrooms or “public conveniences” in this situation. In the girls’ bathroom, the familiar, woeful voice of Moaning Myrtle can be heard.

Apparently, she haunts more than just the Hogwarts’ second-floor girls’ bathroom.

13. A Monstrous Book

Connected to the Owl Post is Dervish and Banges, your go-to place for all things Quidditch in Hogsmeade. But there’s more than just Golden Snitches and Quaffles stored here.

In a cage is a Monster Book of Monsters sleeping peacefully, but be careful standing there for too long; it might just wake up.

14. Restrained Brooms

The fun thing about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is that there are details everywhere you look, even up! Doing just that in Dervish and Banges will result in the sight of three broomsticks tied to posts to stop them from flying about.

These are the Nimbus 2000, Nimbus 2001, and the Firebolt, each owned by Harry.

15. Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent

Hagrid mentioned This specific pesticide a couple of times during The Chamber of Secrets. Well, if you look around in the queue for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, you can spot quite a few cans of the stuff throughout.

Hogwarts must have a nasty slug problem.

16. A Classic Rabbit Trick

During Half-Blood Prince, we get our first glimpse of the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes shop and see a fun trick with the storefront. A giant, mechanized statue resembling the twins stretches out of the front window, moving its face and arm to lift a hat, revealing a rabbit hidden on its head.

The hat lifts again as the camera enters the window, and the rabbit is gone, like a classic magician’s trick. The same effect has been brought to life in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. So keep an eye on the giant Weasley before entering the jokes shop!

17. “Ask Harry”

With the help of Arthur Weasley, Hagrid has multiplied his flying motorcycle to allow guests to ride them as they venture through the grounds around the Forbidden Forest. We can see some of his work on the billboards that are used to visualize instructions for entering the ride while in the queue.

The boards are filled with notes, manuals, part packaging, and an intriguing sticky note with a drawing of a rubber ducky with “Ask Harry” written above it. If you know the question Arthur first asked Harry when they first met, you understand why this note is here.

18. Record References

Next to the entrance of Kings Cross is a facade for a record shop, records in the window and all! There are two little secrets to these displays if you know what you’re looking for. A record titled “Here’s to Swimmin’ with Bow Legged Women” by “The Quint Trio” is another Jaws reference. The line is spoken by the character, Quint, in the film, and the name also alludes to the other two of the film’s trip: Chief Brody and Matt Hooper.

There is also a record for “Joe Sez No,” which is a reference to the book series author J.K. Rowling, who had complete veto power over any ideas from the creative team. Her refusal of different concepts became a running joke and eventually a record.

19. Call to the Ministry

Right outside the record shop in London is a classic red phone that can be entered. On the rotary dial is a label giving a number for the Ministry of Magic. “62442” or “Magic” in phone words.

Calling correctly will allow you to actually reach the Ministry by phone!

20. Shrunken Songs

In Knockturn Alley, there is a window full of shrunken heads that will sing for guests.

They sing different songs each time, but one is “Show Me the Way to Go Home” by Julie London, sung by the main trio in Jaws.

21. An Unseen Carriage Puller

If guests ride to Hogsmeade via the Hogwarts Express, they’ll find an interesting carriage surrounded by trunks and luggage.

The carriage will move by itself a little, revealing that it is drawn by an unseen Thestral.

22. A Robe Belonging to a Painting in Quality Quidditch Supplies

In Quality Quidditch Supplies, there are a few fun references from the books and movies related to Quidditch. However, one is far trickier to place: a black Quidditch uniform in a display case near the back of the shop. There’s no label saying to whom this robe belonged, but if you have ridden Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you have seen it and may not even realize it. In the Gryffindor Common Room area of the queue, there are talking portraits discussing the ride in magical terms.

One such portrait is that of a Gryffindor Quidditch player who torments the other older wizards with his thrill-seeking personality. If you look at him closely, you may notice that his Quidditch uniform differs from the ones we see Harry and the rest of the team wear during the films. This is the robe in Quality Quidditch Supplies! The mannequin displaying the uniform even holds a Quaffle in the same way as the portrait!

23. Hermione’s Yule Ball Dress

In the window of a dress shop in Hogsmeade, a recognizable gown can be seen proudly on display. Hermione’s pink dress that she wore to the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire can be viewed from the shop’s facade window.

Though you can’t enter for a closer look here, Madam Malkin’s has replicas of the dress for sale.

24. A Mischievous Map in Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods

The existing gift shop for Forbidden Journey is Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods. All around, student’s belongings taken by the caretaker can be spotted, including copies of The Quibbler and Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes products. But, one item stowed away in a cabinet is especially eye-catching.

The Marauder’s Map can be found slightly open and active for passers-by to take a peak. The map shows what a few recognizable names are doing throughout the castle.

25. An Intriguing Crate in Front of Hagrid’s Hut

Hagrid’s love for dragons is well-known among fans. After all, he did hatch one from an egg that he named Norbert in the first book and movie! With that in mind, be sure to take a good look at the front door to his hut while waiting to get on Flight of the Hippogriff.

There is a slightly singed crate labeled “Baby Norwegian Ridgeback.” The same type of dragon as little Norbert!

From the moment John Williams’ now-iconic fanfare blared into life alongside the Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope opening crawl, the world George Lucas created has been tied closely to its music. Few, if any, other film franchises have music as instantly recognizable as Star Wars, and while Lucas built the world, Williams brought it to life. Several decades and one corporate takeover later, the Star Wars universe has expanded greatly, and so too have the bounds of its musical identity. 

While Williams will forever be the Star Wars composer, plenty of other talented creators have contributed incredible pieces of music to the franchise. By volume, no one has written more Star Wars music than Star Wars: The Clone Wars composer Kevin Kiner, and Ludwig Göransson brought classic Western flair with a contemporary bent to his work on The Mandalorian.

Here, find the most unforgettable Star Wars music moments in no particular order, most from composers not named Williams (though that composer’s arguably most underrated Star Wars piece does make an appearance.)

Menu Screens – Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

Music by Chris Huelsbeck

Those who didn’t play 1998’s Star Wars: Rogue Squadron on Nintendo 64 or PC may find the game’s inclusion on this list confusing. To those who played the game and its sequels, however, German composer Chris Huelsbeck’s main title theme is unforgettable.

Blaring to life as the game’s title card appears on screen and continuing as players choose their mission and spacecraft, the John Williams-esque fanfare is the perfect accompaniment to the daring actions of the galaxy’s most competent pilots.

“Fields of Dusk” – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Music by Stephen Barton & Gordy Haab

Flying in the face of the Rule of Two, the duo of Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab has proven that harmonious collaboration can yield unforgettable results. The pair composed incredible music for Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, immersing players in the universe in a way that no other Star Wars game music has so fully and consistently.

“Fields of Dusk” appears both in-universe and as underscore, and while the fact that the game should be enjoyed spoiler-free makes it better to omit the exact instances, the piece is worth a listen. Fans of stellar Star Wars music and storytelling should do themselves a service and play this game.

“Ahsoka – End Credits” – Ahsoka

Music by Kevin Kiner (with Sean and Deana Kiner)

Ahsoka broke open the bounds of Star Wars in a way that likely made George Lucas proud. With the series’ episodes often ending with revelations about the universe and the Force itself, the haunting, rhythmic strings of “Ahsoka – End Credits” spurned audiences to reflect on what they had witnessed.

The string-heavy arrangement at the beginning of the end credits, arranged by Sean and Deana Kiner from their father’s original theme for Ahsoka Tano, also brought new musical textures to live-action Star Wars.

“Journey Into the Star Cluster” – Star Wars: Rebels Season 2, Episode 13

Music by Kevin Kiner (with Sean and Deana Kiner)

One of the most unforgettable moments of the entire Star Wars: Rebels series was the end of season 2, episode 13 when the Ghost crew flew into a seemingly unnavigable star cluster. Once again, with the help of Sean and Deana, Kevin Kiner crafted a string suite that felt unlike anything heard before in the franchise.

The music, set against the stunning animated visuals, made for one of the most memorable sequences across live-action and animated Star Wars alike.

First Title Screen – The Mandalorian Season 1, Episode 1

Music by Ludwig Göransson

Ludwig Göransson’s Western-meets-Williams theme for The Mandalorian doesn’t play in full until the end of the show’s pilot episode.

Still, early in the episode when Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin coolly told his quarry “I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold,” and the theme’s trademark whistle and pulsing drums burst to life over the title card, audiences instantly knew that scum and villainy were alive and well in Disney’s Star Wars universe.

Leia’s Introduction – Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 1

Music by Natalie Holt

While introducing a young Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi gave viewers a glimpse of Alderaan, further setting up the tragedy of the planet’s eventual destruction at the hands of the Empire.

Natalie Holt’s elegant “Days of Alderaan” cue, however, that elevates the scene, driving home the beauty and refinement of what would later be lost.

The Obi-Wan/Vader Rematch – Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6

Music by William Ross

Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy promised “The Rematch of the Century” in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the clash between the former master and apprentice was indeed the highlight of the limited series.  John Williams protégé William Ross composed the piece, titled “I Will Do What I Must.”

Like its namesake, the piece harkens back to one of the most compelling moments of the Star Wars prequel trilogy while still standing on its own as a worthy addition to this list.

“Mod Parlour” – The Book of Boba Fett Episode 4

Music by Joseph Shirley, Ludwig Göransson, and Thundercat

The Book of Boba Fett has proven to be a divisive entry into Star Wars canon, but to its credit, the show wasn’t afraid to explore new avenues. One of which is the body modification scene in episode 4, which is paired with a futuristic, bass-heavy groove aptly titled “The Mod Parlour.”

“The Mod Parlour” was written by Joseph Shirley, Ludwig Göransson, and the virtuosic bass player Thundercat, who is featured on the track and even appears in the scene.

Sabine’s Introduction – Ahsoka Episode 1

Music by Kevin Kiner (with Sean and Deana Kiner), Ludwig Göransson and Noah Gorelick, featuring Sarah Tudzin

Introductions are the best way to make an impression, and Sabine’s jump from the animated world of Star Wars: Rebels to the live-action Ahsoka has the perfect music to match.

The concept of what is musically possible in the world of Star Wars continues to expand in the Disney era, as proven by the futuristic rock song “Igyah Kah” by the Kiner family, Ludwig Göransson, and Noah Gorelick, performed by illuminati hotties’ Sarah Tudzin.

Cassian Andor’s Forward March – Andor Season 1 Episode 2

Music by Nicholas Britell

The end of Andor episode 2 feels like a beginning, with Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor striding toward the camera until a quick cut to black. The audience knows dangerous forces are closing in around Cassian and that it is only a matter of time until he is fully on the path to becoming the character first met in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The driving music by Succession composer Nicholas Britell makes the episode stand out which, for seemingly the first time in Star Wars history, features contemporary instruments with no attempt to sound foreign or alien in any way. The episode ends with a full-on rock beat played by a drum set that sounds exactly like a drum set, which captures attention through every smack of the snare. It’s the most terrestrial Star Wars music has ever sounded, and it works like a charm.

Ahsoka’s Exit From the Jedi Order – Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5, Episode 20

Music by Kevin Kiner (with Sean and Deana Kiner)

Ahsoka’s decision to leave the Jedi Order is one of the most impactful moments in all of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Kevin Kiner’s “Ahsoka Leaves” uses John Williams’ iconic Force theme as a starting point, but transitions into a poignant reflection on the young Jedi’s journey as she makes one of the most consequential decisions of her life.

“Jabba Flow” – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

Music by J.J. Abrams and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Was there anywhere Lin-Manuel Miranda wasn’t in 2015 and 2016? Hamilton swept the Tony Awards, Disney enlisted him to write the music for Moana, and he even journeyed to a galaxy far, far away to pen the cantina song for the first live-action Star Wars movie in a decade.

In the movie, the song is performed in Huttese by the band Sh-g Kava (whose lead singer sounds suspiciously like Miranda), and helps provide the atmosphere at Maz Kanata’s castle. The most fun aspect of the song is the fact that the singer name-checks Jabba the Hutt, suggesting that all the major players in the Star Wars films could have their own musical homages. Here’s hoping for an Ewok folk ballad about the exploits of Han Solo.

“Galactic Dreamer” – Star Wars: Visions, “Tatooine Rhapsody”

Music written by Masaya Sakuta & Yoshiaki Dewa. Performed by Nonpe (Original Japanese version) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (English dub)

Star Wars: Visions is a unique anthology series that, despite being outside the main Star Wars canon, offers some of the universe’s most interesting stories. The show’s first season contains the episode “Tatooine Rhapsody”, in which an up-and-coming band called Star Waver performs their song “Galactic Dreamer”.

It’s a straight-up pop-punk piece that may feel a little incongruous even in Star Wars‘ ever-expanding musical identity, but it is inarguably a fun and catchy addition to the universe. The Japanese language version of the song is performed by Nonpe, while none other than Joseph Gordon-Levitt lends his vocals to the English dub.

“The Battle of Hoth” – Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Music by John Williams

The 15-minute piece of music that John Williams wrote to underscore the Battle of Hoth may be the composer’s most underrated contribution to Star Wars.

The piece deftly weaves together elements of William’s best themes like “The Imperial March” and “Binary Sunset” (a.k.a. The Force theme) before launching into a frenzy of activity just as chaotic and desperate as the battle between the Rebellion and the Empire. Paired with the iconic visuals of snowspeeders and AT-ATs, this musical moment represents Star Wars at its best.

In the fickle entertainment industry, critics wield considerable influence, shaping public perceptions of actors and actresses. These actresses have faced a slog of criticism from audiences and film critics, ranging from acting that is too flat or one-dimensional to performances that are too over the top.

These actresses deserve more grace than they’ve been given, either because they’re genuinely talented or, at least, not as bad as they’ve been made out to be.

1. Megan Fox

Bursting onto the scene with her breakout role in Transformers, Fox quickly became a Hollywood sensation, capturing attention with her mesmerizing looks and edgier persona. However, the initial wave of success was accompanied by intense scrutiny, with critics often focusing more on her appearance than her acting prowess.

Undeterred, Fox diversified her roles, showcasing her range in films like Jennifer’s Body, which was unappreciated at the time but has reached cult following status, and Jonah Hex. While some critics dismissed her as a mere symbol, she surprised audiences with her comedic timing in This Is 40 and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People and brought vulnerable depth to the recent thriller ‘Till Death.

Despite having a rocky start with passable performances in the Transformers franchise or as the gimmicky mean girl in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Fox isn’t given enough credit for her performances in the right roles. Her acting is put under extra scrutiny because of her mesmerizing beauty and typecasting as a female symbol. I think failure to break out of this mold largely had to do with her blacklisting after badmouthing Michael Bay and starting to believe everyone’s lack of faith in her acting chops.

2. Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart’s acting career is a tapestry of diverse roles that transcend the boundaries of genre and expectation. Emerging into the limelight with her portrayal of Bella Swan in the Twilight saga, Stewart faced initial skepticism from critics who often associated her with the franchise’s teen idol image.

However, she swiftly proved her acting mettle by choosing unconventional roles in films like Adventureland and The Runaways. Stewart was often panned for having an unexpressive face and lack of charisma. However, her career took a transformative turn with her performance in Clouds of Sils Maria, earning her the prestigious César Award and heralding a new era in her career.

Subsequent projects such as Personal Shopper and Seberg showcased her versatility and willingness to take on complex characters. The Charlie’s Angels reboot was a commercial flop and once again fed into the idea that Stewart gives flat, lifeless performances and is just not very likable.

It wasn’t until 2021 that she would earn widespread praise and critical acclaim in the form of an Oscar nomination thanks to her performance as Princess Diana in the film Spencer. Even as a child, she gave some performances that were ahead of her years, holding her own alongside Jodie Foster in David Fincher’s Panic Room. Much like Robert Pattinson, Stewart is finally breaking away from the limitations the Twilight franchise placed on her.

3. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga made her acting debut as The Countess on American Horror Story and impressed everyone with her acting talent actor transitioning from a career of pop stardom. However, Gaga’s foray into acting wasn’t such a big transition from her theatrical performances in her music videos and live shows and her ability to create strange characters through art and fashion.

The first time I realized Gaga would be an amazing actress was when she played her male alter-ego, Jo Calderone, during her performance of You and I at the 2011 MTV VMAs, fully immersed into character with a speech and corresponding song. Gaga seamlessly transitioned to the big screen with her debut role in A Star is Born.

Her portrayal of Ally Maine earned her an Academy Award nomination and dismantled any preconceived notions about her ability to command a dramatic role. Gaga’s magnetic screen presence and genuine vulnerability in the film showcased a depth of talent that surprised critics and audiences.

Following this success, she continued to flex her acting muscles in the critically acclaimed crime drama House of Gucci, where her embodiment of Patrizia Reggiani further demonstrated her range. However, the reception was much more mixed, and audiences became critical of Gaga’s attempted Italian accent, which viewers described as “terrible” and “nothing like an Italian accent.”

With her casting as Harley Quinn in the upcoming sequel to Joker, people have become skeptical of her acting talent, wondering if she got lucky with a few projects and has become overhyped just because she was a pop star. Gaga was born for a role like Harley Quinn, and her acting isn’t just “good for a pop star,” so the skepticism seems unwarranted.

4. Brie Larson

Since Brie Larson has broken into the mainstream in recent years, she’s lost a lot of the indie appeal she had in her earlier career. This is thanks to veering into blockbuster films in the Marvel cinematic universe that audiences don’t find likable, charismatic, or compelling. Larson’s public image has been affected in many ways by the comments she has made in interviews that rub people the wrong way, but regardless of what you think of her as a person, there’s been a big shift in her filmography over the past fifteen years.

Larson started out playing quirky characters like Envy Adams in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. In 2016, she won an Oscar for Best Actress for he role as Mia in the indie drama Room, playing a woman who is being held captive along with her son, who has never left the inner confines of a single room.

She had gripping, emotional roles in Short Term 12 and then veered into comedy with Judd Apatow’s 21 Jump Street, which had a positive reception. However, joining forces with Amy Schumer in Trainwreck spelled the beginning of a downward turn in her career. In 2019, she played the title role in Captain Marvel, introducing herself into the MCU.

Since then, she has played in four different MCU films, and she received a terrible reception for each performance. Many Marvel fans even wish for her character to be killed off or replaced. While Larson has lost a lot of the charisma and whimsy that blessed her earlier work, I saw that spark many years ago, and with the right direction, she could go back to a place where she shines again.

5. Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola, known primarily for her remarkable directorial work, had a brief but notable stint as an actress early in her career. Despite critics initially focusing on her famous surname, she endeavored to carve her path in the industry. Coppola gained attention for her role in her father, Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, The Godfather: Part III.

While the film faced mixed reviews, Sofia’s performance as Mary Corleone earned her recognition — in all the wrong ways. She faced significant backlash from critics, who questioned her acting abilities, and wrath from The Godfather fans, who blamed her for ruining the movie. Coppola transitioned to filmmaking, where she truly found her calling as a director.

Over the years, she has crafted a distinctive cinematic style with films like Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides, earning critical acclaim and becoming the second woman ever to win the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. While her acting career may have been relatively brief, Coppola’s performance in The Godfather: Part III is so universally lambasted as one of the worst acting performances in a major film, it has many of us re-analyzing the performance and asking ourselves, was it that bad?

Sure, it was amateurish, but it was Coppola’s first acting role, and she had to go up against acting legends like Al Pacino. Speaking of which, many viewers have criticized even Pacino’s performance in the third film, so perhaps the greatest issue was the material. Coppola’s performance may have been underwhelming, but it was serviceable and not as bad as the huge trainwreck people claim. The film had much bigger problems outside of a single amateur actress.

6. Shelley Duvall

A unique blend of eccentricity and undeniable talent marks Shelley Duvall’s acting career. Rising to prominence in the 1970s, Duvall became a muse for director Robert Altman, delivering standout performances in films like McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Nashville. However, her iconic role as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining catapulted her into the cinematic spotlight, earning her praise for her portrayal of a woman unraveling in the haunted Overlook Hotel.

In hindsight, audiences now laud Duvall’s incredibly authentic performance in The Shining as a terrified woman being terrorized by her mentally unraveling husband. This praise has been amplified by lore surrounding the production of the movie, claiming that Duvall was subjected to repeated emotional abuse and exhaustion by perfectionist director Stanley Kubrick.

It’s hard to believe that such an iconic performance earned Duvall a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress at the time — an insulting nomination that has since been rescinded. While critics occasionally dismissed Duvall’s unconventional style and distinctive features, her collaborations with visionary directors showcased a fearless approach to her craft.

Notably, her work with Altman continued in 3 Women, a film where her nuanced performance earned her the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actress award. Duvall’s versatility extended to the fantastical with her role as Olive Oyl in Popeye, opposite Robin Williams. Despite facing periodic critiques, Duvall’s ability to immerse herself in a variety of roles demonstrated a range that defied easy categorization.

7. Emma Watson

Emma Watson, despite her widespread popularity and acclaim, has faced some criticisms throughout her acting career. One common critique early in her career was related to her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series. Some critics argued that her performance, particularly in the early films, occasionally veered towards overacting and lacked the subtlety seen in her co-stars.

Even veteran acting co-star Alan Rickman vented in his journal entries about Watson’s questionable diction. Watson found success in plenty of films outside of the Harry Potter franchise, with films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Little Women, and Beauty & the Beast. However, she has repeatedly faced criticism for her less-than-convincing attempts at accents, particularly in The Bling Ring and Little Women.

Some argue that she occasionally struggles to connect with certain characters on an emotional level fully. However, criticisms of her acting have been overblown. While Watson struggles with particular dialects, plenty of talented actors are notorious for doing bad accents (cough, Brad Pitt). Watson was a monumental force in the Harry Potter franchise.

It wouldn’t have been the same without her. She brings an endearing energy to each role she takes. She may not be Meryl Streep, but by no means is she on par with the worst actresses in Hollywood.

8. Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson’s acting career is a dynamic journey marked by a blend of charm, versatility, and a willingness to explore diverse roles. She first gained widespread recognition with her breakout performance in Almost Famous, where her portrayal of Penny Lane earned her an Academy Award nomination.

However, despite this early success, critics occasionally dismissed her as being typecast in romantic comedies and questioned the depth of her performances. Despite finding herself mostly confined to the rom-com genre for many years, she always brought charisma to these roles, often amplifying the quality of films like Raising Helen and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

Her first major role was as Penny Lane in Almost Famous at 19. This role earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 2001. However, she wouldn’t receive critical acclaim again for another twenty years for her comedic role in the mystery/crime comedy Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Hudson brought so much spunk to the role that it was hard to believe critics had relegated her to the bargain bin of actresses, deeming her acting as unworthy of mention with the big leagues. In Glass Onion, Hudson reminded us that she’s more than capable of bringing charm and hilarity to roles that make you fall in love with her.

9. Drew Barrymore

A Hollywood icon since her childhood debut in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Drew Barrymore has weathered the ebbs and flows of fame with undeniable charm. While critics occasionally cite her reliance on a bubbly persona, Barrymore’s extensive filmography showcases a journey marked by versatility.

From romantic comedies like The Wedding Singer and satirical horror films like Scream to acclaimed dramatic performances in films such as Grey Gardens, she is an actress who always surprises me with her range. With the capacity to play a convincing scream queen, a rebel, a hopeless romantic, or an amnesiac, she has a surprising gift that allows her to disappear into her roles.

Her talent was obvious even in childhood, starring in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. at seven years old. However, as a child, she also earned her first Razzie nomination for Worst Actress. Her first Razzie nomination came at 12 years old for the film Firestarter. While plenty of people love Barrymore and consider her to be America’s sweetheart, she’s also grown a sizable group of haters who think she never would have gotten anywhere without nepotism and think her comedic performances are gimmicky.

10. Melissa McCarthy

Melissa McCarthy, known for her uproarious comedic performances, has faced criticism for occasionally being typecast in roles that rely on physical humor. However, McCarthy has proven time and time again that she has excellent comedic timing and undeniable charisma through consistent performances as Suki, whom she played for seven years in Gilmore Girls.

In Bridesmaids, McCarthy proved she could be funny in less of an adorable way and more of a deadpan way as the irreverent, inappropriate bridesmaid. However, as she took on more leading comedic roles in The Heat, Identity Thief, and Tammy, they became increasingly obnoxious and felt forced. Instead of her early career’s effortless brand of comedy, it began to feel try-hard.

This is exactly why her decision to shift focus to a more dramatic, villainous role as Ursula in The Little Mermaid is exactly what she needed. She knocked it out of the park, delivering a compelling performance as a menacing force of evil and spine-tingling vocals with pipes we didn’t even know she had. McCarthy has the potential to be a great actress in multiple genres if she chooses her roles carefully.

11. Sophie Turner

Rising to fame as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, Sophie Turner faced initial skepticism due to her early acting career and the enormity of the series. Despite playing a major character in one of the most popular and universally loved series of all time, GOT fans frequently complained that Turner’s acting often took them out of the scene.

They described her portrayal of Sansa as “wooden” and “unenthusiastic.” Fans complained that even with excellent writing material, Turner’s performance was one-dimensional. Following the end of the series, she starred in the final X-Men film of the franchise, Dark Phoenix. It was a box-office bomb and was panned by both critics and X-Men fans.

While Turner didn’t have much material to work with, her performance wasn’t doing the film any favors. Since then, she has largely fallen off the map, but I think the flack she got as Sansa Stark was unwarranted. Far from the best actress in the series, she was no Katie Holmes. Most of the issues people took with Turner had to do with her unsympathetic character and the surrounding acting giants that made her shortcomings more noticeable. Turner needs a role that will demonstrate her range.

12. Jennifer Lopez

Criticized at times for her early film choices, Jennifer Lopez first made a splash on the big screen playing Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 film Selena. I still maintain this was her best performance and the highest-quality film of her acting career. She went on to star in some cute and watchable films like Jersey Girl, Maid in Manhattan, and Enough, but she also starred in some pretty terrible films like Gigli and The Back-up Plan.

Her film career fluctuated between terrible and okay, sometimes even reaching modest levels in the “good” territory. Acting took a backseat to her music and dancing pursuits for many years, but she reminded us of her formidable star power on the big screen when she played a savvy adult dancer in Hustlers. J Lo is an actress who can hold her own on screen, but the roles she’s offered rarely let her show her true potential. There are several films in her filmography where she gives impressive performances, but she is always treated as an unserious actress.

13. Halle Berry

In 2002, Halle Berry won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball. However, her career has been on a steady decline ever since. Her career took a huge hit when she played Catwoman in 2004, a film with such poor reception it’s currently sitting at a 3.4 rating on IMDb.

However, the criticism of Berry’s take on Catwoman is greatly exaggerated. Perhaps I’m biased because Berry’s version was the first Catwoman I ever saw, but I loved her performance. It’s certainly not bad, even if you prefer other versions over Berry’s. Berry took part in another major franchise when she got cast as Storm in the X-Men films.

The films garnered mixed reviews. Audiences were critical of Berry’s inconsistent African accent, limited screen time, and lack of character depth. In recent years, Berry has made fewer film appearances, and none have been critically acclaimed since 2002. This frequently lands her on lists of Hollywood’s Worst Actresses, but that’s unfair. Berry’s acting career may consist of more flops than diamonds, but it often has little to do with Berry’s acting capabilities. An Oscar-winning actress is hardly terrible at acting.

14. Sarah Michelle Gellar

Forever etched in pop culture as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar faced scrutiny for her post-Buffy career choices. However, her talent extends beyond this blip in television history, evidenced by her performances in films like Cruel Intentions, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Grudge.

Gellar’s performances, even in silly movies like the Scooby Doo live-action franchise, are charismatic and fun to watch. However, Gellar’s choice to take on a lot of supernatural and spooky films resulted in her being typecast as a genre-specific actress. In the late ’90s and early 2000s, there was a surge of young actresses making their mark in Hollywood.

The actress’ contemporaries, such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon, were often associated with more diverse and critically acclaimed projects. At the same time, television was undergoing a shift towards prestige dramas and complex character studies. Even though Buffy the Vampire Slayer was critically acclaimed for its writing and character development,

She has a focus on lighter fare or series with shorter runs, such as Ringer, which might have led to her being overlooked in discussions about serious dramatic actors. Gellar is another example of a great actress with charisma, star power, and likability who ended up being forgotten due to unsavvy career choices.

15. Bryce Dallas Howard

Bryce Dallas Howard has encountered occasional criticism for her involvement in big-budget franchises, but her performances consistently shine through. From her vulnerable performance in The Village to her blood-boiling depiction of a racist in The Help, Howard brings depth to her characters, challenging any notion of her being confined to blockbuster roles.

Howard faces a lot of accusations of being an industry plant thanks to her father being a world-renowned director, Ron Howard. However, she’s stolen the show in Black Mirror, has made some impressive directorial debuts, and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in As You Like It. Howard’s talent makes her filmography all the most frustrating and confusing. A good portion of her career has been wasted on the Jurassic World franchise and minimal appearances in single television series episodes.

With the critical acclaim garnered by their work on Batman: The Animated Series, producer/writers Alan Burnett and Bruce Timm faced an epic task: bringing their same eclectic combination of sophisticated animation, characterization, and episodic storytelling to the original superhero: Superman.

Premiering nearly a year to the day following the conclusion of the initial Batman: The Animated Series run, Superman: The Animated Series remains as quintessential an interpretation of the Man of Steel as its predecessor was to the Dark Knight, taking a similar approach with the decades-long Superman mythos and distilling them into a modern lens with an eye toward streamlined art deco design. While not quite possessing the immediate groundbreaking impact of Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series would lay the groundwork for the rest of the acclaimed DC Animated Universe and set off key characters and plotlines that find resolution in its successor series.

With the upcoming Superman reboot directed by James Gunn set for release next year and drawing a small amount of inspiration from this series, Wealth of Geeks returns to the bright skylines of Metropolis and ranks the best Superman: The Animated Series episodes, illustrating just how this take on Superman’s adventures deserves to be in the same conversation as its acclaimed older sibling.

1. “Tools of the Trade”

The criminal organization Intergang takes the spotlight in this installment, focusing on the advanced weapons technology bequeathed to the gang from the mysterious Kanto on behalf of a seemingly benevolent benefactor. Much of the episode focuses on the dogged inspector Dan Turpin, modeled after the famed comic book artist Jack Kirby. He’s grown resentful over how the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit has taken a back seat since the emergence of Superman and is eager to prove his brand of policing can still thrive in the city.

Not only does the installment cement Superman’s relationship with Turpin, but “Tools of the Trade” marks the first appearance of Fourth World figure Darkseid, a New God destined to plague not only Superman but cast a shadow over the rest of the show’s run.

2. “My Girl”

Though previously appearing as a teenager in “The Last Son of Krypton, Part 2,” Clark Kent’s Smallville love interest Lana Lang reenters his life in “My Girl,” reappearing in Metropolis as a renowned fashion designer on the arm of Lex Luthor. Already deducing her old boyfriend’s identity and still having feelings for Kent, Lana insists on spying on Luthor to uncover another of his new criminal plots, only to put herself in danger.

Much of the episode derives its drama from the feelings between Superman and Lang, with the former fully aware of the risk Luthor poses while Lang, still harboring romantic longing for her old Smallville crush, goes forward with her plan regardless. Though the intrigue between Luthor and his right hand, Mercy Graves, is a highlight, “My Girl” stands out for its romantic drama among Superman: The Animated Series episodes.

3. “Monkey Fun”

Despite initially facing off against run-of-the-mill gangsters during his early Golden Age, Superman has never quite had the tradition of facing off against quasi-realistic villains. Many of his famous rogues find their roots in pulp science fiction, the one exception, arguably, being the modern-day incarnation of Lex Luthor.

In “Monkey Fun,” much of that sci-fi pulp from the likes of King Kong finds itself in Titano, a cosmic-irradiated chimpanzee who grows to skyscraper heights after being lost in space for twenty years. Quickly growing in size and running amok in Metropolis, Titano provides a more light-hearted romp compared to most Superman: The Animated Series episodes, with an added dose of screwball comedy thrown in the first half of the installment with Lois Lane reuniting with her old childhood chimpanzee.

“Monkey Fun” does exactly as its title suggests: providing a healthy amount of fun to classic superhero proceedings.

4. “Unity”

The closest Superman: The Animated Series episodes came to an explicit horror-themed episode, “Unity” finds Supergirl forced to contend with an alien parasite infecting Smallville, lulling all the town residents, including Ma and Pa Kent, into a united hive mind.

The installment is at its strongest when it focuses squarely on Supergirl, as her initial big-city superheroics slowly give way to rural sci-fi horror upon returning to Smallville. Yet, even as Superman himself becomes more involved with the plot, the focus remains firmly on Supergirl as she uses her wits to try and return her small-town life to normal. With images invoking acclaimed horror films The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, “Unity” illustrates the wide range of episodic tones that Superman covered, perhaps even more so than Batman TAS.

5. “Two’s a Crowd”

Though the villain had been introduced earlier in the season one episode “Feeding Time,” the energy-absorbing villain Parasite’s best appearance lies in his second bout with Superman, “Two’s a Crowd.” When rogue scientist Earl Garver falls into a concussion-induced stupor before he can reveal the location of a bomb, Superman is forced to enlist Parasite to absorb the information out of him, only for Garver’s psyche to transfer to Parasite’s body and take over.  

With a vastly more intelligent individual overwhelming Rudy Jones, Garver proves himself a far deadlier adversary than his reluctant host, mentally and physically sparring with Superman as the clock keeps ticking. “Two’s a Crowd” illustrates what can occur when the right mind meets the right body with deadly consequences and remains one of Parasite’s best outings in animation.

6. “Speed Demons”

The first Superman team-up with a fellow DC Comics superhero, “Speed Demons” attempts to put a fresh spin on an old comics question: who’s faster, Superman or the Flash? However, what begins as a worldwide charity race escalates into a plot by the Flash villain Weather Wizard to extort money by threatening the globe’s weather systems.

The installment forms an essential building block of the future DC Animated Universe, establishing the presence of other superpowered heroes, in this case Flash. Superman would cross paths with two different potential Justice Leaguers, Green Lantern and Aquaman, but his team-up with the Flash remains the highlight of that quasi-trilogy.

7. “Superman’s Pal”

There’s an argument to be made that Jimmy Olsen, the earnest freelance photographer of the Daily Planet and one of Clark Kent’s closest friends, is one of the most famous supporting characters in the Superman mythos, aside from Lois Lane.

In “Superman’s Pal,” Jimmy finds himself the subject of the story when a cable journalist declares him a “pal” of Superman, bringing him fame and infamy throughout Metropolis in equal measure. Part of the episode’s charm derives from its clear callback to Superman’s Pal: Jimmy Olsen comics, even introducing his famed signal watch during the installment. Though Olsen had played pivotal roles in numerous episodes in the past, “Superman’s Pal” finally sees the budding photojournalist take the spotlight.

8. “Solar Power”

Much of Superman’s fantasy derives from the vast number of superpowers at his disposal, with only kryptonite, magic, and red sun radiation being the character’s only true weaknesses. Following up on the earlier installment, “Target,” villain Edward Lytener takes on a new mantle as Luminus, hijacking LexCorp satellites to turn Earth’s yellow sun red and depowering Superman before kidnapping Lois and Jimmy.

Much of the episode’s action scenes come from Superman being forced to think with his wits more than ever, unable to rely on his normal powerset to face off against a man able to bend light to his will. The third act, in particular, showcases Superman’s determination, demonstrating that, even without powers, Clark Kent remains every bit the hero that he is with “normal” abilities.

9. “Livewire”

Like Harley Quinn in Batman, Superman saw some of its series’ original villains eventually make their way onto the comic book page after their animated debuts, with one of the most notable examples being the supervillain Livewire. Initially a shock jock radio host, Livewire fittingly injects a burst of high-voltage energy into the series, with voice actress Lori Petty giving the character a loud, brash personality, unlike the majority of Superman’s more well-known opponents.

The episode also demonstrates what the animation team could achieve in the realm of Superman, with two highlights being Livewire’s initial transformation and a building crane rescue sequence that adds flair to what’s otherwise a standard supervillain origin story. While Livewire never possessed the devoted fans of Harley Quinn, her debut makes a compelling case for the villainess’s appeal.

10. “Legacy, Parts 1-2”

The two-part finale of Superman TAS ends the series on a high, capping off the long-running Fourth World plot while setting up plot threads that create much of the intrigue found in Justice League Unlimited. “Legacy” sees Darkseid brainwash Superman into his willing servant, sending him out to decimate the Earth while his allies scramble to bring their friend back to his senses.

No one comes out of “Legacy” unscathed, particularly stalwart allies Professor Emil Hamilton and Supergirl, and the darker tone permeates the two episodes more so than in previous installments, even as Superman regains his memories. “Legacy, Part 2” sees the final fight between Superman and Darkseid dominate the proceedings, with a clash that wouldn’t be topped until Justice League Unlimited’s final episode.

Yet, remarkably, Superman ends on a bittersweet yet hopeful note, showcasing a level of maturity not out of step with the best of Batman.

11. “Father’s Day”

The first episode of Superman to explicitly cover the world of Apokolips and its denizens’ machinations, “Father’s Day” sees the adopted son of Darkseid, Kalibak, arrive on Earth to kill Superman, hoping to earn his father’s admiration just as the Kents come to Metropolis to visit their superpowered son.

Emphasizing the dysfunctional relationship between Darkseid and Kalibak while contrasting Pa Kent and Clark Kent, “Father’s Day” gradually eases its audiences into the Fourth World mythos, with its central brawl between Superman and the brutish Kalibak a mere warm-up act to the first proper encounter with Darkseid himself. Michael Ironside is at his most mysterious as the dark New God, with a performance that sets the tone of Superman’s second season.

12. “New Kids in Town”

While Superman is never depicted as Superboy in the context of Superman, his long-lasting relationship with the Legion of Super-Heroes stands at the center of “New Kids in Town.” In this time-travel installment, three members of the Legion, Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy, and Chameleon Boy, travel back to 20th-century Earth to save a teenage Clark Kent from a vengeful Brainiac determined to stop him from becoming Superman.

Not only does the episode serve as the Legion’s debut in non-comics media, but “New Kids” shines a stronger light on Kent’s teenage years, briefly alluded to in “The Last Son of Krypton,” showing his struggle to control his emerging powers. The installment stands out as a highlight for a little-known superhero team, but one that became a foundation block in the story of Superman. 

13. “Heavy Metal”

The character of John Henry Irons debuted in the famed Reign of the Supermen storyline in 1993, which makes his inclusion in Superman a short four years later all the more remarkable and a testament to the character’s then-popularity. First appearing two episodes prior in “Prototype” as a LexCorp engineer, “Heavy Metal” sees Irons become the armored superhero Steel, assisting Superman when Metallo returns with the help of Intergang.

Taking place in the industrial parts of Metropolis, the episode has a grittier look compared to most Superman TAS stories, emphasizing Steel’s status as a street hero compared to Superman and focusing more on the everyday Metropolis civilian. Buoyed by Michael Dorn’s vocal performance, “Heavy Metal” shines a light on its cult-favorite character in a manner that wouldn’t be seen again until the CW’s Superman & Lois series.

14. “Little Girl Lost, Parts 1-2”

Finally introducing long-time supporting character Supergirl into the world of Superman TAS, “Little Girl Lost” sees the Girl of Steel emerge in Metropolis, striking a close friendship with Jimmy Olsen and running afoul of a new Intergang led by Granny Goodness.

While not technically the traditional Kara Zor-El variant, due to publishing decrees by DC at the time of broadcast, the animated Supergirl injects a high burst of energy and enthusiasm into the series with her two-part debut while simultaneously introducing more stalwarts from Kirby’s Fourth World, the Female Furies.

Supergirl would continue to appear throughout the remainder of Superman and build a presence in the successor Justice League series, becoming one of the most memorable interpretations of the superheroine before the arrival of her self-titled CW series.

15. “Knight Time”

Following the “World’s Finest” three-part event episode, Superman would produce two further team-ups with Batman, but “Knight Time” stands out for its more unique premise.

When Superman apprehends the supervillain Roxy Rocket, she reveals that Batman has disappeared in Gotham City, eventually leading to Superman impersonating the Dark Knight to investigate. Part of the charm stems from actor Kevin Conroy’s voice acting as “Superman as Batman,” carefully reflecting Tim Daly’s characterization while maintaining his own usual tone.

With a surprising twist villain and a chance to see Superman mixed in with Batman’s world, “Knight Time” remains a fun mix-and-match between two of DC’s best superheroes.

16. “Brave New Metropolis”

Years before the Injustice video game series popularized the idea of a tyrannical Superman from an alternate universe, the premise first emerged in Superman as “Brave New Metropolis.” Following an incident at STAR Labs, Lois Lane finds herself in an alternate timeline where she was killed investigating Intergang, leading Superman to team up with Lex Luthor to create a totalitarian city-state.

Yet, unlike the bleaker depictions of alternate Superman stories in recent years, the Superman depicted in “Brave New Metropolis” hasn’t entirely lost his soul, only grief-driven after the death of his Lois and slowly regaining his morality. The installment also furthers the lingering romance between Superman and Lois, as Lane learns how much the hero loves her, even across different realities.

While the concept of “Evil Superman” has become played out, “Brave New Metropolis” marks a fresh departure from what was expected of Superman. 

17. “Fun and Games”

Combining a light touch of sympathy with a drastic reimagining of its antagonist lead, “Fun and Games” sees Superman face off against a modern take on his old Golden Age adversary Toyman.

Sporting a suitably creepy porcelain doll mask and reimagined as the son of a wronged toymaker, Toyman seeks revenge against Intergang boss Bruno Mannheim for his father’s death in prison, evoking similar revenge stories prevalent in Batman but with a childish streak totally Toyman’s own.

The “toys” the supervillain creates, from machine-gun airplanes to a robotic rubber ducky, all convey a deadly play time for Superman and Lois, the latter quickly finding herself a central figure in this newsworthy story. While lacking the pathos of other sympathetic villain figures, Toyman nevertheless makes an unmistakable impression in his debut and remains the villain’s best appearance in animation.

18. “A Little Piece of Home”

The first true clash between Lex Luthor and Superman introduces the deadly element Kryptonite in the fittingly titled “A Little Piece of Home.” While foiling a museum robbery, Superman suddenly finds himself significantly weakened, later discovering the cause to be an irradiated fragment of Krypton itself.

Luthor, the owner of the material, eagerly seeks to capitalize on his newest acquisition to finally bend Superman to his will, if not outright kill him. The episode goes to great lengths to emphasize the sci-fi art deco direction of the series, with a jet-packed fueled air robbery proving a particular highlight.

The installment also firmly establishes the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane, their interplay strengthened by fast, quick-witted dialogue as the pair look into the story. With a thrilling climax involving a robot dinosaur, “A Little Piece of Home” codifies what an episode of Superman can entail.

19. “Ghost in the Machine”

The hyperintelligent Brainiac had appeared multiple times in the past, notably in his proper debut “Stolen Memories,” but “Ghost in the Machine” marks the villain’s finest appearance in Superman while setting off a plot thread that would find resolution in Justice League Unlimited.

After downloading himself into LexCorp’s computer systems following his previous appearance, Brainiac takes Lex Luthor hostage and compels him into constructing a brand-new physical body for himself. In one of the strongest character-centric episodes of the series, audiences see a different side to Luthor outside of his usual commanding presence, while giving more depth and motivation to his recurring bodyguard/chauffeur, Mercy Graves.

“Ghost in the Machine” remains remarkable for emphasizing Brainiac’s general menace on an intimate level and the adept character work of the Luthor team.

20. “The Way of All Flesh”

First introduced in “The Last Son of Krypton” as a mercenary acting on behalf of a rogue nation, Malcolm McDowell’s John Corben finally transforms into the kryptonite-hearted Metallo in this installment. The most like the supervillain origin stories from Batman, particularly the episode “Feat of Clay,” “Way of All Flesh” finds Corben attaining the power to take Superman head on, only to have the horrific realization that he’s lost his humanity in the process.

The sequence where Corben literally sheds his skin and embraces his new identity as Metallo sees body horror overtones and matches the disturbing nature of the scene. Buoyed by a compelling vocal performance by McDowell, “Way of All Flesh” stands out as an early highlight of Superman and easily one of its best supervillain debuts.

21. “The Last Son of Krypton, Parts 1-3”

The debut episode of Superman, “The Last Son of Krypton,” serves as a fittingly modern retelling of Superman’s origin story but with novel twists of its own. Kicking off the series with the first episode devoted entirely to the destruction of Krypton, “Last Son” sees the young Clark Kent come into his own as he develops his Superman persona while reintroducing his iconic supporting cast.

With refreshingly modern touches from the revamped businessman Lex Luthor to the always tenacious reporter Lois Lane, the three-part opener sets the tone and direction of not just this new Superman series but the entirety of the DC Animated Universe going forward, introducing Bruce Timm’s revamped character designs that would become the template for all that came next.

22. “Mxyzpixilated”

For most of Superman, the show’s tone matched the more grounded approach to the character following Crisis on Infinite Earths, notably what was introduced in the John Byrne-penned Man of Steel. “Mxyzpixilated” reembraces the old Golden Age/comedic tones, introducing the 5th Dimensional trickster Mr. Mxyzptlk as he sets out to torment Superman to no end with his antics.

Voiced by the obnoxiously captivating Gilbert Gottfried, Mr. Mxyzptlk showcases an antagonist unlike any other Superman has faced, with his own sense of logic and physics that wouldn’t be out of place in a Looney Tunes cartoon. The episode makes for a delightfully cartoonish installment unlike anything previously seen on Superman, highlighting a character who possesses no limits except the imagination of the writers and artists onboard.

23. “Apokolips… Now! Parts 1-2”

The culmination of long-running plot threads beginning back in “Tools of the Trade,” “Apokolips… Now!” sees Jack Kirby’s Fourth World mythology fully burst into Superman proper, with the New Genesis warrior Orion arriving in Metropolis to assist Superman in repelling Darkseid’s invasion of Earth.

Easily one of the emotional high points of the series, the two-parter sees the citizens of Metropolis, led by Dan Turpin, mount a full-blown resistance campaign against Darkseid, culminating in not just one of Superman’s greatest triumphs but one of his emotionally devastating low points.

Dedicated to Jack Kirby’s memory after the groundbreaking comic book artist passed away in 1994, “Apokolips… Now!” remains a fine tribute to the King’s immense impact on the medium.

24. “World’s Finest, Parts 1-3”

Though Superman had crossed over with the Flash in the aforementioned “Speed Demons,” there hadn’t been a suggestion that Batman existed in this world outside of an easter egg mention.

“World’s Finest” sees the return of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as their acclaimed takes on Batman and the Joker, with the latter stealing a large statue made of Kryptonite and offering his services to Lex Luthor to kill Superman. In an epic three-part team-up, Batman and Superman clash both in and out of costume, with the former even managing to woo Lois Lane as Bruce Wayne, ultimately putting their differences aside to take on Joker and Luthor.

The event episode remains the best team-up between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight, in animation or otherwise, and doesn’t appear ready to be topped anytime soon.

25. “The Late Mr. Kent”

The best Superman episode doesn’t involve traditional superheroics for the most part but instead offers a compelling dose of mystery in the otherwise bright series.

“The Late Mr. Kent” sees Clark Kent on the cusp of exonerating a wrongly convicted man sentenced to death, only to run afoul of a car bomb set up by the real murderer. Naturally, as Superman, he survives but now has to figure out how to not only save an innocent from death row but how to bring “Clark Kent” back from the grave.

With one of the darkest endings to ever punctuate an animated series, combined with a fitting noir-esque story, “The Late Mr. Kent” highlights the duality of Kent and Superman more so than ever before and reaffirms where the super ends and where the man begins. 

Cameo appearances in movies date back at least to the 1920s, and it’s obvious why they caught on.

First, getting asked to do a cameo flatters to the ego. Second, it means maximum exposure for minimum effort; people often remember a star cameo long after they’ve forgotten the movie itself. Third, it’s fun to do. And fourth, it’s an opportunity to get paid more for a day’s work than most people earn in a decade, all without the tedious business of learning lines, studying motivation, showing up on set day after day, or any of the other gross impositions heaped on long-suffering movie stars.

Here, then, to celebrate the noble tradition of movie cameos, find a (mostly) random selection of the best.

1. Alec Baldwin – Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

“Put that coffee down! Coffee is for closers only.”

Thus begins the finest cameo in living memory: Alec Baldwin exploding into the consciousness of David Mamet’s jaded real estate salesmen in the movie adaptation of his 1984 play. Delivering the motivational speech from Hades, Baldwin tears through the scene like a power-suited wrecking ball. At one point he slips off his Rolex to dangle it in Ed Harris’s face. “You see this watch,” he purrs malevolently, sapping every ounce of manhood from his victim. “It cost more than your car.”

2. Forrest Whittaker – The Color of Money (1986)

On the comeback trail, aging pool shark Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) thinks he’s hooked a live one in the shape of chubby, slow-witted billiard hall rat Amos (Forest Whittaker). But as the frames rack up and the money changes hands, the realization dawns that the hustler is being hustled.

When Whittaker asks Newman mildly, the play-acting over, “You wanna quit?” it lands like a slap in the face.

3. Stan Lee – The Marvel Universe

Thankfully, choosing just one of Lee’s movie cameos doesn’t require much thought–we choose all of them. A pre-title compilation of his many appearances – bus driver in Avengers: Infinity War, security guard in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, astronaut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, etc. – supplants the traditional MCU superhero montage in 2019’s Captain Marvel.

They remind viewers of Lee’s good sportsmanship, but it’s one tinged with sadness. Captain Marvel was the first film released after he passed away. The implication is clear though: Lee was Marvel’s real superhero.

4. David Bowie – Zoolander (2001)

Bringing with him the iciest blast of cool imaginable, The Thin White Duke referees a dance-off between ridiculous male models Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson) in Stiller’s savagely funny take-down of the fashion industry.

5. Luke Hemsworth – Thor, Love and Thunder (2022)

Love and Thunder features a ton of great movie cameos– Russell Crowe as Zeus, Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso’s grumpy soccer ace Roy Kent) as Hercules – but Hemsworth takes the proverbial biscuit as a ham actor playing his little bro’s hammer-wielding alter ego in the play-within-a-film.

6. Walter Huston – The Maltese Falcon (1941)

In a pivotal scene from this pioneering noir thriller, adapted from the classic novel by Dashiell Hammett, writer-director John Huston’s dad staggers into private eye Sam Spade’s office, leaking life from a dozen bullet wounds and clutching a rough bundle of rags containing the elusive black bird. In this moment, as the prize falls from Huston’s dead fingers with a resounding thud, Spade (Humphrey Bogart) gains the upper hand in the deadly game of cherchez le Falcon.

7. Johnny Depp – 21 Jump Street (2012)

Alien beings on as yet undiscovered planets knew Depp would show up somewhere in the big screen version of the TV show that launched his career. And he still manages to sneak in under the radar!

8. Christopher Walken – Pulp Fiction (1994)

Brought in to tell the bizarre story of Bruce Willis’ treasured gold watch, this Walken appears at his most Walken-esque: Insane hair, eyes like raw oysters, his entire manner a symphony of twitches, weird cadences, and offbeat emphasis. The performance would make the list for his pronunciation of the word “ass” alone.

9. Alfred Hitchcock – Various

When an actor playing a telephone operator in 1927’s The Lodger, failed to show up on set, Hitchcock decided, on a whim, to stand in for him. A tradition was born, with Hitch making movie cameos in almost all his subsequent films. Here are ten of the best:

• North by Northwest – Having a bus door slammed in his face just as he’s about to board (and just as his credit disappears from the screen).
• Psycho – Glimpsed through an office window wearing a ten-gallon hat.
• Vertigo – Leaving a pet shop with two of his own Sealyham terriers, Geoffrey and Stanley, as Tippi Hedron enters.
• Blackmail – Being pestered by a small boy while he trying to read a book on the Tube.
• Spellbound – Exiting the elevator of the Empire State Building, smoking a cigarette and carrying a violin case.
• Strangers on a Train – On the cover of the book Farley Grainger is reading, and later wrestling a double bass up the steps of a train carriage as Grainger gets off.
• Rope – A flashing red neon sign of his famous profile appears in the background.
• To Catch a Thief – Sitting next to Carrie Grant on the bus.
• Torn Curtain – In the lobby of the Hotel d’Angleterre nursing a baby (the music playing in the scene is “Funeral March of a Marionette”, the theme to the TV show Alfred Hitchcock Presents).
• Lifeboat – In the “before” and “after” pics of a newspaper ad for the Reduco Obesity Slayer diet plan (an ingenious workaround since Hitchcock did not, obviously, play one of the occupants of the lifeboat).

10. Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, etc.

Taking his cue from Alfred Hitchcock, Jackson makes regular movie cameos in his films, sometimes for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, sometimes as a character with some bearing on the plot. With due respect to his role as Bilbo’s father in The Battle of the Five Armies (which he plays in the form of a painted portrait, almost literally a cameo), the top spot goes to his lonely mountain dwarf in An Unexpected Journey, for no other reason than his magnificent prosthetic nose.

11. Dan Akroyd – Casper (1995)

Employed by whiny heiress Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty), Ghostbuster Ray Stantz gives her newly inherited mansion a once-over. “Who you gonna call?” he quips, exiting hurriedly a few moments later. “Someone else.”

12. Keith Richards – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)

As it was common knowledge that Johnny Depp based woozy Buccaneer Capt. Jack Sparrow on the Stones guitarist, hopes were high that he’d put in an appearance at some point. Richards didn’t disappoint. Playing Sparrow’s father Captain Teague, he’s the triumphantly raddled real thing next to Depp’s spirited but pale imitation.

13. Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder (2008)

Needing a PR hit after his bizarre couch-jumping turn on Oprah, Cruise took the tried-and-trusted comic cameo approach. Donning fat suit, facial prosthetics, and fake chest hair, he hits it out of the park as rage-monster studio exec Les Grossman, foul-mouthed overseer of the titular film-within-a-film.

The best bit of a movie that never lives up to its promise, Cruise getting it on to Flo Rida and T-Pain’s “Low” over the end credits is a moment of movie magic on par with Marilyn’s billowing skirt in The Seven Year Itch, the spaghetti dinner in Lady and the Tramp, and Meg Ryan’s fake climax in When Harry Met Sally.

14. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall – Two Guys from Milwaukee (1946)

When Balkan Prince Henry (Dennis Morgan) takes his seat on a plane, he can’t believe his luck. Screen goddess Lauren Bacall sits next to him. His reverie is short-lived, however. Looking up from a tap on the shoulder, he’s confronted by a dour-faced Humphrey Bogart, Bacall’s real-life hubby.

15. Mike Tyson – The Hangover (2009)

Squeaky-voiced bruiser Tyson plays a heightened version of himself – a self not exactly low-key to begin with – in director Todd Philips’ bawdy tale of a bachelor party gone wrong. Best bit? Undoubtedly Tyson air drumming to the break in Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” accenting the downbeat by punching Ed Helms full in the face.

16. Martin Scorsese – Taxi Driver (1976)

Scorsese takes time out from the director’s chair to play one of the most disturbing characters in a film that has no shortage of them. As a strung-out jilted husband, he skulks in the back of Robert de Niro’s cab, speculating on what a .44 Magnum would do to a certain part of a woman’s anatomy.

Later de Niro, as psycho cabbie Travis Bickle, acquires a .44 Magnum for his climactic, blood-soaked killing spree.

17. Bill Murray – Zombieland (2009)

Could there be anything better than Bill Murray playing himself in a cameo? Yes, Bill Murray playing himself in a cameo as a zombie.

18. Stephen King – It, Chapter 2 (2019)

King has made so many movie cameos in films adapted from his books – 24 and counting – it’s now part of the fun to try and guess where he’ll pop up next. Here, he’s the sinister hock shop owner from whom James McCavoy tries to buy his childhood bike.

In a pleasing moment of self-referential meta-ness, King refuses an autograph from McAvoy’s character, a bestselling author, because he doesn’t like his endings.

19. Dolly Parton – Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)

When Sandra Bullock’s FBI agent Gracie Hart collars a Dolly Parton impersonator suspected of aiding a kidnapping, she’s about to slap on the cuffs when… Doh!

Just when you thought you couldn’t love Dolly Parton any more than you already do…

20. Raymond Chandler – Double Indemnity (1944)

Given that Chandler, one of the greatest crime novelists in history, didn’t even like having his photo taken, it’s extraordinary that he agreed to appear on screen in Double Indemnity, the classic noir he co-wrote with director Billy Wilder.

So muted is his appearance that no one realized for years that it was him. But there he is, seated outside Edward G. Robinson’s office engrossed in a book, glancing up as insurance agent Fred MacMurray walks by.

Despite its size, Rhode Island Rhode Island punches well above its weight class when it comes to creepy towns. From abandoned schools thought to be haunted to gravesites of rumored vampires, there’s no shortage of mystery here.

Beyond singular spooky locales, however, to takes more than just stories to make a place truly mysterious. For us, it’s the collective aura of unexplained phenomena, historical enigmas, and the local lore that cloaks these towns in an irresistible veil of mystery, making us question what secrets lie beneath their quaint exteriors.

The real intrigue lies in discovering which towns embody this mysterious essence to the fullest, inviting explorers to delve into their shadowy pasts and untold stories.

1. Burrillville

While Rhode Island is full of creepy cities and towns, none inspire as much fear or creep-factor as Burriville. Here, you’ll find the house that inspired the first The Conjuring movie. The movie follows the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were a real married couple that investigated paranormal happenings in New England. 

If that’s not enough for you, there’s also the now-abandoned Zambarano Unit of the Eleanor Slater Hospital, the state’s psychiatric hospital, which is reportedly haunted. 

2. Cumberland

Cumberland overflows with creepy, potentially haunted places. While a 1950 fire destroyed some of a monastery that had been built in 1900, the public library stands inside what was left behind where there might be some ghosts. There’s the spot on the monastery grounds — a ten-mile hike from the library — that saw the torture of nine soldiers more than three hundred years ago.

But the library isn’t the only haunted spot in Cumberland. There have been more reports of paranormal phenomena on the Tower Hill Road. 

3. Providence

Rhode Island’s capital is also one of its most haunted cities. While this New England city might ooze charm, there’s so much paranormal activity, Providence’s City Hall was the focus of a Ghost Hunters episode. 

Providence is also home to the library where Edgar Allen Poe and Sarah Helen Witman fell in love and are said to sometimes return. 

4. Newport

Newport, Rhode Island, is known as a fantastic summer vacation spot, and between the coastal views and Gilded Era mansions, it’s easy to see why. Take the estate-turned-park at Brenton Point State Park, for instance. The park is picturesque, with many using the grounds for picnics or to fly kites. But all that whimsy gets darker when you consider they might be enjoying themselves on cursed grounds. 

Brenton Point State Park is far from Newport’s only haunted spot, however. Ghost hunters and the paranormal curious will want to see the Artillery Company of Newport, the “castle” that inspired a book about its many ghosts.

5. Glocester

Putnam Pike road in Glocester is home to not one but two reportedly haunted taverns. Some visitors have reported paranormal activity at Cady’s Tavern, originally a stagecoach stop built in the early 19th century. 

However, paranormal investigator Thomas D’Agostino argues that the Tavern on Main, located at just down the street from Cady’s, is “the most haunted place in the whole state” because of the five, if not more, ghosts who call it home.  

6. New Shoreham

New Shoreham is the name of the town located on Block Island, which sits off the coast of Rhode Island and is home to enough ghosts to warrant a book. Fran Migliaccio, a native to the spooky town, offers stories about ghosts in various homes on the island, including a ghost horse, in Ghosts of Block Island. 

One major area for paranormal activity on the island was the now-demolished Harborside Inn, says Katie Mulvaney of Providence Journal. Before its demolition, the hotel was a key stop for Block Island Ghost Tours due to the various ghost sightings over the years. 

7. Exeter

Exeter also boasts more than one creepy phenomenon. The Chestnut Hill Cemetery, a small, old graveyard in Exeter, is the resting place of Mercy Brown, a young woman believed to be a vampire by the people of the town in the late 1800s.

There also the abandoned Ladd School, a former mental hospital, that many believe is haunted by ghosts of mistreated patients. 

8. Foster

Close to the Connecticut-Rhode Island border, you’ll find the town of Foster where the Ram Tail Mill once stood. The mill, built in 1813, was owned by a handful of partners, including William Potter and Peleg Walker. 

Legend has it Potter’s sons managed the mill alongside with Peleg Walker. At some point, the trio get into an argument and Walker tells Potter’s sons that, “You’ll have to take the key to this mill from a dead man’s pocket!” 

The sons did just that. Today, the mill no longer stands, but hikers say they hear a bell ringing but there’s no man and no bell to be found. 

9. Cranston

Cranston’s creepiness comes entirely from two institutions for young people, one long gone and one ever-present. The first is the Oaklawn School for Girls from the late 19th century, which may or may not still house several bodies buried on the grounds.

The second is the less spooky, but still not exactly comforting, Rhode Island Training School for juvenile delinquents. 

10. Scituate

Like Burrillville, Scituate has a claim to fame, albeit less directly tied to any real or sensationalized events. According to renowned horror author H.P. Lovecraft, the Scituate Reservoir inspired his short story The Colour Out of Space, which sees a town transformed, physically and psychologically, after the landing of a mysterious, glowing meteorite.

There’s something to be said for a place so spooky it served as inspiration for one of the great horror writers. 

11. Charlestown

Anyone looking to stay in a haunted hotel in Rhode Island should book a stay at the General Stanton Inn. Located in Charlestown, the Inn stands on land indigenous people gifted to an English settler in the 1650s and is said to be haunted by at least one ghost.

Employees and past residents have reported taps on their shoulders when no one was behind them and hearing things without a source. 

12. North Kingstown

North Kingstown is home to another welcoming place that may include some non-living members in the welcoming party. Originally built in 1760, The Carriage Inn is now a banquet hall that may still have residents from the past residing there. 

The space inspired several spooky stories, leading to a Ghost Hunters investigation in 2014. 

13. South Kingstown

Not to be outdone by its northern neighbor, South Kingstown offers a variety of spooky spots, almost all of which are around the University of Rhode Island.

With many paranormal phenomena, including possessed resident assistants and the ghost daughter of a former governor haunting a frat house, the college campus has a town’s worth of creepiness packed into a small space. 

14. Bristol

Bristol is a beautiful seaport town in Rhode Island with several historic sites and, possibly, another haunted State Park.

The Colt State Park in Bristol is said to be haunted by not one but two sets of ghosts: a pair of girls who are said to have drowned at the park and now follow hikers with creepy laughter and an old farm worker who plays with the lights and doors in the park office. 

15. Coventry

Is it just us, or is there always a certain air of mystery to the name “Coventry”? Regardless, the town of Coventry, Rhode Islands, is home to General Nathaniel Greene Homestead, a museum with many reports of spooky phenomena,

Visitors to the homestead report smelling baking bread in a long-unused kitchen to the sounds of mysterious voices and footsteps and outright apparitions. 

16. Middletown

Middletown sits near Newport and offers its own creepy destination. If you’re planning a trip to hunt ghosts in Newport, definitely make time to hit up Middletown, too. 

Here you’ll find Purgatory Chasm, a cliff with a great name and a spooky story to go with it. The spot was the site of a lover’s deadly leap centuries ago, and some believe his ghost still haunts the area looking for the woman he loved.  

17. Pawtucket

Pawtucket lands on the list for creepy kids but not for an abandoned school. The city is home to the Slater Mill, which began operation in the late 18th century when child labor laws to protect children didn’t exist.

According to stories, some children who worked in the mill were significantly injured or killed while working and now haunt the space. 

18. Warwick

Near Providence, Warwick, Rhode Island has its own gilded and ghostly past. One of the biggest attractions for someone looking to enjoy postcard worthy scenery and the chance of running into ghosts is Alrich Mansion. 

This stunning estate was built at the turn of the 20th century. Today, it’s an event space despite the possibility of also being home to a ghost. Some even say they’ve encountered the spirit of a young woman who died by suicide on the grounds. 

19. Woonsocket

There’s something extra creepy about abandoned schools — something Rhode Island is overrun with. In Woonsocket, the Middle School was originally built in 1914 but closed in 2009 over health concerns from asbestos used during construction.

Today, the building still stands, and some Rhode Islanders claim to have seen ghosts lingering.   

20. West Greenwich

Mercy Brown’s grave in Exeter isn’t the only vampire’s grave in Rhode Island – or is it? West Greenwich is home to the grave of Nellie Vaughn, which has been said not to grow any grass or even sink into the ground.

The whole thing may be just a mix-up, however, started by some students who didn’t realize they were being told a story about Mercy Brown. The legend still persists, however. 

The sitcom Arrested Development enjoyed rave reviews since its premiere in 2003, but could not garner a large following during its first three seasons. It’s easy to see why the show, created by Mitchell Hurwitz, had trouble attracting viewers.

The series followed the rich and unlikable Bluth family, who experience a crisis when patriarch George (Jeffery Tambor) goes to prison for an accounting scandal, making trouble for his heartless wife Lucille (Jessica Walter), his oldest and youngest sons GOB (Will Arnett) and Buster (Tony Hale), and his daughter Lindsey (Portia de Rossi), who moves back home with her husband Tobias Fünke (David Cross) and daughter Maeby (Alia Shawkat). Only the middle son, widower Michael (Jason Bateman), and his son George Michael (Michael Cera) draw easy sympathy.

Although the series ended after three seasons, it became a cult hit on video, prompting two revival seasons, first in 2013 and then in 2019. Overall, the series produced 84 episodes, including these great entries. Meet the best Arrested Development episodes.

1. “Good Grief” (Season Two, Episode Four)

Written by John Levenstein and directed by Jeff Melman, “Good Grief” takes its name from Charlie Brown’s favorite expression, just one of several Peanuts references throughout the story. Believing that George has died, the Bluths hold a wake while keeping the sensitive doofus Buster from learning about his father’s fate.

However, George Michael knows that George is still alive and hiding in the attic, where he can continue manipulating his kids. When Michael notices his son’s strange behavior, he fears that George Michael is sneaking away with his dull girlfriend Anne (Mae Whitman), leading to one of the best lines of the show.

When George Michael confesses that he has his grandfather or “Pop Pop” in the attic, Michael responds, “The mere fact that you call making love “pop pop” tells me you’re not ready.”

2. “Pier Pressure” (Season One, Episode Ten)

“Pier Pressure” is the ideal Arrested Development episode. Written by Hurwitz and Jim Vallely and directed by Marvel filmmaker Joe Russo, “Pier Pressure” involves the adult Bluth children wrestling with one of George’s more unorthodox parenting methods, one involving a one-armed man called J. Walter Weatherman (Steve Ryan).

Whenever the Bluth kids did something George disliked, he would stage an elaborate prank that would end with Weatherman playing a guy who gets his arm ripped off by their mistakes. The grown Bluths try to prove that they have moved beyond their dad’s manipulations but instead repeat the same behaviors, leading to absurd extremes.

3. “The Ocean Walker” (Season Three, Episode Six)

Arrested Development’s third season began with a storyline involving Michael’s courtship with Rita (Charlize Theron), whose English accent distracts from her stunted intelligence. The arc highlighted the problems in Michael’s insistence on seeing what he wanted and almost married Rita without noticing her limited intelligence.

The arc ended with “The Ocean Walker,” which first closed on a very unusual note, in which Rita says goodbye to Michael by walking on the water of a nearby pool. Director Paul Feig and writers Jake Farrow and Sam Laybourne let viewers believe the sappy ending as the scene fades to the usual closing tag, in which narrator Ron Howard says, “On the next Arrested Development.”

But when the white screen dissolves back to the final scene, viewers learn the truth of the situation. Instead, the episode ends with one of GOB’s illusions gone wrong and Tobias’s fake hair catching fire, proving itself one of the classic Arrested Development episodes all the way through. 

4. “Missing Kitty” (Season One, Episode Sixteen)

George’s former secretary/mistress Kitty (Judy Greer) is one of the best recurring characters in the series, a woman whose willingness to participate in her boss’s schemes intensifies her foolishness.

In “Missing Kitty,” directed by Russo and written by Hurwitz and John Levenstein, George forces Michael to keep Kitty on the payroll, so that she can destroy evidence for him while he’s prison. As Michael tries to resist his father’s meddling, Kitty responds in absurd ways, a problem complicated when GOB tries to make his father’s boat disappear to impress a camera crew filming Spring Break festivities.

5. “Top Banana” (Season One, Episode Two)

Although the pilot introduced viewers to the main characters of Arrested Development, the second episode, “Top Banana,” introduced one of the series’ most important locations: the banana stand.

Michael wants to use the banana stand as an example of his ability to manage without his father’s influence, but George has other intentions for the seaside snack bar. “There’s always money in the banana stand,” he says, a statement with a double meaning that Michael misses.

The script by Hurwitz and Levenstein, directed by Anthony Russo, has plenty of space for misunderstandings and foolish one-up-manship as Michael proves that he’s just as inept as the rest of his siblings.

6. “S.O.B.s” (Season Three, Episode Nine)

Arrested Development always had a knowing, metatextual element, but it came to the fore toward the end of season three, when fans hoped that other networks would save the acclaimed show when FOX canceled it. That real-world issue drives “S.O.B.s” in which the family tries to fund their company by hosting a Save Our Bluths (S.O.B.) telethon.

In between references to other possible networks (“The HBO’s not going to want us,” George says as they talk about the Home Builders Organization supporting them. “I think it’s show time.”), director Robert Berlinger and writers Richard Day and Vallely craft a celebration of the show’s unorthodox (and unprofitable) sense of humor.

7. “Ready Aim, Marry Me” (Season Two, Episode Ten)

Arrested Development fans disagree about “Ready, Aim, Marry Me.” Not because it continues Maeby’s movie studio subplot, in which she tricks executives into believing that she’s a Hollywood exec, nor because GOB steals Buster’s girlfriend Lucille 2 (Liza Minnelli).

Rather, viewers don’t know what to make of Uncle Jack, the excitable and elderly bodybuilder played by Martin Short. Short goes bigger than most of the series’ guest stars, but he fits both the ongoing plot about the Bluths’ financial difficulties and the show’s collection of off-putting characters. Director Fieg and writers Hurwitz and Vallely do get cartoonish in “Ready, Aim, Marry Me,” but they don’t lose sight of the show’s appeal.

8. “Staff Infection” (Season One, Episode Fifteen)

Even if “Staff Infection” didn’t introduce GOB’s chicken dance, one of the show’s best running gags, it would still make this list. Directed by John Fortenberry and written by Brad Copeland, “Staff Infection” layers multiple plots and meanings over a simple conflict between the Bluth company and the contractors they cannot pay until they sell the houses being built.

That plot mirrors Michael’s frustration with the family borrowing money against the company account. Somehow, the whole thing builds to a game of chicken between Buster and GOB, and viewers cannot help but laugh at the Bluth’s inability to care about anyone else.

9. “Spring Breakout” (Season Two, Episode Seventeen)

Another Spring Break episode means the return of Kitty, who figures out that George has been hiding in the attic, thanks to Tobias somehow giving a convincing performance on the true crime show Scandalmakers. That conceit gives Ron Howard time to shine, as his narrator continues to knock the “shoddy narration” on Scandlemakers.

In addition to Buster, who mistakes box wine for a giant juice box, the real star of “Spring Breakout” is Tobias, who finds an unlikely kindred spirit in guest star Zach Braff. Anthony Russo directs the episode, written by Barbie Adler and Abraham Higginbotham, with a zany energy, befitting its hard-partying setting.

10. “Sad Sack” (Season Two, Episode Five)

This post can’t go into details about the camera mishap that gives the episode its title, but writers Hurwitz and Barbie Adler and director Peter Lauer fill “Sad Sack” with enough other memorable gags.

The investigation into the missing George Sr. pits the super-serious Wayne Jarvis (John Michael Higgins) against the super-incompetent Barry Zuckerman (Henry Winkler). “Sad Sack” serves as one of the best examples of Arrested Development’s satirical edge, as it pokes fun at Bush-era politics in the most ridiculous way possible. 

11. “The Cabin Show” (Season Three, Episode One)

The season three premiere, directed by Feig and written by Hurwitz and Vallely, features one of Lucille Bluth’s most cutting lines.

When Lucille tells Michael that she has post-partum depression, he reminds her that Buster was born 32 years ago. “And that’s how long I’ve been depressed about him,” she quips. That’s just one example of the acidic humor in “The Cabin Show,” in which the Sons And Dads (SAD) Reunion Project contacts GOB about his son, revealed as Maeby’s crush Steve Holt (Justin Grant Wade), meaning she once again gets involved in a romantic plot with her cousin.

All the while, Michael tries to get time at his family’s cabin without repeating the mistakes that George made as a father. 

12. Pilot (Season One, Episode One)

The pilot of Arrested Development does everything one expects from a great first episode.

Focused on George’s retirement party, where Michael believes his hard work will be rewarded when he’s named the new company president, “Pilot” introduces all of the main characters with remarkable efficiency. In the span of minutes, directors Joe and Anthony Russo (who would go on to make Avengers movies at Marvel) and writer Hurwitz teach viewers about the over-educated and under-intelligent Buster, GOB’s distinction between tricks and illusions, and Michal’s frustration with his clan.

Moreover, the pilot makes use of the show’s documentary style and use of voice-over, setting up the first “On the next Arrested Development” gag.

13. “Switch Hitter” (Season Two, Episode Seven)

“Switch Hitter” emphasizes one of the best plots in Arrested Development, in which George pits his sons against one another, to ridiculous ends.

Director Feig and writer Adler put the company softball game between the Bluths and the rival Sitwell Housing, Inc. at the center of Michael and GOB’s feud. When GOB finds a father figure in Stan Sitwell (Ed Begley Jr.), he leaves the Bluths for the new company and its baseball team. The game lends itself to lots of great gags, none better than Ann using her low center of gravity to knock over opponents (“Way to plant, Ann!”).

14. “Righteous Brothers” (Season Two, Episode Eighteen)

At its heart, Arrested Development tells the story of generational conflict, played out between George and his twin brother Oscar (also played by Jeffrey Tambor), Michael and his siblings, and cousins Maeby and George Michael. All of these relations come together in the season two finale, “Righteous Brothers,” directed by Chuck Martin and written by Hurwitz and Vallely. While George Michael protests a movie produced by Maeby, in hopes of impressing Ann, GOB considers letting Michael take the fall for the Bluth company’s wrongdoing.

The only thing affecting GOB’s decision is his understanding of the way Michael responds to a gift he gave his brother, an ill-conceived album called Franklin Comes Alive, performed by GOB and his offensive puppet Franklin.

15. “Making a Stand” (Season Three, Episode Eight)

The season three episode “Making a Stand” sees the return of the banana stand, in which GOB and Steve Holt’s takeover of the snack bar mirrors Michael’s fumbles with George Michael. It also brings back J. Walter Weatherman, recruited by GOB and Michael to stop George, much to the chagrin of Buster.

But the best part of the episode, directed by Lauer and written by Hurwitz and Tatham, comes in a single line from Lucille. While arguing with her maid, Lucille asks, “What’s Spanish for ‘I know you speak English’?”

16. “Motherboy XXX” (Season Two, Episode Thirteen)

“Motherboy XXX” utilizes of one of the greatest joke structures in Arrested Development, the call forward. Several episodes earlier, characters made reference to a mother-son beauty pageant, but it wasn’t until “Motherboy XXX” that the audience saw the extent of the nonsense.

Director Joe Russo and writers Hurwitz and Vallely include plots about GOB and his reckless ex-wife (Amy Poehler) and Lucille forcing Buster back into her uncomfortable family contests. However, the most memorable jokes involve the many references to Burger King, a spoof of FOX’s attempts to push product placement into the show. When Carl Weathers, playing a down-on-his-luck version of himself, praises the chain’s free refill policy, Tobias enthuses, “It’s a wonderful restaurant!”

17. “Forget Me Now” (Season Three, Episode Three)

Much of “Forget Me Now” continues the romance between Michael and Rita, a plotline that doesn’t work until its aforementioned climax in “The Ocean Walker.” However, director John Amodeo and writer Tom Saunders get plenty of mileage out of the episode’s subplots, including those about the Bluths’ new lawyer, Bob Loblaw, played by Scott Baio (“Look, this is not the first time I’ve been brought in to replace Barry Zuckerman,” says Bob, making one of many references to the earlier series Happy Days).

Everything involving Loblaw is hilarious, from Lindsey’s inept attempts to flirt with him to jokes about his name, as when Michael says, “We’re not here to talk nonsense to Bob Loblaw.”

18. “Development Arrested” (Season Three, Episode Thirteen)

Although Arrested Development received two more seasons, director John Fortenberry and writers Day, Hurwitz, Tatham, and Vallely designed “Development Arrested” as a series finale. Thus, the episode features several callbacks to the pilot, including an inversion of Michael’s first conversation with George Michael and yet another Yacht party.

But the episode consists of more than just winks to previous episodes. Instead, it culminates in revealing a revenge plot by Annyong (Justin Lee), the Korean boy Lucille adopted to spite Buster. The plot pulls together many of the meta-jokes in the final season and ends on a satisfying note, making for a much better close to the series than either of the two finales that followed.

19. “Key Decisions” (Season One, Episode Four)

As the series progressed, Lindsey Bluth often served as a foil for Lucille or Tobias, with her own stories focused on her desperate attempts to pick up men. But the series first presented Lindsey as an airheaded liberal who saw activism as a way to get attention.

Such is the case in “Key Decisions,” directed by Anthony Russo and written by Brad Copeland. Hoping to recapture her old rebellious spirit, Lindsey joins a protest against the Bluth Company, which puts her in short-term cahoots with environmental activist Johnny Bark (Clint Howard). “Key Decisions” also sees the resolution of GOB’s attempts to escape from his father’s prison, which ends with one of the show’s best reoccurring lines, “I’ve made a huge mistake.”

20. “Bringing Up Buster” (Season One, Episode Three)

Like Lindsey, Buster Bluth began the series as a shallow-minded fool who took way too many narrow graduate courses. Writers also shifted course with him, focusing instead on his too-close relationship with Lucille, as demonstrated in “Bringing Up Buster,” directed by Joe Russo and written by Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Rosenstock.

When Lucille asks him to take care of Buster, Michael worries that he’s short-changing George Michael, who relishes the free time to continue his pursuit of his cousin Maeby. But while Buster pretends to enjoy his newfound freedom, he in fact misses living with his mother, a strange motivation played with perfect uncomfortable timing by Tony Hale.

21. “Public Relations” (Season One, Episode Eleven)

Although many Arrested Development storylines involved Michael’s love life, they did not often take his relationship with George Michael into account.

Writer Courtney Lilly and director Lee Shallat-Chemel change that with “Public Relations,” in which Michael dates a PR specialist called Jessie (Jill Ritchie). This plot line leads to Ron Howard’s best moment in the show — when Jessie calls George Michael “Opie,” the narrator says, “Jessie had gone too far and she had best watch her mouth.”

Great as those moments are, the real joy of the episode involves the Milford School, a strict rich-person academy that believes children should neither be seen nor heard.

22. “Smashed” (Season Four, Episode Nine)

No episode from the two revival seasons from Netflix holds up with the original run, but the Tobias-centric entry “Smashed” from season four comes close. Directed by Mitch Hurwitz and Troy Miller and written by Dean Lorey and Richard Rosenstock, “Smashed” follows Tobias’s big acting break, when he gets cast as the Thing in Fantastic 4: An Action Musical, written by Desperate Housewives creator Mark Cherry.

The episode pokes plenty of fun at Tobias’s delusions and his romance with co-star Debrie Bordeaux (Maria Bamford), who plays the Invisible Woman. It also features more of Tobias’s accidental double entendres, which does repeat familiar ground, but is also really funny. Call it one of the strangest Arrested Development episodes.

Movies tend to have a curious lifespan. Some films are able to significantly impact the culture at large, allowing the film to bury itself in the collective and individual memories of those who see it. Others, however, have an ephemeral time in the spotlight. As quickly as they arrive in theaters and boast impressive box office returns, the moviegoing public forgets them, sometimes even months later.

That’s why Wealth of Geeks has begun a series on Forgotten Blockbusters. Each decade has its version of these — the lingering vehicles for stars past their prime, oddball indies that struck it big, and side projects for big names designed to coast off the familiarity of larger successes. These films still struck a chord with audiences; they hit the top ten at the box office in their respective years. But time has left these behind to the annals of cult familiarity or set up more successful trends that became better known. Join our salute to the 1970s forgotten blockbusters that packed in the audiences, then disappeared.

1. Airport (1970)

Box Office: $44.5 million

While Airplane! flies high as one of the greatest parody films of all time, the picture it sends up — the 1970 ensemble disaster drama Airport — has fallen into obscurity. The first of four adaptations of the novels by Arthur Hailey, 1970’s Airport features all manner of harrowing scenarios for its stalwart airport managers and terrified crew and passengers: medical emergencies, landing during a snowstorm, suicide bombers, the list goes on.

Still, its stuffed cast of big names (Burt Lancaster, Jacqueline Bisset, even Dean Martin as a pilot) helped it become Universal’s biggest hit at the time. 

2. Billy Jack (1971)

Box Office: $32.5 million

One of the great independent success stories of the New Hollywood Era, Billy Jack told the tale of a behind-kicking, half-Navajo Vietnam vet of the same name (director/star Tom Laughlin) who stands up for the downtrodden hippies of a local college against a gang of bullies. It’s an absurd premise, packed in an absurd film that nonetheless made $50 million on a $10 million budget, even after its original distributor (American International Pictures) pulled out halfway through filming. In 1974, Billy Jack would return in the equally ridiculous Billy Jack Rides Again; one hopes he wanders into our town, fists aching for justice.

3. Summer of ’42 (1971)

Box office: $32 million

By the 70s, the movies had told plenty of coming-of-age stories. But in the early ’70s, Robert Mulligan’s Summer of ’42 mined furtive tales of adolescent love and 1940s nostalgia to box office success. Based on the memoirs of Herman Raucher, the film follows a young version of himself (Gary Grimes) who falls for a young woman (Jennifer O’Neill) whose husband is away fighting in World War II. It’s a hazy remembrance of an unfulfilled young romance, which is likely why it raked in $32 million at the box office — and faded from memory not long after.

4. Papillon (1973)

Box Office: $22.5 million

While Papillon got a remake in 2017 starring Rami Malek and Charlie Hunnam, its box office failure perhaps reminds cinephiles that no one thinks that much about this adaptation of Henri Charrière’s 1969 autobiography about his escape from a French Guyanese prison. It’s a terrific film, with a pair of wounded performances from Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman and a thoughtful script co-written by Dalton Trumbo. But nobody remembers.

5. The Way We Were (1973)

Box Office: $22.45 million

A box office smash and an Academy Award winner for Best Original Score (Marvin Hamlisch) and Best Original Song (the title track), Sydney Pollack’s romantic drama about a Marxist Jew (Barbra Streisand) and a WASP (Robert Redford) who tried to make a relationship work became a celebrated romantic film in its heyday. But few beyond the most diehard Streisand fans talk about it much. 

6. Earthquake (1974)

Box Office: $36.3 million

In the 1970s, disaster films made big money, and Earthquake rumbled the biggest of all of them. An ensemble cast including Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, Ava Gardner and more try to survive a massive shaker that breaks apart LA, and — thanks to the then-innovative Sensurround technique — audiences actually felt the earthquake around them in theaters. But the death of the disaster film and the inability to replicate Sensurround in home theaters, means that most of Earthquake‘s pop culture tremors have quelled.

7. Silver Streak (1976)

Box Office: $30 million

Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder became one of 1970s cinema’s greatest, most unlikely comic duos, one that doesn’t get remembered nearly as often as it should. Case in point: 1976’s Silver Streak, a delightful farce about a book editor and a car thief thrust together by circumstance on a train moving from LA to Chicago. Together, they must dodge dangerous art thieves, Jill Clayburgh as a seductive ingenue, and — what else — a runaway train. 

8. Oh, God! (1977)

Box Office: $41.7 million

Carl Reiner’s spiritually-minded comedy follows a grumpy supermarket manager (John Denver) who suddenly finds himself forced to spread the word of God (George Burns). This comes much to the consternation of everyone around him, as poor Jerry whines to both his fellow man and the Almighty that he asks too much. Viewers hailed it as one of the greatest comedies of the year, and it got two sequels. Now, it’s become so obscure it lives on mostly in bits on Tim Heidecker’s On Cinema.

9. Every Which Way but Loose (1978)

Box Office: $85.2 million

Every Which Way But Loose combines several 1970s fads America obsessed over: middle-aged Clint Eastwood, CB radio/trucker culture, and oirangutans doing funny things. But while critics lambasted it at the time (The New York Times’s Janet Maslin called it “harebrained”), it became one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, with a $104 million takeaway on a minuscule $5 million budget. A sequel followed, Any Which Way You Can, but these two films now live on as time capsules of a particular era in American comedy. 

10. Hooper (1978)

Box Office: $78 million

Fresh off Smokey and the Bandit, Burt Reynolds continued to hone his newfound fame as an easygoing leading man with his next collab with director Hal Needham: Hooper, a tribute to the stuntmen and women that keep the industry running. Reynolds plays the titular Hooper, a stunt coordinator who smirks and snarks through one dangerous stunt after another (including a wild ‘rocket car’ jump). Reynolds’ effortless appeal made the movie one of the top ten highest-grossing films of the year, though it didn’t hold a candle to Bandit‘s runaway success. Today, it is a footnote for helping kick off the “blooper reel” credits gag from the ’70s and ’80s, a tradition that must come back yesterday.

11. 10 (1979)

Box Office: $74.9 million

Okay, this one’s maybe a stretch: After all, the image of Bo Derek, walking up from the beach in a swimsuit and dreadlocks, remains one of the most iconic images in 1970s movie history. But challenge someone born after the 1990s to say they’ve seen Blake Edwards’ box office hit co-starring Dudley Moore, and very few hands will rise. 

12. The Jerk (1979) 1970s forgotten blockbusters

Box Office: $73.7 million

“He hates these cans!” Steve Martin’s dillweed Horatio Alger story remains a delight even today, with a host of memorable scenes like the aforementioned oil can massacre and lines like “I was born a poor Black child…” But it has become a criminally underseen film for modern audiences, who might balk at some of its more problematic racial elements and the dated nature of some of the jokes. Still, when it works, it works, and who can say no to a film pairing Martin with Bernadette Peters?

Choosing our favorite Samuel L. Jackson characters is like choosing a favorite child – dead easy! Deciding which memorable characters he has conjured into life best define him as an actor poses a much more complicated problem.

Debuting in 1972’s Together for Days, Jackson boasts credits in over 200 movies and TV shows. His appearances are often arresting, if not electrifying. For a performer not, perhaps, noted for his versatility, his career hops genres.  As the following list attests,  Samuel L. Jackson can do much more than just shout, curse, and shoot the heck out of people…though we love when he does.

1. Jules Winnfield – Pulp Fiction (1994)

No contest for the number one spot – and that says something. Playing ruthless hitman Jules Winnfield, a Jheri-curled ball of fury, cocked .45 in one hand, Good Book in the other, Jackson takes his place in the pantheon of movie heavies, rubbing shoulders with Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, and the Wicked Witch of the West. His hurricane-force performance demands the spotlight, even amid an egalitarian ensemble cast. Tarantino’s killer dialogue plays its part – throw a dart at the script, and you’ll hit gold – but it’s Jackson’s sheer magnetism, equivalent to that of a small planet, that rivets audiences to the screen. Best line? Again, no contest. And again, that says something.

Classic quote: “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men…”

2. Mitch Hennessey – The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Jackson claims he had the most fun of his career playing corrupt cop-turned-low-rent private eye Mitch Henessey in this criminally underrated action-thriller. No other role (with one obvious exception) plays as shrewdly to his seedy persona or gives him such a sumptuous banquet of potty-mouthed one-liners to feast on. Co-star Geena Davis gets top billing, and the on-screen chemistry sizzles, but it’s still Jackson who walks off with the show.

Classic quote: “I ain’t handsome, I ain’t rich, and the last time I got blown, candy bars cost a nickel.”

3. Gator Purify – Jungle Fever (1991)

Jackson brings pathos and humor to a character who, on paper, does not rise much above the level of an odious dirtbag. Not to say there’s any stinting on the scuzz in his portrayal of Wesley Snipe’s crackhead brother. But when old man Purify plugs Gator in the belly and watches him bleed out in his mother’s arms without a trace of emotion, audience reactions will likely differ.

Classic quote: “I swear before God… and four more white people! This is the last time!”

4. Nick Fury – Marvel Universe

Founder of SHIELD, de facto boss of The Avengers, and not a man to trifle with, Nick Fury can be as stony-faced and severe as the next superhero honcho. Occasionally, though, he’ll let fly a sardonic zinger like the one below – a magnificently Jacksonesque response to the WSC’s plan to nuke Manhattan – reminding us that Jackson doesn’t just play Fury in the movies, he was the inspiration for his current incarnation in the first place.

Classic quote: “I recognize the Council has made a decision. But given that it’s a stupid-*** decision, I have elected to ignore it.”

5. Mace Windu – Star Wars

Here’s a question: If eradicating all trace of Jar Jar Binks from the Star Wars Universe meant also sacrificing Jackson’s magisterial turn as a chrome-domed, purple-lightsaber-wielding Jedi bigwig, would anyone go for it? The answer, in case anyone wondered: Heck no!

Classic quote: “Remember that war is like a fire across the galaxy. It spreads and it consumes. We must never waver in the face of that fire. We are keepers of the peace. We are Jedi. ”

6. Stephen Warren – Django Unchained (2012)

Fans get two for the price of one here, with Jackson essentially playing a dual role. For the dumb white folks, he pantomimes the cringing, feeble-minded house boy, a grotesque stereotype Hollywood once peddled. In reality, it masks his true identity: cunning, malignant ‘Mammy’ to Leonardo DiCaprio’s sadistic plantation owner. A precarious highwire act for any number of reasons, Jackson pulls it off with audacious dexterity.

Classic quote: “This is Candieland, m*ther*****r!”

7. Frozone – The Incredibles (2004)

Pixar’s dazzling foray into the superhero genre finds Jackson on somewhat unfamiliar PG-friendly ground. Naturally, he nails it, flaunting his impeccable comedy chops and instilling his character with a subversive hint of street-smart sass that not even the scriptwriters bargained for. What makes this truly remarkable is that he does it without recourse to the F-word, an expletive he normally deploys with eloquence and invention bordering on performance art.

Classic quote: “Honey, where’s my super suit?”

8. Carl Lee Hailey – A Time to Kill (1996)

Despite stiff competition from a supporting cast boasting Brenda Fricker, Chris Cooper, and the late M. Emmett Walsh, Jackson once again scoops the acting honors as a Mississippi woodcutter accused of murdering the white men who raped his ten-year-old daughter. The film divided critics and some viewers denounced it for its perceived advocacy of vigilante justice. Jackson’s performance, however, suffused with rage and unfathomable pain, received universal praise.

Classic quote: “Yes, they deserved to die. And I hope they burn in h***!”

9. Ray Arnold – Jurassic Park (1993)

Another minor role that Jackson handles with typical aplomb delivering the film’s pivotal line with pitch-perfect gravitas.

Classic quote: “I can’t get Jurassic Park back online without Dennis Nedry.”

10. Señor Love Daddy – Do the Right Thing (1989)

As temperatures rise and racial tensions simmer in Spike Lee’s day-in-the-life snapshot of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Jackson’s super-chilled DJ strives to keep the lid on with good vibes, groovy tunes, and some much-needed tough love. Part one-man Greek chorus, part paternal overseer, Jackson gets the mix of scolding rebuke and spaced-out detachment dead on.

Classic quote: “You got to cool that s*** off. And that’s the double-truth, Ruth.”

11. Neville Flynn – Snakes on a Plane (2006)

Terrific title, terrible movie. A crushing disappointment after historic online hype, this overstretched cult wannabe boasts a solitary highlight, and no prizes for guessing what that is. Can one inspired line save a movie? When it comes out of Samuel L. Jackson’s mouth, yes. Well, almost.

Classic quote: “I have had it with these m*****f*****g snakes on this m*****f*****g plane!”

12. Hold-Up Man – Coming to America (1988)

Even in a small role that didn’t warrant a name, Jackson makes his mark. In the fleeting moment it takes Eddie Murphy to foil his booze-addled robbery attempt with a mop, he lays down his signature licks. Menacing, funny and utterly unforgettable, a blueprint of sorts for everything to come.

Classic quote: (in response to a request that he moderate his language): “F*** you!”