The untimely demise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been greatly overstated. 3p3g4i

When Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania first hit theaters, a lot of critics bemoaned how lackluster the latest installment of the MCU saga was. The movie made everyone at the studio reconsider how it lost so much goodwill in a short amount of time post-Thanos. The head honcho at Marvel, Kevin Feige, even stated that the failure of the film made him reconsider claims of superhero fatigue—an idea he had previously dismissed. He vowed that he learned from the lessons of mixed receptions to his latest movies and, from that point on, planned on releasing fewer movies each year.

The latest Ant-Man installment was set up to be the anchor of Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it had the budget to match. According to a very detailed report by Forbes, the film cost $327M to produce. For context, Avengers: Infinity War reportedly cost $356M, and that is probably the most stacked cast in a Marvel movie ever. The movie, however, only made $476.07M, and considering the studio shares 50% of their earnings with the theaters that show the film all over the world, the studio was understood to have only made $238.05M back from the movie.

To add salt to the wound, the main purpose of the film was to set up Kang as the next main villain of the MCU. But the actor who plays Kang, Jonathan Majors, had run-ins with the law, where he was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend. Marvel took their time and ultimately decided to go back to the drawing board, then opted to reintroduce Robert Downey Jr., this time as Doctor Doom going forward. Despite all this turmoil, thanks to some financial maneuvering, the studio reportedly managed to still eke out a modest profit of $88,000 from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

The U.K. government has a sweetheart deal for large movie productions whereby films that have at least 10% of production activities occurring in the United Kingdom get a 25.5% cash reimbursement. Through that, the excellent ants at Disney ensured they utilized these government initiatives so that they could turn its loss on paper to a profit in its year-end books. And listen, congrats to Disney for having found ways to ensure its loss does not greatly affect the business side of the company, but maybe next time try listening to fans instead of dismissing them and making it only possible for them to communicate with their dollars.

It’s not doubtful to us whether Marvel can still create fantastic movies and TV shows; it’s the greatest franchise of our time. But finding out they’ve safeguarded themselves at the back end makes it seem clear that when they do push out rushed and substandard content, it’s only the filmmakers and fans who get affected, which is disheartening. But on the bright side, Feige seemingly quickly responded to fans’ demands to slow down their output, and it’s clearly already translating, seeing how positively everyone is responding to Agatha All Along. It seems they’re finally back to putting in as much work in the writer’s room as they put in their ing offices.

Going forward, there are films that fans have huge expectations from, such as The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Secret Wars, and the fourth Spider-Man. So let’s hope that they get the sixth phase right.

Warning: this article may contain spoilers for Turning Red

Turning Red tells a relatable coming-of-age story with a mix of ancient Chinese mythology and a modern twist.

The film tackles a family conflict between a teenager and their parents and nods itself to subtle hints of puberty. However, there is more to this film than just what’s seen on a surface level. It discusses a deeper story, both modern and traditional.

Chinese mythology of the red panda 585b4f

According to Chinese mythology, giant pandas are seen as ‘sacred creatures of the forest’ and as a symbol of peace. A research study by Angela R. Glaston and Axel Gebauer found that there is a belief that red pandas, or their fur, can bring people good luck or good fortune. Due to this, people chose not to harm the red panda because of the good omens that they represent.

“The people living in the Gasa and upper Paro regions of western Bhutan maintain that it is a good omen if you see a panda when you are travelling on a business trip; it guarantees that the trip will be successful.”

The film showcases these old beliefs with Sun Yee as it retells the story of the family’s ancestors and how the red panda blessed the family with good fortune and prosperity.

In the behind-the-scenes documentary Embrace the Panda: Making of Turning Red, the filmmakers visited a red panda enclosure. Director Domee Shi found similarities between what red pandas are like in the wild and Lee’s relationship with her mother, Ming.

“They’re native to China. And then also, it’s like red and white. It’s like Chinese, but also like the colors of the Canadian flag, too. So it felt like the perfect animal to tell this story about this Chinese-Canadian teenage girl.”

Growing up in an Asian household in a Western country 4d6s4n

As someone who grew up in an Asian household in a Western nation (Australia), I can attest that there’s both a stereotype and expectation that children need to do well and have to please their parents. They have to be ‘the golden child’ of the family, meaning high achievers, good education, etc. This is amplified when the family decides to immigrate to a first-world country for better opportunities.

And while this expectation is reasonable because of prospects of a better future, it also feels restrictive and over-barring, to the point where you’re now lying to yourself.

In the film, Lee’s mother Ming praises her daughter constantly as she gets good grades and does good work in the temple, but Lee is unable to express her feelings and interests to her due to it not being the ideal image of the ‘Golden child.’ Lee’s mother sees her as a future UN Secretary-General and sees possible distractions, such as boys, 4-Town concerts, and her friends as a distraction or a bad influence.

Repressed emotions and the need for 3a1q3w

Lee transforming into a giant red panda helps visualize the repressed feelings and emotions that she’s been having. When she first transforms, a lot of what she’s feeling (anger, sadness, attraction, embarrassment, fear, and excitement) is expressed freely and heavily to the point of being comedic in some scenes. Lee as a human can’t express those feelings freely due to family expectations.

But at the same time, growing up, you need to show some restraint. This is where a good emotional network is needed to help navigate all that without the feeling of being restrained.

Lee’s father, Jin, also understands what his daughter is going through. He listens to what his daughter wants and tells her that her relationships with her friends and transforming into a red panda is a part of her.

“The point isn’t to push the bad stuff away, it’s to make room for it, live with it. Mei, erase it if you want, but this side of you, made me laugh.”

The message of Turning Red 5i2x64

So, while most common interpretations of the film may be about puberty or a conflict between one’s family, Turning Red really brought to light the burden that most second-generation migrants and Asian children face with their families.

With the mix of traditional folklore and a modern story, it was able to address something that most kids are sometimes hesitant to talk about – they’re growing up and would like from their families and loved ones as they go through this journey.

At the end of the film, both Lee and her mother come to an understanding. While she’s able to help her mother work in the temple and do well in school, the mother soon lets her daughter hang out with her friends.

Lee has a network of friends who helped her control the panda but also helped her accept it. She was also able to her mother, too, when she needed it the most.

Turning Red is available to stream on Disney Plus.

A brand new trailer for a brand new Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire movie dropped today, and for once it doesn’t like it’s a rehash of older stuff. The trailer, a teaser, has a lot to unpack. Firstly, we have some familiar faces, like Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson. There’s also a new villain, but who is it?

The trailer starts off in the middle of summer in New York City. It’s sweltering hot, and some people take the day to relax at the beach. Suddenly, everything stops and there’s a chill coming from out in the ocean.

It turns out to be an ice storm that causes spikes of frozen spears to appear all over the city. Honestly, it feels pretty original. Take a look:

The villain is named the Death Chill, and it can kill people through fear alone while making them freeze to death. We don’t get to see the supernatural force itself, but we do get to see the havoc it wreaks on the city.

This is the fifth movie in the franchise, and the first time there’s a wholly original bad guy for the ‘busters to take on. The absence of franchise regulars Gozer or Zuul really allows the film to move in a new direction, and move in a new direction it indeed has! This is not your parents’ (grandparents’?) Ghostbusters.

Ackroyd’s Ray explains that when people encounter the death chill they can’t move and the last thing they feel is their tear ducts freezing over. Yowza. That sounds uncomfortable, to say the least. In the trailer, Oswalt seems really pumped about the idea of a ghost that freezes you to death with fear.

Here’s a synopsis, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly:

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire finds the Spengler family returning to where it all started, the iconic New York City firehouse, to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.”

Newcomers (to the franchise) Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt are also featured in the trailer, and we get to see all the old favorites as well, like:  Mckenna Grace as Phoebe; Finn Wolfhard as Trevor; Celeste O’Connor as Lucky; Carrie Coon as Callie; Logan Kim as Podcast and Paul Rudd as Mr. Grooberson.

There’s no release date for the movie just yet.

Fans of the Mean Girls franchise (there’s a show and a movie, so it’s a franchise) got a confusing treat today, as the official X for the movie released a new trailer featuring a song by Olivia Rodrigo and no songs from the Broadway musical of the same name.

To be clear, the movie is a musical. It stars Reneé Rapp as Regina George (she also played the character on Broadway), Auli’i Cravalho as Janis ‘Imi’ike, and Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, who was portrayed by Lindsay Lohan in the original movie.

A lot of fans were bemused by the trailer, and for good reason. It started out by saying “This isn’t your Mother’s Mean Girls,” and purposely hiding the fact that the movie is a musical and not a straight remake.

In fact, if you didn’t know anything about the movie you would think it was just a regular film. There is dancing, but no singing in the trailer, only scenes of talking over “get him back!” by Rodrigo.

Obviously that threw some people for a loop.

“uhhh, why does this trailer hide the fact that it’s a MUSICAL? why am I only hearing Olivia Rodrigo??">US Weekly, Rapp revealed that there have been some updates to the story since the Broadway version from a few years ago.

“A lot of it is different. Tina [Fey] is such a creative genius and such a creative freak, and her partner, Jeff Richmond, who does all of the music, is as well. So there’s definitely different things. There might be different songs. Some songs that are in the musical version might be in the movie or might not be.”

The original movie starred Lindsay Lohan as Cady, Rachel McAdams as Regina George, Lacey Chabert as Gretchen Weiners, and Amanda Seyfried as Karen Smith. Tina Fey, who wrote the original, is reprising her role as Ms. Norbury, and Tim Meadows returns as Mr. Duvall.

Mean Girls, the musical based on the Broadway show about the 2004 movie, hits theaters on Jan. 12.

This post contains spoilers for Oppenheimer and sensitive content.

At just 27 years old, Florence Pugh has already established a brilliant career in Hollywood, playing the lead in critically acclaimed films like Midsommar, Lady Macbeth, Little Woman, and more. Her most recent foray into Christopher Nolan‘s intellectual filmmaking landed her the part of WWII figure Jean Tatlock in the biographical thriller Oppenheimer. Pugh beautifully rules during the brief time she is on screen, but her character conceals a tragic and heartbreaking tale beneath her smart mind and attractive appearance.

The real Jean Tatlock was born in 1914 to an esteemed and well-known professor of English at the University of Michigan. She was among the handful of female students who attended Stanford Medical at her time and grew up to become a psychiatrist. Tatlock also worked as a reporter and writer for the Communist Party’s West Coast publication Western Worker, which eventually put her on the radar of the FBI. But what is the story behind her popular romantic relationship with J. Robert Oppenheimer, and her tragic death?

The relationship between Jean Tatlock and J. Robert Oppenheimer 2y381l

Jean Tatlock and Oppenheimer met through Oppenheimer’s landlady, Mary Ellen Washburn, who was also a member of the Communist Party like Tatlock. Tatlock then began seeing Oppenheimer in 1936, when she was a graduate student at Stanford and Oppenheimer was a professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. The two were 26 and 36 at that time, respectively.

Tatlock and Oppenheimer started dating despite their ten-year age gap and had a ionate relationship fueled by both sides. Oppenheimer proposed to Tatlock twice, but she refused. He then eventually married German-American biologist Kitty Harrison in 1940, but historians speculate that their romance continued.

In a letter to Major General Kenneth D. Nichols, the General Manager of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, dated March 4, 1954, Oppenheimer described their relationship ahead of the 1954 security hearings:

“We were at least twice close enough to marriage to think of ourselves as engaged. Between 1939 and her death in 1944, I saw her very rarely.”

Oppenheimer named the first nuclear weapon test “Trinity” after one of John Donne’s poems introduced to him by Tatlock, as a tribute to Tatlock. He described his thought in response to Leslie Grooves’s letter in 1962, according to Richard Rhodes’ book “The Making of the Atomic Bomb”:

“I did suggest it… Why I chose the name is not clear, but I know what thoughts were in my mind. There is a poem by John Donne, written just before his death, which I know and love.”

Did Oppenheimer have an extramarital affair with Jean Tatlock after marriage? 5q3nv

Oppenheimer might have had an extramarital affair with Tatlock while he was working on the Manhattan Project. In the book “An Atomic Love Story: The Extraordinary Women in Robert Oppenheimer’s Life,” by Shirley Streshinsky and Patricia Klaus, it is mentioned that Oppenheimer and Tatlock spent the New Year together in 1941, and once met at Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco.

The book also vividly describes Oppenheimer’s meeting with Tatlock two years later, on June 14, 1943, as chronicled in a HuffPost blog:

“Oppenheimer arrived at 9:45 pm [at a terminal in San Francisco], the FBI report reads. He rushed to meet a young lady, whom he kissed and they walked away arm in arm. They entered a 1935 green Plymouth coupe and the young lady drove. The car is ed to Jean Tatlock. She is five foot seven, 128 [pounds], long dark hair, slim, attractive… Drove to Xochiniloc Cafe, 787 Broadway, at 10 p.m. Cheap type bar, cafe, and dance hall operated by Mexicans. Had few drinks, something to eat, went to 1405 Montgomery where she lives on top floor… Appears to be very affectionate and intimate… At 11:30 lights went out.”

The book mentions that three months prior to this meeting, as Oppenheimer was departing from Berkley for Los Amos to work on the Manhattan Project, Tatlock had wanted to meet Oppenheimer, which he refused. Their reunion in 1943 lasted about 24 hours, according to the FBI officials, who were keeping tabs on Tatlock because of her connections with As.

Despite the two meeting on limited occasions, the extramarital affair between the two is documented and thus true. As Oppenheimer reiterates during the 1954 security hearings: “We had been very much involved with one another and there was still very deep feeling when we saw each other.” This meeting resulted in Jean Tatlock being identified as his mistress and a known Communist in Lieutenant Colonel Boris Pash’s memo to the Pentagon recommending that Dr. Oppenheimer be refused a security clearance and removed as scientific director of the Manhattan Project.

How did Jean Tatlock die? 2k3f31

Jean Tatlock was suffering from clinical depression and was being treated at the Mount Zio facility. She died by suicide on January 4, 1944, at her apartment at 1405 Montgomery Street. An entire chapter is dedicated to documenting Tatlock’s death in Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin’s biography of Oppenheimer, “American Prometheus,” which is the source of Nolan’s screenplay.

Tatlock was found a day after her suicide when her father broke into her apartment. He found her “lying on a pile of pillows at the end of the bathtub, with her head submerged in the partly filled tub.” He also found her suicide note, which read:

“I am disgusted with everything… To those who loved me and helped me, all love and courage. I wanted to live and to give and I got paralyzed somehow. I tried like hell to understand and couldn’t… I think I would have been a liability all my life—at least I could take away the burden of a paralyzed soul from a fighting world.”

When Peer De Silva, the head of security for the Los Alamos laboratory informed Oppenheimer of Tatlock’s death, he wept and “went on at considerable length about the depth of his emotion for Jean, saying there was really no one else to whom he could speak.” The incident is described in Peer De Silva’s notes on an unwritten manuscript titled “The Bomb Project: Mysteries That Survived Oppenheimer.”

Tatlock’s autopsy determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation by drowning and “a faint trace of chloral hydrate” was found in her system. The report raised many suspicions that she was rather murdered because of her affiliations to the Communist party, but no such claims found any solid evidence to be found true. She was later cremated by her father, John Tatlock.

Now that The Flash is playing in theaters across the world, comic book fans once again find themselves asking a very important question: Is Barry truly the fastest man alive, or would he be humbled in a race against Superman?

The Flash and his associates often call him “the fastest man alive,” but does that mean the Scarlet Speedster can go toe-to-toe with Superman and live to tell the tale? While there are some factors to consider in this potential match-up, you have to understand that comic books never answer this question with certainty, and different timelines always follow different rules.

What’s more, every Flash has a unique speed based on their connection to the Speed Force. And considering the fact that the Speed Force is one of the Seven fundamental aspects of the DC universe — and one associated with movement and velocity, at that — the conclusion is a simple matter of what the respective superheroes can tap into when it comes to superpowers.

So, who is faster, The Flash or Superman? 4o4h2j

We all know that the Man of Steel is “faster than a bullet,” and when it comes down to it, he can spin across the world so fast as to turn back time itself. That’s probably the reason why he can see and react to The Flash while he taps into the Speed Force. An instance of this happened in Justice League, and that movie continued to flirt with the idea of a race between them to the very end. But ultimately, the Scarlet Speedster would come out on top in such a race, and here’s why.

While Superman has super-speed, The Flash is connected to the Speed Force itself, and can continue to increase his speed with training. Superman turned back time once, but that’s the bread and butter of Barry Allan, to the point that The Flash is essentially a meme when it comes to changing timelines and creating alternate realities. (Even the 2023 movie revolves around Barry messing with the timeline… again.)

There is one other instance in the comics (Superman Giant #9) where the Man of Steel wins a race against The Flash, but only because Lex Luthor motivates him to do so by promising to give $1 billion away to charity. In the grand scheme of the DC universe, though, Superman would always lose to The Flash, and a 2018 issue of his comic series, The Flash #49, confirms that the Man of Steel wouldn’t be able to keep up with different versions of his Justice League teammate.

So, if that sequence at the end of Justice League ran but a little bit longer, you’d see that the Scarlet Speedster can outrun even Superman.

Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary has been the talk of the town ever since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hit theaters in the first week of May. The perverted, obsessed villain with a God complex had everyone grinding their teeth and clenching their fists in those theater chairs, hoping they could jump into the screen and help the Guardians take him down and bring Rocket and his friends the justice they deserved.

Online, Twitter abounded with comparisons to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania‘s Kang The Conqueror — who is supposed to become the Thanos of post-Endgame Marvel. But a lot of the comments were also about how great it is that there isn’t a single redeemable trait in the High Evolutionary; he’s an unambiguously evil villain you never feel sympathy for.

Once upon a time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was accused of falling short when it came to its villains during the early phases of the franchise. Films like Iron Man 1, 2, and 3, as well as Thor 1 and 2, featured cardboard forgetful detached villains, that weren’t really causing anyone to shake in their boots. Marvel found two ways around this. One was to create a villain in Thanos that would crossover between several films, with a master plan involving several moving parts, such as Loki’s invasion in the first Avengers and Ronan’s mission in the first Guardians. This would lead to bigger stakes and higher anticipation.

The other was to craft antagonists with an emotional drive behind their actions that would make audiences connect with and understand them, as they hoped for eventual redemption arcs. Villains like Loki, The Winter Soldier, Killmonger, Nebula, the Maximoff Twins, Namor, Zemo, and Xu Wenwu— all characters we all wish could stay a little while longer (and some have, thankfully) so we can see their growth.

However, following the reception of Guardians 3, it sounds like the MCU faithfuls were craving a purely evil villain they could all unite against, and that there might be some rising pushback against the type of sympathetic foes Marvel has come to perfect. As much as the High Evolutionary is certainly just straight odious scum, elevated by a fantastic performance from Iwuji, what many are failing to realize is that Guardians‘ writer/director James Gunn is himself the number one fan of redeemable villains turned anti-heroes.

Not only are the Guardians of the Galaxy a team made up of morally ambiguous anti-heroes, who steal, kill, and can often be self-serving, but so is the other squad of baddies Gunn breathed new life into in his first film for Marvel’s biggest competitor — 2021’s The Suicide Squad. As a result, Gunn’s superhero movies can’t really have the emotionally stunted villains acting off of their childhood traumas, because he’s made them his heroes.

Those who have grown tired of Marvel’s tendency to make you care for the bad guy, and were craving the pure detestable wickedness of the High Evolutionary forgot they were watching a movie made out of the franchise’s best anti-heroes. Who, in fact, are the first to welcome any person who shows even the slightest hint of regret or remorse — like Nebula and Adam Warlock — into their handcrafted dysfunctional home.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 doesn’t prove that categorially bad enemies are better for your film, it just shows that rogues turned heroes make for such good characters that you’ll want to make a whole trilogy about them.

Among the many horror franchises that have endured over the years, perhaps none are as consistent in quality as the Evil Dead series. Back at the start of the 1980s, burgeoning writer-director Sam Raimi — only 22 years old at the time — secured funding to begin work on The Evil Dead, which starred his childhood friend Bruce Campbell. Principal photography took place at a remote cabin in Tennessee, where production was especially brutal for all involved considering the isolated location and the number of makeup effects.

Producer Irvin Shapiro helped get the final product a screening at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, and the rest is geek-gore history: The movie went on to gross far more than its budget and spawn four sequels (so far) as well as a three-season Starz series, Ash vs Evil Dead, also starring Campbell.

Ranking the Evil Dead franchise is a game of inches, as even the worst of the lot packs more of a punch than most chillers aiming to make audiences sink in their seats. Say it with us: “Hail to the king, baby.”

5. Evil Dead (2013)

Released at the tail end of the horror remake craze popularized by the likes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), fans were relieved to find that Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead was more a re-imagining of Raimi’s original than a direct remake. The clever conceit here is that a group of friends take one of their own to a remote cabin so she can kick her heroin addiction, where of course they dismiss her demon-dwelling claims as symptoms of withdrawal.

Although it’s a smarter re-interpretation than the films mentioned above, the movie does suffer from trying to push Evil Dead in a more emotionally honest direction while also pumping out the vulgar slapstick that Raimi popularized. But those early films aren’t standing on ceremony the way this one is: Álvarez (Don’t Breathe) clearly wants us to grasp the severity of drug addiction and its effect on friends and family. So why only give us anonymous characters to cackle at as they’re nail-gunned to death?

4. Army of Darkness (1992)

Here’s the thing about Army of Darkness: It’s awesome. Many consider it the best of the franchise, and those people have great taste. But in an attempt to be objective, this is the first entry that tries to follow a conventional narrative — and it mostly succeeds despite that, not because of it. What Army of Darkness does well is what the first two Evil Dead films do well: Sending hero Ash (Campbell) through an assembly line of Chaplin-esque sufferings and milking the Chinned One’s reactions for all they’re worth. This entry sees Ash transported back to the Middle Ages, where he’s sent on a perilous mission to recover the Book of the Dead. Something, something, exploding corpses.

The film is a treasure trove of inventive filmmaking, including sequences where Ash fights a witch in a spike-walled pit and another where a host of mini-Ashes torture the big guy Gulliver’s Travels-style. Also, the final battle boasts some terrific practical effects that are a true tonic for our CG-blockbuster age. The movie just doesn’t need to pretend so hard that it has a plot.

3. Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Evil Dead Rise stands out from the pack primarily because of its story. Separated entirely from the terrific performances, the screenplay itself is just damn good — creating interesting characters, threading in themes of motherhood that are noticeable but not overbearing, and crafting a strong arc for its main heroine. This entry shifts the action to an LA high-rise, where two estranged sisters have their reunion cut short when one of them is overtaken by a demon and begins terrorizing her family and neighbors.

There are a few issues with the script, such as a thinly-drawn ing cast and a thoroughly dispensable wraparound segment. But the narrative stands up under scrutiny, and the emotional throughlines track pretty well. Unfortunately, what Evil Dead Rise has in prose it lacks in presentation, as director Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) doesn’t have the knack for madcap mayhem that Raimi does. Cheese grater and final boss aside, the movie’s scares are well-mounted but pretty standard. Again, we’re pleading that directors find their own style for these movies rather than just aping Raimi’s.

2. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

Evil Dead 2 is perfect; this is settled science. Developed as both a sequel to and a reimagining of the original film, it once again presents the story of Ash going to a remote cabin and losing his girlfriend to an ancient evil released by the Book of the Dead. Only this time the ing cast includes two archaeologists and a pair of locals who end up at the cabin as well. Bloody hijinks ensue, with a greater emphasis on comedy than the previous chapter.

Much of this movie would be straight out of The Three Stooges if the trio’s antics revealed more of the human dermis. This is the entry where Ash loses his hand, engages in combat with said hand, and then sticks a chainsaw on his bloody stump for extra security. It’s also the first time we hear Campbell say his most iconic line: “Groovy.” And that pretty much sums up the film. The setpieces are incredibly innovative, and by the final third Raimi is just playing jazz — working at an almost inconceivable tempo of laughs and scares that will likely never be achieved again.

1. The Evil Dead (1981)

The Evil Dead is probably not a better film than Evil Dead 2, but it’s still the purest entry in the series: It was made with a truly independent spirit by people who wanted to create something nobody had ever seen before, even if audiences turned away in disgust. It has the simplest premise of any film in the franchise: Ash, his girlfriend, and a few others visit a cabin where they play a tape of incantations that resurrect a demonic entity. What follows over the relatively brief runtime is a set of gags that would make Herschell Gordon Lewis wince.

Even at such a young age, Raimi proved he was a visualist unlike any other — strapping the camera to a stick to create floating POV shots, using extra-wide lenses to banish normalcy from the frame, and employing zooms that lock into Dutch angles like little cinematic exclamation points (now considered Raimi’s calling card). People couldn’t believe what they were seeing; punk rock had come to 16 mm.

And today, it’s still hard to believe — and hard to replicate. But even as new Evil Dead films struggle to capture the magic of early entries, they still succeed as dynamic engines of chaos and bloodletting, earning new fans with each installment. Funny that it’s called Evil Dead when the series proves again and again there’s plenty of life left in old-school horror.

When Disney Plus’ Ms. Marvel revealed right at the end of its first season that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Kamala Khan was a mutant instead of an Inhuman like in the comics, opinions were split. Some were excited that the era of the X-Men was finally dawning, while others didn’t appreciate the retcon of the source material. History might just repeat itself when The Marvels rolls around later this year, with another new hero possibly being revealed as a mutant.

We Got This Covered had already included Monica Rambeau in its list of characters ing Kamala in the X-family, but the brand-new trailer for the Captain Marvel sequel has added strength to this theory. The sneak peek into The Marvels reveals that Kamala, Carol Danvers, and Monica Rambeau share some kind of link, either psychic or genetic, that allows them to switch places with one another, uncontrollably at first.

Considering Kamala is canonically a mutant, is this sort of teleportation connected to her Homo Superior genes? If so, does that mean Monica and Carol have to share the genes too? Those questions will likely only be answered in the film, but a small overlooked detail from Monica’s first outing in 2019’s Captain Marvel could shed some more light on this theory.

We know Monica gained her powers by going through Wanda’s hex magic several times in WandaVision, which affected her cells, giving her spectral vision and superhuman reflexes, among other abilities. However, it’s possible that Monica possessed dormant abilities that were activated by Wanda’s magic, maybe mutant genes. The reason we’re getting behind this theory is the way in which, out of everyone, Monica was the only person convinced Carol was still alive after her disappearance in Captain Marvel.

At the time, it was brushed away as childish hopes and dreams, but if Monica, Carol, and Kamala’s connection had always been there through their shared mutant genes, then maybe Monica could actually feel Carol’s presence even when she was lightyears away in the Kree planet Hala. All three of these heroes have come into with powerful light sources — Wanda’s magic, the Tesseract, and Aisha’s Noor Bangle — but as much as that explains their individual abilities, it doesn’t exactly tell us why the three of them are connected, to the point of being able to swap places with one another.

Perhaps, like Kamala, both Monica and Carol had always had the same dormant mutant genes that needed that sort of energetic power to manifest. Maybe all three of them had always been connected even before those encounters, which, in a way, would not only explain young Monica’s hunch about Carol in Captain Marvel but also Kamala’s obsession with the powerful superhero in Ms. Marvel.

We will hopefully get all our answers when The Marvels hits theaters on Nov. 10, 2023.

Captain America: New World Order will be something fresh and new. We’ll see Sam Wilson actively fitting in as the new Captain America after he donned the mantle in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres is set to become Sam’s new sidekick and put on Falcon’s wings. Isaiah Bradley, the veteran supersoldier, is said to have a prominent role in the movie. And there’s a new superheroine, Sabra, making her MCU debut. New World Order will progress Sam’s legacy and serve as an introductory chapter for some new characters — many of whom could factor into the ongoing Multiverse Saga.

The fourth Captain America feature is making headlines for an exciting reason. While Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, and Carl Lumbly round up the primary cast, they’ll be ed by some old faces: the ones we first saw in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. The way the movie’s cast shapes up the ensemble, it seems that Marvel wants to continue a storyline the studio left hanging in the 2008 film.

While no direct story from the comics closely attaches these characters to Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Marvel Studios might revitalize some elements from Hulk comics and merge them with New World Order to ensure these characters find a new place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And that brings us to a theory — Can the fourth Captain America fit into the franchise as The Incredible Hulk sequel? Let’s take a dig at it.

Primary The Incredible Hulk cast returns 5r3g41

The first actor from The Incredible Hulk to be confirmed for Captain America: New World Order. The actor’s return was announced at last year’s D23 Expo. He reprises his role as Dr. Samuel Sterns from The Incredible Hulk. When New World Order releases, it will be 16 years since his teased transformation into Leader was left on a cliffhanger. Now that the actor is back, it’s convincing that Marvel might be picking up on his storyline from thereon in Captain America 4.

Also returning is Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross. There have been no hints or references to her character since her appearance in The Incredible Hulk. While Bruce returned from exile in The Avengers, there’s no telling where Betty has been all this time. And now, Captain America: New World Order is retrofitting her into the continuity. Leader probably ended up in a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison after The Incredible Hulk, which doesn’t require Marvel to give him a decade-long history, making his comeback feel like an introduction. But with Betty Ross, connections to The Incredible Hulk are far more substantial.

Thaddeus Ross is the final character from the 2008 Hulk’s MCU debut to return for New World Order. After William Hurt’s demise, Harrison Ford took up the role for the fourth Captain America movie. Ross’ character has seen appearances in the MCU, rising in ranks from General to now the President of the United States. Fans have called for years to see Thaddeus transform into Red Hulk, Hulk’s archnemesis. Whether he becomes Red Hulk or not, Ross will interact with the Leader and Betty, making it a fine Incredible Hulk reunion, thus making New World Order a fitting sequel for the film.

Avoiding Hulk’s copyright concerns with Universal Pictures 402kw

The most obvious and reasonable reason to continue The Incredible Hulk through Captain America: New World Order could be to avoid the character’s copyright issues with Universal. The studio owns the rights to Hulk since Ang Lee’s 2003 Hulk movie. And that’s why Marvel Studios can’t produce another solo Hulk movie without involving or reaching a new deal with Universal as it has done for Spider-Man with Sony.

Over the years, Marvel has continued Bruce’s story arc through the first two Avengers films, eventually ing through Thor: Ragnarok and ending up in Avengers: Endgame. A new and fresh angle started for Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, which also introduced the character’s son Skaar from the comics.

Meanwhile, the other characters associated with Hulk have yet to see much limelight. With MCU heading toward an imminent face-off with Thanos since The Avengers, Marvel probably couldn’t develop a story incorporating those characters. Captain America: New World Order is an introduction to MCU’s new political front. And it may get these characters the rightful comeback Marvel Studios has been looking for.

Why is Captain America: New World Order the perfect film to merge The Incredible Hulk with? 3x91q

There are several ways that the connection between New World Order and The Incredible Hulk makes for a good sequel for the latter — and Leader could be the tying link. The Leader could be a perfect villain in New World Order, mainly because he could be the key to Joaquin Torres’ transition into the Falcon. In the comics, Torres is experimentally tortured at the hands of Serpent Society, turning him into an avian hybrid and giving him a psychic link to Redwing. Here, Leader and his telepathic and telekinetic abilities may possibly lead to Torres’ torture, creating Falcon and Sam’s new sidekick. There are rumors of Serpent Society featuring in New World Order, which may hint at an alliance between the villainous team and the Leader.

Moreover, a villain like Leader makes Captain America: New World Order a more “superheroic” adventure. The first three Captain America films trod upon genres like war, spy thriller, and political thriller. New World Order, with a villain like Leader, offers a different kind of Captain America film, giving Sam Wilson a fresh and distinct individuality as the eponymous superhero.

In both scenarios, the Leader from The Incredible Hulk also gets a prominent place in the MCU, making way for a legacy sequel for The Incredible Hulk.

Captain America 4 is also perfect for giving Thaddeus Ross a more permanent place in the MCU. Over the years, special appearances from William Hurt have referenced his character. Still, he has yet to appear in anything more than a cameo since The Incredible Hulk. Now that Ross is President, it puts him in an important position in the MCU. With decision-making power over the world’s most powerful nation post-Blip, Ross may have endless resources to execute his twisted wisdom. And there is an added rumor of him becoming Red Hulk, making Captain America 4 more of a Hulk sequel. Harrison Ford is said to have a more prominent role in the movie, which makes him another adversary to Sam besides Leader. Diving into his obsession with the super soldier experiments, he may become another rage-ridden monster.

There are still wraps on Betty’s role in the film, but she has to be someone important given her experience as a scientist. Over the years, Darcy has gone on to get a Ph.D., Jane Foster was considered for a Nobel Prize before she got cancer, and Hope Van Dyne is a leading expert on Quantum Physics research. Betty might be involved with the government, S.H.I.E.L.D., or D.O.D.C., for that matter. But, interestingly, Betty takes on the mantle of Red She-Hulk in the comics. It’s unlikely for her to become a superheroine for now. Still, even a hint would mean a significant direction for New World Order linking to an Incredible Hulk follow-up.

Given Captain America: New World Order will blend genres of politics, superhero, and sci-fi — and the traits of characters reprising their roles from The Incredible Hulk — this is a fitting MCU entry to be an acting follow-up to the latter.

Can Mark Ruffalo feature in Captain America: New World Order? 2l3773

While every other The Incredible Hulk character is getting a sequel with Captain America: New World Order, Bruce Banner is a no-show. It would be something to see Bruce reunite with Betty. There was a moment in Infinity War where he could have reunited with Thaddeus over a hologram meeting, but the writers and directors didn’t play on it. As most of The Incredible Hulk cast returns in New World Order, Mark Ruffalo is not there. But does he have a role to play?

It’s a far-fetched thought, but things in New World Order can lead to a potential World War Hulk adaptation. The Leader, Thaddeus, and Betty are critical in Hulk’s storyline in the comics. With Skaar, Hulk’s son, also ing the MCU, World War Hulk isn’t much of a shot in the dark.

However, if Hulk appears in the film, Sam Wilson might lose value on-screen. Having Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner fighting his nemesis in New World Order would make the movie about Hulk and not about Captain America. There may be hints and crumbs that Marvel leaves about Banner. Still, it’s better to have Sam in the limelight and fight off the threat in Cap’s style, donning the shield and the wings as he did in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

Ruffalo already has his arc in a decently progressive place in the continuity. Avoiding copyright issues, Marvel has given Hulk a potential story arc. And now, after, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, it’s almost confirmed he will return, further solidifying his place in the franchise. It would be just too crowded if he also appeared in New World Order. Even Marvel Studios would be clever enough to keep the emphasis on Sam Wilson in the movie. Julius Onah, the film’s director, has further clarified his intentions to pit Leader against Sam Wilson in the film, making Ruffalo’s entry into New World Order unlikely.

Captain America: New World Order is a significant film in the franchise. Marvel has the responsibility to make a convincing transfer of Captain America’s mantle and make it appealing to fans. And it must have the same grandeur impact as Captain America: The First Avenger. After all, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson will be the MCU’s star-capped hero from now on and must have the same importance as Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. Moreover, The Incredible Hulk’s characters getting a continuing arc here adds pressure on writers to establish their potential future in the MCU. Hence, it’s vital for New World Order to be both an appealing and visually compelling entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Lately, Marvel films are feeling the need to catch up in recreating the old charisma and success critically and commercially. Marvel will release several other MCU productions before Captain America: New World Order hits theaters; however, the movie will be a deciding factor in Sam Wilson’s expansion in the franchise.

What once was a major red flag for Marvel now seems to be the least of its worries. The year started with the release of Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania — the grand opener to the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Phase Five, spruced up by the big, majorly anticipated reveal of Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror, aka the Avengers’ new worst nightmare. The movie flopped, both critically and at the box office.

Following other disappointments like Black Widow, Eternals, Thor 4, and Multiverse of Madness, the scenario painted by Ant-Man 3‘s performance wasn’t boding well at all for the future of Marvel, but fast-forward about a month and the superhero studio would be going through what might very well be its most hellish week yet, to the point where the commercial viability of future projects has become almost an afterthought.

On March 20th, the news that trusted exec Victoria Alonso would be exiting Marvel Studios came out of nowhere. Alonso had been at the company for 17 years and was one of the main creatives behind the inception of what is now largely regarded as the greatest superhero franchise of all time. Five days later, Jonathan Majors, the face Marvel chose to headline the Multiverse Saga, and frankly, the only salvageable aspect of Quantumania, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman. Fans instantly called for a recast, but Marvel has yet to comment on Majors’ future in the series.

While we’re yet to get to the bottom of both Alonso’s firing and Majors’ arrest, to be hit with two blows as scandalous as these, at the same time as the reports that Quantumania is unlikely to break even at the box office start coming through, could prove to be more than the comics giant can handle. Not even the pandemic painted a picture as bleak as this, and 2023 is shaping up to be the MCU’s most problematic year yet.

The good news is that — although Alonso was someone who had a complete understanding of the MCU identity, and her firing could be indicative of the cracks in Marvel’s wall — as the former President of Physical, Post Production, VFX, and Animation at Marvel, considering the scrutiny the franchise’s latest visual effects have come under, maybe a change in leadership might just be a blessing in disguise.

Jonathan Majors’ situation, on the other hand, is still very much up in the air, with conflicting reports coming through from the authorities and the actor’s legal team. Majors was set to play a vital role in season two of Loki, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and probably Avengers: Secret Wars. Many were banking on Majors to carry the MCU through the rut it is currently experiencing, considering how talented of an actor he is, and how well he embodied the menacing Kang.

At this point, Majors’ case looks like it will be yet another questionable incident with an ambiguous conclusion, as cases like this often are. However, even if all charges are dropped, unless there’s undeniable proof that he is innocent, keeping Majors around could possibly alienate a chunk of the audience that was still hanging on to the MCU despite subpar recent installments. Paradoxically, firing the actor without him being found guilty first, might not sit well with a different portion of Marvel’s viewership. It’s a lose-lose, and all eyes will be on Marvel to see what it chooses to do.

As for Quantumania likely becoming the MCU’s biggest money-loser ever, the slate of movies and series to come should leave fans feeling somewhat more relaxed. Not only are the hugely requested Daredevil: Born Again and Deadpool 3 approaching release, but there’s also the fabulously cast Secret Invasion and Agatha: Coven of Chaos coming up. Not to mention Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Sam Wilson’s big debut as Captain America in New World Order, Armor Wars, Ironheart, Thunderbolts, Echo… Need we go on? All of these sound fantastic in theory, and it’s entirely up to Marvel whether they live up to the hype in reality, too.

Right now is a crucial moment for Marvel to decide whether it’s going to let the ship sink, or take up the reins to prove once again that it can weather any storm. The studios are already making sound decisions like spacing out releases to allegedly ease the pressure on the post-production team and casting mouth-watering talent like Olivia Colman, Steven Yeun, Matthew Macfadyen, and Aubrey Plaza. The tools are all there, Marvel just needs to adjust its focus in whatever setting it had going on during that legendary last stretch of the Infinity Saga.

Angela Bassett has made history as the first person to be nominated for their performance in a movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her nod in the Best ing Actress category at the 2023 Oscars. However, despite the lack of statuette from the Academy, Bassett is far from being the only Oscar-nominated actress or actor in the MCU roster. Just this year, out of the 40 nominees in the acting categories, eight have been in an MCU film (keep reading to find out who). The acting talent in the Marvel Studios universe is no joke, from the fantastic Cate Blanchett to the iconic Samuel L. Jackson, here are all the MCU actors with Academy honors under their belt.

Bradley Cooper (nine nominations) 1x2z2d

Bradley Cooper is not just a fan favorite among MCU fans, he’s an Oscar favorite too. The A Star is Born actor, who has voiced the beloved groucher Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, has found his way to the Academy’s nominees list nine separate times, for his acting, his producing work, and his writing. A true quadruple threat, four of Cooper’s movies have been up for the biggest prize of all, Best Picture, in the past — Nightmare Alley in 2022, Joker in 2020, A Star is Born in 2019, and American Sniper in 2015. He was also nominated for Best Actor three times, and once for ing Actor.

Cate Blanchett (eight nominations, two wins) 5u3d4h

Cate Blanchett is an Oscar titan. Her 2023 nomination for TÁR was her eighth, and she’s only 53. En route to becoming the MCU’s most Oscar-nominated alum ever, Blanchett has won the coveted award twice — in 2014 for Blue Jasmine, and in 2005 for her pitch-perfect turn as a young Katharine Hepburn, herself a four-time Oscar winner, in The Aviator. In 2008, Blanchett earned Oscar attention for her roles playing historical figures in two different films — a Best ing nomination for her portrayal of Bob Dylan (!) in I’m Not There, and a Best Actress nom for her Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: Golden Age, but didn’t win in either category. Her other nods came in 1999 with her first QEI outing in Elizabeth, in 2007 with Notes on a Scandal, and in 2016 with Carol. In the MCU, she lends her award-winning craft to the role of the vicious Hela — Thor and Loki’s older sister — in Thor: Ragnarok.

Glenn Close (eight nominations) d3te

Glenn Close’s effort as Nova Corps leader Irani Rael in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 1 didn’t leave much of an impression in the larger MCU, but there’s no denying Marvel underutilized this legendary actress. Close has been nominated for an Academy Award not once, not twice, not thrice, but eight times in her illustrious, decades-spanning career. The first came as early as 1983 with The World According to Garp, but Close would continue to build on that momentum consistently year after year. Her latest nod was in 2021 with Hillbilly Elegy. She never has gone on to win the golden statue, but to be at the top of your game throughout virtually your whole career is impressive in and of itself.

Jeff Bridges (seven nominations, one win) 1q2f3h

This list is kind of putting into perspective just how acclaimed the MCU cast actually is. The one and only Jeff Bridges, who played the detestable Obadiah Stane in the first Iron Man film, is a seven-time Oscar nominee and one-time Oscar winner in the Actor in a Leading Role category for his performance in Crazy Heart. In 2011, Bridges was also nominated for True Grit, alongside his co-star Hailee Steinfeld, who would later find her way to the MCU as well, in Disney Plus’ Hawkeye. Bridges was last nominated in 2017, but like Close, his nods have spanned decades, with the first coming in 1972.

Anthony Hopkins (six nominations, two wins) 3k6i6y

When we said the acting chops of the MCU cast were no joke, we meant it. Not many can pride themselves in having two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins among their troupe. The MCU’s Odin, father of Thor and Loki, is a bona fide acting legend, who has been up for an Academy Award a whopping six times. The first, which eventually turned into a victory, came in 1992, with his unforgettable performance as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Nods for The Remains of the Day, Nixon, Amistad, and The Two Popes followed, but it would be almost two decades before he won again with his role in The Father in 2021.

Matt Damon (five nominations, one win) 6h343k

Matt Damon might have only had a couple of short cameos in the MCU as actor Loki in Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder, but we’re still counting him among the Oscar-nominated actors in the franchise, especially because he’s been nominated a lot. Damon didn’t waste any time — his breakout film Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with Ben Affleck, didn’t just land him his first Oscar nomination, but also his first and only win, at the 1998 Academy Awards. Damon and Affleck won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay that year, with the Thor actor eventually adding 3 more Academy nods to his resume in 2010 and 2016 for acting, and 2017 for producing.

Robert Redford (four nominations, one win, and a special award) 1z4q3k

The great Robert Redford is part of the MCU too. Giving life to the double-crossing Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and later again in Avengers: Endgame, Redford was once the most coveted actor in Hollywood, but he didn’t stop there. Within an impressive filmography as an actor alone, Redford carved a notable career as a director. His only Oscar win was for his work behind the camera in 1981 with Ordinary People. He was nominated once for his acting in 1974, and in 2002 the Academy presented him with its Honorary Award, which recognizes impressive achievements in the industry. His legacy includes founding the Sundance Film Festival in 1978, which has helped launch a plethora of indie films and filmmakers, as well as the Sundance Institute, and Sundance Channel.

Christian Bale (four nominations, one win) 1v1842

Christian Bale is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, famous for both his incredible physical transformations, and for the impressive range of performances in his resume. He’s been nominated for an Oscar on four different occasions, winning in 2011 in the ing Actor slate for his role in The Fighter. His other nominations include Best Actor for Vice and American Hustle, and Best ing Actor in The Big Short. In the MCU, Bale played Gorr the God Butcher in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

William Hurt (four nominations, one win) 1k2346

The late William Hurt, who gave life to the MCU’s Thaddeus Ross in a number of different films before ing away in 2022, was nominated for four Oscars throughout his career, winning just once. His win came right when he was first recognized by the academy in 1986 in the Best Actor category for Kiss of the Spider Woman. He would go on to receive nods for Best Actor twice more in 1987 with Children of a Lesser God and 1988 with Broadcast News, and Best ing Actor in 2006 with A History of Violence.

Ben Kingsley (four nominations, one win) d2661

Ben Kingsley’s character in the MCU is iconic for all the wrong reasons. Marvel tricking fans into thinking Kingsley was the franchise’s Mandarin, only to reveal he was an actor called Trevor, is, to this day, one of the biggest upsets in the MCU. They ended up correcting the mistake in Shang-Chi, where Kingsley also stars, but before all that he was nominated for an Academy Award four times. The actor’s first nomination came with a victory in 1983 for taking on Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s eponymous biopic. He was also among the Best ing Actor nominees in 1992 (Bugsy), 2002 (Sexy Beast), and for Best Actor in 2004, for House of Sand and Fog.

Tommy Lee Jones (four nominations, one win) 17m54

Tommy Lee Jones would definitely lead a list of “Actors you totally forgot were in the MCU,” but the veteran performer stared alongside fellow Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci in Captain America: The First Avenger as Colonel Chester Phillips. His only oscar win came in 1994 for his performance of Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive. He was also nominated in 1992 for JFK, 2008 for In the Valley of Elah, and in 2013 for Lincoln.

Willem Dafoe (four nominations) 386426

Most MCU-heads will agree Willem Dafoe should have gotten a nomination every time he played Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, but, while that sadly never happened, his work has been recognized by the Academy four times before. Despite not yet tasting Oscar victory, Dafoe started early with his first nomination coming in 1987 for Best Actor with Platoon. Further nods came in 2001 with Shadow of the Vampire, 2018 with The Florida Project, and 2019 with At Eternity’s Gate. Dafoe officially ed the MCU in 2021’s multiverse-breaking Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Annette Bening (four nominations) 1wb13

The MCU’s Mar-Vell, Annette Bening is no stranger to Oscars attention. The Captain Marvel actress has found herself on the nominees list on four different occasions. She was first recognized by the Academy in 1991 in the Best Actress in a ing Role category for her work in The Grifters. All remaining nominations were in the Leading Role group for American Beauty in 2000, Being Julia in 2005, and her latest, The Kids Are All Right in 2011.

Ethan Hawke (four nominations) 3d6b14

Ethan Hawke has said his favorite superhero movies are Logan, The Dark Knight, and Doctor Strange, but, as fate would have it it, it would be in Moon Knight that he would be making his superhero debut as Ammit cult leader Arthur Harrow. In the film world, however, it was his collaborations with director Richard Linklater that brought him the most Oscar fortune. His decade-spanning role in Boyhood landed him a ing Actor nod in 2015. His screenwriting work in Before Sunset in Before Midnight was also recognized by the Academy, and so was his performance in 2001’s Training Day.

Olivia Colman (three nominations, one win) y2d6f

Olivia Colman became an instant favorite among Oscars fans after her incredible winning speech in 2019 for her leading performance in The Favourite. Sadly, she hasn’t graced the Dolby Theater stage with another victory since, but has added two more nominations to her resumé in 2021 for The Father and 2022 for The Lost Daughter. Her addition to the MCU cast came as a much-welcomed surprise, and we’re counting down the days until Secret Invasion finally hits Disney Plus.

Natalie Portman (three nominations, one win) 4z3715

Who would have known that the Thor series was so packed with Academy Award-winning talent? The MCU’s very own Jane Foster has been up for an Oscar three times in the past, with her only winning performance in 2010’s Black Swan becoming one of the decade’s most memorable. In 2005, Portman was nominated for Best ing Actress for Closer, while in 2017 she made the candidate list for Best Leading Actress once again for her heartbreaking and layered portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in Jackie. Portman returned as world-leading astrophysicist Foster in 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder after being away from the franchise for nine years.

Marisa Tomei (three nominations, one win) 3w3y

Marisa Tomei is not just an Oscar winner, she is the winner who made the whole film world wobble with her surprising win in 1993 for My Cousin Vinny. No one had actually expected her to win for such an unconventionally non-dramatic role, especially up against the likes of industry titans Vanessa Redgrave and Joan Plowright. But, just like the irreverent Aunt May we all knew and loved in the MCU, Tomei snatched that Oscar up — and if you haven’t seen her wickedly-funny, whip-smart turn in Vinny, it’s a masterclass in comic timing. Her other nominations came in 2002 for In The Bedroom and in 2009 for The Wrestler.

Russel Crowe (three nominations, one win) 84q5z

Russel Crowe has got Range (note that capital R), and that is reflected in both his track record with the Academy as well as his contribution to the MCU. From his performance as a whistleblower in the corporate thriller The Insider, to the Oscar-winning and career-defining heroic turn in Gladiator, as well as his nuanced, humane take on schizophrenia in A Beautiful Mind, Crowe owed Oscar voters for three consecutive years from 2000 to 2002. In the MCU, he plays a hilarious version of Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder with a spot-on Greek accent to match.

Charlize Theron (three nominations, one win) 5w6y3l

Charlize Theron’s performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster is one of the greats, and the Academy recognized that fact by giving her the award for Best Actress in 2004. Two more nominations followed for Theron; in 2006 with North Country, and 2020 with Bombshell, but she has yet to repeat the victory. The actress’s role in the MCU as sorceress Clea will grow with time but for now, we have only had the pleasure of seeing her in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘s mid-credits scene.

Taika Waititi (three nominations, one win) 5f703c

Taika Waititi might have fallen on the wrong side of the Marvel fandom after Thor: Love and Thunder, but the actor and director, who voices the friendly rock man Korg in the Thor franchise and has directed its last two films, has found success with the Academy on two occasions. His short film Two Cars, One Night was nominated in the Best Short Film – Live Action category, and in 2020, what is arguably his biggest career success yet, Jojo Rabbit took home the award for Best Adapted Screenplay (written by Waititi), and secured a nomination for Best Picture as well.

Sylvester Stallone (three nominations) f3n3e

The eternal Italian Stallion, Sylvester Stallone is behind one of the greatest franchises in history for which he has been nominated three times. In 1977, Rocky and Sly were up for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor, respectively, but sadly, didn’t win either category. Almost four decades later, Rocky spin-off series Creed landed another nomination for the veteran actor, this time in the ing category. In the MCU, fans know and love Stallone as Stakar Ogord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Michelle Pfeiffer (three nominations) 2r2zo

Sure, Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania was slaughtered by critics, but there was one thing pretty much everyone could agree on: Michelle Pfeiffer was the best thing about it. The celebrated actress has been gifting us incredible performances for four decades, but it was in the late eighties and early nineties that she captured the Academy’s attention. Six years after her career-catapulting performance in Scarface (1983), Pfeiffer found her way to her first Oscar nomination with Dangerous Liaisons in 1989. She would go on to receive two nods in the Leading Role category, in 1990 and 1993, for The Fabulous Baker Boys and Love Field, respectively.

Edward Norton (three nominations) 1ns4n

Edward Norton might have moved on from the MCU almost as soon as he ed it, but his great Hollywood career and three Oscar nominations still deserve a spot on this list. His nods came in 1997 with Primal Fear in the ing Actor category, 1999 with American History X for Best Actor, and again in 2015 in the ing list with Birdman. Although he has never left the Dolby Theater victorious, his trajectory is still enviable — MCU flops and all.

Mark Ruffalo (three nominations) 3o6h6

The MCU doesn’t just have one Oscar-nominated Hulk, it has two. Mark Ruffalo’s filmography is so good, it’s hard to believe he’s only been nominated at the Oscars on three occasions. His first came with the same film that gave MCU cast mate Annette Bening her most recent nod — The Kids Are All Right in 2011, in the Actor in a ing Role roster. In fact, all his nods have been in that category, with 2014’s Foxcatcher and 2015’s Spotlight completing the list. Ruffalo might have never won an Oscar, but at least he knows he will always be our favorite Bruce Banner.

Angelina Jolie (two nominations, one win, and a special award) 6p3238

Angelina Jolie being a part of the MCU is almost too good to be true, but there it is. The remarkable Eternals actress has been one of Hollywood’s brightest stars for decades now, and has been at the receiving end of three different honors from the Academy. Not only did Jolie win an Oscar for Actress in a ing Role the very first time she was nominated in 2000, with her performance in Girl, Interrupted, but she was also up for Actress in a Leading Role in 2008 with Changeling. In 2014, she was the recipient of the special Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which recognizes those in the film industry who have used their influence for good.

Mahershala Ali (two nominations, two wins) kn34

It was Mahershala Ali who came to Kevin Feige with a proposition for a new Blade movie to be included in the MCU, and the Marvel boss couldn’t exactly say no to an actor who just fresh off winning two Oscars, could he? The Academy (and the world) took its sweet time noticing Ali’s exquisite talent, but it’s always better late than never. The Luke Cage actor’s first win came with Moonlight in 2017 for Actor in a ing Role — the same category for which he would win his second Oscar in 2019 with the controversial Green Book. We just can’t wait to see him in action in the MCU.

Michael Douglas (two nominations, two wins) 413ag

Ant-Man might be able to take on minuscule proportions, but there’s nothing small about the quality of the talent in his titular series. The MCU actually has Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas playing a couple — and one of the best in its universe, at that. Douglas has found Oscar glory twice in his career, as a producer in 1976 with the memorable One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and over a decade later, in 1988, as an actor in Wall Street. A man of many talents, Douglas would the MCU in 2015 as Dr. Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man.

Rachel Weisz (two nominations, one win) 6g6y2i

Rachel Weisz was massively underused in the MCU with her stint as veteran Red Room spy Melina Vostokoff in Black Widow, which is a shame given the fact that the superhero franchise had a two-time Oscar nominee and one-time Oscar winner in its midst. The first time Weisz was among the Academy’s nominees was also the first (and only) time she took home the little gold man, for Best Performance by an Actress in a ing Role with The Constant Gardener in 2006. In 2019, her fantastic effort in The Favourite was also recognized with a nomination in the same category.

Daniel Kaluuya (two nominations, one win) 635bb

On the subject of wasted talent in the MCU — Daniel Kaluuya ed Black Panther as Border Tribe Head of Security W’Kabi before his career completely blew up thanks to his leading performance in Jordan Peele’s massive 2017 success Get Out. Kaluuya received his first nomination for that role a year later, and by the time Marvel made Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Kaluuya was already an Oscar winner, for his masterful portrayal of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah, too booked and busy to make it to filming.

J.K. Simmons (two nominations, one win) 4h4q4l

Everyone was ecstatic to see the iconic J. Jonah Jameson make his MCU debut in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The character, who stole every scene he was in, in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, became one of J.K. Simmons’ most famous, long before he ever caught the Academy’s attention. The actor was first nominated, and eventually won, for Whiplash in 2015, adding another nod to his record in 2022 with Being the Ricardos.

Jamie Foxx (two nominations, one win) nd1a

2005 was Jamie Foxx’s year. The actor was nominated twice, both for Actor in a ing Role with Collateral and Actor in a Leading Role with Ray, the latter of which he ended up winning and is still considered one of his best performances ever. He hasn’t had an Oscar-nominated performance since, but he did the world’s biggest franchise in the multiverse collapse that took place in Spider-Man: No Way Home, reprising his role of Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Sam Rockwell (two nominations, one win) v2sy

It often happens that when a talented actor is finally cast in a film that manages to collect all the variables needed to place it in the Academy’s orbit, they become one to watch in the industry. Sam Rockwell has been knocking it out of the park for years, including as the detestable Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2, but he was only recognized by the Academy in 2018, thanks to his performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, directed by Martin McDonagh of Banshees of Inisherin fame. Rockwell won in the ing Actor category that year and was nominated again for Vice a year later.

Benicio del Toro (two nominations, one win) 2i2c42

Benicio del Toro is great as the MCU’s Collector, but he’s had a fantastic and perhaps underrated career overall. He found Oscar glory in the early aughts with Traffic, for which he won the Best ing Actor Oscar in 2001, and 21 Grams, which saw him among nominees in that same category again in 2004. Del Toro’s role in the MCU was mostly featured in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film but his short cameo in Infinity War gave us the Sicario reunion between Del Toro and Brolin that we all wanted.

Robert Downey Jr. (two nominations) p2g4l

That’s right, Tony Stark is Oscar-nominated. Robert Downey Jr. has been one of the MCU’s biggest champions since the franchise’s inception — a considerable advantage for Marvel considering that by then, Downey was already a one-time Oscar nominee, on his way to be recognized a second time. The Iron Man star was first nominated for Best Actor in 1993 for his take on Charlie Chaplin in the eponymous film. A little over a decade later, he would be nominated again, this time for Best ing Actor, for the controversial blackface role of Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder.

Angela Bassett (two nominations) 5v6w5y

Angela Bassett did the thing (you know we had to). The thing in question being becoming the first person on this prestigious list to be nominated by the Academy for her role in the MCU. For all the nods and wins that the aforementioned actors have amassed among themselves, only Bassett has brought acting prestige directly to the MCU. Bassett’s performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever left no one indifferent, even winning her a Golden Globe in the process. Her first nod, however, happened in 1994 with her portrayal of the legendary Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It.

Andrew Garfield (two nominations) 13332

Given how famous Andrew Garfield has become ever since starring in his own Spider-Man series as Peter Parker, it’s shocking to think he has yet to win an Oscar and has only been nominated twice. We can think of a handful of past performances that deserved the recognition, but the two the Academy chose to go for were Hacksaw Ridge in 2017 and tick, tick… BOOM! in 2022, both in the Best Actor category. While we wait for the day Garfield finally takes the tiny golden man home, we’ll be rewatching Spider-Man: No Way Home — the movie that made everyone finally realize that The Amazing Spider-Man series should have gotten a third film.

Benedict Cumberbatch (two nominations) 3o3255

You truly never know what to expect from Benedict Cumberbatch. The British actor first broke out into the film and television scene with his modern version of Sherlock, only to the MCU as the arrogant Doctor Stephen Strange, quickly making him one of the most interesting characters in the franchise. His Academy Awards record reflects the versatility he brings to his career. Cumberbatch was first nominated for The Imitation Game where he played Alan Turing, and again in 2022 for his striking performance as a repressed gay cowboy in The Power of the Dog.

Scarlett Johansson (two nominations) 202c24

Not many actors can pride themselves in being nominated in two different categories in the same year, but Scarlett Johansson can. Like her fellow OG Avengers Robert Downey Jr., the MCU’s Black Widow has been nominated for an Oscar twice — albeit both times in 2020. What was perhaps the most successful year in her career resulted in nominations for Actress in a ing Role with Jojo Rabbit, and in a Leading Role for Marriage Story.

Djimon Hounsou (two nominations) 5322n

Djimon Hounsou is everywhere. He’s been in a handful of superhero movies from both DC and Marvel, albeit in roles that deserved to be much bigger every time. In the MCU he plays Kree soldier Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy and
Captain Marvel. Hounson’s filmography is actually incredible, with titles like Steven Spielberg’s Amistad and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, but for the Academy, it was his performances in In America and Blood Diamond that were his best, resulting in nominations in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

Julie Delpy (two nominations) 2164m

French actress Julie Delpy is perhaps best-known in the English-speaking world for her work in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, where she shares the screen with fellow MCU alum Ethan Hawke. Both Delpy and Hawke contributed to the films’ screenplays, receiving Oscar nominations for their work in Before Sunset and Before Midnight in the Adapted Screenplay category. Delpy’s role in the MCU as Red Room trainer Madame B. is short but impactful because it finally gave audiences the long-anticipated look into Natasha Romanoff’s past.

Jude Law (two nominations) 3p2nz

Jude Law was one of the biggest actors in the world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was during that time that he sparked the Academy’s interest, particularly with his performances in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Cold Mountain which landed him nominations for Best ing Actor in 2000 and Best Actor in 2004, respectively. In the MCU, his portrayal of Kree military commander Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel was widely popular, and he is rumored to be reprising it in The Marvels.

Melissa McCarthy (two nominations) 2j2s2h

It’s not often that actors get nominated for Oscars with comedic roles, but Melissa McCarthy’s breakout performance in Bridesmaids was so good that it not only turned her into one of the most coveted comedians in Hollywood, but also got her her first Oscar nomination in 2012. Seven years later, she was nominated again, this time for a dramatic role in Can You Ever Forgive Me? Like Matt Damon, McCarthy was also part of the very exclusive acting troupe of New Asgard in Thor: Love and Thunder, playing the role of Hela.

Jeremy Renner (two nominations) 3c6d2s

Clint Barton has rapidly become one of the most important legacy characters in the MCU, despite starting off as the underdog among the original Avengers. The actor who plays him, Jeremy Renner, has had a similar trajectory in real life. Although he’s best known for his portrayal of Clint Barton aka Hawkeye in the MCU, Renner has been up for an Oscar twice — first in 2010 for his performance in The Hurt Locker, and later in 2011 for his role in The Town.

Samuel L. Jackson (one nomination, and a special award) 49l4r

Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in over 150 movies, but he’s somehow only been nominated for an Oscar once — in 1995, for his iconic performance of Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. If that doesn’t tell you enough about the Academy’s bias, we don’t know what will. Still, they did give him an Honorary Award in 2022 for his illustrious career and contribution to film, which includes his long and continued contribution to the MCU as the legendary Nick Fury, the creator of the Avengers. Jackson has been in a whopping eleven MCU films and the TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. He will also play a big role in the forthcoming The Marvels and Secret Invasion.

MCU actors who have been nominated for an Oscar once and won 3mb72

• Michelle Yeoh – played Aleta Ogord in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Ying Nan in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; won for Actress in a Leading Role for Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2023.
• Ke Huy Quan – stars in Loki; won for Actor in a ing Role for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023.
• Brie Larson – plays Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in the MCU; won for Actress in a Leading Role for Room in 2016.
• Lupita Nyong’o – plays Nakia in the MCU; won for Actress in a ing Role for 12 Years a Slave in 2014.
• Jim Rash – plays M.I.T. Liaison in Captain America: Civil War and Ironheart; won for Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants in 2012.
• Tilda Swinton – played Ancient One in the MCU; won for Actress in a ing Role for Michael Clayton in 2008.
• Forest Whitaker – played Zuri in Black Panther; won for Actor in a Leading Role in The Last King of Scotland in 2007.
• Jennifer Connelly – voiced Karen in Spider-Man: Homecoming; won for Actress in a ing Role for A Beautiful Mind in 2002.
• Gwyneth Paltrow – played Pepper Potts in the MCU; won for Actress in a Leading Role for Shakespeare in Love in 1999
• F. Murray Abraham – voices Khonshu in Moon Knight; won for Actor in a Leading Role for Amadeus in 1985.

MCU actors who have been nominated for an Oscar once 3x2n3

• Kerry Condon – voiced Friday in the MCU; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for The Banshees of Inisherin in 2023.
• Stephanie Hsu – played Soo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023.
• Brian Tyree Henry – played Phastos in Eternals; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Causeway in 2023.
• Barry Keoghan – played Druig in Eternals; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for The Banshees of Inisherin in 2023.
• Maria Bakalova – voices Cosmo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm in 2021.
• Chadwick Boseman – played T’Challa/Black Panther in the MCU; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in 2021.
• Florence Pugh – plays Yelena Belova in the MCU; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Little Women in 2020.
• Richard E. Grant – played Classic Loki in Loki; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2019.
• Kumail Nanjiani – played Kingo in Eternals; nominated for Original Screenplay for The Big Sick in 2018.
• Tom Hardy – played Eddie Brock/Venom in Spider-Man: No Way Home; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for The Revenant in 2016.
• Rachel McAdams – played Christine Palmer in the MCU; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Spotlight in 2016.
• Michael Keaton – played Adrian Toomes/Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for
  Birdman in 2015.
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – plays Karl Mordo in the MCU; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for 12 Years a Slave in 2014.
• Hugh Jackman – plays Wolverine in Deadpool 3; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for Les Misérables in 2013.
• Hailee Steinfeld – plays Kate Bishop in Hawkeye; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for True Grit in 2011.
• Vera Farmiga – played Eleanor Bishop in Hawkeye; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Up in the Air in 2010.
• Stanley Tucci – played Abraham Erskine in Captain America: The First Avenger; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for The Lovely Bones in 2010.
• Josh Brolin – played Thanos in the MCU; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Milk in 2009.
• Mickey Rourke – played Ivan Vanko/Whiplash in Iron Man 2; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for The Wrestler in 2009.
• Adriana Barraza – played Isabella Alvarez in Thor; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Babel in 2007.
• Terrence Howard – played James Rhodes in Iron Man; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for Hustle & Flow in 2006.
• Don Cheadle – plays James Rhodes in the MCU; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for Hotel Rwanda in 2005.
• Thomas Haden Church – played Flint Marko/Sandman in Spider-Man: No Way Home; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Sideways in 2005.
• Jake Gyllenhaal – played Quentin Beck/Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Brokeback Mountain in 2005.
• Bill Murray – played Krylar in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for Lost in Translation in 2004.
• Salma Hayek – played Ajak in Eternals; nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for Frida in 2003.
• John C. Reilly – played Rhomann Dey in Guardians of the Galaxy; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Chicago in 2003.
• Owen Wilson – plays Mobius in Loki; nominated for Original Screenplay for The Royal Tenenbaums in 2002.
• Jeff Goldblum – played the Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok; nominated for Best Short Film, Live Action for Little Surprises in 1996.
• Tim Roth – plays Emil Blonsky/Abomination in the MCU; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Rob Roy in 1996.
• Laurence Fishburne – played Dr. Bill Foster in Ant-Man and the Wasp; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for What’s Love Got to Do with It in 1994.
• Graham Greene – stars in Echo; nominated for Actor in a ing Role for Dances with Wolves in 1991.
• Harrison Ford – plays Thaddeus Ross in Captain America: New World Order; nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for Witness in 1985.
• Alfre Woodard – played Miriam Sharpe in Captain America: Civil War; nominated for Actress in a ing Role for Cross Creek in 1984.