'90s stars who made major Hollywood comebacks
Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 1990s completely stepped away from the spotlight, only to come back even stronger. From award-winning performances to unexpected career pivots, these stars prove that taking a break is sometimes necessary. Renée Zellweger became a household name thanks to films like ‘Jerry Maguire’ and ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary.’ She even earned an Oscar for her role in the 2003 film Cold Mountain.’ After years of work, she took a six-year break from acting. In an interview with British Vogue, she admitted that she was “sick of the sound" of her own voice. During her time away, she focused on her life outside of Hollywood before returning in 2016 with ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby.’ She later went on to win another Oscar for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the 2019 hit ‘Judy.’ Matthew McConaughey followed a similar path. He stepped away from Hollywood in the early 2010s, after dominating romantic comedies for years. He later described the uncertainty, telling Interview Magazine, “It was scary.” That pause led to what fans now call the “McConaissance,” a career resurgence that led to standout roles in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, ‘True Detective’, and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. Cameron Diaz broke through with her role in the ’90s classic ‘The Mask,’ before stepping away from acting in 2014 to focus on family life. She later explained at Fortune’s ‘Most Powerful Women Summit,’ that it “felt like something I had to do to reclaim my own life.” She returned to screens for the first time in a decade in the 2025 Netflix film ‘Back in Action.’ Then there’s Josh Hartnett, who also stepped away from Hollywood at his peak. Hartnett first rose to fame in the ’90s with projects like ‘The Virgin Suicides’ and ‘Pearl Harbor’, but he later opened up about struggling with the intensity of fame. He even once told The Guardian, "I just didn’t want my life to be swallowed up by my work. And there was a notion at that time you just kind of give it all up.” However, Hartnett did eventually choose to return to the industry, and has since worked on projects like ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Penny Dreadful’ and ‘Black Mirror’.
2026-09-02T14:12:07Z
Hollywood’s messiest movie press tours
Behind the polished red carpets and junket smiles, movie press tours don't always go according to plan. Here are some of Hollywood’s messiest movie press tours… ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ is infamous for its messy press tour. The 2022 psychological sci-fi thriller, starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, premiered at the Venice Film Festival amid reports of behind-the-scenes turmoil. From a rumored falling-out between director Olivia Wilde and Pugh to a public disagreement over the departure of Shia LaBeouf, the movie endured a promotional campaign filled with drama. ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ had a relatively straightforward lead-up until controversy erupted shortly after its release. In July 2012, intimate photos of Kristen Stewart and her married director Rupert Sanders were published by Us Weekly. Sanders publicly apologized to his wife, Liberty Ross, who also appeared in the movie. The fallout was immediate: Ross filed for divorce soon after, and the marriage officially came to an end in 2014. ‘Kick-Ass 2’ suffered a major promotional blow in 2013 when Jim Carrey publicly withdrew his support for the violent superhero sequel. Carrey took to Twitter after the Sandy Hook shooting to publicly distance himself from the movie, writing that he could no longer support its graphic violence. His comments baffled executive producer Mark Millar, who pointed out in a blog post that the screenplay had contained that level of violence since it was written 18 months prior. ‘Suicide Squad’ had its own bizarre press tour, with Jared Leto taking his method acting as the Joker to extremes. Will Smith claimed he had never actually met Leto, only the Joker, because Leto had become so immersed in the role. Several of Leto’s co-stars also recalled receiving disturbing gifts that he allegedly sent while in character. Adam Beach, who played Slipknot, claimed Leto gave Margot Robbie a live rat and Smith a box of bullets, all in the spirit of his villainous role.
2026-09-04T13:27:07Z
What happened to the stars of these classic films?
A great movie can freeze its stars in time, but the people behind those unforgettable characters keep moving forward. The actors from Stand by Me, Practical Magic, Goodfellas, Grease, and The Breakfast Club went on to experience everything from major awards and career reinventions to television success, personal hardships, and heartbreaking loss. Now, it’s time to revisit these beloved films and see how their casts changed, what they achieved, and where life took them after their most iconic roles. It’s been nearly five decades since ‘Grease’ first hit theaters, and the stars who brought Rydell High to life have taken some fascinating career paths. The 1978 musical that launched several Hollywood careers gave us unforgettable hits like ‘Summer Nights’ and ‘You're the One That I Want,’ but what have the cast of ‘Grease’ been up to since filming wrapped? John Travolta, who played the iconic Danny Zuko, continued building an impressive résumé with films like ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Face/Off’, and ‘Hairspray’. In 2026, he also made his directorial debut with ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach’, which premiered at Cannes and earned him a surprise honorary Palme d’Or. Olivia Newton-John, who famously played the good-girl-gone-bad Sandy, enjoyed enormous success after ‘Grease’, thanks to chart-topping albums like her 1981 hit ‘Physical.’ Beyond music, she also became a passionate advocate for cancer research following her 1992 breast cancer diagnosis. Newton-John sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 73. Known for her portrayal of Rizzo, Stockard Channing remained a respected force on stage and screen, earning both Tony and Emmy Awards throughout her career. She also had a recurring role on the CBS drama ‘The Good Wife’ and is set to reprise her role as Aunt Franny in ‘Practical Magic 2’. Jeff Conaway, who portrayed the forever-cool T-Bird Kenickie, went on to star in the hit sitcom ‘Taxi’ before later joining the sci-fi series ‘Babylon 5’. After years of struggling with substance abuse, Conaway sadly passed away in May 2011 from complications of pneumonia. Then there's Didi Conn, who played the quirky Pink Lady Frenchy. She actually later appeared in two more screen adaptations of ‘Grease’, including ‘Grease 2’ in 1982 and ‘Grease: Live!’ in 2016. Conn also went on to appear in television shows like ‘The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang’ as well as ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. More than four decades after 'The Breakfast Club' turned five high school stereotypes into movie history, the film remains one of the most beloved coming-of-age classics ever made. The 1980s favorite launched the careers of the Brat Pack, and many of its stars remain active in Hollywood today. Emilio Estevez, who played athlete Andrew Clark, had already appeared in films like 'The Outsiders' before 'The Breakfast Club', and later starred in more hit projects including 'St. Elmo’s Fire', 'The Mighty Ducks', and 'Mission: Impossible'. In recent years, he’s focused more on directing while occasionally returning to acting. Molly Ringwald became the face of teen movies in the 1980s after 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club'. More recently, she’s introduced herself to a new generation through shows like 'Riverdale' and Netflix’s 'The Kissing Booth' films, while also becoming a successful author. Judd Nelson’s performance as the rebellious John Bender made him unforgettable. He later starred in 'St. Elmo’s Fire', voiced Rodimus Prime in 'The Transformers: The Movie', and appeared in the 2021 thriller 'Girl in the Basement'. Ally Sheedy, who played the mysterious Allison Reynolds, went on to star in 'Short Circuit' before earning critical acclaim for the indie drama 'High Art'. She has since appeared in the drama series 'Single Drunk Female' and has continued acting steadily in television and film. Anthony Michael Hall, who played the nerdy Brian Johnson, worked hard to avoid being typecast after 'The Breakfast Club' by taking on very different roles, eventually starring in 'The Dead Zone' and appearing in films such as 'The Dark Knight' and 'Foxcatcher'. It’s been 40 years since ‘Stand By Me’ first captured audiences, and the film still remains a defining coming-of-age story. The 1986 classic follows four boys on a journey that blends adventure, humor, and the quiet heartbreak of growing up. At the center was Wil Wheaton as Gordie Lachance, a role he later revealed was deeply personal. In a 2021 interview with Yahoo Entertainment, he shared, “I didn't want to be an actor when I was a kid. My parents forced me to do it,” adding that it “put me in the exact place to play Gordie. Because Gordie's experience very much reflected
2026-09-08T11:57:08Z
These silent movie stunts look too dangerous to be real… then you remember it’s Buster Keaton - “Okay”
More than a century after Buster Keaton became one of the defining figures of silent cinema, his most extraordinary physical comedy and stunt work can still leave audiences wondering how the scenes were possible. This compilation brings together a selection of Keaton’s wildest movie moments and presents the historic footage in restored, colorized 4K. Rather than relying on dialogue or narration, the video allows the visual performances themselves to take center stage, accompanied primarily by music. Keaton became famous for combining elaborate physical comedy with an almost completely expressionless screen persona, earning him the nickname “The Great Stone Face.” That contrast made his performances unique: chaos could erupt around him while Keaton appeared almost completely unfazed. Vehicles, moving machinery, collapsing objects, elaborate chases and precisely timed physical gags became tools for comedy, with many sequences requiring extraordinary coordination between the performer, camera crew and practical effects.
2026-08-31T10:44:30Z
