Which old-fashioned, yet modern musical dazzled audiences here?
La La Land was oh so charming, audiences and critics agreed. For its efforts to bring back the musical genre, it received 14 nominations in a range of categories. Overall, it won 6, including Best Director and Best Actress. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone made it look easy, but it wasn't!
Julia Roberts wore that dazzling red dress in which film?
Fans probably have no idea that Pretty Woman was originally supposed to be a dark, cautionary tale. But there was a push to make it a romantic comedy, and the charm of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere helped achieve that. It was the third highest-grossing film that year, selling 42,176,400 in the USA. At this point, it's positively iconic!
This dazzling lady of the night sang her heart out, but in which musical?
That glittering necklace worn by Nicole Kidman was no stage prop: 1,308 real diamonds weighed 134 carats, worth an estimated one million bucks. Officially, it was the most expensive jewelry piece ever made for a movie set! Overall, the wardrobe department was pretty busy. To created this visual masterpiece, 80 people made three hundred costumes for all scenes!
What was the name of the Tom Hanks masterpiece that made fans laugh and cry, including in this iconic scene?
Not many movies spawn their own novelty restaurants, after the lights come back on. But today, fans can visit Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant & Market at 42 locations! A visual reel of beloved scenes run, all day long. Critics loved it, too: Forrest Gump won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and even Best Visual Effects. For Tom Hanks, life is like a box of Oscars!
Which love story featured this singer-actor and actor-singer?
A Star Is Born featured Lady Gaga as a real actress, and audiences were stunned. Her pop talents were a given. but who knew she could act? Likewise, Bradley Cooper was already a respected actor. But oh, he could sing! This winning combination led to an Oscar win in Best Original Song for "Shallow". A film was born!
Which beloved Tarantino movie featured this iconic dark bob?
Every Quentin Tarantino film has plenty of blood, guts, and salty language. It's all part of the experience! But not every fan really knows the rankings, in this department. Pulp Fiction holds second place in the director's hall of fame for 'f' word usage, at 265. Which film beat it? The real winner is Reservoir Dogs, with 269 bleeps!
Which Oscar-winning movie featured Jack Nicholson in a straightjacket?
Culturally significant is an understatement, with this film. The disturbing scenes from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest led to a real overhaul of the nation's psychiatric wards. Its Oscars match its influence: The movie was only the second at the time to win all five major categories!
Sharon Stone uncrossed her legs in which movie, shocking audiences?
So basic: While it's clear today that Sharon Stone was destined for this role, she was only offered the chance to be Catherine after 13 different actresses turned it down! In the end, Basic Instinct went on to gross $15 million, just in its opening weekend. The film was one of the biggest hits of 1992! Hindsight is 20-20, isn't it?
Which movie reel hosted this sad, string quartet?
Yes, it's true: Real musicians played as the Titanic went down to its watery grave. Sad, and the movie really captured the mood. In many ways, this film was a masterpiece! Directed by James Cameron, Titanic was actually the first movie to gross a billion dollars. It held as the best selling movie until Cameron's own Avatar beat it in 2010!
Which Best Picture winner ended with this epic Bollywood dance number?
It was the feel good movie of the year with a killer soundtrack, and the academy had to notice. Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for a whopping 10 Oscars, taking home 8 total: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and more!
Which gangster drama film is this tense moment from?
That poster in every man cave does have a story behind it: A Cuban refugee arrived destitute and became a powerful drug lord in 1980s Miami. This American dream portrayed by Al Pacino made Scarface one of the most quotable movies of all time. As Tony Montana said: ''Say hello to my little friend!''
Julia Roberts wore that dazzling red dress in which film?
Fans probably have no idea that Pretty Woman was originally supposed to be a dark, cautionary tale. But there was a push to make it a romantic comedy, and the charm of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere helped achieve that. It was the third highest-grossing film that year, selling 42,176,400 in the USA. At this point, it's positively iconic!
Which Russell Crowe historical drama used this spiky battle armor?
This majestic film won multiple Oscars! Gladiator boasts Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects, and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Fans wondered why Joaquin Phoenix didn't win for his terrifying villain role, though! A memorable emperor, to say the least.
Natalie Portman went totally insane in which dark dance drama?
Which Oscar-nominated movie involved this surprise hole?
Audiences learned a thing to two from the prisoners in this movie, like “Get busy living or get busy dying.” The whole story was intense, in the best way! If you ask them, The Shawshank Redemption is a lot of people's favorite movie. And as it turns out, the 1994 drama holds the number one spot ranked by users on the IMDb Top 250 for best film of all time!
Which film allowed Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman to highlight autism challenges, way back in the 80's?
Rain Man was not only the highest-grossing movie of 1988, but a big Oscar winner, too! The film won 4 awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor in a Leading Role. Dustin Hoffman was unforgettable!
Which 80s action-adventure involved this wild-haired, mad scientist?
In this now classic story, Marty is on a mission. He travels back in time in a rigged DeLorean, all to make sure his own parents fall in love. Wild stuff, indeed. It was the highest-grossing movie in 1985, and new fans keep the phenomenon alive!
Which horror film featured this terrified, naked lady?
Everyone has a bit of their own PTSD from the shower scene in Psycho. Yikes! It's one of the most recognizable moments in movie history, period. Little known fact: Alfred Hitchcock used chocolate syrup as the blood. Apparently, there are a lot of shortcuts in black and white!
Which quirky film showed Meg Ryan making crazy faces and noises in a diner?
Everyone related when the woman next table said, "I'll have what she's having." This scene from When Harry Met Sally is probably the most risque moment in a deli in movie history, before or since. And it's likely to stay that way! Thanks for the memories, Meg Ryan.
Which movie included these scruffy rebels?
Which movie was written by its young stars, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck?
Good Will Hunting never disappeared into the stack of lost videos from 1998. It's still a significant film, nowadays. Exploring class in Boston bars and Harvard square, the very first project most people saw from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck left a positive impression. After watching the movie gross $225 million in theaters, the duo won Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars!
Which Tim Burton movie involved Johnny Depp in this precise costume?
A man with scissor hands might sound like an odd concept for most moviemakers. But eccentric director Tim Burton went right ahead, exploring a few different themes in Edward Scissorhands. Self-discovery and isolation were two big ones, perfectly set in a gothic castle somewhere. Character Edward sure creeped out viewers in the process. Only in the best way, of course!
A turn-of-the-century romcom track side chat, but which one?
Yes, viewers loved 10 Things I Hate About You for what it was: A sassy, quirky coming of age comedy. But few know that this script had old, dusty roots! The movie was actually a modernization of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". Translated to 1999 vibes with Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Heath Ledger, classic lit was never so cool!
Bill Murray comedies are a category of their own, but which one is this?
Yes, Bill Murray was stuck for 33 years and 350 days doing the same old same old. Released in 1993, this fan fave will always be in the comedy hall of fame. But how many viewers really know what it took to make the classic? As it turns out, Bill was bitten. Twice, by the groundhog! Not surprisingly, he had to have rabies shots. Anyone who has had them knows that means six injections — and in the stomach!
Which film featured Kevin Spacey fantasizing about his daughter's friend?
American Beauty was a welcome surprise for viewers in 1999. The unique script told the story of a midlife crisis in suburbia. The film grossed more than $350 million around the world, and received a lot of Oscar buzz. In the end, it won Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and of course, Best Picture!
Which 60's musical on film involved this charming sing-a-long?
The hills are alive, with the sound of music. Fans can thank Julie Andrews for that, as the beautiful voice behind Maria von Trapp! The governess may have been a humble musical nun and nanny in the film, but she was also quite the money-maker: Worldwide, the movie sold 283 million tickets and grossed $286,000,000. Wunderbar, especially back then!
Which animated feature included these krazy kiddos?
Pixar's Up has a shocking 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to date. Plus, the box office yielded 735.1 million bucks! Critics and fans agree, finally. Up was actually the first animated or 3D film to open at the Cannes Film Festival. And the hardcore viewers there gave it standing ovation, no less! Cartoons have become serious business, folks.
Which adventure is this gun-tastic jungle scene really from?
The original dino sci-fi blockbuster is still pretty exciting, all these years later. Based on a book by Michael Crichton, four studios fought to get the movie rights to Jurassic Park before the novel was even published. It was a brawl! With the backing of Universal Studios, legendary director Steven Spielberg successfully acquired the rights for $1.5 million. And the rest, as they say, is history.
An acclaimed action thriller, but what is its name?
Training Day is why Denzel Washington won his second Oscar, and for Best Actor. Unsurprisingly, Denzel has repeatedly cited Detective Alonzo Harris as number one when asked to rank his favorite characters. Fans totally agree! In 2019, rumors swirled that a prequel was being developed by Warner Bros behind the scenes. Will Detective Alonzo return? Only time will tell!
Russell Crowe was a master of math in which inspiring true story?
A Beautiful Mind grossed over 313 million buckaroos worldwide. Then, it won four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress. And many more nominations, too! While the film had plenty of inspiration on screen, off-camera was just as heartwarming. Actors Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany met during the making of the movie, and got married after its release!
Which Leo thriller might this be, gun and all?
Leonardo DiCaprio was a big reason that fans loved this film. But Oscar-nominated blockbuster Inception was full of groundbreaking effects, too. The Academy was actually impressed because of the surprisingly limited tech. What was real, and what was movie magic? For the famous dream sequences, director Christopher Nolan used very few computer-generated visuals. Instead, he went with old-fashioned, practical effects whenever possible!
Which inspiring sports film showed a character in this triumphant stance?
Sylvester Stallone said it well: “Life's not about how hard of a hit you can give. It's about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.” Rocky was a huge hit in 1976, and its training montage inspired millions. Viewers shared in his adrenaline, right in their seats!
Which hit movie involved this Christmas standoff?
Everyone remembers the hijinks: Young Kevin is left out of a vacation, accidentally. His encounter with burglars gets pretty wild, while mom is away! Audiences loved his tricks, leading to more than $470 million in total. The highest ever for an action-comedy at the time, in fact!
Which super vintage Disney film is this, right here?
Fantasia was the most experimental movie Disney ever animated. Perhaps it still is! Released way back in 1940, classical music was the soundtrack to a stream of original cartoon concepts. A remake was done for the new millennium, but the original is worth a peek!
Which movie starred these striking human statues?
No one but Matthew Broderick could make skipping school look so brilliant in the 80's, and director John Hughes knew it. He had to have the actor! After writing the script in just one week, he believed Broderick was the only one who could pull off the role. Undeniably clever and charming, it was a perfect match!
Which romantic comedy made hearts flutter with this iconic cue card stunt?
Of course, this famous scene was from Love Actually. Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson both starred in it, to the audience delight. Fun fact: This particular scene was used by UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson to make a Brexit spoof!
Which film featured this terrifying body invasion, and plenty of screams?
Who can forget the chest-bursting scene from the movie Alien? Surely, many wish they could. It was gruesome, but few could look away. The shock and horror will live on forever, especially with all the spoofs it has inspired. Thanks a lot, Sigourney Weaver!
American audiences actually know this french film, but what is its title?
Amélie is still the highest-grossing French film ever released in the USA. Not so many make it to theaters, truthfully! What was so special, about this one? To start, it was nominated for 5 Academy Awards back in the early 2000's. Audiences ad critics alike fell in love with the charming protagonist, a daydreaming young waitress helping people around her find happiness. Overall: Magnifique!
There are many movies about the experience of drugs, but which cult classic is this right here?
Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro is a decent 2-for-1, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas delivers them both. A cool movie. But only true fans know that Hunter S. Thompson wrote the book way back in 1971! Fun fact: Benicio Del Toro had to gain 40 real pounds to become Dr. Gonzo. In the extra reel commentary, he explained his diet plan: Donuts, all day, every day!
Eddie Murphy starred in this classic cop comedy, but what was its title?
Beverly Hills Cop was the biggest earner of 1984: A whopping $234 million at the North American box office, from a budget $15 million. Not a bad profit, at all! Fun factoid: Fans may not know that Eddie was not the original choice for the lead role. The movie was actually written with Sylvester Stallone in mind!
What is the name of the movie that featured these mysterious Egyptian relics?
Raiders of the Lost Ark is yet another Steven Spielberg classic. But Mr. Star Wars himself, George Lucas, helped write it! How did that turn out, in the end? This super collab resulted in 4 Oscars. It's a miracle, in a way: During production in Tunisia, almost everybody on the cast and crew was sick! Only Steven Spielberg escaped the malady, sticking to his own packed lunch. Cans of classic Spaghetti-O's, mostly!
A classic hall of horror, but which 80's scary movie featured it?
Child star Dan Lloyd was only 5 years old when The Shining was made. Even adults were freaked out by the film, which is why he didn't even see it until he was 16! Fans might be surprised to learn that director Stanley Kubrick didn’t like the script novelist Stephen King submitted, based on his own book. Stan thought the writing was weak! In the end, a total revision of the screenplay was made with another writer. And the rest, is horror history!
Which dramedy introduced viewers to these naughty youngsters?
In Jojo Rabbit, a young German boy discovers that his mom is hiding a Jewish girl in the attic. Obviously, that's a bit confusing. But fans loved how the film addressed it with humor! WWII usually isn't so funny, but Jojo tried the impossible with a star-studded cast: Scarlett Johansson, Rebel Wilson, Sam Rockwell, and more. The team was nominated for 6 Oscars, no kidding!
Which Vietnam War movie involved this capped and shirtless gentleman?
Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now was meant to be a five-month shoot, but things got tricky quickly.The famous director lost around 100 pounds while filming. It was stressful, to say the least! Francis shot shot nearly 200 hours of footage, in the end. A documentary covered all the film-making hiccups that plagued the set: Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. Check it out, fans!
Which Dustin Hoffman classic involves this strange seduction?
A college guy seduced by a much older woman? Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman had chemistry in The Graduate. It was scandalous at the time, long before Demi Moore and Ashton became an item. But in 1967, it still became the highest-grossing film in the world and got seven Oscars nominations. In the end, the movie won Best Director!
Which Brad Pitt led film featured this absolutely creepy shot?
A cult classic like no other, fans might be surprised to learn that Fight Club didn't turn a profit to recover its budget at the box office. The studio even called it a failure! Years later, with the rise of VOD and later streaming, it gained a huge following and rose to the top 10 of IMDB Best Movies of all time.
Which Harry Potter installment is this particular joyride from?
Regarded by many as the best film in the series, The Prisoner of Azkaban broke with the previous style with a new director: Alfonso Cuarón, known today for his Oscar films Gravity and Roma. Abracadabra may not work, but the movie magic was real. It was the first Harry Potter movie to use new visual effects with IMAX Technology, and fans loved the ride!
An acclaimed action thriller, but what is its name?
Training Day is why Denzel Washington won his second Oscar. Best Actor, no less! In 2019, rumors swirled that a prequel was being developed by Warner Bros behind the scenes. Will Detective Alonzo return? Only time will tell!
Which movie featured this long-bearded wizard?
Gandalf is the wizard in question, and he was a big part of The Lord of the Rings. The epic fantasy movie became the first in a very successful trilogy. Director Peter Jackson adapted J. R. R. Tolkien's work so well that it became an Oscar phenomenon. After making nearly 3 billion bucks, the films won 17 out of its nominations. Magic, indeed!
Which turn of the century film featured these exploding florals?
The unique story in American Beauty blew away viewers in 1999. Nothing has changed, since! With more than $350 million grossed worldwide, the studio would have been happy enough. But the Oscar committee had a lot more to say the next year. In 2000, cast and crew won Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Screenplay. Not bad, really!