Mental Floss

MOVIES

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From Samuel L. Jackson's background as an activist to the origin of his R-rated catchphrase, here are some things you should know about the world's highest-grossing movie star.

Michele Debczak
Viggo Mortensen in David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises (2007).

Since the earliest days of cinema, gangsters have been the characters we’ve both loved and loved to hate. Here are 20 of the genre's best movies.

Todd Gilchrist
Janelle Monáe performs at the State Theatre in Minneapolis in 2018.

In music, there are artists, original artists, and then there’s Janelle Monáe. Since breaking out a decade ago with her debut album, 2010's 'The ArchAndroid,' Monáe has been unstoppable.

Mimi Kenny










Steve Martin is The Jerk (1979).

Comedy generates an immediate, undeniable audience response. If people are smiling and laughing, then there's a good chance you made an effective funny movie.

Matthew Jackson






William Zabka and Ralph Macchio reunite in Cobra Kai.

'Cobra Kai'—the continuation of 'The Karate Kid' saga starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka—has been a hit for Netflix, but it wasn't the first time Ralph Macchio heard a Daniel LaRusso reboot pitch.

Jake Rossen
Tilda Swinton in Pedro Almodóvar's The Human Voice (2020).

Few actors can automatically make a movie better quite like Tilda Swinton. Whether it’s a lead role or a supporting performance, the Oscar winner knows how to leave an impression.

Mimi Kenny








Simone Simon stars in Cat People (1942).

'Cat People' made millions for RKO Pictures and subversively revolutionized the horror genre. Here are 11 facts about this hair-raising classic.

Mark Mancini
Christopher Lee in Horror of Dracula (1958).

Filmmakers have been making movies about vampires almost since the inception of motion pictures, and our public fascination with these creatures of the night has not yet dimmed. Here are 25 of the best of them.

Matthew Jackson