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The 15 Funniest TV Shows We’ve Ever Seen

Here are the funniest TV shows we’ve ever seen. Here we go.

But First

Screenshot – Credit: NBC

Your list is probably different — so please share your own choices. Comedy is subjective, after all.

Also, you’ll notice some bias here toward more recent shows. Since comedy is so much about breaking rules, it’s hard for older shows to stay funny as the rules change. A risky joke in 1960 might not even feel like a joke today.

And finally, this isn’t a list of the “best” or “most beloved” comedy shows, or comedies with the characters we like the most, or whatever — these are shows that made us laugh, uncontrollably.

With that explained, on to the funniest TV shows we’ve ever seen.

The Righteous Gemstones

HBO

The Righteous Gemstones just wrapped its fourth and final season of combining comedy and drama — as well as shocking violence — better than any show we’ve seen.

The series about a family mega-ministry has an outstanding core cast, but everyone shines. Benjamin Jason Barnes (Tim Baltz) made us laugh harder than anyone else on the show with his reaction to Baby Billy (Walton Goggins) overturning a trailer full of remedies for “covids” and other ailments.

You could make a case for all three of Danny McBride’s HBO shows — the others are Eastbound and Down and Vice Principals — to be on this list of funniest TV shows.

Favorite line: “The elixirs…”

Chappelle’s Show

Comedy Central

Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan created one of the most jaw-dropping sketch shows of all, one that Comedy Central executives eventually admitted they didn’t understand, as Brennan recently said on the Joe Rogan podcast.

Blind racist Clayton Bigsby — who doesn’t know he’s Black — is maybe the perfect Chappelle’s Show creation: provocative, absurd, but mostly just hysterically funny.

Favorite line: Come on, of course it’s “I’m Rick James, b—-.”

The Simpsons

Fox

The longest-running comedy in TV history is also arguably the best. Yes, its quality has shifted from season to season, but The Simpsons has brought more brilliant characters to the screen than any other show, and plenty of simple wisdom, as well.

And of all these funniest TV shows, it’s also the all-time champion of out-of-nowhere shots at beloved chain restaurants.

Favorite line: “I’m so hungry I could eat at Arby’s!”

In Living Color

Fox

In Living Color would do anything for a laugh, no matter how offensive or grotesque, and for that we happily add it to our list of funniest TV shows.

It leaned hard on big characters and catch phrases, from “Fire Marshall Bill” to the “Men on Film,” but we most loved its weird observational sketches like “Hey Mon,” a sitcom about a hardworking West Indian family.

Favorite line: “How many jobs he got?”

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

FX

We have endless respect to Always Sunny for never once, in 16 seasons, trying to make its lead characters smart, likable or admirable. Charlie Day, Glen Howerton, Kaitlin Olsen and Rob McElhenney — and obviously Danny DeVito — may be the funniest people ever to star in a sitcom, even if Emmy voters will never give them their proper due because of their basic-cable status and refusal to play nice.

We love the incredibly daring early episodes, but we also love The Gang trying and failing to virtue signal in these supposedly more socially conscious times. Again, we’re gauging funniest TV shows by how hard they make us laugh — and almost no show makes us laugh harder than this one.

Favorite line: “Turn the cage so I can see!”

South Park

Comedy Central

When everyone else is scared to say something, South Park says it. It has gone after everyone in its nearly 30-year reign, and we love it — even when it makes fun of people and institutions we hold dear. It’s one of the funniest TV shows and least scared TV shows.

Also, we think about the Mad Max episode every single day.

Favorite line: “Respect my authoritah.”

The Office

NBC

Are you a fan of the British The Office? Or the American The Office? The great news is, you don’t have to choose. Both are brilliant.

We were on a plane yesterday and happened to watch the “Gay Witch Hunt” episode from 2006 – a time when many more people were closeted at work and same-sex marriage wasn’t illegal. And man did it hold up, right up to the horrifying forced kiss between Michael (Steve Carell) and Oscar (Oscar Nuñez).

Favorite line: “That’s what she said. Or he said.”

I Think You Should Leave

Netflix

Created by Tim Robbins, a former Saturday Night Live writer and actor who was simply too weird for the show, I Think You Should Leave is the latest show on our list — and maybe the one that has made us laugh the hardest.

It definitely has the best batting average, given that it has only had three short seasons and would rather do blazing 20-minute episodes than longer ones padded with clunkers. We aren’t even going to try to explain the jokes. Just watch. It’s the funniest new TV shows, but also one of the all-time funniest TV shows.

Favorite line: “What is her job?”

Seinfeld

NBC

Maybe the most obvious pick for any list of the funniest TV shows, Seinfeld did the best job of any network primetime comedy of twisting our brains into appreciating the weirder, more absurdist elements of life.

And it has our respect for its no-hugs, no-learning rejection of sentimentality and the usual cloying sitcom nonsense. It’s trying to be one of the funniest shows, not the most cuddly show. It succeeded.

Favorite line: “I’m out.”

Curb Your Enthusiasm

HBO

We’ll take Curb over Seinfeld. There, we said it. We love everything about Curb — the pettiness of the ultra privileged, the grudges, the long stare downs, even the swan murder.

The recent series finale — a callback to Larry David’s divisive Seinfeld finale — was a perfect Curb conclusion: ridiculous, small-minded, and totally disinterested in what anyone else thinks.

Favorite line: “I love my sewing machine.”

30 Rock

NBC

30 Rock‘s reputation as one of the funniest TV shows only grows with rewatches.

We’re still catching jokes from our third, fourth or fifth watches of old 30 Rock episodes. Tina Fey’s Emmy-magnet masterwork was almost as quick with a joke as Airplane, with a perfect smart-silly sensibility toward race, gender and all variety of sacred cows.

We love an out-of-nowhere insult, and we still laugh at its weird shot at LinkedIn — every time we log into LinkedIn.

Favorite line: “This corporation has a very strict bros before h–s policy.”

Silicon Valley

HBO

Mike Judge has made so many wonderful things, from Beavis and Butthead to King of the Hill to Office Space, but the TV show that made us laugh the hardest was Silicon Valley, a satire of pompous tech bros and excess that was also stocked with Game of Thrones-style twists.

Our favorite episode was the one where Dinesh (Kumail Nanjiani) tried to up his cool quotient with a thin gold chain he couldn’t quite pull off.

Favorite line: “Hey Dinesh, nice chain. Do you c—- your mother with it when you put your p—- in her b——-?

Saturday Night Live

SNL/NBC

Everyone likes to make the same joke about Saturday Night Dead — and that joke is about 45 years old, folks — but try to imagine the comedy landscape without the Lorne Michaels series that brought us far, far, far too many comedic icons to list.

The SNL sketches we can barely even find anymore — “The Whipmaster”? “The Five Beatles”? — are funnier than most shows will ever produce. And even people who think its best days are behind it have to respect that every few weeks someone — usually Mikey Day — will break out with a brilliant sketch as funny as anything SNL has ever done.

His Matt Schatt sketches, with their perfect misdirection, are among the best SNL sketches ever. (That’s Matt with his wife Alexandra Kennedy Schatt, played by Margot Robbie.)

Favorite line: Too many to list, but let’s go with: “I live in a van down by the river.”

Key & Peele

Comedy Central

Almost every episode of this five-season series is hilarious, thanks to the relentless commitment of Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key. Whether playing Latino gangsters Liam Neeson-fixated valets or scared boyfriends or, of course, Obama and his anger translator, Luther, they were the most solid and consistently creative sketch duo of all… except for the next two guys on our list.

Our favorite of all their sketches is “Turbulence,” in which an uptight passenger (Key) argues with a passive-aggressive flight attendant (Peele) for the right to go to the bathroom.

Favorite line: Too many to list, but we’ll go with “But is it against the law, though?” from “Turbulence.”

Mr. Show With Bob and David

HBO

We know. Many people reading this have never heard of Mr. Show. But future Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk wrote the “Van Down by the River” Matt Foley sketch for his friend Chris Farley — and many other brilliant sketches — before going on to partner with David Cross, one of the best standups and most underrated actors in the business.

Mr. Show, made for approximately zero dollars in the mid-90s, with a series of terrible time slots on HBO, has proven to be not only one of the funniest TV shows, but one of the most influential. “The Story of Everest” is, on paper, a horrible, horrible sketch — but somehow it’s one of our favorite things ever made. “The Audition” is another perfect Mr. Show sketch.

Favorite line: “No! No one help him!”

Liked This List of the 15 Funniest TV Shows We’ve Ever Seen?

New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

You may also enjoy this list of Shameless New Comedies That Don’t Care If You’re Offended.

Main image: Sydney Sweeney on SNL. NBC.

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14/05/2025
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? A 2025 Breakdown — Every Movie Has a Lesson

How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? A 2025 Breakdown — Every Movie Has a Lesson

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14/05/2025
Two Times João Liberada review

Two Times João Liberada (Duas vezes João Liberada) is the first feature directed by Paola Tomás Marques, following several shorts. It is about the production of a biopic of sorts about the titular fictional character, a gender non-conforming shepherdess. When I interviewed the director, she stressed the critical distinction, “or that is what we would view them as today.” This assertion alone shows that we are dealing with a director who understands the hazards of imposing contemporary terms and viewpoints on historical material. During the shooting, the leading actress João (co-screenwriter June João) expresses her scepticism towards the project in the film’s narration. The director, Diogo (André Tecedeiro), appears to have a simplistic view of his film’s topic.

The director will be struck by a mystic illness that might hamper the project significantly. There are a myriad of films about filmmaking, and the pivotal point is how the filmmakers walk down this well-trodden path. This is even more important with a film dealing with LGBTQ+ issues that, more often than not, become didactic, earnest, and, not least, without any sense of humour or self-reflection. Two Times João Liberada could not be further away from falling into those traps. The film is made on a budget that a Portuguese critic described: “It’s not a zero budget film; it is less than that”. A fact that the director confirmed.

Two Times João Liberada

The budget is also one reason for the film’s visual style, with a small team where the crew members had to perform multiple duties, but there was also a stylistic intention. The aim was to use the forced limitation in their favour, and the film succeeds splendidly. This is a film directed by someone who not only studied cinema in different ways but manages to deliver a work with a remarkable formal assurance where no references are semi-digested. On top of that, the sharp intellectual content is consistently delivered playfully and is often very funny. At night, João is haunted by the ghost of the titular character, who expresses disdain over the project.

Two Times João Liberada goes meta

The scene reminded me of Oliveira’s Benilde ou A Virgem Mãe (1975). Considering that I always think of Oliveira, that might not mean much, but the director confirmed that it was a film that profoundly affected her when she saw it years ago. There are several formal conceits, like playing with the colour grading in some scenes with Diogo’s version of events as seen during the film within the film. Still, Diogo is not reduced to a token villain, and he might have his own reasons for his behaviour. Paola Tomás Marques is not a filmmaker who uses her position for facile soapbox statements but rather for intelligent reflection.

Two Times João Liberada.

It is slightly curious to read some critics who seem to be stuck on the obvious limitations of the project. The film is only 70 minutes long but manages to explore its subject in an enthralling and humorous way. That is something not merely to applaud but also to enjoy and relish in its ample rewards. Among them are the 16 mm cinematography transferred to digital and the original music, which will hopefully be released shortly. Two Times João Liberada was presented in the Perspective section of the 2025 Berlinale, and it was one of the highlights of that section and the entire festival. I will follow the director’s future career with great interest.

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13/05/2025
Challenging representation and centring trans community and craft at TITE 2025

Challenging representation and centring trans community and craft at TITE 2025

About Little White Lies

Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.

Editorial

Design

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13/05/2025
Rotoscope in After Effects – Easy
Rotoscoping is a powerful technique in visual effects that allows you to isolate subjects in a scene. Whether you’re creating complex composites or refining your animation, After Effects has the tools to make rotoscoping simpler and more effective.

Here’s a breakdown of how to get started:

1. Open After Effects

2. Import an footage / image or video with a main character, image or foreground.

3. Drag it to the timeline to begin.

4. Create a Rotoscope Layer

In the timeline, select your clip, and then duplicate it by pressing `Ctrl + D`

(Windows) or `Cmd + D` (Mac). You’ll work on this duplicated layer.

5. Activate the Roto Brush Tool

In the toolbar, select the "Roto Brush Tool" (shortcut: `Alt + W` or `Option + W`). This tool is your key to isolating the subject from the background.

Use the Roto Brush to draw over the area you want to isolate. After Effects will automatically try to detect the edges and create a mask for the object.

TIP: Subtract from you selection by using the Option / Alt Key

After the initial pass, you'll need to refine the edges to make the selection more accurate. You can adjust the brush size and softness for finer details, and use the "Refine Edge Tool" to perfect the selection, especially around hair or other fine elements.

Once you’re satisfied with the isolation, hit "Freeze" to lock in the Rotoscope work. This step ensures that After Effects will apply the effect to every frame consistently.

9. Apply Text Effects, Effects and Compositing

We are going to add Text Effects but you can apply any effects or compositing techniques you need. You can also change the background, apply color grading, or add visual elements that interact with the subject.

Use the same image of the character on the bottom layer.
Roto Brush Layer,

2. Text Layer (add animation/keyframes)

Use the same image as the original Roto Brush Layer as the background to create the effect OR you can put any background in to make your own idea come to life.
With these steps, you can begin to create professional-level visual effects and compositing in After Effects. Keep practicing, and soon, you’ll be able to Rotoscope like a pro!

You can add to Render Queue OR Add to Media Encoder Queue

Lights, camera, action!

See you next time on SCREENGOAT.

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13/05/2025
How Sound Can Make Or Break A Film — Every Movie Has a Lesson

When we think of cinema, visuals often take center stage. But behind every iconic scene lies an equally important yet sometimes overlooked element: sound. Whether it’s the eerie silence of a horror movie, the swelling score in a romantic moment, or the sharp crack of gunfire in an action film, sound is crucial in shaping how we perceive and experience a film. In fact, it’s often the audio, not just the imagery, that leaves a lasting impact on viewers.

Setting the Tone

From the opening credits, sound lays the emotional groundwork. A well-composed score can immediately cue the audience into the film’s mood—suspenseful, joyful, melancholic, or tense. Consider the chilling theme from Jaws or the soaring orchestration of The Lord of the Rings. These auditory cues prepare viewers for what’s to come and subtly manipulate emotional responses throughout the story.

Dialogue and Performance

Audio clarity is essential to understanding the characters and plot. Poorly mixed dialogue or unbalanced audio can pull viewers out of the moment and make even the best writing fall flat. On the other hand, a crisp, well-recorded conversation can elevate a scene, allowing actors’ performances to shine and emotions to resonate authentically.

Sound Design and World Building

Sound design plays a vital role in building believable worlds. Sci-fi and fantasy genres rely heavily on audio to make the unreal feel real. From the hum of a spaceship engine to the rustling of alien flora, each sound contributes to immersion. Even in grounded dramas, ambient noise like city traffic or birdsong can subtly enhance the setting and atmosphere.

The Psychological Impact

Sound doesn’t just fill in the gaps—it actively influences perception. Directors use audio to create tension, suggest danger, or offer relief. Alfred Hitchcock famously said, “If it’s a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on. But when the sound is turned on, you should feel it.” His films often use silence and ambient noise to amplify suspense, proving that what’s not heard can be just as impactful as what is.

Music as a Narrative Tool

Music can tell a story all on its own. Think of how a recurring theme or leitmotif can signify a character’s presence or emotional arc. Hans Zimmer, John Williams, and other legendary composers understand how to weave music into the narrative, making it an indispensable part of the storytelling process. Without its music, a film might still make sense, but it may not make magic.

The Danger of Bad Sound

Conversely, poor sound can ruin a film. Distracting background noise, inconsistent levels, or mismatched sound effects can make scenes feel amateurish and break the viewer’s immersion. In some cases, even a visually stunning film can be written off if the sound quality is subpar. This is especially true in indie films or student projects where technical sound issues are common.

Training for Excellence

For those interested in mastering the art of sound in film, proper education and hands-on experience are key. Audio courses in Leeds in the UK offer aspiring sound designers, engineers, and composers the opportunity to learn from industry professionals in state-of-the-art facilities. With a focus on both technical and creative aspects, these programs provide the foundation needed to contribute meaningfully to any cinematic project.

Summing It All Up

Sound isn’t merely a background component of film, it’s a powerful storytelling tool. It can heighten emotion, build worlds, and immerse viewers in ways visuals alone can’t. Great sound design complements and elevates a film; poor sound, however, can be its downfall. As cinema continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: if you want to make a truly unforgettable film, never underestimate the power of sound.

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13/05/2025
AI Tools – Explained & Obsessed!

I am AI Obsessed. As a creator, if you are not learning how AI prompts work and how to move content from tool to tool are you falling behind? Instead of fighting the inevitable, I decided to learn, use and embrace this new technology because it is here to stay. And, at the moment it is incredibly unregulated and many people have little to no idea how it works. Some of the programs rising to the top are Adobe Express, Adobe FireFly, Adobe Podcast, Chat GPT, Canva, and Voice AI.

My everyday uses:

Image Generation / Storyboarding

Generating Character Names

Story Ideas / Endings / Brainstorming

Background / Object Removal

Video Extend / Audio Extend

Letter of Recommendation Assistance

Professional Statements Resume

Background / Object Removal

Adobe Podcast Audio Repair:

Canva - Digital design, document creation, image generation, and video editing.

ChatGPT - Assistant writer, idea generation, image generation, code generation, text editor, data analyzer.

Lights, camera, action!

See you next time on SCREENGOAT.

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13/05/2025
12 Behind the Scenes Images of Bond at His Best

Here are 12 behind the scenes photos of Sean Connery — the first and best James Bond, aka 007 — to appear in films.

A Working-Class Spy

United Artists

Nicholas Shakespeare’s excellent new biography Ian Fleming: The Complete Man investigates the author who created James Bond — but also recounts the casting of Sean Connery in the role.

Shakespeare notes: “Connery’s background – naval boxer, lifeguard, art class model – was a marketable asset. He was brought up in a Scottish slum, like Ian’s grandfather. His father was a truck driver, his mother a cleaning lady.”

He adds: “Among choice biographical details: He had delivered milk to Bond’s second school Fettes, and acted at the Oxford Playhouse as an aristocratic diplomat in Pirandello’s Naked.

Above, that’s Fleming, left, with Connery, right, on the set of the first Bond movie, 1962’s Dr. No.

The Right Man for the Job?

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Shakespeare’s book notes that according to Fleming’s film agent, Robert Fenn, Fleming was initially shocked because Connery “couldn’t speak the Queen’s English. Fleming said, ‘He’s not my idea of Bond at all, I just want an elegant man, not this roughneck.’”

Later, according to the book, Fleming would call Connery an “over-developed stuntman” and wonder if he had “the social graces” to play his hero.

Above, Connery is fitted for 1962’s From Russia With Love.

License to Kill

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Fleming, obviously, needed a woman’s perspective. His friend Ivar Bryce’s cousin, Janet Milford Haven, was known as a good judge of people — and men — and offered her input after a lunch with Fleming and Connery.

Her opinion of Connery?

“I said, ‘I think that fellow is divine. He’s not too good-looking, he looks masculine, he looks like a proper man and one that would be used to that life. He looks like he is very clever, he looks like he would know how to do everything, who could kill,’” said Haven, according to Shakespeare’s book.

Above: Connery and Shirley Eaton in Goldfinger.

A Real Charmer

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Shakespeare writes that Fleming finally became convinced that Connery was the right Bond, writing to his muse and mistress, Blanche Blackwell: “the man they have chosen for Bond, Sean Connery, is a real charmer – fairly unknown but a good actor with the right looks and physique.”

Above: Sean Connery with Ursula Andress and Fleming in a publicity image for Dr. No.

Athleticism

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Whether or not he was an “over-developed stuntman,” Connery’s athleticism was a key component of his success as 007.

Above, he cavorts on a Jamaican beach with Ursula Andress, who played Honey Ryder in Dr. No.

Here are 13 Behind the Scenes Images of Ursula Andress in Dr. No.

Chemistry

United Artists – Credit: C/O

His chemistry with Andress on Dr. No was a huge part of the first Bond film’s success, and would provide a template for Bond’s dynamics with legions of future “Bond girls.”

The chemistry came through even though Andress’ voice was dubbed for the role. (Andress’ languages include French, German, and Italian, but her English was accented.)

“He was very protective towards me, he was adorable, fantastic,” Andress said in a 2020 interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera after Connery’s death at 90. “He adored women, He was undoubtedly very much a man.”

Friends

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Andress, who was married to John Derek while making Dr. No, added of Connery in the Corriere della Sera interview:

“We spent many evenings together and he would invite me everywhere, Monte Carlo, London, New York, from when we met until now we always remained friends. Friends, friends.’”

Good as Gold

United Artists

Connery played Bond in seven films in all. What’s the best? For our money, it’s 1964’s Goldfinger, in which Connery starred opposite Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore.

Above, they rehearse an infamous scene that, let’s admit, has aged badly.

Here Are 12 Behind the Scenes Images From Goldfinger.

Shakespeare

United Artists – Credit: C/O

While later Bond actors would lean into the campier aspects of the character, Connery played him seriously. He once said that “portraying Bond is just as serious as playing Macbeth on stage,” according to Shakespeare. (Ian, not William.)

Above: Connery enjoys some downtime on the set of 1965’s Thunderball.

Buoyant

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Despite his serious approach to the role, Connery had just the right mix of seriousness and levity to play the deadly superspy who treats everything like a game.

That’s him behind the scenes of Thunderball with Claudine Auger, who played Domino.

Also Read: All 007 Bond Actors, Ranked

Of Course

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Given the technology of the time, sometimes Connery was forced into Roger Moore levels of silliness. That’s him behind the scenes of 1967’s You Only Live Twice, above.

It only adds to the charm.

Forever

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Sean Connery left the Bond franchise after You Only Live Twice, and George Lazenby took over for 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, perhaps the most tragic of all Bond movies, given its bummer ending.

But Connery returned for 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever.

Above, he shares a laugh on the Diamonds Are Forever set with Jill St. John.

Never Say Never?

Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

That was it for Sean Connery as James Bond — until 1984, when he was lured back one last time.

1983’s Never Say Never Again was a reference to Connery’s 1971 quote that he would never again play Bond. Like Thunderball, it is based on Ian Fleming’s Thunderball — yes, that’s right. Is it a remake? Kind of, but it’s updated with Bond frequently referencing his advancing years. (Connery was 52 at the time of filming, and would live for another 38 years.)

Never Say Never Again was released by Warner Bros. rather than the usual Bond distributor, United Artists, because of a completed rights dispute we don’t have to get into here.

Above, Connery waits in the water with Kim Basinger, the new Domino.

Liked These Behind the Scene Photos of Sean Connery as the First James Bond, Agent 007?

United Artists

We bet you’ll also like these Behind the Scenes Images of Goldfinger, and this excerpt from Nicholas Shakespeare’s aforementioned — and excellent — Ian Fleming, The Complete Man.

Main image: Sean Connery and Ursula Andress in a promotional image for Goldfinger.

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13/05/2025
The 10 Best Cannes films 2021-2024
2025 will be my fifth consecutive visit to the Cannes Film Festival. What could be a better opportunity to review the previous four editions and list the 10 best Cannes films from the last four years? On second thought, there might be many such moments, but I will go ahead anyway.

10. Tiger Stripes 2023

Tiger Stripes

Whenever I see Still Moving involved in a project, I get interested. Amanda Nell Eu’s first feature, Tiger Stripes, didn’t disappoint and was one of the highlights of the otherwise lacklustre 2023 edition. I explained why in my review, and the director told me which Japanese classic film inspired her during our talk. Let’s keep moving to…

9. Feathers 2021

Feathers

Truth be told, we are not moving that much. Feathers by Omar el Zehairy was presented in Semaine de la Critique, just like Tiger Stripes, and once again, Still Moving was involved in the production. It was Charles Tesson’s last year as head of the section, and before the screening, he said that they had saved the best for the last screening and gave an introduction full of feather-related puns. Nom de plume was not one of them, though. The story of a family father turned into a chicken during a magical act at a children’s party is told with an assurance of style referencing several masters.

8. Pacifiction 2022

Pacifiction

I would lie if I said I am a major Albert Serra fan. However, Pacifiction gripped me from the start and never left its hold on me. That might sound strange, considering the film’s aesthetic, which has an indolent tone perfectly in tune with its characters. Even a Serra sceptic should watch this one.

7. The Story of My Wife 2021

The Story of My Wife

The success with On Body and Soul (Golden Bear and shortlisted for some American Award) made it easier for Ildikó Enyedi to finally realise her adaptation of her favourite novel, The Story of My Wife. However, the reception at Cannes in 2021 was far from enthusiastic, at least not by the Anglo-Saxon critics. The director made substantial changes to the novel’s form. Something we discussed when I interviewed her. I reviewed the film from Cannes 2021 as well.

6. Only The River Flows 2023

Only the River Flows

Shujun Wei didn’t visit Cannes for the first time with Only the River Flows. Still, it was the strongest film that he ever presented there. Where will you find my justifications for that statement? Could it be in my review? Did we discuss the film when I interviewed the director? The answer will Flow you.

5. Petrov’s Flu 2021

Petrov’s Flu

Kirill Serebrennikov has presented his films in the Cannes competition several times, even when he was under house arrest. His style has never been more arresting than in Petrov’s Flu, which often reaches dizzying heights, especially during the first two-thirds. Vladislav Opeylants’ staggering cinematography renders this fever dream unforgettable. He is also on board for this year’s Cannes offering from Serebrennikov, The Disappearance of Josef Mengele.

4. The Woodcutter Story 2022

The Woodcutter Story.

Mikko Myllylahti’s The Woodcutter Story was the most pleasant surprise of the 2022 festival. Once again, we are dealing with a work from Semaine de la Critique. Yeah, yeah, you say. Less talk and more linking to the review and the interview. Strangely enough, the film was presented on the same day as…

3. EO 2022

EO.

If Myllylahti’s film was a surprise, the same can not be said about Jerzy Skolimowski’s latest film. One of the greatest Polish directors ever may have surpassed himself with this film centred around a donkey. This film is also famous because it generated one of the weirdest Letterboxd reviews ever, where the person in question was quite positive about the film but still said that he couldn’t connect with the donkey. The review of EO is here.

2. Annette 2021

Annette

The first post-COVID festival occurred in July 2021 instead of during the customary May slot. Even more unusual was that a competition film was the opening night’s entry. Since opening films at Cannes rank somewhere between mediocre and awful, my expectations on Annette were low. From the opening number, “So May We Start” (which was probably the reason why the move was chosen to start the fest), I was hooked. I reviewed the film twice, first from a Sparks-centric perspective and then from the viewpoint of director Leos Carax.
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13/05/2025
13 Stars of the 1970s Who Are Still Going Strong

Here are some stars of the 1970s are still going strong.

Diane Keaton

United Artists – Credit: C/O

After breaking out with The Godfather, Diane Keaton hit icon status with Annie Hall (above) and has never let it go.

After a run of films including Reds, Baby Boom, the Father of the Bride films, and Something’s Gotta Give, she returned in 2023 with the sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter. She was terrific in Mack & Rita, too. She’s terrific in everything.

Say, whatever happened to that guy who played her husband in The Godfather films? What was his name again?

Al Pacino

Credit: C/O

Oh, that’s right. Al Pacino, one of the greatest actors of the 1970s and all time, broke out with 1971’s The Panic of Needle Park (still haunting) before beginning a run of ’70s hits that included not just the first two Godfather films but also Dog Day Afternoon (above), and Serpico.

In the ’80s, he mostly chose his shots carefully, settling on an iconic turn in Scarface. His spectacular ’90s run included an Oscar-winning role in Scent of a Woman — he’s ridiculously only one once, out of nine nominations — followed by Heat, Donnie Brasco, Devil’s Advocate and more.

Recent highlights include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, and a hilarious role in House of Gucci. Like others on this list, he has finally moved into television (OK, streaming) with Amazon’s Hunters.

Pacino, 84, also appeared last year with Michael Keaton in Knox Goes Away, which Keaton directed, and in Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, directed by his Donnie Brasco co-star, Johnny Depp.

He also just released a new autobiography, and has made so many great movies we can think of at least five you’ve likely never heard of.

Robert De Niro

MGM – Credit: C/O

Robert De Niro, a man with whom Pacino has repeatedly co-starred and jousted for roles, may also be his best competition for best actor of the 1970s (and perhaps ever?).

After breaking out in 1970s roles including The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (above) and Bang the Drum slowly, he became a film icon with Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II (for which he won his first Oscar), Taxi Driver, and The Deer Hunter. Next came 1980’s Raging Bull, which earned him his second Oscar.

His too-many to list roles between then and now include Goodfellas, Casino, Awakenings, Silver Linings Playbook, Heat, Jackie Brown, Midnight Run, and the Meet the Parents franchise. He earned the most recent of his Oscar nominations for The Irishman, which again paired him with Pacino and Martin Scorsese, though the film marked the first time he worked with both.

He was also up for an Oscar for best supporting actor last year for his role in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Credit: C/O

The latest winner of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once may always be best known for her role as Laurie Strode in 1978’s Halloween (above), a role she has repeatedly revisited, including in the latest Halloween trilogy, before vowing that she will never play the character again.

Her other career highlights have included widely varied roles in films from Trading Places to A Fish Called Wanda to True Lies to Knives Out.

She earned raves for her latest, The Last Showgirl, alongside Pamela Anderson, and was one of the first stars to step up and pledge $1 million to support the recovery from the L.A. fires.

Sylvester Stallone

United Artists – Credit: C/O

Despite a breakout role in 1974’s The Lords of Flatbush, Stallone wasn’t happy with the roles he was being offered. So he blacked out his windows to focus and wrote several screenplays, one of which turned out to be Rocky. Then he insisted on playing the title role and became one of the breakout stars of the 1970s.

In the process, he helped invite the modern blockbuster — and franchise — and did it again with the Rambo films. Rocky led to Creed, in which Stallone starred in the first two installments. This year he’s back with the fourth and perhaps final Expendables film.

All that and he decided to give TV a try, playing an ex-con who goes West in Tulsa King (above). He’s remarkably never gotten an Oscar, though Rocky won Best Picture and Best Director for John G. Avildsen.

He’s also the subject of a compelling recent Netflix documentary about his life and career called Sly, and was recently named one of President Trump’s “Special Ambassadors to Hollywood.”

Sally Field

Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

We like her, we really like her. Sally Field, a two-time Best Actress Oscar winner for 1979’s Norma Rae (above) and 1984’s Places in the Heart, is also a 1960s star, thanks to her appearances on Gidget, starting in 1965, and the The Flying Nun.

In roles from Sybil to Smokey and the Bandit to Mrs. Doubtfire to Forrest Gump to Lincoln, she demonstrated exceptional range, and mastery of award-ceremony speeches — her “You like me, right now, you like me” speech for Places in the Heart still holds a place in the heart of anyone who’s seen it.

Last year she stood out in 80 for Brady, proving she’s still got comic chops — and a love of hot wings that took everyone by surprise. We also loved her in HBO’s Winning Time as Jessie Buss.

Meryl Streep

Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

Perhaps the greatest actress, period, Meryl Streep was already highly respected when she earned the first of her 21 Oscar nominations for her role in 1978’s The Deer Hunter (above), alongside a stellar cast that included Robert De Niro, and established herself in the process as one of the most promising stars of the 1970s.

She has won an Oscar three times, once for Best Supporting Actress in Kramer v. Kramer, and twice for Best Leading Actress in Sophie’s Choice and The Iron Lady.

Her endless list of films includes Out of Africa, Sophie Choice, Doubt, The Hours, the Mamma Mia films, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Post, for which she received her most recent Oscar nomination. She stole the show as pitiless President Janie Orlean in Don’t Look Up, and appeared recently in the Apple TV+ drama Extrapolations and Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

Jodie Foster

Columbia Pictures – Credit: C/O

One of our all-time favorite actors — and a two-time Best Actress Oscar winner for The Accused and Silence of the Lambs — Jodie Foster broke into the industry with a Coppertone ad at age three.

She quickly established herself as a powerhouse with astonishing range, starring in Freaky Friday and Taxi Driver in 1976, when she was barely a teenager, making her one of the youngest stars of the 1970s.

She was back in crime-solving last year as the star of HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, and was up for an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role Nyad. She also just won a Golden Globe for Night Country.

As for her Silence of the Lambs co-star…

Anthony Hopkins

20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

Anthony Hopkins broke out in 1960s roles including The Lion in Winter (1968) and Hamlet (1969), then found success in the 1970s with films like A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Magic (1978). He entered the next decade with The Elephant Man (1980).

But things really took off with Silence of the Lambs (1991) — for which he won a Best Actor Oscar with just 16 minutes of screen time. From there he went on to star in films liike Nixon (1995), Amistad (1997), Hannibal (2001), The Human Stain (2003), Alexander (2004) and Hitchcock (2012). Along the way he’s also dropped into the Thor, Transformers and Mission: Impossible Franchises.

But perhaps his best work of all was for 2020’s The Father, in which he earned his second Best Actor Oscar for his role as an octogenarian losing his faculties. He does almost everything in a role that an actor can do. His long list of awards includes four BAFTA Awards and an Olivier Award, as well as being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Hopkins, 86, was also excellent as an immigrant grandfather in 2022’s underseen Armageddon Time. His latest work includes Freud’s Last Session, in which he plays Sigmund Freud, and he just starred in Netflix’s new film Mary as King Herod.

Clint Eastwood

Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

Remarkably, Clint Eastwood isn’t just a star of the 1970s who is still going strong — he was a star in the 1950s, when he broke out in 1950s films including Francis in the Navy, The First Traveling Saleslady and Ambush at Cimarron Pass.

The 1960s brought a steady role on the TV show Rawhide, and he became one of the most iconic stars of the 1960s in Sergio Leone’s “Man With No Name” trilogy: A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966).

He loomed large in the 1970s with the Dirty Harry franchise, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and Escape from Alcatraz, but he also notably launched his directing career in 1970 with 1971’s Play Misty for Me, in which he also starred (above).

His stunning filmmaking career includes two Oscars each for directing and producing The Unforgiven (1993) and Million Dollar Baby (2005). His other outstanding films include Mystic River (2003), Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) and American Sniper (2014).

Now 93, he continues to star in and direct films — his latest was 2021’s Cry Macho, and last year he released his latest film, Juror #2.

Jane Fonda

United Artists

Jane Fonda broke out in 1960s hits like Cat Ballou, and buoyed her reputation with films like Barefoot and the Park and They Shoot Horses, Don’t They before the decade was over. (She also ended up on a lot of dorm walls thanks to 1968’s Barbarella.)

But she owned the next decade, becoming one of the leading stars of the 1970s — and most acclaimed.

In 1971, she won her first Best Actress Oscar for a daring turn in Klute, and won her second for 1978’s Coming Home (above), in which Fonda, one of Hollywood’s most outspoken progressives, acted opposite Jon Voight, who in recent years has become one of Hollywood’s most outspoken conservatives. It gives the movie and added layer of curiosity.

She was nominated for four additional Oscars in a stellar career that also included 9 to 5, On Golden Pond (in which she starred with her father, Henry Fonda), The Morning After, Stanley and Iris, and Luck.

Jane Fonda seems somehow busier than ever: She recently starred with Sally Field in 80 for Brady and Diane Keaton in Book Club: The Next Chapter, and just wrapped up a long TV run on Grace and Frankie.

Steve Martin

Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

Steve Martin seems like he hasn’t aged since his hair turned prematurely grey — and because his frantic comic energy seems boundless.

After years of struggle, Steve Martin scored a Saturday Night Live hosting gig in October 1976 that finally won mass audiences over to his absurdist comedy. From there he packed arenas and made his first film, 1979’s The Jerk (above), a huge hit despite many critics’ failure to recognize its brilliance.

From there he went on a run of hits that continues to this day, including Three Amigos (1986), Roxanne and Planes, Trains and Automobiles (both 1987), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), Parenthood (1989), Bowfinger (1999) the Father of the Bride films, the Pink Panther films, and It’s Complicated (2009).

Now 79, he’s currently starring with his Three Amigos pal Martin Short on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, and will appear this weekend on NBC’s SNL 50: The Anniversary Special.

Michael Caine

MGM

The 91-year-old winner of two Oscars, for 1986’s Hannah and Her Sisters and 1999’s The Cider House Rules, broke out in the 1960s with films including Zulu, Alfie, and The Italian Job, and kept in stride throughout the 1970s with classics including Get Carter and A Bridge Too Far.

Decades later, the dashing actor gained a new generation of film fans in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy — an experience he discusses in the new memoir Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, on sale March 25 from Mobius. You can read an excerpt of it here.

His most recent film was 2023’s The Great Escaper.

Jacqueline Bisset

Columbia Pictures – Credit: C/O

British star Jacqueline Bisset broke out in 1968 with roles in The Detective, Bullitt, and The Sweet Ride, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising Newcomer. She spent the 1970s decade making good on that promise, starring in films including Airport — the second highest-grossing film of 1970 — as well as Murder on the Orient Express, St. Ives, and The Deep, one of the biggest hits of 1977, a crucial year for film.

She also earned a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe, and made the ageless masterpiece Day for Night (1973), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and feels as fresh today as it ever did.

She has never stopped working, and thriving, in both film and television. Her latest film is the new Western Long Shadows, in which she stars with Dermot Mulroney.

Harrison Ford

Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

You knew this one was coming, right? After breaking out in The Conversation and American Graffiti (above), he wasn’t yet one of the biggest stars of the 1970s. But Harrison Ford legendarily snagged the role of Han Solo in Star Wars while agreeing to run lines with actors auditioning for the film.

Soon he was starring in Blade Runner, Working Girl, two Jack Ryan movies and of course the Indiana Jones films, the latest of which, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, opened last year. Ford promises he’s done with the whip and fedora, but given his seemingly boundless energy, who can say?

Ford also stars on the hit Yellowstone prequel 1923, and, as we mentioned, appears this week in Captain America: Brave New World, playing the president of the United States… who turns into a red Hulk.

Like This List of 15 Stars of the 1970s Who Are Still Going Strong?

Paramount – Credit: C/O

You might also like this list of Classic Movies That Bombed at the Box Office, including the 1970s classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, above.

Main image: Sally Field in Smokey and the Bandit. Universal Pictures.

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12/05/2025