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Robert Downey Jr.’s highest-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes is surprisingly not any of the Marvel films but the 1995 movie Richard III. An adaptation of the Shakespearean play of the same name, the film was set in 1930s England and saw Sir Ian McKellen play the titular character, while Rdj played Rivers, the brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville.

The movie received a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the Iron Man star’s highest-rated movie on the site. Rdj is known best for playing Iron Man in the MCU, which revived his career after several legal troubles. The actor has played many characters beyond Marvel, which have been overshadowed by his role of Tony Stark.

When the world of physical media often lacks hope, good news can land very hard. Case in point: the Criterion Collection have announced the return of their Eclipse series, which spent a little over 10 years doing as much (more?) to advance film education as the company’s primary line of releases. If you’ve explored early Kurosawa, late Ozu, the prime films of Robert Downey Sr, or work by Larisa Shepitko, it was likely thanks to Eclipse’s simple, aesthetically pleasing sets, which made their disappearance after 2018 a little disappointing. Yes, streaming can be a more viable (frankly flexible) exhibition model, but the advantages of physical media remain.

Eclipse is being resurrected in high fashion: Criterion will release 17 of Abbas Kiarostami’s early films this November in a set that also marks the series’ inauguration into Blu-ray, a gesture the company says “reaffirms its commitment to making the full richness...

My Mom Jayne, Mariska Hargitay’s documentary about her late mom Jayne Mansfield, which dropped on HBO on June 27, became the talk of the town in recent days as people caught up with it over the July 4 weekend. And Hargitay’s film directorial debut is likely to remain a topic of conversation over the coming months because, The Hollywood Reporter can report, it received an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run the week before it hit cable — quietly screening at the Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood from June 20-26, and thereby meeting the Academy’s documentary feature Oscar eligibility requirement of a one-week run in at least one of several major cities — and Hargitay and Co. are committed to giving it a real grassroots push this awards season.

The Academy’s 693-member documentary branch, which solely determines the best documentary feature Oscar shortlist and nominees, has, in recent years, demonstrated an aversion to...

On the day of “Ironheart’s” premiere, Robert Downey Jr. met with star Dominique Thorne over FaceTime to express his support for the actress and series amid a review bombing campaign ahead of the show’s release.

The show, which premieres Tuesday night on Disney+, has received middling to poor reviews from critics. But it was also hit with hundreds of often identical negative reviews by users who have not seen the show on Rotten Tomatoes, a form of harassment historically deployed against works focused on women, people of color or LGBTQ characters.

“I’ve grown so fond of you, it’s bananas,” Downey said in the video. “Congratulations. I’ll be watching it with the world.”

You can watch the video, released on Instagram, below.

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A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. (@robertdowneyjr)

Downey captioned the post “Riri and Tony don’t follow trends #goodmorningIronheart”. The video,...

There was a reason that Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback in Hollywood was successful despite his struggles with drugs. The actor had been to the darkest of places before he came to light.

Although it wasn’t always dark for Downey Jr., since he had a pretty great childhood, since his father, Robert Downey Sr., was already a filmmaker. Being his son, Downey Jr. was cast in a 1970 movie, titled Pound, which also happened to be his first movie. In an interview, the actor shared that it was an unreal experience.

It was an unreal experience for Robert Downey Jr.

Pound is a comedy film written and directed by Robert Downey Sr., which features real humans portraying the roles of dogs, waiting to be euthanized. Although the film was, by no means, normal, it did give a chance to 5-year-old Robert Downey Jr. to make his acting debut.

Robert Downey Jr.

When Robert Downey Jr. was up for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar at the 96th Academy Awards for Oppenheimer, it was his third time getting nominated. He was first nominated for a movie three decades ago for the Best Actor category. He depicted the real-life legend Charlie Chaplin on the screen in Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin.

The film itself was not that great. Not all critics were happy, and the film bombed at the box office. But what none of them could deny was the brilliant performance of Downey Jr. in the titular role. The Iron Man actor shared that he was terrified of the role because of its challenging nature.

Robert Downey Jr. was terrified of his Oscar-nominated role in Chaplin Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin | Credits: TriStar Pictures

Robert Downey Jr. made his movie debut as a child actor in the 1970 film directed by his father,...

Robert Downey Jr. is the Oscar-winning actor and three-time nominee who has had his share of ups-and-downs. He's been more in demand than ever lately thanks in large part to the highly popular "Avengers" series, in which he played billionaire superhero Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) to great acclaim. Tour through our photo gallery of his 21 greatest films, ranked from worst to best.

The son of underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey, he made his acting debut at age five in his father's film "Pound" (1970). He received his first Oscar nomination in 1992: Best Actor for his performance as silent movie legend Charles Chaplin in "Chaplin." It took 16 years for him to return to the Oscar race: Best Supporting Actor for his role as an Australian actor who surgically alters himself to play an African-American platoon leader in "Tropic Thunder" (2008).

Both films also brought him Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations,...

Robert Downey Jr.’s life reads like a Hollywood script – it is about second chances, redemption, and proving that no matter how far you fall, a resurgence may very well be right around the corner. Born in 1965 to underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actor Elsie Downey, Robert Jr. was exposed to the thrills and ills of show business from an early age. Along with Hollywood glamour came an early exposure to substance abuse. His father introduced him to drugs when he was just eight years old, and by his 20s and 30s, Downey Jr. was heavily addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

Robert Downey Jr. in a still from Sherlock Homes (2009) | Credits: Warner Bros.

From a promising young actor turned spiraling addict to the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Rdj’s transformation is, honestly, quite remarkable. He went from struggling to get insured for film roles to...

The 1985 crime thrillerTo Live and Die in L.A. may have only earned $17 million at the worldwide box office, but well-known film critic, the late Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the movie, directed by William Friedkin, four out of four stars. The movie will stream for free on Tubi starting on April 1.

Although its box office take may seem low, To Live and Die in L.A. did turn a profit as its budget was just $6 million. The movie follows the story of two Secret Service agents who are given the task of arresting a counterfeiter. Currently, the film has an 88% critic score and a 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

A CSI Veteran Stars in the Film

William Petersen, best known for his starring role as Dr. Gil Grissom, in the CSI franchise, plays Secret Service agent Richard Chance. Willem Dafoe portrays the criminal Eric “Rick” Masters, who kills...

Robert Downey Jr. has been acting for fifty years and has starred in some of the most critically acclaimed films ever. In every role he plays, he creates nuances in each character and flawlessly conveys them through his stellar acting skills. In the more recent days of Robert Downey Jr.'s career, he has become well-known for his portrayal of Iron Man, alongside his performances in Tropic Thunder, Zodiac, and Sherlock Holmes.

Over the past decade, Robert Downey Jr. has primarily portrayed the Marvel character Iron Man across numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. In the last decade, while he has a new role in the MCU coming out, he also played two additional characters in other films and participated in a documentary about his father. Among his film releases since 2015, some roles stand out and precede one another.

RelatedRobert Downey Deserved His Oscar Win For Another Biopic Over 30 Years Prior

While Robert Downey Jr.

While many cinephilic pleasures can be derived from diving into underseen gems from many decades ago, it’s extremely rare to find a film shot before many of our lifetimes and only resurrected for completion recently. Such is the case for Moi-même, which was shot during the political and social revolution of Paris 1968 by Lee Breuer, along with future members of the legendary downtown experimental theater company Mabou Mines.

An unscripted, silent satire following a 13-year-old boy attempting to make a film against the backdrop of the events of May ’68, it was abandoned as unfinished. Over five decades later, the footage was resurrected by Breuer’s son Mojo Lorwin, who decided to edit the film, adding dialogue, sound, and music to complete the work during the final year of his father’s life. The final film is both in the spirit of his father and his ‘60s circle, and a tribute to them,...

Arrow continues its commitment to cult cinema with an exceptional February slate, led by two meticulously crafted Japanese crime thrillers, A Certain Killer and A Killer’s Key. Streaming exclusively from February 10, these films mark a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the work of director Kazuo Mori, best known for Zatoichi at Large and a celebrated master of jidai-geki.

Both films feature Raiz? Ichikawa, a legendary figure in Japanese cinema, known for his work in Shinobi: Band of Assassins and the Sleepy Eyes of Death series. A Certain Killer follows a quiet sushi chef who moonlights as an assassin, eliminating targets with poison-tipped needles. When his latest contract entangles him in a yakuza turf war, his carefully managed existence begins to unravel. Meanwhile, A Killer’s Key sees Ichikawa return as a lone wolf assassin posing as a dance instructor, drawn into a high-stakes cover-up that threatens to collapse a major crime syndicate.

What’s the deal with the film Academy’s documentary branch? This season’s shortlist for the best documentary feature Oscar, released Dec. 17, was missing one of the year’s most acclaimed crowd-pleasers, Warner Bros.’ Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story — which is at 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, won the top Critics Choice documentary award and is nominated for the Producers Guild’s top doc award — and also impressive documentaries about Martha Stewart (Martha), Celine Dion (I Am: Celine Dion), James Carville (Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid) and John Williams (Music by John Williams), among others.

This isn’t to say that the 15 docs that were shortlisted are lacking — to the contrary, most are excellent. But it does reconfirm the doc branch’s weird aversion, over roughly the past decade, to populist titles.

During that period, the branch declined to shortlist Good Night Oppy, a charmer about a Wall-e-like Mars...

Stephen Gaghan's 2020 film "Dolittle," based on Hugh Lofting's "Doctor Dolittle" novels published in the 1920s and 1930s, was notable in that it was Robert Downey Jr.'s first major acting job in five years that wasn't part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Downey's five previous credits were for Avengers movies, wherein he played the inimitable Iron Man. The MCU, as well as Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" movies, made Downey a wealthy worldwide superstar and a widely recognized household name. His 2010s fame, however, didn't seem to lead to other notable acting gigs. In 2009, Downey appeared in "The Soloist," and 2010 saw the release of the road comedy "Due Date," but neither of those were huge smashes. Downey starred in and produced "The Judge" in 2014, but that film attracted more attention for his co-star Robert Duvall than for his own performance. 

In 2020, when "Dolittle" was released, it seemed to many that Downey was adrift.

Guy Maddin is singular enough that the lending of his talents to another, far-younger director’s work perks up the ears. But one can understand such affinity within seconds of Dylan Greenberg’s The Triangular Door, a short whose form and tone are likewise indebted to cinema of yesteryear––in this case the New American Cinema of Jack Smith, George and Mike Kuchar, or Robert Downey Sr. After screening at the Tallahassee Film Fest and Nitehawk Cinema, and ahead of a presentation at Mix Festival and screening at Quad Cinema next month, we’re pleased to exclusively debut Greenberg’s project starring Adam Green of the Moldy Peaches.

Greenberg has already moved on to a feature debut, Spirit Riser, which will begin a Spectacle run on November 15 after premiering this spring in the Museum of the Moving Image’s Disreputable Cinema series, while also screening at PhilaMOCA and Nitehawk; the...

Though much of the cast remained until the end of the series, several actors such as Harry Morgan left Mash throughout its 11-season run. Mash was the second adaptation of the novel following the Robert Altman movie, which followed the experiences of a medical unit during the Korean War. Mash began as a comedy that nevertheless took the core theme seriously, and while the showrunners were forced to include a laugh track, they were able to drop it from scenes involving surgery. In later seasons, it evolved from a sitcom to a dramedy, with some episodes being borderline laugh-free.

The series ended up lasting eight years longer than the Korean War itself, with Mash's finale being the most-watched scripted TV episode of all time. Mash's unique fusion of laughter and drama had never quite been attempted before and would prove influential on future shows like Scrubs. Considering it ran for 11 years,...

Out of all the actors working in Hollywood today, few actors have had a rollercoaster ride of a career like Robert Downey Jr. He got started as a performer when he was just a little boy appearing in the films of his father, Robert Downey Sr. and transitioned into teen films during the 1980s. Although he began working on a number of prestige projects in the 1990s, his career was derailed by drug abuse and run-ins with the law that saw him serve prison time. By the early 2000s, he was essentially uninsurable, meaning that no studio would take on the risk of hiring him.

But after a stint in rehab, Robert Downey Jr. clawed his way back, working on small, independent films to prove that he wouldn't disrupt production. As his rocky reputation became a thing of the past, he was cast in the role that defined his career...

“It was a bear,” the actor Robert Downey Jr. acknowledged on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast as we began discussing The Sympathizer, Park Chan-wook’s HBO limited series in which he appeared earlier this year just one month after winning an Oscar for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

In The Sympathizer, an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about Vietnam, Downey plays five different characters who cross paths with “The Captain,” a North Vietnamese mole in the South Vietnamese army: Claude, a CIA operative; Professor Hammer, an Asian-American Studies professor; Rep. Ned Godwin, a war-hawk congressman; Niko Damianos, an arrogant filmmaker; and a French priest.

“It was exhausting,” Downey continues. “I really had to prepare. In a lot of ways, it was the ultimate in extremes: You can’t fake it if you haven’t prepared for each one individually, and you also want to kind...

Robert Downey Jr was arrested three times in 1996. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

In 1996, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr made headlines after he was arrested three times in four weeks over drug-related warrants. During his courtroom appearance, the actor’s father, the late director Robert Downey Sr, told People magazine he was relieved that his son was alive.

It’s no secret Robert Downey Jr battled cocaine and heroin addiction for over a decade before the actor finally cleaned up his act in 2003. Per multiple reports, Robert Downey Sr., who also had a substance use disorder, allegedly allowed his son to try marijuana at the age of six, giving the actor the first taste of drugs. Per a 1996 People article, drugs facilitated an emotional bond between the duo.

Robert Downey Jr was a rising star in Hollywood in the early 90s after he earned an Oscar nomination for 1992 biopic Chaplin. However,...

It was one of the most surprising moments in the off-camera history of the MCU Doctor Doom, dressed in his usual garb, removing his mask at San Diego Comic-Con to reveal Robert Downey Jr. underneath it, spreading his arms in a weird simulacrum of his famous pose as Iron Man. Additionally, because Downey Jr. wouldn't return for any other directors, Marvel announced that the Russo brothers would be returning to direct both upcoming Avengers movies. Whether you find this move to be a cynical and depressing sign of Marvel's creative decline or are super stoked about seeing Tony Stark get Doomed-up, one thing is certain it's a damn expensive gamble. Just those three men may cost Marvel roughly $200 million. As Variety reports:

"Sources say Marvel is plunking down $80 million for Anthony and Joe Russo to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and significantly more for Downey to tackle...

It has been 14 years since Despicable Me first hit the theatres in 2010. On 5th July, 2024 the fourth installment in the franchise or ‘fourthquel’, began its theatrical run. Not much about the characters has changed. Of course, Gru is no more the bad guy. But he’s still the same. So are his girls, and the minions, as well as the movie’s stellar performance at the Box Office. The franchise has already broken some crazy Box Office records. And it is on the way to break some more.

Despicable Me 4’s marauding Box Office run

Despicable Me 4 has entertained fans around the world l Credit: Universal Pictures

Despicable Me 4 has already raked in $500 million globally, surpassing fans’ as well as the makers’ expectations. After all, not many would expect a franchise to retain its original viewership and break the bank for subsequent movies.

Suggested“If we come...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSThe Souvenir Part II.Equity, the British entertainment industry trade union, has greeted the incoming Labour government—the first in fourteen years, having won in a landslide—with demands for reforms to the government’s arts funding.Meanwhile, across the Channel, snap French parliamentary elections resulted in an upset victory for the leftist coalition Nouveau Front Populaire over Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, which had promised to privatize, at least partially, the national television and radio broadcaster, amid other cutbacks.IATSE has released more details regarding its tentative contract with AMPTP, including allowances and limitations around the use of artificial intelligence.Teamsters Local 399 is still bargaining with AMPTP and may still be far from resolving issues...

The time for debates and dissent around Superhero Fatigue is over and it’s high time the fans admitted that the global symptom is trying to tell us something. Steve Carell’s latest animated dooblydoo, Despicable Me 4 has just shattered the box office expectations of 2024 by a mile and a half, and Marvel is yet to impress its viewers with a half-decent movie worthy of its reputation.

Despicable Me 4 [Credit: Universal Pictures]

With one section of Marvel Studios invested in bludgeoning our senses to the point of lackluster numbness and the other sections working overtime to bring more than a dozen different series of unique and exotic flavors, it is safe to say that neither film nor streaming is doing anything to help Kevin Feige earn points with the audience right now.

On the other hand, Steve Carell’s villainous Gru and his posse of degenerate minions are well...

Zack Norman, a veteran character and producer who appeared in films including Romancing The Stone, Cadillac Man and several for director Harry Jaglom along with guested on The Nanny, The A-Team, Baywatch and other series, died April 28 of natural causes. He was 83.

His son-in-law Jeff Briller confirmed the news to Deadline.

Born Howard Zuker on May 27, 1940, Norman received an executive Mba from Harvard Business School before embarking entering show business. He performed as a comedian through the latter half of the 1960s and working the Playboy Clubs, the Flamingo and Copacabana with the Temptations. He made his TV debut in 1969 doing stand-up on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

He made about a half-dozen films in the 1970s before working on a pair of memorable ’80s films: He had a small role in Milos Forman’s Ragtime (1981) before being cast as Cousin Ira in Robert Zemeckis’ Romancing the Stone (1984). His character uttered the oft-quoted line,...

Zack Norman, the stand-up comic, actor and producer perhaps best known for his turn as a crocodile-loving antiquities smuggler in Romancing the Stone, has died. He was 83.

Norman died Sunday night of natural causes at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, his family announced.

Norman collaborated frequently with director Henry Jaglom, with the two working together on Tracks (1976), Sitting Ducks (1980), Venice/Venice (1992), Babyfever (1994), Déjà Vu (1997), Festival in Cannes (2001), Hollywood Dreams (2006), Irene in Time (2009), Queen of the Lot (2010), The M Word (2014) and Ovation (2015).

In Robert Zemeckis’ action-adventure Romancing the Stone (1984), starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, Norman and Danny DeVito play the smuggling cousins Ira and Ralph, respectively.

“Look at those snappers,” Ira says in admiration whenever he sees a croc.

(He and Douglas would get into a legal spat over a company that they co-founded.)

Norman also appeared on the big screen in James Toback’s Fingers (1978), Milos Forman...

Imagine your past dark moments in life being used as a joke in front of thousands of people while you sit in the audience unable to do anything.

That’s exactly what happened last month March 10 at the 2024 Oscars which took place at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

At the 96th Academy Awards, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Jimmy Kimmel had the honor to host the event but during his opening monologue, Jimmy dropped some very uncomfortable comments about the “Iron Man” Robert Downey Junior’s well-known substance abuse past.

While the actor who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his outstanding performance as Lewis Strauss in “Oppenheimer” didn’t say anything concerning Jimmy’s jokes, he finally broke his silence in a recent interview with “Esquire” published April 8.

It turns out that although Robert looked uncomfortable at the Oscars during Jimmy’s jokes, he didn’t take it to heart.

Robert Downey Jr. is without a doubt one of the biggest and most successful actors in the entertainment industry and is also regarded as one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. The actor’s career did have some bumps on the way but he with his hard work and dedication managed to pull himself out of it and went on to become not only the biggest star but also an actor who is deeply admired and respected by the audience.

Downey gained global recognition after he starred as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with 2008’s Iron Man. The actor has also appeared in movies including Sherlock Holmes, The Judge, Zodiac, Tropic Thunder and more cementing his place in the industry. His recent win at the 96th Academy Award gives a subtle nod to one of his fan-favorite characters showcasing that the...

Robert Downey Jr’s recent Oscar has become that final piece in the puzzle of his career. All these years, the actor lead some of the most successful films of all time, getting integrated into the very fabric of Hollywood, yet he was not shown respect by The Academy. Now, however, after working with Christopher Nolan in Oppenheimer, he is finally getting the acclaim that he deserves.

Robert Downey Jr. in Oppenheimer

It would seem, however, that the Oscars not favouring Downey is not something new. In 1993, the actor lost an award to Al Pacino. One would imagine this would have left him spiteful, however that actor thought the win to be deserving.

SUGGESTEDTimothee Chalamet Sets a New Box-Office Record After Dune 2 That Not Even Tom Cruise or Robert Downey Jr. Have Achieved in Their Lifetime

There was someone else, however, who got really angry at the winner; Downey’s father,...

Robert Downey Jr. is reflecting on his Hollywood career after winning his first Oscar!

The 58-year-old star won the 2024 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer, which also won Best Picture.

Prior to his Oscar win, Robert had made his mark in Hollywood thanks to his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Becoming one of the franchise’s figureheads served as a career revival for him, as Robert had previously faced struggles with drug addiction.

In a new interview, Robert opened up about what winning an Oscar means to him.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I think if you develop a moral psychology, things are a lot easier,” he told People. “And I think it’s hard to explain away certain behaviors when there are ways to heal. So I both have a lot of empathy for,...

Richard Lewis was a gem of a comedian and a unique actor who carried out a distinctive legacy on TV and film. One of the pillars of stand-up comedy, Lewis resorted to a slightly dark, neurotic sense of humor that aimed at deconstructing the self and the tragedy of contemporary life. Kicking off his career in the late '70s, Lewis remained active until the end, appearing as a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the final episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Lewis' impeccable timing for comedy was perfect for TV back when sitcoms were still thriving in a standardized format. He went on to star alongside other renowned actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Nicolas Cage, and most notoriously, Larry David, his loyal friend and screen partner. From bloody horror comedies to iconic parodies, Lewis' career reflects the comedian's versatile nature.

Hugo Pool Gathers a Stellar Cast (1997) Richard Lewis plays Chick Chicalini in Hugo Pool,...

Robert Downey Jr. has been active in the industry since his childhood. His career started with roles in movies made by his father, the underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., director of Putney Swope and other satirical comedies. Although Robert Downey Jr. is more often recognized for his performance as Tony Stark in the Iron Man movies and other MCU productions, he has never limited himself to playing the same type of character. On the contrary, he's constantly taking on both leading and supporting roles that are unrelated to his previous works.

With such an extensive and impressive catalog now, Downey Jr. is in much more than just ten great films. Some, like True Believer and Wonder Boys, come close to being included as the best of his movies that aren't in the MCU. And the ones included are so contrasting, that there's something for every taste. Fur has a different...

If there’s a defining blockbuster performance of the 21st century, it’s Robert Downey Jr.’s snarky, nimble turn in the 2008 blockbuster “Iron Man.” As Tony Stark, the arrogant tech billionaire turned selfish hero, Downey improbably regained A-list, household name fame in his 40s, following highly publicized setbacks with addiction throughout his career. More broadly, his sarcastic, self-aware take on the superhero genre became a lynchpin and touchstone for the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe and its sitcom-esque, unserious tone, defining the tone of superhero films for a solid decade to come. It’s a development that you either liked or hated, although it’s hard to deny that Downey himself proved eminently charismatic and watchable in that mode.

After playing Stark in many “Iron Man” movies across the MCU — he appeared as the character 10 times between 2008 and 2019 — Downey Jr. firmly exited the cinematic universe with “Avengers: Endgame,” which killed his character off permanently.

It’s been a star-filled weekend in Santa Barbara, with a dozen of A-listers — including numerous Oscar nominees — making their way to the American Riviera for events at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

On Friday night, inside the 2,000-seat Arlington Theater, which was sold out, the fest celebrated Robert Downey Jr. with its Maltin Modern Master Award, which is named after the film critic/historian Leonard Maltin. Maltin moderated a brisk career retrospective conversation with the Oppenheimer best supporting actor Oscar nominee, who charmed the audience with his self-deprecating humor and imitations of everyone from Richard Attenborough to his late father Robert Downey Sr., prior to Downey’s costar Cillian Murphy presenting him with the award itself.

During the interview, the honoree, 58, reflected on growing up as the son of an independent filmmaker who cast him in a movie, 1970’s Pound, when he was just five. “I think...

Robert Downey Jr Struggled With Drug Addiction For 5 Years! (Picture Credit: Facebook)

Robert Downey Jr is worldwide recognized for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He bid goodbye to Tony Stark in 2019 with Avengers: Endgame. Fans still remember him for his superhero avatar. But what if we tell you he was arrested as many as six times due to drug abuse? Scroll below for his unknown history!

Many wouldn’t know, but Robert has had a traumatic past. His father, Robert Downey Sr, who is also a renowned actor and filmmaker, was a drug addict. Since the age of 8, the Oppenheimer actor was made to consume the illegal substance by his dad.

Robert Downey Jr’s five-year-long struggle with drug abuse!

For as long as five years, between 1996-2001, Robert Downey Jr was arrested as many as 5 times. He was sent behind bars due to charges related to drugs.

Robert Downey Jr. has just received his third Academy Award nomination, but he revealed that he's happy he hasn't won in 1993.

The awards season is underway and The Academy recently unveiled this year's nominations. Among them, Robert Downey Jr. has received a nod for his role in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer for Best Supporting Male Actor. However, it's not the first time the former Marvel actor received an Academy Award nomination, but the actor revealed during his interview with The View that it would've been "the worst thing" to win the first time he was nominated.

Related Robert Downey Jr. Wins a Golden Globe Award for Oppenheimer Robert Downey Jr. gave a powerful speech after winning a Golden Globe Award for Oppenheimer.

“I was young and crazy,” Downey Jr. explained when referring to his first Oscar nomination. “It would have put me under the impression that I was on the right track,...

Robert Downey Jr. is a Hollywood veteran and icon. The son of legendary filmmaker and actor Robert Downey Sr., Downey Jr. has grown up in the Hollywood spotlight. He burst onto the scene in the 1980s with roles in movies like Weird Science and Back to School before getting his first Oscar nomination for Chaplin. Following this, the actor had a very public battle with addiction, one that he has since recovered from and has now become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, whose films have grossed over $14 billion worldwide. Downey Jr. recently was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. Downey Jr. is the frontrunner to win, and it appears that after years of being known as one of the best actors of his generation, he will finally receive recognition from the Academy.

Yet for millions of people,...

Robert Downey Jr. will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Feb. 9.

The award is named after the film historian Leonard Maltin, who will lead an in-person discussion with Downey Jr. at the festival, where they will dig into the actor’s long career, including, of course, his turn in “Oppenheimer” as Lewis Strauss, the title character’s nemesis who tries to orchestrate his downfall.

“Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan said in a statement, “It’s thrilling to see audiences responding not just to Robert Downey Jr’s incredible charisma, but to a performance which, stripped of any movie star trappings, shows once again that he is one of the greatest actors.”

Downey Jr. began his screen career at age five in 1970, when he played a sick puppy in his father Robert Downey Sr.’s comedy “Pound.” He broke through in the 1980s,...

There's a mind-bending short film from 2011 called The External World, with a ridiculously simple logline worthy of note: "A boy learns to play the piano." The filmmaker clearly had a sense of humor because the expansive project featured a seemingly endless inventory of side characters and subplots that ultimately all come together at the end. I felt a similar vibe watching Warm Blood, an experimental new feature that hits the masses this week.

One version of its logline could read, "A young woman returns home to find her dad." But the Modesto, California-set project becomes much more by the end, with lots of side characters making their eerie presence known during the tight 86-minute duration. It's a trippy new ride from independent filmmaker and skateboarder Rick Charnoski that would make auteurs like Harmony Korine and the late, great Robert Downey Sr. proud.

Painting a Unique NorCal Picture

Who said experimental film was dead?...

If there's one thing that you can say about Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," it's that the three-hour historical epic about the father of the atomic bomb boasts an incredibly deep bench. Nolan packs the film with well-known and well-liked actors, with many big names seemingly happy to sign on for little more than a cameo if it let them be part of "Oppenheimer." But aside from the Matt Damons and Kenneth Branaghs, there's also a surprising number of cast members who began their careers as child stars. 

Some came up during the mid-2000s golden age of the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, while others date back decades earlier. Also, several have since gone on to lead well-developed and respected careers, while others are still in the process of proving themselves as adult actors in their own right. Whether they're child stars who audiences are surprised to see in grown-up roles,...

Marvel star Robert Downey Jr. grew concerned that starring as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the major franchise that is the MCU had him concerned about his acting skills. Speaking with The New York Times, the actor, who received critical acclaim for his leading role in the MCU, was a “hundred percent” worried that he had become too reliant on specific techniques. Something that Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan was quick to quash.

"Yes. A hundred percent, and I knew there was a point where Chris Nolan was endorsing, let’s work those other muscles, but let’s do it while rendering you devoid of your usual go-to things."

Downey Jr. kick-started the MCU with aplomb way back in 2008 with the first Iron Man before appearing throughout the franchise up until the blockbuster superhero hit Avengers: Endgame in 2019. While the actor may have grown concerned about his acting, his many performances as Tony Stark received acclaim,...

Robert Downey Jr. is reflecting on his film career and, the films he considers most prominent may come as a surprise.

While most may assume that 2008’s “Iron Man” would be at the top of the actor’s list, it surprisingly is not, despite the fact that the superhero flick launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ultimately changing Hollywood’s blockbuster landscape.

During a recent interview with The New York Times, Downey Jr. revealed that he considers 2006’s “The Shaggy Dog” and 2020’s infamous box office bombing, “Dolittle”, as the most important titles he’s done in the last two decades.

“I finished the Marvel contract and then hastily went into what had all the promise of being another big, fun, well-executed potential franchise in ‘Dolittle’”, Downey Jr., 58, told the magazine. “I had some reservations. Me and my team seemed a little too excited about the deal and not quite excited...

When thinking of the most important movie in Robert Downey Jr.’s filmography over the last 25 years, one might naturally assume the answer is “Iron Man,” the 2008 superhero tentpole that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and changed the blockbuster landscape in Hollywood. But that’s not the movie Downey Jr. himself would pick. In a new interview with The New York Times Magazine, the Oscar nominee cited 2006’s “The Shaggy Dog” and 2020’s infamous “Dolittle” flop as his most important titles.

“I finished the Marvel contract and then hastily went into what had all the promise of being another big, fun, well-executed potential franchise in ‘Dolittle,'” Downey Jr. said. “I had some reservations. Me and my team seemed a little too excited about the deal and not quite excited enough about the merits of the execution. But at that point I was bulletproof. I was the guru of all genre movies.

Have you ever watched a classic Western and thought "This is great, but it's missing Jesus doing jazz hands"? Well if so, then have we got the movie for you! Some movies seem to exist outside of the usual paradigm of film criticism. Instead, their value rests on how strange or otherworldly they are, and how successfully they create in us a feeling or a tone that we didn't even know existed. Acid Westerns do this quite well and oftentimes evoke the contradictory feeling of alienation in the familiar. The 1972 film Greaser's Palace directed by Robert Downey Sr. does this quite effectively, though the whole point of the film remains vague at best. Regardless, it is an interesting entry in an interesting subgenre during the peak of cinema's existential break from normalcy during the late '60s and early '70s.

Marlene Clark, an actress and model who rose to fame in the 1970s, has passed away. Per THR, Clark died at her home in Los Angeles on May 18, though no cause of death was immediately revealed. She was 85 years old.

“For 15 years she curated a bustling restaurant scene where underground artists mingled with locals and the stars of film and television,” Clark's friend, Tamara Lynch, said of the news. “She had a vision of culinary excellence coupled with dynamic professional service and would lay out the blueprint for the glamorous L.A. restaurant scene brilliantly casted with her discerning eye."

Lynch added, “Marlene’s style was impeccable. She loved fashion, food and acting. Her large, full laugh that could fill a room will be missed. She leaves behind friends and family that will forever be grateful for her grace, love and beautiful heart. Marlene was one of our finest examples of Black beauty.

Marlene Clark, best known for her portrayals of Lamont’s girlfriend Janet in the 1970s NBC sitcom Sanford & Son and as Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film Ganja & Hess, has died.

Demond Wilson, who played Lamont on Sanford & Son, paid tribute to Clark on Twitter, writing “Rip beautiful actress Marlene Clark. . . It was a delight to work with you…,” noting she died on May 18. Wilson listed her age as 73, but that has not been confirmed.

Clark joined Sanford & Son in the comedy’s fifth season in 1976 as a recurring opposite Wilson, remaining through the series’ final season the following year.

Raised in the Harlem section of New York City, Clark was a fashion model before her transition to acting.

Her earliest work began in films in the 1960s including For Love of Ivy opposite Sidney Poitier and Putney Swope in 1969, directed by Robert Downey Sr. She went...

Marlene Clark, the statuesque actress who portrayed Lamont’s fiancée on Sanford and Son and stood out in such 1970s’ films as Ganja & Hess, Switchblade Sisters and Slaughter, has died. She was 85.

Clark died May 18 in her home in Los Angeles, her family announced. No cause of death was revealed.

Clark also starred as a reptilian seductress in Roger Corman’s Night of the Cobra Woman (1972) and as one of the suspected werewolves in the British horror film The Beast Must Die (1974), and she was an early victim in the Larry Hagman-directed Beware! The Blob (1972).

Clark played John Saxon‘s secretary in Enter the Dragon (1973), starring Bruce Lee, and her big-screen body of work also included Black Mamba (1974), Newman’s Law (1974), Lord Shango (1975) and The Baron (1977), where she appeared opposite her Beast Must Die onscreen husband, Calvin Lockhart.

In the surreal Ganja & Hess (1973), directed by Bill Gunn,...

If things had gone as originally planned, director Chris Smith’s Netflix documentary Sr. might have been called Jr. instead. He initially thought of doing a film about Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr., but the star proposed something different.

“We had a meeting at his company and just sort of threw out the idea of doing a documentary on [Robert Downey Jr.],” Smith recalled during an appearance at Deadline’s Contenders Television: Documentary + Unscripted event. “And very quickly the word came back that he was not interested, but he thought somebody should do a documentary on his dad.”

Smith took him up on the idea. And while the younger Downey plays a big part in the film, the primary focus is on Robert Downey Sr., the underground filmmaker and actor who made satirical and offbeat films like Putney Swope and Chafed Elbows.

“I knew of Robert Downey Sr. but I didn’t...

Netflix, perennially a key player in the Emmy race, is launching its 2023 Emmy campaigns on Wednesday with a, well, Wednesday-themed stunt.

Indeed, many voters and tastemakers will receive a hump-day visit — and hand-delivery of goodies — from a trio associated with the streamer’s hit comedy series: “Lurch,” the Addams family’s butler, who will be driving a class black 1930s hearse; “Wednesday Addams,” the titular teenager with psychic powers; and “Thing,” the sentient disembodied hand.

Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter has learned, Netflix will — for the fifth year in a row, but for the first year at Red Studios at 846 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Los Angeles — welcome TV Academy members to an elaborate “FYSee Space” at which it will showcase activations and host star-studded panels and performances in promotion of its numerous Emmy hopefuls. The FYSee Space will be open from Friday, May 5 through Friday, May 26.

Netflix’s top Emmy contenders this season — among them Wednesday,...

As is tradition, this year’s Academy Awards ceremony took a pause to remember those the movie industry lost over the past year. Also evidently tradition is snubbing major names. This year, notable omissions were Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore and Paul Sorvino. Now, the widow of Paul Sorvino is calling out the Oscars directly, demanding an apology and urging them to fix their mistake.

The omission of Paul Sorvino from the Oscars’ In Memoriam segment has irked fans all over, serving as yet another reminder that the Academy never gives a thorough enough presentation to some. But his widow, Dee Dee, is one of the rare family members who is actually speaking out, issuing a statement blasting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “Paul Sorvino was one of the greatest actors in cinematic history in Hollywood. It is unconscionable that he would be left out of the In Memoriam segment of the Oscars,...

Has there been anything more satisfying to watch than the long-overdue career resurgence of Ke Huy Quan? If there is, we don't want to know about it. Returning in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert's mind-bender "Everything Everywhere All At Once," the former child star famed for playing Indy's kid sidekick Short Round in 1984's "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and the gadget-wielding Data in 1985's nostalgia classic "The Goonies" had all but disappeared from screens -- and movie fans were worse off for it.

However, cut to today, and he's back with a bang. Following a supporting role as Evelyn's (Michelle Yeoh) multiverse-hopping husband Waymond, Quan now finds himself in high demand. With two Disney+ shows on the way, including graphic-novel-turned-tv series "American Born Chinese" and the hotly-anticipated second season of Marvel's "Loki," 2023 looks set to be a busy year for Quan. Throw his recent Golden...