Who are the most influential figures in pop culture history. How did these icons impact music, movies, sports, and television. What made them stand out as cultural legends. Explore the top 150 pop culture icons who left an indelible mark on entertainment and society.
The Undisputed Kings and Queens of Pop Culture
When we think of pop culture royalty, a few names immediately spring to mind. These are the icons who not only achieved immense fame and success in their respective fields but also profoundly influenced society, fashion, and the very fabric of popular culture.
Muhammad Ali: More Than Just a Boxer
Muhammad Ali transcended the world of sports to become a global icon. Why was Ali so influential? His impact extended far beyond the boxing ring. As a champion for civil rights, a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and a charismatic personality, Ali became a symbol of strength, conviction, and social change. His famous catchphrase, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” encapsulated not just his boxing style, but his approach to life’s challenges.
Elvis Presley: The King of Rock and Roll
Elvis Presley’s influence on music and popular culture cannot be overstated. How did Elvis change the face of music? With his electrifying performances, distinctive voice, and rebellious image, Elvis helped bring rock and roll into the mainstream. His hip-shaking moves scandalized some and thrilled others, making him a pivotal figure in the cultural revolution of the 1950s. Even decades after his death, Elvis remains an enduring symbol of American music and culture.
Marilyn Monroe: The Ultimate Hollywood Icon
Marilyn Monroe’s status as a pop culture icon has only grown since her untimely death. What made Monroe such an enduring figure? Her combination of beauty, vulnerability, and talent created an irresistible allure that continues to captivate audiences today. Monroe’s relationships with famous men, including Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller, further cemented her place in the pantheon of celebrity. Her influence on fashion, beauty standards, and the concept of stardom itself is immeasurable.
Musical Legends Who Changed the Sound of Pop Culture
Music has always been at the forefront of pop culture, and certain artists have left an indelible mark on the industry and society at large. These musical icons didn’t just create hit songs; they shaped entire genres and influenced generations of artists who followed.
The Beatles: The Fab Four Who Conquered the World
The Beatles, particularly John Lennon and Paul McCartney, revolutionized popular music in the 1960s. How did the Beatles impact pop culture? Their innovative songwriting, experimental studio techniques, and evolving musical style pushed the boundaries of what was possible in pop music. The Beatles’ influence extended beyond music, affecting fashion, politics, and youth culture. Their journey from mop-topped heartthrobs to psychedelic innovators mirrored the cultural shifts of the 1960s.
Bob Dylan: The Voice of a Generation
Bob Dylan’s impact on music and culture is profound and enduring. What makes Dylan such an important figure in pop culture? His poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, and willingness to tackle social and political issues in his music earned him the title “voice of a generation.” Dylan’s transition from folk to rock music in the mid-1960s was a pivotal moment in pop culture history, influencing countless artists and helping to blur the lines between popular music and high art.
Michael Jackson: The King of Pop
Michael Jackson’s influence on pop music and culture is undeniable. How did Jackson earn the title “King of Pop”? His groundbreaking music videos, innovative dance moves, and record-breaking album sales made him a global superstar. Jackson’s album “Thriller” remains the best-selling album of all time, and his moonwalk became one of the most iconic dance moves in history. Despite controversies later in his life, Jackson’s impact on music, dance, and fashion continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Sports Icons Who Transcended Their Games
While many athletes achieve fame within their sports, a select few have become cultural icons whose influence extends far beyond the playing field. These sports legends have become symbols of excellence, perseverance, and social change.
Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat
Babe Ruth’s larger-than-life personality and prodigious baseball skills made him an early sports icon. Why is Ruth still considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time? His home run records stood for decades, and his charismatic presence helped baseball become America’s national pastime. Ruth’s impact on popular culture extended beyond sports, as he became one of the first athletes to achieve celebrity status and endorse products.
Michael Jordan: His Airness
Michael Jordan’s impact on basketball and popular culture is immeasurable. How did Jordan become such a global icon? His unparalleled skills on the court, combined with his competitive drive and marketability, made him the face of the NBA’s global expansion in the 1990s. Jordan’s partnership with Nike created the Air Jordan brand, revolutionizing sports marketing and sneaker culture. His influence extends to fashion, advertising, and even cinema, with his starring role in “Space Jam.”
Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers
Jackie Robinson’s importance as a cultural icon goes far beyond his achievements on the baseball diamond. Why is Robinson considered a pivotal figure in American history? As the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, Robinson broke the color barrier in professional sports. His courage, skill, and dignity in the face of racism made him a civil rights icon and paved the way for integration in other areas of American society.
Hollywood Legends Who Defined the Silver Screen
The world of cinema has produced numerous stars, but only a select few have achieved true icon status. These actors and filmmakers have not only created unforgettable performances and movies but have also shaped the very nature of stardom and filmmaking.
Charlie Chaplin: The Tramp Who Conquered the World
Charlie Chaplin’s influence on cinema and popular culture is immeasurable. How did Chaplin become one of the most recognizable figures in the world? His iconic “Tramp” character, with his bowler hat, cane, and mustache, became a universal symbol of both comedy and pathos. Chaplin’s silent films, such as “City Lights” and “Modern Times,” showcased his genius for physical comedy while often addressing serious social issues. As one of the founders of United Artists, Chaplin also helped shape the business of Hollywood.
Marlon Brando: The Method Actor Who Changed Everything
Marlon Brando’s impact on acting and cinema cannot be overstated. What made Brando such a revolutionary figure in Hollywood? His naturalistic acting style, influenced by the Method approach, brought a new level of realism and intensity to the screen. Brando’s performances in films like “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “On the Waterfront,” and “The Godfather” are considered some of the greatest in cinema history. His rebellious persona off-screen further cemented his status as a cultural icon.
Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense
Alfred Hitchcock’s influence extends far beyond his masterful direction of suspense and thriller films. How did Hitchcock become such a recognizable figure in popular culture? His distinctive silhouette and droll wit made him one of the first directors to achieve celebrity status. Hitchcock’s innovative techniques, such as the “Hitchcock zoom,” have been widely imitated, and his films like “Psycho” and “Vertigo” continue to be studied and admired. Hitchcock’s ability to market himself and his films also set a new standard for directorial involvement in promotion.
Television Personalities Who Became Cultural Touchstones
As television became a dominant force in popular culture, certain personalities emerged as true icons. These individuals didn’t just entertain; they became trusted figures who shaped public opinion and defined eras.
Johnny Carson: The King of Late Night
Johnny Carson’s 30-year reign as host of “The Tonight Show” made him a fixture in American homes. Why was Carson such an influential figure in television history? His affable personality, quick wit, and ability to connect with both guests and viewers made “The Tonight Show” a cultural institution. Carson’s monologues often served as a barometer of public opinion, and his approval could make or break the careers of comedians and other entertainers.
Lucille Ball: America’s Favorite Redhead
Lucille Ball’s impact on television and popular culture is difficult to overstate. How did “I Love Lucy” become such a groundbreaking show? Ball’s comedic talent and business acumen helped create one of the most beloved sitcoms in history. The show’s innovative use of the three-camera setup and filming before a live studio audience set the standard for future sitcoms. Ball’s portrayal of Lucy Ricardo also pushed boundaries in terms of what women could do on television, both in front of and behind the camera.
Oprah Winfrey: The Queen of All Media
Oprah Winfrey’s influence extends far beyond her successful talk show. How did Oprah become such a powerful cultural force? Her ability to connect with audiences, her book club that could turn titles into bestsellers overnight, and her expansion into various media ventures made her a true mogul. Oprah’s endorsement became so powerful that it was dubbed “The Oprah Effect.” Her philanthropy and advocacy work have further solidified her status as a cultural icon.
Innovators and Visionaries Who Shaped Pop Culture
While performers and athletes often take center stage in discussions of pop culture icons, certain innovators and visionaries have had an outsized impact on shaping the cultural landscape.
Walt Disney: The Man Behind the Mouse
Walt Disney’s impact on popular culture is almost impossible to quantify. How did Disney change the face of entertainment? From pioneering animated features with “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to creating the modern theme park with Disneyland, Disney constantly pushed the boundaries of what was possible in entertainment. His emphasis on storytelling and family-friendly content helped shape the tastes of generations. The company he founded continues to be a dominant force in global popular culture.
Steven Spielberg: The Blockbuster King
Steven Spielberg’s influence on modern cinema is unparalleled. How did Spielberg change the movie industry? With films like “Jaws,” he essentially invented the summer blockbuster, changing Hollywood’s business model. His ability to balance crowd-pleasing entertainment with serious artistic endeavors, as seen in films like “Schindler’s List,” has made him one of the most respected figures in the industry. Spielberg’s production company, DreamWorks, has further extended his influence in the entertainment world.
Cultural Rebels and Iconoclasts
Some pop culture icons have earned their status by challenging norms and pushing boundaries. These rebels and iconoclasts have often courted controversy, but their impact on society and culture is undeniable.
James Dean: The Rebel Without a Cause
James Dean’s brief career and tragic death cemented his status as a cultural icon. Why does Dean remain such a potent symbol of youth rebellion? His performances in films like “Rebel Without a Cause” captured the angst and alienation of 1950s youth. Dean’s brooding good looks and untimely death at the age of 24 froze him in time as an eternal symbol of cool rebellion. His influence on fashion, particularly the iconic red jacket from “Rebel Without a Cause,” continues to this day.
Madonna: The Queen of Reinvention
Madonna’s impact on music, fashion, and popular culture is immense. How has Madonna maintained her iconic status for decades? Her ability to constantly reinvent herself, push boundaries, and provoke controversy has kept her at the forefront of pop culture. From her early days as the “Material Girl” to her more recent incarnations, Madonna has consistently challenged societal norms around sexuality, religion, and female empowerment. Her influence on fashion and music videos has inspired countless artists who followed.
The world of pop culture is vast and ever-changing, but these 150 icons have left an indelible mark on entertainment and society. Their influence continues to be felt today, shaping the way we think about celebrity, art, and cultural impact. As new stars rise and fall, these legends remain touchstones of what it means to truly capture the public imagination and become a part of our shared cultural heritage.
The 150 Greatest Pop Culture Icons
Movies, Music, Sports, Television
The 150 most essential people in the history of popular culture.
- Muhammad Ali– So much more than just a boxer, Ali just epitomizes the word icon.
- Elvis Presley– Mike might be the King of Pop, but Elvis is just the straight up King. If rock and roll has a birthdate, it probably has a something to do with this guy’s hips.
- Babe Ruth– The man, the myth, the legend. Even all these years later, no one even comes close to the Sultan of Swat.
- John Lennon– Tough to pick between Paul and John for the higher spot, but Lennon’s activism and early death earn enough icon points to be the difference.
- Bob Dylan– The voice of a generation and perhaps the greatest songwriter to ever pick up a guitar.
- Marilyn Monroe– Maybe the most beloved movie star ever, Monroe bedded the top athlete, playwright and politicians of her era.
Not too shabby. - Michael Jackson– Hard to defend at this point, but there’s no denying his nearly unparalleled impact on popular culture. (They don’t call him the King of Pop for nothing, or at least that’s what they used to call him) Also, he made Thriller. Thriller.
- Michael Jordan– His Airness, the undisputed greatest sports marketing icon of all time.
- Al Capone– The archetypal gangster, Scarface took criminality to new heights of celebrity.
- Paul McCartney– May be too low on this list. Paul McCartney is pop music.
- Charlie Chaplin– For a solid twenty-year stretch, there was no more famous person on the entire planet than Charlie Chaplin. Film classics like City Lights and The Gold Rush still hold up today.
- Marlon Brando– Brando basically invented acting as we know it today.
- Frank Sinatra– The dopest crooner that ever lived.
- Alfred Hitchcock– Arguably the greatest director of all time, Hitchcock was also a larger than life figure that brought the cameo to new heights.
- Johnny Carson– The guy for thirty years of late night television.
- Jackie Robinson– A true sports icon and a damn good second baseman to boot.
- Walt Disney– An animation pioneer, a 22-time Oscar winning producer, and miner of childhood magic.
- David Bowie– If every one of Bowie’s personas could have it’s own vote, he’d probably be up here five times.
- Martin Scorsese– Hitchcock and Kubrick may be the two most important directors ever, but when it comes to modern film, no one’s made more classics than Scorsese.
- Mickey Mantle– If you were a seven-year-old boy during the fifties and sixties, there was no one you dreamed about being more than The Mick.
- Bing Crosby– No recording artist more sold more than Bing in the 20th Century.
- Joe DiMaggio– The Yankee Clipper, his 56-game hit streak is one of the most iconic records in any sport.
- Steven Spielberg– He invented the blockbuster with Jaws, perfected it with E.T. and Jurassic Park, and ascended to new heights with Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.
- James Brown– The ultimate frontman and the all-time hardest working dude in show biz.
- Robert De Niro– The Godfather. Goodfellas. Raging Bull. Taxi Driver. A movie resume to rival any in history.
- Pablo Escobar– The most iconic drug dealer the world has ever known.
- Mary Pickford– The OG of pop culture icons, Pickford was the original movie star and possibly the first true celebrity.
- Prince– When you can change your name to a symbol and the world just goes along with it, you know you’ve reached a whole other level of celebrity.
- Mick Jagger– The most prolific frontman to ever rock an arena.
- Madonna– A titan of Eighties fashion, music, love, and all around celebrity.
- Al Pacino– Before he started drifting into caricature mode in the late 90’s, Pacino played some of the most iconic roles in history. Michael Corleone and Tony Montana are the quintessential gangster roles of modern day.
- Harrison Ford– Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Does it get any more iconic?
- Paul Newman– From playing Fast Eddie Felson to Cool Hand Luke to Butch Cassidy, there was no cooler star in sixies America than Paul Newman.
- Tom Hanks– Is there anyone more beloved in Hollywood right now than Tom Hanks?
- Stevie Wonder– Stevie signed with Motown at the age of 11 and has been killing it ever since.
- Humphrey Bogart– The ultimate leading man during Hollywood’s golden age.
- Lucille Ball– The funniest woman on television during a time when everyone was watching the same three things. Everyone loved Lucy.
- Louis Armstrong– Foundational jazz trumpeter and one of the first mainstream African-American cross-over entertainers in American history.
- John Wayne– The manliest man who ever manned.
- Oprah Winfrey–Oprah isn’t just a talk show host. She’s a media empire.
- Shirley Temple– A child star, American diplomat, and tasty beverage.
- Eddie Murphy– Arguably the most important star in SNL history, Eddie single-handedly saved the show from extinction following the original cast exodus.
- Miles Davis– Miles birthed the cool in more ways than one. No modern jazz artist looms larger.
- Richard Pryor– The father of modern stand-up, Pryor transformed his tragic upbringing into comedy gold.
- Bob Marley– 10 million dorm room posters can’t be wrong.
- David Letterman– A titan of late night, Letterman reinvented what was possible in comedy.
- Meryl Streep– Meryl Streep is to all other actresses what Tiger Woods is to all other black golfers.
- Mel Brooks– The rare five-tool comedian, Mel’s writing, directing, and acting talents have earned him the grand slam of entertainment awards (Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Tony).
- Steve Jobs- A visionary for the computer age.
- Bruce Lee– As synonymous with the Kung-Fu flick as any one man could be with a genre of movies.
- Joe Namath– The first true face of football, Namath’s marketability was instrumental to the early success of the NFL.
- Bill Murray– A national treasure and the funniest guy in every room he’s ever been in.
- Elton John– 300 million records sold
- Denzel Washington
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Bruce Springsteen
- James Dean
- Johnny Cash
- Lorne Michaels
- Beyonce
- Harry Houdini
- Tony Bennett
- James Stewart
- Buddy Holly
- Hugh Hefner
- Andy Warhol
- Tom Cruise
- Sammy Davis Jr
- Audrey Hepburn
- O. J. Simpson
- Groucho Marx
- Jack Nicklaus
- Jim Brown
- Katharine Hepburn
- Jack Nicholson
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Tiger Woods
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Ray Charles
- Jayne Mansfield
- Eric Clapton
- LeBron James
- Woody Allen
- Robert Redford
- Magic Johnson
- Joe Louis
- Sean Connery
- Ernest Hemingway
- Jerry Garcia
- Clark Gable
- Jimi Hendrix
- Clint Eastwood
- Aretha Franklin
- Jim Morrison
- Whitney Houston
- Christopher Walken
- Charles Manson
- Will Ferrell
- Dr. Dre
- Joan Rivers
- 2Pac
- Bill Cosby
- Will Smith
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Justin Timberlake
- Ted Bundy
- John Belushi
- Freddie Mercury
- Dick Clark
- William Shatner
- Jerry Lewis
- Michael J. Fox
- Jay-Z
- Julia Roberts
- Notorious BIG
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Rudolph Valentino
- Bo Jackson
- Ted Danson
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Kurt Cobain
- Robin Williams
- Derek Jeter
- Arnold Palmer
- Judy Garland
- Stan Lee
- Larry David
- Stephen King
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Pamela Anderson
- Christopher Reeve
- Grace Kelly
- Bob Hope
- Carol Burnett
- Cindy Crawford
- Mike Tyson
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Brad Pitt
- Taylor Swift
- George Clooney
- Dean Martin
- Wayne Gretzky
- Stanley Kubrick
- Orson Welles
- Diana Ross
- Kanye West
- Jon Stewart
- Britney Spears
- Quentin Tarantino
- Hulk Hogan
Not too shabby.
J. Simpson
Dre
JacksonThe Bubble: Sylvester Stallone, Evil Knievel, Rihanna, Andre the Giant, Tom Brady, Dwayne Johnson, Liberace, Jackie Chan, Morgan Freeman, Steve Martin, Joe Montana, Bono, Shaquille O’Neal, Drake, Ozzy Osbourne, Christie Brinkley, Jay Leno, Ralph Lauren, Alex Trebek, George Carlin, Dale Earnhardt, Steve McQueen, Raquel Welch, Jennifer Lopez, Mickey Rooney, Farrah Fawcett, Cher, Burt Reynolds, Lady Gaga, Howard Stern
*No political or history figures (with all apologies to Princess Diana, Martin Luther King, Joan of Arc, Obama, Columbus, Jesus etc etc)
10 Best Roles That Lead to Pop Culture Icons
After a movie character hits the big time it’s often hard to think of where the actor was beforehand.
Maybe they were considered unknowns, or they were just playing the field before that one role came along and solidified themselves into the hearts and minds of fans. However, one thing is certain, an actor’s past credits can act as stepping stones to the big role that defines their career.
RELATED: The Best Casting Choices of the 21st Century (So Far)
For many cases it can be an actor’s long tenure in a genre, or a similar role they had before landing one that gained traction. Other instances it’s through casting, say a Director sees an actor in a movie and writes their new screenplay with them in mind. Sometimes it’s just the reputation the actor has created, proving themselves to have the chops it takes to land the title role in blockbuster franchises that permeates through pop culture history.
Prospect (2018) to The Mandalorian (2019)
Pedro Pascal has skyrocketed into the hearts of Star Wars fans with his portrayal of Din Djarin in The Mandalorian (2019).
However, before he dawned the shiny suit of beskar, Pascal wore a lower budget space suit in Prospect (2018). It doesn’t take much to see the similarities between the two gritty, western inspired sci-fi dramas that Pascal starred in.
Prospect (2018) stars Sophie Thatcher, new to Star Wars as Drash inThe Book of Boba Fett(2021), who travels to a toxic planet with her father to mine for rare materials. There she encounters Ezra (Pascal), who robs them in an old-west style stick up. The highwayman with questionable morals is then left to team up with the young girl and oversee some parental duties.
Good Time (2017) to The Batman (2022)
Robert Pattinson traded his vampire teeth for Batman’s legendary cape and cowl for Matt Reeves’ reboot of the Dark Knight in The Batman (2022). Ever since Pattinson’s ridiculed performance in The Twilight Saga, he has noticeably taken obscure, art driven, roles to further himself from the teen-heart-throb persona.
This eventually lead him to the Safdie Brothers who directed Pattinson in the crime thriller Good Time (2017).
Reeves wasn’t sure at the time if Pattinson was interested in the role of The Batman, but the stars aligned and Pattinson brought his powerful, yet reclusive, persona from Good Time (2017) to Reeves’ version of Gotham.
Johnny Mnemonic (1995) to The Matrix (1999)
Keanu Reeves plugged into cyberspace a few years before his groundbreaking role as Neo in The Matrix (1999). His first big break came with the sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), but over the next few years Reeves looked to transform himself away from stoner comedies, taking action roles that eventually lead to the 1995 cyberpunk action movie Johnny Mnemonic (1995).
In Johnny Mnemonic (1995), Reeves stars as the titular character, a courier whose sacrificed a chunk of his memory in order to store valuable information for high profile clients.
Reeves is seen being plugged into cyberspace, interfacing in a virtual computer reality while eluding assassins in the real world.
RocknRolla (2008) to The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
When Tom Hardy was asked why Christopher Nolan wanted him to play the main antagonist, Bane, in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Hardy surely thought it was his role in Bronson (2008). However, it was not in fact his role as the beefy and violent notorious criminal, Charles Bronson, but Nolan stated it was his performance in RocknRolla (2008) and the way Hardy emoted with his eyes.
RocknRolla (2008) is a criminal action film directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Gerard Butler opposite of Hardy. Hardy has a supporting role amidst the ensemble cast, but has a key car scene in which his character professes his love to Butler’s without words, but just a longing intimate stare.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) to Suicide Squad (2016)
Margot Robbie earned her biggest role to date in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) opposite of Leonardo DiCaprio. Within the film she plays the blonde bombshell and love interests to the con-man stockbroker living the life of luxury. However, Robbie’s character gets wind of his criminal acts and begins to not take it anymore, lashing out and calling her lover out on the way she has been mistreated.
While Suicide Squad (2016) was not met with much appreciation, a majority of fans would agree that Robbie’s portrayal of Harley was the best thing to come of it, starring later in the sequel and her own solo film. Robbie brings all her man-eating talents from The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) to the infamous Harley Quinn.
42 (2013) to Black Panther (2018)
Before Chadwick Boseman played the first Black superhero he played the first Black professional baseball player Jackie Robinson.
The late actor is, of course, most well known as T’Challa, King of Wakanda and member of the Avengers, but Boseman made a career in portraying numerous Black icons before dawning the black and purple vibranium suit in Black Panther (2018).
42 (2013) was Boseman’s first big break in Hollywood, but he would also star as the Funk master James Brown in Get On Up(2014) and the civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017). Boseman certainly took it upon himself to lift the voices of his community through his work and in doing so has left his own lasting impression.
Prisoners (2013) to The Batman (2022)
Paul Dano may be most recognizable for his performances in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), the silent Nietzsche enthusiast, or There Will Be Blood (2007), the exploited priest, but one of his more minimal roles bares the most resemblance to his Riddler performance in The Batman (2022).
That is his minor role in Prisoners (2013), as a mentally ill individual whose suspected of being a child murderer.
Prisoners stars Hugh Jackman as an angered father taking matters into his own hands to find his kidnaped children, while a frustrated detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to crack the case. Within the film, Jackman’s character comes face to face with Dano’s, resulting in one of the most ferocious encounters on screen in recent memory.
Van Wilder (2002) to Deadpool (2016)
Ryan Reynolds has a long career in comedy ever since starring as the title character in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, and given his long list of credits its obvious Reynolds was tailor-made to play the Merc With a Mouth. Deadpool (2016) was greeted by fans who were looking for a comic book accurate version of the character, and oh boy did they get it.
Even with his previous, and ill-fated, portrayal of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), which removed his character’s trademark mouth, Reynolds was finally able to let his true version of Deadpool loose with his 2016 solo film and subsequent sequels that prove his college comedies at the beginning of his career were leading somewhere.
The Hurt Locker (2008) to The Avengers (2012)
Jeremy Renner has been known for his military roles, including his most iconic reoccurring performance as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye. Before that, Renner has played several members of armed forces and police including S.W.A.T. (2003), 28 Weeks Later (2007), The Hurt Locker. The latter even took home six Oscars, including Best Picture, Screenplay and Director (Kathryn Bigelow).
RELATED: Every Best Actor Oscar Winner of the 21st Century, Ranked
The Avengers (2012) features a team-up of superheroes to protect Earth from an alien invasion and even utilizes Renner’s background in playing both good and bad characters, seen when Hawkeye is mind controlled by Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and serves as a temporary antagonist.
Lords of Dogtown (2005) to The Dark Knight (2008)
It’s hard to think of a time when fans weren’t enthusiastic about Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), but at the time he was cast it had fans scratching their heads. Before the Joker, audiences really only knew Ledger as that lovely smile seen in teen flicks like 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and A Knight’s Tale (2001), but his supporting role in Lords of Dogtown (2005) kept some fans optimistic.
Lords of Dogtown (2005) tells the true story of the Z-Boys and their pioneering influences on skateboarding in the 70s. Within the film Ledger plays their eccentric team manager and surf shop owner Skip Engblom, complete with fake teeth that Ledger had made to play the role.
NEXT: 21 of the Best Casting Rumors That Never Happened
Pop Culture Stars and Characters Turned into Saints and This is a Very Controversial Art
art
artists
celebrities
03/03/2020
328
Artists have to constantly figure out how to draw attention to their art.
Some choose to turn famous characters into someone else, others place stars and cartoon characters in a new reality, while digital artist Gedo, better known as gedogfx, most recently created a project in which he turned pop culture stars and characters into saints. He gifted them with halos and dressed them in appropriate clothes, but left the symbols that distinguish this or that celebrity or character so that they do not lose their zest. Of course, this project is controversial and for sure many people will perceive it as an insult to the feelings of believers, but it is unlikely that the author of the images wanted to offend anyone with his work.
Keanu Reeves (John Wick)
Freddie Mercury
90 018 Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Keanu Reeves (John Wick)
Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones)
Johnny Depp (Cry-Baby)
9 0002
Mando and Baby Yoda (The Mandalorian)
Brad Pitt (“Fight Club”)
Cillian Murphy (“Peaky Blinders”) kin Phoenix (“Joker”)
Uma Thurman (” Pulp Fiction”)
Samuel L.
Jackson (“Pulp Fiction”)
Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”)
9 0002
Natalie Portman (“Leon”)
Lena Headey (Game of Thrones)
Uma Thurman (Kill Bill)
Marlon Brando (The Godfather)
Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man)
Matthew McConaughey (True Detective)
Lana Del Rey
900 03
Share on social media networks
Search by text
Related publications
List of famous Russian Jewish artists
celebrities
04/24/2014
631728
25 celebrities who are actually siblings
celebrities
04/19/2018
313577
How the stars of the 90s have changed, about which almost nothing is heard
celebrities
05/04/2018
206432
What do bodybuilders look like today after quitting professional sports?
people
07/12/2018
202528
How the children of 13 of the most beautiful famous women in Hollywood look like
celebrities
07/19/2018
189582
It’s interesting
16 Photoshop Criminals Who Edit Their Photos So Much Like They Don’t Plan To Leave The House
people
06/01/2023
1307
17 optical illusions, looking at which you can break the brain, trying to figure them out
optical illusions
06/01/2023
1024
16 absurd, inexplicable photos that will confuse and puzzle you for the whole day
weird
06/06/2023
990
16 informative photos of unusual things that you will not find around every corner
knowledge
06/01/2023
871
10 extended photos of famous memes that the entire Internet thought they saw in full
neural network
06/06/2023
809
Pop Culture’s Top 10 Highlights of 2021
As the pandemic entered its second year, the media was engulfed in political and social debate about vaccines.
And this media pressure has turned pop culture—celebrities, athletes, TV shows, and Internet phenomena—into a much-needed and even valuable safe haven. Below are some of the highlights of 2021.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah
The famous interview of Princess Diana and Martin Bashir in 1992 (in which she said that in her marriage to Prince Charles “there were three of us”) shocked the world with its scandalous frankness. Since then, no other member of the royal family has spoken so openly about the behind the scenes of royal life. At least until this year. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have finally broken with the monarchy’s “never complain, never explain” press policy. The couple shared with Oprah a story about the absolute indifference of the royal family – even when Meghan suffered from suicidal thoughts during pregnancy. Even more shocking – though perhaps not entirely – was Meghan’s account of a relative who raised the issue of their son Archie’s skin color before he was born.
The special was absolutely everything: a master class on how to interview from Oprah, an exposure of the British monarchy and two hours of truly immersive television that attracted 17 million viewers.
#FreeBritney Celebration
The protests of the pop star’s loyal fans against her father’s 13-year custody of her have been gaining momentum for a long time, and in 2021 the #FreeBritney movement finally gets the publicity it deserves. The tipping point came in June when Spears broke her silence with a horrific court filing. She described how guardianship controlled her work, finances, and even reproductive rights.
The New York Times documentary “Shackles for Britney Spears” was filmed 20 years after Spears’ rise to fame. It opens up a new perspective on the sexualization, manipulation and humiliation of Britney in the early 2000s, a wry reflection of today’s society and how it still treats young female artists. However, 2021 was also the year the #FreeBritney movement finally reached its climax, with Britney Spears’ custody officially lifted in November.
Popular
Protest photo #FreeBritney
Getty Images
Bennifer 2.0 Reunion
In a sense, 2021 was a portal to 2002 as the world was hit by a resurgence of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s longtime romance, followed by a public frenzy. It all started with this couple, the paparazzi photographed her everywhere, and it seems that it was Ben and Jen who inspired Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, as well as Machine Gun Kelly Kelly and Megan Fox to publicly express their feelings. As author Abby Gardner has pointed out, keeping up with Bennifer 2.0 was almost an Olympic sport.
Are we really excited about the reunion of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck or is it just nostalgia for the 2000s?
Gallery 10 Photos
Kristina Manucharyan
View gallery
Popular 55
Mental health: comments by Simone Biles and Naomi Osaki
The most decorated American gymnast in history attracted worldwide attention in July this year when she withdrew from the all-around final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles was one of more than 150 women and girls sexually abused by former team doctor Larry Nassar, and the U.S. Artistic Gymnastics Federation has yet to reach an agreement with the victims. “Everything that happened this year,” Biles said, “I’m not at all surprised how it ended.”
And in May, tennis player Naomi Osaka, who won the Grand Slam tournament, took an equally bold step. She withdrew from the French Open because the organizers rejected her request to cancel the press conference after the match. Osaka shared with her Instagram followers that she had experienced “strong anxiety” when interviewing the tennis press and had struggled with bouts of depression since the 2018 US Open.
Biles and Osaka’s decision to protect their mental health has become an important reminder not only for athletes and perfectionists, but for everyone who follows their careers. “At the end of the day, we are human too and we need to take care of our mental health and not just go and do what the world wants us to do,” Biles said.
Popular
Simone Biles at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
Getty Images
Playing Squid
Korean drama has been a pop culture phenomenon since its very first footage. Hwang Dong-hyuk was inspired to create The Squid Game by his own social and economic problems. The series quickly rose to number one on Netflix and became not only the most popular show in the history of the platform, but also the first Korean show to achieve such success. The Squid Game was great (terrifying) entertainment that managed to strike the nerves of viewers at a time of global economic turmoil. “I wanted to create a story that was an allegory… about today’s capitalist society, something that conveyed this frenzied competition,” Hwang told Variety.
The Reign of Olivia Rodrigo
18-year-old Rodrigo’s Driver’s License has once again turned us into heartbroken teenagers accidentally driving past their ex’s house in tears.
The single, which went viral in January (soon to have over a billion streams to its credit), hits all the right notes: heartbreaking lyrics, powerful vocals, and possibly real-life inspiration (there are rumors that Rodrigo wrote this song about her ex-boyfriend – Joshua Bassette, with whom they co-starred in the Disney series). The release of Sour’s debut album in May only added to the singer’s sky-high success. Olivia Rodrigo can undoubtedly be called “America’s first teenager” – the White House even enlisted her help to encourage youth 12 and older to get vaccinated.
Summer of the White Lotus
This HBO series, a mix of Descendants and a Malibu episode of Saved by the Bell, was a summer hit. In the story, a group of amazing and completely incorrigible characters find themselves in a five-star Hawaiian resort. Chief among them: Armond (the divine Murray Bartlett) – the manager of the “White Lotus”, the same hotel, Shane (Jake Lacey) – the golden boy on the ill-fated honeymoon and Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya, who scatters the ashes of her mother (and her personal problems ) at the hotel bar.
White Lotus is not just a pretty picture, but like all the best shows of 2021, a series with a deep message that blurs the lines of class tension between guests and staff, capitalism and colonialism.
Red (Taylor version) album taking over social media
Long awaited 10-minute version of All Too Well and an entire short film, I Bet You Think About Me video directed by Blake Lively and starring Miles Teller, plus tons of subtle hints at Taylor’s romantic life – and all this was perfectly timed for the arrival of autumn. No one knows how to release (and re-release) albums like Swift.
Popular
7.8 hours The Beatles: Get Back
Directed by Disney and directed by Peter Jackson, the documentary series 2021 film marathon of all film marathons provides us with one of the most authentic images of The Beatles’ creative process during their work on Let It Be ( before speaking at the London headquarters of Apple Corps in January 1969).:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52479487/2016_time_capsule_copy3.0.jpeg)
A year later, the group broke up. The Beatles: Get Back dispels myths: yes, the situation was definitely tense, but the relationship of the famous four never reached high-profile scandals. On the contrary, they discuss problems, behave in a civilized and, above all, fraternal manner. Get Back also reveals that Yoko Ono can hardly be blamed for the band’s breakup. Although she was always by Lennon’s side, Yoko’s presence during the studio sessions was, according to Jackson, “favorable”: while music history was being made, she quietly read the newspaper.
The return of “Sex and the City”
One of the most iconic and trending series is back on our screens this year. The creators did not stop at the last season, which was released back in 2004, and even at films that received rather mixed reviews from critics – the Internet did not want to let go of the show (and countless Instagram accounts dedicated to the heroines prove this). The HBO Max sequel, And Just Like That, was released on December 9th.
