Best Movies

BET Awards 2024 Nominations: Best Movie

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The 2024 BET Awards are recognizing some of the most outstanding movies of the past year. The nominations for Best Movie are definitely well-deserved. From action films to drama, comedy, and even animation, there’s a healthy lineup of films up for the prize this year. Last year, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever took home the award, and eight movies will stand the chance to do so this year. 

Read More: BET Awards 2024 Nominations: A Look At Album Of The Year

American Fiction

Undeniably, one of the best movies released so far this decade is American Fiction. The comedy-drama playfully pokes at the topic of stereotypes surrounding “Black” books. Jeffrey Wright, in a leading role, plays a brilliant writer who reluctantly writes a book filled with Black literary stereotypes. Shockingly, the book becomes a major hit.

American Fiction is smart, witty, and handles important subjects with care. Supporting roles from Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Erika Alexander boost the overall enjoyability of the movie. Wright is also nominated for Best Actor at the 2024 BET Awards. 

Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé

It’s common knowledge that Beyoncé is a hard-working performer. While the Renaissance album was an instant classic, the tour took things up a notch. As if she couldn’t blow our minds anymore, she released the mesmerizing Renaissance film. Altogether, this project encapsulates Beyoncé’s talent, perseverance, and impressive leadership qualities. Beyoncé herself is up for a total of five awards at the upcoming 2024 BET Awards. 

Read More: Beyonce’s “RENAISSANCE” Film Premiere Look Reminds Us She’s A Blonde Bombshell

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

The Spider-Man multiverse, or the Spider-Verse has produced back-to-back hits. The second film, Across, became a huge hit across the globe. One could argue that it was the best animated movie of 2023. The continued journey of Miles Morales was boosted by the appearance of numerous other Spider-people. The film also featured a star-studded cast, including Shameik Moore, Brian Tyree Henry, Issa Rae, Mahershala Ali, and Daniel Kaluuya, among others. 

The Little Mermaid

When Halle Bailey was announced to take on the role of Ariel in Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, the internet was split down the middle. Racism reared its ugly head, which caused plenty of controversy at the time. Thankfully, Disney did not budge, and Bailey nailed the role out of the park, which has resulted in a nomination at the upcoming 2024 BET Awards. With an angelic voice able to stop you in your tracks, she carried the soundtrack effortlessly. The movie also fared well critically, with Bailey’s performance receiving great praise. 

The Book Of Clarence

The Book Of Clarence is a hilarious story about a man named Clarence looking to gain fame by pretending to be a new Messiah. The film is set in the Bible days following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Several A-list actors make up the cast movie and provide an entertaining watch. These include LaKeith Stanfield, Anna Diop, David Oyelowo, Omar Sy, Alfre Woodard, Caleb McLaughlin, and many more. At the 2024 BET Awards, LaKeith is also up for the Best Actor award. 

Bob Marley: One Love

The biographical film about the legendary Bob Marley might have received mixed critical reviews, but it resonated well with audiences. Kingsley Ben-Adir starred as the icon, bringing his charm and charisma to the role. Lashana Lynch and James Norton also stole the show as Rita Marley and Chris Blackwell, respectively. Altogether, the cast delivered exceptionally, and the music was also excellently handled. 

The Color Purple

The Color Purple is enough to make you emotional. Now add the voices of Fantasia and Taraji P. Henson, and the tears are guaranteed to fall. The 2024 BET Awards are recognizing this exceptional musical for its amazing script, cast, and also the soundtrack. Notably, Danielle Brooks was a major standout in the movie, earning her another nomination in the Best Actress category. Directed by Blitz Bawaule, The Color Purple is indeed worth the hype. If anything, it amplifies the legacy of the iconic franchise. 

The Equalizer 3

News of the reunion of Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning was met with a great reception. After starring in 2004’s Man On Fire, the pair joined forces two decades later on The Equalizer 3. This action-packed film is the third in the franchise and packed a lot more punch than previous installments. As always, Washington shined in his role as the no-nonsense Robert McCall. Beyond the critical praise, The Equalizer 3 was also a box office hit, earning over $190 million at the box office. 

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Rebel Wilson’s 7 Funniest Movies

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Rebel Wilson is known for her starring role in a ton of comedy movies. However, the comedian, actress, and director can now add “author” to her portfolio. Her memoir, titled Rebel Rising, drops in April and has already been making headlines. Most notably, Wilson revealed that a chapter of the book will be dedicated to a “massive asshole” that she once worked with. She later revealed that she was referring to her The Brothers Grimsby co-star, Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen has since responded with a statement from a spokesperson insisting that Wilson’s claims were “demonstrably false.” Nonetheless, the internet seems to be on Wilson’s side. In celebration of Rebel Wilson’s comedic career, and her upcoming book, here are her seven funniest movies ranked.

Read More: Rebel Wilson Goes Public With Girlfriend

7. Bachelorette 

After the success of her big screen debut, Bridesmaids, Rebel Wilson starred in more marriage-themed movies, specifically Bachelorette. In this movie, she plays the bride, Becky, who invites three friends to her bachelorette party. The night turns disastrous when, in a drug-induced haze, the friends accidentally destroy Becky’s wedding dress. Wilson’s character is sweet and wholesome amidst the chaos of the rest of the movie.

6. Pitch Perfect 2

Wilson managed to steal the show with her laugh-out-loud humor in this movie. Her shenanigans as Fat Amy serve as the inciting incident for this movie, when she accidentally flashes her naked crotch to the audience during a performance for President and First Lady Obama. Pitch Perfect 2 shows the Barden Bellas switching too far from their too-boring performances, to over-the-top shows. The movie also balances heart and humor, as the ladies tackle the A Cappella World Championships. 

Read More: Rebel Wilson Says Her Team Questioned Weight Loss, Wanted Her To Remain “The Funny Fat Girl”

5. How To Be Single

Dakota Johnson joins Wilson in this heartfelt but hilarious ode to the single life. Johnson stars as Alice, a newly single hopeless romantic while Wilson stars as her friend Robin, a party girl who doesn’t believe in love. Evidently, her character brought most of the humor to their dynamic, while Johnson’s brought the heart as the two, along with their friends, navigate love and life in New York City. 

4. Isn’t It Romantic

In the first of her lead roles in movies, Rebel Wilson scored big with the 2019 rom-com, Isn’t It Romantic. She played a woman named Natalie who, after an accident, wakes up in a stereotypical romance movie. Isn’t it Romantic jokingly pokes fun at classic rom-com tropes. Moreover, Natalie’s bewilderment and disdain at them also provides a relatable and funny main character to root for. Finally, Isn’t it Romantic also sees Wilson reunite with her hilarious scene partner from Pitch Perfect, Adam Devine.

3. Bridesmaids 

Bridesmaids was Rebel Wilson’s big Hollywood break and the catalyst for her subsequent fame in comedy movies. She played Brynn, the eccentric English roommate of Kristen Wiig’s Annie. Despite how small her role was, Wilson’s character had some of the funniest scenes in the movie. Bridesmaids follows Annie (Wiig), and a mismatched group chosen to be the bridesmaids at her best friend’s wedding. As one misfortune leads to the next, they all threaten the success of the big day. 

2. Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi’s dark comedy-drama was a huge hit in 2019. It follows a young boy named Jojo who is a member of the Hitler Youth in post-Nazi Germany. When he finds out that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic, he has to confront all that he has known. Rebel Wilson plays Fraulein Rahm, an instructor at the League of German Girls. She delivered one of the most profound lines in the movie when she said she had eighteen children for Germany, highlighting the gender disparity in the country at the time. 

1. Pitch Perfect

Undeniably the most popular roles in any of her movies, Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect was comedic gold! Wilson gave Fat Amy a unique and unforgettable personality, from the self-aware humor to the out-of-pocket lines. Despite not being the lead in the movie, she was the standout. She was the perfect side character to keep audiences laughing while Anna Kendrick’s Beca handled the drama in the lead role. Scenes like her hilarious audition, or her ‘horizontal running’ scene always pull a laugh from viewers.

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Da’Vine Joy Randolph Best Roles

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Da’Vine Joy Randolph is having an excellent 2024. She starred in the Oscar-winning movie The Holdovers in 2023, earning her the award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won several other awards for this role including one from the African American Film Critics Association. She’s been putting in the work in multiple roles since 2013 both on screen and as a voice actor. We’re looking at some of her biggest roles up to this point in her ongoing career.

Dolemite Is My Name (2019)

Da’Vine Joy Randolph is one of several stars in the ensemble cast of Dolemite Is My Name. She plays Lady Reed who was also known as Queen Bee and is based on a real person. Randolph spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the importance of capturing the strength of Lady Reed in her portrayal. She was also well aware of the significance of starring opposite Eddie Murphy, and how important that was. “I quickly understood, I’ve got to meet this man toe-to-toe to the best of my abilities,” Randolph told the outlet. She won several awards for this role including ones from the Black Film Critics Circle and the Black Reel Awards.

Read More: Hip Hop Artists Who Have Won Big At The Oscars

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

Just after finishing shooting her role in Dolemite Is My Name, she went to shoot for The United States Vs. Billie Holiday. This was another role where she had to capture the essence of a real-life person in her role. She plays Holiday’s best friend Roslyn who is quite eccentric in every sense of the word. With different aspects of Roslyn to depict, despite little information on her, Randolph once again had a large responsibility. “That is a huge problem and part of my found drive to continue to tell these stories, so that you can look these people up, so that you can understand their history,” she told Refinery29.

High Fidelity (2020)

Television is another world that Da’Vine Joy Randolph has had a lot of success in. Her role in High Fidelity followed several acclaimed roles in shows like Empire, Veep and This Is Us. In High Fidelity, she played Cherise, a best friend of lead Zoe Kravitz’s character Rob. Cherise was a character many viewers were invested in. They were quite disappointed when they didn’t get a proper conclusion to her story because the show was canceled after one season in 2020. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Randolph shared how she relates to Cherise’s passion. “When she feels comfortable, she can really be in her skin… I think what people are attaching to is that she’s fearless, she knows what she likes, she knows what’s important to her,” she said. She also shared how playing Cherise let her connect her music background to acting.

Read More: Zoe Kravitz Net Worth 2024: What Is The Actress Worth?

On The Come Up (2022)

Da’Vine Joy Randolph stars in this movie directed by an established legend in Black film – Sanaa Lathan. Randolph plays Pooh, the aunt of the lead character Bri, a battle rapper. Pooh encourages her to continue down this path and is also her manager. In an interview with Tom Power, she spoke about how she wanted the role because it would be transformational. She shared she wants people to be surprised by the roles she takes constantly and not wanting to be typecast. Considering the role of Pooh as a masculine-dressing hustler, she accomplished her goal for sure.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

While most of the other roles in this list Da’Vine Joy Randolph has had are drama-based, she’s had time to do some voice acting too. In this movie, she plays Mama Luna, a motherly woman who welcomes Puss In Boots into her house. Mama Luna is a true “cat lady” with many systems in place for her cats’ comfortability which Puss is not used to. Randolph brings a motherly quality to the character through her voice acting alone and some comedic chops, too.

Rustin (2023)

While Da’Vine Joy Randolph only has one scene in this movie, it’s one of the most important roles she’s portrayed. In RUSTIN, she was cast as Mahalia Jackson. Naturally, Randolph got to show off her singing skills. She graces the screen during one of the most important scenes — the moment the March On Washington begins. The fact she was in this seminal moment in the movie is a testament to the ongoing success of her career. In an interview with Tom Power, she also shared how portraying Mahalia Jackson has always been a goal of hers as an actress.

The Holdovers (2023)

Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s role in The Holdovers is the one that captivated the world’s attention. While many of her supporters have been following her career for years, winning an Oscar allowed her to be seen by an even larger audience. In an interview with Brittany Luse for the It’s Been A Minute podcast, she shared how she pulled inspiration from the older women in her life for the role. One example of this had a special sentimental connection as she wore the same type of glasses her Grandmother wore. She also shared how capturing the authenticity of the grief her character was going through was important to her and she achieved this not only through her line delivery but her body language too.

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Faizon Love’s 7 Funniest Movies

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In the world of comedy, Faizon Love is known for his larger-than-life personality and impeccable timing. With a career spanning decades, the actor and comedian stands out as a dynamic force and has etched his name into the annals of comedic greatness. Love has graced the screens with his infectious humor, often leaving audiences in stitches. From the streets of Friday to the North Pole in Elf, Faizon Love has traversed diverse comedic landscapes. Moreover, he’s consistently delivering performances that resonate with audiences of all tastes. Let’s take a look through some of Faizon Love’s funniest movies.

Read More: Faizon Love Says Jay-Z’s “Neck & Wrist” Verse Wasn’t A Diss

7. 3 Strikes

3 Strikes is a 2000 comedy film that follows the misadventures of Rob Douglas, played by Brian Hooks. Rob is a young man who, after violating his parole, faces a mandatory life sentence if he commits a third felony. With just 48 hours to prove his innocence after a series of comical mishaps, Rob navigates the streets of Los Angeles while attempting to avoid trouble and clear his name. Faizon Love takes on the hilarious role of Tone, the neighborhood bully. He adds to the comedic ensemble and the film’s humor, providing memorable moments in the film.

6. Who’s Your Caddy?

Love takes on the role of Big Large in the 2007 comedy film. The film centers on the story of music mogul Christopher “C-Note” Hawkins who tries to join an elite country club. Despite facing resistance from the conservative members of the club, his unconventional and humorous approach challenges the club’s traditions. The film takes a closer look at class, culture clashes, and breaking barriers. Although the film received a bad critical reception, fans greatly welcomed it.

5. Couple’s Retreat

Love joined the ensemble cast in the romantic comedy Couple’s Retreat as the charismatic and witty Shane. The story follows four couples who embark on a tropical vacation to a paradise resort. However, the couples soon discover that the resort’s therapy sessions are mandatory. As the couples are forced to experience these unconventional relationship counseling sessions, they face challenges and hilariously expose the quirks and complexities of their relationships. Love contributed his comedic charm to the group dynamic and added layers of humor to the film.

4. The Replacements

In this sports comedy, Faizon Love played the role of Jamal Jackson, a fearsome but lovable football player. The Replacements revolves around a fictional professional football league during a player’s strike. To keep the season alive, the team’s owner hires a motley crew of replacement players, including a former college quarterback, played by Keanu Reeves, and other unconventional characters. The ragtag team attempts to overcome their differences and lack of experience.

3. Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood

Faizon Love portrayed Rufus in the parody comedy film Don’t Be A Menace. The film, starring Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, is set in South Central, Los Angeles. It follows Ashtray, who returns to his home in the hood after spending some time with his father. The film humorously satirizes and references popular urban films of the time. Furthermore, it delivered a blend of outrageous humor and social commentary.

Read More: Marlon Wayans’ Most Hilarious Roles

2. Elf

Elf is a heartwarming and whimsical Christmas comedy film that revolves around Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole. After discovering his true identity, he embarks on a journey to New York City to find his real father. While navigating through the challenges of fitting into the human world, Buddy continues to spread the holiday cheer with his childlike innocence. Faizon Love brings his comedic flair to the film, and takes on the role of Wanda, a store manager. His interactions with Buddy provided some of the film’s most memorable and humorous moments. In fact, Love has expressed interest in a Black version of the movie.

1. Friday

Faizon Love’s breakout role came in the cult classic movie Friday, where he portrayed the memorable character Big Worm. The film takes us on a comedic journey with Craig and Smokey, played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, as they go through a single day filled with neighborhood antics, run-ins with eccentric characters, and a looming threat from a local drug dealer named Big Worm. The movie is a classic blend of comedy and slice-of-life storytelling that has solidified its place as a cult favorite. Love’s portrayal of the intimidating, yet hilarious drug dealer was quickly considered a fan-favorite! 

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Tim Burton’s 7 Biggest Blockbuster Movies

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As a filmmaker, Tim Burton is renowned for his trailblazing style and techniques. Burton’s complex but distinct style can be described as whimsical with gothic overtones. This unique approach to filmmaking has made him one of the most iconic and influential directors in the industry. Moreover, he’s also become a box office titan, with several commercially successful movies under his belt. As a result, he has been recognized and awarded with numerous honors. 

At the core of his 35-plus-year career are films with surreal and darkly imaginative themes. Tim Burton is also notable for creating unconventional and eccentric characters. Furthermore, his visual aesthetics are often striking, wildly colorful, or starkly contrasted. His characters are often misfits, antiheroes or outcasts who exist on the fringes of society. This visual storytelling is cinematic artistry at its finest, earning him a dedicated fan base. Of the bulk of his impressive works, these seven films dominated at the box office.

7. Batman Returns (1992) 

Tim Burton’s sequel to Batman (1989) remains a cult favorite of those devoted to the franchise. Starring Michael Keaton as the iconic Batman, it had a mixed reception from critics who found it overly violent and depressing. However, many people admired the dark and psychologically nuanced take on the famous superhero, as well as its distinctive visuals. Batman Returns is also known for its iconic cast: Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Catwoman, and Danny DeVito’s portrayal of the Penguin. Overall, the movie had a worldwide box office gross of $266,824,29.

Read More: Michael Keaton Declares “I’m Batman” During Commencement Speech

6. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is one of Tim Burton’s most recent successes in the Box Office. The film, based on the book series of the same name authored by Ransom Riggs, received mixed critical reviews. However, both critics and book fans lauded Eva Green’s portrayal of Miss Peregrine and the film’s dark fantasy aspects. While keeping to the family-friendly tone of the book, Tim Burton went above and beyond the visual aesthetics of the film. As a result, it was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects.

The visuals endeared even more fans of the book to the movie and were a clear reminder of Burton’s penchant for the strange and magical. The film tells the story of Jake Portman (Asa Butterfield). Following the mysterious death of his grandfather, Jake finds strange clues that lead him to a secret home for children with strange abilities. Overall, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children earned $295,986,876 at the box office.

5. Dumbo (2019)

The live-action adaptation of Disney’s Dumbo is the most recent of Burton’s works. While he took certain liberties with the original storyline, what struck many viewers was its emotional resonance and direction.  After the movie’s release, Tim Burton commented on how the movie felt “autobiographical” at multiple points. Dumbo won the 2019 Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film and had a box office gross of over $350 million. The eponymous film tells the story of Dumbo, a baby elephant who gets separated from his mother at the circus. He discovers he is able to fly, thanks to his large, floppy ears and so, embarks on a journey to reunite with his mother. 

4. Planet Of The Apes (2001)

Planet Of The Apes was a remake of the 1981 film adaptation of a sci-fi novel of the same name. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie follows the story of Captain Leo Davidson. On a routine space mission to search for a missing colleague, Davidson encounters an electromagnetic storm. He then crashes into a world run by sentient apes who have enslaved a primitive human race and try to hunt him down. The reception to Planet Of The Apes was mixed, particularly the film’s confusing plot. However, the movie had some amazing makeup effects, and it was the Oscar winner for Best Makeup. It was also quite commercially successful, earning $362,211,740 at the box office.

3. Batman (1989)

Batman (1989) is perhaps the most pivotal movie in the Batman franchise. With the film’s genius direction and cinematography, Tim Burton is credited by many to have revolutionized the superhero genre.  It was well-received by critics for its darker and more nuanced spin on the classic superhero. Particularly well-liked, were Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Batman, and Jack Nicholson’s Joker. Naturally, the movie was a box office blockbuster with a worldwide gross of  $411,348,924. The movie also won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction and helped pave the way for future comic book adaptations.

2. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005)

Employing sheer talent and imagination, Burton made Roald Dahl’s classic story into a classic Tim Burton movie. The film had a dark and whimsical touch, while it delved into the fantasy world of a chocolate factory, starring Johnny Depp as the eccentric confectioner, Willy Wonka. Although there were criticisms that the film lost the original story’s quaint allure, the film’s fantastical production design was well received. It also received positive reviews for Johnny Depp’s performance.  Tim Burton’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory earned over $475 million at the box office. An adaptation of the titular character, titled Wonka, will be released on Dec. 15, starring Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka.

Read More: Johnny Depp Net Worth 2023: What Is The Movie Star Worth?

1. Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Tim Burton brought a unique spin on the already whimsical children’s classic by Lewis Carroll. The movie follows Alice’s return to Wonderland after her first visit. This time around, she’s not a little girl, but a young woman. Burton then utilizes his characters and their CGI co-stars to embark on a long and treacherous, but fantastical journey. Alice In Wonderland received the Academy Awards for Art Direction and Costume Design. The film was also a box office blockbuster, crossing the billion-dollar mark at the box office.

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Marlon Wayans’ Most Hilarious Roles: “White Chicks” To “Don’t Be A Menace”

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Marlon Wayans is a Hollywood titan in both comedy and drama. From serious roles in films like Requiem for a Dream to the slapstick insanity of A Haunted House there isn’t much the legendary comedian can’t tackle. But Wayans’s true calling is in his nuanced comedic performances where he blends manic reactions with sharp-tongued dialogue. Let’s look at seven of his best comedic roles where he flexes those chops.

7. Howard Gordon – The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

The Curse of Bridge Hollow sees Marlon Wayans in a shockingly subdued comedic role. The film follows a family who’ve relocated from Brooklyn to a small New England town, encountering the supernatural. Specifically, Halloween decorations come to life and terrorize the town. Wayans leans into his role as a patriarch with warmth and gravitas but maintains a sense of manic hilarity. The Curse of Bridge Hollow proves that Marlon Wayans can easily bring his comedic sensibilities to a family-friendly affair.

6. Kenny Tyler – The 6th Man (1997)

In The 6th Man, Wayans portrays Kenny Tyler, a rising basketball star. When his brother and teammate, Antoine, suddenly dies on the court, Kenny and his teammates start losing their mojo. Their bad luck soon changes when Antoine appears as a ghost to his brother in the locker room. With the assistance of Antoine’s ghostly perks, Kenny and the team regain their winning streak. Marlon Wayans plays the bereaved brother well, but once he starts to be literally haunted, he turns in a fantastic comedic performance.

5. Seymour Stewart – Mo’ Money (1992)

Mo’ Money follows the exploits of two brothers, Johnny and Seymour Stewart (played but Damon and Marlon Wayans, respectively). The brothers are low-level crooks who get into identity theft and are entangled in a web of criminal intrigue. The film wasn’t a critical darling upon release but was a box-office success and has since garnered cult status. Marlon Wayans delivered hilarious lines with frenetic energy in his first big outing as a supporting actor. He was able to sell the character of a crook whose scheming mind worked almost as fast as his mouth. While his limited screen time wasn’t paramount to the film, he stole every scene he stepped into.

4. Gawain MacSam – The Ladykillers (2004)

The Coen Brothers’ remake of the 1955 film The Ladykillers is an often-overlooked entry in their filmography. This is primarily due to the stellar cast of character actors as a band of misfit scam artists. Marlon Wayans plays Gawain MacSam, a janitor who acts as the inside man for the gang’s big heist in the film. Wayans delivers the Coen Brothers’ dialogue with such confident bluster it sounds like foul-mouthed poetry. He is a highlight in a film packed to the brim with vibrant characters and scenery-chewing performances. Wayans’ take on the character of Gawain vacillates from crass to endearing right up until his final moments in the film.

3. Marcus Copeland/Tiffany Wilson – White Chicks (2004)

Look, White Chicks is not a great film. It hangs the workings of a solid sketch comedy premise on the bones of a feature-length film, with mixed results. However, Marlon Wayans’s insane performance is nothing short of hilarious. Yes, it’s crass and often offensive, but something is charming about it. The film follows two Black FBI agents who go undercover as white women to collar a high-profile drug dealer. The reasons for this ruse are ridiculous and convoluted. Thankfully, the film is anchored by hilarious performances by Marlon and his brother Shawn. They push the limits of good taste with gross-out comedy, as well as commentaries on race and gender that don’t always hit their mark.

2. Shorty – Scary Movie 2 (2001)

The fact that Scary Movie 2 works as well as it does is nothing short of a miracle. The film was written and produced less than a year after the original’s release. You can certainly see those time constraints on the screen, for better and worse. While the film is a mixed bag, a few standouts remain hilarious the whole way through. Most notably, the character of Shorty, who Marlon Wayans reprised from the first film, kills it. Wayans seems just to be doing improv while inhabiting an insane stoner character, but he pulls it off.

1. Loc Dog – Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

Don’t Be Menace… is a parody masterpiece. It’s also a snapshot of the cinema landscape at the time, lovingly poking fun at the deluge of “hood films” in the early nineties. It inspected the tropes found in classic films by directors like John Singleton, Spike Lee, and F. Gary Gray through a Mad Magazine lens. While there are plenty of standout comedic performances here, the most memorable is Marlon Wayans as the street-smart and eccentric Loc Dog. The character contains layers of jokes, from his wardrobe to how he mugs at the camera. Even if Loc Dog isn’t delivering jokes in the scene, he’s getting laughs.