Spielberg. Tarantino. The Coen brothers. Nolan. Cameron. Coppola.
Kosinski?
While Joseph Kosinski may lacks the name recognition, let alone the resume of those cinematic giants, he’s still responsible for two of the most all-American films of the past decade. Three if you count a little-seen gem about our brave firefighters.
One film literally <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/steven-spielberg-tells-tom-cruise-saved-hollywood-top-gun-maverick-1235522763/">saved movies</a>, according to none other than Steven Spielberg.
Kosinski’s “Top Gun: Maverick” did more than extend the popular ‘80s smash. It brought movie goers back to theaters following the pandemic. And you’d be hard pressed to find a more patriotic, “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/5K6kkL6powWwpoHy6WFiN2">America [bleep} Yeah</a>” movie over the past decade.
He has a feel for old school Hollywood that could save the industry from itself. Here&#8217;s what makes his film so refreshing.
“Top Gun: Maverick” soared higher than even the 1986 original. Tom Cruise returns to play Maverick, the hotshot aviator staring down a different kind of challenge.
Irrelevancy.
<div id="attachment_943031" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-943031" class="size-large wp-image-943031" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395808441-864x576.jpg" alt="MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MAY 06: Tom Cruise and Joe Kosinski attend the Mexico Press Day of &quot;Top Gun: Maverick&quot; at The Ritz Carlton Hotel on May 06, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395808441-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395808441-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395808441-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395808441.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Hector Vivas/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures</div>
We all know what happened next. Maverick dug back for something extra, defied authority, fell for an old flame and gave young pilots the courage to complete a death-defying mission.
Kosinski didn’t inject woke into a single frame of his film. Nor did he shy away from American excellence, let alone the “need for speed.” His film hearkened back to old-school Hollywood movies with handsome heroes, lovely ladies and a determination that cannot be denied.
Why wouldn’t it earn a whopping $718 million in U.S. theaters alone? It’s the movie audiences were waiting for all along.
And Kosinski just did it again.
“F1” stars Brad Pitt as an aging race car driver hoping for one last shot at glory. He’ll have to make nice with a talented rookie (Damson Idris) and defeat old demons to get back in the winner’s circle.
Sound familiar?
The parallels don’t end there. Both films offer slick, you-are-there visuals, generational tension and a commitment to the American Dream. If you work hard enough, anything is possible.
“F1” raced to $57 million in its opening weekend stateside, the most for any original film this year.
<div id="attachment_943033" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-943033" class="size-large wp-image-943033" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1528168594-864x576.jpg" alt="NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 09: Brad Pitt, star of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, and Joseph Kosinski, director of the upcoming Formula One based movie, Apex, talk on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 09, 2023 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1528168594-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1528168594-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1528168594-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1528168594.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Dan Mullan/Getty Images</div>
Both films feature heroes willing to try new things, to push past conventional boundaries to achieve their dreams. That plays into the entrepreneurial pluck in America’s DNA.
It helps that Kosinski snagged two older movie stars who defy Father Time. Each is given a full-bodied romantic story arc at a time when Hollywood often forgets how much audiences crave that part of the hero’s journey.
Scarlett Johansson co-stars with three handsome co-leads in “Jurassic World Rebirth.” There’s not a hint of romance in the film. And that’s more common than ever.
Cruise and Pitt lean into their movie-star looks, as does Kosinski. He made their characters vulnerable but undeniably masculine. That’s refreshing.
The films deliver crowd-pleasing thrills without guilt or compromise. They also scored a 99 and 97% “fresh” rating, respectively, from general audiences at RottenTomatoes.com.
The irony? Kosinski’s previous film, 2017’s “Only the Brave,” also served up heroism from a decidedly heartland perspective. The fact-based story recalls the men of the Granite Mountain Hotshots who risked it all to defeat an ominous Arizona wildfire.
Josh Brolin, Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly starred in a film that got ignored by audiences at the time. Seen today, Kosinski’s knack for slick visuals and on-screen bravery paved the way for “Maverick.”
<div id="attachment_943035" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-943035" class="size-large wp-image-943035" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-862568666-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: (L-R) James Badge Dale, Josh Brolin, Joseph Kosinski, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Pat McCarty and Taylor Kitsch attend &quot;Only The Brave&quot; New York screening at iPic Theater on October 17, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-862568666-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-862568666-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-862568666-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-862568666.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Mireya Acierto/FilmMagic</div>
The film’s core themes aren’t an accident. The 51-year-old director told a reporter he has a <a href="https://cultmtl.com/2025/06/winning-at-underdog-stories-joseph-kosinski-and-jerry-bruckheimer-on-f1-the-movie-interview/">weakness for underdog stories</a>, another trait of the American Dream.
“What’s it like to be at the back, trying to score a win, rather than winning all the time? Who wins all the time in life? Very few people.”
The director isn’t shy about his love for the U.S. Military, an affection that bloomed while preparing for “Maverick.” He spent some time with <a href="https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/top-gun-maverick-director-calls-the-movies-production-a-dream-come-true.html">real-life soldiers and came away impressed</a>.
“The fact that [servicemen and women] do that for six months or nine months without seeing their families, I was just really blown away by their sacrifice and what they give up to do that job for us…So, I think all of us on the crew walked away with even more respect for all the men and women out there. And that’s another reason we wanted this film to represent them in the best way possible. Because they worked so hard to help us capture all that.”
<div id="attachment_943051" style="width: 830px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-943051" class="size-large wp-image-943051" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395478961-820x576.jpg" alt="SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 04: (L-R) Kristin Kosinski and Joseph Kosinski attend the Global Premiere of &quot;Top Gun: Maverick&quot; on May 04, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)" width="820" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395478961-820x576.jpg 820w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395478961-300x211.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395478961-768x539.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-1395478961.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" />SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA &#8211; MAY 04: (L-R) Kristin Kosinski and Joseph Kosinski attend the Global Premiere of &#8220;Top Gun: Maverick&#8221; on May 04, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)</div>
It’s ironic that the first film to mirror the kind of all-American storytelling “Maverick” offered came from that film’s director. Hollywood traditionally loves to clone successful projects. When “The Blair Witch Project” introduced found-footage storytelling to the masses, we soon saw dozens of lesser copycats.
The “John Wick” franchise paved the way for more hitmen movies.
Yet we haven’t seen a film like “Top Gun: Maverick” for the past three years. Until that film’s director got back to work, that is.
Kosinski may never reach the heights of a Spielberg or Tarantino, and his planned “Maverick” sequel has some mighty big shoes to fill. The director’s knack for knowing what audiences crave and his willingness to deliver sans compromise means we’ll be hearing a lot more from him soon.
He may not stay anonymous for long.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

The European Premiere of F1 ® The Movie

The All-American Director You Don’t Know By Name

Brad Pitt

Entertainment

Hollywood

Movies

Tom Cruise

Top Gun

According to reports, Brad Pitt is in for the “Once Upon a Time In Hollywood” sequel heading to Netflix.
David Fincher is rumored to be directing the project, which was written by Quentin Tarantino, according to <a href="https://theplaylist.net/david-fincher-to-direct-brad-pitt-in-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-sequel-written-by-quentin-tarantino-exclusive-20250401/">The Playlist</a>. Pitt will be reprising his role as Cliff Booth in the as-yet-unnamed follow-up to the 2019 comedy-drama. The actor took home a Best Supporting Actor award for the role that year.
Fincher and Pitt have worked together on some major projects in the past, including “Seven” (1995), “Fight Club” (1999), and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008).
The outlet noted that Tarantino negotiated a deal that turned over ownership of the film copyright from Sony Pictures to him after a set number of years. This announcement has led to speculation that this has since transpired as the sequel is now associated with Fincher’s first-look deal with Netflix.
Last year, Tarantino abandoned what was said to be his tenth and final film, which was called “The Movie Critic.” As The Hollywood Reporter <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/quentin-tarantino-movie-critic-what-happened-1235879479/">noted</a> at the time, multiple rewrites and changes made the story of a writer working for a fictional porn magazine in the late 1970s into something that seemed like a “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” follow-up. Brad Pitt was attached to star, though the project never took off.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It grossed more than $392 million worldwide and received critical acclaim. 
The film follows fading TV actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his loyal stunt double, Cliff Booth (Pitt), as they navigate the changing Hollywood landscape of 1969, which includes tangling with real-life figures like Sharon Tate and the Manson Family. The film culminates in a violent, revisionist climax where Rick and Cliff interrupt the Manson cult’s planned attack, altering the real tragedy forever.
Tarantino, now 62, had previously vowed to retire by age 60.
“I like the idea of giving it my all for 30 years and then saying, ‘OK, that’s enough.’ And I don’t like working to diminishing returns. And I mean, now is a good time because I mean, what even is a motion picture anyway anymore? Is it just something that they show on Apple? That would be diminishing returns,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/director-quentin-tarantino-reveals-one-thing-he-wont-do-in-movies-thats-a-bridge-i-cant-cross">told</a> Deadline in May 2023.
“I mean, and I’m not picking on anybody, but apparently for Netflix, Ryan Reynolds has made $50 million on this movie and $50 million on that movie and $50 million on the next movie for them,&#8221; Tarantino continued. &#8220;I don’t know what any of those movies are. I’ve never seen them. Have you?”

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Brad Pitt To Star In Netflix’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ Sequel: Report

Brad Pitt Set To Star In 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Sequel On Netflix: Report

Netflix

Quentin Tarantino

U.S.

Hollywood star Rob Lowe celebrated all that veterans and first responders have done in a Super Bowl LIX ad that most people probably didn’t see even though it aired during the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
In the 30 second ad — which only aired in local markets in Colorado and Wyoming — Lowe provides a voice over for an ad for the White Heart Foundation, a charity that focuses on providing mental health support for veterans and first responders &#8230; according to its <a href="https://www.whiteheart.org/history">website</a>.
“They’ve had our backs — now let’s have theirs,” Lowe captioned his post. “Veterans and first responders face unique mental health challenges, but they don’t have to face them alone.”
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF3iBypSqIR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
&nbsp;
<div style="flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div>
<div style="flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div>
<div style="height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div>
<div style="flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px;"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent;"></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px;"></div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF3iBypSqIR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by White Heart Foundation (@whiteheart)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
“Our program provides the support, resources, and community they deserve,” he added. “Join us in making a difference and give hope today. Visit Whiteheart.org.”
The ad opens with the message, “It’s a thankless job, you exist to provide hope, but the trauma you face doesn’t just stay on the job,” Lowe said. “It follows you home. This is the sacrifice you make so that others can have hope.”
“But everyone deserves hope. Even heroes,” it added. “Join us as we provide hope for America’s heroes. The White Heart Foundation.”
Throughout the ad, there are numerous images of military honors and medals, juxtaposed with images of fires and accidents. 
It was just one of several patriotic commercials that aired during the big game on Sunday, including a Jeep ad featuring actor Harrison Ford that also got a lot of attention.
“Freedom is for everybody. But it isn’t free. It’s earned,” Ford said in the <a href="https://x.com/MAC_Arms/status/1888947531083567317">ad</a> which aLeo featured images of the American flag. 
“There are real heroes in the world, but not the ones in the movies,” he added. “Real heroes are humble, and they’re not driven by pride … The most sacred thing in life isn’t the path. It’s the freedom to choose it.”
Another <a href="https://x.com/TheCalvinCooli1/status/1888729012358234224">ad</a> features actor Brad Pitt and celebrates America’s history, showcasing an image of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence and talking about celebrating the glory of the game not as individuals but as one. 
“We, the people. Today we come together, not just these players and coaches or these teams and sides. We, all of us, the dreamers, the warriors, the builders and believers,” Pitt said. 
“Brought together to celebrate our greatest game, the game that teaches us what we can achieve when we gather together in a that most American of formations, the one most fundamental to every play call in every game, the huddle,” he added. “Think about it. When we are bound by a common goal, we have reached heights, authored achievements, pushed progress, not alone but together, in ways that have lifted the world and one another.”

Family waving American flags

Rob Lowe Celebrates Veterans And First Responders In Patriotic Super Bowl Ad You Might’ve Missed

Rob Lowe Celebrates Veterans And First Responders In Patriotic Super Bowl Ad You Might've Missed

Celebrities

First Responders

Harrison Ford

Patriotic

Rob Lowe

Super Bowl

Veterans

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/france">French</a> woman has been scammed out of her life savings and even divorced her husband after being duped by AI-generated images of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt">Brad Pitt</a> in the hospital.
The woman, identified as Anne in the interview on the French radio program “Seven to Eight” on the TF1 channel, sent the scammers more than $850,000 over the course of one year. The 53-year-old interior designer explained how she was contacted by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother via social media.
&#8220;It’s a woman like you that my son needs,&#8221; the woman posing as Pitt’s mother said, per <a href="https://people.com/scammers-brad-pitt-swindled-woman-report-8774403">People</a>. Anne claimed to be skeptical at first but eventually believed it was true after being contacted by someone posing as Pitt himself.
&#8220;At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it&#8217;s ridiculous,&#8221; Anne told TF1. &#8220;But I&#8217;m not used to social media and I didn&#8217;t really understand what was happening to me.&#8221;
At first, Anne sent around $10,000 to help pay customs tariffs as requested by the scammer so she could receive gifts from the person posing as Pitt. She later handed over about $798,000, the bulk of her divorce settlement, to help the person she believed was Pitt pay medical bills. The scammer claimed his bank accounts were frozen due to ongoing divorce proceedings with his ex, Angelina Jolie.
&#8220;There are so few men who write you this kind of thing,&#8221; Anne said during the interview. &#8220;I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done.&#8221;
The impersonator also sent AI-generated photos of what looked like Pitt in the hospital to convince Anne she was helping him pay for kidney treatment. The woman figured out she was being conned after seeing news reports that Pitt was in a relationship with Ines De Ramon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A french woman was scammed out of over $800K by someone pretending to be Brad Pitt
• Scammer DM&#39;d her on Instagram and convinced her with AI-generated videos and edited images
• She divorced her husband thinking they would get together
• Scammer convinced her his bank… <a href="https://t.co/VWD3RtvIO3">pic.twitter.com/VWD3RtvIO3</a>
&mdash; Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) <a href="https://twitter.com/CultureCrave/status/1879071191299969148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I ask myself why they chose me to do such harm like this,” Anne told TF1. “I’ve never harmed anyone. These people deserve hell.”
TF1 has taken down the interview after it went viral due to online harassment Anne began receiving from the public for being gullible enough to fall for the scam, The Guardian <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/14/french-tv-show-pulled-ridicule-woman-fell-ai-brad-pitt">noted</a>.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044249231000&amp;usg=AOvVaw15fpgzSqdekU8AKrqgMU6V">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
A rep for Pitt also commented on the story, reiterating that his client does not have social media, making criminals more likely to use his image for scams. 
“It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities,” the rep said. “But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.&#8221;

Scammer Posing As Brad Pitt Cons French Woman Out Of $850,000

Scammer Posing As Brad Pitt Cons French Woman Out Of $850K Claiming To Need A Kidney

Artificial Intelligence

Crime

France

World

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt">Brad Pitt</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/angelina-jolie">Angelina Jolie</a> have reportedly finalized their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/divorce">divorce</a> eight years after their first filing.
The couple was formerly married for two years but were together for 12 and shared six children. Their divorce was contentious from the beginning, including issues about money and custody rights.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, finally signed the divorce papers on Monday.
“More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family,&#8221; Jolie&#8217;s lawyer, James Simon, said in a statement provided to the <a href="https://people.com/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-finalize-divorce-settlement-exclusive-8575385">People</a>. &#8220;This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.&#8221; 
Jolie initially filed for divorce in September 2016 following an alleged incident on a private plane during which she claimed Pitt was abusive to her and their children. The “Ad Astra” actor was not formally charged with any crime.
In 2019, a judge declared Jolie and Pitt were divorced and single but noted that their assets still needed to be split and child custody needed to be agreed upon. During the lengthy legal battle, four of the children have become adults, leaving just two minors in their parents’ care: 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
The couple used a private judge, and most of the divorce settlement details have been kept under wraps.
Jolie and Pitt have also been feuding over the ownership of Chateau Miraval, a French castle and wine brand the couple jointly owned. That legal dispute has nothing to do with the divorce and will continue after this settlement.
The actors first met on the set of their film “Mr. &amp; Mrs. Smith” while the “Fight Club” star was married to Jennifer Aniston. His divorce from the “Friends” actress went through in 2005. Jolie and Pitt started dating afterward and eventually tied the knot in 2014.
They’ve both kept mostly quiet regarding the downfall of their relationship. Last December, Jolie revealed that the stress of the situation had affected her mentally. “My blood sugar goes up and down. I suddenly had Bell’s palsy six months before my divorce,” she said at the time, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/angelina-jolie-said-divorcing-brad-pitt-gave-her-medical-condition-my-body-reacts-very-strongly-to-stress">reported</a>.
Jolie also said she “doesn’t really have a social life” post-split. She’s been less active in Hollywood but has directed several films and starred as Maria Callas in “Maria,” which is currently generating Oscar buzz.

Pitt and Jolie

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Reach Divorce Settlement 8 Years After First Filing

Angelina Jolie

divorce

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt">Brad Pitt</a>’s rep shared his reaction to multiple <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fraud">scammers</a> pretending to be the movie star on social media, which resulted in several victims being tricked out of more than $350,000.
&#8220;It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities, and this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence,” the actor’s spokesperson said, per <a href="https://people.com/brad-pitt-rep-speaks-out-scammers-pose-as-actor-8718169">People</a>.
A recently published press release from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/spain">Spain</a>&#8216;s Ministry of the Interior detailed some of the alleged crimes, including scam artists pretending to be Pitt and initiating online relationships with the victims. These individuals then had the women transfer money into various accounts by claiming they were investing in his upcoming projects, the outlet noted.
The scammers &#8220;managed to make these women believe they had become so close to the well-known American actor that they believed they had a romantic relationship with him,&#8221; the docs said. One woman was duped into transferring around $167,000, while another got bilked out of approximately $195,500.
So far, five total suspects have been arrested in connection with the scam and were charged with crimes including fraud, money laundering, and forgery, per Spanish authorities.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
The victims were targeted through Brad Pitt fan pages. The 60-year-old “Ad Astra” star has no official authorized social media accounts on Instagram, X, Facebook, or TikTok.
Pitt has voiced his disinterest in using social media in the past. He told GQ during a 2014 <a href="https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/brad-pitt-british-gq-november-issue-cover-story-interview">interview</a> that he sees social media as being more trouble than it&#8217;s worth.
“Listen, I see a benefit in it. You could, you know, combat the misconceptions or the misquotes immediately. And if I&#8217;d have had that in my younger days, I&#8217;d have used it,&#8221; the actor said at the time. 
&#8220;Because I felt quite used, and completely misunderstood, and misread, and not given the benefit of the doubt,&#8221; Pitt continued. &#8220;You know, I felt that a lot in my first years. I would have brought some logic to the table, and brought it immediately. But now, at this point, I don&#8217;t want to bother with it.&#8221;
In 2019, the actor <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1058939/here-s-why-brad-pitt-isn-t-joining-instagram-anytime-soon">said</a> he didn’t “see the point” in creating an Instagram account.

Brad Pitt’s Rep Responds To Impersonators Scamming Fans Out Of $350K

Brad Pitt's Rep Responds To Impersonators Scamming Fans Out Of $350K

Fraud

Spain

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt">Brad Pitt</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/several-of-brad-pitts-kids-shun-his-last-name-heres-whats-going-on">Angelina Jolie’s</a> biological daughter Shiloh filed to drop her surname, and that request has been approved, officially dropping Pitt from her name.
On her 18th birthday in May, Shiloh filed to legally change her name from Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, to simply Shiloh Jolie, and the change has been granted, People magazine <a href="https://people.com/angelina-jolie-and-brad-pitt-s-daughter-shiloh-granted-name-change-8697667">reported</a>.
The initial hearing to drop Shiloh’s surname was scheduled for July, but that was postponed due to a problem with the background check, the outlet noted.
&#8220;Unfortunately, the court was unable to complete the background check ahead of today&#8217;s hearing, so the hearing was rescheduled for August 19,&#8221; Shiloh’s lawyer Peter Levine said at the time in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“Everyone undergoing a name-change request needs to have a background check conducted by the court clerk, and because of clerical error, Shiloh&#8217;s hearing has been continued to a new date,” Levine added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter, Shiloh, has been granted her request to legally drop ‘Pitt’ from her surname.
She will now go by Shiloh Jolie. <a href="https://t.co/NCAEBOv7N4">pic.twitter.com/NCAEBOv7N4</a>
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) <a href="https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1825735180218253583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
An anonymous source recently told <a href="https://people.com/brad-pitt-upset-daughter-shiloh-dropped-his-last-name-source-exclusive-8657479">People</a> that the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brad-pitt-admits-on-my-last-leg-of-acting-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">60-year-old actor</a> is “upset” that his daughter filed the name change paperwork on her 18th birthday.
“He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter,” the source said.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1723831707612000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pyrv88A5nsmWM2F2Wr9As">Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.</a>
“The reminders that he’s lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad,” the insider added.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/having-children-saved-me-angelina-jolie-opens-up-about-darker-times-amid-brad-pitt-divorce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jolie&#8217;s</a> daughter filed the name change request in May, only days after it was reported that her sister Vivienne (15) had stopped using “Pitt” as part of her surname as well, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolies-daughter-files-to-drop-pitt-from-surname">reported</a>.
Vivienne, who is listed as a producer assistant for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">Broadway musical</a> “The Outsiders,” uses the last name “Jolie” in the <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1402454/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolies-15-year-old-daughter-credited-as-vivienne-jolie-in-broadway-playbill">Playbill</a>.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/having-children-saved-me-angelina-jolie-opens-up-about-darker-times-amid-brad-pitt-divorce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pitt and Jolie</a> started dating in 2005 following Pitt&#8217;s marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston in 2003. In 2014, the Hollywood superstar couple made things official and tied the knot. However, in 2016, the couple began a contentious divorce with a custody battle that lasted for years afterward. The pair were declared legally single in 2019.
They share six kids: Maddox, 22, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, 20, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15. Jolie had adopted Maddox from Cambodia and Zahara from Ethiopia prior to her relationship with Pitt. He legally adopted them after they got together.
The couple had their first biological child, Shiloh, in 2006. Next they adopted Pax from Vietnam. Finally, Jolie gave birth to twins in 2008.
Amanda Harding contributed to this piece.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/several-of-brad-pitts-kids-shun-his-last-name-heres-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Several Of Brad Pitt’s Kids Shun His Last Name. Here’s What’s Going On.</a>

AFI FEST 2015 Presented By Audi Opening Night Gala Premiere Of Universal Pictures’ “By The Sea” – Arrivals

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s Daughter’s Name Change Approved

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie's Daughter's Name Change Approved

An anonymous source recently told <a href="https://people.com/brad-pitt-upset-daughter-shiloh-dropped-his-last-name-source-exclusive-8657479" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> that Brad Pitt is “upset” that his daughter, Shiloh, filed paperwork on her 18th birthday to drop the “Pitt” from her last name.
“He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter,&#8221; the source said.
&#8220;The reminders that he’s lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad,&#8221; the insider added.
The last name debacle <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolies-daughter-files-to-drop-pitt-from-surname" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made headlines</a> last week as Shiloh used her first official day of adulthood to make a major change to her surname. For anyone who hasn’t been paying attention, this move from the eldest biological child of Pitt and ex-wife Angelina Jolie was unprecedented. But a small amount of research shows that the move lines up with the drama between Pitt and his kids that’s been brewing for years.
<div id="attachment_744747" style="width: 1023px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-744747" class="size-large wp-image-744747" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/Angelina-Jolie-Shiloh-Jolie-1013x576.jpg" alt="Angelina Jolie &amp; Shiloh Jolie. Andrea Staccioli/ Insidefoto/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images" width="1013" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/Angelina-Jolie-Shiloh-Jolie-1013x576.jpg 1013w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/Angelina-Jolie-Shiloh-Jolie-300x171.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/Angelina-Jolie-Shiloh-Jolie-768x437.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/Angelina-Jolie-Shiloh-Jolie-1536x874.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/Angelina-Jolie-Shiloh-Jolie-2048x1165.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px" />Andrea Staccioli/ Insidefoto/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images</div>
Jolie, 48, and Pitt, 60, met on the set of “Mr. &amp; Mrs. Smith” in 2003 and it’s widely reported that their chemistry was undeniable. This was complicated by the fact that Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston at the time. He and Jolie officially became a couple following his divorce in 2005.
Pitt and Jolie became Hollywood’s “it couple” over the next decade. They formally wed in 2014. Together, they share six kids: Maddox, 22, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, Pax, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15.
Jolie had adopted Maddox from Cambodia and Zahara from Ethiopia prior to her relationship with Pitt. He legally adopted them after they got together.
The couple had their first biological child, Shiloh, in 2006. Next they adopted Pax from Vietnam. Finally, Jolie gave birth to twins, Knox and Vivienne, in 2008.
<div id="attachment_747339" style="width: 820px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-747339" class="size-large wp-image-747339" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-137923294-810x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Actress Angelina Jolie (L) and actor Brad Pitt attend The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards broadcast on TNT/TBS at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/WireImage) 22005_008_CP_1140.JPG" width="810" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-137923294-810x576.jpg 810w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-137923294-300x213.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-137923294-768x546.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-137923294.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px" />Christopher Polk/WireImage</div>
And Shiloh isn’t the only one changing her name. Vivienne, who is listed as a producer assistant for the Broadway musical “The Outsiders,” uses the last name “Jolie” in the Playbill. A <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzsJpzar3s1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> of Zahara introducing herself while joining the Mu Pi chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at her university shows the teen introducing herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie.”
What gives? Why are so many of Pitt’s children choosing to separate themselves from the Academy Award winning actor?
Most entertainment insiders believe it can be traced back to an incident that happened when the family flew from Paris to Los Angeles in 2016. The alleged incident became public in 2022 when Jolie filed a complaint claiming that her ex grabbed her by the head and shook her, then choked one of the children who tried to step in and stop him.
The abuse allegations were made shortly after the flight, per <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/10/05/1126925040/brad-pitt-choked-and-his-children-angelina-jolie-says-in-a-court-filing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NPR</a>, but most details were kept hidden until 2022. The New York Times was first to report the verbiage found in the court document.
&#8220;Pitt&#8217;s aggressive behavior started even before the family got to the airport, with Pitt having a confrontation with one of the children. After the flight took off, Jolie approached Pitt and asked him what was wrong,&#8221; the filing says. &#8220;Pitt accused her of being too deferential to the children and verbally attacked her.&#8221;
At another point, the document stated, “He pulled [Jolie] into the bathroom and began yelling at her. Pitt grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her, and then grabbed her shoulders and shook her again before pushing her into the bathroom wall.&#8221;
One of the couple’s children who was only identified as being between the ages of 8 and 15-years-old at the time verbally defended Jolie. This allegedly caused the actor to act out in anger.
&#8220;Pitt lunged at his own child and Jolie grabbed him from behind to stop him. To get Jolie off his back, Pitt threw himself backwards into the airplane&#8217;s seats injuring Jolie&#8217;s back and elbow,&#8221; the filing continued. &#8220;The children rushed in and all bravely tried to protect each other. Before it was over, Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face.&#8221;
The document also accused Pitt of pouring beer on Jolie and both beer and red wine on the children. Jolie said Pitt was &#8220;becoming a monster&#8221; as he &#8220;ranted&#8221; and &#8220;mimicked the behavior of a monster and screamed at them,” per People. She said she and the children were &#8220;shell-shocked&#8221; and &#8220;frozen, scared and didn&#8217;t know what to do.&#8221;
The actress claimed that Pitt’s behavior made her feel &#8220;like a hostage.&#8221; NPR noted that criminal charges “would not be pursued due to several factors.”
The “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood” actor denied the abuse claims via his rep. An initial statement in 2022 classified the allegations as “completely untrue.”
The rep later amended the statement, admitting Pitt displayed inappropriate behavior but said Jolie was blowing it out of proportion. “(Jolie’s) story continues to evolve each time she tells it. Brad has accepted responsibility for what he did but will not for things he didn’t do,” the new statement <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/entertainment/angelina-jolie-abuse-brad-pitt-lawsuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
“He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation,” Pitt’s attorney Anne Kiley said at the time. “Thankfully, the various public authorities she has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions. Brad will continue to respond in court as he has consistently done.”
<div id="attachment_747349" style="width: 781px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-747349" class="size-large wp-image-747349" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-1349540100-771x576.jpg" alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Knox Jolie-Pitt attend the &quot;The Eternals&quot; UK Premiere at BFI IMAX Waterloo on October 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)" width="771" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-1349540100-771x576.jpg 771w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-1349540100-300x224.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-1349540100-768x574.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/GettyImages-1349540100.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px" />Karwai Tang/WireImage</div>
It’s not just Pitt’s daughters seemingly shunning their dad. The couple’s oldest son Pax also reportedly shared his opinion, allegedly called his adoptive father a “world class a**hole” and “f***ing awful human being” in a Father’s Day post on his private Instagram account in 2020, per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12744641/Angelina-Jolie-Brad-Pitt-adopted-son-Pax-dad-despicable.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Mail</a>.
“You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person,” the social media account holder wrote over a picture of Pitt accepting the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2020 for his role in “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood.”
“You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence,” the post said. “You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell. You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want, but the truth will come to light someday.”
The drama continues as Pitt and Jolie battle for custody over their two remaining minor children and amid a messy controversy over the ownership of their French vineyard, Chateau Miraval. The former couple was declared legally single back in 2019, but their divorce is still ongoing until those two issues are settled.

F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas – Qualifying

Several Of Brad Pitt’s Kids Shun His Last Name. Here’s What’s Going On.

Several Of Brad Pitt's Kids Shun His Last Name. Here's What's Going On.

actors

Children

family

Readers Pass

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt">Brad Pitt</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/angelina-jolie">Angelina Jolie</a>’s daughter Shiloh filed a legal request to have the “Pitt” dropped from her surname, per <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/05/30/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-daughter-shiloh-drop-pitt-last-name/">TMZ</a>.
Shiloh filed the petition on her 18th birthday, May 27, the outlet noted. The teen requested the name change just days after it was publicized that her sister, Vivienne, 15, had stopped using “Pitt” as part of her surname as well. 
Vivienne, who is listed as a producer assistant for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">Broadway musical</a> “The Outsiders,” uses the last name “Jolie” in the <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1402454/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolies-15-year-old-daughter-credited-as-vivienne-jolie-in-broadway-playbill">Playbill</a>.
Several outlets reported that the former couple’s other children also aren’t using the last name Pitt. Shiloh’s petition is the first legal document filed to formally request the change. 
Pitt, 60, and Jolie, 48, began a contentious divorce in 2016 after two years of marriage and 12 years together. Jolie had adopted Maddox from Cambodia and Zahara from Ethiopia prior to her relationship with Pitt. He adopted them legally after they got together. 
The couple had their first biological child, Shiloh, in 2006. Next they adopted Pax from Vietnam. Finally, Jolie gave birth to twins, Knox and Vivienne, in 2008.
Court filings obtained by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/movies/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-lawsuit.html">The New York Times</a> indicated that Jolie accused Pitt of domestic violence following a private flight from France to Los Angeles in 2016. The filing alleged that Pitt “choked one of the children and struck another in the face” and “grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her.” 
It also said the Academy-Award-winning actor “poured beer on Jolie” and “poured beer and red wine on the children.”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1717170739895000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Ps3XbgPF2rL6bDpL8t5Cu">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Pitt denied any wrongdoing and refuted the allegations.
Pax also allegedly called his adoptive father a “world class a**hole” and “f***ing awful human being” in a Father’s Day post on his private Instagram account in 2020, per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12744641/Angelina-Jolie-Brad-Pitt-adopted-son-Pax-dad-despicable.html">The Daily Mail</a>. 
“You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person,” the social media account holder wrote over a picture of Pitt accepting the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2020 for his role in “Once Upon a Time&#8230; In Hollywood.”
“You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence,” the post said. “You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell. You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want, but the truth will come to light someday.”

Angelina Jolie & Shiloh Jolie

Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s Daughter Files To Drop Pitt From Surname

Woke bylaws have dramatically changed Hollywood’s product.
Raunchy comedies are out, with “Ricky Stanicky” being an exception relegated to Amazon Prime. Old-school rom-coms went the way of the fax machine, with the mediocre “Anyone But You” over-performing with love-starved patrons.
Yet Hollywood’s new moral order has no qualms about making hitmen (and women) the newest trend.
Yes, many recent films ask us to empathize with stone-cold killers. They murder for a living, earn fabulous paychecks, and often live to see the end credits roll. And they anchor a shocking number of films. Let’s tally up some recent examples.
<ul>
<li>Brad Pitt in “Bullet Train” (2022)</li>
<li>The “John Wick” franchise – plus “The Continental,” a new Peacock series and the upcoming “Ballerina” spinoff with Ana de Armas.</li>
<li>Michael Fassbender in “The Killer” (2023)</li>
<li>“The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017) and its sequel, “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” (2021)</li>
<li>Mary Elizabeth Winstead in “Kate” (2021)</li>
<li>Jessica Chastain in “Ava” (2020)</li>
<li>Sasha Luss in “Anna” (2019)</li>
<li>Michael Keaton, Maggie Q in “The Protégé” (2021)</li>
<li>Glen Powell in “Hit Man” (June 2024)</li>
<li>Taraji P. Henson in “Proud Mary” (2018)</li>
<li>Three “Equalizer” films starring Denzel Washington</li>
</ul>
Some of these films are played for laughs. Pitt’s paid killer brings a comic, Zen-like approach to his craft. Most movies make it clear we’re meant to root for the assassins. They’re almost always smart, shrewd, and good at their work.
<div id="attachment_710089" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-710089" class="size-large wp-image-710089" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-864x576.jpg" alt="Brad Pitt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in &quot;Bullet Train.&quot; 87North/Columbia Pictures/Sony. 2022." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/bullettrainpitt.jpg 2002w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />87North/Columbia Pictures/Sony. 2022.</div>
This month, Michael Keaton directs himself in “Knox Goes Away,” the tale of a veteran hit man forced into retirement by dementia. Keaton’s character, John Knox, attempts to “cash out” while he can, hoping to funnel his money to his estranged family members.
It’s Keaton’s second time behind the camera. His directorial debut, 2008’s “The Merry Gentleman,” also found Keaton playing a hit man with a heart of gold.
What’s happening?
Antiheroes are all the rage in Hollywood. Blame Tony Soprano and Walter White. The deeply flawed figures at the heart of “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad,” respectively, taught us to engage with damaged souls.
The hitmen genre flows effortlessly from there.
<div id="attachment_710103" style="width: 811px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-710103" class="size-large wp-image-710103" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-462616463-801x576.jpg" alt="Actors Aaron Paul (L) and Bryan Cranston (R), pose in the press room after Cranston won Best Actor in a TV drama and &quot;Breaking Bad&quot; won Best Series - Drama, at the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, January 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)" width="801" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-462616463-801x576.jpg 801w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-462616463-300x216.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-462616463-768x552.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-462616463.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px" />ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images</div>
It helps that the genre taps into our collective bloodlust. Few films choreograph death and destruction with the majesty of the “John Wick” saga. Every film is a ballet of bloodshed.
Other stories guarantee big, bold action sequences, the kind that play well in international markets.
Ka-ching!
These films also tap into our hunger for redemption. Yes, we enjoy seeing fathers reunite with their children on screen, or addicts come clean after years of hard living. What’s more powerful than an assassin realizing his line of work has crushed his soul?
Keaton’s character in “Knox Goes Away” knows he’s dying, but he’ll use his last days to repair some of the damage done to his son and ex-wife. The screenplay also makes clear that the targets of his handiwork essentially had it coming.
No judge. No jury. Just an execution.
<div id="attachment_710087" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-710087" class="size-large wp-image-710087" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/keatonknoxgoesaway-1024x512.jpg" alt="Michael Keaton in &quot;Know Goes Away.&quot; Brookstreet Pictures. IMDB. 2024." width="1024" height="512" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/keatonknoxgoesaway-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/keatonknoxgoesaway-300x150.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/keatonknoxgoesaway-768x384.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/keatonknoxgoesaway-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/keatonknoxgoesaway-2048x1024.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Brookstreet Pictures. IMDB. 2024.</div>
Hollywood also recognizes something about the zeitgeist. American audiences are sick of seeing assailants walk after committing heinous attacks. Soft-on-crime policies permeate big cities, and to see deeply flawed people kill said thugs is cathartic.
Too many stores now lock up the essentials for fear of even more theft.
The fascinating part of this cultural shift circles back to the woke movement. Today’s movies can’t luxuriate in the “male gaze” without triggering cries of “The Patriarchy!” The few R-rated comedies that traffic in “problematic” themes get pummeled by mainstream movie critics. Reviewers pounced on Amy Schumer’s “Snatched” for casting minorities <a href="https://ew.com/tv/2018/05/05/bill-maher-amy-schumer-i-feel-pretty-critics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as the villain.</a>
Many classic movies couldn’t be made today thanks to the new, progressive mindset.
Yet woke scolds won’t go near the hit man genre. No outrage. No calls for their cultural banishment. No hashtag campaigns designed to snuff them out.
The same isn’t true, ironically, for vigilante films.
When Bruce Willis revived the classic “Death Wish” franchise in 2018, critics howled in protest. Even the film’s trailer <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4761804/Bruce-Willis-remake-Death-Wish-labeled-racist-alt-right.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">triggered</a> cries of racism and fascism.
How is Paul Kersey’s one-man war on crime different than John Wick slaughtering literally hundreds over the course of that franchise?
It isn’t. Actually, Wick’s body count is far worse. So is his moral compass.
Jennifer Garner fared far better with the similarly themed 2018 film “Peppermint.” Social critics pulled most of their punches, probably because the vigilante <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/peppermint-trailer-media-hypocrisy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in question</a> was a woman.
<div id="attachment_710075" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-710075" class="size-large wp-image-710075" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-1024920108-864x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 28: Jennifer Garner attends the premiere of STX Entertainment's 'Peppermint' at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 on August 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-1024920108-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-1024920108-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-1024920108-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/03/GettyImages-1024920108.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Neilson Barnard/Getty Images</div>
That reminds us how hypocritical the woke movement remains. Social justice types rage against “ageist” attacks on President Joe Biden but stood down when Will Ferrell flirted with an Alzheimer’s <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/will-ferrells-reagan-script-actual-888804/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comedy based on President Ronald Reagan</a>.
They tried to cancel country singer Morgan Wallen’s career after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-morgan-wallen-first-interview-since-n-word-video-deplatforming-i-can-only-come-tell-my-truth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">uttered the “n-word”</a> in a private conversation caught on tape. Yet they rally behind First Son Hunter Biden, a man who <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/06/10/mainstream-media-ignores-lewd-hunter-biden-n-word-texts-to-his-lawyer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repeatedly</a> used the same word in text messages.
The woke Left will rage against a comedian for telling the “wrong” joke or a comedy for telling so-called <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/mar/17/get-hard-review-will-ferrell-adds-to-slew-of-gay-panic-comedies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“gay panic”</a> jokes. If the hero snuffs out someone without a trial they look the other way.
Heck, make the assassin female and they might dub it “empowering.”
There’s little chance Hollywood will slow the flow of assassin-themed films. Some still make serious coin, and crime remains out of control across the country.
It’s not logical, but a part of us feels safer with people like John Wick meting out justice. Hollywood’s topsy-turvy moral compass doesn’t seem to mind.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

eq3Picture1

Hollywood’s Obsession With Hitmen Movies

Hollywood's Obsession With Hitmen Movies

Breaking Bad

Denzel Washington

Jennifer Garner

Keanu Reeves

Michael Keaton

Actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/angelina-jolie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angelina Jolie</a> discussed how she believes feelings of stress during her divorce from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brad Pitt</a> led to her developing the medical condition known as Bell’s palsy.
“My blood sugar goes up and down. I suddenly had Bell’s palsy six months before my <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/divorce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">divorce</a>,” the 48-year-old mom of six told <a href="https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/film/angelina-jolie-atelier-maria-callas-cf62ff38" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> in an interview published Tuesday. Jolie had previously discussed recovering from the condition during a Vanity Fair <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/angelina-jolie-cover-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> in 2017 but didn&#8217;t reveal what she believed to be the catalyst. 
According to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a>, Bell&#8217;s palsy is “a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face. In most cases, the weakness is temporary and significantly improves over weeks. The weakness makes half of the face appear to droop.” The exact cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown. 
Jolie also told the outlet she doesn’t “really have a social life” in Los Angeles after everything she’s been through, including the media scrutiny. “I wouldn’t be an actress today,” the actress said. “When I was starting out, it wasn’t as much of an expectation to be as public, to share so much.”
Jolie and Pitt announced their divorce in 2016. They had been together for 12 years and married for two at that point and shared both biological and adopted children together. Their divorce kicked off a bitter battle over both shared property and custody of their six kids: Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, and twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, 15.
The “Eternals” star is notoriously private about her personal life, saying only that she and her kids, “had to heal” following the divorce. “There are things we needed to heal from,” Jolie repeated while speaking with WSJ.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Jolie also described her kids as her friends. “They are the closest people to me and my life, and they’re my close friends,” the actress said. “We’re seven very different people, which is our strength.”
Jolie told the outlet that despite being born in Los Angeles, she’s anxious to leave. The “Maleficent” star said she&#8217;d rather be spending time in Cambodia, which is where her adopted son Maddox is from and where she directed the 2017 film “First They Killed My Father.” 
“It’s part of what happened after my divorce. I lost the ability to live and travel as freely. I will move when I can,” Jolie said. “I grew up in quite a shallow place. Of all the places in the world, Hollywood is not a healthy place. So you seek authenticity.”

Angelina Jolie Said Divorcing Brad Pitt Gave Her Medical Condition: ‘My Body Reacts Very Strongly To Stress’

Angelina Jolie Said Divorcing Brad Pitt Gave Her Medical Condition: 'My Body Reacts Very Strongly To Stress'

Angelina Jolie opened up about how having children &#8220;saved&#8221; her from being pulled into what she called &#8220;darker&#8221; places amid her very public divorce from actor Brad Pitt and the custody battle that ensued for years afterward.
During the 48-year-old actress&#8217; interview for <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/angelina-jolie-digital-cover-interview-atelier-jolie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vogue&#8217;s</a> digital cover story, the &#8220;Eternals&#8221; star and mom of six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/27/angelina-jolie-my-kids-and-i-had-a-lot-of-healing-to-do-after-brad-pitt-split/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said focusing</a> on being a parent kept her from going &#8220;under&#8221; personally because she &#8220;wanted to live for them.&#8221; Jolie and the 59-year-old actor share six kids together: Maddox, 22, Pax, 19, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15.
&#8220;I was 26 when I became a mother,&#8221; Jolie said. &#8220;My entire life changed. Having children saved me and taught me to be in this world differently.&#8221;
&#8220;I think, recently, I would&#8217;ve gone under in a much darker way had I not wanted to live for them,&#8221; she added. &#8220;They&#8217;re better than me, because you want your children to be.&#8221;
&#8220;Of course I&#8217;m the mother, and hopefully that safe place for them and that stability,&#8221; the superstar actress continued. &#8220;But I&#8217;m also the one that they laugh at and I see them taking over so many different aspects of our family.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Angelina Jolie started taking less film roles “seven years ago, only taking jobs that didn’t require long shoots.&quot; Why? &quot;We had a lot of healing to do.&quot;
“I feel a bit down these days. I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade, in a way.&quot;<a href="https://t.co/uiWKmmr5dv">https://t.co/uiWKmmr5dv</a>
&mdash; Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1707060528122880218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The &#8220;Lara Croft: Tomb Raider&#8221; star also admitted she&#8217;s struggled lately to still understand &#8220;who I am at 48. I guess I&#8217;m in transition as a person.&#8221;
&#8220;I feel a bit down these days. I don&#8217;t feel like I&#8217;ve been myself for a decade, in a way, which I don&#8217;t want to get into,&#8221; she added, noting that &#8220;seven years ago&#8221; she started &#8220;only taking jobs that didn&#8217;t require long shoots.&#8221;
&#8220;We [as a family] had a lot of healing to do,&#8221; the Hollywood star continued. &#8220;We&#8217;re still finding our footing.&#8221;
Pitt and Jolie first met on the set of their film &#8220;Mr. &amp; Mrs. Smith&#8221; while the &#8220;Fight Club&#8221; star was married to Jennifer Aniston. His divorce to the &#8220;Friends&#8221; star went through in 2005. Jolie and Pitt started dating and finally tied the knot in 2014.
In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce from the &#8220;Troy&#8221; star and the two were legally declared single in 2019. Two years later, they were finally granted joint custody of their six kids. However, one month later, the judge&#8217;s decision was thrown out and currently remains unresolved, Page Six noted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brad-pitt-admits-on-my-last-leg-of-acting-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brad Pitt Admits &#8216;On My Last Leg&#8217; Of Acting Career</a>

‘Having Children Saved Me’: Angelina Jolie Opens Up About ‘Darker’ Times Amid Brad Pitt Divorce

‘Having Children Saved Me’: Angelina Jolie Opens Up About 'Darker' Times Amid Brad Pitt Divorce

kids

Marriage

Menu