Mel Brooks loves ‘Hidden Figures’?! Julianne Moore’s a ‘Superbad’ fan?! Stars reveal their most surprising NYT movie picks

When The New York Times  recently dropped its list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, it didn’t just spark film buff debates — it also gave readers a peek into which movies actors, directors, and creatives listed as their favorites. And let’s just say, the results are full of surprises.

Who would’ve guessed that comedy legend Mel Brooks — the mind behind Blazing Saddles and The Producers — is a major fan of Hidden Figures? His top 10 also includes Jojo Rabbit, A Beautiful Mind and The Bourne Identity.

Then there’s horror king Stephen King, who proved he has a soft side with Brokeback Mountain on his list, alongside more intense films such as Black Hawk Down, Million Dollar Baby, and Oppenheimer.

When Oscar winner Julianne Moore needs a laugh, it appears she turns to comedies Superbad and The 40 Year-Old Virgin. Rounding out her list was also stylish dramas like Black Swan, Ex Machina, and Lost in Translation.

The list also suggests that Elizabeth Banks and Nathan Lane may want to schedule a movie night as many of their favorite films overlapped like Parasite, Inglourious Basterds and The Grand Budapest Hotel. 

Speaking of unexpected taste, Pamela Anderson — fresh off her acclaimed performance in The Last Showgirl and starring in the upcoming Naked Gun reboot—showed she has quite the range in movies and picked the The Lobster and Amélie for her top 10.

Former teen icon Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink) chose Eighth Grade, a film about an introverted teenager trying to navigate middle school, as one of her favorites along with Get Out, and La La Land

While Brett Goldstein, the Emmy-winning actor and writer know for playing Roy Kent on Ted Lasso, also has some surprising picks including Pixar’s Inside Out and the comedy Bridesmaids. He’s not alone in his love for Inside Out — Bryce Dallas Howard, Simu Liu, Paula Poundstone, Tramell Tillman, and Tony Hale also added the emotional animated film to their list.

And if you’re wondering what movie totally dominated the lists? That would be Parasite. Banks, Lane, Moore, Ringwald, Toni Collette, Sofia Coppola, John Lithgow, Amy Pascal, Naomie Harris, and Jodie Turner-Smith were among the many who listed the 2019 Bong Joon Ho Oscar winner as one of their top films.