Why Did Joan Rivers Change Her Name? Melissa Rivers Opens Up About the Family Mystery Victoria EdelFri, June 26, 2026 at 9:35 PM UTC 2 Melissa Rivers (left) and Joan Rivers in 2014Credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Melissa Rivers opened up in a new video about the mystery of why her mother, Joan Rivers, changed her name Joan was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky Melissa also changed her name to Rivers after initially using the last name of her father, Edgar Rosenberg Joan Rivers changed her name decades ago, and her daughter Melissa isn&x27;t exactly sure where her new last name came from.

Why Did Joan Rivers Change Her Name? Melissa Rivers Opens Up About the Family Mystery

Victoria EdelFri, June 26, 2026 at 9:35 PM UTC

Melissa Rivers (left) and Joan Rivers in 2014Credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty -

Melissa Rivers opened up in a new video about the mystery of why her mother, Joan Rivers, changed her name

Joan was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky

Melissa also changed her name to Rivers after initially using the last name of her father, Edgar Rosenberg

Joan Rivers changed her name decades ago, and her daughter Melissa isn't exactly sure where her new last name came from.

Melissa, 58, opened up about her mom's chosen last name in a video she posted to Instagram on June 25.

“A lot of people ask me where the name Rivers comes from. And I'm going to tell you the true and official story,” Melissa said.

The answer? “We're not really sure,” Melissa admitted. According to Melissa, her mom Joan, who died in 2014 at the age of 81, once told her, “It was the last name of one of her managers, or that one of her managers suggested it. And it just sounded good and stuck. So there's the big story.”

Joan Rivers in 1971Credit: CBS via Getty

Joan herself told the story of why she changed her name from Joan Alexandra Molinsky to Joan Rivers in a 2007 interview with the Television Academy.

“I changed it to Joan Rivers because I wanted to be an actress,” she said. Her friends would spend “hours” thinking about changing their own names.

“I thought, ‘Just get me some work, I'll change my name,' ” she said. “The first agent that sent me out was a man named Larry Rivers and I said, ‘Okay I'm Joan Rivers.' ”

According to Joan, that “got him so scared he never sent me out again.”

Still, with her new name, Joan began working as an actress, appearing in an off-Broadway play called Driftwood alongside Barbra Streisand. By the early ‘60s, Rivers was performing at various comedy clubs and her acting career was mostly forgotten. She eventually became one of the defining comedians of the late 20th century. She won Emmy and Grammy Awards and, in later years, became known especially for her red carpet interviews. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in 1994's Sally Marr ... and Her Escorts.

As for Melissa, her legal name is Melissa Rosenberg, after her father, producer Edgar Rosenberg. In 1990, in her early 20s, she decided to take her mother's surname. “Everyone knows my last name is Rosenberg and I think that it's time my mom has gotten a lot of credit for what she has done,” she said on an episode of Geraldo, per UPI.

Edgar died by suicide in 1987, at age 62, and Joan and Melissa barely spoke in the year after he died. But they ultimately repaired their bond. "It took therapy. It took time," she told PEOPLE in 2024. "I went into a full crisis situation where I ended up in an abusive relationship, and when I called her for help, she came through. It took another major crisis for us to heal from the other crisis." She said that she and her mom lent their names to suicide prevention at a time when people thought it was “still shameful.”

Joan Rivers (left) and Melissa Rivers in 2012Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/E/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

In June 2018, Melissa opened up to PEOPLE about how her son, Cooper, is Joan's greatest legacy.

“The best legacy that I can give my mother — that everyone can give their parent — is to raise a good and decent child,” she said. “One who gives back, and has a clear understanding of the understanding of not just being good, but doing good, as well. Cooper is my mom's greatest legacy.”

She said that she and Cooper, 26, often talk about “our family legacy.”

“And I feel like our legacy is to live a life that you can be proud of on many levels. Giving your best professionally and personally. Giving back to others,” she said. “Cooper and I always try to remember how fortunate we are, just by rite of birth. We can never lose sight of that. We're not entitled to anything. We work for what we have. That's how my mother lived.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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Why Did Joan Rivers Change Her Name? Melissa Rivers Opens Up About the Family Mystery Victoria EdelFri, June 26, 2026 at 9:35 P...

New Photo - The Incredibles director Brad Bird reveals why he didn't want to return to Pixar for his new movie

&34;They have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane,&34; he said of his new film &34;Ray Gunn.&34; The Incredibles director Brad Bird reveals why he didn't want to return to Pixar for his new movie &34;They have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane,&34; he said of his new film &34;Ray Gunn.&34; By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at .

"They have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane," he said of his new film "Ray Gunn."

The Incredibles director Brad Bird reveals why he didn't want to return to Pixar for his new movie

"They have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane," he said of his new film "Ray Gunn."

By Wesley Stenzel

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The Incredibles director Brad Bird reveals why he didn't want to return to Pixar for his new movie

&34;They have their lane, and I can get down with that lane, but I don't see this movie going down that lane,&34; he said o...

New Photo - Supergirl scribe teases her lost DC movie for Sasha Calle: 'It could not have been more different'

Screenwriter Ana Nogueira explains how that past treatment helped her craft this summer's event movie. Supergirl scribe teases her lost DC movie for Sasha Calle: 'It could not have been more different' Screenwriter Ana Nogueira explains how that past treatment helped her craft this summer's event movie. By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

Screenwriter Ana Nogueira explains how that past treatment helped her craft this summer's event movie.

Supergirl scribe teases her lost DC movie for Sasha Calle: 'It could not have been more different'

Screenwriter Ana Nogueira explains how that past treatment helped her craft this summer's event movie.

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Two depictions of Supergirl from different portrayals side by side

Milly Alcock in 'Supergirl (2025); Sasha Calle in 'The Flash (2023). Credit:

Warner Bros.(2)

- Prior to this summer's *Supergirl*, screenwriter Ana Noguiera was hired to write one for the DCEU and Sasha Calle.

- "It could not have been more different," Noguiera says.

- The writer explains how that previous treatment helped her craft the Milly Alcock-led movie.

Before there was *Supergirl*, there was *Supergirl*.

Prior to the Milly Alcock-led film opening in theaters this weekend, the previous regime at DC hired screenwriter Ana Nogueira to work on a Supergirl movie that didn't materialize. It was for the DCEU, the franchise that began with 2013's *Man of Steel* with Henry Cavill and ended with 2023's *Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom* with Jason Momoa.

The project was meant for actress Sasha Calle, who made her debut as Superman's cousin in 2023's *The Flash*. "It was completely different," Noguiera tells **. "I don't think I can even say what it was about, but it could not have been more different."

The tweaks were vast, ranging from character to tone to mythology. "Everything," the scribe emphasizes. "Nothing transferred over from one to the other [Supergirl movie], which is crazy."

SASHA CALLE as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl

Sasha Calle's Supergirl in 'The Flash'. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Comics

When director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran were then tapped to lead the new era of DC Studios and craft a completely new universe of interconnected entertainment, Nogueira thought her time in the house of heroes was over. It wasn't. Her duties reoriented around a new Supergirl movie, one that would fit into their world of the DCU, which now includes 2024's *Creature Commandos* animated series, 2025's *Superman* with David Corenswet, and *Peacemaker* season 2 with John Cena.

*Supergirl* with Alcock as Kara Zor-El is now based on the famed *Woman of Tomorrow* comic book arc by writer Tom King and artist Bilquis Evely. While partying on planets that orbit red suns, the cousin of Superman is approached by a young alien girl, Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), who seeks a warrior to avenge her slaughtered family.

'Supergirl' star Milly Alcock says her cape was made with material from Christopher Reeve's 'Superman' costume

Milly Alcock in 'Supergirl'; Christopher Reeve in 'Superman'

David Corenswet tells photographer to back off Milly Alcock at 'Supergirl' premiere

Milly Alcock and David Corenswet attend the SUPERGIRL World Premiere on June 22, 2026 in New York City.

Despite her initial disinterest, Kara develops a personal stake when Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), the one who killed Ruthye's parents and brother, poisons her dog Krypto. Now, Supergirl has only three days to find him, grab the antidote, and save her lasting family tie to Krypton.

Momoa also re-enters the DC fold as a different character, Lobo, a heavy-metal intergalactic bounty hunter.

Regarding that earlier *Supergirl* treatment, which is now destined to collect dust in a drawer somewhere, "It was useful to me," Noguiera says. "There is a real thing when you're doing this, you have to really onboard yourself on things like power set, what these characters are capable of, what a fight would look like, how strong you want them to be. How strong is Superman? He's as strong as the writer needs him to [be]. Do you need them to throw a planet? Then you can do it. Do you need him to get the s--- kicked out of him? So that was really useful, that I knew that power set for [Supergirl] in and out."

Milly Alcock as SUPERGIRL

Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El in 'Supergirl'.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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Calle had high hopes for her future as Supergirl, but after the new DC leadership took over and Alcock was cast, the actress expressed only gratitude for the opportunity.

"I'm so grateful," she told EW in January 2026. "Someone mentioned today the video when [*The Flash* director] Andy Muschietti calls me and tells me that I got the job. And I still [remember], the feeling was so surreal, you know? And it's taken me to a place where I get to work now with Ben [Affleck] and Matt [Damon], Teyana [Taylor], Catalina [Sandino Moreno], Steven [Yeun], Kyle [Chandler]."

Calle worked with that list of actors on the Netflix film *The Rip* (2026).

"I'm so, so, so utterly grateful that it's brought me into this world where I can make art," she continued. "I loved it."

*Supergirl* will open in theaters this weekend.

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Supergirl scribe teases her lost DC movie for Sasha Calle: 'It could not have been more different'

Screenwriter Ana Nogueira explains how that past treatment helped her craft this summer's event movie . Supergirl scribe teases h...

Even $100 more expensive, Apple&x27;s MacBook Neo still offers great bang for your buck Steven Tweedie,Dominick ReuterSat, June 27, 2026 at 9:04 AM UTC 0 A shopper tries out the MacBook Neo, which now costs $699 — or $599 for students — after Apple's memoryrelated price hikes.credit should read LONG WEI/ Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images Apple&x27;s MacBooks now cost $100 to $300 more after memory shortagerelated price increases. While the hikes could dissuade shoppers from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineups, the Neo remains a solid value.

Even $100 more expensive, Apple's MacBook Neo still offers great bang for your buck

Steven Tweedie,Dominick ReuterSat, June 27, 2026 at 9:04 AM UTC

A shopper tries out the MacBook Neo, which now costs $699 — or $599 for students — after Apple's memory-related price hikes.credit should read LONG WEI/ Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images -

Apple's MacBooks now cost $100 to $300 more after memory shortage-related price increases.

While the hikes could dissuade shoppers from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineups, the Neo remains a solid value.

The Neo offers Apple's premium build quality and app ecosystem — plus students can get it for $599.

Apple's entry-level laptop is getting a price hike, but a look at the numbers shows it's still a very competitive deal.

The Cupertino-based computer company said this week it was raising prices on many of its MacBooks by about 20% to offset rising memory chip costs.

For higher-end models, that works out to a $300 increase, which could prompt some buyers to second-guess their need for a 14-inch MacBook Pro.

But Apple's initial bargain pricing for the Neo is likely to take a lot of the sting out of its $100 hike.

Now at $699 (or $599 for students), the Neo packs considerable punch when compared to about any other similarly priced laptop on the market right now.

Many users probably don't need the M5 processing power of a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro in their daily lives while browsing the internet or streaming TV and music. So, they probably won't notice the trade-offs Apple made to get costs down. The computer is built with surplus iPhone chips, which are more than powerful enough for many tasks.

The MacBook Neo sports several design features of its pricier siblings.Bloomberg/Getty Images

What they will surely notice, however, is Apple's iconic industrial design, including the Neo's aluminum chassis that feels more expensive than it is. Rival $700 laptops from Lenovo, Dell, and HP tend to be made of plastic, and it can show.

The Neo features a 13-inch display, side-firing speakers, and up to 16 hours of battery life. When it was released in March,YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee called it "potentially Apple's most disruptive product in the last 10-plus years."

Apple is also making a reasonably safe bet that the stickiness of its operating system — such as its coveted blue iMessage bubbles — will convince iPhone and iPad users to ride it out through this market turbulence. Apple tech is made to work seamlessly across its devices.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said in a note that Apple's focus on higher-end customers gives the company more room to raise prices to solve this problem rather than sacrifice hardware performance.

Perhaps more than anything else, there's the fact that Apple is not alone in dealing with rising supply costs.

Competitors like Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Microsoft have already raised laptop prices by a similar percentage in recent months, and UBS economist Alan Detmeister said in a June note that it might not end there.

Apple's move "might prompt other consumer computer retailers to raise their prices," he said.

Any way you slice it, the Neo is still a pretty good deal.

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Even $100 more expensive, Apple's MacBook Neo still offers great bang for your buck

Even $100 more expensive, Apple&x27;s MacBook Neo still offers great bang for your buck Steven Tweedie,Dominick ReuterSat, ...

Bad investing advice and social media scams drove 2 Gen Z investors to start their own trading platform Samuel O&x27;BrientSat, June 27, 2026 at 9:30 AM UTC 0 Photo 1: Ivan Patriki; Photo 2: Carson Hein The founders of QuantMap say they want to democratize quant research. They saw a need for better tools as bad investing advice and scams proliferated on social media. Founder Carson Hein says they aim for transparency by showing what their platform can do via live trading on Discord.

Bad investing advice and social media scams drove 2 Gen Z investors to start their own trading platform

Samuel O'BrientSat, June 27, 2026 at 9:30 AM UTC

Photo 1: Ivan Patriki; Photo 2: Carson Hein -

The founders of QuantMap say they want to democratize quant research.

They saw a need for better tools as bad investing advice and scams proliferated on social media.

Founder Carson Hein says they aim for transparency by showing what their platform can do via live trading on Discord.

The rise of the "finfluencer" has been well documented, but Ivan Patriki and Carson Hein say the bad advice and scams that unsuspecting traders stumble into have not.

An active trader with over 300,00 followers on social media, Patriki can be considered an influencer himself. However, after becoming disenchanted with the information being promoted by some prominent personalities online, he joined forces with a fellow trader when both were still teenagers. Their plan was to give everyday investors access to better tools by launching QuantMap.

"You're either lying about the money you made trading with a broker or prop firm, or you're lying about the money you're making just trading normally," Patriki told Business Insider about the tales influencers spin to win followers. "I decided I'm going to speak to the best trader that I know [and] build a system with him."

That trader was Hein, who started building the platform that would become QuantMap when he was fifteen years old. Both he and Patriki saw an influencer credibility gap that they aimed to fill with a platform to allow retail investors to access data and tools often thought to be exclusive to bigger firms.

QuantMap bills itself as a charting and analysis tool that also offers users feeds on market data, options flows, and live news that could impact trades.

There's also a community element, and the two begin every weekday with a live trading stream on Discord using QuantMap's tools. Hein said this helps traders and potential users see what the platform can do. It's also a response to finance influencers who he says post unverified screenshots of gains or push trading strategies without anything to show that they work.

"I don't want to see a broker statement," he said. "I want them to show me live trading whatever they do, their strategy, their system, their software, however they do it. If they are live doing it in front of you, that can't be faked. And that's what we do at QuantMap."

Hein recalled joining various Discord communities and signing up for online trading courses when he was younger.

"I had to find the right community and figure out what actually worked in the markets. That's when I kind of decided to follow like the banks and the hedge funds."

Hein and Patriki launched QuantMap in early 2026 with a developer acquaintance after spending years building it.

Hein and Patriki say they want their platform to democratize quantitative analysis, allowing regular traders to find their edge in a market that's constantly changing which the biggest players with the best tools have the advantage.

"We are visualizing the same quantitative data that the average person cannot see, using the formulas that my co-founders have developed over time, as well as what we've learned speaking to former quants at different hedge funds and trading desks," Patriki noted.

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Bad investing advice and social media scams drove 2 Gen Z investors to start their own trading platform

Bad investing advice and social media scams drove 2 Gen Z investors to start their own trading platform Samuel O&x27;Brie...

New Photo - Why Michelle Pfeiffer left her Grease 2 audition feeling 'so humiliated'

The sequel to 1978's Grease hit theaters 44 years ago this month. Why Michelle Pfeiffer left her Grease 2 audition feeling 'so humiliated' The sequel to 1978's Grease hit theaters 44 years ago this month. By Raechal Shewfelt :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RaechalShewfeltauthorphotoc49d3a3b6aa442f588f2bbc0de804e09.jpg) Raechal Shewfelt Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American Journalism Review and The Shreveport Times. EW's editorial guidelines June 25, 2026 10:24 p.m.

The sequel to 1978's Grease hit theaters 44 years ago this month.

Why Michelle Pfeiffer left her Grease 2 audition feeling 'so humiliated'

The sequel to 1978's Grease hit theaters 44 years ago this month.

By Raechal Shewfelt

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New Photo - 30 patriotic movies to watch this Fourth of July, ranked

From war dramas like &34;Saving Private Ryan&34; to musicals like &34;Hamilton,&34; these are the films that scream &34;America&34; to us. 30 patriotic movies to watch this Fourth of July, ranked From war dramas like &34;Saving Private Ryan&34; to musicals like &34;Hamilton,&34; these are the films that scream &34;America&34; to us. By Kevin Jacobsen, Kevin P. Sullivan, Kevin P. Sullivan Kevin P. Sullivan is a former staff editor at . He left EW in 2018. EW's editorial guidelines Jeff Labrecque, Jeff Labrecque Jeff Labrecque is a former senior editor at . He left EW in 2018.

From war dramas like "Saving Private Ryan" to musicals like "Hamilton," these are the films that scream "America" to us.

30 patriotic movies to watch this Fourth of July, ranked

From war dramas like "Saving Private Ryan" to musicals like "Hamilton," these are the films that scream "America" to us.

By Kevin Jacobsen,

Kevin P. Sullivan,

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Jeff Labrecque,

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Maureen Lee Lenker,

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'' journalist Joey Nolfi on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

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Sara Vilkomerson,

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and Leah Greenblatt

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Argo (2012)

Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in 'Argo'

Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in 'Argo'.

Claire Folger/Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Ben Affleck's *Argo* is a real film about the ruse of making a fake film to help rescue real-life hostages in Iran. Got it? Despite its stranger-than-fiction story, the events depicted in this Best Picture-winning thriller are (for the most part) based in reality, telling the story of CIA operative Tony Mendez (Affleck), who enacted a plan to save six U.S. diplomats in Tehran by posing with his team as a film crew. The caper crackles with tension as we follow Mendez and company executing their scheme with good old-fashioned American ingenuity. —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Jessica Chastain as Maya in 'Zero Dark Thirty'

Jessica Chastain as Maya in 'Zero Dark Thirty'.

Jonathan Olley/Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

This engrossing (yet controversial) political thriller follows the painstaking process of tracking down Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the wake of 9/11. Jessica Chastain is aces as the CIA analyst devoting every waking moment to his capture, and director Kathryn Bigelow deftly depicts the cost of war and single-minded obsession. —*K.J.*

The Right Stuff (1983)

The cast of 'The Right Stuff'

The cast of 'The Right Stuff'. Everett Collection

Chuck Yeager and the Mercury Seven astronauts literally strap themselves to engines in the hopes of doing what's never been done before. Chronicling the early years of the United States' foray into the Space Race, this thrilling story of innovation and the American spirit takes us straight to the stars. *—Kevin P. Sullivan*

Gettysburg (1993)

Jeff Daniels as Col. Joshua Chamberlain (center) in 'Gettysburg'

Jeff Daniels as Col. Joshua Chamberlain (center) in 'Gettysburg'. Everett Collection

A precision military document filmed on sacred ground, *Gettysburg* venerates the motives and ideals of both North and South as the two crusades collide on the hilly farms of central Pennsylvania. American history as tragedy and triumph. —*Jeff Labrecque*

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

James Cagney as George M. Cohan and Joan Leslie as Mary Cohan in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'

James Cagney as George M. Cohan and Joan Leslie as Mary Cohan in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'. Everett Collection

As "Over There" composer George M. Cohan, James Cagney tap-dances through life in a musical biopic brimming with pageantry and Americana. Released during World War II, the film capitalizes on Cohan's rags-to-riches story and his songs' ability to boost morale with their embodiment of the American spirit. *—Maureen Lee Lenker*

G.I. Jane (1997)

Demi Moore as Lt. Jordan O'Neil in 'G.I. Jane'

Demi Moore as Lt. Jordan O'Neil in 'G.I. Jane'.

In Ridley Scott's kick-ass action-drama, a military wonder woman (Demi Moore) endures discrimination, misogyny, and brutal macho hazing en route to shaving her head (on camera!) and becoming an elite Navy unit's first female trooper. Top that, Rosie the Riveter. *—Joey Nolfi*

Superman II (1980)

Christopher Reeve as Superman in 'Superman II'

Christopher Reeve as Superman in 'Superman II'. Everett Collection

The second Man of Steel film captures one of the superhero genre's most haunting hours — Zod (Terence Stamp) and his sidekicks rip apart the White House and drive the helpless president to "kneel before Zod." Superman is MIA. And though he eventually vanquishes Zod and his minions, the movie's most satisfying moment comes when he restores the American flag to the White House, telling the president, "Sorry I've been away so long. I won't let you down again." A real superman knows how to apologize. *—Joe McGovern*

Seabiscuit (2003)

Elizabeth Banks as Marcela Zabala-Howard, Jeff Bridges as Charles S. Howard, Kingston DuCoeur as Sam, and Gary Stevens as George Woolf in 'Seabiscuit'

Elizabeth Banks as Marcela Zabala-Howard, Jeff Bridges as Charles S. Howard, Kingston DuCoeur as Sam, and Gary Stevens as George Woolf in 'Seabiscuit'. Everett Collection

With America's spirits — like its 1930s finances — in a deep depression, a small, slightly broken racehorse (and his team of equally damaged humans) became an unlikely champion and a unifying symbol of hope and second chances, right when the country needed it most. *—Sara Vilkomerson*

Stripes (1981)

Bill Murray as John Winger (center) in 'Stripes'

Bill Murray as John Winger (center) in 'Stripes'. Everett Collection

*Stripes* isn't exactly the best recruitment video for the U.S. military. After Bill Murray's unemployed wiseacre John Winger joins up, he swiftly butts heads with his Army superiors, especially no-nonsense Sergeant Hulka (Warren Oates). But there's something very American about Winger's antiauthoritarian streak, as well as his ability to improvise a mission to save his unit. It's enough to make you cry. Almost like Old Yeller. *—Clark Collis*

Lone Survivor (2013)

Mark Wahlberg as HM First Class Marcus Luttrell in 'Lone Survivor'

Mark Wahlberg as HM First Class Marcus Luttrell in 'Lone Survivor'. Universal

Peter Berg's harrowing action drama, based on an ill-fated 2005 Navy SEAL mission to take out a Taliban leader in Afghanistan, is both a testament to the horrors of war and a tribute to the courage of 21st-century warriors. *—Devan Coggan*

Private Benjamin (1980)

Goldie Hawn as Pvt. Judy Benjamin in 'Private Benjamin'

Goldie Hawn as Pvt. Judy Benjamin in 'Private Benjamin'. Everett Collection

Judy Benjamin's (Goldie Hawn) American dream is simple: a house, a husband, a nice dining-room set. But when her dearly beloved dies on their wedding night, she accidentally-on-purpose joins the Army...and finds that fatigue is more than just another word for uniforms. The hell of basic training — and her subsequent transformation from human Pomeranian to battle-ready private — isn't just good patriotism, it's a comedic revelation. (And guess what? It turns out camo is *totally* her color.) *—Leah Greenblatt*

Milk (2008)

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in 'Milk'

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in 'Milk'. Phil Bray/Focus Features

Films about hope and change can often verge into cheesiness, but this Oscar-winning biopic about the life of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), the first out gay man elected to public office in California, avoids lazy cliches. As the gregarious politician makes his ascent and fights for his community, it's hard not to feel inspired even when he faces intense opposition. —*K.J.***

Lincoln (2012)

Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln in 'Lincoln'

Daniel Day-Lewis as President Abraham Lincoln in 'Lincoln'. Everett Collection

Of course, Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a paragon of American ideals. But in Steven Spielberg's elegant biopic, he's deceptively so. Honest Abe is forced to scheme, relying on grit and cunning to win the votes to abolish slavery. *—J.M.*

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Chris Evans as Captain America in 'Captain America: The First Avenger'

Chris Evans as Captain America in 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. Everett Collection

Definitively answering the question "Who's strong and brave, here to save the American Way?," Marvel Studios' first standalone adventure of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) isn't simply patriotic in name. The reason this hero has stood above his fellow Avengers is his character — a big guy who never forgets what it's like to be little. *—K.P.S.*

Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, and William Daniels as John Adams in '1776'

Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, and William Daniels as John Adams in '1776'. Everett Collection

Two and a half hours of musical mansplaining about the merits of continental emancipation could have gone down like bad molasses, but this sprightly drama (starring William Daniels as the original bad boy of Boston, John Adams) doesn't just retell the story of the Declaration of Independence — it sings to life the debate that laid down the entire spirit of America. Declaratively. —*Marc Snetiker*

The 20 greatest Civil War movies in cinematic history, ranked

Denzel Washington as Private Trip in 'Glory'; Kirsten Dunst as Lee Smith in 'Civil War'; Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone With the Wind'

The 20 best Vietnam War movies of all time, ranked

Da 5 Bloods; THE DEER HUNTER, Christopher Walken; APOCALYPSE NOW, Marlon Brando

Independence Day (1996)

Will Smith as Capt. Steven Hiller in 'Independence Day'

Will Smith as Capt. Steven Hiller in 'Independence Day'. Everett Collection

Roland Emmerich's blockbuster may revel in aliens blowing up the White House, but when Bill Pullman's American president urges mankind to unite in the fight for survival, it's one of the most heart-swelling movie speeches ever. Plus, there's that scene of Will Smith punching an alien in the face! America! *—D.C.*

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

James Stewart as Jefferson Smith in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'

James Stewart as Jefferson Smith in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'. Everett Collection

The depiction of corruption may look quaint by today's standards, but, in Frank Capra's idealistic film, beleaguered senator Jefferson Smith proves that one man's strong moral compass (and one marathon filibuster) can reclaim the promise of America from the nefarious Beltway machine. "Great principles don't get lost," Smith says. "They're right here. You just have to see them again." *—S.V.*

The American President (1995)

Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd in 'The American President'

Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd in 'The American President'. Everett Collection

Aaron Sorkin scripted this West Wing romance that celebrates the nobility of the American Experiment while constantly testing the integrity of its participants. After bookish President Andrew Shepherd's enemies target his environmental lobbyist girlfriend, POTUS takes to the podium, laying out the rules and stakes of modern American democracy: "America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight," he thunders, while defending the honor of the two ladies he adores most: his love and liberty. *—Nicole Sperling*

Air Force One (1997)

Harrison Ford as President James Marshall in 'Air Force One'

Harrison Ford as President James Marshall in 'Air Force One'. Claudette Barius

A president who doesn't like Russian warmongers but enjoys spending time with his wife and young child? Here's a wish-fulfillment political fantasy, with Harrison Ford as a bipartisan badass every American can agree on. *—Darren Franich*

Rocky IV (1985)

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa and Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV'

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa and Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV'. Everett Collection

Nearly a decade after he became America's most beloved underdog, Rocky Balboa faced Dolph Lundgren's politburo punisher, Ivan Drago, the embodiment of robotic Communist zealotry writ (very, very) large. *Rocky IV*'s politics aren't subtle, but then again, neither is our national anthem. *—Chris Nashawaty*

Selma (2014)

David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. in 'Selma'

David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. in 'Selma'.

Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Ava DuVernay's *Selma* is a potent evocation of the past and a rallying cry for the present. Set in the mid-'60s, the film centers on civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his efforts to eliminate voter restrictions for Black citizens. It all leads to the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., though the path to organizing the march isn't easy, not only because of conflict with government officials but also among activists and thought leaders. —*K.J.*

Top Gun (1986)

Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in 'Top Gun'

Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in 'Top Gun'. Everett Collection

Thanks to one impossibly cocky fighter pilot named Maverick, Reagan-era America never felt better about itself — or its military might. Tom Cruise was the grinning poster boy of red-white-and-blue individualism ("I feel the need...the need for speed"), defying his superiors, toying with his rivals, and, of course, getting the girl. *—C.N.*

Hidden Figures (2016)

Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson (center) in 'Hidden Figures'

Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson (center) in 'Hidden Figures'. Hopper Stone/FOX

In the dogged space race against the Soviets in the early-'60s, three female African American mathematicians overcame racism and sexism at NASA while helping solve the science that launched American astronauts into history. *—Dan Heching*

Team America: World Police (2004)

Chris (voice: Matt Stone), Gary (voice: Trey Parker), Sarah (voice: Masasa Moyo), and Joe (voice: Trey Parker) in 'Team America: World Police'

Chris (voice: Matt Stone), Gary (voice: Trey Parker), Sarah (voice: Masasa Moyo), and Joe (voice: Trey Parker) in 'Team America: World Police'. Everett Collection

The *South Park* creators' puppet satire tracks a team of star-spangled badasses on missions of mass destruction. It's a deadpan portrait of American swagger that apexes with the fist-pumping anthem, "America, F--- Yeah!" It's the kind of "funny" tune that gets taken seriously. Seek out the uncut version, with an epilogue listing all the things that make America great: sushi, rodeos, Valium, porno, immigrants, Democrats, and Republicans. Celebrating our wild disparity? F--- yeah. *—D.F.*

Patton (1970)

George C. Scott as Gen. George S. Patton in 'Patton'

George C. Scott as Gen. George S. Patton in 'Patton'. Everett Collection

There's no question that George "Old Blood and Guts" Patton had rough edges, but that serrated personality — pumped with ego and ambition — may have been exactly what was necessary to bring down Nazi Germany. —*Anthony Breznican*

Miracle (2004)

Eddie Cahill as Jim Craig in 'Miracle'

Eddie Cahill as Jim Craig in 'Miracle'. Everett Collection

Kurt Russell is medal-worthy as ice-in-his-veins coach Herb Brooks, who leads the scrappy U.S. hockey team against the invincible Soviets at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. The "U-S-A" chant has never been more earnest, or earned. *—Jessica Derschowitz*

Glory (1989)

Morgan Freeman as Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins (center) and Denzel Washington as Private Trip (right) in 'Glory'

Morgan Freeman as Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins (center) and Denzel Washington as Private Trip (right) in 'Glory'. Everett Collection

In Edward Zwick's tense Civil War drama about the first all-Black Army regiment, freedmen and freedom seekers volunteer to prove to white America and themselves that liberty is worth dying for. *—N.S.*

Hamilton (2020)

Anthony Ramos as John Laurens, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as the Marquis de Lafayette, and Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan in 'Hamilton'

Anthony Ramos as John Laurens, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Daveed Diggs as the Marquis de Lafayette, and Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan in 'Hamilton'.

Courtesy of Disney

"How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor grow up to be a hero and a scholar?" These are the evocative opening lyrics of the smash-hit Broadway musical *Hamilton*, and the Disney+ filmed stage recording allows everyone to learn the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's Founding Fathers, through earworm melodies and virtuosic performances. —*K.J.***

Apollo 13 (1995)

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise, Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, and Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert in 'Apollo 13'

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise, Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, and Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert in 'Apollo 13'. Ron Batzdorff/Universal

An ode to a bygone era of space exploration and American optimism, Ron Howard's riveting nail-biter about the doomed 1970 mission to the moon, starring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell and Ed Harris as not-on-my-watch Mission Control director Gene Kranz, reminded Americans what they can accomplish when failure isn't an option. "Houston, we have a problem" wasn't a cry for help. It was a call to duty. *—Shirley Li*

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Tom Hanks as Capt. John H. Miller (center) in 'Saving Private Ryan'

Tom Hanks as Capt. John H. Miller (center) in 'Saving Private Ryan'.

David James/DreamWorks

Steven Spielberg's tribute to the Greatest Generation places you in the boots of the D-Day soldiers who fought and died — and others who lived to wonder in the face of such loss, "Why me?"

The story of Tom Hanks' Captain Miller and his team's efforts to find and retrieve Matt Damon's titular GI, who has lost all his brothers in other battles, is fictional. But the valor of the real soldiers who carried the banner of American ideals into the firefight is nonetheless reflected in this story. It puts you where they stood. Where they bled. Where they fell. But something good and decent rose from their sacrifice. *—A.B.*

- Movie Reviews & Recommendations

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Movie"

Source: Movie

Published: June 26, 2026 at 05:38PM on Source: RED MAG

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30 patriotic movies to watch this Fourth of July, ranked

Argo (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

The Right Stuff (1983)

Gettysburg (1993)

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

G.I. Jane (1997)

Superman II (1980)

Seabiscuit (2003)

Stripes (1981)

Lone Survivor (2013)

Private Benjamin (1980)

Milk (2008)

Lincoln (2012)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Independence Day (1996)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

The American President (1995)

Air Force One (1997)

Rocky IV (1985)

Selma (2014)

Top Gun (1986)

Hidden Figures (2016)

Team America: World Police (2004)

Patton (1970)

Miracle (2004)

Glory (1989)

Hamilton (2020)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

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