Movies

Sean Penn busted out his sense of humor all over his pal Bradley Cooper ... just in time for Bradley's huge Hollywood achievement.

BC was honored with the American Cinematheque Award Thursday night at The Beverly Hilton. The star-studded dinner featured plenty of tributes from his fellow actors and collaborators, but Sean's stood out because it included a pretty funny stroll down memory lane.

Sean started off his toast by telling the crowd something felt strangely familiar about this scenario ... which led perfectly into a viral clip of Cooper -- from almost 20 years ago -- as an aspiring actor asking Penn a question on "Inside the Actors Studio."

To be fair, the clip Sean showed was slightly doctored -- in the original, he answers Cooper's question about "Hurlyburly" right away ... but still pretty hilarious.

Sean did praise Bradley and labeled him one "handsome motherf**ker."

Ariana Grande's highly-anticipated "Thank U, Next" music video has finally dropped ... and it includes an apology to her ex-fiance Pete Davidson.

During the "Mean Girls" portion of the video ... Ariana's "Burn Book" includes a page for Pete with the words "Sry I Dipped," "Love U Always" and "HUUUUUUGE."

Kris Jenner also made an appearance in the "Mean Girls" part of the vid ... playing Amy Poehler's "cool mom" character. As we first reported ... a Kardashian was gonna make a dancing cameo appearance. We didn't know who at first but later learned it was Kris, and the music video confirms it.

As you know ... the music video featured scenes from 4 female-driven films that have special meaning to Ariana -- "13 Going on 30," "Mean Girls," "Legally Blonde" and "Bring it On."

Tons of celebrities made cameos to help AG pull it all off ... including Jennifer Coolidge, Jonathan Bennett and Troye Sivan.

There's even a nod to Pete Davidson's nether regions ... Ariana has some dialogue with Coolidge where she mentions a boy with a "BIG" one ... she's dropped hints on Pete's genital size before.

Ariana's been teasing the video for some time now ... even releasing a behind-the-scenes teaser of the making of the music video. Fans and celebs alike were fired up for the video ... including Bella and Gigi Hadid.

Tyra Banks gave herself a new rap name and, in the process, might have inadvertently taken sides in the raging war between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj.

We got Tyra out Thursday in NYC where our photog told her that her getting in the rap game with her new "Be A Star" remix could help bring a solution to the Cardi-Nicki beef. If you've been living under a rock ... Cardi and Nicki have been at each other's throats and there's zero sign it's dialing down.

That's when Tyra straight-up declares herself Tyra B. It was probably made in jest ... but check out the video. Tyra starts dropping bars and we can't help but notice her rap game sounds very Cardi-esque.

Hayden Panettiere came oh so close to getting hitched a second time ... at least, that's the way her new boyfriend made it appear to some unsuspecting bar bystanders.

We obtained this video of Hayden's bf, Brian Hickerson, getting down on one knee ... and it's hilarious.

Brian and HP were hanging at Rock & Reilly's on the Sunset Strip recently when, according to witnesses, he shouted, "Everyone shut the F up! I'm about to propose to my girlfriend."

Sure enough, he assumed the position, and we're told everyone thought they were about to see one of those classic rom-com moments. Then it got weird. Check out the video ... Brian definitely proposed. Just to the wrong person. Hey, at least it was an actress, and Hayden cracked up.

Sources close to the couple tell us Hayden bet Brian he couldn't make her laugh in 10 seconds. Brian even produced a ring -- a paper one, but still. And yes, he won the bet.

When we last saw Brian out with Hayden -- "saving" her from swarming paparazzi -- he mocked the paps and kidded he was her "gay pool boy."

When Ariana Grande recruited a Kardashian to guest star in her highly anticipated "Thank U, Next" music video, she went straight to the top ... of the family tree.

Yes, TMZ has learned Kris Jenner is the mystery Kardashian who scored the cameo role. Take that, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie, Kendall ... and Rob.

As we first reported ... Ariana's music vid -- which is an homage to several famous chick flicks -- drops on Friday, and the big question was which Kardashian she'd lined up to make their dancing debut.

Ariana posted a behind-the-scenes teaser of the making of the music vid -- check it out for some of the other celeb cameos.

We admit it, the odds-on fave had to be one of the sisters who frequently flaunt what they've got. Just remember, they all got it from their mama, which could explain why Kris landed the gig.

"Thank U, Next" has a ton of guests helping AG set up flicks like "13 Going on 30," "Mean Girls," "Legally Blonde" and "Bring it On."

We don't know exactly which movie Kris is getting dropped into ... but our best guess is Amy Poehler's "Cool Mom" from "Mean Girls."

LeBron James has ANOTHER movie in the works -- but this one is based on his own life!

The NBA superstar -- along with his producing partner Maverick Carter and SpringHill Entertainment -- are moving forward with a flick based on the book, "Shooting Stars" ... about Bron's youth basketball team.

LeBron co-authored the book with famed writer Buzz Bissinger -- the guy who wrote "Friday Night Lights."

The story is a real-life tale about how LeBron and his childhood friends beat the odds to win a championship and form lifelong bonds.

The movie will be directed by Chris Robinson (according to Variety) -- the super famous music video director who did "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" with Jay-Z and Beyonce.

He also directed the FOX series, "Star."

Harvey Weinstein and his defense are trying to turn the tide in his ongoing sex crime case by pointing to a new female witness -- who was a close friend of one of Weinstein's alleged victims -- and use her to paint a picture of a consensual relationship between Weinstein and his accuser.

In new docs -- obtained by TMZ -- the witness claims the alleged victim was "hooking up" with Weinstein for "a very long time" and she never heard the alleged victim say anything bad about Weinstein ... speaking very highly of him. The witness says she personally saw Weinstein and the accuser hanging out socially ... including at events after the alleged rape.

According to the docs, the former friend of the alleged victim says she never heard the woman say anything bad about Weinstein ... but she admits she had a falling out with her friend a few years back after a disagreement.

However, Weinstein claims the witness said that changed last year, when she heard from the alleged victim who told her Weinstein had assaulted her in New York a few years back, and she wanted the witness to give credibility to her claim.

Weinstein's attorney, Ben Brafman, says the witness told detectives she'd been approached by the alleged victim but refused to make up a story to support her friend's allegations.

Here's something you don't see every day ... 2 movie stars riding bare-ass nekkid on a scooter -- but when ya do, it sure makes for a good day.

Sebastian Stan -- who plays Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier in the 'Avengers' flicks -- and Irish actress Denise Gough busted out their birthday suits Wednesday morning and hopped on the scooter to cruise through Athens. It's not a dare or a drunken escapade ... they're just filming for the upcoming movie, "Monday."

Check out the gallery ... Sebastian and Denise seem totally at ease riding in the nude. So, they're either great actors or kinda freaky. Or both. They're definitely not shy.

Khabib Nurmagomedov was such a VIP at the Paris St-Germaine soccer game in France on Wednesday .... he sat IN FRONT of Leonardo DiCaprio and Mick Jagger!

Check out the pic ... Leo and Mick -- trying to go incognito in baseball hats -- were spotted 1 row behind the UFC star as Neymar and PSG took on Liverpool at Parc des Princes.

Khabib was personally invited to the game by the team owners -- how cool is that?!

The only star who had better seats than Khabib was Didier Deschamps -- who coached Team France to a 2018 World Cup championship.

Khabib has been on a media tear lately -- meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

He also had a massive press conference in Russia this week where he once again called out Floyd Mayweather ... and talked about his MMA future.

Swae Lee already has his musical touch on the new 'Spider-Man' movie -- but he's not just gonna stop there -- the Rae Sremmurd rapper wants to actually BE the Marvel superhero.

We got a half-naked Lee in NYC Tuesday night -- where it hit a low of 15 degrees -- leaving Rockefeller Center ... but the temps didn't seem to bother him at all. Swae's all over the soundtrack for the newest Spidey flick, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" ... so we asked, what about a black Spider-Man?

Lee was all over the idea ... promoting himself as the perfect candidate for the role.

A judge is siding with Tyrese, ruling there are limits when it comes to his ex-wife demanding he cover childcare costs ... especially if her activities aren't work-related.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge ruled Norma Gibson can't expect Tyrese to reimburse her for babysitters to watch their 11-year-old daughter, Shayla ... if Norma's running "non-work errands" or running her household.

As we first reported, Tyrese was pissed about childcare bills Norma was running up -- especially one particular day in August -- when she admitted she was merely "living life." He was also upset that, in his view, she wasn't making an effort to get a steady job.

In the docs, the judge lays out what qualifies as work activities for Norma -- including developing her life coaching biz, working on her book or pursuing her art. The court says if she requires childcare while doing any of those things ... she can put that on Tyrese's tab.

Stan Lee, the creator of much of the Marvel Universe, died from heart and respiratory failure ... TMZ has learned.

We obtained Stan's death certificate, and it lists heart failure and respiratory failure as the cause of death. It also says he suffered aspiration pneumonia -- which is when you inhale food, stomach acid or saliva into your lungs. According to the document, 95-year-old Lee died Monday, November 12 at 9:17 AM at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

TMZ broke the story ... an ambulance rushed to Lee's Hollywood Hills home earlier this month, and he was brought to Cedars-Sinai.

The certificate says he was cremated and his ashes returned to his daughter. His occupation was listed as a writer in the publishing business.

Stan was smiling and cheerful Saturday, November 10 during what would be his final sit-down with his protege, comic book writer Roy Thomas.

Stan had been battling several illnesses over the past year, including vision issues and a bout of pneumonia.

Stan launched Marvel in 1961 with the Fantastic Four and the comic book giant went on to spawn Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men, Black Panther and The Avengers.

Robert De Niro was treated to dinner and a show, and the big reveal got very personal for him ... which is why he whipped out his phone to capture the moment.

De Niro was the main attraction at a special event Monday night in Halifax, UK. While Bobby D was eating at a restaurant called Ricci’s Place ... speed artist Dave Sharp performed a dance and paint number that paid tribute to one of the actor's most famous movie roles.

The attendees all seemed pretty wowed by Sharp's artistry -- he first painted a taxicab, but once he added the finishing touches, it revealed a colorful painting of good ol' Travis Bickle from "Taxi Driver" ... including his menacing mohawk and sunglasses.

Ariana Grande has been teasing fans and celebs alike to the point of torture with snippets from her "Thank U, Next" music video without a release date ... but now we know when it's gonna drop.

Sources close to Ariana tell us the project is set to debut Friday. The music video will highlight 4 female-driven films that have special meaning to Ariana. The movies include "Bring It On," "Mean Girls," "Legally Blonde" and "13 Going on 30."

Our sources say the music video will also feature a cameo from one of the Kardashian sisters, who we are told will bust a move for the cameras.

A teaser released for the project Monday night featured actors from "Mean Girls" -- including Jonathan Bennett -- as well as singer Troye Sivan ... so it's likely Friday's release will include several more celebs.

Ari fans were surprised to see Gabi DeMartino -- a YouTuber who has made a career off of spoofing the singer -- in the video. However, our Grande sources say Ariana actually enjoys the impressions and wanted to extend an olive branch to Gabi by inviting her on the project.

It's not just Ariana fans who have been bitten by the "Thank U, Next" video bug ... stars like Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Khalid and Normani have all blown the preview up too ... with comments like "This is so fire," "Yooooooo" and "yes pls give ur fans what we need."

The fans will get it Friday.

7:35 AM PT -- Whatever amount of money Damon got in the settlement, he's satisfied with it. He tells TMZ ... "I'm good. Just happy 2 people from the culture could work things out."

Lee Daniels is a man of his word -- he told us he would make things right with Damon Dash -- and now he has ... reaching a settlement in their lawsuit over a $2 million movie investment.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, both sides agreed to drop the matter and each will pay their own attorney's fees. As we first reported ... Dame was livid about the cash he'd given Lee to make a couple of movies. In fact, he got in Lee's face during a Diana Ross concert earlier this year ... demanding the dough.

Damon's next step was filing the suit for $5 million -- due to interest and lost profits.

Lee made it clear to us ... he'd settle the debt, and thanked Dame for supporting his projects when no one else in Hollywood would.

The docs don't reveal any financial details ... but based on Lee's own words, it's a good bet he forked a hefty chunk of change to Dame.

Amanda Bynes is opening up about her past issues with drugs, acceptance and a deep battle with depression brought on by one of her most famous movie roles.

Bynes starred in "She's The Man" back in 2006, playing a teen girl who dressed like a boy, pretending to be her brother. Amanda sported short hair and sideburns for the role, and the film grabbed a ton of attention.

In a new interview with PAPER -- Amanda's first in a long time -- she reveals the movie left her in a deep depression, saying, "When the movie came out and I saw it ... I didn't like how I looked when I was a boy." She called seeing herself in the role a "super strange and out-of-body experience. It just really put me into a funk."

Bynes shares she's been sober for the last 4 years and blames a lot of her past issues -- including her infamous tweet where she said she wanted Drake to "murder my vagina" -- on drugs.

TMZ broke a number of stories about the tragedy of mental illness that Amanda was coping with for years. As we reported, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and was in and out facilities and trouble for years. She had times of lucidity and would then lapse back into a dark place.

Amanda remains under a conservatorship that started in 2014, and was recently extended until at least 2020. Her parents, who were her conservators, tried to help her but handed the conservatorship off to a mental health professional.

She's currently a student the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in L.A. -- but says she'd eventually like to get back into acting if the opportunity presents itself.