Costner, Gere, Demi Moore: Hollywood Icons on Cannes Comeback Trail 

Demi Moore. (Getty Images North America/AFP) 
Demi Moore. (Getty Images North America/AFP) 
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Costner, Gere, Demi Moore: Hollywood Icons on Cannes Comeback Trail 

Demi Moore. (Getty Images North America/AFP) 
Demi Moore. (Getty Images North America/AFP) 

This year's Cannes Film Festival hosts a trio of heartthrobs from the back end of the 20th century, making their comeback on the red carpet: Demi Moore, Kevin Costner and Richard Gere.

From "Ghost" to "Pretty Woman" to "Dances with Wolves", they are responsible for some of Generation X's favorite movie moments.

AFP looks at what they've been up to since.

- Demi Moore: ghost girl -

On the Croisette, 61-year-old Moore will be making her unexpected return in slasher-horror "The Substance", competing for the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or.

It has been a long time since Moore came anywhere near a Cannes red carpet, having appeared mostly in small TV roles and forgettable films since the early 2000s.

In her heyday, Moore was a global star after the weepie "Ghost" co-starring the late Patrick Swayze as a murdered businessman who watches over his grieving ceramicist girlfriend from beyond the grave.

Her baggy, androgynous look in that movie -- the dungarees and boyish crop -- helped define 1990s style, and she had other era-defining hits with steamy dramas "Indecent Proposal" and "Disclosure".

An Annie Leibovitz photoshoot -- showing off her pregnant belly on the cover of Vanity Fair in 1991 -- was a stunning move at the time, since copied by Beyonce, Rihanna and others.

She proved her acting chops in meatier 1990s movies such as blockbuster courtroom drama "A Few Good Men" opposite Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.

But since the turn of the century, Moore, who has a life-long passion for collecting dolls and bought an entire house to store her 2,000-strong collection, was in the headlines more for her tumultuous love life than her acting.

She formed two Hollywood power couples, first in the 1980s with "Die Hard" star Bruce Willis, father of her three daughters, and then with Ashton Kutcher, the latter union ending acrimoniously in 2013.

- Kevin Costner: forever West -

The soft-spoken 69-year-old is back in Cannes in his favorite genre, the Western, with the epic "Horizon: An American Saga".

Fans are hoping his fourth feature as director -- which is out of competition at Cannes -- will mark a return to form after a series of expensive duds in the 1990s trashed his Oscar-gilded career.

His directorial debut "Dances With Wolves", despite being a three-hour Western, was a global hit and in 1991 won the double Oscar whammy of best picture and director.

As an actor he captured hearts in smash hits "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991) and as Whitney Houston's protector in "The Bodyguard" (1992).

Teaming up with big-gun directors also proved a winning formula, from Oliver Stone's "JFK" (1991) to Clint Eastwood's "A Perfect World" (1993).

But then a string of ultra-expensive and hubristic flops -- especially "Waterworld" (1995) and "The Postman" (1997) made him into something of a laughing stock.

He continued to work in smaller roles, but invested more in music with his nostalgic country band "Kevin Costner & Modern West".

There has been a late resurgence in his 60s, however, thanks to the long-running hit neo-Western series, "Yellowstone".

- Richard Gere: zen charm -

Gere was the world's sexiest man according to People Magazine in 1999, when he was 50.

By then he had charmed audiences with his quiet seduction in "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982) and, of course, "Pretty Woman" opposite Julia Roberts.

He and supermodel Cindy Crawford were also the ultimate It-couple.

But progressively he gave up glamour for meditation.

Gere had been a Buddhist since he was 25, and increasingly used his fame to speak out, in particular against China's control of Tibet.

He developed a close friendship with the Dalai Lama and gave a fiery speech against China at the 1993 Oscars that got him barred from future ceremonies.

It also cost him movie roles in the 2000s as Hollywood sought to tap the vast Chinese market.

For his Cannes comeback, the 74-year-old has reunited with Paul Schrader -- who directed him in dark cult favorite "American Gigolo" (1980) -- for "Oh, Canada", playing a Vietnam War draft-evader haunted by his past.



‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Wins Best Animated Feature Oscar

Maggie Kang, from left, Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong, winners of the award for animated feature film for "K-pop Demon Hunters," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Maggie Kang, from left, Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong, winners of the award for animated feature film for "K-pop Demon Hunters," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
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‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Wins Best Animated Feature Oscar

Maggie Kang, from left, Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong, winners of the award for animated feature film for "K-pop Demon Hunters," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Maggie Kang, from left, Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong, winners of the award for animated feature film for "K-pop Demon Hunters," pose in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“KPop Demon Hunters” won the Oscar for best animated feature on Sunday, capping a record-breaking run after becoming Netflix’s most-watched film ever on its 2025 debut.

"For those of you who look like me, I'm so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this, but it is here," Reuters quoted director Maggie Kang ⁠as saying on stage. ⁠She said the win was for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.

The action-packed feature was also nominated for best original song for “Golden,” written by EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick. The film follows Huntrix — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — ⁠a global KPop girl group who juggle superstardom with their secret lives as demon hunters.

The animated musical fantasy previously swept major awards, winning best animated feature and best song at the 31st Critics Choice Awards and best animated motion picture and best original song at the 83rd Golden Globes.

Animated by Sony Pictures Animation, the Netflix hit also earned a Grammy ⁠for ⁠best song written for visual media, marking the first-ever Grammy win for a KPop song.

Directed by Kang and Chris Appelhans, the film’s soundtrack has trended worldwide. In a January 2026 press its most-watched title over a six-month period with 482 million views and 32 million views for the film's lyric videos.

Other nominees in the best animated feature category included “Zootopia 2,” “Arco,” “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain" and "Elio."


With Oscar Race Locked, Actresses Celebrate Backstage Anyway

Emma Stone spent some of the Oscars in the bar on the ground floor, a well known spot to mingle with the people who matter in Hollywood. ANGELA WEISS / AFP
Emma Stone spent some of the Oscars in the bar on the ground floor, a well known spot to mingle with the people who matter in Hollywood. ANGELA WEISS / AFP
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With Oscar Race Locked, Actresses Celebrate Backstage Anyway

Emma Stone spent some of the Oscars in the bar on the ground floor, a well known spot to mingle with the people who matter in Hollywood. ANGELA WEISS / AFP
Emma Stone spent some of the Oscars in the bar on the ground floor, a well known spot to mingle with the people who matter in Hollywood. ANGELA WEISS / AFP

At an Oscars full of nerve-shreddingly tight races, best actress was one of Sunday night's few entirely predictable categories.

Pundits were -- correctly -- unanimous that Jessie Buckley would win for her tear-jerking turn as William Shakespeare's wife in "Hamnet."

But that did not stop her rival nominees enjoying the night -- if anything, they were the life and soul of the party.

Emma Stone, a two-time best actress winner already, spent much of the ceremony happily chatting backstage with friends and admirers in the theater's most exclusive lobby.

"The bar is the place!" Stone, nominated for her role in conspiracy theory thriller "Bugonia," told AFP.

Indeed, while the Oscars are being handed out in the adjoining theater, the Dolby Theater's ground-floor bar is renowned as a free-flowing gossip, networking and champagne spot for the industry's movers and shakers.

Stone jokingly admitted she wasn't sure exactly how many Academy Awards she'd attended, but by now knew where to wait for her category to come up.

For Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, it was a second trip to Hollywood's top awards show, but a first as an acting nominee.

She came to the Oscars four years ago for best foreign film contender "The Worst Person in the World," but was personally recognized this time for "Sentimental Value."

"It's so much more chill this time -- this time I actually know people!" she told AFP.

Moments later, she effusively greeted Pedro Pascal like an old friend. He promptly stepped on her toe as they embraced and profusely apologized, to mutual laughter.

After her fellow supporting actor and actress nominees had missed out in their early categories, the film's Norwegian team gathered at the bar again with their plus ones.

"Last time I couldn't bring a guest. This time, I got to bring my sister," the Norwegian star added.

Reinsve predictably lost best actress, but the whole gang took to the stage as "Sentimental Value" won best international film.

"It's about a very dysfunctional family, and it's the opposite of what I felt of this beautiful group behind me," said director Joachim Trier, from the stage.

'Exciting'

This year, the Oscars bar's raucous chatter was muted temporarily by the moving tribute to Rob Reiner and the start of the "In Memoriam" section honoring Hollywood legends who died this year.

There was spontaneous applause when Catherine O'Hara, star most recently of Hollywood satire "The Studio," was shown on screens.

Inside the theater, wins for "Sinners" consistently drew the loudest cheers from the in-person audience, with even those in the nosebleed seats rising to a standing ovation when Michael B. Jordan won best actor.

"It's so much more chill this time -- this time I actually know people!" she told AFP.

Moments later, she effusively greeted Pedro Pascal like an old friend. He promptly stepped on her toe as they embraced and profusely apologized, to mutual laughter.

After her fellow supporting actor and actress nominees had missed out in their early categories, the film's Norwegian team gathered at the bar again with their plus ones.

"Last time I couldn't bring a guest. This time, I got to bring my sister," the Norwegian star added.

Reinsve predictably lost best actress, but the whole gang took to the stage as "Sentimental Value" won best international film.

"It's about a very dysfunctional family, and it's the opposite of what I felt of this beautiful group behind me," said director Joachim Trier, from the stage.

'Exciting'

This year, the Oscars bar's raucous chatter was muted temporarily by the moving tribute to Rob Reiner and the start of the "In Memoriam" section honoring Hollywood legends who died this year.

There was spontaneous applause when Catherine O'Hara, star most recently of Hollywood satire "The Studio," was shown on screens.

Inside the theater, wins for "Sinners" consistently drew the loudest cheers from the in-person audience, with even those in the nosebleed seats rising to a standing ovation when Michael B. Jordan won best actor.


‘Hoppers’ Tops N. America Box Office for 2nd Straight Week

Jon Hamm. (Getty Images for Disney)
Jon Hamm. (Getty Images for Disney)
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‘Hoppers’ Tops N. America Box Office for 2nd Straight Week

Jon Hamm. (Getty Images for Disney)
Jon Hamm. (Getty Images for Disney)

"Hoppers," the latest original animated film from Disney's Pixar, maintained its position atop the North American box office with $28.5 million in ticket sales in its second weekend, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The adventure comedy, which tells the story of young animal lover Mabel who uses technology to transfer her consciousness into a robotic beaver so she can better communicate and protect wildlife, has now pulled in $165 million worldwide, according to Exhibitor Relations.

The voice cast features Meryl Streep, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy and Piper Curda as Mabel.

Debuting at number two was Universal's romance "Reminders of Him," based on the novel by Colleen Hoover and starring Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers. It earned $18.2 million in the United States and Canada.

"This is an excellent opening for an original romance picture, at well above average levels for the genre," wrote analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

Another new arrival, the horror flick "Undertone" distributed by A24, came in third, with $9.3 million in ticket sales.

The it's-coming-from-inside-the-house scare-fest, complete with a deeply unsettling soundscape, narrowly bested the latest in an iconic series of the genre, "Scream 7."

Paramount's new installment in the 30-year-old slasher series, featuring yet another Ghostface killer, held onto fourth position earning $8.3 million, for a global three-week total of $176.5 million.

Sony's family-friendly animated film "GOAT" -- the story of an undersized domesticated mammal who wants to join a basketball-like "roarball" team -- in its fifth week slipped one spot to fifth, at $4.7 million, and $162.5 million globally.