Why Hollywood Loves a Comeback

In a moment when Hollywood is once again embracing the comeback—think Demi Moore’s return in The Substance or Pamela Anderson’s reinvention in The Last Showgirl—we turn our attention to the art of the revival. In this episode, hosts Laura Gommans and Tom Ooms explore the enduring appeal of the Hollywood comeback: why the industry—and its audiences—love to see actors return, transformed and triumphant. From John Travolta’s genre-defining resurgence in Pulp Fiction to Michelle Yeoh’s historic Oscar win at 60, they trace the arcs of reinvention, resilience, and rediscovery. And of course, no conversation on comebacks would be complete without Nicolas Cage—the actor in a perpetual state of renaissance.Book tickets to CC Film Club: Everything Everywhere All At OnceListen back to our episode on Nicolas CageRead Salima Hayek's Op-Ed