George Clooney on why rewatching his 100 films feels strange as he turns 65
Synopsis
At 65, George Clooney is candid about his reluctance to rewatch his 100-film career. The discomfort of seeing his younger self, he explained at the Chaplin Award gala, outweighs nostalgia — though fatherhood has carved one exception: animated films watched with his twins.
Key Takeaways
George Clooney has starred in over 100 films but rarely rewatches them.
He received the Chaplin Award at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on 29 April .
Clooney turns 65 on 6 May and says looking forward feels more natural than looking back.
He made an exception to watch Fantastic Mr.
Fox with his 8-year-old twins to show them his work.
He is currently working on Ocean's 14 with Brad Pitt , Matt Damon , and Julia Roberts .
George Clooney, who has starred in over 100 films across a four-decade career, rarely revisits his own work, the Hollywood veteran revealed at the 51st Chaplin Award gala in New York City on 29 April. Speaking to People magazine on the red carpet at Alice Tully Hall, where he received the prestigious honour from Film at Lincoln Center, Clooney explained the discomfort of watching his younger self on screen.
The challenge of looking back
"As you get older, it's hard to watch movies when you were younger because you're like, 'Holy s---, that doesn't even look like me anymore'," Clooney told the publication. The actor, who turns 65 on 6 May, acknowledged that time has shifted his perspective on his own performances. He noted that the passage of years makes rewatching his earlier roles an uncomfortable experience, one he tends to avoid.
An exception for the children
There is one notable exception to Clooney's reluctance: his recent viewing of the 2009 stop-motion animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox directed by Wes Anderson. He watched it with his 8-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, whom he shares with wife Amal Clooney. "So I was watching Fantastic Mr. Fox, which is a little easier because it's not really me, it's just my voice," Clooney explained. "That's kind of fun because the kids are slowly figuring out what I do for a living, you know?"
Reflections on mortality and forward momentum
As Clooney approaches his 65th birthday, he expressed a philosophical shift. "But the rest of it. Listen, it's hard because I tend to not want to look back, but now that I'm gonna be 65 in a week, looking forward's a lot shorter view, you know what I mean? So maybe I'll look back later, you know," he said. The remark captures a tension between his lifelong preference to move ahead and the natural inclination that comes with age to reflect on a storied career.
Recognition and ongoing projects
Clooney received the Chaplin Award, which recognises an individual's significant contributions to cinema, named after Charlie Chaplin, the organisation's inaugural honouree in 1972. The gala celebrated him alongside friends and collaborators including Stephen Colbert, Julianna Margulies, John Turturro, and Sam Rockwell. Most recently, Clooney appeared in 2025's Jay Kelly, playing a role as a movie star not unlike himself. He is also reported to be working on Ocean's 14, a sequel to his heist trilogy with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts.
Point of View
The mirror is a complicated place. His exception for animated voice work with his children is telling — it allows him to be present in his kids' lives without the vanity tax of watching his own face age.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does George Clooney avoid rewatching his own movies?
Clooney finds it uncomfortable to watch his younger self on screen, saying the passage of time makes him look unrecognizable to himself. He told People magazine: 'As you get older, it's hard to watch movies when you were younger because you're like, Holy s---, that doesn't even look like me anymore.'
What award did George Clooney receive in April 2025?
Clooney received the Chaplin Award from Film at Lincoln Center at the 51st Chaplin Award gala on 29 April at Alice Tully Hall in New York City . The award recognises significant contributions to cinema.
When is George Clooney's birthday?
George Clooney turns 65 on 6 May . He reflected at the gala that as he approaches this milestone, 'looking forward's a lot shorter view' than looking back.
Which of his films has Clooney recently watched?
Clooney recently watched Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), directed by Wes Anderson , with his 8-year-old twins Alexander and Ella . He found it easier to rewatch because he only provided the voice rather than appearing on screen.
What upcoming projects is George Clooney working on?
Clooney is working on Ocean's 14 , a sequel to his heist trilogy, alongside Brad Pitt , Matt Damon , and Julia Roberts . Most recently, he appeared in 2025's Jay Kelly .
