1

The sweet tooth

Image: Michelle Tsang

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? With so many options available today, it's hard to choose just one, right? Like us, Thomas Jefferson also loved ice cream. Not only that, he's often credited with making this treat famous in America.

The third US president discovered his sweet tooth during his time in France. It's impossible not to imagine Jefferson doing important paperwork with a bowl of ice cream on his desk. In addition, it's said that he often served the sweet dessert to his guests at the White House.

And that’s not all! A recipe for vanilla ice cream, handwritten by Jefferson himself, is still kept to this day in the Library of Congress.

2

The handshaker

Image: Erika Fletcher

It seems that Jefferson was a man who set trends and influenced fashions. Ice cream wasn’t the only custom that spread across the country thanks to him.

Today, the handshake is a very common and popular form of greeting. But this was not always the case. Before Jefferson's presidency, handshakes were less frequent, and people often used other formal greetings, such as bowing.

Jefferson argued that handshakes were horizontal and, therefore, more democratic. This belief illustrates how he integrated his principles into every aspect of his life, even small habits and customs.

3

The friend

Image: Joanna Kosinska

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams first met in 1775 at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Despite their differences, they liked and respected each other. Together, they were part of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and became even closer when they both served as diplomats in Europe during the 1780s. Jefferson later served as vice president to his friend Adams when the latter took office in 1797. Although they drifted apart after Adams' presidency, they reconciled in 1812, and their regular letters returned.

As if all this weren’t enough, they both died on the same day. And not just any day—both passed away on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

4

The polyglot

Image: Thomas Kelley

Can you speak more than one language? It's hard not to be impressed when you see a bilingual person developing their skills, right? And then there are those who speak three or four languages!

In this regard, Jefferson’s case is remarkable. The third president of our country was fluent in no less than six languages! In addition to his mother tongue, English, and the widely spoken French (which he used during his time as American minister to France in the 1780s), Jefferson also had strong skills in Latin, Ancient Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Furthermore, some sources suggest he also knew some German. A true polyglot!

5

The musician

Image: Baher Khairy

During his childhood in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson developed a strong interest in and passion for music. Music was a fundamental element in his home, and this art form was also a main part of his education.

The Father of the Declaration of Independence played the violin perfectly. His father, Peter Jefferson, taught him to play this instrument when Thomas was very young, and his talent only grew over the years.

Less frequently than the violin, Jefferson also played the cello—another stringed instrument known for its sophistication.

6

The architect

Image: Richard Hedrick

Jefferson's talents were even more varied! He was not only a polyglot and a musician but also an accomplished architect.

Thomas Jefferson played a major role in the design and construction of his plantation home in Virginia, the magnificent Monticello, which would later earn him one of his famous nicknames. Inspired by classical and Renaissance architecture, Monticello is considered one of the greatest works of American architecture. To add further merit to his work, Jefferson began the design of the plantation and its house in 1768, when he was only 25 years old!

Fun fact: Today, Monticello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7

The family man

Image: Heike Mintel

If you're a family person, you'll love this aspect of Thomas Jefferson.

In addition to politics, business, and his many talents, Thomas Jefferson was also a devoted family man—and, we must say, he had quite a large family. But how big was his family? Jefferson was born to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph Jefferson and was the third of ten siblings.

In 1772, he married Martha Wayles Skelton, with whom he had six children. However, only two daughters survived to adulthood: Martha and Mary, who also gave him many grandchildren.

8

The farmer

Image: Stephen Radford

Agriculture was central to Jefferson's vision at the national policy level and also in his personal life.

Monticello was not only his home but also a 5,000-acre plantation where he experimented with different crops, including wheat, corn, tobacco, and various vegetables and fruits.

In addition, he was also an enthusiast of flower gardens. His interest in horticulture led him to import seeds and plants from around the world to experiment with in America!

9

The pet lover

Image: Dawn McDonald

Among his many qualities, his appreciation for animals truly stood out.

At Monticello, he had a variety of farm animals, including geese, turkeys, chickens, horses, cows, and pigs, all of which played an important role in maintaining the plantation. But his true love was for horses. He loved riding and spending time with them, both at his home in Virginia and even during his presidency.

It’s also said that he had a soft spot for birds. One of his most beloved pets was a mockingbird named Dick, who, according to historians, was allowed to fly around the house. Cute, isn't it?

10

The astronomer

Image: Matthew Ansley

Jefferson's interests and passions were not limited to earthly matters. In fact, he was an amateur astronomer. The stars and the cosmos sparked a deep curiosity in him.

In line with this interest, he developed a taste for telescopes, through which he could approach that mysterious object of study. He had several telescopes in his house and would spend hours and hours observing the night sky.

This inclination played a key role in the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806), as it’s believed that Jefferson provided precise astronomical guidance and instructions to the two explorers.

1

Jurassic World Dominion

Image: Christopher Stark

We understand; bringing giant reptiles from millions of years ago to life isn’t easy… or cheap. Maybe that’s why Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) cost an incredible $465 million! But not all of that went to special effects. Filmed during the pandemic, the costs of safety measures and protocols for the large cast and crew were anything but low. The actors even spent months quarantining in the luxurious Langley Hotel near Pinewood Studios, which also inflated the film’s budget.

2

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Image: Lyman Hansel Gerona

There are Star Wars fans everywhere, and for good reason, as it’s considered one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. But creating something this good comes at a high price: $447 million, to be precise. In addition to the visual effects and incredibly detailed costumes, the movie was shot across multiple countries: England, Iceland, Ireland, and even the United Arab Emirates. On top of that, the production counted with a top-tier cast, including Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

3

Fast X

Image: Cook aynne

Fast X (2023) ranks among the most expensive movies ever made, with an incredible budget of $379 million. But it wasn’t just the explosions, wild rollovers, and high-speed chases that elevated the costs; a big part went into reuniting much of the original cast. On top of that, the production didn’t stick to Los Angeles alone; it also filmed in beautiful international locations such as Rome, Turin, and Lisbon.

4

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Image: Intricate Explorer

This film cost about the same as Fast X , but it came out 12 years earlier, when that budget was even more impressive. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) accumulated around $378.5 million in production costs, much of it going to star salaries, especially Johnny Depp, who reportedly earned $55 million for his role. And that’s not all; the film’s visual effects and far shooting locations (Hawaii, the UK, Puerto Rico) drove the budget even higher.

5

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Image: Jason Leung

The superheroes’ suits, the incredible effects that brought their powers to life, the amazing battle scenes, and all the destruction they caused pushed the budget of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) to $365 million. But here’s the most interesting part: another film from the same saga, Avengers: Endgame , was released four years later and actually cost less (about $356 million).

6

Avatar: The Way of Water

Image: Luke Tanis

One thing’s for sure: making a movie is never easy, especially when it features a giant blue alien species living in an underwater world. That’s the case with Avatar: The Way of Water , released in 2022 with an astounding budget of $350 million. Costs climbed even higher thanks to its long filming schedule, which stretched from 2017 all the way through 2020!

7

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Image: Intricate Explorer

Indiana Jones always gives his all, and his latest adventure, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), was proof of that. The film cost around $327 million to produce, and the action didn’t stay confined to a studio, as the cast, crew, and equipment traveled to locations across the UK, Morocco, and Italy. In addition, the innovative visual effects and de-aging technology used to bring Harrison Ford’s character to life weren’t exactly cheap.

8

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Image: Nao Takabayashi

Powerful action scenes and chases, biplanes performing aerial stunts, fierce battles, and underwater sequences: you’ll find all this and more in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). But all this didn't come out of nowhere; it cost $300 million! Beyond the vehicles and specialized equipment, security measures had to be a serious matter. On the other hand, bringing Tom Cruise back to the saga and having him perform his own stunts added more dollars to the equation, with the actor reportedly earning between $70 million and $120 million for the movie.

9

No Time to Die

Image: Marcel Eberle

We were all excited to see Daniel Craig back in James Bond’s shoes, and we were lucky enough to watch him do it! But, of course, it didn’t come cheap. Beyond Craig’s generous salary and advanced visual effects, the film’s $250 million budget also covered the costs of filming across multiple, distant locations, including Italy, Jamaica, Norway, the Faroe Islands, and the UK!

10

Snow White

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

After so many scenes of action, aliens, weapons, and explosions, you probably didn’t expect Snow White (2025) to make this list, right? But it did! While the film’s budget wasn’t officially confirmed, estimates put it at around $270 million. So, where did all that money go? First of all, the film relied on high-quality visual effects to bring the magic and fantasy of the fairy tale to life. But that wasn’t all; lead actresses Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot reportedly requested substantial salaries.

1

"Phone home"

Who wants to phone home…? That’s E.T., of course! In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) , an iconic Steven Spielberg masterpiece, Elliott (Henry Thomas) and his siblings help the sweetest alien in cinematic history contact his own kind, who accidentally left him behind.

Pat Welsh was the actress who lent her voice to the character. And "E.T… phone home" is the unforgettable line the little guy manages to utter.

2

"I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse"

You can imagine the line in a whisper, for better context. But you probably don’t need it. Most viewers will remember this legendary threat, which belongs to The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola and anchored by Marlon Brando’s unforgettable turn as Vito Corleone.

3

"I see dead people"

A movie no one could watch only once! This line, permanently etched into pop culture, comes from the chilling The Sixth Sense , written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and delivered with eerie calm by Haley Joel Osment to his costar Bruce Willis.

4

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

Whose mama always said that life was "like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get?" It was Forrest Gump’s, of course!

The unforgettable 1994 movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis and carried by Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance. Spoken on a park bench, the quote summarizes the film’s philosophy: life is unpredictable, but somehow that’s okay.

5

"I’ll have what she’s having"

A little clue: This line is delivered inside a deli. Katz’s Delicatessen, on the Lower East Side of New York, to be specific. But you probably don’t need the clue if you’re a fan of classic rom-coms –or if you’ve watched the infamous scene endlessly shared on the internet.

It is taken, of course, from When Harry Met Sally , directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. And, did you know? The lady who says the legendary line was played by none other than Estelle Reiner, Rob’s mom, after Sally (Meg Ryan) fakes an orgasm to prove a point to her pal Harry (Billy Crystal).

6

"Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn"

Few lines have ever closed a film with such perfect indifference. This famously unapologetic farewell comes from 1939’s Gone with the Wind , delivered by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler opposite Vivien Leigh’s unforgettable Scarlett O’Hara.

7

"Are you not entertained?"

A booming challenge, roared from a scene filled with blood and sand… Of course, it belongs to none other than Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000), starring Russell Crowe in his Oscar-winning performance as Maximus.

8

"You’re going to need a bigger boat"

Dun-dun… This line comes from 1975’s Jaws , Steven Spielberg’s classic, a masterclass in suspense and suggestion. Spoken by Roy Scheider’s police chief Brody, the quote arrives at the exact moment the audience finally sees what’s been stalking them.

9

"I’m the king of the world!"

And speaking of boats… Can you figure out which film this line is from? Kudos if you guessed it: It’s the signature line Leonardo DiCaprio yells from the bow of the Titanic . That’s in the first third of the 1997 movie, while things are still looking sunny and, well, optimistic, for everyone.

10

"I’ll be back"

Threatening, short, and flat. This line comes from 1984’s The Terminator , directed by James Cameron and delivered with robotic calm by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role that defined his career. And yes, he did come back. Many times. Hollywood made sure of it.

11

"It was Beauty killed the Beast"

This is a closing line from a classic. Have you guessed it? It’s from 1933’s King Kong , directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The film gave audiences groundbreaking special effects, a towering ape with unexpected vulnerability, and a surprisingly heartbreaking ending.

That’s a wrap! How many of the movies could you identify? Did you get a perfect score?