Editing Billy Bob Thornton (section)

=== 1996–2004: ''Sling Blade'' and acclaim ===
He went on to write, direct, and star in the 1996 [[independent film]] ''[[Sling Blade]]''.<ref name="actors" /> The film, an expansion of the [[short film]] ''[[Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade]]'', introduced the story of a [[intellectual disability|mentally disabled]] man imprisoned for a gruesome and seemingly inexplicable murder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/sling-blade-movie-2181/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Sling Blade'' garnered international acclaim.  Thornton's screenplay earned him an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best Adapted Screenplay, a [[Writers Guild of America Award]], and an [[Edgar Award]], while his performance received Oscar and [[Screen Actors Guild]] nominations for Best Actor.<ref name="actors" />

Thornton appeared in several major film roles following the success of ''Sling Blade''. In 1998, he portrayed the [[James Carville]]-like Richard Jemmons in ''[[Primary Colors (film)|Primary Colors]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tunzelmann |first=Alex von |date=2013-05-29 |title=Primary Colors: fiction takes second place to fact |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2013/may/29/primary-colors-bill-clinton-film-accuracy |access-date=2024-06-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> That same year, he appeared in the [[disaster film]] ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'', and the [[neo-noir]] [[thriller film]] ''[[A Simple Plan (film)|A Simple Plan]]'', the latter of which earned him a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]. His screen persona has been described by the press as that of a "tattooed, hirsute man's man".<ref name="jamshowbiz">{{cite web |publisher=JAM! Showbiz |title=Billy Bob Hollywood's go-to guy |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2006/09/24/1888691.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101055419/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2006/09/24/1888691.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=September 24, 2006 }}</ref>

Thornton adapted the book ''[[All the Pretty Horses (novel)|All the Pretty Horses]]'' into a 2000 ''[[All the Pretty Horses (film)|film of the same name]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-01-01 |title=All The Pretty Horses |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pretty-horses-review/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Empire |language=en}}</ref> The negative experience (he was forced to cut more than an hour of footage) led to his decision to never direct another film; a subsequent release, ''[[Daddy and Them]]'', had been filmed earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daddy and Them |url=http://jpshrine.org/news/dadnthem1.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=jpshrine.org}}</ref>  Also in 2000, an early script which he and [[Tom Epperson]] wrote together was made into ''[[The Gift (2000 film)|The Gift]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chagollan |first=Steve |date=2000-12-12 |title=The Gift |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/awards/the-gift-2-1117790410/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2001, he directed ''Daddy and Them'' while securing starring roles in three Hollywood films: the [[romantic drama]] ''[[Monster's Ball]]'', the [[Crime film|crime]] [[Comedy drama|comedy-drama]] ''[[Bandits (2001 film)|Bandits]]'', and the neo-noir film ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 film)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/billy-bob-thornton-2174/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2002, Thornton appeared in [[Travis Tritt]]'s [[music video]] for the song "[[Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde]]".

[[file:BillyBobThorntonHWOFFeb2012crop.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Thornton in 2012]] 
Thornton played a malicious mall [[Santa Claus|Santa]] in 2003's ''[[Bad Santa]]'', a [[black comedy]] on the set of which he admits to getting drunk,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-21 |title=Billy Bob Thornton reveals he was drunk while filming iconic Bad Santa scene |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/bad-santa-billy-bob-thornton-drunk-mall-scene-a9165516.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> and in the same year, portrayed an oil millionaire in the comedy film ''[[Intolerable Cruelty]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Intolerable Cruelty movie review (2003) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/intolerable-cruelty-2003 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=rogerebert.com |language=en}}</ref> and a womanizing President of the United States in the British [[romantic comedy]] film ''[[Love Actually]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Thomas |date=2021-12-23 |title=Billy-Bob Thornton {{!}} Love, Actually |url=https://cinemayearzero.com/2021/12/23/billy-bob-thornton-love-actually/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=CINEMA YEAR ZERO |language=en}}</ref> He stated that, following the success of ''Bad Santa'', audiences "like to watch him play that kind of guy" and that "[[Casting (performing arts)|casting directors]] call him up when they need an asshole".<ref name="jamshowbiz" /> He referred to this when he said that "it's kinda that simple... you know how narrow the imagination in this business can be".<ref>{{cite web|work=Los Angeles Daily News |title=School is in session |url=http://www.dailynews.com/entertainment/ci_4386629 |access-date=September 24, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003839/http://www.dailynews.com/entertainment/ci_4386629 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> In 2004, Thornton starred as [[David Crockett]] in ''[[The Alamo (2004 film)|The Alamo]]'', and played Coach [[Gary Gaines]] in the [[Football films|football drama]] film ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friday Night Lights |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/friday-night-lights/2000121826/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>  Also that year, he received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on October 7.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-25 |title=Thornton Gets Star on Hollywood Walk |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/thornton-gets-star-on-hollywood-walk |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref>