By now you’re *definitely *getting sick of ice-bucket challenges, at least if you spend any time on social media. But they keep spreading exponentially, and some huge names have gotten involved, successfully raising awareness of and money for ALS (for the equivalent UK charity, the MND Association which offers help to ALS sufferers has taken up the cause; you can donate here). Now it’s not really impressive when sports people take ice baths – they do it all the time to prevent muscle swelling – and it’s pleasant but not relevant to this site when politicians do it, but pampered movie types? That’s more of a result – and here are some of the best…
TOM HIDDLESTON
The once and future Loki keeps it simple, remembers to give a shout-out to the charity and to encourage people to donate, and looks seriously shocked and appalled by the cold. Hang on a second! This whole thing is just a wet T-shirt contest, isn’t it?
CHRIS PRATT
The Guardians Of The Galaxy star tries to sidestep the whole being-drenched-in-cold-water thing in favour of an afternoon drink or two, but is cruelly foiled in his efforts. Mwahahah.
DAVE BAUTISTA
For reasons that he explains here, Bautista takes the ice-bucket challenge while sitting in a bath full of ice. He’s that tough.
CHARLIE SHEEN
What this video lacks in actual ice water, it boasts in actual money that Sheen promises to donate to ALS. Since most of the other celebrities here also made a donation though, we wish he done the dunk as well, if only to make up for the months of “tiger blood” jokes we all endured because of him. Still, a generous impulse.
JAMES FRANCO
Anything other celebrities can do, James Franco can do faster and without wearing pants.
STEVEN SPIELBERG
Former Empire editor Steven Spielberg has perhaps the most elegant response yet to having a bucket of ice water poured over his head.
JOE MANGANIELLO
The True Blood and Sabotage star keeps it pretty simple, but we thought the ladies might want a look. This clip also features Sofia Vergara explaining why you don’t see more female celebrities taking the challenge.
MICKEY ROURKE
Challenged by Robbie Keane, Rourke accepted the dare live on late-night TV, and brought his own goggles for good measure.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
The pop-star turned actor engages in a manly mass-bucketing backed by a crowd of manly men.
JIMMY FALLON, ROB RIGGLE, THE ROOTS, ETC.
Accepting Justin Timberlake’s challenge, Fallon and his entire team perform a merry mass-bucketing. Really, we're mostly concerned here that they have all ruined those snazzy suits. Let's hope they weren't dry-clean only.
DAVE GROHL
Grohl may be better known for his music than his film work, but his Carrie inspired take on the challenge is the most elaborate and cleverly-shot yet. And he looks just darling in his prom dress!
VIN DIESEL
The Fast & Furious star was challenged by his Guardians Of The Galaxy director, James Gunn, so demanded that Gunn plant a tree for Groot in return. He then challenged the only three people in the world who might be able to beat him in an arm-wrestling contest: Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie and Vladimir Putin.
JACK BLACK
Black makes fun of his lateness to the party by challenging three early participants, and adds a neat twist by having his small son also attack him with a water pistol.
HUGH JACKMAN AND THE CAST OF PAN
Unsurprisingly, Hugh Jackman’s at the heart of this effort. Also unsurprisingly, he makes a party of it and brings in the entire cast and crew of Pan alongside him. Cue whooping.
TOM CRUISE AND CHRISTOPHER MCQUARRIE
The famously daredevil star and his long-time collaborator find that the buckets just keep on coming as they take the challenge on behalf of their entire cast and crew. Even Tom Cruise is feeling the strain by the end, so you KNOW it’s tough.
DWAYNE JOHNSON
The Rock literally laughs in the face of your ice-bucket challenges.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
Is it cheating if your lower half is in a warm swimming pool? Naah, not when you make a noise this amusing once the water hits.
CHRIS HEMSWORTH
Keeping it casual, and Australian, Chris Hemsworth seems to rather enjoy the challenge. He’s clearly somewhere warm.
RICKY GERVAIS
There’s a genuinely surprised gasp here from Ricky Gervais, and amusingly the noted atheist calls to Jesus in the cold.
EMILY BLUNT / JOHN KRASINSKI
We’re not sure that John Krasinski understands how this is supposed to work. We’re pretty sure Emily Blunt explained it to him very shortly after this, with some force.
ANSEL ELGORT
This adorably lo-fi, solo take sees The Fault In Our Stars star using his own camera and reacting with childlike horror as the water hits.
TAKESHI KANESHIRO
The craze has gone worldwide at this point, with the Japanese mega-star getting in on the action too, and thriftily reusing dehumidifier water for the purpose. All this, and he’s eco-minded!
ZAC EFRON, ASHLEY TISDALE
Here is a High School Musical reunion, which will thrill, well, some people anyway. This is a disappointingly by-the-numbers effort, which we include chiefly for Efron-in-wet-shirt completists, but it's enlivened by Tisdale's girlish shrieks and Efron's inspired nomination of Matthew McConaughey.
ROBERT PATTINSON
This is arguably cheating, because ice and water are applied separately, but Pattinson explains that he was improvising in response to Zac Efron's challenge, and he gets bonus points for having numerous containers thrown at him as well.
IDRIS ELBA
Another nominee who takes the challenge live on late night TV, Idris Elba wins points for nominating royalty and for fitting in a few smooth dance moves to warm himself up afterwards.
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
By our count, Benedict Cumberbatch gets six different soakings here, although two are almost simultaneous. Any points he loses for taking his challenge outside the 24-hour deadline are more than mitigated by his commitment to originality and thoroughness.
KERMIT THE FROG
Most people risk a touch of chill or mild chaffing by doing the ice bucket challenge. Kermit, however, risks accidentally sending himself into a sort of frog coma, so well done him for going ahead anyway.
TINA FEY
Tina Fey definitely, 100% takes the challenge herself and doesn’t just get her daughter to sub for her, no siree bob.
HENRY CAVILL, AMY ADAMS
This is a giggly mess, enlivened by Henry Cavill in full Superman gear getting multiple buckets over the head. Bet he wishes he’d used his heat vision before they tipped them up, eh?
DAVID LYNCH
David Lynch takes the challenge in his own inimitable style, having iced coffee poured over his head while playing the trumpet, and then challenging Vladimir Putin (the answer to the question, "What do David Lynch and Vin Diesel have in common?"). Bravo.
BEN AFFLECK / JENNIFER GARNER
Garner didn’t strictly get iced here, you might notice, but we like the casual, family vibe here and the fact that one of the Affleck kids clearly thinks this is the funniest thing that has ever happened, like, ever.
WILL SMITH
Will Smith wins points for his scenic backdrop, and for noting that he “ain’t no punk”.
JOHN TRAVOLTA
Travolta opens by poking fun at his own blunder at the Oscars last year, where he spectacularly messed up the name of the star of Frozen, which is rather charming.
CHANNING TATUM / JENNA DEWAR-TATUM
Does it look to anyone else like these two lovebirds have been kidnapped and locked in a dark, dank basement? Or like one of them came close to being brained here? Whatever; at least Channing had the presence of mind to nominate Meryl Streep and Daniel Day Lewis. Of course, those two have probably done it already but we just didn’t recognise them because they were in character.
EMMA STONE
This is here almost entirely because Stone apparently calls her boyfriend “Andrew Gar-field Of Dreams”.
ZOE SALDANA (SORT OF)
Zoe Saldana offers up a strong excuse here (pregnancy) and her husband steps in to the breach, showing that greater love hath no man than he who gets ice water poured over his head for his wife.