There have been plenty of movies I’ve seen in recent memory that have catered or mostly catered to a female audience. I’m not just talking about movies like Barbie. It Ends with Us was like that. So was The Housemaid, though the latter did have some testosterone in the room. Doubtless The Devil Wears Prada would have been similar had I managed to catch it in theaters. The experience of seeing a movie in a roomful of women isn’t that weird these days, but I can 100% say seeing Wicker in a packed theater of women was a wild experience. I can't recommend it enough.

Listen, I’ve been in some invested audiences before. I bawled my eyes out in The Fault in our Stars. I was in a giant theater opening night and the whole crowd burst into applause several times when Godzilla opened in 2014. I saw Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 in an early screening before the fanbase knew what was coming and people in the theater were freaking out. Some fans literally stood up several times in my Avengers: Endgame showing. None of this prepared me for the crowd I’d sit with during my viewing of Wicker this weekend.

I can’t remember the last time I sat with such a rowdy crowd. Actually, that’s not true. I can. It was Magic Mike.

Let me set the stage really quickly. Wicker is in wide release right now, but with You Can See Everything, Clayface and more in theaters, it’s not exactly occupying prime real estate. At my local theater, we were in the last theater in a row of theaters, and there were maybe 40 seats in total. (I just checked; it’s 44.) Despite these uphill battles, outside of a few first row strays, my entire theater was full, and entirely full of women. It was the perfect crowd.

If you’ve seen Wicker, it manages an oddball tone that’s both sincere and extremely funny, and on top of this just the general idea of Alexander Skarsgard being recreated in wicker lends even more absurdity to any viewing of the movie. Critics have loved Wicker, but also It’s no wonder the sex scenes were so difficult to pull off.

The audience was primed for this. As characters died and Wicker babies were born (created?), everyone in the room was vocal. The laughter was palpable. Many times people hooted and hollered at the screen. Everyone was very invested in Mr. Wicker, the undeniably awesome character played by Alexander Skarsgard, a creature who upended the village just by figuring out how how to communicate with the woman he loved.

It's subversive, sex positive, and hilarious, and I feel completely justified in saying I think it has to be better in exactly the context I watched it in: A packed theater chock full of women.

I haven’t seen Wicker from the comfort of my own couch yet, for obvious reasons. Doubtless it will still have a wicked script and will still be received positively by audiences, but this is one rare indie movie that absolutely translates to the movie theater and deserves a solid box office run; I feel confident it will NOT be better from the comfort of your own home. I feel so grateful a bunch of ladies threw on their sweatshirts and brought in their theater blankets on a Sunday evening to experience Wicker with me.

I’m as enamored with you all as I was with Mr. Skarsgård and the sacrifices he made to turn his body into wood on the big screen.

I know that sometimes taking a hard stance against a beloved movie like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is always risky, but this is one that I've held for a long time, and I’m comfortable if the comments about this take aim at me. I simply don’t like the movie. Weirdly, I don’t have a problem with the Oscars it won (and it won a lot in one of the best Oscar races ever), and I don’t dislike anything about the production of the movie. The Cuckoo’s Nest cast and their performances are fantastic, the directing from Miloš Forman is top-notch, and the dialogue is spot on. There is a fundamental flaw with this book-to-screen adaptation, and that is the reduction of the most important character in the book, Chief Bromden, into something way less than he should have been.

Chief Bromden Is The Heart And Soul Of The Book

I love the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. When people ask me what my favorite book ever is, I usually answer with the 1962 novel that helped define a generation. I’ve read the book four times over the years, and every time I read it, I get something new out of it. When I first read it, sometime in high school in the early ‘90s, I focused on what the movie focuses on: R.P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson in the movie, in one of his best roles) and his exploits in the ward of the mental hospital.

I was taken by McMurphy. His anti-authoritarian posturing was perfect for an anxious wanna-be rebellious teenager. He is loud and brash, and lives life his own way. It’s basically any 15-year-old’s dream. Minus the getting locked up part, obviously. I also loved the stories of the other guys in the ward, like Billy, Martini, and Harding. They all get their own glory in the movie. However, in each of my subsequent readings, it’s always been about Bromden. The story is told through his eyes, and it’s his thoughts that continue to stick with me.

Bromden Is Basically A Side Character In The Movie

Here’s the problem with the movie: Bromden is more or less irrelevant to the story. Sure, he gets his big moment at the end, just as in the book, but it feels so much less deserved in the movie. He’s basically a tall Native American that McMurphy needs for his basketball team in the movie. Gone from the movie are his thoughts on the ward and society as a whole. His backstory–his father being cheated by the United States and Bromden’s retreat into himself, landing him on the ward–is erased from the character.

He’s a side character who befriends McMurphy because McMurphy treats him like a regular guy. He’s not the center of the story, as he is in the book, he’s barely a character at all. Some may disagree with me, but I don’t like that Bromden has his revelation at the end of the movie and decides to smother McMurphy after the latter is lobotomized, basically because McMurphy gave him a piece of Juicy Fruit. His motivations in the book are far bigger.

Eliminating Bromden’s Omniscience Misses The Whole Point

In the book, Bromden tells the story of McMurphy’s battle against Nurse Ratched on the ward of the hospital. He’s not an unreliable narrator, though. He’s telling the reader what he’s observing on the ward. He’s mixing that in with memories of his childhood and of his father, and weaving that into a larger narrative about “The Combine.” The Combine is society, trying to get everyone to follow the rules, and breaking down those who refuse to play ball.

Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher in the movie) represents the Combine in Bromden’s small world in the hospital. She is at war with McMurphy, who is refusing to play by the rules of the ward, goading everyone else to join him in his defiance. To Bromden, McMurphy is a hero, fighting societal norms and yearning to break free of The Combine. Indeed, to destroy the whole machine itself. None of that is part of the movie, at least not in any real way. Yeah, McMurphy is a rebel, but he’s just a criminal. He’s not representative of anything bigger, as he’s meant to be in the book. Even by the filmmakers’ account, they were just looking to cast an Indian who was tall and big. He was really seen as nothing more than a side character at best.

That really irks me when I watch the movie, as I did just recently for the first time in a couple of decades. It didn’t change my opinion, overall. The story is about mental illness, yes, but it’s about so much more.

By The Way, Ken Kesey Agreed With Me

The author of Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey, agreed with his assessment. Though he loved the play that was adapted from the book a decade before the movie (as do I), he didn’t like the movie for the same reasons I don’t. Ratched isn’t the villain in the book, as Kesey has pointed out. The villain is the Combine, and Big Nurse was only a cog in the machine. She is representative of the Combine, but the machine is way bigger than her. In a documentary called Completely Cuckoo, which is an extra on the digital download I bought with my Apple subscription, Kesey says:

There's something in the American soul. We're going to take this monster with a tail and throw it over its back and whip it. This is the Combine, and this is the Murphy. 
The villain in Cuckoo’s Nest is the Combine. It's not the nurse. When you drop it down to being the nurse, you're back into melodrama.

Kesey claimed in later interviews that he’d never seen the movie, and never intended to. While he was initially hired by the producers (which included Michael Douglas) to write a screenplay, they rejected it because he wanted the film to be more like the book, trippy and psychedelic, with a bigger concept than what he called a Hogan’s Heroes-style melodrama. The screenplay, which won an Oscar, is great, but it’s not the Cuckoo’s Nest I love, and that is a flaw I’ll never be able to get over.

November is Native American Heritage Month, which is what inspired me to revisit the movie. After watching the movie again and realizing that I’m never going to see it as the book’s equal, I really can’t wait to read it again.

Everybody’s been sad, but not everybody has dealt with depression. I have, when I lost my mother, and I was in a really dark place.

Gradually, I’ve come to heal, and I now smile more than I tear up when I think about her. That said, do you know what helped get me through my dark period? Watching movies about depression. In a sense, it helped me to feel my way through my own grief.

Well, one series that snuck up on me is the anime, This Monster Wants to Eat Me. It’s currently available with a Crunchyroll subscription, and it’s definitely one of the most unique representations of depression I’ve ever seen. Here’s why.

An All-Consuming Monster Is A Fascinating Metaphor For Overwhelming Depression

One thing I love about anime is that it can often tackle heavy subject matter in the form of the supernatural. My favorite anime, Attack on Titan, tackled fascism, racism, and discrimination, and had them all on display while people zipped around on wires and cut giants on their napes. Sure, American cartoons have delved into adult territories, too (Avatar: The Last Airbender tackled genocide. The new show, Avatar: Seven Havens addresses P.T.S.D.) But, I think there’s something to anime specifically as a lot of it is not meant for children.

This Monster Wants to Eat Me is no exception. The main character, Hinako, lost her entire family in a car crash, and she’s the sole survivor. Oftentimes, it’s a struggle for her to even get out of bed, and her sole ambition is to see her family again. In other words, she contemplates joining them. However, a yokai, which is a Japanese spirit, in the form of a mermaid, wants to eat Hinako, because her blood is apparently delicious.

And this, of course, can be interpreted as a metaphor for depression itself being an all-consuming monster. Hinako eventually befriends the Yokai because it promises to eventually eat her one day. Make of that what you will.

The Story Does A Good Job Of Showcasing What A Support System Looks Like For Those Who Need It

I’ve been thinking a lot about RJ Miite ever since he died by suicide. Like many fans of his work, it hit me hard. But, what hit me even harder was when I heard stories about his former coworkers hanging out with him just days before he died. Some of them could tell that something was wrong, but they never imagined that he would take his own life. It was a shock to many.

This Monster Wants to Eat Me reveals what a support system looks like for somebody with suicidal thoughts, but that as much as they try, the grief, i.e., the monster, might be too much to contend with. Hinako’s best friend is a spunky redhead named Miko. Now, Miko can be a bit much when it comes to her exuberance, but we later learn that it’s all an act. Being there for her friend takes a lot out of her.

Miko just wants Hinako to be happy, though, and she goes through any length to protect her…even if she’s not exactly what she seems. I’ll just leave it at that. Aside from being a great show about depression, it has lots of twists and turns.

I've Seen Stories About Depressed Characters, But This Is The First Show I've Ever Seen That Perfectly Captures The Actual Feeling Of Depression

I love this anime’s story, but what I love the most is that it truly captures the FEELING of depression.

There is a lot of cheeriness and fake smiles going on here, but underneath it all are the quiet moments. Most of the characters are both literally and figuratively hiding their true selves, and that’s very much what depression feels like. The world keeps moving, even if you don’t want to keep moving with it.

I highly recommend that you watch This Monster Wants to Eat Me, but only if you’re in an emotionally safe place currently. It goes to some pretty dark places.

I’ve been excited for Wildwood’s place on the 2026 release schedule ever since I saw the first look. If you’ve seen any of Laika’s movies, I don’t have to explain much why. The studio handcrafts its films shot by shot using stop-motion on practical sets. They’ve created some real gems, including Coraline, Paranorman and Kubo and the Two Strings. While I was expecting the epic fantasy film that it turned out to be, I was caught off guard by one big topic the movie spoke to: infertility, and I want to highlight how beautifully I thought it was handled. SPOILERS are ahead for Wildwood. Proceed with caution.

Wildwood’s Infertility Plotline Was Unexpected

The movie is one of this year’s book-to-screen adaptations from a novel written by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. It quickly establishes the sister/brother relationship between 13-year-old Prue and her infant sibling, Mac. While her parents tell her not to take her baby brother outside, she defies them because she wants to show him around their home in beautiful Portland, OR. Then he’s mysteriously kidnapped by a murder of crows. Prue then spends the rest of the movie trying to rescue Mac from his darkly magical abduction.

Later in the film, Prue comes home at first after being unsuccessful in finding her brother. That’s when her parents come clean about something. In order for them to have kids, they sought some mysterious witchcraft from the Wildwood forest. They made a deal with the movie’s villain, the dowager governess, Alexandra, after trying everything to have kids and being unsuccessful. The terms of their deal were that their second-born belonged to Alexandra, which they agreed to because they thought they would just have one child. But then Mac came along.

Why I’m Grateful It Talks About It

Typically, when I’ve seen the topic of infertility tackled in a movie, it’s some dark R-rated drama that’s kind of depressing, but Wildwood is a PG-13 wonder-filled fantasy that was clearly made with mass audiences in mind. It’s a topic worth talking about because infertility is a very common struggle. The World Health Organization reports that approximately one in six people of reproductive age experience it in their lifetime. Yet, it’s just not talked about enough, and therefore the public perception of having kids is normalized as something everyone can readily achieve once they are ready to.

I appreciated Wildwood in particular covering this topic because it was learned from the perspective of the child. Prue had no idea of the struggles her parents went through for her and her brother to exist. I hope this is the kind of movie that inspires some conversations among parents and kids, or among friends, about how there often isn’t a clear-cut path to parenthood.

Obviously, the grounds of how Prue’s parents were able to have their kids is fantastical, but the pain, shame and hurt associated with their efforts to become parents. So often fantasy films focus on the loss of the child losing their parents, but this movie kept the parents alive and allowed space for their experience as parents to be felt. I imagine a lot of people who can relate to the McKeels are going to really appreciate Wildwood for the subject matter, not just for its inspiring stop motion.

Let’s be honest here: usually the red carpet moments that are all the rage in the world of celebrity fashion feature women of a certain age. It's less common for us to see actors in their golden years strutting their stuff at movie premieres. But then there's Helen Mirren, who just stepped out in a very trendy fashion ensemble that included a corset, and I’m obsessed.

Corsets have been a popular fashion statement worn by celebs in recent years. Sydney Sweeney loves them so much she made her own for her lingerie brand, and Florence Pugh just wore the style at the premiere of East of Eden. Now, check out Helen Mirren taking on the trend:

Mirren has a new project on the 2026 movie schedule called A Talent For Murder. But at its New York City premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater, I think she showed that she has a talent for looking good in anything. I’ve never seen an 81-year-old in a black corset before, but she makes it look like the fad was made exactly for her.

The Oscar winner wore a drop-waist corseted skirt with pleated tulle from Matières Fécales Fall 2026 collection. And can I borrow this? She paired it with a ribbed long-sleeve black shirt and a matching chunky pearl necklace and earring set. Sarah Paulson wore the same skirt in white at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar party, and Claire Foy donned the silver edition in June at the London Film Festival. I love that Helen Mirren took on the hot-ticket corseted skirt herself, and rocked it.

As a 30-year-old woman who’s afraid to touch a corset in my own big outings, Helen Mirren’s confidence is infectious and so refreshing to see. I love that she doesn’t let her age stop her from being exactly who she is: an icon!

Mirren, who’s been acting since the 1960s and is still very much working, has also consistently been outspoken about this topic too. She’s talked before about being asked to get a nose job in her 20s, and deciding not to listen. And she had a spitfire reaction to being called someone with a “young spirit” in recent years:

As we get older, I think there’s often this idea that there are fewer things we’ll be able to wear and things we will no longer be able to do. Helen Mirren is a reminder that fashion can be ageless and you can do anything you set your mind to if you have the right mindset.

Helen Mirren’s new movie this weekend has the dame playing an acclaimed thriller writer who’s approached by a young man to write the final installment of her famed book series. It’s got an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. I wonder if Mirren will turn up in more fire red carpet looks soon for this release.

These days Practical Magic is a spooky season classic, but did you know that when the original movie came out, it flopped? It disappointed at the box office and was slammed by critics. It's, of course, since been embraced by audiences, and a sequel was just part of the 2026 movie schedule. Now, Sandra Bullock has taken some time to celebrate the movie’s ongoing importance and take shots at its critical reception.

The first Practical Magic movie hit theaters this weekend back in 1998. Here’s how Bullock remembered the witchy comedy on its anniversary:

Practical Magic holds a quite low critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. Washington Post’s Eve Zibart, for example, characterized it as “just a TV-ready mix of camp and curdle” at the time. Iconic critic Roger Ebert was the one who called it “too scary for children and too childish for adults,” and NY Times’s Janet Maslin described it as “nothing but a guilty pleasure”. The "too many women" comment is especially wild when you think about it.

The movie also made $94 million against a reported production budget of around $75 million. As Sandra Bullock pointed out in her new post on Instagram, despite its commercial reception, Practical Magic has remained a very special movie to its fans. As she added:

It took a long time for Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman to reunite for the sequel, but thanks to the movie becoming beloved over time, they made Practical Magic 2. The sequel also earned a similar score on RT (36%), but audiences who saw it were very happy to come back to it and gave it a lot of praise. Bullock also said this as she celebrated the anniversary:

What an apt quote for Practical Magic from the source material itself! The new movie allowed Bullock and Kidman to continue the story with Sally and Gilly Owens as middle-aged women – something we don’t see too often in big studio films. Practical Magic 2 opened at No. 1 at the box office and made $104.6 million worldwide. It wasn’t a stunning success either, but fans definitely showed up for this one. I expect once those with an HBO Max subscription can check it out, it’ll only soar higher.

Bullock’s message about the Practical Magic movies led Julianne Hough to write “All time favorite forever and always,” Olivia Munn posted a comment that said “It was, is and will always be a love letter to sisters and friends,” and so many others left messages about how much this movie means to them. Many cited watching the films with their own sisters and making powerful memories with them and Practical Magic.

They may not be critically acclaimed blockbusters, but they’re treasured by so many people, and doesn’t that mean more?

Spoilers for Animals lie ahead, so read on with that in mind.

Animals is one of the latest titles to hit the 2026 movie schedule, and it has quite a bit to offer. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, this thriller centers around a mayoral candidate and his wife (Kerry Washington), who find themselves reeling after their son is apparently kidnapped. Also drawn into the situation are the couple’s maid and her boyfriend, who are played by Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz, respectively. CinemaBlend recently spoke to the two, who discussed the film’s depiction of the Mexican-American experience.

Cecilia Trujillo (Paz) and Ramon Valle (Méndez) live very different lives from the former’s employees, the Kimballs. While Cecilia works to make a living as a housekeeper, Ramon is an undocumented worker, who struggles to find work due to his citizenship status. Their worlds are turned upside down when Ramon’s son, Hector, is unwittingly kidnapped in place of the Kimballs’ son, Denny. That’s just one facet of the character’s arcs, though, and Méndez spoke about one key element the film tackles that rings true to his culture:

Personally, I’d argue that this 2026 Netflix release does present a somewhat more nuanced take on the relationship between Mexican Americans and their white employers. But, on top of that, Ramon and Cecilia are also two people who aren’t just willing to sit around while Ramon remains in captivity. That’s especially evidenced by the fact that Ramon makes his way out of the Kimballs’ house to locate one of the conspirators who’s watching the compound. Méndez also says this:

Throughout the movie, both Cecilia and Ramon must make some very big decisions, and that’s especially the case when it comes to the latter. (I won’t go into the specifics of Animals’ ending here, but Ramon plays a key role in the third act.) Méndez also spoke to the complexities of behavior and how that applies to his and Paz’s characters:

Paz agreed with her co-star’s observations, and she also discussed another key component of Mexican Americans’ experiences in the U.S. – their interactions with helpful people they meet in the U.S. The Emilia Pérez star shared some thoughts on how that’s reflected in the movie:

Affleck seemed to take care in depicting Mexican Americans, and the community as a whole plays heavily into the film. One of the key subplots involves his character, Mark, trying to gain support from the Latin community during his run for mayor. There are also several scenes in which Mark speaks Spanish, and Paz and Méndez praised Affleck’s bilingualism. Authentic Mexican representation has seen strides in some regards, and I’d hope that this movie helps further the trend of creating nuanced roles that reflect the culture.

Check out Animals by streaming it with a Netflix subscription now.

The reviews for The Breadwinner warned me that Nate Bargatze's movie debut wasn't the most progressive of movies, but even that was an understatement. As a fan of the comedian and his past sketches, I decided to watch it when it was available with my Netflix subscription, and it made me so angry as a dad that I almost shut it off a few times.

Beyond a dated message explaining that gender-defined household duties can be bad, The Breadwinner commits a sin I can't overlook. The story revolves around and somewhat idealizes the stereotype of a dad that, quite frankly, I can't believe exists in 2026.

I Can't Imagine Any Happy Family In 2026 In Which The Father Knows Nothing About Basic Chores Or His Children's Lives

There's nothing aggravating about Nate being "the breadwinner" in the movie, but there is something aggravating about the film's repeated hook that it's all he's ever had to do. Even in a family comedy, how much disbelief should we suspend that outside of selling cars, this man knows absolutely nothing about how to run a household?

As a father, I'd be pretty embarrassed if I couldn't prepare eggs for my child without burning them, or do laundry. Not as embarrassed as I'd be if I didn't know basic details about where they go to school, or who their friends were. All of those things happen in the movie, by the way, and it infuriated me.

Nate Could've Definitely Learned How To Do Laundry, Cook Adequately, And Many Other Things In A Month

Don't get me wrong, I get it's a comedy, but it's only funny if Nate is called out for what he actually is. What The Breadwinner will tell you is that Nate is just a man who doesn't know how to do things because he was busy working while his wife handled all that stuff. As he says early in the movie, perhaps because there was an inkling this movie wouldn't go over well, it's not what everyone does, but it works for them.

The reality is, Nate is a man-child. He's given a full month to attempt to learn any of these skills he should've known well before marriage, and yet somehow, by the end of the movie, he still doesn't know how to do any of them.

The Breadwinner resolves all this at the end by showing that Nate let go of his goal of becoming the top salesman at his car dealership in order to help his wife around the house more. The moral? Your husband can be useful at home, ladies, but his work will suffer.

I've seen the show has a high audience score, and honestly, it's probably because people aren't thinking about it as deeply as I am. At the base level, this was made to be a family comedy, and it succeeds in being a movie for all ages.

What I don't like about it as a dad is that there may be a generation of boys who think it's ok if they're clueless about buying groceries or keeping a home clean. These are basic life skills people should maintain, regardless of their job. Nate Bargatze may have some funny one-liners in his stand-up, but I think he needs to take a better look at the scripts he signs on for in the future.

The Breadwinner is available to stream on Netflix. While I can't give it my official seal of approval, I can say that I enjoyed Mandy Moore in it and how the movie referenced her pop roots.

While you’re getting ready to watch your favorite scary movie, this month is more than just candy and costumes. For one actor this month is about the color pink, and no it’s not Reese Witherspoon. Fans have more to celebrate this Halloween season thanks to the long-awaited Practical Magic sequel. While Nicole Kidman is pretty under pink lights, it’s not to promote her return as Gillian Owens, it’s to promote breast cancer awareness month.

The actor has been in Paris in honor of Fashion Week, and in her latest Instagram post, she’s looking absolutely bewitching in pink. During her stay at the five-star luxury hotel The Peninsula Paris, she seized the opportunity to promote the importance of October outside of midnight margaritas and spells. The post is simply captioned, “Pink lights in honor of #BreastCancerAwareness Month,” and really that says it all:

The actor is seemingly moving forward following her divorce from Keith Urban with a series of spellbinding shots showing Kidman aglow in pink lights. The first shot shows her leaning on the railing of the Peninsula Paris, and she’s look just as radiant as she did during the promotion of Practical Magic 2. Other photos show off sunsets, the hotel adorned in pink, and even checking out the “Dancing Roses” display with her daughter Faith. Like Kidman, the hotel is known for spending each October promoting breast cancer awareness by illuminating its façade in a magical pink glow every evening. This is an annual tradition that occurs as part of the hotel’s Peninsula in Pink campaign.

Even the centerpiece of the lobby, a permanent base entitled “Dancing Leaves,” is sporting pink roses as a floral call for awareness. The display was designed by Ludek Hroch for the renowned glassmaker LASVIT and is an important feature of the Peninsula Paris. This is the perfect setting for Kidman to raise awareness, and her post is making fans want to grab an umbrella and take a leap:

• Your home away from home 💕🙏 - @ThePeninsulaParis
• Love you Queen ❤️❤️❤️ - @gwen110304
• girl is absolutely living - @joshua__solberg
• Whatever this female renaissance is I want it 🔥❤️🌹- @galecarmina
• you are the BEST thank you for supporting! 🎀 - @juliavonboehm

Kidman certainly looks at home at the hotel, and it’s understandable given her long history with promoting breast cancer awareness. She is an avid participant in awareness campaigns and a long-time supporter (and often donates) to research programs. The actor also frequently collaborates with the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center on awareness campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and public service announcements on the importance of early detection and personalized treatments. Her dedication stems from a personal place as her mother was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer when she was a teenager and she took time off to care for her during treatments. She also had a minor scare back in 2004.

So while she’s gotten a lot of attention about sporting a ring on THAT finger while at Paris Fashion Week, Kidman’s post is a lovely reminder that this month is more than fashion and midnight drinks. Plus, Kidman would rather not look at another margarita after filming Practical Magic 2. It’s important to her that people are talking about the importance of breast cancer awareness.

Though this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the scary antics of the month. Even Kidman enjoys a good freezer spell. Just remember to wear pink (or use pink lights) and raise awareness.

After winning Best Actor at the Oscars last year and spending a lot of his time after that directing his remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, Michael B. Jordan is in some rarefied Hollywood air these days. The film, which will hit the 2027 movie schedule on March 5, has a big budget and big expectations (including from me). Jordan knows that with big budgets comes big responsibilities, especially as a Black filmmaker.

Jordan was interviewed recently at CultureCon, and he talked about that responsibility, saying (via People):

Jordan also knows he can’t be complacent and strives to make sure he’s presenting himself and his movies in a way that will always be seen positively. He knows he’s become a role model, and he takes that seriously, adding:

It’s very affirming stuff, and hardly surprising coming from an actor and director as thoughtful as Jordan is. He’s a guy who got his big break on TV in one of the most acclaimed shows of all time, The Wire, and has continued to crush it in every role his had, both in front of the camera in movies like Sinners, Fruitvale Station, and Black Panther, and behind it with Creed III and now The Thomas Crown Affair.

I, for one, am really excited about Thomas Crown. I’m a huge fan of the original version starring Steve McQueen from 1968 and an even bigger fan of the 1999 remake starring Pierce Brosnan in the title role. The movie’s first trailer definitely has a vibe much closer to the latter, and for that, I’m completely stoked. I think it’s the perfect role for an actor like Jordan at this point in his career, and I love how seriously he’s taken both the movie and his larger role in Hollywood. It only has me more excited for March to get here!

You know, for a time, I really wanted to watch Obsession, but I kept putting it off, and you'll never guess the reason why: It's because I was too scared to watch it. However, one of my students, who is TWELVE, saw the movie and she said to me, “I think you can handle it, Mr. Knight.” After that, I just had to put on my big boy pants and watch it. I didn't find it scary at all. In fact, I found it funny!

Which made me wonder something: Am I just too old to be scared by stories concerning young people? Enter Backrooms, which is actually a story concerning mature characters. Though I didn't find it scary, I did find it way more compelling than Obsession. Here's why.

I Can Actually Relate To The Decision-Making Of The Characters In This Film

I've seen most of the best horror movies of all time. While I do appreciate franchise horror films like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Child's Play, I find that in my older years (I'm in my 40s), I tend to come back to movies like The Shining, The Conjuring, and the later Halloween movies like Halloween: Resurrection, where Jamie Lee Curtis is a mature adult.

It has made me realize something: Perhaps I've just aged out of the kind of horror that concerns young people. When I watch those kinds of films, I can't see myself in the situations these young people find themselves in, so I'm no longer scared by them. Backrooms is different in that it features two lead characters played by mature actors. One of them is Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who is in charge of a rundown furniture store. Clark is going through a divorce and is seeing a therapist.

Clark is depressed and basically living in the past. I can relate. So, when he finds a strange portal in his department store, I can understand his desire to explore it. This is something new for him. It's something strange. Something so outside his realm of understanding that I get his compulsion to want to explore it. For the first time in a long time, he finally feels excited about something again.

The other character is Clark's therapist, Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve). She also finds herself in the Backrooms and seems to be constantly reliving traumatic moments from her childhood. I also understand her desire to find some kind of closure, even in her adulthood. It all just makes me feel even closer to these characters, given their life experiences.

Backrooms Is Proof That Older People Can Make For Good Horror Protagonists

I also love The Others starring Nicole Kidman, and not just because of its shocking ending. When I first watched it in 2001, I was 18. Back then, I couldn't relate to the main protagonist as she was a middle-aged mother. Now that I'm actually thinking more about my own mortality (and I’m a middle-aged dad), I find myself really understanding her character much more these days.

Backrooms is further proof that older people can make for great horror protagonists. That's because older people have different fears than younger people. Having an existential crisis like Clark is a lot more relatable to me than having a woman being obsessed with me (which never happened in my entire life, but you know, whatever).

So, as an older person myself, when I look at the upcoming slate of horror movies, I'm going to consider who the story centers around. If the main character is in their 20s, then I might just wait for it to come to streaming. However, if the protagonist is in their late 30s or even their 40s or 50s, then I'll seriously consider seeing it in theaters. We old folks gotta stick together, you know.

Spoilers for Season 2, Episode 3 of Outlander: Blood of My Blood are ahead! You can watch this great series on Starz and catch new episodes on Fridays.

In Episode 3 of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, we got to see the women in the middle of the action. And when I saw action, I mean big, bloody and deadly action, the kind that the men typically find themselves in during a show like this. So, with that in mind, I asked Harriet Slater, who plays Ellen, as well as the show’s showrunner and executive producer, why it was important to feature an action-packed and empowering sequence for Ellen that was like “Home Alone with murder.”

Why Outlander: Blood Of My Blood Wanted Ellen And The Women In The Fight

For context, in this episode that aired on the 2026 TV schedule, when Castle Leoch is attacked, Ellen finds herself in a position to take charge and kill the men who are trying to take her family down. Ultimately, she kills many men; it’s brutal and oddly creative, and it lowkey feels like a very violent version of Home Alone, as executive producer Maril Davis and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts told me:

• Maril Davis: It was so fun. I mean, you know, I think in the writers' room they talked about it as like Home Alone.
• Matthew B. Roberts: Home Alone with murder.

It really was like “Home Alone with murder,” and I think Ellen and Kevin McCallister should maybe trade notes about how they protected their homes in the Outlander spinoff and one of the best Christmas movies, respectively.

Along with this sequence just being cool, it was also very meaningful and empowering. Often, in stories that take place in this old time, women are not in battle. However, they wanted Ellen leading the charge here, as Davis told me:

I also love everything about it; watching Ellen take down MacKinney’s men with her bow and arrows and intelligence was epic. It was also moving because we don’t get to see this often in period dramas. Plus, like Home Alone (which you can stream with a Disney+ subscription), this action was entertaining to watch, and Harriet Slater proved it was fun to shoot too.

Harriet Slater Spoke About What It Was Like To Film All That Action

While Harriet Slater has had her fair share of intense, dramatic and intimate moments in Blood of My Blood, being at the center of a battle was new. So, I asked her which element was the hardest part to perfect and what she was most proud of. The answer to both parts of that question was archery, as the Ellen actress explained:

Slater went on to say it was “tricky” to get the exact shot where she killed MacKinney. That’s because everything had to line up, and she couldn’t fully pull the bow back but still had to make it look like she was. However, they nailed the shot (both in terms of the camera and the kill shot), and it looked epic. So, fittingly, once they captured the moment, they celebrated:

It really is epic both literally and figuratively. Watching Ellen use her home and her wits to take down these guys was awesome, and it proved just how capable she is of holding her own in a fight. While I always assumed she could, it was fantastic to see it actually happen on screen.

Now, I can’t wait to see Ellen kick more butt as Outerland: Blood of My Blood continues its run on Starz. Based on this episode, I’d think everyone would know not to mess with her; however, I’m dying to see her in the heart of the action more often.

So, Forgotten Island didn't set the box office on fire (and seriously, stop sleeping on this movie!), but I'm just happy it exists. It's because my children finally have a movie that represents the other side of them.

My children, you see, are mixed-race. My wife is Filipino, and I'm Black. While there are a number of movies that represent my side of their bloodline (from major studios, no less), they really don't have many movies that represent their Filipino side.

Until now, because Forgotten Island fills that gap for them. Here's how.

This Is By Far The Most Filipino Movie From A Major Studio That I've Ever Seen

I mentioned my children in the intro, but my wife found a lot to love about this film as well. My wife was actually born in the Philippines, and she came to America at a young age. That said, it's been very important for her to never forget where she came from. She can't speak Tagalog, but she can still mostly understand it.

All throughout the film, she kept informing us of what certain words meant, as there are snatches of Tagalog throughout the story. It doesn't stop there, either. The way the Lolas (grandmothers) talk (with one even throwing her slipper), the way families congregate and sing karaoke. The fact that one of our protagonists drives a Jeepney. I mean, this whole movie is honestly the most Filipino thing I've ever seen that's not connected to TFC (The Filipino Channel).

I just love that my family has this. Last year, I had Sinners, which felt like it was speaking directly to Black audiences. Even as an outsider looking in, I feel like Forgotten Island is directly for Filipino audiences. Even my son said, “You didn't understand half of what was going on in that movie, did you?” once it was over, which, of course, was incorrect. I've been entrenched in my wife’s Filipino culture even before my son was born, but I'm happy that my son feels like he has a movie that speaks directly to HIM. That makes my heart glad.

I'm Also Glad That So Many Different People Will Be Exposed To This Wonderful Culture

I honestly thought I would be the only non-Filipino person in the theater when I saw Forgotten Island this past weekend, but I found that there were several different races present at the showing that my family and I went to.

Then I thought, "duh, Rich." Yes, this is a movie that revels in Filipino culture (even the scary bits), but it's also from DreamWorks, the home of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. So, OF COURSE a general audience would come out to see this movie.

Which also makes my heart glad, because it means that people who have no knowledge of Filipino culture whatsoever will get a crash course for 109 minutes. People will learn about the folklore, the food, the quirks, and everything in between, which is wonderful. Americans love Japanese, Korean, and Chinese culture, but I would love to see more Americans get into Filipino culture. That would be really awesome.

My Children Now Want To Know Even More About Their Mother's Side

The last great thing about this film is that my kids now want to know more about Filipino culture, namely the mythology. While they know all about the food, celebrities, and some of the history, they don't know ANYTHING about the mythology. Forgotten Island has made them interested in their own history. Can you get any better than that?

It’s no surprise that Halle Berry is already rocking her 60s as she continues to challenge Hollywood aging stereotypes, and each time, I just have to applaud her. The actor has always been an advocate for women, and in recent years has focused on speaking out about aging and menopause. She has certainly defined Hollywood’s concept of aging by going all-out to celebrate her 60th birthday at a resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, with her fiancé Van Hunt. So obviously, Berry doesn’t hold back about the lessons she’s learning at 60.

She brought these lessons when she spoke at the Create & Cultivate event in Los Angeles on September 20. The Monster’s Ball actor gave the keynote conversation entitled On Her Own Terms: Halle Berry on Menopause, Aging, & Women’s Health. Berry certainly proves she lives life “on her own terms” with a lot to say about age expectations and what she’s learned in this new era of her life. She states (via People):

We’ve definitely seen Berry rocking the confidence, and not just in how she celebrates her birthdays. While promoting the character drama Crime 101, she called out fans for compliments that said she looks good (for her age). When one of her cards had a fan comment that called out her age when calling her gorgeous, her response was blunt: “My age is always talked about with women.”

This bluntness has only grown with Berry constantly advocating and speaking out about her age, and it’s refreshing. However, the actor isn’t a stranger to speaking her mind. She has recently shared about the time she confronted Bryan Singer on the set of X-Men 2, before flying home in her costume. She described the moment as “one of the greatest days on a set,” and I love that that energy hasn’t faded. During her keynote conversation, she elaborates on this growing confidence that aging has given her, stating:

The Create & Cultivate event isn’t the first time we’ve seen Berry speaking out about menopause or how aging has given her confidence. Last year, she had a campaign about getting older, with an appearance on An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution. During her appearance, she spoke about women educating and advocating for themselves and their health. In 2024, the actor famously declared “I’m in menopause!” during a visit to Capitol Hill.

Additionally, she’s also helped introduce the bipartisan Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act. This act seeks to allocate $275 million toward a variety of women’s issues and more, such as medical provider training, public health awareness, and federal menopause research.

But wait, there’s more! Berry has also founded Respin Health, an online platform and care community that focuses on helping women with menopause symptoms and connecting them with proper medical support.

Not only does she share what she’s learned at 60, but she’s an amazing voice for women, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

I know it’s hard for anybody to agree upon what their favorite Guillermo del Toro movie is, but I think most people will agree that his most recognizable movie is 2006’s Pan’s Labyrinth, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Why wouldn’t it be? It’s one of the greatest dark fantasy movies ever made. Yes, del Toro would later win Best Picture and Best Director for 2017’s The Shape of Water, but the Pale Man might be his single most recognizable creation, and thus, synonymous with the man’s entire career.

So, with this being the 20th anniversary, here’s why it’s the perfect time (It’s actually ALWAYS the perfect time) to revisit Pan’s Labyrinth!

First, I Love How del Toro Makes A Parable About The Loss Of Innocence With This Fantastical Tale

As a Catholic who has sat through many a Mass, I can tell you that I love a good parable. “The Good Samaritan,” “The Prodigal Son,” and “The Good Shepherd” are all wonderful stories that I’ve learned a great deal from, and Pan’s Labyrinth is another great allegorical tale.

Set a few years after the Spanish Civil War, our protagonist is a ten-year-old girl named Ofelia who’s growing up during harrowing times. She finds herself led into a fantastical world that is full of wonder, but also danger, as it includes child-eating monsters and other hazards. Similar to another gem of a movie, Spirited Away (which is one of the best movies to show kids if you want to introduce them to allegorical storytelling), Pan’s Labyrinth employs fantastical elements to show how scary the transition into adulthood can be.

By adding in the war element, del Toro was working double time, as this is also a story about how a child’s innocence can be robbed from them due to factors completely outside of their control.

The Creature Designs Still Marvel, Even Today

Pan’s Labyrinth still looks amazing even after all these years, and this is mostly because of del Toro’s extensive use of practical effects. This makes the CGI look even more fantastical when you combine it with the amazing costumes and makeup. Characters like the faun, the stick insect, and the aforementioned Pale Man still impress today because they (mostly) don't use any CGI.

Here’s the craziest thing: the movie actually could have looked completely different. When del Toro was getting financing for the film, producers said that he could get way more money if he just made it in English. However, del Toro knew the film had to be in Spanish, so he stuck to his guns, worked with what he had, and we’re all the better for it. Can you imagine if Pan’s Labyrinth was in English? I certainly can't.

I Honestly Feel This Is Truly del Toro's Masterpiece

I know I said earlier that Blade II is my favorite del Toro movie, but this is coming from the guy who also says that Big Trouble in Little China is his favorite movie. However, I think Pan’s Labyrinth will always be del Toro’s masterpiece.

It’s a film that’s authentically him, and it’s one of the greatest foreign language films of all time. It’s also infinitely watchable, dire as it is at times.

So, here’s to twenty great years of Pan’s Labyrinth, and to twenty more. Because I truly do think this film will stand the test of time just like other masterpieces such as Jaws, The Wizard of Oz, and Star Wars. It really is that magical.

It’s hard to believe it’s already been over three years since the release of DC’s Blue Beetle. Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, the movie serves as a classic origin story for young Jaime Reyes, who comes into contact with the extraterrestrial scarab. The film was originally set in the DCEU, but its hero, played by Xolo Maridueña, will return in the upcoming DCU film Man of Tomorrow. Ahead of that, though, I rewatched the movie for the first time in years, and one particular aspect of Jaime’s story hit harder this time around.

One Non-Superhero-Related Part Of Jaime’s Journey Really Resonated With Me

Back in 2023, I saw Blue Beetle in theaters during its opening weekend and, overall, I had a great time with it. I honestly hadn’t seen the film in its entirety since that screening, though and, amid Hispanic Heritage Month, I gave it another watch. Much of what works about the film still works, and not much has changed about the elements that don’t come together smoothly either. Something I really enjoyed about the film from the jump was its emphasis on family, and I particularly love the bond between Jaime and his father.

Alberto Reyes is introduced as a hardworking man who does what he can to keep his Palmera City-based family together. The Reyes’ patriarch has unique bonds with each of his family members, but he and son Jaimie are particularly close. Alberto is essentially a hero to his son, while Jaimie – a first-generation college graduate – is his father’s pride and joy. Upon rewatching the film, I was really taken by the sweet scenes they share, which are warmly acted by Maridueña and Damián Alcázar.

It’s those tender moments that make it all the more meaningful when Alberto – who had a heart attack prior to his son returning home from college – sadly dies due to cardiac arrest after the Reyes’ home is attacked. However, Alberto later returns to Jaime in the form of a vision from the afterlife and encourages his son to accept his Destiny as Blue Beetle. Even amid the copious amounts of CGI, I still found it to be an affecting scene and, as someone with a warm relationship with their own dad, I could connect with it.

A Relationship Like Jaime And Alberto’s Is Novel In This Case

Even today, Latino representation in major blockbuster movies is a rarity, and it’s especially a novelty in mainstream superhero movies. I couldn’t help but consider that rarity while rewatching Blue Beetle, and it’s another reason why I appreciate that Soto was able to tell this story. It’s my hope that this won’t mark the final time that audiences are able to see such a healthy, Latino father-son relationship in a high-profile movie. It, unfortunately, doesn’t look like that’ll happen in a Beetle sequel, though I’m glad Jaime’s story will continue.

News of Reyes’ return in James Gunn’s Superman follow-up broke earlier this summer and completed the promise Gunn – also the co-head of DC Studios – that Reyes would be integrated into the DCU. Xolo Maridueña spoke about getting the call from Gunn, and it sounds like the Cobra Kai alum is eager to continue Jaime’s story. A Blue Beetle animated series has also apparently been in development for some time and, while it was rumored to have been shelved, Gunn said in August 2026 that it was still in the works.

If the show happens, I’d love to see it pay homage to Alberto and his bond with Jaime, whether through flashbacks or dream sequences. And, in the event that it doesn’t happen, I’ll remain content with what we see of the parent-child relationship in the film.

Check out Blue Beetle for yourself by streaming it with an HBO Max subscription, and see Jaimie’s return in Man of Tomorrow, which hits theaters on July 9, 2027.

West Side Story is one of the greatest musicals ever made, and definitely one of the best musicals to ever win Best Picture. Arriving in theaters back in 1961, West Side Story is still infinitely watchable today.

In fact, even though I loved Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake, I immediately rewatched the original right after I saw it. There’s just something electric and exciting about the original West Side Story, which won a staggering 10 Oscars at the 34th Academy Awards.

This might be the number one reason why I think about the film frequently, and often hum its tunes (“Keep cooly, cool, boy.”). So, here are just a few reasons why West Side Story is still such a great movie.

First, I Respect The Representation In This Film

I remember when this Voices section was initially brought up to me. There was a lot of social unrest going on in the country at the time, so our very first article was about movies that explored race and social justice. I’m proud of that article since my colleague Erik Swann and I were brought on to pen that introduction to the section. However, as dour (but relevant) as that article was, my heart was set on the future of Voices. Yes, there would be more “serious” articles to come, but I was hopeful to write about the JOY of representation; the liveliness. What movie is more lively than West Side Story?

True, at its heart, West Side Story is just a then-modernized version of Romeo and Juliet, so of course it ENDS tragically. It’s also a story about the clash between the status quo and diversity. It’s also an EXPLOSION of culture. The Sharks are the Puerto Rican immigrants who feel they deserve to be on these mean streets just as much as the white Jets, and neither wants to give up ground.

Now, granted, I know the casting could have offered MORE representation (Outside of the great Rita Moreno, most of the main actors were non-Latinos). However, the story of Latinos struggling in this country presented an important turning point in American cinema, which it still hits today. Plus, it's just SO expressive.

The Musical Numbers Are Still Enchanting

Nowadays, the big thing on Broadway is musicals based on movies. In fact, one of the most interesting musicals I've ever seen on Broadway was based on King Kong. However, one thing about these movie-turned-musicals that might not be the greatest is that people often have to create brand-new songs to fit these stories.

However, back in the day, a lot of movie musicals originally came from the stage first, which meant that all of the great songs from the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber were already baked into these adaptations. We get some of the greatest musical numbers of all time with West Side Story.

I mean, come on! “America,” “I Feel Pretty,” “Tonight,” there are just too many enchanting numbers in this movie to count, and they all have excellent choreography and expressionism. Honestly, I never grow tired of these numbers, and I likely never will.

I Also Feel The Story Of Being An Immigrant In America Is Extremely Relevant, Especially Today

Lastly, I love how West Side Story is first and foremost an immigrant story. It’s not just an immigrant story from the side of the Sharks, who are just trying to make it in America, but also the story of the white people who feel displaced by the minorities moving into the neighborhood, and this is a story that will never grow old in this country.

I mean, just look at 2023’s Pixar movie, Elemental, which was all about the immigrant experience. America’s entire history is based on immigrants (Even though Puerto Ricans, like Bad Bunny, are already Americans) coming to this country, and the people who might not particularly be happy about it.

In that way, West Side Story is a time capsule, but it’s also timeless, which might be why I still think about it frequently.

There’s a new DreamWorks movie on the 2026 movie schedule, and in this one families will have a chance to dive into Filipino mythology. Forgotten Island comes from the writer/directors behind animated fan-favorite Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, and when CinemaBlend talked to the creatives and the cast behind the new movie, they got honest. One story the movie is based on is famously quite “scary.” But, I love how they turned generational stories into a fantastical family film.

How Filipino Mythology Ended Up In A DreamWorks Movie

Forgotten Island comes from frequent collaborators Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, who connected over their shared connection to Filipino culture. (Crawford’s wife is Filipina and Mercado is Filipino American). During our conversation, they explained how one character, a demon baby named Bungi, was adapted from the country's folklore to their animated family film. As Mercado told me:

That’s right, Manny Jacinto of The Good Place, Freakier Friday and The Acolyte voices the role of a giant three-eyed demon baby in Forgotten Island. They added about the process of bringing the "demon baby" character into the fold:

Forgotten Island follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, who’ve grown up together in the Philippines hearing stories about an island filled with amazing creatures. On the night before one of them is about to go off to college in America, they discover the forgotten island and all the creatures they grew up with.

From shape-shifters called Aswangs to giant tree-dwellers, a vampire who can separate its upper and lower half called a Manananggal to dwarfs called Duwendes, there was a lot of mythology for the filmmakers to play around with. It all makes for an imaginative fantasy that's a highlight of the year for the animation medium.

Forgotten Island Star Talks Her Own History With Filipino Folklore

When CinemaBlend also spoke to Filipina actress and the voice behind Raissa, Liza Soberano, she could definitely relate to the characters in Forgotten Island. In her words:

They weren’t necessarily these creatures you’d want to meet. As she continued:

As DreamWorks toes the line between sequels (such as Shrek 5 being on the 2027 release schedule) and great new originals like 2024’s The Wild Robot. It’s awesome (and history-making) to see Forgotten Island’s originality that brings Filipino representation to families! And as someone who’s seen it, not only did it’s story of friendship make me cry, its folklore was a great balance of being scary and fun.

Forgotten Island is filled with Filipino actors like H.E.R., Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon and Jo Koy. It’s certainly an incredible way to pay tribute and introduce wide audiences to one side of Filipino culture You can help it light up the box office against a ton of other releases this Friday, September 25.

Last weekend I started the fall season at the movies by catching Practical Magic 2. I was a fan of the original movie for it being one of those cozy autumn movies to throw on when I’m not feeling a horror film. While I was watching it, I thought about how nice and rare it is to see Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman on the big screen again. And then from there, how few and far between it is to see women in that age group in big studio films like this. Let’s talk about it.

Practical Magic 2 Made Me Question Something

When it comes to movies, it still feels like there’s a giant gap in the female experience somewhere between one’s late 30s and 60s. I guess Hollywood doesn’t like to talk about women’s lives once they’re typically mothers or have arrived in what's defined as their middle-aged years. I think it’s damaging too, because it makes women unconsciously feel like life ends after their 30s. Meanwhile, male actors are shown as viable to do any sort of film from action to comedy no matter what age they are. Heck, Liam Neeson’s still doing action movies well into his 70s.

Obviously, I’ve realized how sexism permeates in Hollywood before. The thing that I started pondering after watching Practical Magic 2 is how many movies starring women in the age group of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman right now have come from studios, and had big opening weekends like the sequel did. So, I looked into it.

What Other Movies Starring Middle-Age Women Have Been Hits?

I looked into the ten top grossing movies I could find led by women who were in their later 50s and early-to-mid 60s when the movie was released, and you know what? It was better than I thought it was going to be. Take a look, and then I’ll talk about it:

I mean, there’s a reason Meryl Streep is the queen. She’s got the highest-grossing movie by far with Mamma Mia!, but takes up four spots on this list. Knowing that Meryl Streep has been able to really thrive during her 50s and 60s is really impressive to me, but she’s also kind of one of the few exceptions, right?

Not every talented actress in this age group is showing out with movies like Streep has, and it also helps that she filled a hole during the early 2000s, when romantic comedies could be box office hits, and were expanding beyond stories only about women in their 20s and 30s.

The only other repeater on the list is Jamie Lee Curtis, who’s found some winners in the past decade with sequels to favorite roles of hers. I know I’ve really appreciated seeing her remain as a leading lady, and not simply mom roles in recent years.

When these movies weren’t coming from Streep or Curtis, they were coming from Diane Keaton with her team-up with Jack Nicholson in Something’s Gotta Give. Roberts’ rom-com comeback from a few years ago. Then, there's Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All At Once starring Michelle Yeoh – the only woman of color on this list. And, Helen Mirren as one of the most famous women ever, Queen Elizabeth II.

I look at this list, and I feel really empowered by these movies, because it shows the audience is there. And, each one of them did fill the similar void like Practical Magic 2 does. We just need more smart movies made about women during this era in life. I hope Practical Magic 2 continues to be one of the successful 2026 movie releases, and Hollywood takes more chances on films about women from a variety of ages.

This article contains some spoilers from Practical Magic 2, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and The Sex and the City TV spinoff And Just Like That.

Though I went into Practical Magic 2 without knowing the fate of Aidan Quinn's character, Gary, in retrospect, I should've expected him to be out of the picture when the film arrived in theaters on the 2026 movie schedule, considering Quinn wasn't part of the cast this time around. And yet, I was still caught a bit off guard near the beginning when we learned that Gary, the love interest of Sandra Bullock's Sally Owens in the original film, had died not long after they got married. The Owens curse that seemed to be lifted at the end of Practical Magic apparently struck again, leaving Sally grief-stricken as a widow twice over.

This Has Happened Before

I'll say up front, I haven't read Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic, or the sequel (The Book of Magic), on which this new book-to-screen movie is based, so I can't comment on the plot of the books. However, as a fan of the 1998 movie, I was immediately frustrated, because this isn't the first rom-com in recent years to do this. Those who've seen Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will recall that Mark Darcy (Colin Firth's character) was deceased at the start of the 2025 film. And when Sex and the City returned with And Just Like That, Carrie Bradshaw's husband, John (aka Mr. Big) dies of a heart attack.

In all three cases, the death of their spouse was devastating to the main character, understandably so, and also for fans who rooted for the couple to get together in previous films (and a TV show, for SatC). Also, in all three cases, it happens at the start (or before the start) of their new story. Of course, since it's a rom-com, they're now single and available to find love again, which I'm assuming is the intention. It could also be cast availability, after all, though according to what Aidan Quinn told Spin 1038 (via Deadline), he wasn't asked to return for the Practical Magic sequel.

I Do Want To See More Stories Like These... But Does It Have To Be In The Sequel?

Now, I need to make it clear: I absolutely want to see more movies about women who are middle-aged or older finding love. I actually very much enjoyed the chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Lee Pace in Practical Magic 2. I also really liked Bridget Jones's romantic shenanigans in Mad About the Boy.

We need more romantic stories focused on women of a certain age getting back out there in the wake of divorce, the death of a spouse, or some other circumstance that leads them to seek a partner. Get out there and find love, have some fun, make us laugh, swoon and feel all the feels. I'm all for seeing that in more movies, but I don't think that these sequels necessarily need to be the place to do that, especially if there are better ways to progress the female lead's story without it hinging on her falling in love (again).

What If The Rom-Com Focused On An Already-Established Love Story?

What if Sally was already in love at the start of Practical Magic 2? What if she's been happily married for years when this new movie picks up, and we get to see what 20+ years later looks like for Sally and Gary as part of this new story?

I know that two people falling in love is a rom-com's bread and butter, but we're in sequel territory here. Exploring and celebrating a couple's relationship -- the humor, the attraction, the history -- beyond the early days is another approach a story can take, and one we don't see as much at the center of a rom-com. If continuing the character's journey in love is a key part of the main plot of the movie, there are ways to do that without having to reboot the love story entirely.

I love romantic comedies, and I completely understand why we romanticize the start of the love story in so many rom-coms, romance movies, books, songs, etc. I'm not opposed to more stories about people falling in love, but I would love to see more movies show the middle and later years of long-term relationships. After all, marriage isn't just the beginning part. I would love to see more romantic comedies that celebrate the deeper love that comes with years of being together and putting in the work to stay together through it all. Rom-com sequels are an ideal place to do that, since we're already invested in the couple.

But What About The Curse?

In the case of Practical Magic 2, because Gary's death ties into the overall plot of the movie, I understand that the existence of the curse is a factor here, but I think -- had they wanted to keep Sally and Gary's relationship going for this new story -- it could've been established that Sally had experienced the curse already with her first husband, and now it had moved to her daughters. I'm just throwing that out there, as I understand that the overall story hinged on the curse needing to be properly broken. They could have made it work.

Also, if they wanted an Owens woman to find love in this new movie, why not Gillian? I would love to see Nicole Kidman's character find a spark with someone who matches her energy, loves her for who she is, respects her independence, and just wants to be within her orbit.

There were a lot of things I liked about Practical Magic 2 (I probably liked it more than many of the critics, though maybe not quite as much as other fans) but the explanation of Gary's death had me flashing back to the other recent examples I mentioned, and it's really putting a damper on the idea of sequels to rom-coms for me. I love the idea of following up on beloved movies and characters, but I do hope we see some different (less fatal) ways to bring the lead characters back and deliver another great story.

Filmmaker Zack Snyder has been making movies for a long time, and is known for bringing his unique visual language to each new title. Snyder's movies include his tenure in the DCU (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription), although before that he released titles like Sucker Punch and 300. When speaking about the latter blockbuster he went so far as to call it "the gayest movie ever made." Let's break it all down.

While moviegoers who spent years watching the DC movies in order might associate Zack Snyder with projects like Justice League (including the Snyder Cut) he was making movies long before joining the comic book genre. During a recent interview with Variety, the writer/director recalled being asked if he was a "fascist filmmaker" after debuting 300 at the Berlin Film Festival. He told the story by saying:

Talk about some big words. Even before conversations about LGBTQ+ representation became commonplace, there were some very gay movies out there. I'm talking The Birdcage, Pink Flamingos, Paris is Burning, Cruising and more. Still, Zack Snyder's comment do have some merit; it's hard to deny the queer undertones of 300. Namely the countless muscle-bound men who are wearing loincloths and harnesses throughout its 117-minute runtime.

And the 60 year-old filmmaker does seem proud about the homoeroticism of 300. He spoke more about this aspect of the movie and audience's response by offering:

While this might be the gayest movie Zack Snyder has personally ever made, I'm not sure it's worthy of the title that the filmmaker has given it. After all, there aren't any LGBTQ+ storylines in 300. Still, it likely served as an awakening for young gay moviegoers who went to see the movie when it hit theaters back in 2007. After all, the director brought a ton of muscle and not very much clothing to the big screen.

It's always funny to see what non-gay movies end up being gay awakenings for young moviegoers. For me, it was Batman & Robin's inherent queerness that I later reflected upon as an adult. Between Robin's rubber lips, Poison Ivy's burlesque number, and those infamous Bat-nipples, there many aspects of the movie that feel gay AF in retrospect. And for folks younger than me, 300 might have that same importance. At least, that's what Snyder seems to think.

300 is streaming now on Paramount+. As for what's next for Snyder, his new movie The Last Photograph recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see when it gets its wide theatrical release.

Sandra Bullock has been taking a break from acting in recent years, but she's back to promote her movie on the 2026 release schedule, Practical Magic 2. And wow, am I realizing how much I missed her. Exhibit A: Her hilariously relatable rant about chin hairs.

Man, did I forget how real the actress can be, and then the Practical Magic 2 press tour came along. Bullock is just one of those celebrities that I want to be best friends with. As if I didn’t already love her for calling herself “Zendaya’s shoe polisher”, just check out Sandra Bullock’s thoughts on the topic of chin hairs:

So I never thought about this before, but now I’m never going to forget it. Most women can certainly relate to the stray chin hair every so often. It’s quite normal actually. But it’s so rarely talked about in public interviews that it’s easy to isolate the experience to yourself.

There’s something so lovely about Bullock getting honest about what she thinks about chin hairs. And her fears about what would happen if she wasn’t conscious to pluck them when they need to be plucked at one point is so good.

This happened during an appearance on Royal Court with her Practical Magic 2 co-star Nicole Kidman. Funny enough, Kidman doesn’t have the same chin hair thoughts. As the exchange went:

• Nicole: "I'm kind of hairless. Like a hairless cat."
• Sandra: "I mean I didn't say it's a forest. I said there was one."

Kidman’s comments about her lack of hair led Bullock to make fun of her a bit. Thank goodness Bullock was there to bring the chin hair realness, because Kidman sounds like she might actually be a fairy princess of a woman. (Though Kidman did get real about midnight margaritas the other day).

Bullock also talked a bit about how the mirrors in our cars are a common place to find unwanted chin hair one might not have noticed before. It’s interview moments like these when I realize that sometimes we’re all just having the same shared experience in life and not talking about it.

One time Florence Pugh totally talked about chin hairs while sharing a glitzy selfie on social media, and I found that super refreshing, too. There’s just something about us women normalizing the preconceived imperfections we have and regularly deal with rather than pretending they don’t exist all the time. Here’s hoping we get some of this energy on Practical Magic 2, which Bullock wanted to make for an emotional reason. The sequel is in theaters now.

While Big Brother has gotten better about representation in recent years, it still has a ways to go, particularly as it relates to featuring older houseguests. If we get more than two houseguests over the age of forty in a season, it feels like a win. As frustrating as that can be to think about, it's just as inspiring when we do see an older houseguest play the game and really show what they're made of. That's what Big Brother Season 28 cast member LaTrice Verrett did earlier in Season 28 when she won the Wall endurance competition. Lala turned 58 years old in the Big Brother house this summer, and her Wall victory makes her the oldest houseguest to accomplish this in the history of the show.

If you're unfamiliar, the "Wall competition" has Big Brother houseguests standing on a ledge, up against a wall, while holding onto something (a bar, handles, etc). The wall usually tips forward at times, and they're occasionally sprayed with liquid or slime. Whether they slip or are too tired to hang on, one by one, the contestants drop. The last person up on the wall wins. In Season 28, that was Lala. She outlasted houseguests who were younger than her, including an MMA fighter, and secured the Head of Household title for the week.

As a woman who's approaching my 50s, I really wanted to hear more of her thoughts about her accomplishment when we had the opportunity to submit questions following her eviction last week. Like her performance in the Wall Competition, her response on the topic didn't disappoint.

As Lala noted, she came into the game wanting to play the Wall competition, and even now, she gets emotional talking about winning it:

That in itself is inspiring to hear, but what really got me was what Lala said about those final seconds that secured her the win:

If you watched the competition, you saw the moments she's referring to. It seemed like Lala and Kamu had struck a deal for him to win, and it was just a matter of Lala dropping. However, she held on, and as she pointed out to us, she was counting internally, just trying to stay up for a little bit longer. It was in those seconds that Kamu lost his footing and fell. Lala wrapped up her experience with these inspiring words:

I love this so much, and I'm going to do my absolute best to remember Lala's words and what she showed us on the wall during this Big Brother season.

I'm not entirely of the mindset that "age is just a number." Our age is a mark of the years we've lived, and I think there's too much value in that to dismiss it entirely, even with good intentions. Maybe not all of us can or will be as fit as Lala is at 58, but we work for and with what we've got. The message of pushing ourselves a little bit more can apply to anyone, regardless, and I really want to remember what she said the next time I need that advice.

I also really hope Lala's performance this season inspires Big Brother to consider including more over-40s (and over-50s!) in a future Big Brother season.

You can catch past episodes of Big Brother with a Paramount+ subscription. Season 28's Wall Competition is featured in Episode 17.

Spoilers ahead for the new episode of Ted Lasso, titled "Don't Jump Around Much Anymore".

Heated Rivalry was a sensation upon its release, with the stars of the book-to-screen adaptation becoming household names as a result. Those with an Apple TV subscription were recently treated to a very different popular sports show, the fourth season of Ted Lasso. And the most recent episode (almost) gave me the Heated Rivalry moment that I'd been wanting for years. Hear me out.

Ted Lasso Season 4 reviews were mixed, but as a fan, I've loved catching up with the beloved group of characters. Phil Dunster's Jamie Tartt finally showed up in Episode 6, and he had some really sweet moments with Bret Goldstein's Roy Kent. And for a few moments, I thought they were actually going to smooch. After all, we're in the age of steamy sports shows.

I Ship Roy And Jamie, Even If It's Not Rooted In Reality

Let me be clear: I logically know these two characters are never going to have a romantic connection. Still, I've spent years yelling "kiss!" at my TV as the two soccer players were feuding and eventually formed an endearing friendship. In Episode 6, they reunited on New Year's Eve, at a party celebrating Jamie's new brand of vodka. And that's when things (temporarily) got steamy between the two iconic characters.

Jamie and Roy seemed genuinely happy to see each other, going so far as to share how much they mean to each other while at the party. That was already adorable enough to have me once again yelling at the TV, but things got even sweeter when "Jump Around" by House of Pain started playing.

While Roy was about to leave the party, the minute this song played, he and Jamie turned around, ran at each other, and cut a rug on the dance floor. This sequence was funny and charming, but for a second or two it looked like they could actually smooch. Namely when holding each other's heads as they danced. Of course, any tension that I might have felt (unrealistic or not) was quickly gone once Roy's knee gave out. Luckily, we were treated to some more adorable moments, including Jamie picking him up and carrying him off the dance floor like he was a groom carrying a bride through the threshold.

I have to assume I'm not the only queer Ted Lasso fan who has these feelings and thought that Jamie and Roy's relationship was rife with sexual tension. It might not be a realistic pair to ship, but after The Shards recently had Bret and Robert hook up, I'll admit my hopes were temporarily high for the two Ted characters. Now they just need a couple name. Joy? Ramie? I'll keep workshopping it.

Ted Lasso airs new episodes Wednesdays on Apple TV as part of the 2026 TV schedule. I'm not holding my breath to actually see Jamie and Roy together, but I'll definitely be yelling "kiss!" at my TV if they share more scenes.

I’m usually not a fan of the romance genre. I've seen plenty of the best romantic comedies, but I like them more for their “comedic” elements rather than their “romantic” components.

I also usually don't swoon for the more serious romantic movies like The Notebook or Titanic. So, one might assume that romance is just not my genre.

However, two romantic movies are so heartbreakingly beautiful that even I fell hopelessly in love with them. And get this, they're both queer romances. The first is Brokeback Mountain, which definitely should have won Best Picture, and the second is the 2015 film Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which is one of the greatest love stories that I've ever seen. Here's why.

It's Visually Stunning, And The Lack Of Traditional Music Heightens The Burgeoning Romance

One of the most beautiful films I’ve ever watched is Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and a lot of this is due to the natural lighting. Well, Portrait of a Lady on Fire does one better, as it mostly features natural lighting and natural sound, which went a long way in immersing me in this love story.

One thing that a lot of films rely on too much is sweeping scores and musical cues to build an emotional connection with the viewer. Portrait of a Lady on Fire doesn’t go that route. In fact, the sounds are so minimal that you sometimes get lost in the silence, which plays a huge role in the story.

For example, certain moments of silence make the characters look visibly uncomfortable, while other moments bring the characters closer together as they FILL IN the silence. As you’re watching this story of “forbidden” love, there’s always the sense of danger that somebody will walk in on our heroines Marianne (Noemie Merlant) and Heloise (Adele Haenel) as they’re kissing or making love. It’s this sense of danger that makes this film both exciting and heartbreaking when it comes to their burgeoning romance.

This Is A Film From Women, And About Female Love, Which Gives It A Particularly Unique Lens

Another thing I adore about this film is that it has such a particular lens on love. The story concerns a painter (Marianne) and her subject (Heloise). It takes place in the 18th Century, and Heloise refuses to be painted because it means she will be one step closer to getting married, which she doesn’t want. Heloise’s mother hires Marianne to paint her daughter in secret, as Marianne pretends to just be a companion to Heloise, but paints her from memory after hours.

However, once Heloise sees the eventual clandestine portrait, she says it’s terrible. This makes Marianne want to know Heloise intimately to make a better portrait, which is how their romance - which is definitely sexually explicit - takes off.

What I love most about this is just how particularly feminine this movie is. There are very few men in the film, and the ones who are here don’t really concern the plot. This is definitely a movie about female love - both sexual and platonic. That makes the romance at the center of this film feel both different from anything that I’ve ever experienced, but also intoxicating. I also don’t think I’ve ever seen a romance that felt both this subtle and this intense at the same time. It really is a movie about the many facets of female love, and how special it can be.

Overall, I Am Head Over Heels For The Romance In This Film

There are more movies and TV shows about lesbian couples than ever before, but Portrait of a Lady on Fire is my favorite.

It’s mostly the forbiddenness of it all. Given the time period, every stolen kiss or hidden tryst feels vital to both of these women’s existence. So, while I’m not in love with most love stories, I can’t help but be head over heels for this one since it’s so good!

I love the western genre and have watched a great many of the best westerns ever made, but the thing about most westerns is that a vast majority of them are centered around white men.

Sure, there are a select few that feature Black characters, and I always welcome them, but most American westerns are focused on white men having white men problems.

Do you want to know another group that is rarely represented in westerns? Women! Which is strange since I'm sure women had their own problems back then, too. There are a few notable westerns focused on women, like Meek's Cutoff, True Grit, and 1956's Gunslinger, but my favorite is 1954's Johnny Guitar, and for several reasons. Here are just a few.

The Story Centers Around Joan Crawford As A Tough As Nails Saloon Owner

Today's younger cinephiles likely don't know much about Joan Crawford, unless it concerns the 1981 drama, Mommie Dearest, which stars Faye Dunaway as Crawford in a, let's just say, less than flattering light. However, Crawford had a pretty interesting career that had its high highs in the ‘20s and ‘30s, and its low lows in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s. The ‘50s in particular were an interesting period for Crawford, and that's where 1954's Johnny Guitar comes in.

Directed by Nicholas Ray, Crawford plays a saloon owner named Vienna who did everything she could to afford and build her saloon. The first time we see her, she's discussing business with a man, and you can tell she's the kind of woman who gets what she wants. That is until a posse arrives at her saloon, led by Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge), who hates her guts and wants to see the place burn.

However, Vienna isn't going down without a fight, and even though she isn't quick to fire, she will definitely stand her ground, making her one of the more intriguing female characters in a western. First, I want to get back to the simmering anger between Vienna and Emma, as that's the crux of this film.

Her Rivalry With Another Woman Is One For The Ages

I really like westerns that subvert expectations. I recently wrote about The Big Country, and I love that movie since it stars a protagonist who preferred not to fight. I also love Johnny Guitar since it features something else that you don't often see in a western: a rivalry between women.

Which you wouldn't think, right, given the film's title. Johnny Guitar is actually a character in the film played by Sterling Hayden. While he is an important character, none of the men really matter as much as the hatred that Emma has for Vienna.

This hatred leads to a startling climax that rivals anything you might see in other, more popular westerns like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and Unforgiven.

In The End, It's Unlike Any Other Western From The '50s, Or Even Today

I've seen so many westerns in my life, but I've never seen one like Johnny Guitar. I usually love westerns where you root for the outlaw, but Johnny Guitar isn't that. I also love westerns where you have men squinting at each other for long periods of time before they have a shoot-out, but Johnny Guitar isn't that, either.

In fact, even after all I've written, it's still hard for me to explain just why I love this western so much since it doesn't follow any of the tropes that I'm so familiar with when it comes to the genre. This might be why the film did moderately well when it first came out, but it's since developed a new, modern appreciation.

This is why you should definitely watch Johnny Guitar if you haven't already (it's available on Kanopy), since I guarantee you haven't seen any other western like it.

Death is something that all of us experience eventually, and it can often be hard for people to process. While I've written about mourning my late friend while watching Wicked, just last week my grandmother died at 94. She lived a long life, but that didn't make her funeral services any less difficult. And when I got home, exhausted and puffy-eyed, I turned to TV shows like Gilmore Girls to help me continue to process my emotions.

Plenty of TV shows have episodes focused on grief and loss, and those are the exact titles that I turned to after my grandmother's funeral. Namely Gilmore Girls, Six Feet Under, and Girls (with the latter two streaming with a HBO Max subscription). And those episodes are exactly what I needed to continue sitting with my feelings.

I Used My Favorite Shows To Laugh, Cry, And More

While Gilmore Girls recently left Netflix, it's luckily still streaming with a Hulu subscription. After my grandmother's repast I put on Season 4's "The Reigning Lorelai." The episode focuses on the death of Richard's mother Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore. Her passing causes both Richard and Emily to spin out, to hilarious results. It felt good to laugh, and it was remarkably relatable to see the way that funeral services can sometimes make people nutty. I mean, who could forget Emily smoking and drinking after she finds Trix's letter saying she wasn't good enough to become a Gilmore?

After this I tuned into another one of my favorite shows Lena Dunham's Girls. Specifically the Season 3 episode "Dead Inside", where Hannah's publisher and mentor David (John Cameron Mitchell) suddenly dies. The episode shows the beloved group of Girls characters sharing their experiences with death, while Hannah struggles to feel anything but concern about her E-Book. Not everyone handles death and mourning well, and this episode has a great mixture of heart and gallows humor.

After watching that episode of Girls, I took a more serious pivot and really got in my feels. Namely by watching the episode "All Alone" from Six Feet Under, a TV show that actually ended well. This is one of the final episode of the entire series and shows the Fisher Family as they struggle with (SPOILER ALERT) the death of Peter Krause's Nate. The entire episode is an emotional gut punch, because the Fishers are all having a hard time throughout Nate's wake and burial.

Watching this had me back in tears, just when I thought I didn't have any more to offer. I felt seen, because I too was having a hard time emotionally. I understood the immense feelings of loss by characters like David and Ruth, as well as the occasional numbness that Claire had. After all, I hadn't cried until I stepped into the funeral home for my grandmother's services. And when Aunt Sarah (Patricia Clarkson) reads a passage from "Mystic Odes" by the poet Rumi, it was like I was hearing it for the first time. Particularly this passage:

This poem offered a helpful perspective on loss, as well as how to think about my grandmother and other loved ones that have recently died. Namely that it's not always wise to dwell on the specific of their life, but consider the life as a whole. Rewatching this episode brought a ton of emotion out of me, and I'm thankful to have expressed them so honestly instead of holding them inside.

It might sound silly, but I found that watching these episodes of TV allowed me to feel seen, and give pace to continue feeling the complicated emotions that came with burying my grandmother. To quote WandaVision's most iconic line: "What is grief, if not love persevering?"

If you go back and watch Sex And The City with an HBO Max subscription, you’ll see all sorts of famous actors you might forget were in the series. But one guest spot that’s too memorable to overlook is when Kristen Johnston was on an episode in Season 6. Johnston just reflected on where she was at in her life when she took on the role in 2004.

In an episode called “Splat!”Johnston plays Lexi Featherston, who Carrie calls one of “New York’s legendary party girls”. During a party Carrie is also at, she sees Lexi snorting a line of cocaine before she starts smoking at the function, and is asked to put it out or go out in the snow. It leads Lexi to go on a rant about how New York is changing. She declares she’s “so bored I could die!" before falling out of a window. Mind you, the party was on the 18th floor of a NYC skyrise.

When Johnston was recently talking about the scene, she was asked if she was sober herself during the time of her special appearance. In her words:

Johnston then clarified that she would “never” be on anything while on set, but at the time she was definitely struggling with addiction. Previously, the actress has described her struggles as an “off-and-on relationship” that got worse after wrapping her hit sitcom 3rd Rock From The Sun in 2001. As she added in this new interview on Dear Chelsea:

In Johnston’s 2012 memoir, Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster, the actress got honest about her struggles with addiction, which started while she was in high school. The worst they got for her was reportedly drinking two bottles of wine and having 10 to 30 Vicodin pills a day at its peak.

These days Johnston says she’s been sober for ten years straight after a “little burble” of a relapse a decade ago, which came after ten previous years of sobriety. While Johnston may have related more to Lexi Featherston back when she was filming the episode than she would have liked, she’s proud of the episode. She said she’s often approached about it as well.

These days Kristen Johnston is the star of the new Chuck Lorre sitcom, Leanne, now streaming with a Netflix subscription. The show about a woman who grapples with life after her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman was added to the 2026 TV schedule a month ago and remains on Netflix’s top 10.

Spoilers ahead for Lanterns Episode 3 "Outkast."

The DCU's first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and includes stories told on both the big screen and streaming with a HBO Max subscription. The latest release is the new show Lanterns, which features both Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart. The third episode "Outkast" showed the latter's backstory, and now one writer is responding to claims the show is "woke".

What we know about Lanterns has been limited, and there's been a ton of discourse over the new series online. While there was some backlash to there not being enough green in early footage, there's been a ton of chatter lately about John's history. Specifically how the Stewart family spoke about the Black experience in "Outkast", with some naysayers claiming the show was "too woke." Writer Vanessa Baden Kelly responded to these claims in an interview with The Wrap, saying:

There you go. It seems like Baden Kelly isn't taking the Lanterns backlash to heart. Namely because John Stewart's Blackness has always been a major aspect of the long-running superhero's history. She's seemingly standing by the script she wrote for "Outkast" and is pointing the source material for folks who are unhappy with the episode's contents and calling it "woke".

Episode 3 revealed John's childhood decades earlier, where racial inequality was worse than it is now. In the flashbacks his mother Bernadette (played by OG Hamilton star Jasmine Cephas Jones) spoke about how Black people needed to work twice as hard to get half as far, and also cued in Laura Linney's Lianna to how racism works on Earth. As the writer went on to explain, this was key to crafting a new backstory for Aaron Pierre's hero. In her words:

Personally, I thought that these discussions were part of what made "Outkast" such a strong episode of Lanterns. Seeing how John's family struggled with his father almost being chosen to be a Green Lantern was fascinating, along with the unconventional way they tried to raise him to be fearless. And while we're following a show involving an intergalactic law enforcement agency, including discussions about the Black experience helped make the story feel all the more real and human. As the writer points out, this has always been part of John's character on the page.

Lanterns airs new episodes Sundays on HBO as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to wait and see how John and Hal's relationship changes throughout the rest of the show's first season.

One of the most exciting upcoming action movies coming out this fall is the new take on Street Fighter. It includes all your favorite players from the video game, including Ryu, who will be played by Andrew Koji. The actor has a personal reason why winning the big part means a lot to him.

Ryu is a Japanese lead character who’s been a big part of the fighting game since the beginning. Here’s what Andrew Koji said about his history with Street Fighter:

Japanese-English actor Andrew Koji was actually born in 1987, which is the same year Capcom first launched the game in arcades. When the actor was a kid, as he explained to Empire, he didn’t think he was very skilled at winning, but getting to play an Asian character meant a lot to him. So, when it came to getting to play the role in the movie, he wanted to do right by Ryu. In his words:

Andrew Koji is a talented martial artist who competed in taekwondo and Shaolin kung fu early in his life, but in order to embody the role of Ryu, he learned some new styles. As he added:

As he said, he trained closely with Callina Liang, who plays another popular character, Chun-Li, on a pretty rigorous schedule.

Andrew Koji started in Hollywood as a stunt double, notably in Fast & Furious 6. He was also famously in the Cinemax series Warrior for three seasons, the G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes as Storm Shadow and Bullet Train with Brad Pitt. But Ryu is an icon, and it means a lot to him to do right by the Asian video game character with his portrayal.

Koji’s Ryu will get the chance to go up against his main rival in the game, Ken Masters, who is played by Noah Centineo. Also notably in the cast is Cody Rhodes as Guile, 50 Cent as Balrog, Jason Momoa as Blanka and David Dastmalchian as M. Bison. You can check out the Street Fighter trailer below:

Street Fighter was previously made into a movie in 1994 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Colonel William F. Guile. Hong Kong actor Byron Mann played Ryu, alongside the likes of Ming-Na Wen, Kylie Minogue and Raúl Juliá. While the movie turned a profit back then, critics panned the film, and it earned an 11% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and 20% by audiences.

With the recent Mortal Kombat movies, we certainly wonder how this new potential franchise will stack up. You can see Street Fighter in theaters on October 16.

WARNING: THERE IS DISCUSSION OF SUICIDE AND DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THIS ARTICLE

Death Of The Pastor's Wife, which you can watch right now with a Netflix subscription, hit me a lot differently than most of the true crime series that I watch. One fair critique of all the true crime documentaries and podcasts is that they kind of serve to desensitize us to the actual crime sometimes. We get so wrapped up in the whodunnit, we sometimes lose focus on the tragedy. This new docuseries doesn’t really have a mystery at its core, at least not the way I see it, but the consequences of the death hit me hard.

A Controlling Husband And Mental Illness

Death Of The Pastor's Wife focuses on the death of Mica Miller, the wife of Pastor John Paul “TJ” Miller. Mica died by suicide on April 27, 2024. She called police from Lumber River State Park in North Carolina before hanging up the phone and, using a firearm she’d purchased hours before and taking her own life. The series starts with the phone call and before taking us back in time to walk viewers through Mica’s life and eventual marriage to TJ. TJ was 15 years older than Mica and had known her since she was a teenager in his church.

The two were married for seven years, and, as presented in the true crime docuseries, it was not a happy marriage. According to Mica, TJ was abusive both sexually and physically. The series also explains that Mica was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was prescribed lithium to help her. This was exacerbated by TJ’s controlling behavior, even if at times he did seem to try to help. What really went on behind the closed doors of their marriage is still a bit of a mystery because they were both careful to present themselves in a very positive way, both publicly and with their friends. However, many friends and family saw through that.

Murder Or Suicide

The series presents the death of Mica as either murder or suicide. This is where it differed for me. I didn’t see it as a mystery, as many true crime documentaries on the 2026 TV schedule and podcasts are. I believe that Mica died by suicide, and that is particularly hard for me to process. Anytime someone dies this way, and I’ve had two close friends who have died this way, it leaves me baffled and shattered. Whatever the reason.

In this case, though, the reasons are especially heartbreaking because while I don’t think TJ murdered his wife, I do firmly believe that many of his actions led Mica to that lonely riverside in Lumber River State Park. Or at least, they didn’t prevent her from buying the handgun, making that long drive, and taking her own life. I’m not a psychiatrist, and I don’t know what is in TJ's heart and mind, but the series paints a very ugly picture of his behavior before and after Mica’s death.

While there was no mystery to this true crime story, the series still crushed me. As I said, I have a hard time reconciling anyone's suicide, and like many of Mica's friends and family, it's something I will probably never come to terms with, whether it's someone like Mica or someone in my life. It's hard.

If you need help, or know someone who does, please call or text “988” for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Few actors have had a career like Michael B. Jordan has, as he has accomplished quite a bit within the entertainment industry. Jordan started as a child actor and, after years of rising through the ranks in Hollywood, he now headlines massive movies. One of his most recent films – the critically acclaimed Sinners – even landed Jordan an Oscar. The fan-favorite star is certainly thriving as a performer, but I really think we need to take some time and admire how he’s thriving apart from his on-camera career.

Michael B. Jordan Is Proving Himself To Be A Talented Director

August is Black Business Month, so I thought this would be the perfect occasion to highlight the incredible trajectory Jordan has had, specifically his non-acting ventures. Over the past few years, what’s impressed me is the way in which he’s jumped into the director’s chair. The star made his directorial debut with 2023’s Creed III, the third installment in the Rocky spinoff franchise he’s headlined.

I was excited to see what Jordan would do with the threequel, and he definitely didn’t disappoint. Creed III received positive reviews, with much of that praise going towards the story, performances and of course, Jordan’s direction. Sure, he gives a great performance as Adonis Creed, but what really impressed me was the star’s desire to add his anime-inspired sensibilities to the boxing scenes (and shoot them with IMAX cameras). The film is a knockout, and Jordan can now take that momentum into his next directorial effort.

A legacy sequel was ambitious enough, but Jordan has since helmed and produced a remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, which is set to hit theaters amid the 2027 movie schedule. Jordan is also set to play the titular billionaire/art thief and, based on the first Thomas Crown trailer, he’s cooked up a film that oozes intrigue, charm and sensuality. I’m hopeful that the movie will be another solid notch in Jordan’s belt and allow him the chance to direct even more down the road.

Producing Has Also Become A Part Of Michael B. Jordan’s Career

Jordan has also become a producer and, in 2016, he even founded his own production company, Outlier Society, in 2016. When it comes to movies, Jordan has produced films like Just Mercy, Without Remorse, A Journal for Jordan and Creed III. The producing work isn’t limited to the silver screen either, as the multihyphenate has also served as an executive producer on TV shows, from Raising Dion and David Makes Man to Gen: Lock and the upcoming Fourth Wing adaptation.

So I think it’s safe to say that Michael B. Jordan has his fingerprints on a growing list of Hollywood productions. If that weren’t enough, he’s also moved into sports ownership and has embarked on a few key ventures. He became a part-owner of the AFC Bournemouth English soccer club in 2022, and he has also invested in the Alpine F1 team. I have to wonder, where does this man find the time to manage all of these obligations?

In all seriousness, though, it’s awe-inspiring to see what Jordan has accomplished and at a relatively young age. Honestly, I’d be impressed with seeing just about anyone reach such heights, but watching a Black man do that in a historically unpredictable industry is particularly satisfying for me. He’s come a long way since The Wire and even his breakthrough movie role in Fruitvale Station, and I look forward to seeing what he does – both on and off screen – as his profile continues to rise.

And don’t worry, Jordan will surely continue to be an actor. Check him out when The Thomas Crown Affair opens on March 5, 2027, and he’s landed another big franchise with Miami Vice ‘85, which will be released in 2028.

We’re already over halfway through the 2026 movie schedule, and I have my favorites, and then there’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. I knew I had to see it because I haven’t been able to shake off writer/director Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw The TV Glow since it came out in 2024. But, wow, did this movie out-weird this year of films in the best way! I need to talk about it.

Where Do I Even Start To Explain Camp Miasma?

On the surface level, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’s premise really intrigued me. I knew it was about a queer filmmaker, Kris (Hannah Einbinder), who is hired to revitalize a fictional beloved slasher franchise. She decides to pay the movie’s original final girl, Billy Presley (Gillian Anderson), a visit. The trailer had a dreamlike quality to it too that really interested me. On its face, I figured it would be an artsy horror-learning LGBTQ+ movie, but there’s a lot more going on with it.

I’ve had a difficult time explaining it to other people because it doesn’t neatly fit in one genre at all. Camp Miasma is so many things at once, and I’m honestly amazed at how well it executes its balance between being them all. It’s not a horror movie, but it’s definitely an examination of the slasher side of the genre. It’s got romance, but it feels more like a feverish sex dream than a pure love story. It’s definitely a comedy, but there’s something really guttural about the emotional journey it takes you on, too. You see my problem? It’s definitely the weirdest movie of 2026 I’ve seen, though, and when I say that, it’s definitely a compliment.

I Know This For Sure: I’m Never Going To Think About Slashers The Same Again

I’m not going to talk about spoilers, but I do want to delve a bit more into how Camp Miasma made me feel, because I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. At the movie’s core, Schoenbrun is examining the inherently freaky connection between desire and death through the lens of slasher films. And, not in a “cool, but I don’t get it” way, but a soul-bearing, honest way.

Like, why are slasher movies always trying to be sexy? And why does it make sense that they are? It’s something that I’ve never thought deeply about – it's just been a truth in the genre. As Kris tries to uncover what she wants to bring to her reboot of Camp Miasma while staying with Billy, she starts to explore how desire and fantasy have been so entangled with her longtime interest in the franchise.

Before I saw it, I didn’t get the title, but the addition of “teenage sex and death” to its name is really necessary to explain it. It gets into why both sex and death are both these visceral experiences, and actually quite similar to each other. And, there's also quite a lot to say about intimacy anxiety that I've never seen a movie tackle like this before.

Then, there’s the originality of it all. I can honestly say that Jane Schoenbrun has carved their own place in filmmaking, and has a perspective that I’ve never seen before in movies. Camp Miasma isn’t a big studio film, and you feel that, but there’s something really accessible about it too that I was thrilled by.

Like, truly, I don’t think anyone but Schoenbrun could have made this, and that’s so preciously rare to find. It’s also certainly a reminder why having transgender representation is so needed in Hollywood. And, further proof that the queer experience can and does uncover a lot of universal ideas we've yet to see on the big screen.

Anyways, I’m certainly not the only person who’s raving about Camp Miasma. The movie is receiving a lot of high praise from audiences and critics alike, who’ve called it a “bountiful meal of pleasure and excess on an arthouse silver platter” and “heartfelt, but whimsical”. You can check it out for yourself in theaters now.

While Marvel fans have largely been busy anticipating upcoming MCU movies like Avengers: Doomsday and the X-Men reboot, Kevin Feige has taken some critical flak from the fandom recently for Wonder Man's cancellation. Two weeks after receiving an Emmy nomination, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II learned Wonder Man Season 2 had been nixed despite Season 2 already being confirmed. Since then, the lead actor has been addressing why he thinks the renewal was reversed, and has given his take on why he believes it takes longer for Black audiences to find projects like Wonder Man.

Part of the fans’ criticism is that along with Wonder Man, other Black-led projects have been shelved, which has many calling out an alleged pattern Marvel has. Tonya Mosley, from NPR Fresh Air, is one of many who have asked Abdul-Mateen his opinion on this pattern and how it connects to Black audiences:

In the case of Wonder Man, Abdul-Mateen was told that the viewership numbers couldn’t make the math work to balance against production costs. Many lapsed fans saw the series as the perfect show to return to Marvel for, so the loss hits hard. I’m still hopeful we’ll see Simon (and Trevor) again in a future project, even if it’s part of an ensemble. (Meanwhile, you can still watch the award-nominated first season with a Disney+ subscription.)

However, fans are also pointing out canceled plans for Armor Wars (which was supposed to focus on Don Cheadle’s Rhodey) and the shelving of the Blade movie. Mahershala Ali has since been candid about Blade going nowhere, though he harbors no ill will toward the studio, and has moved on to other things. But it still isn't the best optics for Marvel's part. Especially after another project led by a Black star, Ironheart, had poor viewership for its first season, while the animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur was canceled after two seasons.

Seeing all these projects gone so soon, Abdul-Mateen admits:

Despite the unfortunate outcome, the actor continues to feel “thankful and blessed” to be part of the series. Abdul-Mateen feels the love from fans and believes it’s because people “love that show.” He has since shared what his dreams were for a Season 2 and at the time, stated his believed solution: “So our show does deserve some study and some real, hard information about why a show like this did not continue forward.”

Additionally, Wonder Man co-creator Destin Daniel Cretton has defended Kevin Feige after the news was announced. He said that he believed, “If it were up to Kevin, we’d be doing that show,” and spoke about how much the Marvel CEO loved the series. Hopefully, this means we Simon and Trevor’s adventures will live to see another day.

Hopefully, Marvel will produce plenty of future projects led by POC talents. And if that includes bringing Abdul-Mateen back in some way, that's just fine with us.

The Fast & Furious movies have been giving audiences some of the most high-speed action sequences across the past 25 years. But you know who needs a bit more credit? Michelle Rodriguez’s Letty Ortiz. There’s not many Latina characters in the mainstream media that have been franchise mainstays like her, and that’s seemingly because the actress made it her own.

As the original Fast & Furious movie returns to theaters this weekend, Rodriguez recently reflected on her first impressions of Letty on the page. That includes the changes she made to make the character the iconic role it has been for her. In her words:

The Fast and the Furious was only Michelle Rodriguez’s second movie, and yet she wasn’t afraid to make Letty her own. The actress has noted before to EW, when she first read the script, the character “needed a lot of work”. She said it was “guys writing girls, and not knowing what to do”, resulting in her speaking out.

Per Rodriguez, originally Letty was going to try to sleep with Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner in the initial script. But the actress didn’t think it made “any sense” for her character to make those decisions. As she explained: “When you’re with the alpha male in the pack, you stick to that.” Rodriguez said she had to “school these cats in Hollywood in how it works in the streets.”

Michelle Rodriguez is of both Puerto Rican descent and Dominican. She was raised between Texas and the Dominican Republic before settling in Jersey City. As the actress added in new comments while celebrating the movie’s 25th anniversary re-release with Universal Pictures:

It wasn’t too long ago when Vin Diesel shouted out Michelle Rodriguez for being his “ride-or-die” over the years in the Fast franchise. Letty and Dominic’s love story has been going on since the beginning and the actors seem to be reuniting all the time in real life.

The pair are set to conclude the movie series with Fast Forever, which is currently dated for March 17. 2028. Michelle Rodriguez has said that she hopes the next Fast movie has the “integrity that we started with”. Perhaps, it’ll take us back to nostalgia of the first films? 2001’s The Fast & Furious is now playing among the other latest 2026 movie releases in theaters now.

Hailee Steinfeld is thriving personally and professionally. Not only is she married to NFL star Josh Allen, but they are new parents to their baby girl, whom they named Beau. And icing on the cake, the talented actress will be lending her voice to the upcoming Disney movie Hexed, which is about the dynamic of a cautious mother and her teenage daughter who discovers she’s a witch. After hearing the Sinners actress talk about how motherhood impacted her part in the 2026 movie release, it's truly got me in my feels.

In the trailer for Hexed, we see a cautious mother frustrated with her teen daughter’s rebellious nature. Hailee Steinfeld plays that teen daughter; however, in real life, the actress is a new mom. So, during an interview with ET at D23, she got real about how her Disney movie hits way harder now that she's a new mom, and her take is incredibly heartwarming:

I’m loving Steinfeld’s candid take on how her feelings toward Hexed's mother-daughter relationship have evolved! The “Love Myself” singer can now fully immerse herself in Hexed’s story better than ever, because she can relate to both characters at the center of it. Clearly, she has a better understanding not only of what it’s like to be the teenage Billie navigating the stress of high school, but also the overly cautious mother, Alice, who is constantly worried about her daughter.

The Ender’s Game actress explained that not only do the themes of protecting your daughter resonate with her, but so does allowing your daughter to venture into a journey of self-discovery:

We see in Hexed’s first look that after Billie’s necklace comes off, she discovers she has magical powers. As Steinfeld said, parents need to protect, guide, and support their child whenever they discover magic that’s worth exploring. Kids can learn from their parents how to navigate their gifts and share a beautiful journey. I can only imagine all of the beautiful adventures the Edge of Seventeen actress will have with her daughter that’ll encourage her growth and help her discover the unique gifts that make her who she is.

With Hailee Steinfeld’s new Disney movie Hexed meaning so much to her as a new mom, it’s heartwarming to see how its themes of family, self-discovery, and protecting your child hit her deeply now. I’m sure it’ll be a beautiful moment when Steinfeld is finally able to show her daughter her new Disney movie.

If you'd like to see her new Disney movie, Hexed hits theaters on November 25.

Sometimes It’s hard to remember a time when we didn’t know Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka were one of Hollywood’s it couples. Or when we didn’t get epic Halloween family costumes or the Gone Girl actor posting embarrassing TikToks. But hearing his story about why he felt compelled to come out during his time on HIMYM is a reminder that we have come a long way over the past few years. And it’s actors like Harris who have helped pave the way.

Harris dished to Jamie Laing on his Great Company podcast about the time in his life when he first moved to New York, where he learned to “live life with a capital L.” Specifically how this greatly contrasted to how he felt as a child actor in Los Angeles. So when Laing asked him if being in the industry and being famous (he was Doogie Howser after all) made coming out a “tough moment” for him, I just knew his answer would make me emotional. When speaking about coming out NPH shared:

In hindsight, this does feel inevitable, especially when Burtka eventually appeared on HIMYM. He played Scooter, Lily’s clingy high school boyfriend, in several episodes that were scattered throughout the series. The sitcom was known to feature each of their respective partners on the show. But despite his cast and crew aware of their relationship, Harris shares some insight into the fear he felt at the time.

The potential comments influenced him when he and Burtka would attend premieres together, with Harris walking the carpet and his now-husband would go around to the other side of photographers. The actor remembers how things quickly shifted:

I do remember there not being a HUGE reaction to the news, which he describes as being indifferent. He credits this to actors how had come out prior to him that “had a much harder time” having paved the way for him. Though perhaps Harris did the same for actors that came out after he did. However, I think people are still talking about HIMYM’s controversial ending more than anything about Harris' sexuality.

His story reminds me of Heartstopper star Kit Connor’s story about feeling pressured to come out. This occurred after fans had allegedly accused him of "queerbaiting," which ultimately made him feel forced to define his sexuality. In a similar fashion, Harris speaks about working with his team to craft a statement that “was authentic” to who he was and his paranoia about what “stigma” would come as a result. He shares:

Thankfully, there has been a notable shift. Even networks such as Hallmark are entering inclusive eras and I love to see it. I also love seeing Harris being able to embrace who he is, which shows in everything he does. Whether it’s reprising his role as Barney in the Hilary Duff-led How I Met Your Father or killing it (no pun intended) as The Toymaker in Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary. No matter what, Harris always makes everything feel authentic and fun in a way that only he can. And I'm sure part of that is connected to the journey he had BTS of HIMYM.

Personally I can't wait to see what he's going to do next. Or what photos he and Burtka will post next.

SPOILERS are ahead for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

I saw Spider-Man: Brand New Day a few days ago, and it’s been sticking with me like the webs that (now) come straight from the wrists of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. It has all the things I’d want out of a Spider-Man movie, like cool team-ups and great surprises. But, there’s also a warmth to it I wasn’t necessarily expecting to feel four Spidey films in. Peter’s storyline has also led to some online chatter about how it connects to living with autism.

Now, Peter Parker is not canonically thought of as a character on the autism spectrum. But the fact that enough people are having similar reactions to Brand New Day certainly makes it worthy of discussion. Let’s get into it.

People Are Making Brand New Day Connections To Autism

Brand New Day has already soared to become the highest-grossing of 2026 movie releases with over $1 billion in box office returns in addition to being highly acclaimed. So, a lot of people have seen it and are talking about it. Check out this video about the connections one person made between Peter Parker and what it’s like to be in the autism community:

There’s quite a few things to break down here. Azia Celestino, whose own brother has autism, mentions three moments in Brand New Day that made her think Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is an autism icon. For one, Peter Parker’s sudden mutation of his powers gives him sensory overload, which is often thought of as a common symptom of autism. Peter finds himself dealing with this, but it’s within the context of his arachnid hormones going through some changes.

She also brings up the subject of “masking”, which is when someone with autism hides their natural traits to appear non-autistic. Again, Peter Parker is hiding his identity for a different reason, but it’s an interesting connection. Lastly, she brings up the scene between Aunt May and Jean Grey, where she says the following to the future X-Men character:

Aunt May may be talking about what it’s like to have special powers in the context of the movie, but how sweet is it that it could be read as a message to people with autism? I also saw this video regarding the same topic:

Autism is something that millions of people live with everyday, and there’s still a small amount of movies and TV shows that tackle how it really feels. I love knowing that the community is connecting to Spider-Man in the context of Brand New Day.

How The Autism Community Is Reacting

The comments to these videos really speak volumes, too. Check out what people are saying:

• “omg! I felt so deeply understood by this movie, especially during that overload scene I told my brother ‘this is essentially what feels like to be autistic!’ 😂🙌 like the whole movie was very coded and it also referred to the struggle of masking and unmasking in certain aspects. A VERY GREAT REPRESENTATION🔥🙌” - @angelic_depression
• “The sensory overload scenes in the new film are imo extremely accurate to how it feels for a ND person.” - @accccroowww
• “In the scene where Peter is talking to Aunt May and then Peter talking to Jean the message was something like”people who love you love you not because you’re special but because you’re you” That’s the reason why we mask because we don’t think we’re lovable unmasked. But I believe that people who love you will love you not despite your ND but because that’s what makes you you. For the first time ever I felt like I got a big comforting warm hug from a friend watching this movie like “you’re going to be okay”😢” - @shweta_nav1
• "It hit so hard when Jean was talking about how special people don’t get to have real connections or friends or family. They’re just alone. I cried because I see that with my son who loves people but they ignore him. Even some of his close family members. Just because he can’t verbalize a reciprocal conversation." - @sandisueperry
• "My son has autism and when I watched the movie all I could think was of him and was just crying for the rest of the movie ❤️." - @tutsieq

While Spider-Man may not have autism specifically in the movie, it’s clearly making an impact on the community and their support systems. The late Stan Lee talked in the past about why Spider-Man is “easy for fans to relate to” and I love that it continues perhaps in a new way with Brand New Day.

The emotional depth of the new Spider-Man flick is just one of many reasons why I really enjoyed Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and I can’t wait to see what themes fans see in the upcoming Marvel movies to come.

Spoilers for Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 2 are ahead! Read with caution, stream the show with an Apple TV subscription, and make sure to catch new episodes as they drop on Wednesdays.

Yes, I’m thrilled Ted Lasso is back on the 2026 TV schedule, and yes, I’m delighted that Ted Lasso is back in AFC Richmond. However, we cannot overlook the fact that a man was hired over a woman to coach AFC Richmond’s women’s team. While I know Ted is a great pick for the job, it’s hard not to overthink why a woman wasn’t even really considered. Thankfully, the show addresses this conundrum head-on and in ways that I really appreciate.

I Love How Rebecca's Choice To Hire Ted Over Alice Is Addressed

Immediately after Ted returned to England to lead AFC Richmond’s women’s team, his hiring was questioned. Specifically, Coach Alice Chilton asked Rebecca about the choice. After noting that she was passed over as head coach but agreed to stay on as assistant manager, she told the owner she’d decided to leave the team altogether. And then, right before Alice left Rebecca's office, this back-and-forth happened:

• Alice: Did you ever consider me for head coach?
• Rebecca: No.
• Alice: Hm. Did you consider any woman?
• Rebecca: No.

This sent Rebecca into a spiral about feminism and her own potential internalized misogyny, as she reckoned with the challenge of supporting the women’s team as well as backing her choice to bring Ted back. And at the press conference for the women’s team, she was working overtime to prove her support for the team (despite hiring a man), as she said:

By the end of the episode, Rebecca thanked Alice for calling her out, while also making it clear that she would not be talked down to. Overall, I thought it was a direct and nuanced way to address an issue with Ted’s hiring that 100% could not be ignored. And not only did they address it, but this also served as a major learning moment for everyone.

I Loved How Ted’s Cluelessness And Willingness To Learn Was Highlighted

First of all, I love that Ted knows that a woman should be on the coaching staff. I also love that the show doesn’t make him out to know what he’s doing when it comes to leading a group of women.

He didn’t realize he couldn’t just waltz into the locker room until Alice told him. He also seemingly had no idea how undervalued and underappreciated these players were at first. However, he dove into the job with an open heart and mind, ready and willing to learn and address his own biases and blind spots.

Overall, I’m so appreciative of how Ted Lasso has handled Ted’s rehiring in a nuanced way that does address the issue with it. While he’s very fit for the job and Rebecca made a good choice, it’s also worth questioning whether a woman should have been considered for the gig as well. It’s worth exploring how his job changes as he leads a group of women instead of a men’s team, too, because he can’t work the same way he did for the first three seasons.

Now, I’m looking forward to seeing how this plot point continues to impact Season 4 of this great Apple TV show.

Sure, everybody knows who Tyler Perry is NOW, but can I bring you back to a time when he was just starting to get mainstream recognition? The year was 2005, and I was a Junior in college.

Back then, I was watching movies like Sin City (which is still one of the best comic book movies ever made), V for Vendetta, and Batman Begins. And honestly, I really didn’t have much interest in anything outside of the realm of comic book flicks.

But then, who should I be introduced to but a tall Black man wearing a dress? Yep, you know who it is. This is my introduction to the hilarious Madea movies.

First, My Late Mother Said She Wanted All Of Us To See Diary Of A Mad Black Woman

My late mother, bless her soul, never picked movies for us to watch. That said, she had a collection of DVDs as far as the eye could see. I likely acquired my love of movies from her (especially black and white movies, to which she was a massive fan).

On one particular day, my mom called my name from downstairs (“Riicccchaard!”) and when I came to the banister, she told me to get dressed because she wanted to take us all to the movies.

I definitely tilted my head to the side, because that wasn’t like Mom. So, I asked her what she wanted to see, and she said, “This new movie called Diary of a Mad Black Woman. And call your girlfriend. I want her to see it, too.”

Now, my girlfriend at the time is now my wife. She’s also Filipino (we have two lovely mixed-race children together). I definitely didn’t think she would want to see a movie titled Diary of a Mad Black Woman. In fact, I didn’t know if I wanted to see a movie titled Diary of a Mad Black Woman. How wrong I was, though, on both fronts.

My Wife Was Surprised I Had Never Even Heard Of Madea, As She Had

When I called my wife, I asked if she was free because my mom wanted to take us all to see a movie, but I didn’t tell her what it was at first. I merely asked if she was available. She said she was, and then asked, “What does your mom want to see?”

I chuckled and said, “You might not want to come when I tell you. It’s called Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” and my wife said, “Oh, yeah. I really want to see that. Madea looks really funny.” Now, the first thing I said was, “Wait, you’ve heard of it?” And the second thing I said was, “Madea, as in like, Jason and Medea? The Greek tragedy?”

To which my wife said, “What? No. Madea. You know. The Black guy who wears a dress.” My mind immediately leapt to Big Momma’s House, and when I asked if that’s what she meant, she said, “No. You know. The guy who did all those plays.”

Now, you have to remember. Smartphones were around back then, but this was back when people didn’t immediately just grab for their phones to look something up. So, I just shrugged, asked my mom what time the movie was, and then told my wife. She said she’d meet us there.

When I Saw It, I Was Blown Away By How Funny It Was, And I've Been A Big Fan Ever Since

Long story short, Diary of a Mad Black Woman was hilarious. The film was a little preachy (Something I would become familiar with when watching Perry’s work), but the story and characters themselves were so funny that I instantly became a fan.

My wife said she knew about Tyler Perry from her coworkers, as many of them were Black and had seen his plays. Consequently, later that year, my mom bought several of his plays on DVD, and I watched every one of them.

Nowadays, when I think back, Perry was like the “Ernest of the 2000s,” but he’s also so much more than Madea.

I look back fondly upon those days, because I got to hear my mom laugh. That said, I also look forward to the future, because Tyler Perry’s still around, and he’s still making great content for the fans.

Before the year even started, I was impressed to see that Anne Hathaway is the lead of five 2026 movie releases. And then, she also announced she’s pregnant with her third child in June. So, the Oscar winner is really doing it all this year, but right now I want to talk about her maternity-forward fashion.

Anne Hathaway Is Making Her Baby Bump Part Of Her Press Tour Fashion

We’ve seen a lot of press looks from Anne Hathaway this year. But I’m particularly loving how she’s showing off her baby bump while she promotes her Steven Spielberg-inspired horror movie, The End of Oak Street. Check out her most recent fashion moment for Jimmy Kimmel Live!

It’s a simple fit, but she looks fantastic. Hathaway is wearing a flowy black top that opens up at her belly, black slacks and gold accent jewelry. It’s the second time this week she has flaunted her baby bump for a press event, and I think it’s really refreshing to see her showing it off.

For one, The Devil Wears Prada star is pregnant at 43 – which, as she spoke to recently, is not typically an easy road. Her body is literally growing a new human right now, and her making that very obvious in her fashion is empowering for other women to see. It feels like anything other than small-waisted in the belly section is applauded on red carpets. So, it feels beautifully defiant for Hathaway to do this. I wish it wasn’t.

Why Did Some People Think It Was A ‘Fake’ Bump?

My point was sadly made for me when Hathaway stepped out for a previous The End Of Oak Street event in Los Angeles over the weekend. Immediately after photos and videos started coming out of her strutting on a carpet in another baby-bump bearing ensemble, people started calling her belly “fake”. It apparently got to her, because she commented on this post:

Anne Hathaway wrote “fake hair, real bump” in a social media post after comments like this were being made all over the internet. Check out some of them from a TikTok of her posing at the event:

• "Why does it look fake? 😅"
• "I’m sorry but that looks fake"
• "That’s so fake!!! 😭"
• "I don’t like that."
• "it doesnt even look real"

Can you even believe this? Why on Earth would Anne Hathaway wear a fake bump and pretend she was pregnant? However, I was happy to see numerous women coming to her defense as well in the same TikTok with comments like this:

• "That’s a baby bump with abs!!!! ❤️❤️❤️💪💪"
• "It’s looks different because she was already fit and probably continues to work out so she is all muscle and baby!!"
• "People that are saying it looks fake, I think it’s because she ultra fit, my dancer friend belly looked exactly the same."
• "I didn’t know pregnant stomachs was even a debate…. Wth is wrong with society… not all stomachs look the same tf….."
• "People judge pregnant women for gaining too much weight, then judge them when they’re all belly. Every woman carries differently. For God’s sake, stop judging a woman’s body while she’s literally creating a life."

If more people were exposed to what pregnant bellies really look like, perhaps this kind of reaction might not occur? This whole thing is also a troubling reminder of how people often think they have the right to comment on what’s “right” and “wrong” about women’s bodies. Why can’t we just embrace them for how unique each one is, rather than jumping to outlandish conclusions?

Anyways, you can see Anne Hathaway in The End of Oak Street, in theaters this weekend, and the actress in the new trailer for Verity, her final 2026 movie, coming out on October 2.

Christopher Nolan went all out when he put together the star-studded cast of The Odyssey. Stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Samantha Morton, and more gave outstanding performances playing these iconic characters from Homer's epic. However, it’s also important to recognize unsung performers like Damon’s stunt double, Devyn Dalton, who explained why she was picked to do the job for an important scene.

Matt Damon is a real trooper for still doing film stunts in his 50s. However, he can't do everything. For example, when it came to filming the Laestrygonians scene for The Odyssey, it required the 5’10" actor to look small against a group of man-eating giants. That's where 4’6" Canadian stunt performer Devyn Dalton comes in. She stood in for the actor during these moments to make the scale of the scene really pop. Recalling what it was like to get this opportunity, she told BBC News (via TikTok):

I can imagine that surge of female empowerment Dalton must have been feeling! It makes sense that someone of the stunt double’s short stature would stand in for kids and girls of similar height. But it’s clear it was never on the stuntwoman’s bingo card to double for a man like Matt Damon. If you can add that to your filmography, I would say that’s quite the compliment.

In Christopher Nolan’s 2026 movie release, Odysseus lands on an island where they fight off the violent Laestrygonians. With all of the stunts in The Odyssey being pretty real, the action-fantasy flick needed Matt Damon to look minuscule compared to his giant rivals. That's a big reason why Dalton was picked for the gig, as she explained:

Considering I’m 5’1", I completely sympathize with the insecurities short women face. But as Dalton said, being a smaller size has ways of working to your benefit. And if it can mean getting to double as Matt Damon, bonus!

Devyn Dalton also said she used to be ashamed of her muscles. But same as her height, she taught herself how to “lean into” them and appreciate them. Considering Dalton’s ripped arms are all we see of her on screen, her physicality helps contribute to the character of Odysseus and the continuity of the movie.

During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the talented stuntwoman also talked about the importance of studying Odysseus’ emotions and motivations behind each physical movement. Then, when trying a stunt for the first time, she visualized every worst-case scenario so she was prepared for it.

After learning about why she was cast and all the work she put into the role, it makes me happy that stunts will finally be recognized at the Oscars in 2028. Stunt performers like Dalton deserve their props. It also makes me even happier that The Odyssey has been such a success, because it's shining a light on performers like her.

While it's not exactly normal for a very small woman to be the stunt double for someone like Matt Damon, it made perfect sense for this movie. Her short stature and blazing guns for arms helped pull off that epic Laestrygonians scene. Now, you can see Dalton’s muscles on the big screen by seeing The Odyssey in theaters.

Jonathan Bennett has been a leading man since Mean Girls, but his time as one on Hallmark Channel has really become something special. The actor has been at the forefront of advocating for more LGBTQ+ leading roles on the network. Bennett has been vocal about how important this has been, and recently opened up about his experience living through Hallmark’s inclusive era and what it has meant on a grander scale.

The network of romance has focused on adding more inclusive stories since the backlash they received after pulling lesbian wedding ads. At the time, the network promised more inclusivity in their films, and honestly, I was skeptical they’d see it through. But since then, we’ve received multiple LGBTQ+ romances, including Hallmark’s first gay-led rom-com, The Holiday Sitter, starring Bennett and George Krissa. And it’s roles like this that have the actor sharing with People about what a "huge deal" his time on Hallmark has been:

This is especially impactful after rival network GAF’s “traditional family” drama, which had Bennett and other Hallmark stars speaking out. And in response, we’ve been given several firsts for the network, including the first lesbian romance Friends & Family Christmas (2023). We’ve also gotten multiple roles from Bennett, which are characters he says are “so beautiful” about being part of Hallmark.

But the main role he’s singling out is last year’s The Groomsmen: Second Chances. This marked another first: the first gay wedding as the central plot in the movie. It’s the second in the Groomsmen trilogy about three best friends finding love, and has been praised by Bennett for breaking down LGBTQ+ stereotypes. He has described the movie as “breaking heteronormative stereotypes” through his character Danny, who is both a gay man and a baseball player. He dished on what he loved about the trilogy:

Bennett also starred in the hijink-filled A Keller Family Christmas Vacation last year with Legends of Tomorrow’s Brandon Routh and The Middle’s Eden Sher. Fans immediately wanted a series out of the fun family movie, and I couldn’t agree more. The network has been known to make series, so it’s not an impossible wish. This happened with Christmas on Cherry Lane (Bennet was in the first two movies), which keeps coming back with new characters and new decades.

Bennett is continuously drawn back to these movies because he believes it’s important everyone sees “a love that look[s] like theirs on the network that tells love stories.” And it’s not just him who feels that way. Speaking out about the importance of representation, fellow leading man Alec Santos has praised these movies for what they’re giving families: “These stories kind of allow them to experience other stories of queerness through television that is wholesome, that is completely acceptable.”

I hope we continue to get more of these stories and that the channel stays in it’s inclusive era. But I have no doubt that Bennett will continue to push for new stories to be told. And I can't wait.

I’m always here for a little black dress fashion moment. However, Hannah Waddingham just took it to a whole new level. Not only did she rock a beautiful LBD to celebrate the premiere of Ted Lasso’s fourth season on the 2026 TV schedule, but she also had a very empowering reason for wearing it.

So, when Hannah Waddingham attended the New York premiere of Ted Lasso, she wore a little black mini dress by Alice and Olivia that featured two stunning red and gold flowers on it. She paired it with some black stilettos and wore her hair in loose waves. All around, she looked stunning, which you can see for yourself below:

Now, we’ve seen Megan Fox rock a little black dress, Sydney Sweeney has shared her take on the LBD, and Rachel Zegler wore a perfect mini black dress. The list of celebs who have slayed this trend goes on and on. However, Waddingham’s take is 100% one of my favorites.

First of all, I was already obsessed with her style. So, it was a given that I’d adore this look. However, to dive into the details, I am so here for the intricate red and gold flowers, and I’m obsessed with the floral texture of the black garment. On top of all that, this dress perfectly highlights the actress's incredible physique.

Her speaking to that point made this fashion moment all the more meaningful too, as she told Women’s Health:

Hannah Waddingham’s confidence on screen, on the red carpet and in life is one of the major reasons I look up to her. She’s stunningly gorgeous, and she’s always owning it. That’s something I aspire to be, and I really appreciate that it’s a big reason why she chooses to dress the way she does.

I also love that she celebrated her 52nd birthday by rocking this mini dress. Her legs (or "pins" as she called them) do, in fact, look amazing, and I’m 100% sure her 70-year-old self will be thinking that too.

This kind of fashion choice also totally highlights why Waddingham’s career is empowering as well. In her most recent projects, Amazon Prime’s Ride or Die and Apple TV’s great show, Ted Lasso, she plays remarkably powerful and confident women. Obviously, she’s like this in real life too, and this LBD certainly helps emphasize that point.

Now, as she celebrates her birthday, style, amazing physique, and the premiere of Ted Lasso Season 4, you can see her reprise her Emmy-winning role as Rebecca Welton by streaming new episodes of the soccer comedy every Wednesday with an Apple TV subscription.

It's already hard being a working parent but, for a celebrities like Zoe Saldaña, I imagine it can feel impossible. Juggling raising kids and traveling from one new location after the next can be difficult. And, in Saldaña's case, the hard work really speaks for itself, since she holds a box office record that makes her the highest-grossing lead actor of all time. Despite the success, though, the A-lister recently talked about not being immune to the "challenges" that come with being a working mom and a Hollywood star.

The topic came up while Saldaña was promoting the third season of Lioness, which just recently premiered as part of the 2026 TV schedule. She with People about what she and her character, Joe McNamara, have in common and, now, I can't help but think of the parallels. She explains:

While for her the obstacles are more "diluted," this doesn’t make it easier to do a juggling act. She may be focusing on the premiere of Lioness now but, just last year, she was promoting two films. She had a voice part in Pixar’s imaginative Elio, and she did extensive press for Avatar: Fire and Ash, in which she reprised her role as Neytiri. And all that came only a year after her whirlwind of a press run for Emilia Pérez, for which she won an Oscar.

It seems Saldaña (understandably) wants to work but also have time for her three children, whom she shares with husband Marco Perego. Speaking of which, her sons don’t watch her movies. And it’s not just because they don’t want to see their mom on screen but, as she explained, “They don’t like violence.”

Going back to her challenges in being a working mom, though, the Guardians of the Galaxy star is fully aware that her circumstances differ from those of other women as well as her Lioness character:

I’m sure Joe wishes she had fewer bullets to deal with and more late-night shoots. But, while Zoe Saldaña has given the credit to Taylor Sheridan for his creating strong female characters, critics have loved her (and fellow actresses) performance. When the series premiered, critics praised it. The show, which can be watched with a Paramount+ subscription, only seems to be getting better, so Saldaña's work hasn't been done in vain.

Between stunts and knock-out emotional performances, Saldaña makes being a working mom in Hollywood look easy, even if it's anything but. It surely takes a village, but I applaud her for navigating all that.

Minor spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is finally in theaters, and making a ton of money at the box office. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled about finally picking up the narrative after No Way Home's ending, which saw the entire world forget about Peter Parker. I didn't expect any gay jokes to be made throughout its 145-minute runtime, but as a queer Marvel fan I couldn't be more thrilled.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day's trailer featured Hulk and Punisher, but the movie also featured an A+ appearance by Florence Pugh's Yelena/ Black Widow. Peter meets her at her "office", which is really a city bathhouse. After undressing apart from his mask, Yelena pokes fun at his anonymity, asking if he keeps the mask on...

This quick line of dialogue absolutely took me out, and further shows why Yelena is one of the best characters we've gotten in the post-Endgame phases of the MCU. She typically brings a ton of humor to her roles, including in Hawkeye and Thunderbolts* (both of which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription).

As a hardcore Marvel fan who is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I also appreciated that this exchange wasn't making fun of queer folks. What's more, Spider-Man didn't seem offended by the idea of folks thinking he might be gay. I thought this was refreshing, given how often being gay has been used as an insult in media throughout the years. Yelena's comment is just a fun moment, and one that acknowledges that yes, there are LGBTQ+ people in the MCU.

Another queer-coded moment in Spider-Man: Brand New Day happened after Peter woke up hanging outside of his apartment in a web. He falls to the ground, and has to steal clothes from his building's laundry room before taking the elevator back to his place. He accidentally grabs a crop top and pants with "juicy" written on the butt, in another one of the movie's funnier moments. And it felt more significant after his conversation at the bath house with Yelena.

Of course, there have been a handful of LGBTQ+ characters introduced in the MCU. Joe Russo played a gay man during his Endgame cameo, while America Chavez has two moms in Doctor Strange 2. Additionally, Billy Maximoff was confirmed as gay during Agatha All Along.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. The gay jokes happen very quickly, so be careful not to miss them with a bathroom trip!

There’s no overstating how huge the Harry Potter movie series was for fans of the wizarding world from 2001 until its 2011 conclusion. However, behind the scenes, tragedy struck in 2009 that left lasting repercussions on a lot of the cast and crew — Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double, David Holmes, was paralyzed while rehearsing a scene for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. I finally watched the documentary about Holmes with my HBO Max subscription, and I am both heartbroken and inspired.

David Holmes started working as a stuntman for the Harry Potter films in the first movie and grew up alongside Daniel Radcliffe and the rest. Holmes was the one we all saw getting blasted into rocks and falling off broomsticks for all those years. His career came to an end on January 28, 2009, when a stunt went wrong during rehearsal, causing him to break his neck when he was thrown backward into a wall. David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived manages to convey both the tragedy of what happened and Holmes’ refusal to let that kill his spirit.

There’s No Getting Around How Catastrophic David Holmes’ Paralysis Was And Continues To Be

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived opens with the former stuntman talking about how important movement was to him. He said his brain didn’t fully function if he wasn’t in motion, and his mother described his childhood as extremely active. Even in the weeks before the accident, Daniel Radcliffe said Holmes and fellow Harry Potter stuntman Marc Mailley had visited him in New York, where they were running around the city, climbing light posts and jumping and flipping everywhere.

To think this man all of a sudden lost use of his body from the chest down is the ultimate cruelty. David Holmes himself described his body as a prison cell, but as he continues to lose feeling and movement capabilities, he said it’s becoming more like a coffin.

His paralysis meant he could no longer care for himself — not to mention continue doing a job that he loved and had been doing since his young teen years. It’s almost too much to think about someone having to find a whole new way to live and reason for living.

David Holmes’ life was obviously the most affected by the accident, but so many around him suffered as well. To this day Daniel Radcliffe and Marc Mailley — who begrudgingly became Radcliffe’s double afterward at Holmes’ insistence — can’t talk about it without crying. Harry Potter stunt director Greg Powell, who originally hired Holmes and was in charge the day of the accident, still blames himself. In the documentary, he said:

David Holmes and Greg Powell had a very close father/son relationship before the accident, but they don’t see each other often now, seemingly because the stunt coordinator can’t stop thinking about the life that Holmes would have now if it hadn’t happened.

The Harry Potter stunt double has had countless bumps in the road and low moments over the years, as told in The Boy Who Lived; however, David Holmes seems determined to keep the smile on his face and be an example for overcoming adversity.

David Holmes’ Story Includes Plenty Of Heartwarming Moments Too

I think what I loved most about David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived was how his friends rallied around him. Even while Daniel Radcliffe admitted it was awkward at first to visit the stuntman in the hospital, he quickly realized Holmes was still the same guy he’d always looked up to like a big brother.

Another of David Holmes’ friends, Tommy Wells, stepped in to become his buddy’s caretaker, or as Holmes said, “my arms and legs.” I mean, the love between two friends doesn’t go deeper than that. When asked if being Holmes' care assistant was a big responsibility, Wells firmly and quickly said:

Tommy Wells has been the one helping to figure out how to get David Holmes to everything from appointments to meetings to safaris in South Africa. I was so touched by their beautiful friendship.

David Holmes has also raised a lot of money for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and other spinal cord injury groups through an annual cricket event that’s been ongoing since 2009. Harry Potter stuntmen Marc Mailley and Tolga Kenan continue to work in the industry and have made strides in making the job safer.

One Thing David Holmes Said Has Stuck With Me Since Watching His Documentary

There was one thing the stuntman said that really struck me when I was watching the doc regarding the burden of his loved ones’ expectations after the accident. David Holmes knew immediately when it happened that he’d broken his neck, and he knew the damage was irreversible. It was important to make the others in his life aware of this too, and he said:

He makes an amazing point, and I’d imagine that was pretty helpful (though admittedly devastating) to help his family and friends know how to approach him in those early days. Daniel Radcliffe said he really learned about being there for his buddy without trying to or being able to fix anything.

“The Boy Who Lived” may be Harry Potter’s nickname in the book and movie series, but it really is the perfect way to describe David Holmes. Not only did he survive the terrible stunt tragedy, but he refused to stop living after he became paralyzed.

Seeing David Holmes’ story made me agree completely with Ryan Gosling’s reason for making The Fall Guy, because there’s no reason stuntmen shouldn’t get more recognition for their work. Holmes gave everything to the Harry Potter franchise, and he said if he regained his mobility tomorrow he’d be right back at work.

Anyone who considers themselves a fan of the wizarding world should watch this documentary (or read Holmes’ book, which comes highly recommended by Emma Watson). David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived and all of the Harry Potter movies can be streamed on HBO Max.

E.T. The Extraterrestrial is not only one of the best movies of the 1980s, but it’s also one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made. (And my favorite movie). That’s why I cannot believe I just found out the story behind its titular character. The little alien was made possible through groundbreaking animatronic technology and three actors who could actually fit inside the suit. Two of them were little people, Pat Bilon and Tamara De Treaux, and the third was a 12-year-old disabled boy who was born without legs.

The Story Behind The Disabled Actor Who Played E.T.

Matthew De Meritt has always walked on his hands to get around. While much of the time this might put him at a disadvantage, it actually proved really useful to bring E.T. to life on set. The actor, who’s now 56 years old, could not only fit in the suit, but it also became the perfect solution to film the alien practically. Here’s how he explains how he worked with the other two actors:

The two other actors had brittle bones, something common to people with dwarfism. So De Meritt was the only actor of the three to be able to do E.T.’s stunts.

As a result, he was inside the E.T. costume for a ton of his iconic scenes. The kitchen scene where E.T. raids the fridge and falls down after having beer, for example. Or the scene when E.T. gets startled by the camera flash on Halloween. As the E.T. veteran also explained in a 2025 interview with Adventures Access:

So, in the sequences when you see E.T.'s face, it’s the work of animatronics. But whenever the alien is on the go, it’s one of the actors inside.

The Impact Playing E.T. Had On Dealing With His Disability

De Meritt has also talked about how taking on the rare role actually helped him emotionally deal with his disability as a child, too. In his words:

It wasn’t his gained notoriety that changed how other people saw him after playing E.T.; it was the “confidence” that playing the role gave him. As De Meritt shared, he really got along with the other young actors who played Elliott and his older brother Michael. Getting to be part of a film by a beloved director isn’t an opportunity many get, but it made all the difference to him.

How often do you hear a story like this about someone with a disability who contributed to a major Hollywood production in a big way? What may be seen as a shortcoming by society was embraced as a skill that made De Meritt specifically needed in a role. It makes one wonder about all the stories we don’t know about other stories of real people with disabilities that go unsung. Or how the community is often shortsighted when they can fill unexpected roles that can make a film or TV show better.

According to the World Health Organization’s reporting, one in six people are dealing with a significant disability. There’s not enough visibility for the disabled in movies and TV as is. May Matthew De Meritt’s role in E.T. be a reminder that we need more stories involving people with disabilities at the forefront.

Amazon first announced Neagley in 2024, and while it’s taken a bit of time to finally make its way onto the 2026 TV schedule, the series officially premieres on September 16. While Frances Neagley has been a stand-out character in Reacher and has proven just how capable she is alongside Alan Ritchson's nomad, it’s clear there's more to explore with the character than the flagship episodes allowed for. So for both fans and Maria Sten, the Neagley spinoff is both needed and welcomed.

What makes Neagley so interesting is the fact that she’s infused with an authentic combination of vulnerability and toughness. She can beat up the worst of the worst villains, take a quiet moment to acknowledge her palpable loneliness, and then follow it all up with a laugh-worthy line that highlights her sense of humor. And Sten herself is the perfect choice to step up as the lead of her own show. Yet somehow, she’s one of the few instances of a Black woman leading an action series. The actress told Entertainment Weekly what that feels like:

With Neagley, Sten is joining the ranks of fellow Black actresses Angela Bassett with 9-1-1 and Sonequa Martin-Green with Boston Blue, and hopefully more to come in the future. The former dancer who was crowned Miss Denmark Universe in 2008 is excited about the opportunity the new series is providing, but there’s also pressure that comes with taking on new responsibility. The tremendous success of Reacher, having already been renewed for Season 5, isn’t something that can ever be predicted, but thankfully it means that we do get to learn more about Neagley and what makes her tick.

Frances Neagley, as well as Maria Sten, is a force of nature, so watching her in action is reason enough to tune in. But having the focus on her means that we’ll get to learn much more about who she is when she’s not with Jack Reacher and how her past has informed her present. We know that Neagley will follow the former military protégé as a P.I. in Chicago, laser-focused on demanding justice when a childhood friend is killed. And as she pursues the truth with her own team of misfits, we’ll get to see what it’s like for her to live with haphephobia, or the fear of touching or being touched. It sounds like the perfect balance of kick-ass action and character development. Sten further explained:

Luckily, we don’t have long to wait to see what’s in store for Jack Reacher in Season 4 of his own series and for Frances Neagley in hers, and you can watch both with an Amazon Prime subscription. With a new world of her own and new characters inhabiting it, Neagley could continue to live alongside Reacher for many seasons to come.

As an LGBTQIA+ ally, I’m always looking to better understand (and support) my brothers, sisters, and nonbinaries.

One way that I try to do this, small as it may be, is to introduce people to entertainment that features people all across the rainbow. Not too long ago, I talked about the Macaulay Culkin-led Party Monster, which features gay culture. I also covered Velvet Goldmine, which circles around bisexuality. Well, today, I want to focus on asexuality, and I bring you none other than the 1962 horror cult classic, Carnival of Souls.

Now, while asexuality is never directly mentioned in Carnival of Souls, I think there’s a case to be made that it’s actually (accidentally or not) in the film, and here’s why.

Mary Shows No Desire Whatsoever To Sexual Advances, And Even Seems Annoyed By Them

I don’t blame you if you’ve never heard of Carnival of Souls. Even though I love it, it’s often not considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time, unless you’re talking about indie horror movies, to which it’s highly regarded. The plot concerns a woman named Mary (Candace Hilligoss) who seems to be the sole survivor of a car accident after her two female friends and she go flying off a bridge during a drag race.

Mary wanders out of the water, all ghoulish-like, after a search party looks for the three of them. She moves on from her traumatic experience the best she can by heading to Salt Lake City and taking on a job as a church organist. She rents out a room near the church, and ends up having a creepy male neighbor named John (Sidney Berger) who immediately hits on her. She’s immediately put off by him.

Now, you might think that this doesn’t directly spell “asexuality.” However, it’s how she’s put off by John that paints this possible picture. She’s frequently haunted by strange visions, and goes on dates with John just so she won’t be alone.

But, once on these dates, it’s not just that she doesn’t have any attraction to him. It seems like she wouldn’t have any attraction to anyone, both male and female. She’s mostly aloof with pretty much everybody in the movie, and seems to want to be left alone, but also wants to fit in with people. In the end, she just seems…distant, and she doesn’t quite know why.

Mary Even Acknowledges At One Point That "I Don't Belong In The World...Something Separates Me From Other People."

At one point in the film, John gets sick of Mary because she can’t seem to make up her mind. She says she wants to be with him, and you can tell that she’s making an effort, but it’s entirely forced. It’s not forced for his sake, but rather, for her own. Throughout the film, she visits a doctor, who admits he’s not a psychiatrist, and tells him that she doesn’t belong in the world, and that something separates her from other people.

Now, this of course has to do with the narrative itself, as similar to The Sixth Sense, Mary really might not be of this world anymore following her accident. However, looking deeper into the narrative and how Mary is distant with everyone - especially those who wonder why she isn’t romantically involved with anybody - you could make a case that she is really speaking to how she doesn’t understand why she isn’t attracted to anyone, and that she’s always just been that way, for as far back as she can remember.

That’s important, because this movie isn’t queer-coded, as we never get a sense that Mary might just like women like Shirley MacLaine’s character in The Children’s Hour. Instead, Mary feels socially, and romantically, distant with everybody.

And, for a movie from the ‘60s, where women were typically always viewed as a romantic interest, Carnival of Souls is that rare movie that, even if it wasn’t intending to do so, still manages to create asexual subtext, which I think is pretty cool.