Don’t get me wrong, I’m here for one of my favorite Hunger Games characters getting to be front and center in the next installment of the franchise, but there is one thing that keeps standing out (and it has nothing to do with the butterflies). This is one of the upcoming book-to-screen adaptations I’m most excited about, but I’ll be honest, I keep thinking about Haymitch’s new hair in Sunrise on the Reaping. Joseph Zada’s take on it is hilarious.

Zada is stepping into the role popularized by Woody Harrelson in the original Hunger Games trilogy, and he stopped by GQ to dish on how he gets into the mind of his characters thanks to “his halo of curls.” At this point, his hair is almost a character in itself. This is no different than the obvious curls we see in the trailer, which was a surprise given Harrelson’s hair was pin-straight. Though I’m still laughing at what Zada had to say about the situation:

There’s a part of me that giggles at the thought of Harrelson’s Haymitch straightening his hair every morning before pouring himself a drink. That’s definitely one Hunger Games connection that won’t make it into the movie: Haymitch’s hair regime. However, this hasn’t stopped me from loving everything about the trailer. Though it is a hairy predicament they’ve found themselves in, given how Mckenna Grace fought to get certain details in the movie, such as her character’s braid. Zada has another possible solution:

The image this brought to mind won’t be leaving any time soon. Though for Zada, his hair has a deeper meaning. It helps him understand what his character’s thinking. We’ve seen this when he died it blue for Invisible Boys (2025) and then platinum blond for We Were Liars, which you can catch with a Prime subscription. To become Haymitch, he initially dyed his hair blonder before freaking out that he couldn’t see the character in the mirror. Thanks to a suggestion from director Francis Lawrence, he went back to the salon and ended up with the 'Lurpak butter blond' we see in the trailer.

However, I have a possible theory for the hair change. Perhaps there’s something more metaphorical at work. Now, we do get a glimpse of Zada with straight hair in the trailer during scenes of performance for the Capitol. So maybe the choice to straighten his hair is an act of defiance like the clothes Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) designed for Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) in the original trilogy. In that original trilogy, Haymitch is serving the Capitol as a mentor to the tributes from District 12, so maybe the luscious hair we see is the one thing he CAN control.

Meanwhile, I have yet to see anyone ask Harrelson what his hair is going to be in the movie. The actor is reportedly taking a break from Matthew McConaughey long enough to reprise his role alongside Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. (If you’ve read the book, you’ll understand how that works).

I'm excited to get an answer on November 20, when the movie finally comes to the 2026 movie schedule. Then maybe they can drop what Haymitch's hair care routine is.

After Outlander ended on the 2026 TV schedule after eight seasons, the franchise has remained alive and well thanks to the prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood, now in its second season. Of course, the series has been a hit on Starz, but I can’t help but miss the original cast. Luckily, Sam Heughan is beginning to land roles post-Outlander. I just can’t decide what I’m most excited for.

Heughan starred on Outlander as Jamie Fraser for the series’ entire run. While he was able to do other projects during Outlander, the fact that he’s finally doing projects post-Outlander is certainly exciting, as it marks a new era for him. In fact, he's going to be in not one but two new shows, both with great casts and intriguing plot lines.

TVLine has just reported that the actor is set to star in the upcoming Paramount+ drama series Ascent alongside Viola Davis. The show is described as “a character-driven thriller set in the dangerous world of global corporate crisis and damage control.” Heughan is set to play Conal, one of Ascent Ventures’ top reps. Per the character description:

This already sounds like an intense drama, and I cannot wait to see Heughan as Conal. Conal seems pretty ruthless and won't quit until the job is done, and the role is definitely different from Jamie Fraser, a Highland warrior in 18th-Century Scotland. It will be hard to see him as someone other than Jamie, especially now that Outlander is done, but I’m looking forward to what he brings to the new, modern series, which comes from writer John Logan.

And this is not the only show Heughan has in the works. Announced back in January, Heughan is also starring in Embassy, a geopolitical action-thriller series. Via Deadline, he joins Anna Kendrick and J.K. Simmons as a British SAS soldier. The six-part series comes from AGC Television, Ascendant Fox, and Turbine Studios. According to the official logline:

Production on Embassy kicked off in February in London and Cologne. At the time of Heughan’s addition, Embassy was not attached to any streamer or platform. MGM+ officially picked up the series in July. As of now, a premiere date has not been announced, but the wait will be worth it.

Embassy and Ascent both sound so fun that I literally cannot make up my mind about which I’m looking forward to most. I’m just happy about the fact that we won’t have to wait too long to see Heughan back on TV. Hopefully, more information on the series will be revealed soon, but this excitement can’t be contained. At the very least, fans can get their Heughan fix with all eight seasons of Outlander on Starz. The first seven seasons are streaming with a Netflix subscription, with Season 8 likely coming to the platform in the near future.

There are plenty of fans of the Highlander movies, and luckily moviegoers are going to be treated to a new reboot starring Henry Cavill. John Wick's Chad Stahelski is directing, so the movie is sure to have plenty of thrilling action sequences. The 43-year-old actor recently got real about the intense training he went going through, and I'm exhausted just hearing about it.

Henry Cavill has gotten superhero fit before, thanks to his tenure playing Superman (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription). Still, in an interview with Men's Journal, he spoke about the wild way he had to prepare to play the titular role of the new Highlander film. In his words:

Highlander is making some changes to characters, but one thing that will definitely stick around is thrilling action scenes. Henry Cavill worked out hard not only to look swole on set, but in order to safely use different martial arts and weaponry in the highly anticipated reboot. It truly sounds exhausting, and I can't wait to see those efforts on the big screen.

Despite all the prep involved, it's surprising that Highlander's fight scenes were choreographed rather last-minute. Cavill was prepared thanks to his intense training, but I would have assumed that things didn't come together basically on set. The Man of Steel actor went on to share:

Stahelski is known for crafting thrilling and wildly complicated fight scenes, especially throughout the John Wick movies. Usually that includes dizzying fight choreography, but it sounds like things were a bit more improvised for Highlander. Luckily, Cavill had trained enough that he was prepared for anything the filmmaker/stuntman threw at him.

In the same interview, the Enola Holmes actor spoke more about what it was like working on the new Highlander, and the toll its process took on him... especially all those action scenes. In his words:

It sounds like Cavill is really psyched about the new Highlander movie, even if he was tired while filming as Connor MacLeod. All the prep seemingly worked out, and I can't wait to see the final product whenever Chad Stahelski's blockbuster arrives in theaters.

Unfortunately, Highlander doesn't have a release date at the time of writing this story. Obviously, it won't arrive on the 2026 movie release list, but it's currently unclear if we should expect it in 2027 or 2028. Fingers crossed we get some answers sooner rather than later.

The rumors surrounding who will be the next James Bond in the upcoming Bond 26 have been hot and heavy for months–nay, years– since Daniel Craig starred in his final movie (No Time to Die) in 2021. There have been a lot of names bandied about to join the list of actors who have played Bond over the years, and some of those names, notably Callum Turner and Jack Lowden, are among those who appear to be frontrunners for the role, as screen tests are reportedly happening this weekend.

As a fan of both actors, I think either would be great as the superspy. However, it does leave me wondering about some of the other rumors that have hinted at an origin story possibly going back to Bond’s days in the Navy, which would presumably be a much younger 007 than we're used to. So what does this all mean? Let’s get into it.

Screen Tests Are Underway

According to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, screen tests for the next Bond are happening this weekend. The outlet reports that Turner and Lowden are among the finalists to emerge in the derby to be Bond in the upcoming installment directed by Denis Villeneuve. THR also reports that actors previously rumored to be in the running, notably Jack O’Connell and Jacob Elordi, are no longer in the running, according to the publication’s sources. Those four are the only names mentioned in the article, so there are likely others we’re just not aware of yet.

These screen tests are apparently happening this weekend, so maybe we’re finally on the cusp of an announcement. I’ve long held that while we’re all champing at the bit to know who will don the tuxedo as the British spy, Villeneuve has to wrap up his work on his 2026 movie, Dune: Part Three, which will be released in December. With that project presumably close to completion, this news sounds like things are ramping up on Bond 26.

What Does This Mean For Bond’s Age?

If Lowden and Turner are indeed among the frontrunners for the role, it means that an origin story of Bond in the Navy might not be what the next movie will be. Both actors are 36 years old. That is younger than three of the previous actors when they took on the role. Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan were 43, and Timothy Dalton was 41. However, it isn’t as young as Sean Connery, who was 32, and it’s right in line with Craig, who was 38 when he starred in his first, Casino Royale, in 2006.

Presumably, a story featuring Bond in the Navy would be better for a younger actor, like Harris Dickinson or Paul Mescal (both of whom have also been rumored in the past). There is no mention of them, at least partly because both are busy filming the upcoming Beatles movies for the next year or so, I assume. There is also no mention of any other actors in that 25-30 range, the age a pre-MI-5 Bond would have been.

I am someone who would rather not see an origin story, so I’ll take this as good news, personally, but until the new actor is named, we’re all just guessing. Meanwhile, all 25 previous Bond films are all in one place, and you can watch them with your Prime subscription while we wait for more news.

When people were dogging the Street Fighter movie, starring Noah Centineo among others in the ensemble cast, after seeing the early trailers, I was one of the first defenders, but after having seen the film, all I have to say is that you naysayers were kind of right. It definitely did not live up to my lofty expectations. That said, was it as terrible as I’ve heard some people making it out to be? Well, that’s debatable, but I will say this: While it wasn’t everything that I could have wanted in a Street Fighter movie, I still think it’s pretty fun, and it definitely has its moments.

So, while I don’t think I’ll have to revise my list of the best video game movies ever to slip in Street Fighter, which hit the 2026 movie schedule last weekend, I will talk about all of the things that I think actually worked. It’s more than you may think.

Oh, and some spoilers up ahead.

The Animated Sections Are So On Point, I Wish They Were The Whole Movie

I’m going to be honest with you. As a lifelong Street Fighter fan, I can tell you that there’s never been a “great” live-action Street Fighter movie. I know some people really like the 1994 flick, but come on. At best, it’s a “good” bad video game movie. The less we say about Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, the better.

Well, you can add this recent Street Fighter to the list of “not great” movies, though I would say it’s the best of the three. While I said there hasn’t been a great “live-action” Street Fighter movie, there has been a great animated one, and that’s 1994’s Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie. It’s a flick that hits all the right notes, and it also influenced a lot of later Street Fighter titles as well (Most notably the Street Fighter Alpha series).

So, when I learned that this new movie had animated segments, I thought, sign me up! And, yes, they are arguably the best part of the entire film. The animated parts are actually super serious, and they give great backstory. The start of the film is actually the first tournament, which would be the original Street Fighter.

All of these animated segments are by far the coolest sections of the flick, and they’re not bogged down by the “humor” that the rest of the movie presents. I wish the whole film were animated.

So, Sagat IS In The Film, And The Way He's Presented Here Is So Awesome

When we initially got a list of the main cast for this movie, I was like, okay, okay, okay, everybody’s here. Nice. But then, I took a second look, and my eyes widened. “Wait. Where’s Sagat?” I asked aloud. And, for a time, I thought this was a major mistake. How could you have pretty much the entire roster of Street Fighter II: Champion Edition and NOT include the Muay Thai master?

Well, my concern was misguided, as Sagat is in fact in the movie, and, as I just mentioned earlier, he’s in the best portions of the film, those being the animated segments. This makes sense as to why he wasn’t in the main cast, since he’s not actually a part of the main story.

Even so, the two moments that he’s here (Both in the beginning and in the mid-credit scene) are two of the coolest parts of the entire flick. We see Ryu beat him in the first tournament (As Evil Ryu, which is something I KNEW they should have saved for a sequel since it could have been its own story), and then during the mid-credits, when Bison visits him.

I actually love this. Sagat is such an important character that I’m glad that they’re going to spend more time with him in the sequel (IF there’s a sequel). He deserves the spotlight.

I Can't Believe I'm Saying This, But Dan Was The Best Character In The Entire Movie

If you were to tell me that Andrew Schulz as Dan would be the best part of this movie, I genuinely would not have believed you, but lo and behold, he is really the only character I genuinely loved in this film. What’s strange, though, is that Ken seems to be the joke character in this movie, whereas Dan has always filled that role in the games.

Now, that’s not to say that Dan isn’t a figurative punching bag in this film. He is. A lot of the best jokes are about just how lame he is, but he’s also the character who feels like he has the most heart. He is, dare I say, the moral compass of this movie.

You see, Dan is Ken’s best friend in this version, and he sticks by his side no matter what. He acts as his business partner, but he’s not using him as one might expect. Instead, he formerly trained with Ryu and Ken, and he’s been Ken’s best friend when Ryu seemingly abandoned him.

He also has what I thought was the funniest line in the movie, and it concerns Taco Bell. You’ll know what I mean if you’ve seen it. But, yeah. Dan is the best character in the Street Fighter movie. Who would have thought? However, there’s actually another character I really liked, too.

This M. Bison Is Also Nothing Like The Game, But I Like This Version Anyway

Will anybody ever beat Raul Julia as M. Bison? Probably not, and unfortunately, David Dastmalchian doesn't come close. That said, given the material, Dastmalchian actually did an amazing job in this film, and like Dan, he was another one of the movie’s highlights.

Dastmalchian makes this M. Bison flamboyant, which really makes him stand out. He is obsessed with getting buff, and the only way to do that (in his mind) is through harnessing Psycho Power. The best way he thinks he can do this is through Ryu’s dark Hadou (basically his “murderous intent”), and he thinks getting him in the tournament will make this a reality.

This Bison is also pretty weird. He’s obsessed with feet, has a gladiatorial prison with Blanka…for some reason, and ostensibly gets aroused when he brands people with his insignia.

He's also so deadpan. Like Julia, Dastmalchian seems to be taking the movie much more seriously than it deserves, and when he says ridiculous lines, he fully commits to them. So, while he's not like the game's Bison, I still loved his performance.

Yes, Street Fighter Is A MAJOR Disappointment, But It Had Its Moments

In the end, there was a lot more I disliked about this movie than I liked (for example, for a movie that takes place in 1993, they sure have a lot of anachronisms when it comes to the soundtrack - like they play “Many Men (Wish Death)” when 50 Cent comes out as Balrog…though that was pretty cool. Even so, while it did have its moments, they could have been much stronger.

For example, I like that there's a tournament in this movie, but we barely see any of it. It's cool that there are special moves from the game, but they feel half-hearted at times. I also love how all of the characters are here, but some are woefully underused (like Zangeif!). It's also fun, but maybe too fun at times (as in goofy). The story is also all over the place.

So, yeah. A decent movie, but not what I hoped for.

Domhnall Gleeson has had more than a few pinch-me moments throughout the course of his career, partially due to his tenure with the Star Wars movies. By playing the villainous General Hux in the Sequel Trilogy, Gleeson had the opportunity to take part in some big scenes with A-list actors. The experience wasn’t always easy, though, and that wasn’t necessarily due to production. Gleeson actually revealed that his angrier portrayal of Hux in 2017’s The Last Jedi was due to a gross situation he experienced off the set.

Upon his debut in 2015’s The Force Awakens, Hux was shown to be a tense individual and staunch supporter of the First Order. I thought he was uptight enough in that initial installment, but Gleeson ramped it up for the aforementioned sequel. My first guess would’ve been that the star found an acting method to reach that level of anger, yet I never would’ve guessed that it really had to do with bedbugs. While on The Drew Barrymore Show, Gleeson recalled the matter after being asked to share a BTS memory:

I can think of few things that would make someone uncomfortable like bedbugs would, and the Paper star’s situation just sounds miserable. While he may have had a miserable first day on the Harry Potter set due to an accent mixup, I don’t think that compares to this critter-related situation. Still, Gleeson managed to turn lemons into lemonade, as he told Barrymore (as seen on YouTube) that he used the energy for his own benefit:

A part of me really wants to use my Disney+ subscription to watch The Last Jedi right now, considering this new information I’ve learned regarding those bedbugs. If anything, I applaud Gleeson for remaining professional even amid the less-than-deal circumstances. The film shoot wasn’t all bad for Gleeson either, as he even collaborated on a particularly fun (and dark) moment, which saw Hux aiming to finish off his boss, Kylo Ren, following a lightsaber battle.

For the most part, Gleeson has spoken highly of his time within the Star Wars franchise. However, as was the case with this recent interview, he’s also been honest about the elements he wished were different. Gleeson previously admitted that he would’ve loved to have played a larger part in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. More recently, he also said he found Hux’s death in that film to be “devastating.” Yet, for Gleeson, what softened the blow of his character's demise was that it was the great Richard E. Grant – in character as Allegiant General Pryde – who delivers the fatal blaster shot.

I feel as though Star Wars fans have likely seen the last of Hux, though Domhnall Gleeson is down to return should an opportunity arise. For now, though, I’ll just settle for his insightful behind-the-scenes stories, and I really hope that any others he reveals aren’t as nasty as his bedbugs experience.

Chris Hemsworth has spent more than a decade convincing audiences he could beat up just about anybody. Between playing Thor in the MCU and Tyler Rake in Netflix's Extraction movies, the Australian actor has built a career on looking like someone you would absolutely avoid upsetting in a bar. At 43, he apparently has no intention of slowing down. In fact, his latest workout footage has me impressed by how much time he's putting in for the third entry in the series.

While filming Extraction 3 overseas, Hemsworth shared an Instagram post showing off some seriously impressive striking drills with his friend and trainer, Jack Boonsanong. In the video below, the Avengers star can be seen working inside a boxing ring, throwing combinations, driving kicks into pads and generally looking like he could ruin my entire afternoon without breaking a sweat. And, considering the punishment Tyler Rake takes in these movies, I suppose that is exactly the point:

In his caption, the Ghostbusters alum said he was shooting the third Extraction movie in Thailand and was fortunate to train with Boonsanong, whom he thanked for the session.

The footage is pretty remarkable. Viewers can see the Crime 101 star moving through punching combinations before switching to kicks and knees, with Boonsanong absorbing the blows on pads. The longtime Marvel staple looks comfortable doing it, which is slightly concerning when you remember this is supposed to be his day job between filming intense sequences for new action movies. I get tired carrying groceries into the house. This man apparently relaxes by throwing knees at people.

This isn't our first glimpse of Hemsworth preparing for the sequel. Back in July, he showed off another Extraction 3 workout while vacationing in Costa Rica. That session involved a kettlebell, resistance bands and a lengthy circuit of exercises performed in the heat.

The Thailand footage shows another side of his preparation. The earlier routine focused heavily on strength and conditioning. At the same time, these drills emphasize the sort of striking and movement that might come in handy when Tyler Rake inevitably finds himself surrounded by armed men in a hallway. I have a soft spot for the Extraction movies, particularly because director Sam Hargrave seems determined to make every sequel a logistical nightmare for his stunt department.

The original movie in Hargrave's series featured a nearly 12-minute action sequence designed to appear as one continuous shot. Then Extraction 2 arrived in 2023 and delivered an absurdly ambitious 21-minute action sequence involving a prison escape, a moving train and an extremely unfortunate number of people trying to kill the Vacation scene stealer. And, yes, at one point, Tyler Rake was literally on fire.

Hargrave is returning to direct Extraction 3, with Idris Elba set to reprise his role alongside Golshifteh Farahani. David Weil has taken over screenwriting duties from Joe Russo, while the Russo brothers remain involved as producers.

Netflix is still keeping the plot under wraps, though filming has taken the production through Australia and Thailand. Recent set footage has also shown Hemsworth performing action sequences involving boats, so I suspect Tyler Rake will once again spend a significant amount of time being thrown into situations that would kill a normal person.

As of yet, there is no confirmed release date for Extraction 3, as of this writing. The flick also isn't currently listed on Netflix's 2026 streaming release schedule. But don't fret, as fans can revisit the first two movies with a Netflix subscription while waiting for Tyler Rake’s next assignment.

For now, I'm impressed by Hemsworth's commitment. He has already spent years swinging Mjolnir and surviving increasingly ridiculous Extraction set pieces. Seeing him working this hard for a third round makes me excited about what Hargrave has planned. I hope whoever is playing the next villain remembers that the franchise lead has apparently been putting in a lot of time at the office. His office just so happens to be a boxing ring.

I’ll admit that I’ve not read Whalefall, but I am excited for the book-to-screen adaptation, which is hitting the 2026 movie schedule this weekend. The top-line description of the movie is that it is about a scuba diver who is swallowed whole by a sperm whale, lives, and finds himself fighting to escape the whale’s belly. A number of reviews have called out how ridiculous the story is, which, in and of itself, is a pretty silly take for a movie, but there is actually precedent, and I’m not talking about Jonah.

Critics Are Upset That The Plot Is Unrealistic

Now that the first reviews of the movie are out, some of them are relishing the moment to point out how “preposterous” the plot is. Page Six says in its scathing review:

Again, I haven’t seen the movie, but it’s not like I go into a movie like this expecting realism. That’s as silly as getting upset that dinosaurs exist in the Jurassic Park franchise or that King Kong is 100 times bigger than an average ape. You know, sometimes you have to suspend reality for a movie, right?

This movie seems to be too much for some critics, like James Berardinelli, who writes on Reel View:

Is the movie realistic? Well, no, not really.\Simon Foster at Screen Space agrees:

He then goes into a few details about how it would be impossible for a man to survive being eaten by a whale. While I’m sure his science is sound, there are always exceptions. In fact, there is an example of a man surviving.

Michael Packard Survived Being Trapped In A Whale

I’m not a doctor or a biologist, but I don’t think anyone should go out there and try to recreate Whalefall, which is obviously terrifying, but there is an example of a man getting trapped inside a whale’s mouth and surviving. His name is Michael Packard, and he’s a lobster fisherman from Cape Cod. According to CNN, Packard was also scuba diving, hunting lobsters, and:

Packard found himself stuck in a humpback whale’s mouth, being crushed by its powerful jaws. His life flashed before his eyes, but less than a minute later, the lobsterman found himself being spat out of the whale’s mouth at the surface. He had survived. Now, he wasn’t swallowed like the character in Whalefall (or Jonah in the bible), but he was trapped by a whale and lived.

The book and the movie are not based on Packard’s story, and obviously there is a big difference between getting swallowed and being trapped in a mouth, but there is a big difference between cloning a sheep and cloning a T-Rex, yet we all accept that could be done in the world of movies. This isn’t any different.

Zendaya and Tom Holland are one of the most successful couples in Hollywood, and for a while it’s likely that Zendaya was the one worth the most money. She reportedly makes between $8 and $10 million per movie, though she also takes on a lot of passion projects like Challengers and this year's The Drama (one of four movies the actress is starring in on the 2026 movie schedule) that pay her somewhat less. However, Holland has reportedly taken home a huge windfall for Spider-Man: Brand New Day after the movie raked in more than $2.5 billion at the box office over the summer.

A Truly Massive Payday

The two biggest movies of the year so far, box office-wise, are Brand New Day and The Odyssey. Both movies star Zendaya and Holland. It’s quite a feat, but it looks like Holland will have bragging rights at home, as he is reportedly taking home a massive $100 million total payday because the movie crossed the $2 billion mark. According to The Wrap, Holland earned $20 million upfront for his role as the friendly neighborhood crimefighter, but his backend deal will earn him an additional $80 million in bonuses based on the performance of the movie.

The “backend” of movies is where stars like Holland can really crank up their salary. The way they work is by essentially setting bonuses if movies reach certain benchmarks. According to the insider at Sony, Holland’s contract included a provision to pay him the massive amount if that $2 billion was reached. Brand New Day cruised past that mark in just its third week, becoming the second fastest movie ever to hit the milestone, after another Holland movie, Avengers: Endgame, in 2019.

This marks a huge raise for Holland after he made a reported $10 million for Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. I mean, it would mark a huge raise for almost anyone, even the most successful Hollywood stars. It’s also way more than Zendaya has reportedly ever made for one movie.

She has earned a ton in her career, enough to satisfy almost anyone, but it’s comparatively peanuts. It’s notoriously difficult to believe what the internet says about celebrity net worths, but Zendaya is supposedly worth in the neighborhood of $40 million. That was more than Holland was supposedly worth (which is also hard to pinpoint) before Spider-Man: Brand New Day. If all these numbers are accurate, it means Holland went way over Zendaya’s number for just this one movie.

Something tells me that the two, who got married earlier this year in a low-key private ceremony (followed by a second wedding), probably aren’t worried about who is worth the most between them. Even if they are, if this report is true, there isn’t much of an argument to be had. Although even if Holland’s bank account is bigger, Zendaya’s 2026 movies will combine for more at the box office, as her fourth movie of the year, Dune Part Three, is sure to crush it as well. Cheers to both of them for the year they are having. It’s pretty damn elite.

The reviews are in ahead of Street Fighter's release, and I think it's fair to say this is one of the 2026 movie releases that isn't expected to get Oscar chatter. Critics seem to be in agreement that the movie is a hot mess, but at least most all agree that the fight scenes are a blast.

My initial thoughts upon seeing the trailer were that Street Fighter looks like a wild ride, so I'm happy to read Indiewire's Christian Zilko confirm it. For what it may lack in a cohesive plot, there's a lot of flash and action that will keep most entertained:

"Cool as hell" echoes my thoughts when I first saw Jason Momoa as Blanka, so I'm happy to hear Street Fighter delivers in that regard. I didn't expect to be using my brain a lot while watching this movie, especially since I'm going to have to fill that Guile wig with popcorn.

One might call Street Fighter stupid fun, as IGN's Tom Jorgensen mentioned in his review. The movie itself is loaded with too many characters and not enough story to serve all of them, but at least it's entertaining:

It also sounds like Street Fighter took a page out of Mortal Kombat 2's book, in that it didn't try to take itself too seriously. It's a change of pace from the original adaptations of the video game franchise, but one that seems to be welcome based on most reviewers.

The Guardian ran one of the more scathing reviews, as author Radheyan Simonpillai pointed out the constant nods the movie wasn't to be taken seriously. His take was that self-deprecation only works when the film finds moments to rise above what it's admitting to be, and Street Fighter doesn't do that:

In this review's defense, the bar has been raised for all upcoming video game adaptations. The genre is under far more scrutiny than it was in the past, especially when they're pulling in a billion dollars at the box office.

The one constant I see across the board is that your enjoyment of the movie tends to rely on how willing the viewer is to accept that it's a popcorn flick with not a ton of substance to it. ComingSoon's Jonathan Sim put it best and summarized it pretty simply with this sentence:

I'm sure many people familiar with Street Fighter shouldn't have a problem with the movie, though I won't speak for everyone. To me, it just sounds exactly like playing the video games, which thrive more on fights than actual storytelling.

Andrew Salazar of DiscussingFilm had a comeback for those not expecting much from Street Fighter, and a criticism for those who defend it. Fortunately, he adds that there is something for the crowd that will come in knowing little to nothing about the franchise, which is great news for a vast majority of others:

If you're someone who enjoys high-minded cinema, I'd bet dollars to donuts you've already mentally decided to wait on Street Fighter to hit streaming. For those happy with spending their money and going in knowing they may not get more than a bunch of flash and fists, this is going to be a win.

Street Fighter is in theaters October 16th, and I can say for sure that none of these reviews have impacted my excitement to see it. I'll have to check back in after the movie, though, to see if it really was as bad as advertised.

In the competition for who can come up with the wildest movie theater popcorn buckets, AMC Theaters has pulled ahead with its exclusive Street Fighter bucket made to resemble Guile’s hair. From NSFW sandworms to Tom Cruise’s Digger boot and even a disgusting organ transplant bag for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, theater souvenirs are clearly big business and everyone is trying to one-up each other in the creativity game. My own personal favorite has been the bucket that recreates Rocky Balboa’s triumphant moment at the top of the steps for the Rocky 50^th anniversary.

Most collectible buckets are an object that represents the movie in some way. The following bucket is the first I remember seeing that represents the top of someone’s head that you can wear on your head. Ahead of Street Fighter's release on the 2026 movie schedule, Cody Rhodes, whose character provides the hair-raising inspiration, has some words of warning pertaining to the use of the Guile popcorn bucket. If you pick one up, the actor would just like you to be calm and respectful. Here’s what he had to say about it in a video from Discussing Film's Twitter:

I’ve certainly got to hand it to the marketing department for coming up with such a funny concept. Before this whole popcorn bucket craze started, I never could have imagined how far the movie studios could push the levels of popcorn receptacles. But here we are, grabbing our favorite movie snack out of the top of someone’s head.

I’m not sure how any of this will actually work in theaters. Do you have to see the movie with someone so that you can put your popcorn bucket on their head, or are you supposed to wear it yourself and stretch your arm up when you’re ready to grab some kernels? How will the movie-goers sitting behind you feel about all of that? I’m starting to understand Cody Rhodes’ warning about not wanting to cause a fight in the theater. The WWE wrestling champion went on to say:

I love that even Rhodes’ mom is on board with this memorable popcorn bucket headwear. I mean, you know you’re winning when you can win over your mom. It’s also just a really fun bit of memorabilia to have if you’re a fan of Street Fighter. Plus, it all seems like it could provide endless laughs to see a bunch of people wearing them in the theater.

For the unfamiliar, in the Street Fighter world, Guile is a character known for his military background and stand-out fighting style, and this upcoming video game adaptation showcases those signature moves. You can commemorate it all with this iconic bucket that’s honestly a great bit of fun that leans into the movie’s tone.

There are few film franchises with the cultural impact of the James Bond movies. Generations of moviegoers have watched 007's adventures, which have all recently found the same streaming home for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. Today marks the anniversary of Daniel Craig's casting as the beloved MI6 agent, and fans have the same thought that I do.

Craig's Bond movies ended with No Time to Die, which was his fifth and final bow as the martini-sipping hero. He shot and promoted those movies over 16 years, and the franchise's Instagram just celebrated the anniversary of his casting announcement. You can see the post in question below:

Talk about a throwback. Daniel Craig got a ton of injuries while playing Bond, but this image from Casino Royale shows him looking fresh in his debut as 007. This was shared to the account's 3 million followers, many of whom had the same reaction.

No Time to Die's ending saw Craig's James die, which was a first for the long-running franchise. Ever since then fans have wondered which actor would be the next Bond, with folks even taking bets on who it might be. Clearly moviegoers are getting tired of waiting on updates, as the comments section for the above post is filled with a recurring sentiment. Check out some of them below:

• This would be a fantastic day to announce his successor.
• On this day in 2026, still no news on who the next Bond is.
• New Bond announcement??? 6 years we are waiting……
• And who will be the next?
• New Bond announcement when?

Clearly fans are ready for an update, specifically about who will be the latest actor to portray James Bond on the big screen. No Time to Die hit theaters back in 2021, so it's already been a number of years of waiting, wondering, and oodles of fan castings. Still, there's been no indication as to who Craig will be passing the baton to for Denis Villeneuve's developing 007 movie.

The James Bond franchise is in a transitional period right now, the mystery of casting is just one question that's surrounding the 26th installment in the property. Amazon-MGM has bought control over the IP, which is a major change in leadership. There are some naysayers concerned over this shift, although Dune director Denis Villeneuve getting behind the camera is an exciting prospect. After all, he's an acclaimed filmmaker who has proven his ability to adapt pre-existing franchises.

Alas, we'll have to keep waiting and wondering about Bond 26 for the foreseeable future. For now, fans can stream the entire franchise over on Amazon. The new movie obviously isn't on the 2026 movie release list, but fingers crossed we get some more information after Villeneuve's schedule is freed up after the release of Dune 3.

Back around 2010, we in the gaming community used to call the Japanese video game company Capcom a pretty disparaging name. We used to call them “Crapcom”.

This was mostly due to greedy DLC, poor games in respective series (like Resident Evil 6, and–though I love it–Street Fighter X Tekken), and just an overall lack of punch and good titles. However, in the year 2026, we have a new name for the storied company: CapGOD.

This is because they're having a total banger of a year with games, yes, but also movies. So, as a bona fide ‘90s kid, I just want to gush about one of my favorite video game companies from my childhood, and why 2026 might be their best year ever.

First Off, We Have To Talk About Their Video Game Output This Year

Earlier this year, before I knew the Resident Evil movie would be so widely embraced, I wrote an article about how I thought future Resident Evil movies should pluck from the most recent game, Resident Evil Requiem. For some reason, I didn't have faith in Zach Cregger (I don't know why; he directed Barbarian!). Now that I realize he was doing his own thing, I think things look bright for the series’ cinematic future.

Honestly, though, can you blame me for looking so fondly upon Resident Evil Requiem? It really kickstarted this banner year for Capcom as it came out in February, and it’s definitely a contender for Game of the Year (GOTY). About a month later came the highly anticipated Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, which is another entry in the respectable turn-based RPG wing of the highly successful Monster Hunter series.

However, only a month after that, in April, came Pragmata, which is actually a new IP from Capcom that also might be a GOTY contender, given its reception. Three major, respected games would be enough for any video game company, but they also had to bring Onimusha back in September with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and no lie, it's ANOTHER possible GOTY contender. I mean, damn, CapGod! Slow down. You're making everybody else look bad!

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Might Be The Real Star Attraction

I've already brought up the recent Resident Evil movie, but it bears repeating how well it’s been received. Sure, some gamers have derided it for being too humorous or not including characters from the games, but other gamers have fully embraced it, saying that it has the same FEEL of the games, if not the same characters.

This is a big deal, because most people will agree that while the previous Resident Evil movies might have been fun, they've never actually been “good” (though I've really come around on the original).

So, for some people to actually call the recent Resident Evil one of - if not THE - best video game movies of all time, well, that speaks volumes for the franchise, and also puts another feather in Capcom's, er, cap for having such an amazing year.

But that's not all!

What If Street Fighter Is Also Amazing?

I'm not gonna lie. Some of the stuff I've seen for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, which comes out on October 16th, has got me a little worried. Be that as it may, what if all of my concerns are misguided and Street Fighter is actually amazing?

I mean, it definitely has the potential. I've been on board with this project for quite some time now, and I SO want it to be good. Which makes me wonder: What if it IS good? No, scratch that. What if it's great? Because while I do love Resident Evil (I've played all of the mainline games in the series), I'm an even bigger Street Fighter nerd, and I always have been.

If this upcoming movie comes even remotely close to being as good as the recent Resident Evil, then I think it's safe to say that Capcom has had possibly the greatest year in video game history, and nobody will convince me otherwise.

Sometimes Tom Cruise takes a bad rap from movie fans. That was especially true during Covid and the production of 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, when he was caught on tape in an angry moment lecturing the crew of the movie. His co-stars, on the other hand, usually have nothing but praise. In fact, one co-star in the M:I franchise, Melissa George, recently posted a video of herself and Cruise behind the scenes and captioned it with a lengthy comment about working with him. It’s all good things.

George, who starred in The Mosquito Coast, which you can watch with an Apple TV subscription, was cast in the franchise, and obviously she filmed some stuff, but in the end, her role was left on the cutting room floor when the final trilogy was rewritten. In the video, the Australian actress speaks with a French accent, but having no context for why, I’ll just assume it was for the role. She is speaking into the camera with Cruise behind her, filming a video saying hello to her kids. In the caption, George wrote on Instagram:

She then tells an anecdote about Cruise picking her up in a helicopter to take her to the set, saving her a couple of hours of commuting time from London, so that’s pretty awesome! That’s not all George wrote, though, as she also called him “kind, giving, and generous,” before she told another story about Cruise's generosity when her son was injured at home:

She wasn’t able to take him up on the offer due to poor weather, but you can tell in her writing just how grateful she was for the offer, and called Cruise a “gorgeous human being.”

While Cruise may get a little emotional on set, his co-collaborators usually say that it’s his passion that gets the best of him. He, according to many of them, is very dedicated to his craft and the success of whatever movie he's making. That may turn some people off, which is understandable, but when those around him are so generous with their praise, it’s probably best to listen.

Cruise’s latest movie, Digger, hit the 2026 movie schedule last weekend and has struggled, to say the least, at the box office, but it's a safe bet that his next big movies, Top Gun 3 and a sequel to Days of Thunder, will put him back on top.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Season 24 premiere of NCIS, streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tuesday’s premiere of NCIS’ 24^th season on the 2026 TV schedule marked the return of Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo. Less than a year after the cancellation of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, fans were pleasantly surprised to find out that Tony would be coming back to D.C. to expand his security company. However, as of the end of the premiere, we learned that’s not all that he’ll be up to, and now the showrunner’s comments have me really worried about his new job.

Ever since NCIS killed off Rocky Carroll’s Director Leon Vance in the 500th episode last season, many have been wondering who will replace him as NCIS Director, though after just being appointed, Gabriel LaRoche had been doing the job (poorly).

It was hard to tell who could step up to the plate and be a long-term solution for the team, but after helping with a case involving McGee’s long-lost son Mateo and the SECNAV’s kidnapped daughter, Tony was made Director. As excited as I am about this new development, showrunner Steven D. Binder just mentioned one problem with being the director to EW that now has me stressed out. Thanks Steve.

Fans will remember Season 5 of NCIS saw the death of Director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly), which eventually led to Vance stepping in. Even though Vance lasted 18 seasons, he was still shot multiple times throughout his run and lost his wife because of his job, before ultimately also getting killed off. Of course, Tony is no stranger to getting shot, either. That’s how we meet up with him again in the Season 24 premiere, but yeah, now that I'm thinking about, taking the job is dangerous indeed.

Still, over time Tony has gotten himself into quite a lot of near-death experiences, and it would be harsh for the show to bring him back and make him director just to kill him off. Maybe I'm foolish, but I'm not that worried about this season, though now I'm worried death or attempts at death may come down the line. NCIS can definitely be unpredictable, and I will always be worried about everyone on the show, but I’m going to try and stay optimistic that Tony will stick around as Director for a while.

When Weatherly went back to set of NCIS, many fans couldn’t stop theorizing that Tony would become the new Director. I’m glad these theories ended up being right, even if this means Tony's a higher target moving forward. NCIS is definitely in good hands, so let's bring on the near-death experiences.

There is going to be a lot to look forward to in this new season of NCIS, and I could not be happier that the show is back. New episodes air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, streaming the next day on Paramount+.

Ben Affleck’s time as Batman in the now-defunct DCEU was tumultuous. Not because of anything the star did, but because the franchise itself was chaotic. I don’t have to remind fans about all that went down behind the scenes of Justice League between the Joss Whedon version and the later Snyder Cut version of the film from director Zack Snyder. Now that the DCEU has evolved into the DCU with James Gunn and Peter Safran at the top, Affleck is reflecting on his time as Batman and the broader landscape for superhero movies.

It Wasn’t All Bad Within The DCEU

Affleck spoke to Variety this week in anticipation of his latest movie, Animals, which hits the 2026 movie schedule on October 9 and will be available to stream with a Netflix account. In the conversation, Affleck touched on his time as the Caped Crusader and what he thought worked, and what he thought wasn’t as great. Affleck told Variety:

Affleck added that the overall dark nature of the Justice League hurt the movie with younger audiences, and I agree with that. He added that it’s a struggle to find a balance between broad appeal and darker stories that have been so popular in comics over the last 30 years. He added:

He then took some time to compliment the head of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, Kevin Feige, and his ability to seemingly always know what needs to be done in the MCU. Affleck said:

In the wide-ranging interview, Affleck touched on a lot of issues surrounding Hollywood, from the dearth of true movie stars to the consolidation of movie studios. That obviously includes superhero movies, though he doesn’t get into the debate over whether audiences have superhero fatigue or not.

As of now, there isn’t a Batman in the proper DCU, as Gunn and Safran seem content to let the Matt Reeves version of the character shine for now, before putting the focus on him in the flagship franchise. Who knows, maybe we’ll see Affleck again in the franchise, perhaps as an older, wiser version of the iconic superhero. He certainly seems wise about the state of Hollywood today.

The James Bond movies are wildly popular, with entire generations of moviegoers brought up watching 007's adventures through the years. With Daniel Craig's Bond films in the rear view, all eyes are on what Denis Villeneuve will do with the 26th movie, as well as what actor will be the next Bond. The entire franchise is now available to stream for those with an Amazon Prime subscription, and fans are largely having the same reaction. Let's break it all down.

No Time To Die's ending killed of Daniel Craig's Bond, and we're going to enter a new era of the franchise next. Amazon MGM purchased rights to the franchise, and the studio recently posted on social media announcing that all 25 of the films are now available to stream. Check it out below:

This is some very exciting news. For years the Bond films have been in different streaming homes, with some needing to be purchased in order to be re-watched. That's not the case anymore, as now all you need is an Amazon Prime subscription to get in on the fun. Still, there's one recurring sentiment that's shared over and over again in the comments section of the above announcement.

While we wait to see what director Denis Villeneuve will do with Bond 26, fans are going to have to re-watch its predecessors to get their fix of 007. One might have thought that folks would be happy to have them all in one streaming location, but there are some doubts. Just look at the following responses:

• FOR HOW LONG THIS TIME???
• Don’t you mean to say “All 25 Bond films are streaming for now” because you are going to take them down in a couple weeks like you do every year
• You did this the other year as well, put them on for free and then stuck them behind a paywall!
• Yeah but you guys have them on for about a month before they’re gone again.
• Please don’t take them down after 3 months this time

Well, they certainly didn't mince their words. It look like the Bond fandom is over the blockbusters being streamable... before promptly being taken down. Now that Amazon has control over the action franchise, the first 25 movies should presumably stick around on Prime. Only time will tell, but some moviegoers clearly don't have faith in the streaming service.

Amazon put out an awesome montage of the various Bond actors in their movies. While some fans were excited about seeing this edit, the majority of the comments section was full of people hoping that the 007 don't end up being taken off of Amazon. Since the studio shelled out al that money to have ownership of the property, why wouldn't they want to make some of that money back via streams and ads?

As previously mentioned, moviegoers are curious about Denis Villeneuve's 26th movie, especially its mysterious cast. Although since that movie isn't on the 2026 movie release list, we might have to be patient when waiting on official news from Amazon. Hey, at least Prime Video has the first 25 films.

The James Bond franchise took on a very different tone when Daniel Craig took over the role in 2006’s Casino Royale, which you can watch with a Prime subscription. Bond was more damaged and flawed than any of the versions portrayed by the other men who have played Bond. There is one scene at the end of Casino Royale where audiences watched the moment Craig’s Bond went from a raw, “blunt instrument” to a stone-cold professional spy with a license to kill. It’s a powerful scene, but one thread on Reddit is way more obsessed with the knee pads his victim is wearing in the film.

The Actor Was Ready For The Fall

The scene, shot outside a villa in Lake Como, Italy, features Bond assassinating the ultimate villain of the movie, Mr. White, played by Jesper Christensen. The scene opens on Mr. White taking a call from Bond before his leg is shot out from under him, landing him on the deck. Bond then, for the first time in the Craig era, delivers that famous introduction, “Bond. James Bond.” It’s an awesome moment, and I still remember the burst of applause in the theater when I first saw it. It's impossible to see anyone else in the role today, by the way.

However, in a Reddit thread on r/JamesBond, the most popular comments were about something else entirely: the knee pads Christensen is wearing under his suit. Honestly, I have watched Casino Royale quite a few times over the last 20 years, and I had never noticed it before, but now I will never be able to unsee it. I’m pretty sure he’s wearing elbow pads, too, but they aren’t nearly as obvious:

Here are just a few examples people commenting on the knee pads:

• Those giant ass knee pads under Mr White's suit always make me chuckle. Completely understandable though. - u/NicParvisMagna
• Couldn't they have used different pants, a different shot, edited it in post, etc? One of my favorite scenes and now I can't unsee it 😂 - u/Relative-Knee7847
• Yeah that's the biggest gripe I have about this scene are those damn knee pads. - u/bartz824
• Wow, this shows just how calculating and farsighted Mr. White was. - u/Separate-Standard626
• I've seen this about a thousand times and somehow missed them. One of my all-time favorite scenes has become parody. THANKS REDDIT - u/blastronomical

It’s worth noting, as u/jcdevoe26 points out in the thread, that they probably weren’t just there to protect Christensen’s knees in the fall. When you watch it, it's very clear that it is where they hid the “squib” on the actor’s costume. A squib is a small explosive charge used to mimic the look of a bullet hitting his leg.

It’s a fun bit of movie trivia, and it's worth noting as well that Ana de Armas has talked about wearing knee pads on the set of No Time to Die, so it's a trend in Bond World.

While my eyes will always be drawn to the knee pads whenever I watch Casino Royale, it’s not like it ruins the movie. It’s still one of the best Bond movies of all time.

More than a year after S.W.A.T.’s third and final cancellation, the series made its comeback on the 2026 TV schedule. On Friday, the much-anticipated Shemar Moore-led spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles debuted on Starz, starring a mostly new cast alongside Moore. While it’s definitely entertaining, I am bummed that he isn’t joined by other members of the now-defunct 20-David. Moore, though, explained the reasoning behind the major shakeups. .

When S.W.A.T. Exiles was announced last year, the S.W.A.T. cast was reportedly not pumped to hear that Moore would be leading a new series without them, and there was also evidently some behind-the-scenes drama stemming from it. Moore, who had been a big advocate for S.W.A.T.’s future since the first cancellation, defended the spinoff amid behind-the-scenes drama. We now know Exiles is bringing back at lesat a few S.W.A.T. OGs in guest-starring roles, but now Moore revealed to US Weekly why a completely new cast was the right choice:

As excited as I was for S.W.A.T. Exiles, I was definitely disappointed when I realized only Moore would be returning in a lead capacity. Of course, seeing Hondo again is a big win, but especially after the final season of S.W.A.T. was rooted in 20-David being a family, I was hoping we’d be getting more. It’s understandable why Exiles went in the direction it did, and it’s already interesting seeing Hondo leading a new team of young and rebellious S.W.A.T. recruits.

Some S.W.A.T. stars have spoken out about not being asked back, including David Lim, who admitted it stung hearing about the new show. That being said, Lim is set to return as Victor Tan in an upcoming episode. Fans have already seen Jay Harrington and Patrick St. Esprit as Deacon Kay and Commander Hicks, and there will be much more to look forward to.

While they are the only three so far returning for Exiles, it’s entirely possible fans will see more S.W.A.T. OGs in the future. S.W.A.T. Exiles only has 10 episodes for Season 1, so obviously, there’s only so much that can be done. Luckily, the spinoff has already been renewed for Season 2, so who knows what could be planned for 44-Squad.

Considering S.W.A.T. was canceled three times, I will take any kind of series on the same wavelength, no matter who is in it. The team may be different, but the heart and the action are still there. The hope is also still alive for future appearances from other S.W.A.T. OGs. For now. people can watch the series in full with a Netflix subscription. New episodes of S.W.A.T. Exiles air on Fridays on Starz. This is only the beginning of S.W.A.T.’s new chapter, and there’s no telling what will be in store.

I caught some flak for this online, but I was not happy that The Odyssey was rated R, and I voiced my opinion as such. The key reason I was upset was that I wanted to take my kids to see it, but I couldn’t rationalize taking my children, who are 11 and 9, to an R-rated movie.

After seeing The Odyssey, which was SUCH a Christopher Nolan movie, I still don’t understand why it had to be rated R (Perhaps because of the Circe scene?). So, I guess my kids will just see it once it comes home.

Do you know another movie that I have to wait to show my kids since I need to watch it first? Godzilla Minus Zero! Here’s why that annoys me to the nth degree.

Similar To The Odyssey, I Now Can't Take My Son To See This

Okay, I shouldn’t say I “can’t” take my son to see Godzilla Minus Zero, because I can. I certainly can. My dad, after all, took me to see Terminator 2: Judgment Day when I was only 8. In fact, lots of people my age have similar experiences, as R-rated films were pretty much marketed to children back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, I still can’t see myself ordering One Adult and One Child ticket to an R-Rated movie, and Godzilla is no exception.

This sucks, because my son was REALLY looking forward to this sequel. I took my then-six-year-old son to see Godzilla Minus One, and I felt bad doing even that since I didn’t know if he’d be scared, or if there would be anything inappropriate in it. He loved it and even completely understood the kamikaze story, as well as read all of the subtitles all by himself, so that fear was unwarranted.

That said, what the heck is in THIS movie that made it get an R-rating? Like, how violent could it possibly be? This brings up another issue that I have with this film…

Godzilla Has Been Around For Over 70 Years, And Not Once Have I Ever Thought He Needed To Be In An R-Rated Movie

I’ve watched every Godzilla movie from every era, and not once have I ever thought, You know, this movie would be so much better if, when Godzilla lifted his foot, there would be bloody dead bodies down there.

In fact, one of the reasons why I think Godzilla is the greatest character in cinema history is BECAUSE he’s for everyone. If we go back to how I took my son to see Godzilla Minus One. Sure, maybe he MIGHT have been scared if I didn’t introduce him to movies like Jaws beforehand, but if I didn’t want to introduce him to THAT version of Godzilla, I could have always just shown him one of the tamer movies from the Showa era where Godzilla was super goofy.

In every way, Godzilla has always been a multifaceted character, and there was always an opportunity to introduce him to my kids since none of the movies have gone TOO far into the extreme. That said…

In The End, I'm Super Intrigued, But Also Annoyed About This News

Honestly, as such a huge Godzilla fan, I’m actually super intrigued by what makes this particular movie so different from all the other Godzilla movies that it got slapped with a big R-rating. Toho must really trust Takashi Yamazaki with the keys to the kingdom if they really allowed him to direct an R-rated movie with their poster boy, so I am interested.

But at what cost? Will this Godzilla movie feel like it’s doing way too much? Will it be too extreme? I don’t know, but I’m definitely going to see it on day one when it comes out on the 2026 movie schedule on November 6th. I just won’t be taking my son with me. Oh, well. Maybe a second viewing is in order if it’s not too grisly.

The fourth season of Reacher delivered one of the most unabashedly brutal fight sequences of anything on the 2026 TV schedule. While it may not have leaned into abject realism throughout, what with Amisha Hoth walking away from that multi-story fall, the series does largely adhere to the "reality" set up by bestselling author Lee Child throughout his various novels. To the point where star Alan Ritchson will occasionally step in and respond when critical fans try to base their complaints on the books.

Case in point: Reacher's multiple knock-down, drag-out fights in the finale did not sit quite so swimmingly with one viewer who dropped his comments on Threads saying, "if you read the books, you know Reacher never loses a fight," and cites the Reacher Rules to say that the character doesn't even come close to losing any brawls. By that logic, the fan (who did compliment Ritchson in the same breath) said they thought it was a bad idea to make the outcome of any Reacher fight even potentially questionable.

That's when Alan Ritchson entered the chat to "politely" make some clarifications. In his words:

If only all disagreements in this world could be like this, where the "aggressor" is just floating thoughts out there, and the "defender" shares a correction and nobody gets immediately insulting or butthurt.

Sure, everyone gets to have an opinion, but it's wild that anyone would want to watch a show or read a novel series fronted by a completely unstoppable hero (or villain) who has zero chances of losing in a confrontation. I mean, I wish I WAS that kind of character who always comes out on top, but suffice to say, that ain't me. And it's not Reacher, either.

As it often goes when Alan Ritchson chimes in personally anywhere on social media, fans were quick to applaud his "Well, actually..." rebuttal while also sharing love for the show in general. Props to the fan who pointed out that Kryptonite exists specifically to give Superman a vulnerability, since having a hero who's entirely invincible is kinda boring. Here's a smattering of other responses:

• "There's wrong. There's very wrong, and then there's being corrected by Reacher about Reacher. I would fade away into dust if this happened."
• "He was summoned and he Reachered the reply."
• "The most articulate Hollywood mic drop in a minute"
• "Coincidentally I just finished reading Tripwire a few hours ago so I can confirm the nail paradigm and that Reacher is close to loosing battles eg The Enemy. Greetings from Greece."
• "I don’t have a photographic memory, but after reading every book, I’m left with a strong impression that there is usually one fight where Reacher sustains significant damage but ultimately prevails because he only moves forward. He’s not indestructible, he just always finds a way."
• "Swear to god, Reacher better say Cray Cray in the next season or I’m done with this show!"

[Record scratch.] Okay wait, I don't think anyone actually needs to hear Alan Ritchson say "cray cray" in Season 5. Even though some of the stuntwork he's posted about via "proof of life" videos does sound crazy in that sense, I will not be able to handle it if he utters such slang. I also may vomit in my mouth if Reacher ever uses any slang terminology coined post 2022. Unless it appears in a novel. (So let's hope 2027 doesn't bring Lee Child's The Vibe-Mogging Chud to shelves.)

We do already know that Reacher Season 5 will be based on the character's 12th novel, Make Me, and that it's currently filming. New co-star Jay Baruchel has had nothing but good things to say about it, and it seems like showrunner Nick Santora & Co. will successfully be able to stick to the yearly releases that so many other streaming series fail at these days.

As we wait for more updates, Reacher's first four seasons are available to stream in full via Amazon Prime subscription.

With news of Daredevil: Born Again's next season being its last, and the cancellation of Wonder Man, I think the solution to Marvel's live-action TV shows’ problem is clear: Stop making live-action TV shows! Most of them are not doing well. Not since Season 2 of Loki have I heard everybody talking about a Marvel TV show.

Which is a shame, because the MCU on television had lots of potential. Unlike the Star Wars shows, which MOSTLY didn't transition into the theaters (The Mandalorian and Grogu being the exception), the hope was that MOST of these Marvel shows would somehow connect to the movies, but that just wasn't meant to be. So, here's why Marvel should just quit with these live-action TV shows.

They’ve Seriously Run Out Of Gas

I’ll never forget when I first watched WandaVision. It was unlike anything else in the MCU. Then came The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which felt exciting at the time since we knew it would impact the movies going forward.

Follow that up with the first season of Loki, and Marvel was on a roll. Then, after What If?..., which was interesting (and animated), and Hawkeye, which was enjoyable, it pains me to say that Moon Knight might have been the first stumble. I’ve already talked about how the show was a bit of a missed opportunity, but I think the main issue was that it didn’t seem to hit with people in the same way that all of the other aforementioned shows did.

Ms. Marvel was deemed fun, but there was a lot of vitriol (mostly misguided) when it came to the next show, She-Hulk, which I loved, but a vocal minority on the internet hated. That was Phase 4. Phase 5 was when Marvel TV really went downhill. Secret Invasion was generally deemed terrible, Loki Season 2 was a highlight, but Echo, Agatha All Along, Ironheart, and even Daredevil: Born Again felt kind of unnecessary. So, by the time Wonder Man came along, most people had already checked out of Marvel’s TV output. Gone was the excitement of 2021’s WandaVision, that’s for sure.

Disney+ Already Has Enough Movies And TV Shows As It Is

Another reason why Marvel should stop with the live-action TV shows is that they don’t need to make any more. I mean, have you SEEN how stacked the Marvel pillar of your Disney+ subscription is right now?

There are over 30 MCU movies to watch, several Marvel movies NOT in the MCU (The Spider-Verse movies, both the Chris Evans Fantastic Four movies AND the Michael B. Jordan one, the Fox X-Men movies, and even the Sony Spider-Man-less-Spider-Man movies like Madam Web and Kraven, just to name a few), and so much more already on Disney+.

This is on TOP of the Marvel shows they already have, which also include things like whole seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, and even Inhumans. So, in other words, Marvel has ENOUGH content already that they don’t need live-action TV shows anymore. That said…

Maybe They Could Just Stick To Animation Now, Like With X-Men '97

If Marvel wants to continue making TV shows, why not just stick with animation? While I’m sure animated shows are still a pretty penny to make, I doubt they cost as much as putting together another live-action show that will likely not bring in the subscribers that all streaming services crave.

X-Men ‘97 is a great example of a show that gets people talking, and I’m sure they could come up with more creative animated shows that don’t break the bank, but still provide new content. Marvel Zombies was pretty interesting, and while I didn’t check out Eyes of Wakanda or Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, I’ve heard good things.

So, while the upcoming VisionQuest might prove this entire article wrong and have people flock to the show, I won’t hold my breath. So, Marvel, stick with the cartoons, and maybe save yourselves some money!

Zach Cregger is a funny guy. Literally. Long before Barbarian and Weapons made him one of horror’s most interesting filmmakers, he spent years doing sketch comedy with The Whitest Kids U’ Know. That sense of humor followed him into his horror work, and I’ve generally loved the strange laughs that sneak into his movies when you least expect them. Turns out, test audiences had one issue with his 2026 movie calendar release, and I’m so glad he listened to their feedback.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the writer-director revealed that test audiences generally liked his take on Resident Evil, but kept raising the same complaint: it was too funny. The director listened, went back into the edit and started killing jokes. He explained:

I am very glad he took that note. That may sound strange coming from somebody who thinks Barbarian is frequently hilarious. Justin Long measuring his creepy basement for additional square footage remains one of my favorite jokes in a modern horror movie. Weapons also knew when to let something absurd break through all the dread. I still remember snorting when Josh Brolin drops that perfectly placed F-bomb.

But Resident Evil has a different job. Cregger’s movie follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier whose routine delivery turns into one extremely bad night in Raccoon City, with all the biohazardous nastiness that comes with it. To some fans' chagrin, the video game adaptation is a new story within the franchise rather than another adaptation centered on the game’s familiar heroes. For that kind of survival-horror setup, too many jokes could start poking holes in the tension. In other words, a little comedy goes a long way.

This is where Cregger’s comment about not missing a single deleted joke gets me. He was not reluctantly hacking out material he loved because a test score told him to. He watched the movie, realized those jokes were not helping and cut them himself.

Stephen King puts that part of the creative process pretty bluntly in On Writing: “If it works, fine. If it doesn’t, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.” That is basically what happened here. The screening pointed Cregger toward something he could not fully see while making the movie, and once he made the cuts, he preferred the leaner version, too. All in all, that is exactly what test screenings should accomplish when they work.

Resident Evil has always had room for ridiculousness, though. We are talking about a franchise featuring giant pharmaceutical-mutated monsters and characters delivering dialogue while dressed like they wandered in from the world’s most heavily armed drag show. A completely humorless adaptation would feel weird in its own way. But there is a difference between letting the absurdity breathe and deflating a scary scene because the script cannot resist another punchline.

Based on the early audience response and critical reception for Resident Evil, Cregger seems to have found that balance. RE opened to $60 million domestically, the biggest debut in franchise history, and earned $108.3 million worldwide during its first weekend. The movie has already racked up a ridiculous number of impressive stats, but its 96% Rotten Tomatoes score after two weeks in theaters may be the clearest sign that audiences and critics are on board.

Obviously, cutting a few jokes does not single-handedly produce those numbers. Still, I love hearing that Cregger was willing to kill perfectly good comedy when it got in the way of the monsters doing their job. Knowing when to hold back is one of the instincts that separates decent filmmakers from the directors behind the best horror movies.

Resident Evil is still playing in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes. Also, keep your eyes peeled for updates on upcoming horror movies.

Mahershala Ali has been in an interesting position as of late, as he’s been promoting a new film while consistently talking about one that apparently won’t see the light of day. The two-time Oscar winner has been fielding questions about Marvel’s now-scrapped Blade movie while doing press for one of his 2026 movie schedule entries, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Ali hasn’t held back his disappointment over the superhero movie not coming together but, if it’s any consolation, his new movie is getting rave reviews.

For this latest film, Ali joined forces with writer/director Bassam Tariq, who was actually the first director attached to Blade several years ago. We may never know what the two would’ve crafted for the Daywalker’s story, but it’s evident that their new thriller film is a must-see. As of this writing, the film holds a 97% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 60 reviews. The movie as a whole is receiving acclaim, and with that comes praise for Ali. THR’s Jourdain Searles had this to say about the leading man’s performance:

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother sees Ali take on the role of Houston-based hitman Latif, who’s deeply devoted to his Muslim faith. Following the death of his wife, Latif is forced to provide for his three children as a single parent all while dealing with dangerous criminal elements and his struggles with his faith. Guy Lodge of Variety is among the critics who have praised the film, and he seems very impressed with Tariq’s ability to freshen up a long-used premise:

Overall, Tariq’s latest film seemed to be a labor of love for both him and Ali, who’s been honest about the “frustrating experience” of navigating Hollywood even as an actor with major awards. While their new movie is being praised, it’s not a complete homerun with every critic. IndieWire’s Katie Rife is mostly positive on the film but is also of the belief that several key elements hold it back from sheer effectiveness:

Pundits are also, unsurprisingly, aware of Blade’s status and the comments Ali has made about it. The Wrap’s Zachary Lee mentions the since-discarded Marvel film in his own review of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother and agrees it’s a shame the movie won’t come to fruition. However, Lee also makes another point:

In some ways, this movie is an example of using lemons to make lemonade, as Tariq and Ali’s creative bond was cultivated while they worked on their MCU installment. Not only that, but Ali revealed that one of the silver linings of the axed superhero flick was that the sword training he underwent for it proved to be invaluable for this latest film. The LA Times’ Tim Grierson also alluded to that in his positive review of the film:

The notion of Blade no longer being amongst the upcoming Marvel movies is still a tough pill to swallow, especially considering how much promise the film had. Nevertheless, based on these reviews, it sounds like anyone who still wants to see Mahershala Ali play a sword-wielding agent of justice won’t be left wanting, thanks to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Check out the film, which is now playing in theaters nationwide.

The Last of Us has been on hiatus for a while now, and fans have been waiting for the show to return (and resolve that massive cliffhanger set up in Season 2’s finale). As it stands, the show is knee-deep in production and, in recent months, we’ve been treated to some teases regarding what’s to come. Well, another announcement has now been shared, as it’s been revealed that John Goodman has been added to the Season 3 cast! And what’s more is that he’s being joined by two great actors with ties to the game series.

John Goodman is officially joining The Last of Us in the role of Joey, a friendly man who considers himself to be one of the “Heroes of the Highway.” And the second member of that duo is a character named Paco, who’s being played by franchise alum Ian Alexander. Fans are likely aware that Alexander originally portrayed Lev in the video game TLoU: Part II. (Kyriana Kratter is set to play Lev in Season 3 of the show). While not much is known about these characters, I’m eager to see how they play into the narrative.

Additionally, it’s been revealed that Laura Bailey – who played Abby Anderson in Part II – is joining TLoU Season 3 as well. Bailey is set to play Elizabeth, who’s one of the leaders of the Seraphites – the brutal religious sect introduced in Season 2. Bailey brought a serious amount of intensity to the role of Abby, and I can absolutely see her bringing that to a Seraphite leader. Obviously, it’s too early to tell exactly how Bailey will play the character, but I’m hoping she adds a firm amount of tension to the proceedings.

When it comes to Goodman, the notion of him joining this fictional universe in some way just makes too much sense. First and foremost, the Emmy winner is one of our great performers, and he brings a substantial amount of gravitas to just about any role he plays. Goodman – who appears alongside Tom Cruise in the upcoming film Digger – has also starred in movies and shows that have thriller and horror elements. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a prime example, and Goodman’s also jumping back into horror with the upcoming film Skeletons. To put it simply, his TLoU casting feels like a match made in a clicker-filled heaven.

On the whole, Alexander’s and Bailey’s castings are particularly satisfying due to their ties to the video game series. Something I’ve really enjoyed about The Last of Us is how showrunner Craig Mazin and the producers have utilized actors from the games by casting them in new roles for the show. For instance, OG Joel Miller actor Troy Baker plays David in Season 1, while veteran Ellie performer Ashley Johnson plays her character’s mother in the first season of the show. Jeffrey Wright even returned to play Isaac in the show.

These casting additions are certainly sweet but, at present, I’m also eager for more details on how Mazin and co. are approaching what may or may not be the show’s final season. Based on the end of Season 2, (at least a portion of) Season 3 is set to shift the focus to Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby and follow the Washington Liberation Front member in the lead-up to her encounter with Ellie and Joel. Earlier this year, Mazin teased the third season, calling it “powerful,” and Dever also said fans would enjoy it.

I’m hopeful that I’ll be among those to appreciate the new installments but, at the very least, the castings of John Goodman, Ian Alexander and Laura Bailey give me more reason to be excited. Here’s hoping all three actors get their time to shine in this latest chapter of the post-apocalyptic show.

The Last of Us Season 3 is reportedly set to premiere sometime in 2027. In the meantime, stream the show’s first two seasons using an HBO Max subscription.

With Avengers: Endgame heading back to theaters for quite the Encore ahead of Doomsday’s release on December 18, our favorite MCU actors have been getting in on the hype behind the scenes as well. Though Chris Pratt hasn’t officially been confirmed to be bringing Star Lord back yet, it hasn’t stopped him from joining in on the excitement. And I didn’t realize just how much I've been missing the Guardians of the Galaxy squad until the actor posted some BTS photos.

Now I’m beyond ready to see our favorite space-faring misfits again, whether it happens during the 2026 movie schedule or in Secret Wars next year. In the photos shared on his personal Instagram, you can see Pratt hanging out on set with Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, and even a shot of him and Chris Hemsworth on the Guardians’ ship. Check out the post below:

I think the Super Mario actor says it best, “Because one run on the big screen just wasn’t enough.” Plus, it’s considered necessary viewing before watching the upcoming MCU movie. As Joe Russo teased, the new footage will be “set in the Doomsday story.” We don’t know yet what this means exactly, at least those of us who are intentionally staying away from Doomsday leaks ahead of Encore. The Russo Brothers' one request to "Please don't spoil" the new scenes was sadly not taken seriously.

Regardless of who knows what ahead of time, it seems that Pratt’s BTS shots have succeeded in getting fans ready to dive back into the heroic ensemble's fight against Thanos. Check some of the best reactions to the post, including a sweet emoji from one of his Guardians co-stars:

• KAREN GILLAN: 😍
• "The desire for the return of the love of the star lord and gamora in the next films. And to have a lot of this love haha🙌" - @556threat.vraqnx
• "Damn I guess I gotta dress up. Ohhh noOoOOooOo 😅" - @Cosmic_mosey
• "We are waiting for the legendary star lord 😎" - @Shram0303
• "God I miss the guardians." - @Rinxeh

There’s been a slight MCU fatigue in recent years with a few of the newer movies not performing well at the box office. So I’m loving seeing everyone on a superhero high following the success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. TBut don’t let the leaks spoil your fun. I know I’m enjoying seeing the BTS scenes and they’re definitely making me hopeful that we’ll see some of the Guardians again.

After all, we last saw Peter Quill when he left the team and returned to Earth to spend time with his grandpa. And the third Guardians gave us an end credits promise that Star Lord will return. A promise that we have yet to see be fulfilled. (Personally, I’d love to see where Mantis went after she set out on her own, and a reunion between the siblings.)

However, his return is more likely then seeing Drax again, after Bautista notably left the MCU after Guardians Vol. 3. But I’m choosing to believe Pratt’s excitement for Endgame is hope that we’ll see him again.

So when you go out to theaters, Pratt has a request: “If you’re seeing, if you’re dressing up, tag me I want to see all the action!” Be sure to share your experience so Star Lord can check it out. And maybe he’ll share some more Guardians BTS for us to enjoy!

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Heart of the Beast, so tread carefully!

I have to admit this up front: I was very hesitant to see Brad Pitt’s new movie on the 2026 movie schedule, Heart Of The Beast. I was nervous about watching a man and dog in peril for 2 hours, especially the dog. The thought alone stressed me out. Ultimately, I’m really glad I saw it, because it’s a heartwarming film and Pitt (and the dog) really shine in both the action sequences and the quieter moments.

That said, I was still pretty stressed out watching the movie. Not for the safety of the dog, which is what I expected, but because of what Pitt’s character goes through with the dog. Including one very personal moment for me that had me reliving one of the worst nights of my life. It was the night I had a heart attack myself, and there is one thing that he does in particular that took me back.

The Terrifying Adventure Starts With A Heart Attack

The first 30 minutes of Heart of the Best, with Pitt’s character, Sergeant Major James Belmont (ret.), camping with his dog Odin (or “Odie”), are quiet and contemplative. If you’re like me and had seen the previews, you knew what was coming, so this part of the movie has a tension to it, but it’s also a nice way to ease into the story. He shares a campfire and a beer with one of the only other characters in the movie, a canoer played by J.K. Simmons, and the next morning gets in his float plane to head home.

He doesn’t make it. After navigating a storm, Belmont has a heart attack and the plane crashes. I really didn’t expect this, and it took me back to that night a couple of years ago when I had a heart attack (at the same age that Kevin Smith had his). Belmont and Odie survive the crash, but for the rest of the movie, Belmont is seen chewing up aspirin to mitigate the effects of the heart attack. One of my most indelible memories from the night I had mine was standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom and taking the aspirin out. I didn’t know I was having a heart attack, but I was pretty sure, so I did what people should do when they have one.

Every Time He Grabbed The Aspirin, I thought About That Night

I’ve written before about how the health scare has affected the way I watch movies, and it’s often because of details like this. Belmont taking aspirin over and over brought me to that moment. It was the moment I acknowledged to myself that something was really wrong. I was alone in my house with my dog (who is nothing like Odie, but I love her just the same), and I knew I had to go to the hospital.

Like an idiot, I drove myself to the hospital instead of calling an ambulance, but I made. Not exactly like traversing 50 miles of Alaskan wilderness, to be sure, but still a journey I shouldn’t have made. When I got to the emergency room, I was hustled into the back, and the attending physician asked me if I’d taken any medication. I told him about the aspirin, and he said, “That’s great, that’s exactly what you should do.” At that moment, I started to relax in a way. I was surrounded by technicians and nurses and in the midst of the worst health scare of my life, but I felt like things were going to be ok. That was literally an hour after thinking to myself, as I lay in bed, “If I go to sleep, I might not wake up.”

There Are A Few Other Moments That Had Me Squirming

I don’t like heights, and I really don’t like scenes in movies that have people climbing mountains or buildings or bridges. I can’t watch the famous scene of Tom Cruise climbing the Burj Khalifa in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, for example. I’ve never seen the popular documentary Free Solo featuring climber Alex Honnold. It’s a hard no from me. So when Belmont finds himself needing to walk across a felled tree over a ravine, I really started squirming. When the dog stepped out onto the log, it got worse.

Belmont makes it over once, but when he goes back to assist Odie, things go sideways, and he falls into the raging river below. He lives, but he’s not out of the woods, and neither are we in the audience. Drowning is another visceral fear of mine, and as he fights to get his head above water, the rapids wreck Belmont’s body. Including breaking an arm, which leads me to my next squirming moment…

There Are Some Gross Scenes

Once the intrepid dog saves him from the river, we see that Belmont has a compound fracture of his forearm. With the bone protruding from the skin, he uses a belt (and Odie’s help) to straighten the bone. The sound alone is enough to make someone sick. By the way, this movie should be nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound. It’s fantastic. That’s not the only time things get really gross, either.

After surviving the fall and the rapids, Belmont and Odie come face to face with a pack of wolves. When the wolves attack, one of them gets a good bite on Belmont’s abs, and while both he and Odie eventually fend off their attackers, Belmont is left with the wound that eventually finishes him off. He bleeds out on the rock, watching the Northern Lights, while the dog lives on. Before that, though, we see the wound twice as he tries to clean it, and it is nasty. I felt the pain.

Those were all fleeting things in the movie, looking back on it. It’s the heart attack–and the aspirin–that I will keep thinking about in the days and weeks ahead as I think back on Heart of the Beast. It’s an action movie I didn’t think I would like at all, but it has become a movie I’ve already been thinking about for days, and could end up being one of my favorite movies of the year.

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has been out for less than a week, and the movie already looks like another pretty spectacular win for the Weapons filmmaker and fans of new horror movies. For the most part, Critics dug Cregger's latest film, audiences showed up, and the video game movie adaptation just gave the long-running franchise its biggest opening weekend ever. So you would never guess from watching it that his film holds one wild stat that is completely blowing my mind.

Cregger revealed during an appearance on The Big Picture podcast that Resident Evil was only completely finished “maybe” two weeks before it hit the 2026 movie schedule. As he put it:

That is already wild, but the story gets even crazier because some international audiences technically saw a slightly different version of the movie. He continued:

Cregger made Weapons and Resident Evil practically back-to-back, and that schedule apparently followed him into post-production. Missing the window to incorporate some of his final tweaks overseas must be frustrating, but I have to admit, as a domestic audience member, I’m happy we got the one he’s happiest with.

Still, two weeks? Most of us get nervous submitting something inconsequential two minutes before a deadline. It's wild to think about the Barbarian filmmaker finishing a $75 million studio horror movie while theaters were presumably already warming up the popcorn machines and setting out the grotesquely-themed popcorn buckets.

It also puts the production into perspective. Cregger released Weapons in August 2025, then had another major horror movie in theaters a little over a year later. That is a ridiculous turnaround for two effects-heavy studio productions, especially when Resident Evil spends much of its lean 90-minute runtime throwing Austin Abrams through increasingly elaborate Raccoon City nightmares.

Whatever chaos was happening behind the scenes doesn't seem to have scared audiences away. The flick opened to roughly $60 million domestically and another 48.3 million internationally, for a $108.3 million worldwide debut. That is the biggest opening weekend in the RE movie franchise’s history. It also earned a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score around opening weekend and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences. That makes the two-week stat even harder for me to wrap my head around.

There is something wonderfully appropriate about a Resident Evil movie barely making it out of post-production alive. Bryan spends the film scrambling through Raccoon City as everything collapses around him, which is a wild parallel to Cregger experiencing his own version of survival horror in the editing room.

Resident Evil is playing now in theaters, so be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

Reacher’s fourth season wrapped up with a particularly brutal finale for the hulking hero, and it sounds like Season 5 is already going even harder (at least according to incoming star Jay Baruchel). The character has certainly come a long way since the vaguely more limited scope of Season 1, and the circumference of his biceps has grown just a tad. But I personally hadn’t paid much attention to how Reacher’s running skills have evolved over the years, at least a fan’s comment sparked some sassy insight from Alan Ritchson.

Over on Threads, writer Matt Johnson pointed out that it was clear in the second season that “Reacher couldn’t run,” but then used the words “brilliant” and “remarkable” to describe the character’s running in Season 4. (An amusing observation to make at a point when Ritchson’s latest crowd-pleasing movie is actually called Runner.) He surmised that “something changed,” and that’s when Ritchson entered the chat with an amusingly candid (and presumably legitimate) reason.

Somebody get the fire extinguisher, because Alan Ritchson hilariously just pushed the burn off of himself and onto his stunt team. And the comment section was filled with fans who were amused that he made the effort to even respond. (Beyond all the thirsty folks who were just overenthused to learn that he's on Threads in the first place.)

One of the top comments comes from someone who claims to have been the actor's stunt double in Season 2, saying he "can confirm" that's the case. (He also says Reacher rips his character's face off by the beard in Season 5, so that's something to possibly look forward to if indeed true.)

Check out a handful of other replies:

• "Look, it's really hard for them to run when it's two guys in a Alan sized bodysuit. 😂"
• "Stunt doubles out here catching strays. 🤣 'I don’t suck at running, THEY do' 😜"
• "I figured Reacher just got sick of Neagly calling him slow"
• "Can they run for me instead? I don’t wanna… 🤣"
• "I always thought you were just staying true to the book Reacher who couldn't run for shit and hated it. It's mentioned pretty much every time he has to break into a run 😂 I'm yet to catch up to Gone Tomorrow to see if Reacher miraculously starts running."

That this is even an issue is quite amusing for two reasons. One, it's pointed out above that in Lee Childs' novels, running is one of the last ways Reacher will try to get from one place to another. So it should really be a moot point on the TV show, and I can definitely picture Ritchson having all kinds of attitude anytime he's forced to hoof it anywhere.

Two, Ritchson being cast for Reacher was in part to counteract the films using Tom Cruise, despite the actor's height not matching up with the source material. Meanwhile, Cruise is also known for being one of the best runners in all of cinema, and has poked fun at himself for it over the years. I'm not saying that's specifically why Ritchson felt the need to take over for his stunt doubles for those sequences, but it'd be wild if that was the case.

It sounds like Ritchson had some influence on occasional co-star Maria Sten, who performed a lot of her own stunts in the Neagley spinoff. But I'm not sure what people are saying online about her running abilities, and I'm keen to keep it that way.

While both Reacher and Neagley have wrapped their runs on the 2026 TV schedule, fans can still catch all episodes streaming via Amazon Prime subscription while waiting for more updates on the next batch of episodes. If Ritchson lands any sponsorship deals with a shoe company to promote a line of runners…well, you know what the deal is.

The last time we saw Brad Pitt on our screens, he was barreling around the racetrack in last year’s F1. In Heart of the Beast, his first offering for the 2026 movie calendar, his journey will be a lot slower and much colder. The survival thriller centers around retired Special Forces vet James Belmont and his dog Odin (played by canine actor Uber) on a 50-mile trek through the Alaskan wilderness. While Pitt’s performance is garnering acclaim, it’s Uber who has critics asking if a dog has ever won an Oscar.

It’s the chemistry between Brad Pitt’s James and his German Shepherd Odin — both of whom suffer from PTSD nightmares, the dog also sporting titanium teeth and a prosthetic leg — that is sure to have audiences sobbing, according to Pete Hammond of Deadline. Heart of the Beast features possibly Brad Pitt’s best work and a performance from the canine that’s among the best of 2026. The critic says:

Frank Scheck of THR agrees, saying James’ feelings for Odin are “palpable,” and the way the dog looks at his co-star is so adoring that moviegoers may find themselves re-evaluating their own relationships. Scheck also agrees that Heart of the Beast packs a surprisingly emotional punch that will leave you in tears. He writes:

Jim Vejvoda of IGN gives it a “Great” 8 out of 10, saying Brad Pitt is splendid in the role, but the dog is the heart of the film. The critic says because of the relationship between James and Odin, he stayed invested in every moment of the duo’s grueling trek, writing:

Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire rates it a B-, writing that Heart of the Beast is a “red-blooded movie” aimed squarely at middle American audiences with its militaristic POV, but it’s also an unexpectedly intimate story about the connection between man and animal. It’s sure to touch anyone who’s ever felt closeness to a pet, according to Lattanzio’s review, which reads:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety says director David Ayer draws from his logistical talent and his taste for violence to craft a survival tale that makes us feel the pain, fear and hardship of James and Odin’s journey. The critic concludes:

In addition to Brad Pitt and Uber, critics heaped praise on Uber’s trainer Andrew Simpson, as well as Uber’s sons Ryker, Zika and Hondo, who double for their father in certain scenes.

My ears have definitely perked up after reading so many good reviews about the connection between Brad Pitt and Uber. No wonder Pitt said he’d want the dog to replace George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven. So far Heart of the Beast has garnered a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, so if you want to see this supposedly Oscar-worthy performance from a canine actor, grab your ticket to this one when it premieres Friday, September 25.

Shemar Moore has been through a lot in the nine years since S.W.A.T. first premiered on CBS back in 2017 — and I’m not just talking about the cancellation roller coaster. Playing the role of Sgt. Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr. has required a lot physically from the actor, and with the sequel spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles making its premiere on the 2026 TV schedule this week, Moore got real about how he’s staying fit at 56.

As we know, age is just a number (Halle Berry is proving as much at 60), and seeing Shemar Moore’s abs pics, it doesn’t seem to be a number he needs to be too concerned about. However, when it comes to the action sequences that require Hondo to chase down suspects, fight criminals and jump out of buildings, etc., Moore told THR he’s having to put in the work:

I’m honestly not sure if I’m exhausted after reading all of that or inspired to get a good workout in after work. Sure, all that running and jumping may not come as easily as it did earlier in Shemar Moore’s career, but he’s definitely doing his part to bring new meaning to “dad bod” and make sure Hondo is equipped to get the job done.

It’s funny — or fitting — to hear Shemar Moore talk about his age being a factor in playing Hondo, since one of the sergeant’s big obstacles in S.W.A.T. Exiles is going to be figuring out how to work with Gen Z recruits. As the actor said:

Of course, with Hondo leading a new mission with new recruits, that means the spinoff is leaving the OG S.W.A.T. cast behind — save for two characters who will appear in the S.W.A.T. Exiles’ premiere.

As for what fans can expect, Shemar Moore says the spinoff is “a little darker. It’s a little edgier. It’s a little grimier,” than S.W.A.T., and it’s more serialized than the original series, so fans will have to watch week-to-week to keep up with the story and its characters.

Another difference between S.W.A.T. and Exiles? The spinoff’s future isn't in question. It's already been renewed for a second season, so that’s undoubtedly a weight off the 56-year-old star’s shoulders. Not that Shemar Moore’s shoulders are a concern, given that workout regimen.

Now, excuse me while I go run some stairs. S.W.A.T. Exiles premieres at 9 p.m. ET Friday, September 25, on Starz.

While Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom rarely ranks highly on any list of Steven Spielberg’s best films, it is without a doubt one of the most important to the director. That’s because he met his wife of 35 years, Kate Capshaw, while making it. Doom was a tough production, and at one point Capshaw actually took a piece of wood to the face, leading her to land a black eye. What happened next was a truly romantic story.

In response, Spielberg (probably because he was crushing on her a little bit) got the whole crew to show solidarity with the actress. Co-star Ke Huy Quan recently told the story in his new autobiography, Never Say Die. Here’s what happened.

The Temple Of Doom Set Was Family

In the book, Quan talks about how close the Doom cast and crew were on the set, calling it family. Of course, families sometimes play pranks on on another, so there were some fun shenanigans going down on set at the time. One such prank happened after an accident gave Capshaw a minor injury, as Quan explained in the book (via EW):

Normally on a set, a star of the movie getting a “perfect black eye” would cause some stress, I'd assume especially for the makeup department. It surely did, but Spielberg knew how to loosen the tension. He did so by enlisting the help of the makeup artists, not to cover Capshaw’s black eye, but to give everyone else sympathetic black eyes. As Quan explains:

This must have been one of those moments early in Spielberg and Capshaw’s relationship when a sweet gesture like that not only lightened things up on set, but must have endeared Capshaw to Spielberg. The two started dating on the set of Temple of Doom and were married a few years later, in 1991. They’ve defied the usual Hollywood trope of a short-lived marriage and remain happily married today.

All these years later, Quan is still in awe of how the legendary director handled his set on Temple of Doom, which you can watch either with a Paramount+ subscription or a Disney+ subscription. According to Quan, who made his film debut in the Raiders of the Lost Ark sequel. It seems Spielberg knew exactly how to solve every problem and relieve any stress, like getting Quan to cheer Harrison Ford up on set. It’s an admiration that has lasted decades, including a shoutout to Spielberg by Quan when the latter won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once in 2023, nearly 40 years after Temple of Doom.

Hearing stories like this, it’s no wonder Spielberg is so respected in Hollywood.

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is reportedly set to make a comeback amongst fellow upcoming Disney movies at some point. So, of course, I’m curious what original cast members and characters could return for a sixth installment. Geoffrey Rush, a.k.a. Captain Hector Barbossa, just commented on potentially making an appesrance, and he's all for it. However, one aspect of this gives me pause.

Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer has been working on reviving Disney's swashbuckling franchise for years. Most recently, he said his efforts on Top Gun 3 were just “a hair ahead” of the movement on Pirates. As for Geoffrey Rush, when he was asked about donning a pirate hat once more to play the captain of the Black Pearl, he said:

Now, as you may recall, when we first meet Captain Barbossa in the very first Pirates movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl, he’s part of an undead crew. He dies at the end of that one but, then in Dead Man’s Chest, he is resurrected by Naomie Harris’ Tia Dalma. Rush then reprises his role in At World’s End, On Stranger Tides and the most recentPirates film, 2017's Dead Men Tell No Tales.

In that Pirates finale, Barbossa depicted as a very successful pirate who commands a fleet of 10 ships. During the movie, we find out that he’s the father to Kaya Scodelario’s Carina and he sacrifices himself to protect her. As Rush continued while speaking to Entertainment Weekly:

I think my question is obvious. How would they bring Barbossa back from the dead a second time? They’d have to be careful about doing it gracefully, and I like that Rush said he wouldn’t want to come back just for the paycheck. Within the Pirates universe, there are various forms of magic and curses, but I definitely like the idea of Barbossa haunting Jack Sparrow as a ghost. Plus, there have been plenty of ghosts in the franchise already.

Rush isn’t the first OG Pirates actor to express a willingness to reprise their role. Orlando Bloom also shared his interest in coming back as Will Turner along with sharing he’s connected with Johnny Depp “every now and again”. While we don’t know if Depp would return as Captain Jack Sparrow, Bruckheimer said in March that if it was up to him, the actor would.

For now, though, Johnny Depp is set to make a big comeback to the big screen amid the 2026 movie schedule with Ebenezer. The movie even includes a reunion with Pirates star Sam Claflin. The A Christmas Carol adaptation hits theaters on November 13, and we’ll be awaiting more updates on another Pirates of the Caribbean movie as they come. In the meantime, stream all five of those madcap films using a Disney+ subscription.

Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford combined for an incredibly successful run of four Indiana Jones movies, including the second in the series, Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom (which you can watch with a Paramount+ subscription). That’s the movie that also introduced Ke Huy Quan to the world, and Quan was Spielberg’s secret weapon when it came to managing Ford’s moods on set. Quan’s recently published memoir, Never Say Die, reveals just how Spielberg did it.

Quan and Ford have a lot of scenes together in the movie, and I can only imagine how stressful some of those were. Not only did they often film in far-flung locations like Sri Lanka, but they also shot a lot of stunts and action sequences that must have taken a toll on the actors. That’s not to mention the infamous bug scene. It’s not a surprise to discover that Ford wasn’t always in the best mood on set, but Spielberg knew how to fix that: he’d send in his secret weapon. Quan writes (via EW):

Quan just has that ability, even for those of us who only know him from seeing him on the big screen. He’s so charming, you can’t help but cheer up when you see him. Ford was clearly no exception, as was again on display in 2022 when the pair reunited at D23. Quan clearly has a lot of affection for Ford, adding in his book:

Ford has a reputation for being a little…prickly, let’s say, but that rep never seems to hold up when his co-stars talk about him. It’s an energy he’s always given off, but beneath the exterior, he’s always been generous with his fellow actors and cool under pressure. Quan knows this, and he’s been quick to praise the legend at any opportunity.

Spielberg’s “trick” worked well because no one can argue about the success he had alongside Ford in four of the five Indiana Jones movies (the fifth, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, was directed by James Mangold, with Spielberg serving as an executive producer). Would it have worked with a less charming kid than Quan? I doubt it.

Minor spoilers ahead for The Weight.

Some of Ethan Hawke's best movies have memorable action sequences, and he's at it once again with Padraic McKinley's The Weight. In the new historical drama his character Samuel Murphy goes through a number of life and death situations while carrying bars of gold across the wilderness. He recently spoke to CinemaBlend about one particular scene where he was being drowned under giant logs.

It remains to be seen if The Weight joins the ranks of the best western movies, but it's a thrilling and emotional drama with plenty to offer moviegoers. As you can see in the video above, I asked Hawke and his co-star Julia Jones about what it was like shooting such a dangerous stunt, which requires a great deal of crush. Throughout the sequence her character Anna gives him mouth to mouth to keep him alive underwater, and the Dexter: New Blood actress took me behind the scenes, saying:

Well, thats certainly one way to break the ice. Hawke and Jones had to get pretty intimate for the scene where they lock lips in order to keep Samuel alive. Add in the stress and safety measures to keep everyone safe, and it sounds like a real exercise in trust. Per the Twilight star, it brought her and Hawke together for the rest of The Weight's shoot.

Ethan Hawke also weighed in on shooting the near-drowning scene for his latest movie. In it his character is attacked in a rushing river, as huge, dangerous logs are floating down. He eventually gets caught underneath them and nearly drowns, before Jones' Anna helps keep him alive. The Training Day icon shared his perspective, telling me:

While being a movie star sounds glamorous for us civilians, the reality of the job can sometimes be the opposite. Sets can be quite dangerous, and we've seen tragedies happen related to action sequences. For instance, a stunt performer died on the set of Deadpool 2. Add in that The Weight is an indie film, and the stakes were especially high for Ethan Hawke and company.

As an audience member I originally had no idea that The Weight was made on such a small budget, given how many epic action sequences there were during its 113-minute runtime. Later in our conversation, Hawke shared his reaction to seeing the final product, telling me:

Despite the long hours and dangerous stunt work, at least the Black Phone star seems proud of what the cast and crew were able to accomplish in the end. And both she and Julia Jones kill their roles, in that water scene and beyond.

Fans can judge for themselves when The Weight hits theaters on September 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Ethan Hawke is proud of what they accomplished, we'll just have to see if audiences agree once it gets its wide theatrical release.

Director Zach Cregger is astonishing critics again with Resident Evil, the latest video game adaptation on the 2026 movie schedule. The Resident Evil franchise has had its ups and downs over the years, with this being the second reboot in the last few years. Judging by the glowing reviews, with critics agreeing that it is very different from the first seven movies, it seems to have found solid footing with Weapons director at the helm. Here’s what the critics are saying about it.

Frank Scheck at The Hollywood Reporter shared his thoughts on the new horror film, and he dropped some serious praise. He also didn't mince words when discussing where Cregger's film stands in the pantheon of other Resident Evil movies:

One thing is definitely clear from the reviews: this is much better than all of the previous Resident Evil movies. Bob Strauss at the San Francisco Chronicle also shared some glowing thoughts, writing:

Other critics also agree that Cregger nails it, adapting what he’s been great at with his previous horror movies, but without sacrificing what's made the video games series so addictive for so many years. Clarisse Loughrey at The Independent has this to say about how the film compares to the Jovovich-led movies:

In addition to directing, Cregger co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten of John Wick: Chapters 3 and 4 fame. This latest Resident Evil movie centers on medical courier Bryan, who's making his way to Raccoon City for a delivery when an outbreak ensues. Austin Abrams plays Bryan, and he's joined in the cast by Zach Cherry, Kail Reis, Paul Walter Hauser and Johnno Wilson.

Sonny Bunch at The Bulwark agrees that the movie really feels like playing the game, and these comments excite me. Bunch writes:

Cregger, as he did with Weapons and Barbarian, knows exactly how to mix horror and humor, and the critics see it here too. Alonso Duralde at Film Verdict, who went into the movie blind, knowing little about the video game series or the Jovovich films, says:

That balance didn’t work for everyone. Matt Orozco at Macrabra Daily says it is “more slapstick than scary” in his more middling review. That is by far the exception, with Resident Evil currently sitting at a 98% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Even the rare reviews that aren’t glowing aren’t taking the film apart, either.

Fans of horror movies and fans of the game have been excited to see Zach Cregger’s version of Raccoon City, and he hasn’t disappointed the critics, but we’ll have to see what the hardcore fans of the franchise think when it hits theaters on September 18.

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.

The Pirates of the Caribbean movies were wildly popular during their original run in theaters, and are still re-watched by those with a Disney+ subscription. For that time star Johnny Depp was synonymous with his tenure as Captain Jack Sparrow, although lately he's most closely associated with his controversial relationship with Amber Heard, and their long legal battle. Depp's co-star Orlando Bloom recently spoke about where he stands with the 63 year-old actor amidst rumors and chatter about a sixth Pirates film.

Following the Depp/Heard verdict, Johnny moved abroad and has been largely out of the Hollywood scene. But that'll change with his upcoming movie Ebenezer, and some fan want him back as Jack Sparrow in another Pirates of the Caribbean movie. In an interview with EW, Bloom spoke about his relationship with the Edward Scissorhands actor, offering:

There you go. It sounds like, despite the years that have passed and Depp's controversies, Orlando Bloom still has a good relationship with his Pirates co-star. This should be music to the ears of fans who are hoping to see these two actors reunite for another installment of the beloved franchise. Of course, it's unclear if that'll ever happen.

There's been chatter about The House of Mouse developing multiple Pirates of the Caribbean sequels in recent years. That includes a movie directed by Gore Verbinski, as well as one that was going to star Margot Robbie. But it's still unclear if any of them will see the light of day.

Later in his same interview, Orlando Bloom gushed about his Pirates co-stars and crew, and spoke about fan hunger for more sequels. In his words:

It doesn't sound like the Lord of the Rings star is against the idea of returning as Will Turner in another Pirates of the Caribbean movie. We'll just have to wait and see if Disney green lights another project, and if Johnny Depp's return to Hollywood includes reprising arguably his most iconic role.

For now, the Pirates franchise is streaming in its entirety over on Disney+. Johnny Depp's Ebenezer movie will hit theaters November 13th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Orland Bloom, he celebrated the premiere fo his new movie Bucking Fastard at TIFF.

Unfortunately, fans still have to wait until next year for One Piece Season 3 to hit. However, the cast and crew have luckily put in the work to make sure fans are plenty excited for the upcoming Netflix series. Joe Manganiello is the latest to keep the hype train rolling, as he revealed he loved Season 3 so much that he recreated sets in his home. (And, yes, you read that correctly.)

Manganiello will reprise his role as Crocodile -- one of the Warlords of the Sea -- in Season 3. The actor revealed it in a video posted to X that saw he him talk about the set he was on and how parts of it could be found in his own home:

The Spider-Man alum has always been passionate about the roles he's played, as evidenced by his continued love of Deathstroke. It's great to see that he felt the same about playing Crocodile in One Piece, and that it was all so memorable for him that he decided to immortalize part of the set in his basement.

I am curious to see how Season 3 of One Piece plays out, and if Joe Manganiello continues to appear in the series afterward. Those who watch the anime likely know that Crocodile is a relevant character in the story, though there are long gaps between his appearances. If the show were to accurately cover his future appearances based on the manga, it would be several years before viewers see him again.

Netflix's One Piece has played with the story a bit, switching around the timeline of key events and such. It's possible that could happen in future seasons, and we'll get to see Crocodile much sooner than we would otherwise. At least I hope that's the case, if only because of how genuinely happy Manganiello sounds when discussing his time on the streaming series:

The third season will give us more of Crocodile and will also finally bring in Xolo Maridueña as Luffy's brother, Ace. He's also a major player in the overall story but, like Crocodile, he also has limited screen time in the actual story. I can't wait to hear what the Blue Beetle actor has to say about his time on the series, and if he also recreated some of the show's sets in his home like Manganiello.

Catch the new season of One Piece in 2027, and keep an eye out for updates in the meantime. I'm glad Netflix still seems psyched about keeping the series going, though I'm still skeptical it could ever go as long as the 1000+-episode anime.

The second season of 9-1-1: Nashville is premiering in less than a month on the 2026 TV schedule, and I'm more than ready for it! At this point, the 9-1-1 spinoff has delivered pretty bonkers storylines as seen in its first season, and it's been confirmed that such cases will continue in Season 2. In addition to that, the show’s EP is teasing more crossovers, including a pretty big one.

Nashville’s inaugural season included a mini crossover as well as a more convention mashup with its parent series. It was unclear if that would happen again, given that both shows are filmed and take place in different cities. Luckily, showrunner Rashad Raisani confirms Season 2 will kick off with a fun mini crossover as the 113 end up dealing with a situation similar to one the 118 dealt with. Per TVLine, Oliver Stark’s Buck will be receiving a FaceTime call so he can offer some help. Raisani shed further light on this:

While not too much has been shared about that 9-1-1: Nashville emergency, ABC did recently release the first Season 2 poster, which saw Chris O’Donnell’s Don Hart swarmed by bees. For context, 9-1-1’s eighth season saw the 118 dealing with a “bee-nado,” and it sounds like Buck told his new Nashville buddies all about it during last season’s crossover. That's a smart move, though, because that bee-nado was worse than expected. I'm curious as to how the Nashville team would differentiate any bee-related emergency from the one on the partent show.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, that won’t be the only crossover planned for Season 2. Raisani confirmed interest in another big crossover with 9-1-1 for later in the season. What's more is that he's still pushing for a 9-1-1: Lone Star crossover nearly two years after the conclusion of the show's five-season run, and I need it now more than ever:

Raisani served as showrunner on Lone Star, so it’s not so surprising that he’s pushing for those characters to make a comeback. Rob Lowe has weighed in on returning as Owen Strand, and there are definitely plenty of other characters who could appear, too. Whether pans out remains to be seen, but Raisani seems to be very determined to make it happen. What's great about the 9-1-1 franchise is that a fan never knows who could pop up and how, and I love that Raisani and co. are eager to continue with this cross-pollination.

Regardless of the crossovers, I'm just glad 9-1-1: Nashville is almost back. Tune in to the season premiere on Thursday, October 15 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming the next day with a Hulu subscription.

The Blade development saga has arguably become one of the most discussed topics related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years. Back in 2019, Marvel Studios announced that a film centered on the vampire hunter was in development, with Mahershala Ali signed on to play the lead role. The project subsequently went through several filmmakers and screenwriters and doesn’t seem to be happening at this point, at least with Ali anyways. Still, he sees a silver lining to having been attached to the film that I wouldn’t have imagined.

As of late, Ali has been promoting Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action thriller from writer/director Bassim Tariq (who was originally set to helm Blade). The 2026 movie schedule entry sees Ali playing a sword-wielding mercenary and, with that, he had to undergo the necessary training. And, as the star recently revealed to Deadline (as seen on Instagram) at the Toronto International Film Festival, he can thank Marvel Studios for handling the bill for his training, which was originally meant for his role as the Daywalker:

That’s definitely one way to turn lemons into lemonade. Serious training like Ali’s can indeed be expensive and a lower-profile flick like Tariq’s doesn’t have Marvel-level resources. And, based on the footage that’s been shown of the movie thus far, it seems that Ali puts all that prep to very good use. Still, it’s all very bittersweet, considering he’s not swinging that sword while in character as Eric Brooks and taking on blood-thirsty creatures of the night.

Earlier this summer, Ali got real about Blade not moving forward and, while he meant to convey “no offense” towards Marvel Studios, he opined that if the Disney-owned company “wanted to do it, we would've done it.” Amid his interview with Deadline, the Jurassic World Rebirth star was once again asked if the MCU movie was officially done, and he said the following:

Months ago, it was rumored that Ali’s Blade might still appear in a different live-action MCU movie since his solo flick didn’t pan out. Fans haven’t been too pleased about the film’s apparent demise, and one person even called out Marvel for “fumbling” Ali twice due to his abbreviated stint on Luke Cage. However, series creator Cheo Hodari Coker shut down that claim, explaining that Ali only joined the show on the condition that he could exit after seven episodes to work on other projects.

The fact that Mahershala Ali will likely never headline his own MCU film stings even more than a vampire bite. However, as a fan of his, I’m at least glad to hear about his Marvel-paid training being put to good use for his new movie. Speaking of which, check out Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother when it opens in theaters nationwide on September 25.

Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe are reuniting in Chad Stahelski’s Highlander, with the former Man of Steel lead stepping into Christopher Lambert’s old role as Connor MacLeod and Crowe inheriting Sean Connery’s Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez. That pairing is already enough to get me excited, especially with the John Wick director helming the flick. However, the lead actors' shared history is even cooler. And, if you can believe it, this reunion has been 25 years in the making.

The Story Behind Russell Crowe Meeting Teen Cavill

In 2000, when the Oscar-winning Crowe was filming Proof of Life at the British boarding school, he noticed an aspiring teenage actor in the background of the scene. The kid, whom the A-lister gave some career advice, happened to be none other than Henry Cavill.

The Nice Guys star recently retold the story on The Joe Rogan Experience, saying the teenager caught his attention because of how naturally he controlled the game. The Batman v Superman star eventually walked over between takes, introduced himself and asked how someone gets into acting. A few days later, Crowe sent him a package, which included a rugby jersey, Vegemite, a CD and a signed photo of himself as Maximus in Gladiator, which had not even opened yet. The longtime Tinsel Town staple recently shared a look at that pic over on his X account, which you can see below:

On the photo, the New Zealand-born performer wrote, “Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The young actor kept it as his acting career slowly became a very real thing. That is already a pretty great story without knowing what happened next.

From Career Advice To Onscreen Father Figure

More than a decade later, Crowe found himself training in an Illinois gym for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Across the room was the actor playing Superman. The acclaimed action movie star remembered thinking the guy certainly looked like Superman, but the two worked out around each other for days before properly talking. Eventually, the former Witcher lead approached him and reminded him of that afternoon at Stowe.

Crowe’s reaction was essentially: Wait, “that” Henry? The teenager asking the Hollywood vet how to become an actor was now starring opposite him as one of the greatest comic book superheroes ever committed to screen, while he played his Kryptonian father Jor-El. Cavill later called their reunion poignant and credited that early interaction with giving him a little extra encouragement when he was deciding whether to seriously pursue acting. And somehow the upcoming Highlander reboot makes the story even better.

There Could Only Be One Choice For Ramirez

Crowe revealed that when the Highlander filmmakers asked their lead star who he wanted to play Ramirez, he had a very specific answer: “I’ve only got one option, and you’ve got to get him.”

That option was, of course, the man behind A Beautiful Mind. So, now, the guy who once gave teenage Cavill advice is playing the mentor who teaches Connor MacLeod about immortality and swordsmanship. It is basically their real relationship turned into a considerably more violent fantasy movie.

Production initially hit a delay after the Argyle performer ruptured his Achilles during preparation, but filming eventually got underway in 2026. Amazon MGM showed the first footage at CinemaCon, including Cavill sword-fighting through neon-soaked environments and brief glimpses of the Body of Lies actor as Ramirez. Dave Bautista plays the Kurgan, with Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Irons and Marisa Abela also among the stacked Highlander cast.

Crowe described Highlander as the “third stage” of his connection with the Man from U.N.C.L.E. star. That sounds about right. First he gave the kid advice. Then he played his space dad. Now, he gets to teach him how to cut people’s heads off. That’s so metal it's befit a Queen soundtrack.

The upcoming Henry Cavill flick will, unfortunately, not hit the 2026 movie schedule, but fans can prepare themselves because it is expected to hit theaters sometime in the back half of the 2027 schedule.

The future of James Bond remains a major topic of discussion, as fans are clamoring for information on Bond 26. So far, Amazon MGM isn’t spilling any beans, especially when it comes to the identity of the next actor who will don the tuxedo to play Commander Bond. That hasn’t stopped rumors from making the rounds, while others weigh in on who could take the part. 007 alum Pierce Brosnan doesn’t seem to have a clue as to who will be cast, but he told one of his co-stars he’d fit the bill (and I’d like to see this happen).

One Of Pierce Brosnan’s Co-Stars Revealed The Major 007 Compliment He Gave

Brosnan has worked with a plethora of talented actors throughout his career, and there may be a few that some people could envision in the role of the MI6 operative. Last year, the Irish actor appeared alongside such a star in The Thursday Murder Club (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription). I’m referring to the delightful Tom Ellis, who’s amassed more than a few actor credits in his time. The CIA alum recently spoke to Metro and said that while Brosnan didn’t give advice on playing a spy, he did give him something else:

Yes, Ellis is 47, but I can’t help but think about what he could bring to the role of Bond. From a physical standpoint, Ellis is quite tall and stands at about 6 feet 3.5 inches tall, and he’s no stranger to roles that involve a level of physicality. The Welsh actor also has so much charisma that he could bring to the role. Those who needs evidence of Ellis’ on-screen charms should check out his work as the titular character on Lucifer (which he’s open to reprising).

The chances of audiences seeing Ellis suit up and sip a martini on the big screen seem slim at this point. Still, it’s fun to imagine what he could do with the role and, clearly, Brosnan can see the vision as well. So that just leaves an obvious question: who will play Bond?

Pierce Brosnan Weighs In On The Next Bond Actor

As of late Brosnan has been promoting the second season of MobLand, which is set to hit the 2026 TV schedule before the end of the month. The past few years have seen the GoldenEye icon scoff at the notion of weighing in on the future of the James Bond franchise. However, he’s since walked back the notion of not caring about 007, and he even named Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy as someone he could see playing the part. More recently, Brosnan spoke with The Times and suggested that producers could end up surprising us:

While Brosnan said he “wouldn’t pick anyone,” he also acknowledged there being “lots of good hats in the ring.” He’s not wrong, as plenty of stars, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden and more have been part of the Bond odds conversations for a while now. Just this past week, Gary Oldman even claimed that 007 had been cast and said he was rooting for Lowden (his Slow Horses co-star) to be the one who lands the role. Oldman later walked back his statements a bit, saying he wasn’t sure if the part was cast.

At this point, what is known is that Denis Villeneuve is directing Bond 26 at Amazon MGM, and the screenplay is being penned by Steven Knight, who’s starting to get questions about the project. Amy Pascal, one of the producers, also says that work on Bond’s next big-screen outing begins closer to the end of the year. That may mean that an announcement could come shortly. I’m not holding my breath for Tom Ellis to be the one who’s revealed but, regardless, I love that he has an endorsement from Pierce Brosnan.

I've been a diehard Street Fighter fan ever since Street Fighter II: The World Warrior debuted back in 1991.

That's why seeing the trailers for this upcoming film, which hits the 2026 movie schedule on October 16th, has got me so excited, since it looks like everything I've ever wanted in a Street Fighter movie (and yes, I know the 1994 adaptation has its fans, but I only appreciate it as a so-bad-it's-good kind of movie).

However, after seeing the most recent trailer, I was struck by something - this movie has Evil Ryu in it! But like, why?! Seeing him in the trailer just adds to my list of fresh concerns for this film, and I don't like that. I'll explain.

We Really Can't Have All Of These Other Stories Going On If We're Going To Get Evil Freaking Ryu

For a while there, it was hard to peg which era of Street Fighter this movie was going to be. Sure, all signs pointed to Street Fighter II, but before we got our first trailer, the cast of characters was a bit perplexing, as we had Joe (Alexander Volkanovski) in the film, and he appeared in the FIRST Street Fighter from 1987. However, the film also features Dan Hibiki (Andrew Schulz), who didn't appear in the series until 1995's Street Fighter Alpha, as well as Don Sauvage (Eric Andre), who didn't appear as a ring announcer until 2016’s Street Fighter V!

Granted, all of these characters canonically appear around the same time period (the timeline gets funky between Street Fighter III-VI, hopping back and forth in time), but it was still difficult to determine when this movie was taking place until we got confirmation. That said, with ALL of these characters from different eras being represented, it already feels like this movie is jam-packed. So, adding such a MAJOR storyline as Evil Ryu, who made his first video game appearance in Street Fighter Alpha 2, just seems like WAY too much.

Evil Ryu is a MAJOR part of Ryu's backstory, and to have that AND all of these other characters just seems like too much story going on here. Either that, or they won't go as in-depth as they should, which isn’t good either.

I Also Now Understand Why Akuma Had To Be Here

When we got word that Roman Reigns was playing Akuma, I was all like, huh? It's not because Akuma doesn't DESERVE to be in this film, but, it already has M. Bison (David Dastmalchian), and I figure that any Street Fighter movie should have either Akuma OR M. Bison as the big bad. Not both.

This also aligns with my concern about who the main protagonist is. If it’s Chun-Li or Ken, then M. Bison makes sense. If it’s Ryu, then Akuma makes sense. To have both villains doesn’t really make much sense at all.

However, now that I know that Evil Ryu is in this film, Akuma makes PERFECT sense. Ryu's internal struggle with the Satsui no Hado (literally translating to “surge of killing intent”) is directly connected to Akuma, who wants to push Ryu over to the dark side. Yes, it’s great stuff, but should it be in a film that already feels overstuffed as it is? I don’t think so.

In The End, Evil Ryu Would Have Been Cool For A Sequel, But Not As An Introduction To This World

Now, it's not like I think Evil Ryu shouldn't be in a Street Fighter movie. I just don't think he should be in THIS movie.

Evil Ryu is a really important character arc in Street Fighter lore, and I just think that there’s seemingly too much going on already, even if this film IS 125 minutes long.

So while I would love to see the Evil Ryu storyline covered in a Street Fighter sequel (possibly one that looks more serious and less goofy), I don't think I want it in this first Street Fighter movie.

What do you think, World Warriors? Do you think this video game movie will be a Vanilla Edition or a Champion Edition? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

NCIS Season 24 will be coming soon on the 2026 TV schedule, and the excitement is palpable. That's because Michael Weatherly is set to return as Tony DiNozzo for at least a chunk of the new season following the cancellation of NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount Plus. Unfortunately, he will be without his better half when he comes back. Not to worry, though, as we finally have an update on Ziva’s whereabouts.

When fans last saw Tony (and Ziva) in the season finale of the spinoff last year, the former NCIS agents had just gotten back together after a tumultuous ride, raising their daughter, Tali, together. Now, when Tony returns for NCIS, he will be in DC to expand his private security company until a case draws him back to the orange walls of the organization.

In the CBS series, he will be flying solo, but executive producer Steven D. Binder told TV Insider that the couple’s relationship is still being tested in the upcoming season. Namely, "can they be together without killing each other?" Stay tuned:

As a fan of Tiva, I was more than happy when a spinoff focusing on the two characters was announced, and was even more devastated when it was canceled. I had hoped that when Weatherly was announced to be returning for NCIS, Cote de Pablo wouldn’t be too far behind. It sounds like there aren’t any plans to bring her on just yet, but I am curious to see where things stand between her and Tony following the events of the spinoff.

Of course, Tony and Ziva’s relationship has been a roller coaster ever since Ziva was introduced in Season 3. That roller coaster continued in the spinoff, and it seemed like they were finally in a good place in the finale. With Ziva and Tali apparently just a few hours away when Tony’s in DC, hopefully we’ll be seeing them again. If anything, it also sounds like we’ll be getting plenty of updates on where the characters are at.

Meanwhile, even though we now know he will be in DC to expand his security company, fans were theorizing what else could be bringing Tony back into the fold. Since NCIS has yet to bring in someone to replace Rocky Carroll’s Director Leon Vance, some people have been wondering if Tony will be stepping into those shoes. I would be more than happy if he returned full-time AND became the new NCIS Director. That might be a stretch since he seems content with his security company, but a girl can dream.

Luckily, fans won’t have to wait too long to see what Tony is up to. The Season 24 premiere of NCIS airs on Tuesday, October 6 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, streaming the next day with a Paramount+ subscription, where coincidentally, you can always catch up on Tony & Ziva, as well.

I’ve just read all eight of the currently available Dungeon Crawler Carl books, and if there’s one thing you should know about Matt Dinniman’s universe, it’s probably that the AI is into Carl. Specifically Carl’s feet. Not since Margot Robbie’s feet hit the big screen has their been so much of a focus on some footsies, but the AI’s got it bad, and if Dinniman could “rewind time,” it’s the one thing he’d apparently go back and change.

Why? Well, he recently revealed exactly what happened when he was writing Carl for the first time, and why he would go back and rewrite things if he could. Speaking at DragonCon (via Instagram), he called the AI’s foot fetish “one of the biggest mistakes” he could have possibly made, and it goes all the way back to when he was writing Book One, which was published back in 2020.

Honestly, it’s a really memorable scene in the first book, and one in which the dungeon is still “happening” to Carl before he figured out how to make it work to his advantage. Dinniman said when he was writing, he was simply trying to amuse himself. This has now backfired spectacularly.

To be fair, the AI's response was funny, and also set up Carl's relationship with the AI in an interesting and unexpected way.

Yet, obviously, this has had some major ramifications for the fiction writer. The books are growing and growing in popularity all the time, which means he’s getting more fan mail, and some of it is gnarly to say the least. Unless you have a foot fetish, in which case perhaps you’d be all over moments like these:

The author did not share how often he's getting this sort of "fan" mail, but he feels confident in saying that writing a foot fetish into his popular series has now led to him hating feet. It doesn’t quite sound like podophobia, but it also doesn’t sound like he's happy he went there in Book One, either.

Matt Dinniman's been open in the past about why he made certain DCC decisions, like switching out how he had originally perceived Donut or choosing "coast guard" for Carl. So, getting a BTS story about writing the AI is not wholly unexpected. I think a lot of people are also interested in the AI/Carl relationship and where that is going, myself included. It's a bummer it's had some weird ramifications for the author, but I hope he knows it was not fully in vain, and I hope he's not planning to push to change it when Seth MacFarlane turns his books into a TV series.

Hopefully, this foot-oriented relationship will be heading to the small screen. Casting has started for the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, with Jeff Hays set to reprise Princess Donut from the audiobooks. There's a ton of interest surrounding who could voice the AI specifically (though Seth Green, who I think could be a good fit, has specifically mentioned Mordecai). It's a challenging voice when Hays does it for the audiobook, as it waffles in tone and timbre depending on how over-the-top the AI is feeling in a given moment.

Now, eight books in the AI's weird relationship with Carl has definitely cemented, and it sounds as if it's the bane of the author's existence. So, let this be a warning as Peacock’s upcoming Carl series comes down the pipeline: Please stop sending Matt Dinniman photos of feet in the mail.

If you’ve been watching Reacher since it began streaming in 2022, now in the middle of its fourth season on the 2026 TV schedule, you know Alan Ritchson's title character is a man of few words and even fewer personal belongings. As a matter of fact, as the morally pure hero travels, he carries nothing but a toothbrush, and we now know why thanks to the author behind the popular franchise. ​

In a recent interview with Men’s Journal, Lee Child, the author of the Jack Reacher book series, was asked what is so appealing about a hero unburdened by modernity and the societal expectations placed on men. According to the author:

There you have it. Jack doesn’t care about the next big tech gadget or fancy cars or the coolest new shoes. However, the man takes dental hygiene very seriously; hence, he travels with nothing but his trusty toothbrush.

The stripped-down life the character leads almost feels like a philosophy, which is why Child thought the books would be received as a sort of male fantasy. Living with no attachments and moving from town to town like you’re David Banner of the 1970s Hulk Television series, helping those in need, has a sort of appeal. But it's a bit more difficult than it sounds. The author added:

I tried moving back to a flip phone for a while, until I realized it was nearly impossible to live without a smartphone. How else does someone track their finances these days without the internet at their fingertips? Drive to the nearest bank like some Luddite? I think not. Reacher may be able to travel with nothing but a toothbrush, but I need at least a carry-on.

The first Reacher novel, Killing Floor, was released in 1997, sparking a beloved series that has run for more than 30 entries. Two page-to-screen adaptations starring Tom Cruise, if you ask any fan of the franchise, weren’t very accurate to the books. Still, after a few years to cool off, Amazon stepped in and produced the highly rated streaming series starring Alan Ritchson.

Production on the fifth season is already underway, and the lead star has been sharing BTS content while filming, showing off the bruises and bloodbath he’s endured throughout production. He's even resorted to hilariously sharing proof-of-life videos on social media.

You can catch the beloved hero, roaming town to town with the best of teeth and lending a helping hand when he can, by streaming new episodes of Reacher every Wednesday with an Amazon Prime subscription.

If you can believe it, it's been more than five years since Daniel Craig hung up his tuxedo and holstered his Walther PPK, as his tenure as Jame Bond ended. Though it's been half a decade since our last 007, still waiting on the casting of our next Bond, the plot thickens as Bond 26's writer gets very candid after being asked about casting rumors that have been making the rounds.

It was announced back in February 2025 that the long-running espionage franchise was undergoing major changes as the Broccoli family stepped away and relinquished their longtime hold on the series. Soon after, Amazon-MGM Studios announced it had hired Dune director Denis Villeneuve to direct, with Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight writing the script. In a recent BBC Radio interview, Knight was asked whether, as reported yesterday by Gary Oldman, the next Bond had been picked; he didn't say no. He responded:

That’s definitely not a no. Sure, it's not a yes either. Still, the British screenwriter and director could have easily shut down any confusion on whether or not Oldman’s claims had any merit; instead, he gave a roundabout and sort of cagey response.

And when pressed, if you ask me, he gave an even more telling answer. Asked whether the casting was a good choice, he responded:

Okay, Knight's response has me thinking: Yeah, some young actor probably already got the call and was asked to suit up. I'm betting everything that the screenwriter knows exactly who it is.

In case you missed the coverage, Oldman was interviewed on Global TV’s The Morning Show, and he made it seem like he was pretty certain the next 007 had already been selected and went even further to highlight how much he’s pulling for his Slow Horses co-star, Jack Lowden, to be the next 00 agent. Interestingly, Nina Gold is the casting director for James Bond 26, and she also oversaw casting on Slow Horses. Of course, it's important to remember that nothing has been confirmed about Lowden taking over the role, so don’t expect him to be ordering any vodka martinis, shaken or stirred, just yet.

There have been so many different rumors about which young actors were in the running for Bond ever since Daniel Craig stepped away that I take just about all of them with a massive pinch of salt. Over the last five years, the internet has run wild with speculation about everyone from Aaron Taylor-Johnson being high on the hopeful list to Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, Jacob Elordi, Theo James and more. Producer Amy Pascal announced a casting timeline for Bond 26, saying that by the end of 2026, we might finally learn who the next young star will be to sit behind the wheel of an Aston Martin.

But it does seem as though every other day there is another story making the rounds about a potential casting announcement. Until it's front-page news and announced by MGM/Amazon themselves, I won’t consider anything official. But admittedly, as a lifelong fan of the beloved spy series, it's hard not to get excited by Oldman, and now Knight's response to the lingering question of who the next Bond will be.

Unfortunately, that question still hasn’t been answered, but something tells me we will have our answers before the end of the 2026 movie calendar. Until then, time to revisit all the Bond movies in order, as they’re available to rent or purchase with an Apple TV subscription or Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Eddie Murphy has delivered his fair share of iconic films over the course of his illustrious career. From Trading Places and Coming to America to Shrek and Dolemite Is My Name, he’s more than etched his place within the history of cinema. Of course, his journey as a movie star all began with 1982’s 48 Hrs., which is funny and one of the best buddy cop movies of all time. There are more than a few memorable scenes in the film and, according to the director, Murphy made a decision that saved an iconic moment from being “dull.”

In Walter Hill’s 48 Hrs., Murphy plays the role of wise-cracking convict Reggie Hammond, who is placed in the custody of short-fused cop Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) to help him solve a crime. Hill’s beloved ‘80s film is nearly perfect, though it took some work to get it just right. The director recently attended a screening of the movie at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre, where he also participated in a Q&A., He revealed (via Gold Derby) that Reggie’s introduction wasn’t working until Murphy did something off the cuff:

Reggie comes into the story when Cates visits him in prison to get information on the whereabouts of Albert Ganz, a former associate of the former. As Cates walks down the corridor of prisoner cells, Reggie can be heard belting out the aforementioned hit song from The Police. Considering how iconic that scene is today, it’s hard to believe that song was a last-minute choice. I certainly couldn’t imagine that moment (which is also Murphy’s first scene in any movie) being any other way.

While “Roxanne” may have been perfect, there was some legal red tape that needed to be crossed. After all, the creative team couldn’t just use the catchy tune without any kind of permission. Hill went on to explain the next steps that were taken:

48 Hrs. remains not only one of my favorite Murphy movies but one of my favorite films in general. What’s surprising to me is that it doesn’t even sit on Murphy’s own Mount Rushmore of his movies, which is composed of The Nutty Professor, Shrek, Dreamgirls and Coming to America. For years, people have told stories regarding the moments that solidified Murphy as a superstar, and this latest anecdote from Hill only adds to his legend.

Murphy still isn’t slowing down either, as he’s been working consistently over the past several years. He was even the subject of a documentary, Eddie, which is available to stream with a Netflix subscription. And to think this movie journey all started with that buddy cop flick. I’ll forever be thankful that Murphy made the most of his time working on that movie and as a result, kick-started his fun body of work.

48 Hrs. is available to stream for free on Pluto TV! Also, Eddie Murphy fans should know that the star’s next movie is Shrek 5, which opens on June 30 as part of the 2027 movie schedule.

When acting in a romance movie with intimate content, an actor has to be down with some pretty steamy scenes. This was the case for Adria Arjona and Glen Powell when they signed on for Hit Man, a movie about a fake hit man who falls in love with a target while trying to talk her out of hiring someone to kill her husband. It’s a fun action comedy with a surprising amount of intimate scenes and montages involving Powell and Arjona. That apparently ended up being a whole situation they had to work out logistically, and this meant a lot of Listerine strips.

Netflix has explicit films that top Hit Man in regard to steamy content, but Richard Linklater's flick still offers quite a bit in that regard. Arjona recently sat down with John Feitelberg for his show, Scene Stealers (which is on YouTube) to discuss such scenes between herself and Powell. To make the sheer amount of kissing in the film better for their scene partner, they used minty breath strips. However, I don’t think either of them realized just how many minty breath strips would be needed to keep up with the demand. She said:

That truly can’t be great for the stomach, but who has the time to brush your teeth every time, especially considering almost every scene they shot involved some kind of kissing. Powell knows a thing or two about keeping things sexy, but it sounds like even this production got a bit overly hot and heavy (on camera) for him to handle. I can imagine whatever PA responsible for purchasing the breath strips trying their best to keep up.

Arjona also admitted, her and Powell only really had themselves to blame for the sheer volume of intimate scenes. Powell co-wrote the film with Richard Linklater, and they also gave Arjona a lot of agency in the writing of her own scenes as well. So, even with this creative liberty, they wrote themselves all of these scenes. Arjona spoke to the irony of her and Powell landing themselves in the position:

It sounds like their biggest problem wasn’t the Listerine strips themselves, but the scenes they didn’t quite think through logistically. At the end of the day, I think this ultimately made the script better, because they weren’t thinking about what they wanted to do but what was best for the film.

Powell (who plays Gary Johnson) and Arjona (who plays Madison Figueroa Masters) have insane chemistry in the film, and the scenes aren't salacious for the sake of being salacious. Instead, they help inform their characters and relationship. Hit Man got great reviews from critics and was called one of the sexiest movies in years, so the Listerine strips definitely weren’t in vain.

You can revisit Adria Arjona and Glen Powell in Hit Man, which is currently available to stream with a Netflix subscription. Fans of the actress can also see her in her new film Onslaught, which is currently playing in theaters nationwide. For more information on other exciting titles heading to the big screen this year, make sure to consult the 2026 movie schedule.