Entertainment
10 Saddest Best Picture Oscar Winners of All Time, Ranked
If you work your way through every movie to have won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, you’re inevitably going to encounter a fair few downbeat films. Going back to the earliest Oscar ceremonies, even, you’ve got the likes of Wings and All Quiet on the Western Front, with the former being a romantic melodrama set during World War I, and the latter also being a World War I movie, but a considerably more harrowing one; more dramatic/tragic than melodramatic.
Both kinds of movies can be tearjerkers, or generally sad, so it’s for that reason that some of the movies below are emotionally intense historical dramas, and others don’t tell true stories, but prove moving because of what they deal with and what they explore thematically. It is hard to rank these, since what one finds sad can be subjective, and comparing real-life stories to entirely fictional ones is a little challenging as well, but an attempt was made regardless. Sorry if that attempt makes you sad.
10
‘Ordinary People’ (1980)
It was impressive that Robert Redford won a Best Director Oscar for his first directorial effort, Ordinary People, and the movie also won Best Picture. It is, to put it bluntly, a family drama about grief, because it revolves around the aftermath of a young man’s death, with his parents and now sole surviving brother struggling to maintain any sense of normalcy following such a tragedy.
Raging Bull came out the same year, and might’ve been a more deserving winner, but if that movie had won, it probably wouldn’t be here, since it’s just a whole lot heavier in a kind of empty and despairing way, rather than being a somewhat more approachable tearjerker the way Ordinary People is. It’s still not an easy film to watch, by any means, but it says enough about perseverance and how to grapple with grief to keep it feeling more bittersweet, rather than just outright bitter.
9
‘Casablanca’ (1942)
Good old Casablanca. It’s an honestly difficult to beat film, however you choose to define it, as it does everything a movie of its time could possibly do, and then a little more, somehow. It’s about an apathetic and heartbroken man who, in the early stages of World War II, spends his time in the titular city being generally miserable, but then he’s reconnected with the woman he loves, and finds himself torn between doing what he wants and what is likely right for the greater good.
It does all that with more nuance – or at least care on a writing front – than you might expect for a film of its age. Casablanca hits all the emotional beats it does largely because it’s flawlessly written, and so everything else kind of flows and also excels from there. Out of all the Best Picture winners from the first half of the 20th century, it’s quite possibly the most moving.
8
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
As an epic and an action movie rolled into one, Gladiator ends up being pretty broad and maybe even a bit conventional in terms of the story it tells, but at least it tells that story effectively. It’s essentially a revenge story set during the era of the Roman Empire, but if you’re after strict history, that’s not really what this wants to be about. Some historical figures play a part in the narrative, though the protagonist is fictional.
Much of Gladiator, even with its historical setting, is fictional, which is possibly okay if you’re more after spectacle, action, and a well-paced viewing experience.
Lots of other things are fictional, which is possibly okay if you’re more after spectacle, action, and a well-paced viewing experience. Where it goes emotionally might seem obvious, and not just in hindsight, either, yet it’s all in the execution, like so many movies that work wonders with ideas or narrative beats that, on paper, might not sound all too exciting.
7
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)
You have to admire the ambition here, above anything else, and even if you’re not particularly wild about the movie itself. Everything Everywhere All at Once is the Best Picture winner that fits into the most genres in Oscar history, and it feels like it does so quite comfortably. There’s a good excuse to do that here as well, since Everything Everywhere All at Once is all about the multiverse and differing selves in different universes.
It can jump between being a martial arts movie, an existentialist comedy, and a genuinely touching family drama (plus so many other things) at pretty much any point it wants, and it still feels coherent. Well, coherent in its own way. It’s utter chaos by the standards of any other movie, Best Picture-winning or otherwise, but Everything Everywhere All at Once successfully establishes its own rules then plays by them, all the while proving capable of catching you off-guard with all the emotional scenes because of how playful it is elsewhere. You may well be moved by a pair of rocks sitting in the middle of nowhere, pondering existence and the meaning – or lack thereof – of life. People with sausages for fingers being sad. Is that allowed? In Everything Everywhere All at Once, apparently so. There’s also a Ratatouille spoof that’s hilarious, then heartbreaking, and then hilarious again. It really is an everything kind of movie.
6
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King really gets to hit the ground running, since it’s the third part in a trilogy, and furthermore, it’s not the sort of sequel that was only made because the first movie was successful. The Lord of the Rings was helmed as one huge three-part film, and even if the other two would’ve been worthy Best Picture winners, they were “merely” nominated.
So, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was a big old win for the trilogy as a whole, or at least you can view it that way. Since it concludes everything, it manages to feature many of the most exciting sequences of the whole trilogy, and it’s almost inevitable that you’ll be moved by some aspect of the multi-scene ending (or “epilogue” might be the more accurate word) found here.
5
‘West Side Story’ (1961)
West Side Story might well be the saddest Best Picture winner that’s not based on a true story, or doesn’t have some kind of historical event depicted at its center (like being about a tragic occurrence in history, but with fictional characters taking part). It’s instead a spin on Romeo and Juliet, except set in New York City during the 1950s.
Well, if you want to be technical, that does make it set in the past in a way. And West Side Story is about a gang war that’s supposed to reflect real-world prejudices and conflicts, just not about specific real-world events. Like you’d expect for something that reworks Romeo and Juliet, it’s unbelievably sad, and it’s the sort of thing that doesn’t get any less sad when you’re watching it for, say, the second, third, or fiftieth time.
4
’12 Years a Slave’ (2013)
Based on the memoir of the same name, written by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave is about Northup’s experiences after being kidnapped and sold into slavery between the years of 1841 and 1853. Nothing is sugar-coated and everything is brutal and heavy, all to emphasize the horror of the situation, with the commitment to accuracy throughout much of the film clearly making it all the more harrowing.
It’s one of those Best Picture winners that’s not a nice or cathartic sort of tearjerker. 12 Years a Slave might make you feel more hollow over anything else, but that’s by design, and any sort of different approach likely wouldn’t have had quite the same impact. It’s a movie that’s very much worth watching the one time, and an unsurprisingly difficult one to think about watching again.
3
‘The Deer Hunter’ (1978)
The emphasis on historical accuracy was praised regarding 12 Years a Slave, so some might question the idea of The Deer Hunter also ranking quite high here. It captures the horror of war generally speaking in an impressively devastating manner, especially regarding the psychological impact of it on the soldiers who survive their time in combat, but specifically about the Vietnam War… yes, there are some serious liberties taken.
Maybe that’s okay, to some extent, because The Deer Hunter differs from 12 Years a Slave on account of it being about characters who didn’t literally exist in real life, with the characters here being used to explore possible real-life experiences some U.S. soldiers might have had before, during, and after serving in Vietnam. Also, The Deer Hunter is unapologetically a tragedy in every way, even in the classical sense, so it commits all three hours of its runtime to being about as sad as an American-made Vietnam War movie could possibly be.
2
‘Titanic’ (1997)
See, one of the undeniable things about Titanic is that it’s really not afraid to be a tearjerker. It wants you to care about the central romance, and then it wants you to feel a whole host of emotions when the young people in love – plus so many others – face the inevitable tragedy that is always going to happen in a movie called “Titanic.” It’s not even a spoiler if you know nothing about history, given the opening scenes have the wreck of the Titanic being explored.
With this film, you’ve got an impactful fictional story being told, via the two main characters, and then there’s all the harrowing real-world tragedy of Titanic, and some characters here who are based on actual people. James Cameron found a way to more or less make two emotionally devastating movies in one (and at well over three hours in length, it genuinely doubles the runtime of numerous films out there).
1
‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)
It wouldn’t have been easy to work on Schindler’s List, it’s not easy to watch Schindler’s List, and it’s not easy to talk about Schindler’s List. It has to be that way, though, and it’s comparable in its quality and approach to something like 12 Years a Slave, with both being about horrific times in human history, with Schindler’s List being set during World War II and largely functioning as an exploration of the Holocaust.
In that sense, it’s unflinching, even if it also does attempt to highlight an act of heroism that happened among all the unspeakable horror. If it’s bittersweet, then Schindler’s List is not evenly bitter and sweet, since the horrors inherent to this story are what stick out the most, and what the majority of the film’s runtime is dedicated to… though the contrast, at least by the end, does ensure the movie is sad in a variety of ways. It’s got the time to hit you on more than a few emotional fronts, too, since Schindler’s List is also quite a long film.
Schindler’s List
- Release Date
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December 15, 1993
- Runtime
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195 Minutes
- Writers
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Thomas Keneally, Steven Zaillian
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Prince William has kept his late mother, Princess Diana, close to his heart in the decades since her tragic death.
“Remembering my mother, today and every day,” William, 43, wrote via social media on Sunday, March 15. “Thinking of all those who are remembering someone they love today. Happy Mother’s Day.”
Mother’s Day is celebrated across the United Kingdom in March. For the Prince of Wales, he marked the occasion with a rare family photo.
In the upload, Diana wore a pink sweater as she played with a toddler-aged William in a rose-filled field. The image is reportedly from William’s “private collection,” according to royal reporter Rebecca English.
“This picture is from Prince William’s private collection and is not believed to have been seen before,” Daily Mail columnist English tweeted. “He was aged 2 when it was taken.”
Diana tragically died in an August 1997 car crash when she was 36. She is survived by sons William and Prince Harry, who were 15 and 12 at the time. (Diana shared her children with her ex-husband, King Charles III.)
In the years since her death, William and Harry have both honored her legacy.
“I have taken some guidance from what my mother did,” William, for his part, said in his We Can End Homelessness documentary in 2024. “When I was very small my mother started talking about homelessness, much like I do now with my children on the school run.”
William, who shares three kids with wife Princess Kate Middleton, further recalled how Diana would take both him and his brother to visit local shelters.
“When you’re [that] small, you’re curious, and you’re kind of trying to work out what’s going on,” he said of the experience. “You just ask the question, like, ‘Well, why are they sitting there?’ And my mother would talk to us a bit about why they were there. It definitely had a really big impact.”
According to William, he was particularly “anxious” the first time Diana took him to London’s The Passage charity.
“I’d never been to anything like that before and I was a bit anxious as to what to expect,” he said in the doc. “My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed and having a laugh and joking with everyone.”
Princess Diana in 1988. PATRICK RIVIERE / AFP
In addition to William’s poignant Mother’s Day tribute, the official royal family X account also honored the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, her mother and Queen Camilla on Sunday.
“Wishing Mothers everywhere, and those who might be missing their Mums today, a restful Mothering Sunday,” a social media statement read, alongside throwback family portraits.
Entertainment
Zendaya crashes couple's Las Vegas wedding to serve as official witness amid Tom Holland marriage rumors
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Here comes the… wedding witness.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is considered one of the most revolutionary shows in television, and rightfully so: it ushered in a new era of quippy genre superheroism, essentially paving the way for the later rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On top of its whip-smart writing, the show was also filled with amazing and hilarious characters that you couldn’t help but love. This included Cordelia Chase: she was written to be a vapid mean girl, but fans loved her so much that she helped launch Angel, Buffy’s very successful spinoff.
However, if the Buffy producers hadn’t dubbed over a line from one of the show’s most infamous episodes, Cordelia wouldn’t have been such a fan-favorite; in fact, she would have been canceled altogether! The episode in question is “Go Fish,” which has a scene in which Cordelia makes fun of the idea that all humans are inherently equal. That’s bad enough, but in a line eventually dubbed over, she appeared to defend the practice of slavery!
Cordelia Like You’ve Never Seen Her Before
In “Go Fish,” Buffy and her friends have several run-ins with Sunnydale High School’s swim team, who seem especially aggro (even by the standards of jocks). It turns out that their coach has been giving these athletes something much worse than steroids: he and a crazy nurse have altered these swimmers’ DNA, which periodically transforms them into gill monsters straight out of Creature From the Black Lagoon. Eventually, the monstrous team kills both the nurse and their coach; most of them (including a recently transformed Xander) are given healing treatments, while the swimmers past the point of no return swim out to the ocean, their humanity fully lost.
Relatively speaking, Cordelia doesn’t play a major role in “Go Fish,” but she does have a memorable exchange with Willow and Xander. Willow (who has been teaching the computer science class after Jenny Calendar’s death) complains about a student asking her to change his grade, which Xander gripes is “wrong” because “It’s a slap in the face to every one of us that worked hard and studied long hours to earn our D’s.” That’s when Cordelia mocks Xander for “being the voice of the common wuss” and archly tells him that “certain people are entitled to special privileges. They’re called winners. That’s the way the world works.”
Cordelia Nearly Got Canceled
Instead of backing down, Xander asks her “about that nutty ‘all men are created equal’ thing,” which she deems “Propaganda spouted by the ugly and less deserving.” Xander says he thinks Lincoln said that, and after Cordelia insults Lincoln’s appearance, Willow clarifies that the quote came from Thomas Jefferson. Cordelia replies, “Kept slaves, remember?” But if you watch the screen carefully at this moment, you will see that her lips keep moving after she finished talking.
That’s because actor Charisma Carpenter had to redub her original dialogue. When filming the episode, she originally said, “Kept slaves. Got any more?” The script says that she poses this question as “a challenge,” which may imply she was challenging Willow to produce more factoids about Jefferson, or maybe challenging her friends to cite more problematic people who spouted virtuous things. However, I believe the line was dubbed over for a more sinister reason: the producers realized that it sounded as if Cordelia was actually supporting slavery.
Asking “got any more?” after mentioning that Jefferson “owned slaves” may have made the audience think that Cordelia wanted to have slaves of her own. That might sound crazy, but keep in mind that she is a spoiled rich girl (daddy hasn’t been busted for tax fraud yet) who likely did have the modern equivalent of servants helping around her house. Plus, it’s far easier to believe that Cordelia was making a pro-slavery comment when her previous dialogue had her openly mocking the idea that everyone is created equally.
The Producers Quietly Saved This Fan-Favorite Character
By having Charisma Carpenter redub the line, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer producers removed the challenge from her voice; now, she simply reminds everyone that Thomas Jefferson was a bad man who owned slaves. This helps make Cordelia’s prickly mean girl a far more tolerable character and keeps her from getting canceled by the fandom. Which is good, because it would only be a little over a year later that Cordelia departs Sunnydale to go start a new life in Los Angeles as part of the Angel spinoff, whose titular hero she helps solve cases and fight crimes.
“Go Fish” is already an infamous episode because the fish monsters nearly assault Buffy in a very intimate way while the coach leeringly says, “boys have other needs.” Fortunately, this Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode dodged another scandal by redubbing a line that would have made Cordelia Chase a fan of slavery. Now, without that problematic dialogue, we can enjoy Cordelia for who she really is: the head b*tch in charge of any situation who isn’t afraid to put fellow students in their place!
Even though Don Toliver released his latest album, “OCTANE,” in early 2026, he’s already got his mind on the next project. During a recent interview, the “Body” rapper discussed the transformation he’s undergone since releasing the 18-track project, why being in the studio at this moment is important to him, and his collaboration with Justin Timberlake.
Don Toliver Opens Up About Working On His Next Album Just Weeks After The Release Of ‘OCTANE’
Speaking with Billboard, Toliver revealed that he’s already been in the recording booth working on his next project. For those who may be unaware, “OCTANE,” which features hits “Gemstones” and “ATM,” was released in January 2026 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 162,000 equivalent units.
During the conversation, Toliver said that the rush to make new music stems from his genuine connection with the process. The 31-year-old further shared that capturing what he’s currently experiencing is paramount to him.
“To be honest, bro, I just realized within myself that I just love music and I just feel like right now if I don’t put out anything, I just need to capture this moment because it’s a lot going on in my life when I was making this album and when it came out and it’s just fueling me to be as creative as I can possibly be,” he said.
How Don Toliver Ended Up With A Justin Timberlake Sample On His Album
Elsewhere in the interview, Toliver discussed his hit single “Body,” which includes a sample from early-2000s icon Justin Timberlake. Toliver explained that, growing up, he often listened to Y2K stars like Pharrell and Outkast with his mother, creating lasting memories.
“I got a lot of fond memories of that. Justin Timberlake is always one of my favorites. ‘Justified,’ that album is literally in my top 10 favorite albums of all time,” Toliver shared.
Unfortunately, though, mixing his single with Timberlake’s 2002 single “Rock Your Body” wasn’t as sentimental as it may sound. “I didn’t think that deep into it,” said Toliver.
“As I sat with it for like a week, I was like, ‘Hold on, this is literally one of my favorite songs of all-time.’ ‘Rock Your Body’ is one of those songs that triggers an endorphin in my body. To put those two together was so iconic for me,” he added.
Don Toliver Opens Up About His Relationship With Rapper Travis Scott
“OCTANE” also featured rapper Travis Scott, one of Toliver’s longtime friends and music mentors. In a previous interview, Toliver shared the story of how the two met, explaining that Scott appeared at one of his shows after he’d been hustling to make a name for himself as an underground artist.
Safe to say, Scott means the world to Toliver, who told Billboard that he tries to keep their relationship as far from music as possible. “At the end of the day, we are human beings,” he said.
And when it came time to record his part for “OCTANE,” Toliver said he just wanted Scott to understand his “journey” through the music.
“He just caught a vibe for ‘Rosary,’ and he understood my idea for it. It was crazy, I really love his verse on the song,” he continued.
Toliver Describes The Mood Of His Latest Album
For those who might not have heard Toliver’s “OCTANE,” the father of one opened up about the inspiration behind the project during an interview with VIBE.
“The inspiration behind the title is another phrase for more fuel consumption. It’s really what it is,” he said. “It started out being about luxury vehicles and what I want to say about camping or outdoor living. With that, there are a lot of people who camp at night. The cars and nature are where this album began for me. I wanted it to be a luxury outdoor living experience where I could connect through a studio out there.”
As he continued, Toliver described the “mood” of the project, calling it “an experience” that gives him a lot of energy.
“The vibe of it just feels very adventurous when I listen to it. It just makes me want to start my day. When I get in my car and play the record, it makes me want to just go wherever I need to go,” he continued, adding that it puts him in a “‘Mission Impossible’ mindset.”
Speaking Of Mission…
Speaking of his mission, Toliver shared what he hopes to accomplish as a performer.
“To be one of the greatest artists to ever live is honestly my end goal. Of course, it’s to be successful in whatever I do within this, but more so, just to be pronounced as one of the best. I’m fine with that,” he said.
Few actors in Hollywood history have made an impact as grand and important as Jack Nicholson. One of the only actors to have won three Academy Awards, with two coming for Best Actor and a third for Best Supporting Actor, Nicholson’s filmography reads like a watchlist for anyone seeking the very best cinema. From frightening generations of audiences as Jack Torrence in The Shining and stealing every scene in The Departed to his magnum opus in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, there is no one else quite like Nicholson.
One of Nicholson’s more underrated movies arrived back in 2007, as he starred alongside fellow Hollywood icon Morgan Freeman in The Bucket List. Although many assume the movie is inspired by the famous phrase, few know that the reverse is, in fact, true, with the phrase coined courtesy of this underrated gem. Invented by screenwriter Justin Zackham as a twist on the idiom “kick the bucket,” the bucket list was integral to the story at the heart of this film, which follows two men who, against doctors’ advice, leave the hospital to head on an adventure to achieve their life’s goals before they die.
A heartfelt story sure to bring light to your life, The Bucket List is sadly about to lose its place on the biggest streamer in the world. As of April 1, The Bucket List will no longer be available to stream on Netflix. At the time of its release, the film wasn’t as adored as it is today, with critics only awarding the film a disappointing 40% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus on the site reads, “Not even the earnest performances of the two leads can rescue The Bucket List from its schmaltzy script.”
Strap on Your Hockey Masks; It’s Friday the 13th — The Collider Movie Quiz!
Because today is Friday the 13th, let’s march our way through the iconic slasher franchise. Ch-ch-ch-ch. Ha-ha-ha-ha.
‘The Bucket List’ Is One of Many Netflix Departures
As is customary at the start of any month, a batch of titles must make space for the newest arrivals on Netflix. Joining The Bucket List in leaving the streamer on April 1 are the likes of the late Rob Reiner‘s genius chiller Misery, the musical comedy Pitch Perfect, Kathryn Bigelow‘s political thriller Zero Dark Thirty, the Matt Damon-led Elysium, the animated effort Rio and its sequel, the fast-paced racing biopic Ford v Ferrari, and others.
The Bucket List is leaving Netflix this April. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
- Release Date
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December 25, 2007
- Runtime
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97 minutes
Roommates, Blueface has the internet popping off with reactions after he stepped in the ring with streamer Chibu at Adin Ross’ Brand Risk event in Miami on Saturday, March 14. The card featured several influencer and streamer matchups, but viewers were locked in on Blue and Chibu. Now that the fight is over, folks online are sounding off about the judges’ unanimous decision on the winner.
RELATED: Whew! Social Media Is Goin’ IN On Clips Of Blueface Showin’ Off His Boxing Jabs (WATCH)
Blueface’s & Chibu’s Fight Has The Internet Buzzin’
Clips from Blueface and Chibu’s fight are taking over timelines. One viral moment that has everyone talking is when Chibu appeared to knock Blue out of the ring. Blue said it was a push, but viewers aren’t buying it — they are standing ten toes down on the fact that Chibu knocked him down. Chibu landed a few more hits, and the judges unanimously called him the winner. Fans are split on the decision, while others believe Blue was robbed.
@clipsourceex The MOMENT Blueface REGRET Fighting Infront 500k Live Viewers After getting Embarrassed 😳🥊 #adinross ♬ In Essence (Slowed) – Ka$tro
The Internet Can’t Agree On Who Really Won The Fight
Folks in The Shade Room’s comment section kept going back and forth, debating who they think really won the fight.
Instagram user @ooohletstalkaboutit wrote, “Blueface lost that fight. That man punches were landing. And he boxed him out, the ring not pushed.”
Instagram user @forever_cocoa23 wrote, “The ones saying he won what fight were they watching. The man got knocked out the ring 🥴”
While Instagram user @napoleonsledge wrote, “He won the whole fight. Real talk 💯 he got robbed.”
Another Instagram user @thatgirlhennyreviews wrote, “Lies .. blue did not win that fight. How you win and you got knocked out the ring.”
Then Instagram user @getsauceee wrote, “I like Blueface but he needed to be humbled.”
Instagram user @a.peculiar.ppl wrote, “Chibu whoooed Blue…I was surprised but he definitely did.”
While another Instagram user @uniquely__yourz wrote, “Y’all cut the shhhhh Blueface lost! Chibu was rocking that dome!!!”
Then another Instagram user @uwahtiiyf wrote, “He lost fair and square 😂😂😂”
Finally, Instagram user @mrs_remix wrote, “Once you get knocked out the ring you Lose😂”
Blue Speaks On Unanimous Decision
Right after the fight, Blueface jumped on his stream to talk about losing to Chibu. He told fans he planned to watch the fight again to see who actually landed more punches. “It’s not about how you win, it’s how you lose.” The rapper continued, “We’re going to watch the fight back and see who landed more punches.”
@clipzsisters Blueface After Losing To Chibu in Boxing match #blueface #chibu #bluefacebaby #fyp #viral ♬ original sound – ClipzSisters
RELATED: It’s A What? Blueface & Nevaeh Akira Reveal Their Baby’s Gender & Name During Livestream Celebration (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Starfleet Academy proved to be a very controversial Star Trek show when it first launched, but the show has won fans over with several healthy doses of nostalgia bait. This includes an entire episode dedicated to Captain Sisko and multiple episodes that follow up on Voyager storylines like the Doctor’s daughter and the Omega molecule. Arguably, though, the most popular bit of nostalgia bait is the relationship between Caleb and Tarima, one which echoes the most famous Star Trek relationship of them all.
Caleb is a tall, hunky human and future captain, while Tarima is a powerful Betazed mind reader and the daughter of a powerful family. To many fans of The Next Generation, this is a clear echo of the relationship between William Riker (the first captain of the Federation flagship Enterprise) and Deanna Troi (the Betazed ship’s counselor who dated him many years ago). However, what you may not realize is that Starfleet Academy’s best relationship echoes a pairing created for the franchise’s worst movie: Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
It’s Not Just A Phase
Despite multiple fan campaigns saving the show from earlier cancellation, Star Trek: The Original Series ended after only three seasons. However, the show proved popular with college students during syndication, leading to Trek getting its own animated series. With the franchise in the popular zeitgeist once more, Paramount and Trek creator Gene Roddenberry teamed up in 1977 to work on Star Trek: Phase II, a live-action spinoff of The Original Series.
Various deals fell through, and the immense success of Star Wars meant that Phase II got scrapped, and its creative DNA was cannibalized for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. That movie brought in two characters originally created for the canceled show: Will Decker, the ambitious human first officer, and Ilia, the exotic alien who can read minds (sort of). While the film offered an abbreviated version of their relationship, the Phase II writers had created an elaborate backstory about how they fell in love when they were younger, but Decker called things off to pursue his career; tension rises years later when they are stationed on the Enterprise.
Imzadi: Star Trek’s Cutest Couple
If that sounds familiar, it should: Decker and Ilia were the template that would become Riker and Troi. Riker, like Decker, was a handsome and confident human Starfleet officer who put his career first. Troi, like Ilia, had special mental abilities and came from a race of sexually liberated aliens. Riker and Troi also had a shared romantic history, one they had to navigate throughout the entirety of The Next Generation before getting married in Star Trek: Nemesis.
In Starfleet Academy, Caleb and Tarima are the latest iteration of this idea: he’s the gifted human cadet with no shortage of confidence, and she’s the Betazoid princess who falls in love with him. From the beginning of their relationship, fans have clocked that this was clearly an homage to Riker and Troi. It certainly didn’t escape the notice of Riker actor Jonathan Frakes, who (as reported by ScreenRant) told Caleb actor Sandro Rosta, “You’re dating a Betazoid princess…You’re a lucky man. I know what it’s like.”
Young, Dumb, And Full Of Numb
Obviously, this fan-favorite Starfleet Academy relationship wouldn’t exist without Riker and Troi from The Next Generation, and those characters wouldn’t have existed without Decker and Ilia, who made their onscreen debut in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Many hated this movie, calling it “the motionless picture” and declaring it the worst in the franchise. There’s some galaxy-sized irony for you, though: the worst Star Trek movie just inspired the best thing about the latest Star Trek spinoff!
Entertainment
Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers reflect on “Reminders of Him ”reunion: 'Such a human moment'
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The stars, as well as director Vanessa Caswill and author and co-screenwriter Colleen Hoover, dig deep into Kenna’s long-awaited reunion with her and Scotty’s daughter.
Young Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) wants to prove his worthiness to his father, Njohrr (Reuben de Jong), who thinks he doesn’t have what it takes to be an alpha predator. That’s why he travels to the “death planet” Genna to slay a supposedly unkillable beast, Kalisk. But he soon finds himself way over his head, and he’ll need the help of an unlikely ally, the damaged android Thia (Elle Fanning), to survive. With Thia by his side, can Dek kill Kalisk and win his father’s approval?
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the architect behind the rebooted Predator films Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, Predator: Badlands is arguably the best movie in the long-running franchise. Instead of a muscle-bound human protagonist, the film commits to centering on the physically slight Dek, who shows emotions every human can relate to — frustration, fear, anger and, yes, even love.
The film’s not-so-secret ingredient is Fanning’s friendly, peppy android, who makes Dek a better predator by showing him his heart. (Not literally — I have to add that due to the nature of this movie.) Badlands is the rare franchise movie that improves on what came before it and makes you excited for what’s next. (Marvel, please take notes.)
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Spring is typically about pinks, yellows and greens, but not this year! Everyone’s wearing cool, baby blue — and if they’re not, they’re buying it. Pinterest predicted ‘cool blue’ as a top trend in 2026, and it’s already coming true. As more fashionistas vie for the aesthetic, we found 13 pieces that nail the trend perfectly.
These chic blouses, dresses, totes and more are as classy as they are trendy, so you’ll look like a rich mom wherever you wear them. Equally polished and fun, they’ll earn first-pick status in your wardrobe all spring. Better yet, the color flatters every skin tone. From wardrobe staples to finishing-touch accessories, these picks make it easy to incorporate the trend.
Pastel Blue Fashion Pieces to Nail the Spring Trend
Our Favorite: This boho maxi skirt is the kind of flowy that feels like sweats. People will think you found it at a Hamptons boutique.
2. Country Club Class: Need something dressier than a tee but cooler than a sweater? This cable-knit top splits the difference.
3. Office-Friendly: These wide-leg trousers have an elasticized waist that keeps things comfortable through a full workday. They read polished and current.
4. Stretchy Chic: Simple and stunning, this V-neck sweater has a refined cut that elevates even jeans. The pastel hue adds a fresh spring feel.
5. Cute Crescent: Your new favorite accessory just entered the chat. This leather-looking shoulder bag has that trendy curved shape we keep seeing.
6. Everyday Outfit: Running errands, grabbing lunch and school pickup. This casual midi dress handles it all in style, and the pockets actually fit your phone.
7. CEO Vibes: Pair this puff-sleeve top with high-waist trousers and you’ve got an outfit that commands a room. The sleeves keep it interesting without being fussy.
8. Palazzo Princess: Packing for vacation gets easier with these linen-blend palazzo pants. The breezy fit works for the beach, dinner and everything in between.
9. Sassy Sneakers: Want to follow the spring sneaker trend, too? Jessica Alba and Hailey Bieber reach for these New Balance sneakers, and we’re obsessed with the blue and indigo version.
10. Royal Style: Looking royal doesn’t cost a fortune. This pussy-bow blouse is eerily similar to one Kate Middleton wore in pink, and it’s under $20.
11. Could Be Designer: Carry this top-handle tote to work or lunch and people will assume it’s designer. It looks like Gisele Bündchen‘s Naghedi, but for a fraction of the price.
12. Silky Satin: Baby blue and satin are a match made in fashion heaven. This midi skirt has a shiny hue that catches the light perfectly.
13. Luxe Alert: Eyelet detailing gives this V-neck maxi dress a textured, high-end look you rarely find outside of Saks. Short sleeves and a clean neckline keep the silhouette sharp.
You can have too many shoes, sweaters and dresses, but you can’t have too many cute blouses. As if we need another reason to shop, spring is practically here, making a wardrobe refresh essential. These 13 chic boutique-like blouses go above and beyond, transforming your closet from dull to luxe. Nobody would ever know they’re […]
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