Agatha Christie is among the best detective writers to ever live, whose works still amuse fans worldwide. Dubbed ‘The Queen of Crime,’ her stories are known for their surprising twists and beloved sleuths. Every generation of filmmakers has tried to interpret her works on the big screen, which makes for a very interesting watch. A Murder on Orient Express, The Mirror Crack’d, Appointment with Death, and more are beloved classics enjoyed by fans worldwide.

In recent memory, Kenneth Branagh’s adaptations are widely known among fans. The actor-director’s portrayal of Hercule Poirot is beloved and introduces a new generation to Christie’s timeless work. His three-part franchise includes Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and A Haunting in Venice. With different ensembles in each feature, his versions of the classic stories are visually rich, thrilling, and keep the audience glued to their seats. And now one of the movies in the franchise just got more accessible.

The latest feature in the trilogy, A Haunting in Venice, has found a new home on Hulu. The feature is widely considered the best in the trilogy for its atmosphere, supernatural elements, and Gothic Horror aesthetic. It’s the perfect opportunity for fans who’d love to rewatch the feature or catch up to it.

Related

Lights, Camera, Retraction — The Collider Movie Quiz!

Sometimes actors quit; other times they’re fired. On this first day of spring, we’re recalling some famous roles that got a fresh start with a recast.

What’s ‘A Haunting in Venice’ About?

A Haunting in Venice finds self-exiled, retired Poirot living in Venice. Things take a turn when he’s persuaded by a friend to attend a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. He gets thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets when one of the guests is murdered. The film is unarguably the best in the trilogy, thanks to its impressive visuals, stylish direction, and strong ensemble performances. It has a 76 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from both fans and critics, but is the lowest earning in the trilogy at $122.3 million.

The movie also has a brilliant cast, including Tina Fey as Poirot’s friend Ariadne Oliver, Michelle Yeoh as world-famous medium Joyce Reynolds, Jamie Dornan as war doctor Leslie Ferrier, Kelly Reilly as palazzo owner Rowena Drake, and Jude Hill as Leopold Ferrier, the doctor’s precocious young son. What makes the movie stand apart in the trilogy is the seamless blending of supernatural with the whodunit format. Furthermore, it strays from its predecessors in tone and style, which viewers appreciated.

A Haunting in Venice drops on Hulu on April 30. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

September 13, 2023

Runtime

Advertisement

104 minutes

Writers

Michael Green

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

After weeks of speculation around when Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chloé Zhao’s reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, would finally premiere, the Slayer herself was forced to post an Instagram reel to tell Scoobies all over the world that the project would no longer be moving forward with Hulu.

With new and original Buffy fans alike, eager to revisit the Hellmouth with a Gen Z Slayer, this announcement really felt like a stake through the heart at a time when seeing someone fight the good fight is so desperately needed. Hulu’s decision to cancel the new Buffy project is particularly puzzling. The fans were vocal and dedicated, it was being made by an Oscar-winning director and the original star, and it’s golden IP for the company. So what went wrong?

Hulu’s ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Reboot Plans Started Off Strong

New Sunnydale was the first Buffy project since the original series premiered in 1997 to involve Sarah Michelle Gellar, giving it a sense of legitimacy and success even with just a pilot order. In interviews, Gellar made clear that her decision to return to the role was closely tied to the creative leadership of Chloé Zhao, whose latest film Hamnet was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. Zhao calls herself a fierce, long-term fan of Buffy, and her stewardship of the series away from creator Joss Whedon had Gellar surprisingly saying yes. With two huge names at the center, the Buffy revival quickly snowballed, gathering a wealth of fan support. At a time when Hulu executives were commissioning a wave of successful revivals from the same era, including Scrubs and Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Just Unfair, Buffy seemed like a guaranteed win.

Related

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Reboot’s Star Breaks Her Silence on the Show’s Cancellation

The reboot was first reported in early 2025.

Advertisement

There has been a continuous appetite for Sunnydale since Season 7 ended in May 2003 and audience engagement was matched by a visible push from Gellar herself. She used social media to build excitement, sharing updates from development and even posting the Zoom call where she introduced the new Slayer, Ryan Kiera Armstrong. Known for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Armstrong, aged 16, represented a clear generational handover, while Gellar’s return as Buffy provided a strong hook. Additional casting, including The Studio’s Chase Sui Wonders in a guest role and Sarah Bock from Severance, made the project all the more enticing. By the time the pilot finished filming in Los Angeles in August 2025, the revival had already generated significant buzz. A release window in late 2026 or early 2027 was expected, and it seemed to be moving forward with confidence. That is what made the announcement on March 14 feel so unexpected.

Hulu Shouldn’t Have Cancelled ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale’

The cancellation of New Sunnydale unfolded in a way that only deepens this sense of confusion. According to Gellar in an interview with People, Craig Erwich, President of the Disney Television Group and head of Hulu Originals, called to say the project would not be moving forward. Gellar was attending her first SXSW and was about to head on stage to promote Ready or Not 2 and had been answering questions about the revival in press interviews at the festival. Director Chloé Zhao was ready to attend the Oscars that same weekend. Gellar pointed to the timing, noting that the news arrived on “what should have been Chloe’s victory lap for an incredible film and my world premiere of something that I worked very hard on,” adding, “that says something.” The sense that the announcement overshadowed what should have been a major professional weekend for both women has now become a big part of how the project will be remembered.

Gellar stated that one executive had been a consistent obstacle, describing them as someone who “was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that [they] had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for [them].” That dynamic, she suggested, shaped the development process from the beginning, creating an “uphill battle.” This executive has since been identified in reports from Variety as newly-promoted Craig Erwich, raising further questions about how a project built on such a well-known and widely loved property could be overseen by someone openly dismissive of it. The reaction from fans was immediate and intense. Petitions began circulating, videos appeared across social platforms, and there were visible efforts to push for the show’s return. Gellar said she had been reading all the responses, including messages from David Boreanaz, who played her love interest Angel on the original show.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale seemed to have it all: meaningful creative buy-in and sustained audience demand. Gellar’s return alone marked a major shift for the franchise, and Zhao’s involvement brought a level of attention and care. For now, the future of Buffy remains uncertain. The intellectual property is still held by Disney, and there have been suggestions that another version could emerge, but New Sunnydale has been slain. However, as Gellar put it to People, Buffy’s “legacy is still there” and the cancelation does not take that way.

Courtney Stodden is using her platform to share a deeply personal message, and it’s resonating. The reality star and media personality took to Instagram this week with a pair of posts, offering raw reflections on her past, women’s rights, and the ongoing fight for autonomy. From opening up about her controversial teenage marriage to calling out systemic issues affecting women, Courtney Stodden’s words are sparking conversation online.

Courtney Stodden Shares Powerful Message On Women’s Strength

In a Thursday post, Stodden posed in a moss green bra top and leggings, pairing the image with a message centered on resilience and survival. “They tried to turn us into something small. Something quiet. Something owned. But women have always been fighters,” she began. “Before we had voices, we whispered. Before we had rights, we resisted. Before we had protection, we protected each other.”

She continued with a deeply personal tone, writing, “This is for every woman who survived what was meant to break her. Every girl who was forced to grow up too fast. Every survivor of abuse. Every child bride who deserved a childhood instead of a contract.”

Reflecting On Her Past As A Teen Bride

Stodden’s message carries added weight given her own history. In 2011, at just 16 years old, she married 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison, a relationship that sparked widespread controversy at the time. The couple later divorced, remarried when she was 19, and eventually split again.

Her latest post appears to directly address that chapter of her life, as she continues to reclaim her narrative and speak out about the experience.

Advertisement

As her post continued, Stodden made it clear she is no longer defined by her past or by how others have perceived her. “We come from women who fought so little girls wouldn’t be treated like property. We come from women who demanded laws change so our bodies would belong to us,” she said. “And we are STILL fighting. I am not a product. I am not a possession. I am not a story for someone else to control. I am a woman who lived through it and chose to rise anyway.”

She closed the post with a message of empowerment aimed directly at her followers. “To every woman reading this: your survival is power, your voice is revolution, your existence is resistance,” Stodden expressed. “And we are not done yet.”

Women’s History Month Post Takes Aim At Marilyn Monroe Narrative

Stodden also used a separate post tied to Women’s History Month to reflect on the treatment of women in the spotlight, drawing comparisons to Marilyn Monroe.

“Women’s HERSTORY month. Before the image… there was a girl. They turned her into a symbol. Blonde. Beautiful. Broken,” she wrote. “But Marilyn Monroe was more than what they sold to the world. She was a girl who was married at 16. A child forced to grow up inside a system that profited off her before she even had the chance to understand it.”

Stodden added. “She was used even in death. Those photos that helped build an empire? She wasn’t paid for them. Let that sit. She was waking up. You can see it in her later interviews. In the way she started questioning everything that once defined her. She was so close to reclaiming herself. And then she didn’t get the chance. That’s the part people avoid.”

Advertisement

Drawing Parallels Between Her Story And Other Women

Stodden didn’t stop at Monroe, expanding her message to include broader commentary on how women, particularly those in the public eye, are treated.

The model then asked, “How many women almost made it back to themselves before the world swallowed them whole? I don’t just see her. I recognize her. Because I was a child too. Because I know what it feels like to have your image turned into something that was never yours to begin with.”

She added, “And even now there are pieces of me that people are still trying to control.”

Advertisement

Courtney Stodden Opens Up On Painful Past And Reclaiming Her Story

She continued by addressing the lasting impact of her early experiences and how they’ve shaped her perspective today. “Parts of my story from a time when I was too young to have control over what was happening,” she said. “This is what people don’t understand: we were never the joke. We were the warning. Women like her. Women like Anna Nicole.”

“Women like so many of us. We weren’t given time… We weren’t given protection,” she added. “But we are still here. And this time we are telling our own story.”

PETA Campaign Adds To Stodden’s Ongoing Advocacy

Stodden’s latest posts come just days after she made another bold statement, this time through a striking campaign with PETA.

In the eye-catching ad, Stodden appears covered in what looks like black liquid, a visual meant to symbolize the suffering animals endure in the production of leather. Behind her, leather jackets are displayed on mannequins alongside the message, “Leather is a dirty business.” The campaign aims to draw attention to what the organization describes as the hidden cruelty within the leather industry.

Young and the Restless spoilers for next week include somebody begging Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) and Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters) lashing out over her marriage imploding thanks to The Mustache.

So, we’re going to talk about Noah Newman (Lucas Adams), Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), and Adam Newman (Mark Grossman). Also, Sharon and Christine Williams (Lauralee Bell), plus Diane and Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk), and also Riza Thompson (Tina Casciani) and Adam. Let’s start with Noah and Nick Newman, though.

Noah Taunts Matt Clark on Young and the Restless

So, at the end of this short week on Young and the Restless that ended with back-to-back preemptions for basketball, we had Sharon Newman updating Noah and Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) that Nick and Adam had landed in Vegas. And Sharon is quite worried about Nick and Adam’s plan.

And Sharon also seems worried about Noah canoodling with a woman who is his mother’s age. I just—I don’t see this lasting. And I’ve mentioned this before, but those two actors, Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun, recently played mother and son on Days. And so that’s what I see when I look at them, and other people that watch it are like just because that’s what you know them as if you watch that other soap.

Matt’s Connection to Riza on Y&R

So, Sienna talked to Sharon and Noah about Matt Clark’s (Roger Howarth) past with Riza in Las Vegas. Sienna suspected it was an affair and Sharon and Noah talked to Sienna about that none of them can let their guard down because Matt could be anywhere and they’re right. I suspect that he is in Genoa City and he’s ready to pounce while Nick and Adam are on what could be a dangerous wild goose chase in Las Vegas.

So Noah gets another nasty text from Matt and then Noah texts back calling Matt a coward and he’s saying things to try and lure him out of hiding, you know, insults and provocation. Sienna doesn’t think it’s a good idea to taunt Matt like that and I tend to agree.

Adam and Nick in Vegas on Young and the Restless

Meanwhile, Adam and Nick check into their suite in Vegas. The brothers Newman are bunking together. Adam wants them to keep a low profile, and Nick isn’t liking this. And I think again, that’s back to the fentanyl. So, Adam is really on edge. He hasn’t been back to Vegas, I guess, since he was Spyder the Card Shark.

And Nick is wondering if Adam is up for it. And Nick says, “I understand if you want to pack up and just go back home, Adam.” But he thinks that Nick’s trying to get rid of him. And yeah, I bet because Nick may be nervous about sharing a suite with Adam since Nick is popping illegal fentanyl like they are Tic Tacs and probably needs to go score some more illegal opioids.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Adam & Nick Clash

Adam is there to find Riza, who he knows from his Spyder days in Vegas. And Nick wouldn’t be able to contact her. She’s hard to reach. And Adam also warned Nick that Riza can be dangerous. But Nick thinks, of course, that he can handle her. And Adam has a plan that involves Nick lying low because you know he’s a hothead.

And of course he tells Adam that won’t happen. But he does try to chill out his hothead brother Nick. And then Adam works on setting up a meeting with Riza. He makes some calls, leaves her a message, and Nick updates Sharon who is also kind of worried about Adam. But really Nick is the problem. I think we all can agree on that.

Riza Holds Adam at Gunpoint on Y&R

So, in next week’s Young and the Restless spoilers, lots of Newman action. Nick leaves Adam alone and heads down to the casino to call Noah because, you know, casinos are always a nice quiet place to make phone calls. And Nick tells Noah they have not found Matt yet.

But Nick says Adam’s making the connections to make it happen. But Nick doesn’t know yet that things have gone sideways for Adam. Because while Nick was down there staring at the slot machines, you know, Riza finds Adam, not the other way around.

And Riza holds Adam at gunpoint and he’s joking about expecting a warmer welcome, but Rizza is suspicious. She wants Adam’s hands on his head and he’s like, “Really?” And Riza means it and demands that Adam do it right now.

So, next week we’ll find out if Riza hauls Adam out of the hotel at gunpoint or if Nick is going to come back and see Riza with a gun and respond like a drugged out hothead and, you know, tries to pounce on her and wrestle it away from her. I do suspect that Riza’s loyalties lie entirely with Matt Clark.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Christine Begs Sharon for Help with Mariah

Also, in next week’s spoilers, Sharon meets with Christine and begging is involved. So, she wanted to meet with Sharon alone and that’s so Christine could beg for Sharon’s help with Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes). And I’m wondering if Christine wants Sharon to talk some sense into Mariah and let her use the insanity plea.

She already told Sharon that she wants to plead guilty because Mariah says she knew what she was doing and knew it was wrong, but she went ahead and abducted Dominic Newman. And Mariah wants to take responsibility and do the right thing. But Christine and Sharon want Mariah in a psychiatric facility where she can get help, not a prison, you know. So, we’ll see if Sharon can convince Mariah to change her mind about what plea Christine puts in.

Diane Confronts Patty on Y&R

And the last thing I want to talk about is Diane. She left Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) the moment they got back from rescuing him. Diane is disgusted that she found her husband in bed with his psycho ex-wife Patty Williams. And in case you thought Stacy Haiduk was done, she is definitely not done.

Susan Walters, who plays Diane, said in a recent interview that things are far from over with Patty and there’s going to be a really big showdown between Diane and Patty. Now, we know that Jack had been drugged with ecstasy and he also kept telling Patty to stop, but she wouldn’t listen.

And that means Jack was a kidnap victim thanks to Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and then a sexual assault victim thanks to Patty and also to Victor and the drugs. And now Jack’s the victim again because his wife Diane has walked away from him instead of supporting him like a loyal spouse.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Is Patty Free or Behind Bars?

So, we will find out next week if Patty is freely roaming around Genoa City or if she was arrested. Hopefully Detective James Burrow (Matt Cohen) got hold of her. Either way, Diane’s going to hunt her down wherever she is hiding or you know jailed and she’s going to give Patty a piece of her mind.

Diane is furious that Patty had her grubby paws on Jack. She’s not going to let this slide. And the question really is, is this the same Patty we know before or has she really changed? Like she told Jack, you know, she was talking about redemption and all this stuff and Jack didn’t believe Patty and that makes a lot of sense because of the things that she’s done to Jack.

Now, I won’t say he didn’t have a little karma coming to him because he did. You know, he was sleeping with Diane on his wedding day to Patty and then even after he and Patty were married, Jack kept on boinking Diane.

Is Patty Still Crazy on Young and the Restless?

So, bottom line, if Patty is the same crazy unhinged woman that she was before, she may shoot Jack or Diane without giving it much thought and without feeling a lot of guilt about it. Because if you don’t remember, she shot Jack. He told her to.

There was this big confrontation. She was gonna shoot herself. Jack’s like, “Shoot me instead.” So, she did. And Patty also shot Victor and nearly took him out. He actually needed a heart transplant, if you recall, and he wound up with Colleen Carlton’s heart.

So, things are looking really hot for the week of March 23rd through the 27th. Be sure to come back to catch our full weekly spoilers video, and also our weekly predictions, two week spoilers, lots more coming soon.

Roommates, by now, folks should know Taina Williams doesn’t play about her kids. That’s the energy she had when trolls started weighing in after G Herbo copped a “just because” gift for their daughter, Emmy Wright. Taina wasn’t fazed by the comments, though — she let folks know Emmy’s been that girl, it’s her world, and everybody else is just living in it!

RELATED: Blushing Energy! 5 Times G Herbo Showed Taina Williams MAJOR Love & Had Fans Gushing (VIDEOS)

Taina Williams Lets The Haters Know Emmy Stays Untouchable

One thing about Emmy Wright — she’s going to keep a bag, okay! Taina Williams dropped a video on social media showing Emmy shopping in a Louis Vuitton store with her dad, G Herbo, and big brother Essex Wright. Emmy had her eyes on two bags but chose a pretty pink one instead. She made sure to flex it too, checking how it looked on her arm. Then she asked her daddy if she could get the bag for her birthday, which is coming up soon, and he came with the ultimate girl dad energy, saying, “You can get it now because it’s Thursday.” Emmy kept showing off her handbag, and when Taina asked her, “What you get?” She made sure the people knew it was a “Louis Vuitton.”

The video of Emmy running it up in the LV store didn’t sit well with some online, comments immediately rolled in saying she “didn’t want the bag” and “didn’t need it.” Taina then jumped in The Shade Room’s comment section and let folks know her baby girl is a princess and knows exactly what she likes!

“These comments are hilarious… because if you know Emmy you KNOW!!! She asked to see the other bag & the lady showed us this one that actually hasn’t dropped yet 🤭 my girl is a girly girl who loves her purses thank youuuuu,”

The Internet Is Split Over Emmy’s “Just Because” Gift

After The Shade Room reposted the clip of Emmy in the LV store, the comment section was split. Some folks loved seeing her secure the luxury item, while others doubled down and said it wasn’t a necessity.

Instagram user @ihatejay_ wrote, “Emmy is that girl 😍😍” 

Instagram user @alexislovesme wrote, “These kids are adorable! Get me one too niece 😍💖” 

While Instagram user @pepe_wooten wrote, “A pink glitter minie mouse bag would top that right now!!!!!!!! promise you.” 

Then Instagram user @x.myjahh wrote, “JUST BECAUSE ITS THURSDAY 😍😍😍🔥 ! Loveee thatttt 🥹💕” 

Another Instagram user @dopeis_dee wrote, “That baby don’t give a damn about that bag 😂😂😂” 

Instagram user @arifbaby wrote, “She got her Bewis Buhton she’s been talking bout 😍🥰” 

While another Instagram user @amillieats2.0 wrote, “Again; normalize buying your daughters and sons luxury items early on if you can afford them so that they are not easily impressed when they’re older.” 

Then another Instagram user @ceecee_always.real wrote, “Y’all be so bitter most of us. Was getting Coach as kids. Which was considered Luxury. Let these kids be loved in all aspects ❤️” 

Lastly, Instagram user @inkmychina69 wrote, “What she gone do with a purse be so fr.” 

Taina Checks Critics After Emmy Secures Her Chanel Bag

Despite what folks think, Emmy keeps a luxury on deck. She’s been saying she wanted a Chanel for a minute, and she got exactly that for Christmas 2025. Taina didn’t hesitate to stand ten toes down behind her and her gift — she hopped in The Shade Room’s comments cuttin’ UP over the girlies being in their feelings about Emmy’s Chanel. “Emmy got the girlies mad 🤭🤭 a girl can’t start her collection young ??” Taina wrote.

RELATED: G Herbo Claps Back After Social Media User Puts Him On Blast Over Post About Missing Taina Williams (PHOTO) 

Fans love Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, right from the time when Netflix first began the Defenders Saga — the interconnected shows of iconic Marvel heroes like The Punisher, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and more. When the flagship Cox-led series was cancelled after a third season, the love for the devil of Hell’s Kitchen was at its peak, with many rallying on the internet to “Save Daredevil.”

And saved Daredevil they did, as Cox officially made his MCU movie debut with Spider-Man: No Way Home a few years later. Marvel has always been brilliant with fan service, and Cox’s addition to the universe with a standalone series, Daredevil: Born Again, was a masterstroke, as it was the first few credible series taking the studio out of the creative slump it was facing on Disney+. The series became an instant hit with longtime fans as they got to see Matt, Karen (Deborah Ann Woll), and Foggy (Elden Henson) back on the screen, albeit momentarily. And another season is on the way, with Season 2 set to debut in less than a week.

So, where will we see Cox’s Daredevil again? Jimmy Kimmel shared the same curiosity and asked Cox when they recently sat down to chat during Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel asked Cox about his rumored appearance in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, shortly after a trailer was recently released that features Jon Bernthal’s Punisher. “No. Now, if I were in the movie, I would also say no, to be clear. Right. But I’m not in the movie,” Cox admitted. “I’m definitely not in the movie,” before conceding, “But I could be lying.”

Cox voiced the typical Marvel actors’ concern, where they can neither confirm or deny their presence in any upcoming projects. But Kimmel wasn’t letting him off the hook so easily and asked whether fans will see Cox in the upcoming superhero mashup, Avengers: Doomsday. “I don’t think so. No… as far as I know, I’m not in the Avengers,” Cox stated, adding that “I sit by the phone waiting with bated breath,” which seemed like a more genuine answer, but it’s anyone’s guess.

Charlie Cox is Returning with ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2

But fans need not to worry as Cox will soon return to our screens with the highly anticipated second season of Born Again. The series will bring back a lot of familiar faces like Ann Woll as Karen, Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, Wilson Bethel as Bullseye, while Krysten Ritter joins the cast, reprising Jessica Jones.

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 debuts on March 24. Meanwhile, you can check out the first season of Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Advertisement

Release Date

March 4, 2025

Advertisement

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Advertisement

Dario Scardapane

Directors

Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff

Advertisement

Writers

Jesse Wigutow, Jill Blankenship, Thomas Wong, David Feige, Grainne Godfree

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

If the Watch With Us team had to pick our favorite movie genre, it would probably be thrillers.

We just can’t get enough of hard-boiled noirs, riveting mysteries, deranged psychological thrillers and action-packed crime dramas.

Thankfully, you can find all these kinds of movies and more on streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video.

This March, Watch With Us wants to highlight the five best thrillers you can watch on streaming right now — we also ranked them by Rotten Tomatoes score, just for fun.

Our picks include the Liam Neeson thriller Taken and the neo-noir classic L.A. Confidential.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 60 percent

Retired CIA officer Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) attempts to build a closer relationship with his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace), taking her to a concert where he oversees security and ends up protecting the pop star Sheerah (Holly Valance) from a knife attack. When Sheerah offers to give Kim vocal lessons, Bryan’s “good dad card” seems to be building points, but when he allows Kim to travel to Paris with her friend (Katie Cassidy), both girls are abducted by a group of men. Bryan warns them that he will resort to deadly methods if the kidnappers don’t comply, but they ignore his warning. That was their first mistake.

Taken is the film that kick-started Neeson’s foray into “action dad” cinema, but it’s this first film that is easily the best of the bunch. With “I have a very particular set of skills” becoming an iconic quote in the movie lexicon, Taken is a fun and slick action thriller that still packs a decent punch in 2026.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85 percent

A hitman known as the Killer (Michael Fassbender) is a meticulous and highly detailed professional, priding himself on his strict routine and deadly accuracy. When he stakes out a Parisian hotel for the wealthy target (Arliss Howard), he ends up missing his shot and accidentally shoots the target’s dominatrix (Monique Ganderton) instead. How could this hit have gone so wrong? Suddenly questioning his own mind and now hunted down by his handlers, he finds himself embarking on an epic quest for vengeance when his girlfriend, Magdala (Sophie Charlotte), is implicated in his folly.

Director David Fincher‘s welcome return to feature film is as taut, tense and efficient as its lead character. Fassbender portrays the titular Killer with suave intensity and a samurai mindset, and Fincher infuses the lean, mean thriller with a calculated iciness that cuts to the bone. The hitman subgenre of crime movies is hugely overstuffed, and Fincher’s iteration manages to take familiar tropes and give them a refreshing style and simplicity.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88 percent

In a run-down Philadelphia hotel, gangster Nicky Godolin (John Cassavetes) phones his best friend Mikey Mittner (Peter Falk), a fellow gangster, in desperate need of help. When Mikey arrives, he finds Nicky in a dire state, where he explains that there’s a hit out on him for stealing from his boss, mobster Dave Resnick (Sanford Meisner). Mikey tries to console his friend and help him get it together, and the two end up setting out on an all-night odyssey through the city as Nicky becomes increasingly unhinged and terrified for his life.

Mikey and Nicky is hands-down the best “tragic bromance” movie of all time, a tour de force directing and acting triumph by way of filmmaker Elaine May and her stars, the legendary Cassavetes and Falk (also friends in real life). Mirroring the intensity and spontaneity of Cassavetes’ own filmmaking style, May directs the film with a frenzied, emotional bravura that underscores the script’s preoccupations with the folly of masculinity. Fans of Uncut Gems would do well to check this one out.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent

In the 1980s, two mediocre police detectives named Park (Song Kang-ho) and Cho (Kim Roi-ha) are assigned to a double homicide case, but they have no idea that the crime they’re about to investigate marks the emergence of the first serial killer in South Korean history. When the perpetrator ends up striking several more times, evoking the same patterns and hallmarks, the detectives are stumped, unnerved and understand they are dealing with something they’ve never seen before. With only the basic tools and skills available to them, Park and Cho set out to arrest the twisted killer.

Based on the real-life case of Lee Choon-jae, Memories of Murder is a quiet masterpiece from Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho‘s repertoire; less flashy than films like Snowpiercer or the Best Picture-winning Parasite, but no less a riveting and expertly crafted work of art. Bearing an uncanny similarity to Fincher’s Zodiac (Memories actually predates the latter by four years), the movie is an effective crime procedural with singular directorial command and a compelling, serpentine narrative.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 99 percent

Following decades of publicized corruption, the LAPD tries to rehabilitate its image in 1953, with three very different detectives attempting to unspool the conspiracy at the center of a string of murders at an all-night diner. Detective Lieutenant Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) is still living in the shadow of his highly respected detective father, whose murder years ago remains unsolved. Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is a clout-seeker who regularly feeds information to the tabloids. Meanwhile, the erratic Wendell White (Russell Crowe) uses highly unorthodox methods to get confessions out of suspects due to his traumatic past.

Related: 5 Thriller Movie Masterpieces You Need to Watch Right Now

Advertisement

February may be more closely associated with romance, but a great thriller movie is never going to be out of season. Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Peacock and Paramount+have added a fresh batch of movies to choose from this month. From among those flicks, Watch With Us has chosen five thriller movie masterpieces that you […]

L.A. Confidential is much more than an homage to classic film noirs, as its preoccupations with the interiority of its characters betray a richness in psychology that many of the great noirs have sorely lacked. In addition to the film’s dense thematic interests, it’s also a brilliantly acted yarn that proved that then-little-known actors Pearce and Crowe were movie star material. Atmospheric, textured, complex and still highly entertaining, L.A. Confidential is studio filmmaking at its smartest.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are facing renewed scrutiny in Hollywood following shifts in their partnership with Netflix.

While experts question their long-term influence and consistency, the couple is also pushing back against claims of tension.

Prince Harry and Meghan denied reports that Netflix was blindsided by their independent projects, and maintained that their deal has remained structured and professionally managed.

Meghan Markle And Prince Harry’s Hollywood Influence Faces Scrutiny As Experts Question Their Long-Term Impact

Just months after extending their partnership with Netflix through a first-look deal under Archewell Productions, the streaming giant stepped back from Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.

While Netflix has maintained a supportive tone, saying Meghan will continue to grow the brand “independently,” the move has sparked fresh debate about the strength of the duchess’s business ventures and the couple’s long-term positioning in the entertainment industry.

Industry voices suggest the issue may come down to consistency. In a chat with Fox News Digital, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield noted that “high-value partnerships” in Hollywood rely heavily on “execution, not just vision or vibes.”

According to her, while public interest can open doors, maintaining relevance requires delivering content that performs across different formats.

Without that, even globally recognized figures can lose their edge in a highly competitive space. “There’s a difference between infamy and influence, and I think Harry and Meghan fall under infamous,” she added.

Expert Questions The Sussexes’ Appeal As Netflix Deal Shifts

Harry and Meghan initially signed a reported $100 million deal with Netflix in 2020, producing projects like “Harry & Meghan,” “Live to Lead,” “Heart of Invictus,” and “Polo.”

By 2025, however, the partnership evolved into a first-look agreement rather than a full renewal, signaling a more flexible, yet potentially less committed arrangement.

Announcing their split from the Lifestyle brand, a spokesperson for Netflix said Meghan would continue growing the brand independently, and that the company was pleased to have helped bring her vision to life.

Still, some royal analysts remain skeptical. Hilary Fordwich suggested that audiences may be losing interest in what she described as “grievance-driven royal content,” adding that the couple is increasingly viewed as operating outside of the royal framework that once defined their appeal.

“Their track record of a failed brand is as bad as their plummeting poll numbers and dreadful viewership of each of their underwhelming failed ventures,” she said.

Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Series May Not Be Renewed For A Third Season

Launched in 2025, As Ever focuses on lifestyle and home goods, offering a curated selection of items including jams, teas, candles, and more.

The brand saw early demand, with its debut collection reportedly selling out quickly, though reactions to pricing and branding were mixed.

Its launch coincided with the release of Meghan’s Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” which featured a mix of cooking, gardening, and hosting content alongside appearances from her celebrity circle.

While two seasons and a holiday special have been released, there has been no confirmation of future installments, with sources claiming that the show is likely not coming back for a third season.

Media Producer Urges Duke And Duchess To Follow Prince William And Kate’s Playbook

Beyond output, experts also suggested that a bad strategy may be part of the problem for the Montecito-based royal couple.

Media producer John McDermott suggested that Harry and Meghan could benefit from a more restrained public presence.

Referencing Prince William and Kate Middleton, he noted that a balance of visibility and privacy can help maintain positive media coverage without overexposure.

“They feed the media just enough with a quick photo op of them pulling pints, throwing darts, petting a puppy, etc., and then they disappear again. It keeps the coverage positive without overexposing them,” he said of William and Kate. “For Harry and Meghan, there may be something in that. Show up, look good, keep it positive. Sometimes less really is more.”

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Deny ‘Variety’ Report, Insist Netflix Was Not Caught Off Guard

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan is pushing back against a report by Variety that their relationship with Netflix was strained by a lack of transparency, suggesting the streamer was caught off guard by some of their independent moves, including their widely discussed 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The interview took place while they were working on their docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” prompting claims that Netflix had concerns about communication, particularly regarding activities tied to Archewell.

While the report noted that no contractual rules were broken, it alleged there was unease behind the scenes.

The Sussexes’ representative, however, firmly rejected that narrative, calling it “categorically false” that Netflix was unaware of the Oprah interview.

They added that both “Netflix and Archewell had legal counsel involved to oversee the evolution of the deal, as is common practice for any deal changes in Hollywood.”

If you’ve ever lost hours falling down a BLACKPINK dance practice rabbit hole, screamed along to a BTS song, or watched PSY break the internet, you owe a debt to a trio of performers who changed everything about Korean music more than three decades ago. Their name? Seo Taiji and Boys. And their story — from groundbreaking debut to shocking disbandment to the lingering question of a reunion — is essential knowledge for anyone who considers themselves a true K-pop fan.

Seo Taiji and Boys: the Group That Rewrote the Rules

Seo Taiji and Boys was a South Korean music group active from 1992 to 1996, composed of three members: Seo Taiji, Yang Hyun-suk and Lee Juno. In just four years, this group fundamentally reshaped what Korean pop music could sound like, look like, and say.

The group experimented with multiple Western music genres and is credited with pioneering rap in Korean pop music — a move that essentially planted the seed for the hip-hop-infused sound that dominates K-pop playlists today. But their influence didn’t stop at the music itself. Seo Taiji and Boys also popularized dance in performances, including breakdancing, setting the template for the jaw-dropping choreography that modern K-pop is celebrated for worldwide.

Perhaps most boldly, the group incorporated social critique into their work despite pressure from ethics and censorship committees. In doing so, they pushed the boundaries of what Korean pop artists were expected — or even allowed — to express. They helped lay the foundation for modern K-pop, making them arguably the most consequential act in the genre’s history.

Seo Taiji and Boys Came to a Sudden End That Shocked Millions

For a group with such an enormous impact, their ending came abruptly. The band retired in January 1996 while recording their fourth album. The decision wasn’t a group consensus either — Lee Juno later stated that Seo Taiji made the decision to disband, surprising Yang Hyun-suk and himself.

The announcement disappointed millions of fans in Korea. Their compilation album, Goodbye Best Album, was released later that year, serving as a final farewell to an era that had reshaped an entire industry in less than half a decade.

Where Are Seo Taiji and Boys Now? They Are on 3 Very Different Paths

What happened after one of the most influential groups in Korean music history called it quits? Each member charted a dramatically different course — and one of those paths would directly create the K-pop powerhouse labels and artists fans know today.

Seo Taiji: ‘The President of Culture’

After disbandment, Seo Taiji moved to the United States and returned to music two years later, embarking on a successful solo career. He has released numerous albums and is referred to as “the President of culture” in South Korea — a title that reflects just how deeply his artistic legacy is woven into the country’s cultural identity.

Seo is married to Korean actress Lee Eun-sung, and they have a daughter together.

Related: Who Are TWICE? Everything to Know About the Breakthrough K-Pop Girl Group

The K-pop girl group TWICE has continued to dominate the music industry, both in Asia and around the world. The nine-member band, composed of singers Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu, has grown to become one of the best-selling artists in the genre — even before they rose to global popularity. […]

Advertisement

Yang Hyun-suk: The Architect Behind YG Entertainment

Here’s where the direct line between Seo Taiji and Boys and your current favorite K-pop acts becomes impossible to ignore. Yang Hyun-suk established YG Entertainment after the group retired — yes, that YG Entertainment. The record company responsible for acts like PSY, BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, 2NE1 and BABYMONSTER.

Think about that for a moment: one of the backup dancers and performers from a group active in the early ’90s went on to build the label behind some of the biggest names in global pop music. The choreography-forward, genre-blending, boundary-pushing DNA of Seo Taiji and Boys didn’t just influence K-pop from the outside — it was literally carried into the boardroom of one of the industry’s most powerful companies.

However, Yang’s tenure at the top of YG was not without serious controversy. Amid controversies including the Burning Sun scandal, Yang announced he would step down from all positions at YG Entertainment, and his brother Yang Min-suk resigned as CEO on June 14, 2019.

Yang Hyun-suk is married to former Swi.T and Moogadang member Lee Eun-ju, and they have two children.

Lee Juno: A Troubled Post-Group Chapter

Lee Juno’s path after Seo Taiji and Boys took a significantly darker turn. He worked as a producer after the group disbanded, creating the 1990s dance group Young Turks Club and releasing solo music. But his career was overshadowed by multiple legal issues, including sexual assault charges, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

Lee was married to Park Mi-ri in 2012 and has two children.

Related: Blackpink’s Jisoo Drops Mini Album ‘Amortage’ With New Music Video

The members of Blackpink have dominated the music industry both as a group and as solo artists. Since debuting in 2016 under the label YG Entertainment, Blackpink has become one of the most successful K-pop girl groups of all time, releasing two full studio albums and several EPs and singles over the years. The band […]

Will There Ever Be a Reunion?

This is the question that lingers for fans who understand just how monumental a Seo Taiji and Boys reunion would be. In 2014, Seo Taiji addressed the possibility head-on during an appearance on JTBC’s Newsroom, revealing that the three members had discussed it.

“The biggest obstacle is that in the past, we put on really beautiful performances, which fans remember, but if we get back together now, I worry we might disappoint, so I am not confident. I lack more and more confidence as I get older. I don’t think I’d be able to dance as fiercely as I had in the past.”

It’s a candid, vulnerable reflection — the kind of honesty that hits differently when you consider this is a man widely regarded as a cultural president speaking about his own self-doubt. The fear of not living up to past greatness is something any performer can relate to, and for Seo Taiji, that legacy looms especially large.