Nobody has ridden the wave of true crime documentaries quite like Netflix. The streamer has churned out hit after hit within the genre, utilizing the cost-effective documentary method to make some of its most popular titles, all the while highlighting some of the craziest and most infamous crime stories in recent history. It honestly feels like too much true crime most of the time, which makes one frustrating cancellation from almost a decade ago feel even more egregious. For two seasons, Netflix had a perfect true crime satire that was also one of the best — and most surprisingly touching — comedies on television, and it could’ve been an enormous hit had the streamer stuck with it.

American Vandal, first released in 2017, is one of the greatest American comedies of the 2010s. From creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, American Vandal was a mockumentary-style series that satirized true crime documentaries, taking its biggest influences from the podcast Serial and Netflix’s own Making a Murderer. Instead of following the story of a grisly murder, however, American Vandal follows a couple of high schoolers as they get to the bottom of mysteries involving spray-painted genitalia and widespread diarrhea. It sounds ridiculous on the surface, but American Vandal nailed its aesthetic so perfectly that it often felt like a better version of the things it was satirizing, and at its core, became one of the most honest and accurate depictions of high school from the last 20 years.

‘American Vandal’ Is Laugh-a-Minute Comedy Gold

Image via Netflix

The true crime genre is more than worthy of spoofing, and American Vandal did it brilliantly. That was when the genre as a whole was first taking off, so you can imagine how well this specific brand of comedy has aged. Yes, plenty of the humor comes from situations born from penis graffiti or an entire school pooping their pants on the same day, but there are also a lot of bits and gags that produce great laughs from simply playing up the true crime elements.

In Season 1, the young documentarians try to prove the innocence of a senior who is accused of spray-painting the cars of faculty members and is expelled just weeks before graduation. Jimmy Tatro, who recently appeared in Scream 7, starred in the season as the accused, Dylan Maxwell. He’s as hilarious as you expect, but it’s the seriousness with which the show approaches his situation that sticks with you and makes you laugh long after you’ve watched it.

American Vandal treats a crime like drawing a penis on a car as seriously as any other true crime doc treats an actual murder. That level of commitment ups the ante and makes for the kind of comedy we don’t see very often anymore. While they are still very different brands of comedy, HBO shows like Nathan Fielder’s The Rehearsal and Tim Robinson’s The Chair Company feel like American Vandal‘s closest modern relatives.

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The film also stars Rebecca Ferguson and Barry Keoghan.

Getting High School Right

American Vandal‘s format and humor could carry a show, but the humanity and passion with which the series approached young people is what takes it to another level. Conceptually, this is a series that would’ve been funny enough had it just pointed the finger at these juvenile situations and laughed about how seriously the students took these kinds of stories. Instead, American Vandal empathized with young people and found the beauty in their journeys amidst all the hilarity and chaos.

As memorable as the first season is, it’s Season 2 that really unlocks this integral part of American Vandal‘s ethos. On the surface, the second season explores an event known as “The Brownout,” in which the students of a Catholic school all experience explosive diarrhea at the same time, likely due to some kind of laxative in the cafeteria’s lemonade. In the middle of such an outlandish premise, American Vandal manages to tap deeply into the issue of disconnection amongst students caused by social media, and the terrifying reality of the dangers that social loneliness can create. The final episode of the season is an absolute wallop that will bring tears to your eyes — both from laughing and crying.

American Vandal is a comedy masterpiece, and it’s one that arrived just a few years ahead of its time. Given the obsession with true crime that exists now — especially on Netflix — the show could’ve been an instant mega-hit had been released today. There’s a good chance it could also give us the big dose of community that we desperately need.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 9 seconds ago

John Travolta is an interesting specimen because, like Nicolas Cage, he goes all in on his roles, for better or worse. Battlefield Earth is an absolute punisher, along with Perfect, Gotti, Old Dogs, and Wild Hogs. Don’t even get me started on The Fanatic because I don’t have three days. When he’s in his element, though, he never ceases to amaze me. His performances in Pulp Fiction and Face/Off are legendary, and 2010’s From Paris with Love deserves to be celebrated with the same level of reverence as his known classics.

From Paris with Love’s 37 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes might make you think otherwise, but I think the critics missed the point on this one. The movie borders on parody, and Travolta fires on all cylinders as an action hero who falls somewhere between John Wick and Sterling Archer. He’s disproportionately confident, says everything with a wink and a nod, and pumps every scene full of lead before even sizing up the room.

Or so you think. As the second and third acts unfold, it becomes obvious that his Charlie Wax character is always multiple steps ahead of his adversaries, and every move he makes plays like a game of 4D chess. He just prefers to act on instinct before letting everybody else catch up with him, which leads to some genuinely hilarious moments that only a straight-faced, bald, goateed John Travolta could pull off.

This Movie Is Absolutely Ridiculous

I didn’t know what I was getting into when I fired up From Paris with Love on Prime Video. If I’m being honest, I was expecting a late-career flop with some poorly executed one-liners and your usual gratuitous yet poorly done explosive setpieces. Instead, what we get plays more like a comedy of errors when our hero James Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is tasked with tagging along on a trip to Paris with Charlie Wax, a high-level NOC field agent who follows nobody’s rules but his own. The kind who shoots first and asks questions later, but always knows how to improvise his way out of a jam, even if he’s got 100 guns pointed at him.

Charlie is working a case involving a Triad drug ring, its connections to Pakistani terrorists, and plans to attack the U.S. Embassy. Meanwhile, James has cold feet because taking the mission means time away from his girlfriend Caroline (Kasia Smutniak), which could strain their relationship. All caution is thrown to the wind once the stakes are made clear, and from that point on, it’s total insanity.

John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers run around with a vase full of cocaine in From Paris with Love. They casually eat Royales with Cheese after causing an unthinkable amount of collateral damage wherever they go. They get crossed by sleeper agents, but it’s fine because Charlie Wax knows how to fire a bazooka out of a moving car. They’re on official business and seem to have infinite clearance, so they raid whatever building they feel like, never hesitating to kill every person in their path. The whole time, John Travolta is either smirking or completely deadpan, and running straight into danger like a total badass because he’s a man on a mission. Oh yeah, and James Reese is first summoned to work with Charlie Wax because he’s held up at customs, passionately arguing about the energy drinks he absolutely needs to bring into Paris.

A Successfully Stupid Action Thriller

I can see why people would be disappointed by From Paris with Love if they were expecting a typical, straight-up action thriller. In many ways, it still hits those beats. What sets it apart is its subtle humor and its ability to take those expectations and flip them. This movie, as far as I can tell, is meant to be fun, ridiculous, over-the-top, and completely unhinged. The action sequences are well choreographed, and the odd-couple chemistry between Travolta and Meyers sells it all.

If anything, that’s probably what rubbed critics the wrong way. It has all the ultra-violent John Wick trappings before John Wick was even a thing, but has no right being as funny as it is. If you can realign your expectations before going into From Paris with Love, you’re going to have a great time with it. It’s an absolute treat if you try to enjoy it for what it’s actually trying to accomplish.

As of this writing, From Paris with Love is streaming on Prime Video.

Nearly a decade after one of the greatest sci-fi epics of this century hit theaters, it has found renewed attention from audiences, sparking a sudden global revival. Directed by Matt Reeves, the film is another major large-screen project that he worked on with Andy Serkis, besides The Batman and its sequel. It is also a threequel in a similarly noteworthy sci-fi franchise that is expected to return once more with a new entry in 2027.

A critical and commercial success, War for the Planet of the Apes’ popularity has been reignited thanks to streaming, as the sci-fi sequel became a global streaming smash over the past week and continues to dominate. As seen on the HBO Max charts, the action movie was at the top last week, dethroning Jurassic World Rebirth, which had held the spot for weeks. It no longer holds that position but still sits among the top 10, which also includes its prequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, another win for the beloved post-apocalyptic franchise.

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How Well Do You Know This Iconic Sci-Fi Threequel?

In addition to directing, Reeves co-wrote War for the Planet of the Apes with Mark Bomback. As the third installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series, it is the ninth film overall and is followed by a standalone sequel, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, released in 2024. Starring Serkis as Caesar, the film takes place in 2031, five years after the events of Dawn, and follows the conflict between apes and an army of humans led by a ruthless colonel (Woody Harrelson), while Caesar sets out to avenge those he has lost.

War for the Planet of the Apes premiered on July 10, 2017, at the SVA Theatre in New York City, before arriving in theaters courtesy of 20th Century Fox on July 14. The movie grossed over $490 million at the box office against a production budget of $150–190 million. It also boasts a Certified Fresh 94% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus praising its “breathtaking special effects and [a] powerful, poignant narrative.” That’s not all! War for the Planet of the Apes received an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.

You can watch the sci-fi threequel on HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for future streaming news.

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Release Date

July 14, 2017

Runtime

140 minutes

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Director

Matt Reeves

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“Sister, Sister” alum Tia Mowry has navigated major change over the last several years. During a new interview, the actress opened up about how her boundaries have shifted since her divorce from her ex-husband Cory Hardrict in April 2023.

Tia Mowry Says She Shares What She Feels ‘Secure’ About

Speaking with PEOPLE at the 2026 Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, Tia, 47, said that since divorcing her ex-husband, she has begun paying close attention to what she shares with the world.

“If I am feeling secure about something, then I’m okay sharing, because everybody wants to say what they want to say. When you are secure with yourself, then you’re like, ‘This is just noise,’” she said.

Tia went on to say that she has chosen not to share the things she is “apprehensive” about or is still mentally working through.

“I’ll create a boundary until I’m ready to,” she said. “So yeah, it’s all about what I feel secure about, and also just [what I’m] passionate about, that I’m open to talk about.”

Tia Mowry And Cory Hardrict Went Their Seperate Ways 14 Years After Their Marriage

Tia and Hardrict were married in 2008, according to TODAY. They showcased their marriage during earlier episodes of Tia’s reality show with her sister, “Tia and Tamera.”

Tia announced their split in an Instagram post in October 2022, writing, “These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children. I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family, and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives.”

While speaking with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush during a “TODAY” episode, Tia said that she felt her marriage to Hardrict, with whom she has two kids, was over when “I really started to focus on my happiness.”

“I feel like women, we tend to focus on everybody else’s happiness, making sure that everybody else is OK — meaning our children, our friends, our family,” she added.

Tia Mowry Said Dating Was Challenging After Divorce Because Of People’s Obsession With ‘Sister, Sister’

Tia attempted to put herself out there following her split from Hardrict; however, dating was a bit of a challenge for the actress.

“When it becomes very clear on why someone is dating you through their behaviors, it’s disappointing,” she told Us Weekly, referring to people only wanting to get close to her because of her proximity to fame.

“I’ve realized that some people are attracted because there was some sort of infatuation growing up — you know, ‘Oh, this is the girl from Sister, Sister,’” she said.

“It’s like, ‘Nah. I want you to know me and love me when the makeup comes off.’”

Tia Is ‘In Love’ With A Mystery Man!

Despite the roadblocks, Tia revealed in a new interview with E! News that she’s found her special someone. “I’m in love,” she said. “But that’s all I’m going to say. I’m keeping this close to my heart.”

Recently, Tia sparked conversation after @TheShadeRoom reshared a social media post of hers showcasing two pairs of white shoes. The caption read, “Stopping to smell the roses.”

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Her new mystery man doesn’t mean she is not on good terms with her ex, Hardrict, though!

In a December 2024 Instagram post, the mother of two opened up about co-parenting, calling it a “journey” that can be “challenging and even lonely at times.”

“But over time, I’ve found the beauty in it. It’s an opportunity for my kids to build meaningful relationships with both parents, and for me, it creates space for self-discovery, healing, and rejuvenation,” she wrote.

Tia Opens Up About Relationship With Sister, Tamera

According to The Blast, social media users believed Tia was feuding with her sister, Tamera Mowry, after she made a statement about their relationship on her reality show, “My Next Act” in 2024.

“I came into this world with a twin, and right after that, I went into a 22-year relationship, so I have never been alone in my life. It has been quite a journey,” Tia said. “Being alone has been the most challenging part of my divorce,” she added. “It’s times like this when I feel and wish that my sister and I were still close, and I could pick up the phone and call her. But that’s just not where we are right now.”

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Tia and Tamera both pushed back against those claims, however, saying things were perfectly fine for the two pop culture icons.

“The world, they’re so used to seeing all of us together, but at the end of the day, we all grow up. We all have our own families,” Tia said, while Tamera said they always make it a priority to stay connected to one another.

The Madison cast has found love in their dating lives.

According to the official synopsis, The Madison follows the Clyburn family from New York City, who “relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a tragedy that shattered the family.”

In addition to Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer, the show stars Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Matthew Fox, Beau Garrett, Alaina Pollack, Amiah Miller as members of the Clyburn family, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers. Rebecca Spence and Danielle Vasinova make up the rest of the cast.

Off screen, meanwhile, the cast has found love as well. Keep scrolling to learn more about the The Madison cast and their respective love lives:

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer has been linked to Peter Horton, John Malkovich and Fisher Stevens. Pfeiffer has been married to David E. Kelley since 1993. They share two kids.

Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell has been in a relationship with Goldie Hawn since 1983. They welcomed a son together, Wyatt Russell, in 1986. Hawn has two kids from her previous marriage: Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson. Russell was previously married to Season Hubley, and they share a son, Boston Russell.

Beau Garrett

Beau Garrett married Shane Richards in 2025 while filming The Madison. The pair share one child.

Patrick J. Adams

Patrick J. Adams has been married to Troian Bellisario since 2016. They share three daughters.

Elle Chapman

Elle Chapman is currently dating actor Patrick Luwis.

Ben Schnetzer

Ben Schnetzer shares two kids with Kate Hewitt.

Related: Meet the Cast of ‘The Madison’ After Shocking Deaths: Who Does Everyone Play?

Taylor Sheridan has assembled a star-studded cast in his newest hit The Madison — but who does each actor play after numerous shocking onscreen deaths? According to the official synopsis, The Madison follows the Clyburn family from New York City, who “relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a […]

Kevin Zegers

Kevin Zegers married Jaime Feld in 2013. The couple welcomed twins in 2015.

Matthew Fox

Matthew Fox shares two kids with Margherita Ronchi, whom he married in 1992.

Danielle Vasinova

Danielle Vasinova previously dated Robert Herjavec.

Rebecca Spence

Rebecca Spence has been married to her husband, Patrick, for nearly 27 years. They share two kids.

“Epic” isn’t just an adjective one can ascribe to a film: It’s a whole genre unto itself, one whose definition tends to be somewhat vague. But, in broad strokes, one can define a cinematic epic as a large-scale film of sweeping scope and grandeur; they’re usually quite long, usually quite expensive, and usually all about spectacle. But spectacle doesn’t need to come exclusively from large set pieces, it can also come from some of the greatest acting performances cinema has ever seen.

Those who love the epic genre are well aware of the fact that it has offered some exceptional performances over the years. From modern Hollywood blockbusters like The Dark Knight to international classics like Seven Samurai, these are films whose actors understood that a large-scale story is the perfect place to offer a large-scale performance.

10

‘Titanic’ (1997)

Tied with Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for the most Academy Award wins in history (with a whopping 11), James Cameron‘s Titanic proves why this is seen as one of the most visionary filmmakers working in Hollywood today. It’s far more than just a sweeping romance: It’s one of the biggest, most emotionally riveting period epics ever made.

Titanic is the cinematic epic par excellence, checking off pretty much every box that the genre requires—including absolutely unforgettable larger-than-life performances. There are the turns that made Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet international superstars and household names; Billy Zane‘s exquisitely evil performance as the film’s main antagonist; and Kathy Bates‘ scene-stealing supporting role. It’s a large cast, but Cameron gives everyone their time to shine.

9

‘Amadeus’ (1984)

Image via Orion Pictures

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Plenty of drama masterpieces with great acting came out during the ’80s, but only one of them is a rousing epic about jealousy and rivalry focused on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. That’s Miloš Forman‘s Amadeus, a masterpiece that draws a surprisingly long runtime and unexpectedly juicy bits of drama from one of the most mythologized rivalries in modern history.

But the movie wouldn’t have worked half as well if Tom Hulce weren’t so electrifying as Mozart or if F. Murray Abraham’s Oscar-winning turn as Salieri weren’t so emotionally powerful. The film is certainly dominated acting-wise by its central duet, but supporting stars like Elizabeth Berridge and Jeffrey Jones, round out the cast tremendously well, making for an ensemble that one simply can’t take one’s eyes off of.

8

‘Schindler’s List’ (1993)

Image via Universal Pictures

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Steven Spielberg is the king of blockbusters, and the man behind several of the greatest and most entertaining pop corn flicks in history, but the best movie he’s ever made is far different from anything else in his filmography. The title has to go to his Best Picture Oscar-winning Schindler’s List, both a harrowing period piece set during the Holocaust and one of the best biopics of all time.

Oskar Schindler was always going to be a very complicated figure to bring to life in a way that felt nuanced enough, but Liam Neeson does a phenomenal job at making the character feel like a complete, complicated individual. Then there’s Ralph Fiennes, whose portrayal of SS functionary Amon Göth was so chillingly realistic that a Holocaust survivor who has brought on the set was visibly terrified of him. Add to that an amazing Sir Ben Kingsley and an equally strong supporting cast, an you get one of the strongest ensembles of any ’90s film.

7

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Plenty of action blockbusters with great acting have come out over the years, but few with performances superior to those in Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight. The elephant in the room every time anyone talks about the most beloved superhero film of all time is Heath Ledger, whose Oscar-winning embodiment of the Joker may just be the greatest villain performance of the 21st century by far.

But while Ledger’s transcendental performance is admittedly one of the main reasons why The Dark Knight is held in such high regard, it’s not the only one. This is the movie where Christian Bale fully came into his own as both Batman and Bruce Wayne, and he shares exceptional chemistry with Maggie Gyllenhaal (who replaced Katie Holmes from Batman Begins as Rachel Dawes). Aaron Eckhart‘s turn as Two-Face is also criminally underappreciated, nicely rounding out a cast for the history books.

6

‘There Will Be Blood’ (2007)

Image via Paramount Vantage

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Paul Thomas Anderson has been one of the greatest filmmakers in Hollywood since the ’90s, and he’s managed to never deliver a single film that could be considered outright bad. But, like all the greats, he also has an undisputed magnum opus: There Will Be Blood, where the legendary Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of the most undeniable Best Actor Oscar wins in history.

Day-Lewis is far and away one of the most gifted thespians of his generation, and There Will Be Blood is proof enough of that. But the film is also proof that, despite what Quentin Tarantino might foolishly say, Paul Dano deserves to be counted among the best of his generation every bit as much as Day-Lewis does. These two titans would have been enough to qualify this as one of the best-acted films of the 2000s, but then there’s also Dillon Freasier delivering one of the best child performances of all time.

5

‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy

Image via New Line Cinema

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For a while, no one would have blamed any fans of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings books for thinking that their favorite series of fantasy masterpieces was impossible to adapt into a film that paid proper respect to the books’ legacy. Along came Peter Jackson and dispersed any doubts that anyone might have had, delivering not just one, not just two, but three of the best fantasy adventure movies of all time.

When talking about these films in general—and about their cast in particular—, it’s impossible not to naturally group them together. Every actor in the Fellowship of the Ring, from Viggo Mortensen to Ian McKellen to Sean Astin, carries the whole trilogy on their shoulders effortlessly; and when you add iconic supporting turns like Bernard Hill‘s, Christopher Lee‘s, and Brad Dourif‘s, it’s impossible not to think of this as the greatest cast ever assembled for a fantasy epic franchise.

4

‘Seven Samurai’ (1954)

Image via Toho

Akira Kurosawa is not only the undisputed greatest filmmaker in Japanese history; some even refer to him as the single greatest movie director of all time, and deservedly so. After all, who, if not the most gifted auteur in cinematic history, could have made a masterpiece of Seven Samurai‘s stature? Often imitated but never matched, this action epic shows why Kurosawa would deserve to be at the forefront of a hypothetical Mount Rushmore of action movie directors.

There are several reasons why this is one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of cinema, such as the thrilling set pieces and Kurosawa’s unforgettable visuals, but there’s also the tremendous cast. Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Seiji Miyaguchi, and the rest of the incredible cast are all among the greatest Japanese thespians who have ever lived, and their career-best performances here are the stuff of international movie legend.

3

‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)

Image via Columbia Pictures

One of the most ambitious Best Picture Oscar winners of all time, made by a director that most cinephiles would agree was the master of the cinematic epic genre, Lawrence of Arabia is a WWII biopic unlike any other. What David Lean achieved here has never been done quite on this scale since: A war epic of massive scale and sweeping scope, but one balanced with the feeling of a deeply intimate character study, which results in one of the most complete and complex biopics ever made.

It’s astonishing that this was Peter O’Toole‘s first-ever leading role, since his portrayal of T. E. Lawrence is one of the greatest acting performances in the history of film. Add to that Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, and Omar Sharif, and you get one of the most incredible cast ensembles in the history of cinema. Every performance in Lawrence of Arabia is larger than life, and it makes for a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat for nearly four hours through its performances alone.

2

‘Magnolia’ (1999)

Image via New Line Cinema

After talking about There Will Be Blood, no more proof should be needed that Paul Thomas Anderson knows his stuff when it comes to bringing together a legendary cast; but for those still doubtful, there’s also Magnolia. This is an epic not so much in scale, but rather in the intricacy of its enthralling tapestry of characters, all played by some of the biggest and greatest stars that were working in Hollywood in 1999.

The list is borderline jaw-dropping. Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, and John C. Reilly all deliver turns that deserve to be counted among the best of any ’90s film, and Tom Cruise gives what’s still the best performance of his career. Magnolia works as well as it does not only because PTA directs and writes it in such a taut, emotionally stirring way, but mainly because the cast is so legendarily amazing all across the board.

1

‘The Godfather’ (1972) and ‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)

Image via Paramount Pictures

An admirable number of movie fans would very likely say that never in history have there ever been two films quite like Francis Ford Coppola‘s The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. One is arguably the greatest of all gangster films, while the other works as the best sequel and best prequel in the history of cinema. Both films are masterclasses in virtually ever department that comes into making a movie, and that most definitely includes acting.

Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro as Vito, Al Pacino as Michael, Diane Keaton as Kay, James Caan as Sonny, John Cazale as Fredo. These are all names that you’ll very easily find in people’s rankings of the best acting performances in Hollywood history, and very rightfully so. The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are flawless crime epics, but they’re also so much more than that—including, for instance, the best-acted epics in the history of cinema.

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The Godfather

Release Date

March 24, 1972

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Runtime

175 minutes

Director

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Francis Ford Coppola

Writers

Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

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The Godfather Part II

Release Date

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December 20, 1974

Runtime

202 minutes

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Director

Francis Ford Coppola

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Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo

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The release of Justin Timberlake’s DWI footage has revealed that a friend attempted to use his celebrity status to influence authorities.

The singer was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor, New York, in June 2024, but the footage only recently surfaced following a legal back-and-forth between the singer and law enforcement.

Only a partially redacted version of the video was released after Justin Timberlake’s legal team and the Sag Harbor Police Department reached an agreement.

Justin Timberlake’s Female Pal Tried To Invoke His Celebrity Status

In the wake of the release of Justin Timberlake’s DWI video, more light has been shed on the incident, revealing bizarre behavior from a female friend who appeared on the scene.

According to reports, the friend, named Estee Stanley, arrived just as the singer was being escorted to the police car and allegedly tried to influence the officers by invoking Timberlake’s celebrity status.

In one moment, she can be seen asking, “You’re arresting Justin Timberlake right now?!” seemingly in an attempt to intervene or delay the process.

When the officers refused to budge, Stanley asked if she could give Timberlake his phone. Since this was against protocol, the officers initially denied her request.

Undeterred, Stanley pleaded in a playful manner, saying, “Can you guys please just do me a favor ’cause you loved ‘Bye Bye Bye’ or ‘SexyBack’? Do me one favor!”

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Surprisingly, her efforts worked, and the officers accepted her offer before whisking away Timberlake.

The Former NSYNC Band Member Tried To Block The Release Of His DWI Video

The release of the footage comes just weeks after Timberlake sought to prevent it from being made public, following a  Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for its disclosure.

The singer filed a petition with the Suffolk County Supreme Court, arguing that the video “contains personally identifying information and private details that are not germane to any law enforcement action of public concern.”

“The footage at issue depicts Petitioner in an acutely vulnerable state during a roadside encounter with law enforcement, capturing intimate details of Petitioner’s physical appearance, demeanor, speech, and conduct during field sobriety testing, the subsequent arrest, and Petitioner’s confinement following arrest over the next several hours,” Timberlake argued further in the document.

At the time, the “Cry Me a River” crooner also complained that the release of the video would cause him “irreparable” harm.

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“The harm from public exposure—stigma, harassment, reputational injury, and the permanent loss of privacy—is immediate and irreparable,” the doc also read.

Justin Timberlake Was Worried The ‘Messy’ Footage Would Ruin His Good-Guy Image

Before the release of the arrest video, a Timberlake source claimed that the pop singer was especially worried about how the video could impact his good-guy image.

“It’s the tone. The entitlement. The attitude. It’s messy,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop. “And it clashes with the image he’s been selling.”

“His brand is polished and controlled,” another source claimed. “If this footage drops, people will see an unfiltered moment that undercuts all of that.”

A third insider pointed out that Timberlake understands how harsh the public can be and hoped to prevent any further damage to his reputation.

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“He knows the internet never forgets,” the source shared. “One viral clip could follow him forever.”

The Singer And Sag Harbor Police Reached An Agreement On DWI Video Release

When the case was heard in court in an impromptu hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Joseph Farneti, urged Timberlake and the police department to mediate and see if a resolution could be reached.

He also placed an injunction preventing its release until the police department submitted the necessary documents supporting the FOIL request by those who requested the footage be made public.

It appears that Justin’s legal team and the Sag Harbor Police Department were able to reach an agreement, as a partially redacted video was what was released. The released video was almost 20 minutes long, compared to the initial eight hours of footage that had been recorded of the DWI.

Despite the release of the video, Timberlake appears to have had a small victory, as a joint filing with Sag Harbor officials acknowledged that the released footage did not violate privacy laws.

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Justin Timberlake Was Fined For His DWI Incident After Entering A Guilty Plea

For his DWI incident, Timberlake entered a guilty plea in September 2024. The plea carried minimal punishment, which included a $500 fine, 25 hours of community service, and a three-month suspension of his driver’s license.

The singer also expressed remorse for being involved in the incident, recording a public message in which he acknowledged his mistake and urged citizens to learn from his experience.

“This is a mistake that I’ve made, but I’m hoping whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” Timberlake said at the time, per Independent.

He added, “I know that I certainly have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”

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Right now, The Pitt is the show of the moment. Every week since early January, millions of viewers have been tuning into the show’s second season to watch the nurses and doctors of the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center save lives and cure patients on a very hectic and dramatic Fourth of July. The Pitt is something of an anomaly in today’s television landscape in that, during its first season, it became a hit through positive word-of-mouth and a steadily growing week-to-week audience. It was given the chance to find its footing and reach viewers, and now it’s already one of the biggest shows of the year.

However, there’s also little question that The Pitt got a boost from a show that came before it. Medical dramas are almost as old as television itself, and more often than not, they follow a familiar formula of rotating patients and doctors, high-stakes cases, and plenty of blood. The Pitt found a way to stand out with its real-time format, but it still has a lot in common with its predecessors in the genre — especially ER, which is now seeing a surge in viewership on streaming. Over 30 years after it premiered, the Michael Crichton-created drama is still very much worth a watch.

‘ER’ Brought Intense Realism to the TV Medical Drama

Before Noah Wyle was The Pitt‘s experienced and traumatized Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, he was ER‘s newbie, Dr. John Carter. The acclaimed drama first began in 1994 and tracked both the professional and personal lives of the many doctors and nurses who roamed the halls of Cook County General Hospital. Looking back on ER today, one can see shades of several present-day medical dramas, including Grey’s Anatomy and Chicago Med, though those shows might not have been created without ER paving the way. The series redefined what a primetime medical procedural could be, depicting the intensity of a high-volume emergency room with unflinching realism.

ER was ambitious right from the start, as it was born from a screenplay Crichton wrote that was then translated into a two-hour pilot. It introduced its core cast, led by Anthony Edwards‘ Dr. Mark Greene, and plunged them right into a packed 24 hours within the hospital, expertly combining devastating medical cases and character-driven drama. This would soon become ER‘s defining formula, best exemplified by the County General set itself. In one room, you could find Greene and Carter working to save someone’s life, while the next one over would see Dr. Doug Ross (a pre-big-break George Clooney) sharing a private moment with Nurse Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies).

ER is still considered one of the best medical dramas ever, but for a time, its significance for younger generations seemed overshadowed by the soapier antics of shows like Grey’s Anatomy. However, The Pitt has revived interest in ER, with the two shows occupying opposite ends of HBO Max’s daily Top 10 Series chart — #1 and #10, respectively — at the time of writing. They make good companions, both because of their emergency medicine settings and their creative teams. In addition to Wyle’s onscreen roles on both shows, The Pitt was created by former ER producer R. Scott Gemmill and is produced by John Wells, who served as the showrunner for ER‘s first six seasons and as an executive producer for the whole run.

‘ER’ Takes Its Characters Beyond the Hospital, but Always Keeps Its Heart Intact

Image via NBC

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Much has been said about The Pitt‘s similarities to ER — in fact, the Crichton estate has sued over the allegation that it grew from an ER reboot that never came to pass — but there are many things that set the two shows apart. Most notably, ER takes its doctors outside the eponymous department, going up to the surgical wing and into their houses. It stands as a sharp reminder that while these people are everyday heroes capable of saving lives without breaking a sweat, they’re also very human. They face mental health crises — Carol is brought into the hospital after a suicide attempt in the very first episode — and relationship troubles just like anyone else.

Because several characters stick around for multiple seasons, viewers truly get invested in their lives, making their trials and tribulations even more impactful. Greene’s eventual departure after spending years as County General’s most reliable doctor is made all the more emotional thanks to the years spent with him, and Carter’s evolution from baby-faced rookie to hardened ER vet is rewarding. Though ER somewhat suffered from its longevity — when a character both loses a limb via helicopter and then is later killed by one, it’s hard not to feel like the shark has been jumped — it always kept its core values intact.

This meant honoring healthcare workers, giving grace to patients, and delivering non-stop drama. At its best, ER could feature storylines that felt devastatingly real, yet utterly shocking, such as a standout Season 1 episode where Mark makes a fatal error when treating a woman in labor. Above all else, it was a fascinating peek into how an emergency room could function, and one that put equal stock in the tragedy and camaraderie that can thrive there. With The Pitt now reminding viewers how effective the medical drama can be, it’s the perfect time to revisit ER.