Entertainment
10 Most Undeniable Sci-Fi Movie Classics, Ranked
A sci-fi classic is not just a great movie with futuristic ideas in it. If that was the case, every sci-fi would be partially classic. Instead, a classic is a movie that people keep returning to because the concept, the execution, and the feeling of it all locked together so completely that time could not shake it loose. Some of these films changed visual language. Some changed blockbuster pacing. Some changed what audiences thought science fiction was even allowed to do.
But the real reason they last is simpler than that: they still work on the most basic level. They still pull people in fast, still create worlds you immediately believe in, and still deliver scenes that feel alive no matter how many times you watch them. That is what makes these ten movies below undeniable. Not important in the dry film-history sense. Undeniable.
10
‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1977)
What makes Close Encounters of the Third Kind such a permanent sci-fi classic is that it does not approach alien contact like a war film, a horror film, or a puzzle box first. It approaches it like an obsession. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) is turned into a chosen-one hero and he is a man whose normal life starts breaking apart because he has seen something he cannot fit back into ordinary reality. That choice gives the whole movie its strange pull. It is about being drawn somewhere you do not understand.
And Steven Spielberg’s control of wonder here is unbelievable. The film keeps letting mystery build through behavior, sound, fragments, and mounting compulsion. Roy shaping Devil’s Tower out of mashed potatoes should be ridiculous, but it works because the movie has made obsession feel physical by that point. The lights, the music, the scale, the patience of it, the sense that communication itself is the event, it all hits and earns the movie its awe.
9
‘The Matrix’ (1999)
A lot of movies changed action. A lot of movies changed sci-fi aesthetics. Very few changed both while also dropping one of the most immediately gripping high-concept premises blockbuster cinema has ever seen. The Matrix wastes almost no time getting its hooks in. Neo (Keanu Reeves) is already living with a low-grade sense that reality is wrong, and once Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) starts pulling him toward the truth, the movie becomes a machine built to reward curiosity.
But the reason it still stands this tall is that all those themes that were hinted at in 1999, are coming to light today in 2026. It is more relatable today. Its pills references are vibrant in pop culture now, 27 years later. It is structurally clean. The rules get introduced clearly, the stakes grow naturally, and the action is always tied to Neo’s changing belief in himself. The lobby shootout is iconic, obviously. The rooftop dodge, the subway fight with Smith, the bullet-time imagery, all of that landed for a reason. But the movie’s real strength is how confidently it makes philosophy playable. Identity, control, illusion, fate, freedom, these are big ideas, and the film manages to turn them into tension instead of homework.
8
‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the easiest movies in the world to rewatch because it understands escalation at every level. It is bigger than The Terminator, more emotional, more ambitious, and somehow even cleaner in its storytelling. The setup is instantly strong: John Connor (Edward Furlong) is the future, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) is already wrecked by what she knows, and the machine that once hunted her is now the closest thing John has to a protector. That reversal is so smart because it gives the movie action, character, and emotion in one move.
Then it just keeps delivering. The T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is one of the great movie antagonists. He is relentless without being noisy about it. Patrick plays him with this cold, efficient inevitability that makes every pursuit scene sharper. The canal chase, the hospital escape, the steel mill finale, the set pieces are incredible, but what makes the film a classic is how much feeling it carries inside them. Sarah’s terror, John’s need for connection, the Terminator slowly becoming something John can attach meaning to — that is why the ending works as more than spectacle. The film knows how to make action hurt.
7
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
There are more propulsive sci-fi movies than Blade Runner. There are cleaner plots. There are easier first watches. None of that matters much when the atmosphere, thematic weight, and visual identity are this complete. Ridley Scott made one of the most convincing cinematic future worlds ever put on screen, a place where rain, neon, exhaustion, commerce, memory, and moral decay all feel fused together. You are inside it within minutes.
And the movie’s staying power comes from the fact that it is not using its sci-fi ideas as decoration. They are the film’s whole moral challenge. Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer)’s acting is an epic sci-fi performance. He forces the movie past simple hunter-prey dynamics. He is angry, intelligent, cornered by mortality, and more emotionally awake than many of the humans around him. All in all, Blade Runner is a movie about how fragile life looks when time starts running out.
6
‘Alien’ (1979)
Alien is a sci-fi classic because it understands that futuristic world-building means nothing if the space itself does not feel lived in. The Nostromo, apparently a glossy fantasy of the future, also feels industrial, cramped, tired, mechanical, and real. These people feel like workers before they feel like genre pieces on a chessboard. Once the horror begins, the movie has already given the setting texture. You believe this crew exists. You believe their routines. You believe the ship. So when things go wrong, the panic sticks harder.
The brilliance of the film is how long it trusts dread. The facehugger, the chestburster, the motion tracker tension, the ventilation shafts, the revelation about Ash (Ian Holm), Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) piecing together the real shape of the threat — none of this is rushed. Weaver is a huge part of why the movie became immortal. Ripley does not feel like she was built in a lab to be iconic. She becomes iconic because she thinks clearly under pressure, notices what others miss, and survives through will and competence rather than movie-star invincibility. Alien keeps proving that science fiction can be tactile, intelligent, and terrifying all at once.
5
‘Star Wars’ (1977)
What puts Star Wars in this tier is not just influence, though the influence is absurd. It is how fast and how completely it locks into story pleasure. Within one movie, you get a tyranny, a rebellion, a farm boy pulled into something larger, a cynical smuggler with actual charm, a princess with backbone, a masked villain with mythic presence, a mentor figure, a superweapon, dogfights, rescues, and one of the cleanest heroic arcs ever made. That is an insane amount to land, and it lands because George Lucas keeps the storytelling simple where it needs to be simple.
The movie’s greatness is in its clarity. Every location feels distinct. Every character slot is memorable. Every tonal shift is easy to follow. The Death Star rescue in the film has already made Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) fun to watch together. The trench run is so good because the movie has spent enough time building Luke’s growth and the rebellion’s desperation. Darth Vader (David Prowse) works because the film understands the power of holding something back. Star Wars did not become a foundational classic because of brand afterlife. It became one because, on its own terms, it is an outrageously efficient and satisfying piece of sci-fi adventure storytelling.
4
‘The Thing’ (1982)
Few sci-fi classics hold up as savagely as The Thing because it attacks trust itself. The monster is terrifying, yes, but what makes the movie great is that the creature changes the social order of the room. After a certain point, nobody can be read normally anymore. Every glance, hesitation, accusation, and decision starts carrying the possibility of contamination. That turns the film into something meaner and smarter than a creature feature. It becomes a paranoia machine.
John Carpenter has helmed it with total confidence. The Antarctic isolation is already enough to strip away comfort, and then the movie starts using identity as the battlefield. MacReady (Kurt Russell) works because he is not some polished chosen hero. He is practical, irritated, suspicious, and forced into leadership by the fact that the situation no longer allows indecision. The blood-test scene alone would secure the film’s legacy. It is one of the tightest suspense sequences in sci-fi horror because the entire movie’s idea is compressed into one unbearable stretch of waiting. Add in the practical effects, which are still disgusting in exactly the right way, and The Thing becomes impossible to deny.
3
‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
Jurassic Park is such a towering classic and it shouldn’t be debatable by anybody. It nails both halves of the premise. The awe is real, and the danger is real. A lot of creature-driven sci-fi can do one or the other. This movie does both with precision. Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) anchor the film’s ideas so well that the T. rex breakout becomes one of the greatest blockbuster sequences ever staged because every detail is doing work before chaos erupts.
When Grant, Sattler, and Malcolm first see the dinosaurs, that whole wonder that’s captured on screen? Yeah that has moved generations and still does. Steven Spielberg wanted the audience to feel why this dream would seduce investors, scientists, children, and egomaniacs alike. And he did it. That is crucial groundwork. The water cup trembling. The fence failing. The kids trapped. Grant trying to take control while understanding immediately how bad this is. The movie never let the dinosaurs become empty effects demonstrations. The velociraptors are not just cooler threats added late. They complete the film’s idea that intelligence without humility is a disaster waiting to happen. Jurassic Park is thrilling, its spectacle is built on consequence, it moves you even today, and that’s why it’s a classic.
2
‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)
There are sci-fi classics that changed the genre. Then there is 2001: A Space Odyssey, which changed the scale of what sci-fi on film could even attempt. This is not a mere movie that tries to spoon-feed wonder or terror or explanation. It trusts image, duration, composition, sound, silence, and viewer attention at a level that still feels radical. From the Dawn of Man opening to the space-station movement to the HAL crisis to the final cosmic passage, the film keeps reinventing what kind of experience it wants to be.
And yet what makes it undeniable is not just that it is ambitious. It is that the ambition holds. HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain) is one of the greatest sci-fi creations ever. A machine built for perfect assistance becomes the source of deadly control, and the calmness of HAL’s voice makes every moment worse. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) pulling himself back into the ship, shutting HAL down piece by piece, listening as HAL regresses — that stretch is as gripping as anything in the genre. 2001: A Space Odyssey remains a classic because it is operating on a level too high to dismiss.
1
‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
Back to the Future is the most undeniable sci-fi movie classic because it does the hardest thing of all: it makes brilliance look effortless. Time travel movies are usually either too messy, too technical, too self-serious, or so busy admiring their own mechanics that they forget to be fun. This movie is almost impossibly clean. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) gets thrown back into 1955, accidentally disrupts his parents’ first connection, has to repair the timeline, and needs a way home. That is the plot. And from there, the film just executes at a nearly supernatural level.
Every relationship pays off. Every gag matters later. Every ticking-clock element comes back stronger near the end. Fox gives Marty exactly the right mix of confidence, panic, decency, and quick-thinking charm. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) turns what could have been a one-note eccentric into the emotional and comic heartbeat of the whole movie. George McFly (Crispin Glover)’s arc is satisfying because the film understands that courage can be funny, humiliating, and real at the same time. Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) is the exact right kind of bully for this world. The lightning-strike finale is one of the best sustained endings in blockbuster history. And all that is why it sits at number one.
Entertainment
Gloria Estefan’s Timely New Documentary Is Officially on Digital [Exclusive]
In just a few days, the United States will honor the 25th nationally recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In Latin America, awareness is spreading through the upcoming release of Brisa. The documentary features commentary from global icon Gloria Estefan. The film chronicles Brisa de Angula Losada’s relentless pursuit of justice. That culminated in a landmark ruling at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. “She’s a warrior; this is hard what she is doing and, in Latin America, even harder because there is such a culture of protection of the male with women in a second tier,” Estefan explains. Now Collider has an exclusive first look at the trailer as the documentary arrives on Digital.
The trailer begins with startling statistics: 70% to 80% of women in the country have encountered some form of domestic violence. In the trailer, Brisa describes how, after her sexual assault, she felt like she was failed by the Bolivian government.
The documentary is described as:
“A powerful and gripping documentary about Brisa De Angulo Losada’s fight as a survivor and advocate against childhood abuse and sexual violence. Her decades-long pursuit led to a landmark case at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, reshaping the legal landscape across Latin America. Directed by 24-time Emmy winner Nick Nanton, BRISA features Gloria Estefan and Brisa de Angulo Losada.”
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Brisa de Angula Losada Says Now Is the “Perfect Time” for Documentary
Losada has translated her personal victory into widespread action through her non-profit, A Breeze of Hope. Her humanitarian efforts have provided free legal aid and support to over 2,600 victims and families navigating the court system. She says the timing of this documentary could not be better:
“I decided to share my story with the world now because now is the perfect time. The Inter-American Court ruled in my favor in my case against Bolivia, and now is the time to bring the horrendous and gut-wrenching reality of incestuous sexual violence to light. Now is the time to pressure governments around the world to comply with heightened child protection standards. With the Court’s judgement, we now have a framework–an advocacy tool–that gives teeth to our stories. Now is the time to show survivors everywhere that their voices can reshape nations, regions, continents, and the entire world. As survivors, we now have a binding case–and a real instrument of change–that lends legitimacy to our voices and our cries for justice.”
Executive producers on the documentary include: Nick Nanton, Nick Ruff, Brian Norton, Mark Evans, Deena Evans, Peter D’Arruda, Chuck McDowell, Didi Wong, Chris Wiser, Kevin Hodes, Wayne Pernell, Jennifer Perri, Pat Ziemer, Fred Rouse, Paul Peters, Julie Meates, Richard Tyler, Francis X. Astorino, Bryan Gallinger, Kimberly Ku, Kathleen Forrest, Gwen Medved, Susan Rucker, Mike Lockwood and Suzanne Nakano.
Director of the project, Nick Nanton explains:
“Brisa is not only a survivor of sexual violence — she is a relentless advocate who refused to be silenced, challenging legal and cultural norms in Bolivia and across Latin America.”
Brisa is currently available to rent on most streaming platforms, including Prime Video. Check out the trailer above. Stay with Collider for the latest updates.
Entertainment
Sophie Turner Inured On Set, ‘Tomb Raider’ Production Paused
The highly-anticipated “Tomb Raider” live-action series featuring Sophie Turner has reportedly hit a brief production setback. The actress is said to have sustained an injury while filming, resulting in the temporary pause of production.
Turner has been hard at work on the project since production began in January. While details about the injury have not been disclosed, filming is expected to resume once she has recovered and is ready to return to set.
Sophie Turner Had A Minor Injury

Filming for “Tomb Raider” has been temporarily paused, Amazon MGM Studios announced in a statement sent to Entertainment Weekly. The actress had a “minor injury” during production, and filming was temporarily paused to give the actress time to heal. “We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible,” the studio noted.
A source told Page Six that Turner will most likely be back on set in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, the crew members will be continuing to do prep work needed for the production.
In January, Amazon MGM Studios posted first-look photos of Turner as Lara Croft, the adventurer and archaeologist who is the main protagonist in the video game franchise, “Tomb Raider,” which the series is based on.
The Actress Said She Has ‘Massive Shoes To Fill’
In September 2025, actress and producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is the project’s showrunner, confirmed Turner will be portraying Lara Croft in the series. “I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team. It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving,” Waller-Bridge stated.
Turner expressed her excitement over taking on the role, saying, “I am giving everything I’ve got.” The “Game of Thrones” alum also gave a nod to the actresses who have portrayed Croft in the past, Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, saying she has “massive shoes to fill.”
“I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking,” Turner teased.
Sophie Turner Said The New Lara Croft Won’t Be A ‘Bombshell’
Since the release of the first “Tomb Raider” game in 1996, Croft has been seen as both a heroine and a bombshell, blending her sex appeal with her thirst for adventure. However, Turner said that the series won’t focus on the “sex bombshell” characteristic.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in January, the actress said the series will focus on showing Croft’s “other side.” “It’s about her and her story and what drives her, rather than what so many people also love about her, which is how hot she is in the games and the movies,” Turner explained.
“I really want to show the other side. She’s so unashamedly capable. She is not a woman who hides her strengths at all,” the actress added.
The Actress Went Through Intense Training For The Role

In January, Turner talked about the gruelling training she had to undergo in preparation for playing Croft. On “The Julia Cunningham Show,” the actress said she started training in February 2025 and has been doing it for “eight hours a day, five days a week” since.
Turner explained that she found out she had a “perpetual back problem” while conditioning her body. In addition, she shared that it was quite difficult for her to build muscle, since she wasn’t used to working out. “It has taken me months and months and months to get into good shape,” she added, jokingly saying that in her role as Sansa Stark in “Game of Thrones,” she was the one who was beaten up and not the one doing the beating.
While Turner played Marvel mutant Jean Grey in “X-Men” and had to be in shape for the role, she pointed out that she didn’t need physical training since Grey’s special ability was telekinesis. “I didn’t realize I could push my body that far. I feel like I’ve achieved something even before we’ve started shooting,” she said, referring to her role as Croft.
The ‘Tomb Raider’ Franchise
The massive success of the “Tomb Raider” games resulted in a series of movies and series. In 2001, Angelina Jolie played the role of Croft in the movie “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.” She reprised her role for the second movie, released in 2003, titled “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.”
In 2018, the “Tomb Raider” movie was released, with Alicia Vikander taking on the role of the archaeologist. The game also spawned two animated series, “Re\Visioned: Tomb Raider” and “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.”
The “Tomb Raider” series starring Turner also features Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Martin Bobb-Semple, and Bill Paterson. A release date has yet to be announced.
Entertainment
Missing ‘The Office’? Steve Carell Says His New HBO Comedy Has the Same “All for One” Vibe
Summary
- Collider’s Perri Nemiroff chats with Steve Carell, Charly Clive, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai for HBO Max’s Rooster.
- Carell and Clive discuss how this series recaptures the magic of The Office and its standout costars.
- McGinley and Tsai also discuss how Bill Lawrence has once again created magic with his cast and standout costars like Danielle Deadwyler and Rory Scovel.
What made The Office so spectacularly successful is hard to put a finger on, but Steve Carell knows what made it so special for him. Fortunately for fans, the Emmy Award nominee says his HBO Max series, Rooster, recaptures the same lightning-in-a-bottle magic under the guidance of Ted Lasso and Shrinking‘s co-creator Bill Lawrence.
In Rooster, Carell plays a proud but concerned father and best-selling author Greg Russo. Katie, played by Charly Clive (The Lazarus Project), is a college professor whose personal life is in shambles, and it’s beginning to affect her work. When Greg is invited to speak at the university, he realizes his status could be an opportunity to help save Katie’s career, and jumps at the chance to be his daughter’s hero again.
While talking with Nemiroff, Carell and Clive discuss how Rooster‘s talented ensemble cast creates a vibe similar to The Office‘s “all for one” energy. They talk about the moments throughout filming when they found their own unique ways into their characters, with Lawrence’s encouragement, and the costars, like Annie Mumolo (The Idea of You) and Rory Scovel (Physical), who took their parts to the next level. Carell also reveals a very impressive moment from set that we’ll sadly never see on screen. Check out the full conversation in the video above, or in the transcript below.
Steve Carell Says ‘Rooster’s “Vibe Is Really Similar” to ‘The Office’
He credits this lightning-in-a-bottle energy to creator Bill Lawrence, the crew, and the ensemble.
PERRI NEMIROFF: Steve, I’ll start with a question for you about general casting on this show because I was reading some quotes about it and how you explained that the Rooster ensemble had a little bit of a similar vibe to the ensemble in The Office. So I was wondering, what was that similarity, and what’s the first thing you saw happen on set that signaled to you the Rooster team had that extra-special group attached?
STEVE CARELL: Well, I attribute the success, in my opinion, of the ensemble to Bill Lawrence. Much in the same way that Greg Daniels was instrumental in casting The Office, I think Bill Lawrence has a really good eye, not just for talented people, but for good, nice people, kind people who would potentially get along with each other. I think Bill did the same thing. I think everyone that he cast genuinely wanted to be part of an ensemble and wanted to support one another and wanted it to be the best show.
These are all the things that we felt on The Office. No one was more important than anybody else. Everybody was just part of this group. Cast, crew, writers, everybody just wanted to make it great. And so, in that way, the vibe was really similar.
I like those vibes. I want to see more of them in this industry.
A question for both of you. This comes from something Bill mentioned in another interview. He was saying that when you all did your first table read, he specifically told you, “Within a couple of weeks, I want you all to have an exceptionally greater percentage of ownership over your character.” So, for each of you, do you remember the first moment when that happened, the first moment you thought of something or you did something, and you’re like, “Wow, this character is uniquely my own now?”
CHARLY CLIVE: Oh, I know what mine is! Before I said my line, I said, “Ew,” and then I said my line. Then Bill thought it was kind of funny, and he was like, “Why did you do that?” And I was like, “Because that to me, if I’m embarrassed, I’d be like, ‘Ew.’” It was something that Greg said, and my instinct was to say, “Ew!” He was like, “Oh, that’s interesting. That’s how Katie shows embarrassment,” and he found it funny. I was like, “Oh, okay, great! That’s funny.” I didn’t realize that was going to happen that way, and it was great.
He was very open to if I had suggestions or if I felt like I wanted to talk, or have ideas about things. Bill just loves to play. He was like, “Okay, great. And then what about this? What about this?” He’s very, very “Yes, and.”
CARELL: Almost instantly, really, everybody was taking ownership. The fact that he said that at the first table read really set a tone, and it all starts from the top. That culture starts with him and the fact that he was saying, “This is yours. This is all of ours, so make it yours, and add to it or subtract, or let’s talk about stuff if it’s not working for you.” And he was true to his word. He never held us to anything that they had written.
The other side of it is that the scripts were great. They were all really funny and heartfelt, and felt lived-in. But within that, just being able to have options and be able to play and being able to try to make each other laugh, that’s another thing that was similar to me in terms of those two experiences. It’s got to be fun. That makes it less work. It’s fun for everybody. It’s fun for the crew, too, to not really know what’s going to happen this take. So, everyone’s sort of in it every time. It’s not just going through the motions.
“Well, well, well… how the turntables…”
Annie Mumolo Is a ‘Rooster’ Scene-Stealer
“I knew, but I don’t think what a lot of people knew going in was that there’s also an enormous amount of depth to her as an actor.”
I’ll build on that a little bit because I love forcing actors to give their costars flowers. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I do want to tease how good everybody around the two of you is in this show. Can you each tell me something you saw another actor do on the Rooster set that would make you want to tell a potential viewer, “You think you know what they’re capable of, just wait until you see what they do on our show?”
CARELL: Well, the first person that comes to mind is Annie Mumolo.
CLIVE: Me too!
CARELL: Who everybody knows is a super funny person. I knew, but I don’t think what a lot of people knew going in was that there’s also an enormous amount of depth to her as an actor. This crazy character she plays can turn on a dime and break your heart in the most grounded, real way, while at the same time doing the most fantastically funny things. Really, it’s masterful.
But that’s just one example. They’re across the board. The people who play the students in the show, a lot of them, right at first, might have been a little intimidated. It’s a new environment, and they may not be as experienced as some of the older actors, but within hours, almost, they were feeling that vibe. They were able to start taking ownership of their own roles and making them their own and improvising. Incredibly funny! So, it’s really across the board. There are 100 different examples I could give.
CLIVE: I thought of Annie first, too, because Annie also can make a facial expression. Annie, without saying anything, just a simple facial expression, can really make you break character. I didn’t get to do that much with Annie, but I sort of begged to, and Bill was like, “We’ll find a place for you guys to interact.” And it was one of the harder days because I find her so hilariously funny, and every take she did something completely different, which is so much fun.
But lots of people are like that. I’d also like to say a special mention to Rory Scovel, who was just exceptionally funny. Sometimes he’d be like, “Oh, I’ve got this good idea for a joke,” and then sometimes he’d sort of set you up for an open goal that you didn’t realize was there. He always had such a great energy. But everybody did.
CARELL: That’s the other part of it, is that people weren’t thinking about just their own performance. People did want to set other people up. That’s another thing that reflects my experience on The Office. It was all for one. It was, “Let’s share it. This is all of ours.” And I think that shows are better when that happens, when you’re sharing it.
I’ll end on a somewhat silly question, because I’m obsessed with you throwing the pennies into the jar, and there’s also a particular episode where there’s some good college party games. For each of you, what particular college party game do you either think you would be the best at, or maybe you were the best at?
CLIVE: Beer pong for me.
CARELL: I was pretty good at beer pong, I think.
Are you actually throwing the pennies into the jars or is that movie magic?
CARELL: I mean, I didn’t hit all of them, for sure, but the ones that you see, I got. And you know the one with the ping pong ball, where I turn around and throw it?
No way!
CARELL: That went in, but they didn’t have it on camera. I swear that actually happened.
I’m going to choose to believe you even without the proof.
CARELL: It kills me that they didn’t because I did it! But you never know. The first take, I did it, and it went right in, and I felt the whole crew went, “Oh my god!” We could have never used it because they were all screaming. [Laughs]
‘Rooster’ Is a “Hall of Fame” of Talent
Fans will no doubt be falling in love with this cast, as we did with Scrubs, Ted Lasso, and more.
In addition to talking with Carell and Clive, Nemiroff also had the opportunity to speak with Scrubs alum John C. McGinley, who plays Dean Walter Mann in Rooster, and Lauren Tsai (Legion), who plays Sunny, the grad student that Katie’s husband and colleague, Archie (Ted Lasso‘s Phil Dunster), cheats on her with.
During their conversation, Tsai explains what it’s like to go from a tonally varied series like Legion to a Bill Lawrence comedy, saying, “I feel like I’m acting for the first time.” McGinley, a fan favorite on Scrubs as the lovably grouchy Dr. Perry Cox, also shares how he knew Lawrence had done it again with the Rooster ensemble, calling their cast, from Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) to Dunster, a “hall of fame” of talent. To dig into how special this cast is, they each share moments from standout castmates, reveal the magic behind the truth barrel, the seemingly easy “human” things that are trickiest to act out, and more. Check out the video above for the full interview.
Rooster debuts on March 8, available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes premiere every Sunday.
- Release Date
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March 8, 2026
- Network
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HBO
Entertainment
Taylor Swift Avoids Awkward Run-In With John Mayer
Taylor Swift narrowly avoided what could have been an awkward reunion over the weekend when she attended Paul McCartney’s concert in Los Angeles, only to realize her ex, John Mayer, was also in attendance.
While the two stars didn’t cross paths, Swift’s quiet exit quickly caught attention.
The moment comes amid a whirlwind time in her personal and professional life, with major award wins, a high-profile engagement, and lingering history that still sparks conversation years later.
Taylor Swift Avoids Awkward Run-In With John Mayer

According to a report from Page Six, Taylor Swift found herself in close proximity to a familiar face from her past when she attended McCartney’s concert at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Saturday.
The singer was seen mingling with fellow attendees, including Olivia Rodrigo, but the atmosphere reportedly shifted once it became clear that Mayer was also present at the venue.
Although both stars were spotted outside at different points during the night, they managed to avoid any direct interaction.
Swift ultimately exited through a different route, sidestepping what many fans would have considered a tense encounter.
Dressed in a sleek black outfit with her hair styled in a polished updo, Swift appeared composed as she left the venue, treating the event like any other night out.
Swift And Mayer’s Complicated History Still Lingers

Taylor Swift and Mayer’s connection dates back to 2009, when the two collaborated on the track “Half Of My Heart.”
At the time, the Grammy Award winner was only 19 while Mayer was 32, a dynamic that later fueled widespread discussion about their relationship.
Not long after working together, the pair were romantically linked, but their relationship was short-lived.
By February 2010, they had gone their separate ways, though the aftermath would continue to echo through their music and public statements.
Later that year, Swift released her album “Speak Now,” which included the track “Dear John.”
The song quickly sparked speculation that it was inspired by her relationship with Mayer, particularly due to its pointed lyrics, including, “Don’t you think nineteen’s too young/To be played by your dark, twisted games when I loved you so?/I should’ve known.”
John Mayer Opens Up About Taylor Swift’s ‘Dear John’

Although Swift never confirmed the subject of the song, the narrative gained traction, especially after Mayer appeared to respond years later.
In 2013, he released “Paper Doll,” with lyrics like, “You’re like twenty-two girls in one/And none of them know what they’re runnin’ from,” which many believed referenced Swift and her “Red” era.
Months before the release, Mayer shared his thoughts on “Dear John,” telling Rolling Stone that the song left him feeling “terrible” and “humiliated.”
He insisted, “Because I didn’t deserve it,” and added that he had been caught off guard by the track’s release.
Reflecting on the moment, he said, “I mean, how would you feel if, at the lowest you’ve ever been, someone kicked you even lower?”
Swift, for her part, pushed back on the assumption that the song was about their relationship.
Speaking to Glamour, she called it “presumptuous” to assume the song was about him and reiterated, “I never disclose who my songs are about.”
Swift Celebrates Major Wins Amid Personal Milestones

Despite the resurfacing of old headlines, Taylor Swift has been firmly focused on the present.
Just days before the concert, she made a major appearance at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, where she was joined by her fiancé, Travis Kelce.
Swift dominated the night, taking home seven awards, including Pop Album of the Year for her 2025 release “The Life of a Showgirl.”
As reported by The Blast, she reflected on the album’s tone during her acceptance speech, describing it as having an “energy of just feeling really happy and strong and confident and free.”
She credited her current happiness in part to her relationship, telling the audience, “Because of my fiance, who’s here tonight. So thank you, thanks for all the vibes,” as Kelce looked on proudly from the crowd.
The couple, who made their awards show debut that night, shared affectionate moments throughout the evening, including a kiss before Swift took the stage.
Taylor Swift’s Engagement And Future Plans Take Center Stage

Away from the spotlight of concerts and award shows, Swift is also preparing for a major personal milestone.
The singer got engaged to Kelce last August, later sharing the news with fans in her signature playful style, writing, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”
Sources close to the couple revealed that their engagement has been marked by intimate celebrations, with loved ones expressing excitement and support.
Plans for the wedding are already underway, with reports suggesting the ceremony could take place at Swift’s Rhode Island mansion.
The rumored date, June 13, holds special significance for Swift, as 13 is widely known to be her lucky number.
There has also been speculation that close friends, including Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid, could be part of the bridal party.
Entertainment
Sophie Turner Injured, Tomb Raider Production Pauses
Sophie Turner is recovering from an unspecified injury, leading to a production pause on Prime Video’s new Tomb Raider TV show.
“Sophie Turner recently experienced a minor injury,” Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement to Deadline on Sunday, March 29. “As a precaution, production has briefly paused to allow her time to recover. We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible.”
Turner, 30, plays archeologist and adventurer Lara Croft in the new television adaptation based on the Tomb Raider video game series. The series is executive produced by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
“I’m so excited to announce the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this phenomenal creative team,” Waller-Bridge said in a September 2025 statement announcing Turner’s casting. “It’s not very often you get to make a show of this scale with a character you grew up loving. Everyone on board is wildly passionate about Lara and are all as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is. Get your artifacts out… Croft is coming…”
“I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner added. “She’s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many – and I am giving everything I’ve got. They’re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina [Jolie] and Alicia [Vikander] with their powerhouse performances, but with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands. I can’t wait for you all to see what we have cooking.”
Tomb Raider began filming in January and will also star Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs and Martin Bobb-Semple.
In a January appearance on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, Turner opened up about how she prepared for the shoot.
“We’ve been doing eight hours a day, five days a week, since February last year of training, so it’s been a lot,” the actress said.

Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. Jay Maidment/Prime
She continued, “I’ve learned I have a perpetual back problem, but I also realized that it’s much easier to build muscle if you’ve ever worked out before in your life, which I never had, so it has taken me months and months and months to get into good shape. That’s what I’ve learned.”
Turner also spoke about how her iconic role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones did little to help her prepare for her new part.
“I was the cool queen who, like, didn’t have to do that,” she said of playing Sansa. “I also just kind of was the one that got beat up, not the one doing the beating. So, it’s quite nice to learn how to throw a punch and not just take it.”
Entertainment
Ben Affleck’s Forgotten Adaptation of an Iconic Sci-Fi Thriller Returns to Streaming in April
There is a very specific kind of early-2000s studio sci-fi thriller that feels almost impossible to recreate now. High concept, glossy, a little paranoid, and stacked with stars, those movies usually revolved around one killer premise and enough confidence to carry it through. Paycheck fits that mold perfectly. It has never had the reputation of the biggest Philip K. Dick adaptations, but it has always had its own odd little appeal.
That overlooked genre entry is heading to Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the streamer’s next monthly lineup. It is an easy one to imagine finding a second life there, especially for viewers who have a soft spot for old-school puzzle-box thrillers.
Directed by John Woo, the 2003 film stars Ben Affleck as Michael Jennings, a reverse engineer who takes lucrative jobs under one unusual condition: his memory is wiped after each assignment. When he wakes up after one major project, he discovers he has given up a massive payday in exchange for an envelope full of random everyday items. Naturally, those objects turn out to be the only clues he has to survive what comes next.
The cast includes Affleck as Michael Jennings, Uma Thurman as Dr. Rachel Porter, Aaron Eckhart as James Rethrick, Paul Giamatti as Shorty, Colm Feore as John Wolfe, and Joe Morton as Agent Dodge.
Remembering the Icons of Film — Collider Movie Quiz
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
Is ‘Paycheck’ Worth Watching?
Roger Ebert‘s review stated that Paycheck starts with a genuinely great sci-fi premise and then gradually turns it into something much more ordinary. Built around a Philip K. Dick idea about memory wipes, future tech, and a man trying to decode clues left for himself, the film has all the ingredients for a sharp, paranoid thriller. Instead, it mostly settles for a pretty standard action movie.
“And the attempts of the Allcom security staff to deal with the various locks and alarms in their top-secret lab had me thinking of “Dumb and Dumber.” There are countless fascinating possibilities involved in Philip K. Dick’s story, and I’m kind of sad that the ones ranking highest in the minds of the filmmakers was the opportunity to have chase scenes and blow stuff up real good.”
Paycheck will premiere on Paramount+ on April 1.
- Release Date
-
December 25, 2003
- Runtime
-
119 Minutes
- Writers
-
Philip K. Dick, Dean Georgaris
Entertainment
One of the Most Bonkers Studio Sci-Fi Movies of the 2000s Hits Streaming Next Month
Every so often, Hollywood hands viewers a science-fiction movie so committed to its own nonsense that resisting it becomes kind of impossible. The Core is one of those movies. It does not just flirt with absurdity. It digs a tunnel straight through the Earth and drives right into it at full speed. That is exactly why it still has fans.
That gloriously over-the-top 2003 disaster movie is heading to Paramount+ on April 1, joining the streamer’s April lineup alongside a long list of catalogue additions. For anyone with an affection for big-studio sci-fi that takes itself deadly seriously while doing completely insane things, it is an excellent pickup.
Directed by Jon Amiel, the film follows a team of scientists and specialists sent on an impossible mission after the Earth’s core mysteriously stops rotating. If they cannot fix it, the planet is doomed. That setup is obviously ridiculous, but The Core sells it with a great cast, a straight face, and a pace that never really slows down long enough for you to protest. Sometimes that is all a movie like this needs.
The cast includes Aaron Eckhart as Dr. Josh Keyes, Hilary Swank as Major Rebecca Childs, Delroy Lindo as Dr. Ed “Braz” Brazzelton, Stanley Tucci as Dr. Conrad Zimsky, Tchéky Karyo as Serge Leveque, Bruce Greenwood as Commander Iverson, and Alfre Woodard as Talma Stickley.
Remembering the Icons of Film — Collider Movie Quiz
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
Is ‘The Core’ Worth Watching?
Roger Ebert‘s review stated that The Core is absolutely ridiculous, and weirdly enough, that’s a big part of its appeal. The film’s premise — that the Earth’s core has stopped spinning and humanity has less than a year before solar radiation wipes everyone out — is pure old-school sci-fi nonsense, and the movie leans into it with total sincerity. That includes some truly wild dialogue, over-the-top science, and a plot that feels like it was pulled straight from a vintage B-movie.
“The Core” is not exactly good, but it knows what a movie is. It has energy and daring and isn’t afraid to make fun of itself, and it thinks big, as when the Golden Gate Bridge collapses and a scientist tersely reports, “The West Coast is out.” If you are at the video store late on Saturday night and they don’t have “Anaconda,” this will do.
The Core arrives on Paramount+ on April 1.
- Release Date
-
March 28, 2003
- Runtime
-
135 minutes
- Director
-
Jon Amiel
Entertainment
Knock-Off ‘Armageddon’ Sci-Fi Classic Moves Streamers Next Month
Some movies get permanently stuck in the shadow of the louder hit that came out right beside them. That has always been a little bit true of Deep Impact, which arrived in 1998 just months before Armageddon turned asteroid panic into full-on popcorn spectacle. The two films are always linked, but they are really doing different things. One goes big and bombastic. The other aims for something sadder and more human.
Now, that more emotional disaster movie is heading to Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the service’s new movie lineup for the month. It is one of several catalogue titles joining the platform, and it stands out as one of the more interesting rewatch plays in the batch.
Directed by Mimi Leder, Deep Impact follows the discovery of a comet on a collision course with Earth and the political, personal, and global fallout that comes with it. Rather than focusing only on destruction, the film spends a lot of time with families, reporters, astronauts, and officials trying to process what may be the end of everything. That gives it a very different tone from the flashier disaster movies it is often grouped with.
The cast includes Téa Leoni as Jenny Lerner, Robert Duvall as Captain Spurgeon Tanner, Elijah Wood as Leo Biederman, Morgan Freeman as President Beck, Leelee Sobieski as Sarah Hotchner, Vanessa Redgrave as Robin Lerner, Maximilian Schell as Jason Lerner, and James Cromwell as Alan Rittenhouse.
Remembering the Icons of Film — Collider Movie Quiz
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
Is ‘Deep Impact’ Worth Watching?
Roger Ebert‘s review stated that Deep Impact has a built-in problem most disaster movies wisely avoid: if a comet the size of a mountain is really heading for Earth, the ending can only go so many ways. That tension gives the film a strong premise, and the review credits the screenplay for finding a workable path through it without completely spoiling the spectacle.
“Whether Earth is saved or doomed, or neither, I will leave you to discover for yourself. I personally found it easier to believe that Earth could survive this doomsday scenario than that the Messiah spacecraft could fly at thousands of miles an hour through the comet’s tail, which contains rocks the size of two-car garages, without serious consequences. On the disaster epic scale, on which “Titanic” gets four stars and “Volcano” gets 1.5, “Deep Impact” gets 2.5–the same as “Dante’s Peak,” even though it lacks a dog that gets left behind.”
Deep Impact crashes into Paramount+ on April 1.
- Release Date
-
May 8, 1998
- Runtime
-
120 minutes
- Director
-
Mimi Leder
- Writers
-
Michael Tolkin, Bruce Joel Rubin
Entertainment
Lil Mama Crashes Bow Wow’s Show, Addresses Look-Alike Rumor
Roommates, you know when a moment just hits different and fans lose it immediately? That’s exactly what went down when Lil Mama unexpectedly joined Bow Wow on stage during his Brooklyn tour stop. Now, the internet can’t stop talking about the surprise reunion and the energy they brought.
RELATED: Who’s This For? Fans Demand Answers After Bow Wow Shares Cryptic Message About Replacing Performers Ahead Of ‘Boys 4 Life’ Tour
Lil Mama Crashes Bow Wow’s Brooklyn Show
On Saturday night, Bow Wow hit the Barclays Center and brought the vibes. Fans were already hyped for the ‘Millennium Tour’ stop in Brooklyn, but nothing prepared them for Lil Mama, 36, suddenly appearing onstage to join Bow Wow, 39, during his performance of the 2002 classic ‘Take Ya Home.’ As shown in the clip on his Instagram, the crowd erupted as Bow Wow teased the audience, “Can we please put both of us in the same frame so they know this is not AI?” before turning to Lil Mama: “Twin, you know I stay ready, right? … Can you do me a favor? Take this sh*t over with this one.”
From there, Lil Mama took over, delivering her iconic 2007 hit ‘Lip Gloss’ and even giving fans a brief a cappella rendition of her 2015 single ‘Sausage.’ Social media immediately blew up: Bow Wow shared on Instagram, “Brooklyn was crazy tonight! I can’t believe [Lil Mama] crashed my set tonight! Now y’all can’t say this was AI! We Finally In The Same Place At The Same Time!” Lil Mama chimed in with fire emojis in the comments.
This Surprise Performance Has Fans Talking
Fans didn’t waste a second hitting up TSR’s Instagram comments to share their thoughts on the surprise Bow Wow and Lil Mama moment. Some were quick to point out, “Okay, they really aren’t the same person.” While others noticed GloRilla wasn’t in the mix and joked she needs to clear that up next. Meanwhile, plenty of fans were just here for Lil Mama getting her flowers, celebrating the moment and the energy she brought to the stage.
One Instagram user @kweenmocha shared, “Should’ve brought out Glo too so we could have Triplets on stage 😂”
This Instagram user @mynametreety said, “😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Yeahhhhhhhhh i still remember the day lipgloss premiered 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥”
And, Instagram user @natasha_nubian added, “Finally we have the siblings on stage together 😍 and she killed that Harlem shake 🔥🔥”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @__kymo___ joked, “We finally seen them at the same time😭”
While Instagram user @_.keeandmikee wrote, “Lmfao! At least his reaction was better than Jay z that one time 😂”
Finally, Instagram user @shaiangelita added, “That’s right give mama her flowers, this is DOPE! 💐”
What’s Really Going On With This Millennium Tour?
RELATED: B2K & Bow Wow Reunite, Talk Celebrity Crushes And Beef! | SITSR (Exclusive)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson’s Epic Sci-Fi Action Franchise Hits Streaming Next Month
There was a stretch when Hollywood was trying to turn every toy brand, comic property, and action line into the next giant cinematic universe. Some of those bets paid off. A lot of them did not. The G.I. Joe movies landed right in the middle of that era, and while they never became the all-conquering franchise Paramount probably hoped for, they did carve out a place for themselves with audiences who liked their blockbusters loud, shiny, and a little ridiculous.
Now one of the key entries in that franchise is heading back to its home studio’s streamer. G.I. Joe: Retaliation arrives on Paramount+ on April 1 as part of the platform’s new monthly wave of film additions, giving the sequel a fresh streaming home.
Released in 2013, Retaliation leans harder into star power and larger-scale action than its predecessor, with Dwayne Johnson stepping into a major role alongside Channing Tatum. The story follows the Joes after they are framed and nearly wiped out, forcing the survivors to regroup and hit back against Cobra’s growing influence. It is a cleaner, punchier movie than The Rise of Cobra, and one that more confidently embraces the franchise’s cartoonishly high-stakes energy.
The cast includes Johnson as Roadblock, Tatum as Duke, Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye, Bruce Willis as Joe Colton, Ray Park as Snake Eyes, Lee Byung-hun as Storm Shadow, D.J. Cotrona as Flint, Jonathan Pryce as President Zartan, and Arnold Vosloo as Zartan.
Remembering the Icons of Film — Collider Movie Quiz
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
Is ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated that G.I. Joe: Retaliation isn’t interested in being smart, deep, or even especially character-driven, but it does understand the assignment. This is a movie built around giant weapons, ridiculous vehicles, ninja fights, and stuff blowing up on a massive scale, and for the most part, it delivers exactly that.
The best characters, Snake Eyes and Roadblock, are the standouts partially because they’re in tune with the film’s true lead: action. That’s all G.I. Joe: Retaliation is meant to be. Director Jon Chu understands that’s why people show up, so his task is to make sure the set pieces deliver, and for the most part he succeeds. Like all the best toy commercials, G.I. Joe: Retaliation makes you forget you’re buying a piece of plastic. It lets you imagine that you’re part of the action, and free to feel like a kid again—a reckless, violent, gleefully destructive kid.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation will arrive on Paramount+ on April 1.
- Release Date
-
March 29, 2013
- Runtime
-
110 Minutes
-
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