Universal love is a hard thing to earn in action cinema. Plenty of action movies are iconic. Plenty are influential. Plenty have one immortal set piece, one immortal star, one immortal villain, one immortal line. Universal love asks for more. It asks for a movie people return to with real affection, the kind that survives changing tastes, new technology, endless imitation, and the usual backlash that comes for anything successful enough to become part of the culture. These are the films that somehow keep clearing every generation anyway.

And I’ve noticed that among these movies, the common thread is precision. Each one understands movement, stakes, character, and escalation so well that the thrills never feel empty. The action keeps revealing people. The plot keeps tightening while the set pieces get bigger. The audience gets excitement and emotional payoff in the same breath. That is why this list is limited to eight movies. All eight of them stayed beloved instead of becoming dusty important classics for a reason.

8

‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics/Columbia TriStar Film

This film has universal love because Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gives action the one thing a lot of imitators never quite manage to hold onto: yearning. Every fight has longing inside it. Every leap across rooftops carries pride, repression, unfinished love, wounded discipline, or the hunger to live outside a life somebody else designed. Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) are heartbreaking because the movie lets years of restraint sit between them in every scene. Jen (Zhang Ziyi) explodes into that emotional geometry like a lit match, gifted enough to astonish everyone and immature enough to weaponize that gift against herself.

That is why the action feels so complete. Jen stealing Green Destiny is plot. Jen fighting Shu Lien with escalating weapons is character. Jen flying across rooftops is rebellion. The desert story with Lo (Chang Chen) turns her into something fuller than a spoiled prodigy and makes the final tragedy hit harder. People love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon because it gives them beauty, velocity, romance, pain, and one of the greatest uses of movement as emotional language ever put on screen.

7

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

People love Mad Max: Fury Road because it feels like action cinema purified down to instinct and then rebuilt with miraculous control. The movie has speed, noise, sand, chrome, fire, and vehicles that look like they were invented by people who never slept again after the apocalypse. It also has an emotional spine strong enough to make the whole thing matter. Furiosa (Charlize Theron) is the key. Her decision to smuggle the wives out turns the movie from chase spectacle into liberation story, and once that clicks into place, every mile gets heavier.

Max (Tom Hardy) helps because he enters as a man reduced to survival reflex, and the script slowly drags him back toward human commitment. Nux (Nicholas Hoult) becomes one of the film’s secret weapons because his arc turns fanaticism into something sad, then brave. The Green Place revelation is where Mad Max: Fury Road becomes a masterpiece. Hope in one direction dies, and suddenly the answer is to go back through the nightmare and take the citadel itself. That reversal is such a brilliant plot turn that the second half feels even more alive than the first.

6

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

This movie has stayed beloved because Aliens gives people everything they want from action while deepening everything they loved in Alien. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns carrying trauma that the film treats seriously, then gets pushed right back toward the species that broke her life. That alone gives the movie emotional weight before a single pulse rifle starts firing. Then James Cameron adds marines, machinery, swagger, military procedure, corporate greed, and the child-survival bond with Newt (Carrie Henn), and suddenly the film has a much bigger heartbeat.

The colony discovery is such a great slow burn. The movie lets dread accumulate through architecture, silence, and evidence. Then the motion trackers start mattering. Then the hive becomes a kill box. Then Gorman (William Hope) collapses, Hudson (Bill Paxton) loses his nerve, Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) goes full war spirit, Burke (Paul Reiser) exposes his rot, and Ripley becomes the only adult in the room who understands what this enemy actually means. The power loader ending has action writing with blood in it.

5

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

This movie remains beloved because Raiders of the Lost Ark moves with the confidence of a film that knows every second should entertain, reveal, or endanger. Indy (Harrison Ford) gets the idol in the opening and already feels complete as a hero: smart, lucky, tough, vain enough to miscalculate, human enough to get hurt. Then the movie keeps handing him problems that feel bigger than one man without ever breaking the line of adventure. Marion (Karen Allen) matters because she brings emotional friction and toughness. Belloq (Paul Freeman) matters because he is the version of Indy with the conscience sanded off.

The truck chase makes you grow out of everything the movie has built, and puts Indy through hell in a way that keeps him heroic. The supernatural payoff at the end is the final reason people love this film so fiercely. The Ark stays mysterious long enough that when it finally opens, the movie reveals it was never just an object to be won. Everybody chasing it with greed, pride, or arrogance gets exactly the ending they earned.

4

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros.

Universal love came to this film because The Matrix gave people action that felt like revelation. And it’s more relevant than ever today in 2026, 27 years later and that’s something. That’s brilliant. Neo (Keanu Reeves) starts out with a feeling every audience member understands in some form: something about life is wrong, but the structure around him is too complete to challenge directly. The red-pill choice is a pop culture phrase now. Once Neo wakes up in the real world, every piece of action that follows gains an extra charge. Fights are arguments about reality, control, and belief.

Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) gives the movie mythic conviction. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) gives it emotional proof that faith in Neo existed before he could justify it. Smith (Hugo Weaving) turns authority into hatred with a face and a voice that keep getting more frightening the more he talks. And while the set pieces aren’t brilliant as per today’s standards, they’re okay still because the movie is strong. The themes justify them still. The dojo teaches the rules. The lobby shootout declares war on those rules. The rooftop and helicopter rescue announce that Neo is crossing into a new level of agency. The subway fight and resurrection make the whole film click into destiny. People still love The Matrix because it feels smart, cool, emotional, and structurally perfect all at once.

3

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros.

The Dark Knight takes blockbuster action and ties it directly to moral pressure. Gotham feels like a real city under stress instead of a comic-book backdrop waiting for destruction — all thanks to Christopher Nolan. Bruce (Christian Bale) wants Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to become the public face that could let Batman step back, which gives the story a genuine political and emotional center. Then the Joker (Heath Ledger) arrives and starts attacking every fragile structure at once: organized crime, public confidence, legal order, heroic symbolism, and the private bonds between Bruce, Harvey, and Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

The action sequences are beloved because each one changes the story. The bank robbery introduces the Joker’s logic. The penthouse attack exposes how vulnerable Bruce’s emotional hopes really are. The armored convoy chase feels huge because Dent matters. The interrogation scene works like action without movement because the power balance keeps shifting. Harvey’s collapse matters because the movie spent real time building him as Gotham’s answer. The ferry dilemma and the ending give people something bigger than spectacle to love.

2

‘Die Hard’ (1988)

Image via 20th Century Studios

This movie has universal love because Die Hard feels perfectly calibrated from the first minute. John McClane (Bruce Willis) arrives in Los Angeles carrying marital strain, attitude, and enough vulnerability to make him feel human before the shooting starts. Then the office Christmas party gets hijacked, and the movie becomes a masterpiece of pressure. Every floor of Nakatomi has a purpose. Every side character adds friction. Every setback deepens McClane’s isolation while also making him more inventive.

Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) is one huge reason people love this film so much. He brings intelligence, style, contempt, and adaptability, which means the movie never gets lazy about the villain side of the chessboard. Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) gives the story warmth and a lifeline to the outside world. Holly Gennero McClane (Bonnie Bedelia) matters because she is written as capable and proud, which raises the stakes far above generic hostage material. The barefoot detail is classic action writing because it turns McClane’s body into part of the suspense structure. By the time he is bloody, tired, and pulling glass from his feet while still trying to stay alive long enough to stop the whole operation, the audience is completely with him.

1

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

This is number one because Terminator 2: Judgment Day gives people almost everything they could want from action cinema and does every part of it at an elite level. And it has this weird nostalgic pull that other films in this list don’t. It’s the one that you watched with your cousins and kept thinking about it. Watching it now reveals that Judgement Day’s first brilliant move is the role reversal. Arnold enters carrying the memory of terror from the original film, then the mall hallway sequence flips that memory into protection. Suddenly the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the shield, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is the nightmare, and the sequel has reinvented its emotional engine before the chase has fully begun.

Then there’s John Connor (Edward Furlong). The movie lets him be a kid with pain, defiance, and genuine emotional influence. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) matters because the film shows what surviving the first movie actually did to her. She has become hard, prophetic, nearly machine-like in her sense of purpose, and the Dyson scene proves how close that hardness has brought her to losing the line entirely. Every action sequence does story work: the canal chase, the hospital escape, the Cyberdyne siege, the steel mill finale. It has scale, clarity, sadness, and perfect payoff.

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Terminator 2: Judgment Day

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Release Date

July 3, 1991

Runtime

137 minutes

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Director

James Cameron

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Writers

James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, William Wisher

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Dakota Mortensen has publicly addressed the now-closed police investigation into an alleged domestic violence incident involving his ex Taylor Frankie Paul.

In an Instagram post shared in the early hours of Monday, April 20, Dakota, 33, addressed attention he has received after news broke on March 16 that he and Taylor, 31, were involved in an alleged dispute that halted season 5 production of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday, April 14, that Taylor will not be charged in light of the investigation.

“Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken a step back and had time away from the chaos. That space has been a breath of fresh air and has given me clarity. My focus now is where it should have been all along-on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward,” Dakota wrote in black text against a white background. (The pair, who share a son, Ever, 2, engaged in a tumultuous romance from July 2022 until December 2024.)

Dakota’s post continued, “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt. At the same time, I don’t agree with how this situation has been portrayed publicly. It does not reflect the full context of what occurred or the impact it has had on me and my son.”

Related: Dakota Mortensen, Taylor Frankie Paul’s 2026 DV Incident Details Revealed

Dakota Mortensen accused Taylor Frankie Paul of “scratching” him and physically assaulting him during their most-recent domestic dispute as new details continue to come to light. According to a report from the Draper City Police Department in Utah, obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, March 30, police opened a domestic assault investigation involving the former […]

The statement comes one day after Us Weekly shared details into an alleged February altercation between Dakota and Taylor. Dakota had claimed at the time that Taylor “grabbed” his neck and throat during an argument, with a friend of Dakota’s calling the Draper Police Department on February 23 to allege that Dakota was assaulted by Taylor. The friend claimed to a 911 dispatcher that Dakota was concerned about reporting the incident because of Taylor’s “celebrity status.”

District attorney Sim Gill told Us in a statement on April 14 that the alleged situation was thoroughly considered. “After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” the statement confirmed.

Dakota’s Instagram post touched on how he will navigate moving forward after the investigation. “I’ve chosen to step away from the spotlight to focus on my family, my growth, and our healing, and that’s where my energy will remain,” he continued. “I’m closing an unhealthy chapter and moving forward with hope for better days ahead.”

He added, “I’m grateful for all of the encouragement and support I’ve received, and I’m committed to showing up in a way that reflects that. My intention, over time and when appropriate, is to use what I’ve learned in a way that supports others navigating similar situations.”

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Dakota concluded the post, “For now, my priority is on showing up as the best father I can be for Ever,” before adding a second image that contained contact details for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Three years prior to the alleged February altercation, Taylor was arrested following a separate altercation with Dakota. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault at the time, while additional charges of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief were dismissed.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

Ryan Reynolds is making it clear where he stands when it comes to Blake Lively. 

Amid ongoing headlines tied to her legal battle with Justin Baldoni and growing public scrutiny, the actor didn’t hold back while speaking about his wife. 

His remarks arrive at a time when rumors and divorce speculations have continued to swirl around their marriage, but the Hollywood star chose to focus on something else entirely: his admiration for his wife and what he believes people are getting wrong.

Ryan Reynolds Publicly Defends Blake Lively Amid Growing Scrutiny

Ryan Reynolds did not shy away from addressing the pressure surrounding Blake Lively when he appeared on “Sunday Sitdown Live,” with Willie Geist. 

Without diving into specifics, he made it clear that public perception does not match reality.

“You know, you really see the illusion behind so much of this stuff – digital life versus real life,” the 49-year-old said per the Daily Mail, pointing to the gap between headlines and lived experience.

Reynolds then doubled down on his support, adding, “Without getting into too much, I have never in my life been more proud of my wife, really.”

His remarks came at a time when the actress’s court battle has been closely followed, with new updates raising questions about her career decisions and relationships. 

Still, Reynolds emphasized that outsiders do not fully understand the situation, saying, “People have no idea what’s really going on, you know? I have never in my life been more proud of someone with that level of integrity that brings that with them with everything they do.”

Reynolds And Lively’s Marriage Faces Rumors And Public Pressure

Despite the strong front, rumors about Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s relationship have also been pulled into the spotlight as the legal drama unfolds.

The couple, who married in 2012, shares four children, James, Inez, Betty, and three-year-old Olin, and have often been viewed as one of Hollywood’s steady partnerships. However, that perception was recently tested.

The speculations particularly began after the “Deadpool” star skipped his wife’s settlement conference at the U.S. District Court in Manhattan on February 11.

The absence fueled speculation, especially as comparisons were drawn to others involved in the case. 

For example, Justin Baldoni’s wife, Emily, was present at his court appearances, highlighting a significant difference that did not go unnoticed.

Still, Reynolds’ recent comments appeared to push back strongly against any suggestion that their marriage is anything but solid.

Ryan Reynolds Drawn Into Blake Lively’s Legal Case Against Justin Baldoni

Reynolds has not remained on the sidelines when it comes to Lively’s legal situation involving Baldoni.

The “Gossip Girl” actress filed claims against the “It Ends With Us” director, his company Wayfarer Studios, and publicists Melissa Nathan, Jennifer Abel, and Jed Wallace, citing breach of contract and retaliation. 

However, the case shifted when a judge dismissed 10 of her 13 claims, including those tied to sexual harassment. 

Baldoni is still expected to testify, and Reynolds’ name has also surfaced as part of Lively’s witness list, meaning he could face questioning over his involvement.

That involvement includes reported contributions to the film at the center of the dispute. Reports indicate that Reynolds personally rewrote a rooftop scene in the 2024 domestic violence drama despite an ongoing WGA strike. 

His company, Maximum Effort, also handled a controversial marketing campaign that tied Lively’s Betty Buzz brand to themed cocktails like “Ryle You Wait.”

Reynolds’ Behind-The-Scenes Moves Add New Layers To The Controversy

Ryan Reynolds’ actions away from the spotlight have also played a role in the ongoing situation. 

He reportedly referred to Justin Baldoni as a “sexual predator” and “predatory fraudster” in messages sent to WME executives Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, before Baldoni was dropped as a client.

The filmmaker also appeared to address the situation creatively. In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” he introduced a character named Nicepool, widely interpreted as a dig at Baldoni. 

The moment gained more attention when Lively’s Ladypool character shoots him in a scene.

Meanwhile, the controversy has largely gone untouched by major late-night hosts with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver avoiding the topic. 

This comes after Reynolds’ company, Mint Mobile, helped sponsor their 2023 podcast, “Strike Force Five.”

Another layer to the story involves Vanzan, Inc., a dormant company tied to Reynolds and Lively, which was reportedly used to obtain private messages via a subpoena targeting unnamed individuals. 

Those messages were later published by The New York Times, though parts of the reporting have since been challenged by Baldoni’s own evidence and timeline.

Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively Continue Work As Legal Drama Unfolds

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have continued focusing on their careers even as the situation unfolds. 

Lively has taken a strong creative role in her recent project, stepping into multiple areas including directing, script development, wardrobe, score, and editing. 

She has signed on to produce and star in “The Survival List,” though updates on the project have been limited since last summer. 

At the same time, Reynolds is preparing for upcoming releases, including the Apple TV comedy “Mayday” and the Warner Bros. film “Animal Friends,” both produced through Maximum Effort, as his public support for Lively continues to shape the narrative surrounding them.

Freida McFadden is pushing back against speculation that artificial intelligence plays a role in her writing. The bestselling thriller author addressed the rumors directly, denying the use of any AI tools and reaffirming her creative process. Her response comes amid rumors that she and other indie authors use AI to produce more novels more quickly.

Freida McFadden Clarifies Rumors And Lies

“The Housemaid” author Freida McFadden took to social media to quash rumors about her using AI. As she wrote, she recently stumbled upon several user comments saying she used the technology, and even one where it said she “admitted” to doing it. “This is blatantly untrue,” McFadden wrote, adding that she said the opposite in interviews.

“I have said multiple times that I do NOT use AI both here and in official interviews, but maybe I’ve been too subtle? So I’m just going to be clear once and for all: I DO NOT USE AI TO WRITE MY BOOKS. I WILL NEVER USE AI TO WRITE MY BOOK,” she wrote on Facebook.

McFadden has been publishing books since 2013, but didn’t gain mainstream success until 2022 after the release of the psychological thriller, “The Housemaid,” which sold millions of copies and spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

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The Author Defended Her Passion

In the lengthy post, the 45-year-old author revealed that she began writing at age 9 and that it remains her greatest passion. “I started self-publishing in 2013 because I just wanted to hold one of the books I’d written in my hands,” McFadden said, adding that she did not want to be a professional author.

McFadden is a physician by trade, and although she has found great success in writing, she has “no desire” to leave her career. Writing remains her hobby, a “labor of love,” which is why she refuses to use AI for her novels. “Would you get AI to do your hobbies for you? Maybe you could get AI to go on a cruise with your family? Maybe AI could eat that chocolate cake for you,” she wrote.

McFadden started as an indie publisher, but after gaining success, she signed with a publishing company. However, she still feels protective of other indie authors who are also accused of using AI. “They have been doing this before AI existed,” said the writer.

Freida McFadden Can Write Several Books In A Year

The author also pointed out what people cite as “evidence” of using AI, including the use of an em dash, typos, and producing more than “350 pages per year.”

She admitted that she’s “obsessed” with using an em dash and said other authors like Stephen King, Nora Roberts, and Danielle Steel could easily produce hundreds of pages of content in a year. When it comes to typos, she wrote, “I can’t think of anything more human than making a stupid typo. That’s like noticing someone is bleeding and saying it’s proof they’re a robot.”

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McFadden said it’s “sad” that authors have to face this additional scrutiny, adding that while she can’t do a lot of things, she can write more than one book in a year. “I am able to write several books per year, and so can many other people. Let us have this,” she concluded.

The Author Revealed Her True Identity

Freida McFadden (Sara Cohen) membagikan foto pertamanya tanpa wig dan kacamata palsu.

Kemarin doi reveal nama aslinya, sekarang “wajah” aslinya juga dikasih tau.
Penulis mystery thriller kesayanganmu ini seorang dokter ahli brain injury loh. pic.twitter.com/oTdvLFEyn6

— T𝕏TDARIBUKU (@txtfrombook) April 14, 2026

In early April, McFadden revealed her real identity after keeping it secret for more than two decades. As previously reported by The Blast, McFadden’s real name is Sara Cohen, and she decided to finally share it with the world after being tired of hearing about speculations regarding her identity and hiding behind wigs for years.

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McFadden works as a doctor and specializes in brain disorders, but revealed that her daily life is “much more boring” than the events that happen in her thrillers. The only reason she wrote under a pseudonym and kept her real identity under wraps was to avoid conflict in her real job. In 2023, however, she scaled back on her hours as a doctor, and it made sense to reveal her identity.

Multiple Freida McFadden Novels Are Headed For Adaptations

“The Housemaid” was the first major Hollywood adaptation for McFadden and was a blockbuster hit. The movie, released in 2025, featured Sydney Sweeney as housemaid Millie Calloway, and a sequel, based on the second book in the series, is currently in development. Sweeney will be reprising her role, and Kirsten Dunst has been announced as one of the cast members.

In addition, Sony has acquired the film rights for her novel “The Surrogate Mother,” and Apple Original Films is also working on a movie based on McFadden’s 2024 book titled “The Teacher.” MGM Studios is reportedly working on a movie adaptation of “The Tenant,” and the recently released novel “Dear Debbie” will be turned into a series for Amazon MGM Studios.

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Eddie Murphy was showered with praise from his Hollywood peers on Saturday night as he received the AFI Life Achievement Award.

The Hollywood star was celebrated at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for his nearly 50 years in the entertainment industry, with several fellow stars showing up to support him and deliver tributes to his lasting influence on comedy and film.

Eddie Murphy Is The 51st Recipient Of The AFI Life Achievement Award

Murphy has secured yet another landmark honor in a career that has made him one of the most celebrated entertainers of his generation.

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The comedy and film icon is now the 51st recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, adding his name to a prestigious list of Hollywood legends that includes Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, George Clooney, and Nicole Kidman.

With the recognition, Murphy also becomes only the fourth Black honoree after Sidney Poitier, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington.

Hollywood Showers Murphy With Praise At AFI

Some of Hollywood’s biggest names lined up to praise Murphy and his impact on the industry following his AFI Life Achievement Award win on Saturday night.

Spike Lee praised the comedian as more than just a giant in his field, saying his work has also helped to advance culture.

“Eddie made us laugh and made our nation feel better,” Lee said. “We both pushed culture forward… Every step of this journey, Eddie has been true to himself.”

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“SNL” star Kenan Thompson used his tribute to highlight just how deeply Murphy has shaped the next generation of comedians. “As someone who grew up dreaming about making people laugh, he wasn’t just an influence, he was proof,” he said.

Chris Rock also echoed that sentiment, telling Murphy, “There is no us without you.”

Eddie Murphy Was All Smiles At The Red Carpet

Murphy looked sharp as he arrived for the ceremony in an all-black suit, styled with a polka-dot tie, his signature glasses, and a stud earring. He spent time on the red carpet posing for photos with fellow industry figures and warmly engaging with members of the press.

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At one point, Murphy was asked whether there was anyone he currently admired for having a career path similar to his own. In response, the actor-comedian reflected on his journey, describing it as “kind of like a unique run.” Still, he said one of the most rewarding parts of his legacy is seeing younger entertainers draw inspiration from his work.

“I love it when young comedians, young actors [who] grew up watching my stuff, and they kind of meet me, and they tell me,” Murphy told the Associated Press.

The Industry Veteran Received A Standing Ovation

The presentation took on an emotional tone as Murphy received a standing ovation as he made his way to the stage at the Dolby Theatre. Accepting the honor from Spike Lee, the comedian delivered heartfelt remarks, reflecting on the weight of the moment and the people who had joined him in celebrating it.

“Seeing all of my family, all my kids, my beautiful wife, and seeing all the different people I worked with, I’m just really filled up,” Murphy said. “This is a special moment. I wish y’all could feel what I’m feeling, see what I’m seeing. I almost teared up. I’m going to get backstage and cry.”

AFI Described Eddie Murphy As A ‘Trailblazing Force’

Ahead of the ceremony, Murphy also received high praise from AFI, which explained why it chose to recognize him with the prestigious honor. In a statement, AFI Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Kennedy described the comedian and actor as a defining figure whose influence has stretched across multiple corners of entertainment.

“Eddie Murphy is an American icon,” Kennedy said. “A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television, and stand-up comedy, his versatility knows no bounds.”

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“Across five decades, his enduring impact on our culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to honor him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award,” the statement read.

Beyond honoring Murphy, the event also served a broader purpose as a fundraiser for AFI’s nonprofit education initiatives, ultimately generating more than $2.5 million for the programs.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jessi Draper responded to a report claiming that “sparks might be flying” between her and Vanderpump Villa’s Marciano Brunette.

After TMZ published photos of Jessi, 33, cozying up to Marciano, also 33, on Sunday, April 19, the outlet shared the images via its Instagram account. “Looks like sparks might be flying between Marciano Brunette and Jessi Ngatikaura … ’cause the two were getting real comfortable during a night out in Nashville,” a caption read.

Jessi, who was seen receiving a kiss on the cheek by Marciano in the snaps, simply corrected the post, “Jessi Draper*,” which attracted more than 17,000 “likes” and almost 200 supportive fan comments.

“Tell em queen,” wrote one person, while another commented, “Omgggg ur so iconic im so happy ur free girl!!!! Be single and keep having fun.”

Related: Mormon Wives’ Jessi Plays Coy About Marciano Reunion Rumors Amid Divorce

Jessi Draper has presumably seen the latest rumors about her post-divorce lovelife. “Been hearing some rumors …” Draper, 33, wrote via TikTok on Saturday, April 4, sharing a video of herself lip-synching Taylor Swift’s “Fresh Out the Slammer.” (The Tortured Poets Department track is presumably about ending a long-term relationship and embarking on a freeing […]

Jessi’s estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce on March 19 after five years of marriage. During an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast less than one week later, Jessi told host Alex Cooper that she had planned to file for divorce from Jordan herself — but he beat her to it. (The former couple share two children: son Jagger, 5, and daughter Jovi, 3.)

Marciano, who engaged in an emotional 2024 affair with Jessi while she was married to Jordan, responded to rumors of a rekindled relationship with Jessi in the wake of her divorce news and “Call Her Daddy” appearance. “Listen, I know what everyone is thinking. I’ve seen all of the comments,” Marciano said in an Instagram video on March 26 that included part of Jessi’s podcast interview. “But I want everyone to know that now that Jessi is single, I have no plan to …”

The nature of his relationship with Jessi was put under the microscope again on April 9 when the pair teamed up for a photo shoot which was shared via Instagram by photographer Rachel Cook. In one of Cook’s photos, Jessi lounged on a picnic blanket as Marciano hovered above and fed her berries.

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Another snap captured Jessi resting her foot on Marciano’s leg while dousing him with a pitcher of lemonade. The post even drew a cheeky response from Jessi herself, who commented, “Uh oh 🔥😜.”

Jessi’s emotional affair with Marciano occurred after the pair met in Italy when the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives traveled to film at Vanderpump Villa where Marciano was a server. Mormon Wives documented the pair’s connection, which Jessi denied at first before owning up to.

“We [Jordan and I] had been dealing with the affair for about six months behind closed doors. No one knew. During those six months, it got worse than it ever had. He was blackmailing me. He was threatening to send my texts out to Marciano to the world,” Jessi claimed on a November 2025 episode of “The Viall Files” podcast. “Anytime I did anything he didn’t agree with, he had it on his TikTok drafts and he was like, ‘I’m going to post it.’”

Justin Bieber made Billie Eilish’s childhood dream come true when he serenaded her on stage at Coachella Weekend 2 — and the moment meant just as much to her mom.

After Justin, 32, invited Eilish, 24, up on stage at Indio, California, during his second headlining performance at Coachella 2026 on Saturday, April 18, Eilish’s mom Maggie Baird took to Instagram to reflect on watching her daughter from within the crowd.

“One of the most touching moments ever,” Baird, 67, wrote alongside a carousel of photos and videos from the evening. “It sounds crazy, but we watch our children develop these deep deep connections to artists who move them and usually there’s nothing in our power to do. But we buy them records and maybe buy them a ticket to a concert (or a movie of a concert in our case because we couldn’t afford to see an actual concert).”

Baird included footage of a crying Eilish standing in disbelief beside her as she prepared to be Justin’s “One Less Lonely Girl” — a tradition Justin has long undertaken that involves pulling a fan up on stage to be serenaded as he performs his 2009 track.

“I’m so grateful to Justin Bieber for the kindness he has shown Billie,” Baird continued. “And to Hailey [Bieber] who makes so many things wonderful and possible.” (Hailey, 29, has been married to Justin since September 2018 and the couple share son Jack, 1.)

Hailey responded twice to Baird’s post, writing “❤️ you guys!” before adding, “so special.”

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As for Eilish, who has served as a dedicated Justin fan since she was about 12 years old, the singer took to her own Instagram Stories to reflect on the experience. Sharing a bleary eyed selfie, snapped while lying down and only capturing the top half of her face, the “Birds of a Feather” hitmaker pasted the text, “Can’t stop crying.”

Justin, who returned to weekend 2 of Coachella after receiving mixed reviews over his weekend 2 performance, shocked fans by welcoming Eilish to the stage on Saturday. As Baird’s post documented, the crowd went wild as Eilish was accompanied to the stage’s entrance by Hailey before falling into a heap several times and receiving a warm embrace by Justin.

Eilish told Billboard in 2021 that Justin has provided significant support as she navigates life as a pop star. “He’s a good friend of mine,” she told the outlet at the time. “He, you know, has been so helpful for me, in terms of just, like, dealing with fame. And he’ll call me sometimes and just say stuff that makes me just feel heard, and like there’s somebody else that goes through the same stuff. So it’s really nice to have him.”

One of Apple TV‘s prestige thrillers is taking over on streaming right now. The show is spread over eight episodes, and its hook is commercial on its face: a murder, three longtime friends, buried betrayals, but the bigger play is the packaging. And that is its premium cast led by Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara, which gives the series immediate credibility.

What makes the breakout more interesting is where it is happening. As per FlixPatrol, the series is surging across Apple TV markets around the world, with especially strong placement across North America, Europe, parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, while also surfacing beyond Apple’s own ecosystem through Canal+ in France and Amazon Channels in markets like the U.S. and Germany. That suggests this is not just a U.S.-centric launch spike either.

The show is titled Imperfect Women, and its current rise makes sense when you look at the construction. The show is adapted from Araminta Hall’s novel, and it is built around a friendship drama disguised as a murder mystery, which gives it more emotional leverage than a standard whodunit. That combination of star power, betrayal-driven plotting, and a limited-run structure is exactly the kind of formula that can turn a fresh Apple TV release into a global streaming force very quickly. Whether it holds is the next question, but right now, it is doing exactly what a high-end thriller is supposed to do: pull viewers in everywhere at once.

Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara Have a Strong Audience Base

Part of the show’s traction is that it is not leaning on one kind of fanbase. Elisabeth Moss brings in the prestige-drama crowd that stayed with her from Mad Men and then followed her deeper into darker, more emotionally punishing television through The Handmaid’s Tale. Kate Mara, on the other hand, carries her own long-tail appeal from House of Cards, where she became tied to that slick, high-stakes streaming-drama energy early. Kerry Washington’s draw comes from being a familiar face, having led sharp, intense, high-pressure character work for years, particularly on TV with hit thrillers like Scandal. Put together, that is three different audience lanes feeding the same series.

Imperfect Women is available to stream on Apple TV. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

March 17, 2026

Network

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Apple TV

Directors

Lesli Linka Glatter

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After The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 reached its bittersweet end, it’s even clearer that Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) and Celebrimbor’s (Charles Edwards) arc follows all the beats required of a psychological thriller. The long-standing genre offers no shortage of duplicitous, harrowing, and shocking cat-and-mouse games from which to draw inspiration. Still, Vickers revealed in a post-finale Vulture interview that Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J. D. Payne modeled Sauron’s manipulative ways after the original, and perhaps the most potent, source of all: the 1944 movie Gaslight. Not only does that title mean exactly what you think it does, but this award-winning film also had more worldwide impact than you might realize.

How Are ‘Gaslight’ and ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Connected?

Directed by George Cukor (The Philadelphia Story, My Fair Lady) and starring Ingrid Bergman in her first of three Academy Award-winning roles, Gaslight is historically notable for spawning the term “gaslighting” decades before the psychological tactic became a mainstream colloquialism. Itself based on a play of the same name, the film derives its title from Victorian-era gas lamps and how their presence contributes to an overarching mystery.

Comparing Gaslight and Rings of Power‘s similarities means spoiling the former’s twist ending. Given the cultural context associated with its title, however, said reveal isn’t a closely guarded secret; if anything, knowing the truth ahead of time increases Gaslight‘s suffocating suspense and pioneering approach to an as-of-then-unnamed form of abuse. Regarding Rings of Power, Vickers told Vulture:

“The showrunners were keen for us to use elements of that film; certainly the themes of it apply. Because we were able to film everything chronologically, we could really plot Celebrimbor’s disintegration, from the moments he fights back to the moments I’m turning the screw on him.”

What Is ‘Gaslight’ About?

Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Dripping with enough fraught, noir-adjacent dread to twist one’s stomach into knots (almost to the point of gaslighting the audience alongside its heroine), the film follows Paula (Bergman), a young woman and aspiring opera singer swept into a whirlwind romance by Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer), an eerily charming composer and pianist. Head over heels for him, Paula agrees to move back into her childhood London home despite her reservations; Paula has spent the last 10 years haunted by her aunt’s unsolved murder, which occurred in the same house.

Related

As a Lord of the Rings Fan, These Are the 10 Best ‘Rings of Power’ Episodes

“Sometimes to find the light, we must first touch the darkness.”

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As their blissful courtship transitions into domesticity, Paula remains unaware that her marriage is a sham orchestrated by a ruthless killer. Gregory is responsible for her aunt’s death, and he wooed Paula to gain access to the house and continue his interrupted search for four priceless jewels. From there, he orchestrates false events meant to systematically convince Paula that she’s mentally unwell. He begins by heaping her with effusive affection, something new and revitalizing for a woman marred by trauma. Once Paula’s devoted to him, he systematically chips away at her self-esteem, chiding her about how forgetful she is before tricking her into believing she lost one of his precious family heirlooms. Whenever she stumbles upon factual clues about his true intentions and identity, he dismisses them as Paula’s overactive imagination.

As he isolates his wife into physical and psychological dependency within her own home, Gregory simultaneously lies to others about her condition. This includes telling their new maid (Angela Lansbury in her movie debut) never to bother the “high-strung” Paula, and causing Paula to break down during a rare public appearance; if the few people she sees consider her “hysterical,” then her deep distress won’t arouse suspicion. All the while, Gregory codes his cruelty in loving words. He reframes his violent outbursts as passionate concern for her well-being, withholds his affection, and blames her for ruining their marriage, which culminates in Paula believing his lies and accepting culpability before the truth emerges.

Sauron and Celebrimbor’s Slow-Burn Arc Echoes ‘Gaslight’s Structure

Rings of Power structures the slow erosion of Celebrimbor’s mental stability, as well as Sauron’s malicious pursuit of the celebrated smith for his own ends, quite similarly to Gaslight. At first, Sauron (still posing as Halbrand) sneaks into Eregion by playing up his friendship with Celebrimbor and tapping into the latter’s unspoken insecurities. When he realizes that securing Celebrimbor’s compliance requires a grand gesture, he presents himself as Annatar, a majestic emissary of the Valar tasked to help Celebrimbor save Middle-earth from an encroaching evil. Viewers know that the call is coming from inside the house, but in Celebrimbor’s eyes, Annatar blesses the elf with more than he could ever dream of.

When Celebrimbor acts contrary to Sauron’s desires, Sauron makes Celebrimbor doubt himself: that he just misconstrues Sauron’s words, misplaces and forgets things, and unintentionally, shamefully taints the dwarven Rings. Celebrimbor even recognizes that Sauron cloaks his tactics in compassion, but the Dark Lord’s consistency wears him down; step by step, Sauron upends Celebrimbor’s judgment and traps him in a utopian illusion.

Once Celebrimbor pieces together all the telling inconsistencies, he courageously breaks free from Sauron’s mental prison. By the time he can warn his friends and beg for help, however, his claims seem outlandish and pitiable. Sauron had already turned Eregion against their beloved leader, convincing them that Celebrimbor was consumed by delusion-filled darkness — casting Sauron as their trustworthy savior by proxy.

‘Gaslight’ and ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Are Equally Haunting

Image via Prime Video

Celebrimbor’s resistance ultimately wins him the final upper hand against Sauron, albeit far more tragically than Paula’s defiant conclusion. Since Tolkien’s works call Sauron the Great Deceiver, Rings of Power painting Sauron as a textbook gaslighter down to mimicking the movie that created, the term, is a natural throughline. Much like Gaslight, a profoundly accurate and distressing watch 80 years after its debut, the series’ chillingly authentic depiction of psychological abuse — enhanced by Vickers and Edwards’ arresting performances — will haunt audiences more than a fiery eye ever could.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S.

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Release Date

September 1, 2022

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Network

Amazon Prime Video

Showrunner

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John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip

Writers

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams

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Franchise(s)

The Lord of the Rings

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The Rings of Power Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Prime Video in the U.S. Gaslight is available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.

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