[Editor’s note: The following contains some spoilers for I Swear.]

In the biographical drama I Swear, actor Robert Aramayo embodies Scottish activist John Davidson, diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at the age of 14 in the 1980s, at a time when the condition was largely misunderstood. With verbal and physical tics that left him feeling like he always had to apologize for behavior he had no control over, Davidson didn’t learn to embrace the duality of his existence of his gentle nature with the upsetting words and phrases he shouts until he met Dottie (Maxine Peake). As Davidson learned how to live with Tourette’s, he also felt it was important to bring together a community and educate their family and loved ones on how to navigate a world that doesn’t know what to make of them.

With I Swear in UK theaters in 2025, Aramayo beat out Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan and Jesse Plemons when he took home Best Leading Actor at the most recent BAFTA Awards. When asked about his top tier standout performance and whether he’s proud of what he was able to accomplish in the film, Aramayo graciously deflects the conversation to those who have reached out to him to share their stories of living with Tourette’s, having someone with Tourette’s in their family, or knowing someone with Tourette’s, and how amazing that experience has been.

During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Aramayo discussed going all in on putting in the work to bring Davidson’s story to the big screen, what most helped prepare him to authentically portray Tourette’s, feeling like he was in safe hands with his co-stars, embodying the verbal and physical tics, the impact Dottie had on Davidson’s life, and the importance of Davidson finding a moment of understanding with his mother. He also talked about how it’s both exciting and challenging to continue to return to the role of Elrond in The Lord of the Rights: The Rings of Power, with Season 3 due out later this year.

Robert Aramayo Is Proud That ‘I Swear’ Has Sparked Conversations About Tourette Syndrome

“All the responses from people … is so amazing.”

Collider: When you do a film like I Swear and you give a performance like you gave, that feels like you put everything into it, and then it has the success that it’s had, and you go on to win the BAFTA, can you appreciate how much your effort paid off? Yes, it takes a lot of people to make any one movie, but have you taken a moment to appreciate and be proud of what you accomplished in all of this?

ROBERT ARAMAYO: I don’t know. It’s tricky because it’s a long narrative and there have been lots of amazing moments along the way. All the responses from people and the dialogue that has been around it and the stories of people that have reached out and said that they live with Tourette’s, or their kids live with Tourette’s, or they know someone with Tourette’s, or they have another neurodivergent condition, and they want to share it, or they saw themselves in the film in some way is so amazing, and I feel really proud of that. I feel really proud that the film has been able to spark that kind of dialogue.

We talk a lot about representation, but that’s a community that is severely underrepresented, so it was cool to see all of the other characters and individuals with Tourette’s in the film.

ARAMAYO: Yeah. When we did the days with the community, it was some of the most special days on set because we got to spend time with incredible people who had amazing stories. We knew everyone by that point. It was just a bigger family at that point.

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Aramayo also reunites with his Middle-earth co-star, Peter Mullen, in the film.

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Did you go into this with any major doubts about being able to pull it off? Did you feel confident that you could pull off and deliver a performance that would do John Davidson justice? What was going on inside your head before filming started?

ARAMAYO: Of course not. I don’t think I ever felt like I was like, “Yeah, I’ve got this.” That’s probably a good thing. I think that’s a good thing. I just knew that the only thing I could really be in control of was how hard I worked on something, and I wanted to work as hard as I possibly could because I felt so passionate about this story. Ultimately, that’s all you can control in the end.

Does a performance like this give you a different understanding of what you’re capable of as an actor, or what challenges you’re willing to take on as an actor?

ARAMAYO: I don’t know. It’s been the biggest challenge of my life. Yes, I’ve learned things about myself as an actor, but then I think you learn on everything that you do. When you’re working with people like Maxine [Peake] and Shirley [Henderson] and Peter [Mullan], who are incredible actors, they all taught me so much. They all work in really different ways and they’re incredible actors. It taught me a lot in so many different ways.

Robert Aramayo Wanted To Gain As Much Knowledge As He Could About Living With Tourette’s for ‘I Swear’

“You just look at something and go, “Right, okay, what do I feel like I need to do, to do the best work that I can on this film?””

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

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It feels like doing something like Game of Thrones might have helped you prepare for a project like Rings of Power, at least in the sense of doing a fantasy series of that size and scope. But what prepares you for doing something like this film and living in the shoes of John Davidson? Was there something that you feel most helped prepare you, or was it a combination of things?

ARAMAYO: A combination of just learning as much as I possibly could. You just look at something and go, “Right, okay, what do I feel like I need to do, to do the best work that I can on this film?” On this one, it was about gaining as much knowledge as I could about John’s life. Yes, that came from John, but also about living with Tourette’s in manyo different ways, from books, to YouTube, to people that I met, to just traveling around and really gaining as much knowledge as I could.

Tourette’s feels very specific and individual to every single person, so you can’t just study one person to fully understand it.

ARAMAYO: Yes. They say, if you’ve met one person with Tourette’s, you’ve met one person with Tourette’s because it’s so singular. It’s a biopic about John Davidson, and one of the elements in John Davidson’s life is Tourette’s. But there are so many other things, obviously, that make John the person that he is.

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Robert Aramayo and writer-director Kirk Jones discuss how they worked with the real John Davidson for their inspiring biography.

Watching this film, it’s quite clear that in order to have made this film this way, your writer/director, Kirk Jones, had to have creative control. Was that vital to you being able to do what you needed to do on your end? How did he most help you, as a collaborator, throughout the shoot?

ARAMAYO: In many ways, Kirk helped me. He had such faith and trust in me, and me him. It was so important that we had that trust and that dialogue between the two of us, all the time. We were constantly talking. If I felt like I needed something, I felt comfortable enough to tell Kirk about it and he’d speak to me about it. He’s such a collaborative director. He really is quite special.

Kirk Jones has said that he’s worked with some very serious, very talented actors, and he’s never seen anyone go as deep into a role and a character as you did for this film. I read that you stayed in the accent all the time, and you must have spent a lot of time just working on everything, in general. Were there ever times when you felt like you lost yourself a bit in all of this, or did it always feel like you were doing character work?

ARAMAYO: I always felt like I was working on the movie and on John. I’ll go back to the actors around me, who were amazing actors that would push me and talk scenes over with me. When I think about the experience of working with Peter Mullan, it was such an incredible experience. When you’re working with people like that, you feel like you’re in safe hands and you’ve got real teammates. I love that.

Throughout the Filming of ‘I Swear,’ Robert Aramayo Stayed Focused on John Davidson and His Emotional Life

“The tics could be whatever they needed to be because they’re involuntary responses.”

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

What was it like to figure out how to bring the two sides of John Davidson together? He’s described as this gentle, sweet, polite, kind person, but then he says these things that he also acknowledges are homophobic, racist and sexist. He’s labeled as a troublemaker, but he has no control over his tics. What was it like to weave all of that together, and also figure out the verbal and the physical aspects of it?

ARAMAYO: I think it goes back to focusing on the person. I focused on John and playing John and focused on his emotional life and his emotional experience of something. That’s where my attention was all the time. Then, the tics could be whatever they needed to be because they’re involuntary responses. They’re not a reflection of a person’s thoughts and feelings. And anything can be a tic. We speak about tics in different ways, but anything can be a tic. When you realize that, it becomes less interesting to you. What’s more interesting is how he feels about it or how he feels about the impact of it in a room or on the person the tic has impacted?

Did you have to limit how many times you physically hit yourself?

ARAMAYO: There was obviously a massive focus on safety and keeping me safe, and they gave me everything that I needed. The production was so supportive of me. We shot in many different ways. We shot in a way where we could capture anything that might happen. There was a freedom with how we were shooting things.

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‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’: Robert Aramayo on Finding His Own Voice as Elrond

He also spoke about the relationship between Elrond and Galadriel.

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I loved the scene in the car, the first time you meet with the parents of someone with Tourette’s and you get in the car with their daughter. What was that scene like to shoot with both of you going off in your own ways before being able to have a conversation together? What was it like to find that moment?

ARAMAYO: That’s something that can happen when two people with Tourette’s meet. One can trigger the other and that triggering thing happens. That did happen with John, so we wanted to make sure it was in the film. But then, we got to have that amazing chat in the alleyway. I loved working with Andrea [Bisset]. It was incredible. She’s an amazing actress. We were really on the same page that day. That scene was really special. All three of us – me, Kirk and Andrea – were all weighing in. It was probably the most memorable day.

Robert Aramayo Was As Thankful To Have Maxine Peake by His Side on ‘I Swear’ As John Davidson Was To Have Dottie Enter His Life

“It’s a massive turning point in his life.”

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

I love the relationship between John and Dottie. She really is such an angel of a person, in the world and to John, specifically. What was it like to have Maxine Peake there? How important was she to you throughout this, both as a scene partner and fellow actor, but also just to have that character alongside you?

ARAMAYO: For both John and me, Maxine just has this natural warmth that she brings, as a person and as an actor. She’s a joy to work with, and she’s a legend as well. She’s done such incredible things in her career. I feel really thankful to have worked with her. And for John, it’s a massive turning point in his life when she says to him, “Don’t apologize. You don’t need to apologize here.” That moment is really eye-opening for him and quite shocking, and it takes him a minute to adjust to it. That was a big moment for him.

Another stand-out moment in the movie is when John meets up with his mother again at the end of the film and involuntarily points out how she treated him when he reminds her of how she had him face the fireplace. How did you feel about that scene? What was that like to shoot, and for them to share that hug?

ARAMAYO: I have to say that working with Shirley Henderson was such a gift. She’s so wonderful. She’s an amazing actor. That scene was really important for both of us, and obviously for Kirk and for the film. We spoke about it a lot, me and Shirley. It’s a really important scene. I think one really interesting moment is when he says, “I couldn’t have coped with it.” For everyone, the knowledge of Tourette’s was so low. Obviously, it’s increased a lot by that point and even today, but there’s still more that we need to learn. I’m really glad that Kirk included that moment because I think it’s important for that relationship.

Robert Aramayo Loves Bringing Elrond to Life in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’

“I love that character and I love the way Tolkien wrote him.”

Image via Prime Video

I love that you can do a deep character study like I Swear, and then also be a part of one of the most epic TV series ever made with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. One of the things we do know officially about Season 3 of Rings of Power is that it’s jumping forward several years from Season 2. What was that like for you, as an actor?

ARAMAYO: Oh, I don’t know what I can say. I don’t know what I’m allowed to say. I will say that playing Elrond on the show is a wonderful thing. I love that character and I love the way Tolkien wrote him. I feel really passionate about being involved with it.

Is there a sense of comfort with having a character to go back to each season, no matter what you go off to make in between?

ARAMAYO: Sometimes it’s really exciting, and sometimes it’s challenging. It’s just like anything, really. It’s a really different kind of challenge. I’ve only ever done it with Elrond. It’s great because I’m getting to grow older with Elrond.

Do you know what you’re doing next? Do you want to do a comedy at this point?

ARAMYAO: Right now, I’m talking about I Swear, and I’m really excited to get it out in the U.S. I just finished a play (Guess How Much I Love You?) that I was doing in London, that was my first play. And then, I don’t know. We’ll see.

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Release Date

September 22, 2025

Runtime

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121 minutes

Director

Kirk Jones

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I Swear is now playing in theaters.

Under-eye bags have a way of making you look more tired than you actually feel — even on days when you’re well-rested. Puffiness and fine lines can be tough to hide, and most eye creams take weeks to make a noticeable difference. So when something promises visible results in minutes at just $30, it’s hard not to be curious.

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Get the goPure Instant Lift Eye Gel for $30 at Amazon!

The formula is powered by Collagen Targeting Biotech, which helps reduce the look of crow’s feet, dark circles, sagging and even forehead lines almost instantly. Ingredients like Arctic Microalgae support the skin’s natural collagen for improved elasticity, while Chestnut Seed Extract helps minimize the appearance of under-eye bags. It tightens and smooths without feeling sticky or heavy, making it comfortable enough for everyday wear.

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Shoppers are already noticing the difference, and the feedback highlights just how quickly it works. One reviewer said they can “feel the tightening, lift almost instantly,” calling out the immediate effect after application. Another shopper with “sensitive skin” shared that they love how it’s “non-irritating” and “doesn’t feel heavy or greasy,” making it easy to wear throughout the day.

If under-eye bags have been your toughest concern to tackle, this might be the upgrade worth trying. The $30 formula delivers a smoother, more lifted look in minutes — without the typical drawbacks. Consider it your shortcut to looking more rested — no extra steps required.

Get the goPure Instant Lift Eye Gel for $30 at Amazon!

If there’s one streamer right now that is truly in a league of its own, it’s Apple TV. In the last few years, it’s become the destination for original, inventive sci-fi, with series like Severance, For All Mankind, Pluribus, and Silo exploding in popularity, a sharp right turn from the Ted Lasso fanfare that helped cement it as a legit streamer worth your money. Seth Rogen‘s meta comedy The Studio dominated the Emmys, Jon Hamm‘s big return to TV has turned into a hit, and even Godzilla has called Apple TV home. If there’s one thing Apple TV is, it’s consistently unpredictable.

What’s refreshing about many titles on the platform is that they don’t try to appeal to everyone, which gives the shows far more breathing room to find their own unique voice, take storytelling risks, and establish a loyal viewership rather organically, no matter how niche. With all of this in mind, Widow’s Bay — which stars Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a would-be travel destination hotspot that’s weighed down by some (a lot) of skeletons in the closet — is perhaps the most daring, weirdest show on Apple TV for several reasons. The series, which is part-workplace comedy, part-mystery, and part-trippy horror, might struggle out of the gate, but once it wades deep into its narrative, you won’t want to return to the mainland.

What Is Apple TV’s ‘Widow’s Bay’ About?

Created by Katie Dippold, an excellent comedy writer with credits including Parks & Recreation, The Heat, and The Big Gay Sketch Show, Widow’s Bay takes place in the small New England town of the same name. Widow’s Bay is stuck in the shadows of Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod — two nearby spots that are pure catnip for tourists — as well as the past, complete with outdated technology, ranging from bulky computers to almost nonexistent Wi-Fi. None of this screams “vacation,” and out of all the residents, Mayor Tom Loftis (Rhys) knows this the most.

Tom, however, is determined to change public perception of Widow’s Bay, even if the island’s quirky residents seem to be actively doing everything in their power — whether they realize it or not — to prevent any positive change or advancement from happening. Rhys wears Tom’s agony on his sleeve and is fueled by a short temper and nonexistent fuse, serving as a surrogate of sorts for the audience, who is undoubtedly thinking, “What the hell is going on at Widow’s Bay?” Chief among the “local lunatics” is Wyck (Stephen Root), who wastes no opportunity to point out that the island is plagued by a centuries-old curse, which has been, in fact, awakened by “the fog” that has come in over the water.

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Tom isn’t buying it — that is, until he has no choice but to buy it. After being attacked by a long-haired, long-nailed old woman on the side of the road at night — something pulled straight from a horror movie — Tom starts to wonder if, maybe, there is some truth to these strange occurrences and local lore. Suddenly, it becomes impossible to deny the quaint town’s checkered past and eerie beginnings, and Tom finds himself at the heart of a freaky, ghostly, and downright peculiar mystery.

Apple TV’s ‘Widow’s Bay’ Is Slow To Nail Down Its Horror Identity

Widow’s Bay immediately establishes itself as a dry, workplace comedy, complete with the misfits that make up Tom’s staff. Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) is an intense, quiet, yet strong-willed employee who struggles to be heard or fully appreciated. She’s responsible for many quick, witty lines that you just barely catch, but that always leave a smirk on your face. There’s also Rosemary (Dale Dickey) who spends more time coughing up a lung than really getting anything else done. Jeff Hiller‘s character is deadpan, unenthusiastic, and largely unmotivated, whereas Nancy Lenehan plays perhaps the most cheerful of the lot, even though her character spends her days giving tours of Widow’s Bay’s historical society, where she is forced to share horrific details about the town’s past (spoiler alert: there are cannibals).

For its first few episodes, it seems like Widow’s Bay is a comedy with some spooks sprinkled in here and there. It’s Tom’s story, as he tries to find himself as mayor, reshape the narrative of the town, and connect with his son, Evan (Kingston Rumi Southwick), who is rebellious and not-so-subtly points out that everyone thinks Tom is a coward. Hanging over their complicated dynamic is the sadness of Tom’s late wife, who died from complications with childbirth.

There’s no doubt about it, though, Tom is the main character — until he kind of isn’t. While he remains the anchor of the story, the show does take a bold turn and makes Widow’s Bay the main character, building out the lore and exploring the many ways that the island has affected its residents and how this curse has manifested over the centuries. Suddenly, the jokes and quick wit are somewhat sidelined, and Widow’s Bay pivots into a full-on folk horror narrative for the viewer to piece the greater mystery together. It can definitely feel a bit uneven in tone and pacing, but it compels you to keep watching so you can find out what the fog, possessions, and sea witches are all about.

‘Widow’s Bay’ Takes Very Bold Storytelling Swings Across Its 10 Episodes

Image via Apple TV

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Widow’s Bay reaches its full potential once it starts to fully embrace horror. It’s almost as if the series needed permission to go all in, which it finally does in the very well-executed Episode 4, following Patricia for its entirety and delving into her tragic backstory, as well as why she’s such an outcast. O’Flynn really gets a chance to thrive here, showcasing a complex range of emotions, from devastatingly alone to determined and manic, before submerging Widow’s Bay into a strange, fiery nightmare in the best way. Root once again understands the assignment and nails his quirky role, starting as an oddball and evolving into someone you’d want on your team, with some of Rhys and Root’s best scenes being the ones they share.

Widow’s Bay‘s biggest risk takes a page out of The Righteous Gemstones‘ book by devoting an entire episode to a completely different time period and the island’s beginnings. While that might not sound appealing, it’s actually a very imaginative and engaging way to kick off the second half of the season and, in turn, reset the story’s focus to how Tom could free the island of its curse. The founder of Widow’s Bay and his wife are played by two excellent guest stars who easily carry the weight of a scary, standalone episode. Building out the world of the island and grounding it in horror is key, and who better to pull this off than the genre’s own Ti West serving as director?

The only real downside to this shift is that the story becomes somewhat removed from Rhys’ Tom, with the actor not being able to tap into his comedic side as much as one might’ve hoped for in a horror comedy. When Tom becomes hellbent on putting an end to the island’s curse, however, Widow’s Bay really starts to cook with gas. Small details about Tom’s marriage and family emerge, leading to two shocking reveals at the end of the season that are pulled off so impressively that they’ll leave you wondering what a second season could have in store. At first, you might not be so sure that you’ve chosen the right travel destination, but Widow’s Bay becomes a haunting, deeply rewarding, and oddly charming series if you stick with it.

Widow’s Bay premieres April 29 on Apple TV.

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Release Date

April 29, 2026

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Network

Apple TV

Showrunner

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Katie Dippold

Directors

Hiro Murai

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Writers

Katie Dippold, Kelly Galuska

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Pros & Cons

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• Widow’s Bay is unafraid to dive head-first into character-first episodes.
• By the end of 10 episodes, Widow’s Bay has firmly established a gripping mystery.

• Widow’s Bay is a bit slow to fully embrace its horror storyline, resulting in some uneven pacing.

If a movie is a crowd-pleaser, then it’s probably something of a blockbuster, or at least it’s the kind of smaller movie that’s going to be broadly appealing. Raiders of the Lost Ark or maybe Star Wars (at least the good ones, concerning the latter) are probably the best examples of full-on crowd-pleasers, being the kinds of films just about everyone seems to like, but as for Westerns that fit into this category…

…Honestly, they’re a little less common. Not everyone likes Westerns, a bit like how not everyone gets on board with the musical genre, and perhaps comparable to how some people just aren’t fans of horror movies. But, if you wanted to convert someone who says they’re not a Western fan, the following films might well do the trick, because they are all pretty easy to appreciate and/or enjoy.

10

‘Dances with Wolves’ (1990)

Image via Orion Pictures

Dances with Wolves is a massive movie, clocking in at one minute over three hours in total, and even longer if you watch the extended cut (much longer, actually, since that one’s almost four hours all up). It’s a movie that takes place during the Civil War, even if the Civil War isn’t really the focus, being about a wounded Union army soldier falling in with a tribe of Sioux people.

Yes, it’s got that classic narrative of “individual from one culture gets wrapped up in another culture and ends up fighting for them,” but it’s a good sort of story, and Dances with Wolves tells it well. It’s also an easy one to select for present purposes, since it was indeed popular when it came to both the box office and awards seasons (it was the biggest and most prominent Oscar winner of its year).

9

‘For a Few Dollars More’ (1965)

Image via United Artists

The Dollars trilogy began in 1964, with A Fistful of Dollars, and it’s worthy of an honorable mention here, even if it’s not quite as entertaining as the two movies that came later. The second of the trilogy was For a Few Dollars More, which is tied to A Fistful of Dollars because of the people involved (notably, Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood, and Ennio Morricone), but is otherwise its own story, with the biggest connection being that Eastwood is the Man with No Name… or a Man with No Name. Probably the same one.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter too much, and what matters more is how great For a Few Dollars More is, not to mention quite the upgrade quality-wise on A Fistful of Dollars. It’s about a pair of bounty hunters pursuing the same notorious criminal for very different reasons, and it all ends in an incredibly satisfying and memorable way.

8

‘The Good, the Bad, the Weird’ (2008)

Image via CJ Entertainment

Not to be mixed up with another movie in the Dollars trilogy (which itself will get mentioned later), The Good, the Bad, the Weird… okay, it does have the premise you’d expect it to. It’s got that whole The Good, the Bad and the Ugly premise of three chaotic characters competing with each other to find treasure somewhere in the desert, but it distinguishes itself tonally and pacing-wise, not to mention in terms of what genres it tackles.

See, The Good, the Bad, the Weird is more of a broad action/comedy than the film it’s paying homage to, and that does make it incredibly fun. So, why isn’t it more crowd-pleasing? Well, The Good, the Bad, the Weird is also very cynical and kind of downbeat in some ways, alongside all the fun and wacky stuff that happens, so you sort of have to dock a few points, if you’re assessing how much of a conventional crowd-pleaser it is, or can be.

7

‘Django Unchained’ (2012)

Image via The Weinstein Company

While there are quite a few Quentin Tarantino movies that play around with time, Django Unchained isn’t really one of them, instead being relentlessly straightforward and even a bit linear. But linear does not equal bad, since there’s a lot of excitement and catharsis here with a story about a freed slave teaming up with a bounty hunter to rescue his wife and also enact vengeance upon those who abused him while he was enslaved.

It’s heavy subject matter for sure, and parts of Django Unchained are appropriately grim and emotionally intense, though much of the film is entertaining, with the revenge/rescue quest being easy to get wrapped up in. Django Unchained is quite thrilling and funny at times, balancing all that stuff with the more serious dramatic side of things fairly well, overall. It’s certainly more conventional and crowd-pleasing than Tarantino’s later Western (The Hateful Eight), that’s for sure.

6

‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1960)

Image via United Artists

There was a little movie in 1954 called Seven Samurai that actually wasn’t a little movie at all, and was instead one of the all-time greatest samurai/martial arts films ever, and also an all-timer as an action epic, too. Its influence was felt well beyond the genre(s) it belonged to, seeing as it was remade as a Western, with The Magnificent Seven, all before being remixed, referenced, and parodied by all sorts of other movies later on.

To focus on The Magnificent Seven, though, it’s got the Seven Samurai premise and structure of assembling a team, preparing for conflict, and then taking part in a large-scale fight, but with gunfighters and a Western setting instead of taking place in Japan during samurai times. And sure, it’s not as good as Seven Samurai, but not much is. As far as remakes go, it really gets the job done, and holds up pretty darn well for a film of its age.

5

‘Tombstone’ (1993)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures

Whatever the online equivalent of riots in the streets is, that would be happening right about now if Tombstone were not included here. If anything, some might consider it not high enough, but hey, top 5 is pretty great for something that’s trying to look at all-time greats. Certainly, this much can be said about Tombstone: it’s the greatest of all the movies about Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which is saying quite a bit, since all that stuff’s been well-represented and depicted throughout cinema history.

With Tombstone, it’s all done with incredible confidence and style, all the while having one of the best casts of any Western movie perhaps ever made, so that helps a great deal, too. It’s an overall good time, hitting all the beats it needs to emotionally and being another Western crowd-pleaser that’s hard to find much at all at fault with.

4

‘Blazing Saddles’ (1974)

Image via Warner Bros.

Okay, sure, if you’re a Western purist to the extent that you don’t like anything that makes fun of old-fashioned Westerns, maybe you’ll take issue with Blazing Saddles, but if you’re open to a Western comedy that’s kind of a parody of the whole genre, it’s the textbook definition of an essential watch. For what it’s worth, it also replicates the feel of the Western genre quite well (not as uncannily as Young Frankenstein did for old horror movies, which was a film Mel Brooks also directed, and somehow, both it and Blazing Saddles even came out the same year).

Blazing Saddles is also a great satirical work, exploring some serious stuff in a thoroughly unserious and chaotic way. It’s clever all around, and is so relentless with its jokes. The quantity is backed up with quality, too, since far more attempts at humor in Blazing Saddles land rather than miss.

3

‘Rio Bravo’ (1959)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

While The Searchers might be the best Western John Wayne ever starred in, and there’s an argument to be made that Stagecoach is the most important (at least on a historical front), Rio Bravo is probably Wayne’s most entertaining Western. It was the film so nice that Wayne and director Howard Hawks sort of made it twice, as El Dorado (1966) is pretty similar, in a fair few ways.

And El Dorado is also a good time, but Rio Bravo’s the one that’s hard to top. It’s about an unlikely group of characters (or “heroes,” if you’re willing to stretch the definition of the word a bit) banding together to keep a criminal in jail while said criminal’s brother is trying to get him out. It moves well for a movie that nears 2.5 hours in length, and contains quite a bit of action and humor alongside the more expected Western and drama beats.

2

‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)

Since it kind of counts as an adventure movie and a buddy comedy (plus some other things), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is pretty easy to recommend, even to Western genre naysayers. It’s just such a likable film about a pair of outlaws that make a ton of enemies, and end up having to go on the run, fleeing to South America, yet still finding further troubles there… or troubles wherever they go, pretty much, it might be more accurate to say.

So much of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid works because Paul Newman and Robert Redford are a match made in charisma heaven, and watching them both alternate between stumbling and swaggering through an Old West that’s rapidly becoming not so “Old” anymore is extremely entertaining. Beyond Newman and Redford, the soundtrack’s also very memorable, and William Goldman’s impeccable screenplay is one of his very best.

1

‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (1966)

Image via Produzioni Europee Associati

It’s hard to imagine another movie going here. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly might well be the definitive Western, and it’s a contender for the title of the genre’s most entertaining movie, too. It’s one of those films that’s so good, it is likely to flat-out convert you to the Western genre, largely thanks to how well it builds throughout pacing-wise, and also how timeless so much of it feels.

If you break down what happens in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, it might not sound like much (especially for a film that’s almost three hours long), but it’s the execution here that counts. It’s such a great-looking movie, the characters are all so memorable, it’s remarkably quotable, and it also easily has one of the best scores of all time. It’s hard to fault, and that’s why it’s worthy of being #1 here.

April has been another busy month for streaming. On Prime Video, a pair of hit superhero shows, The Boys and the animated series Invincible, have dominated the streaming charts with critically acclaimed new seasons. Elle Fanning‘s Margo’s Got Money Troubles has shot to the top of the Apple TV charts, alongside a second season of Your Friends & Neighbors, starring Jon Hamm. As the month comes to an end, this weekend marks the arrival of one exciting new series and the return of a hit show on Netflix.

With that in mind, here’s a list of three shows you should binge-watch on Netflix this weekend.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

1

‘Running Point’ (2025–Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 7.3/10

One of the gems of Netflix’s 2025 catalog is back for another unmissable season this weekend, as Running Point Season 2 debuted this past Thursday, April 23. The sports comedy stars Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, who must step up to the plate when her brother enters rehab, and she is appointed President of her family business, the LA Waves basketball team. Can she defeat the skeptics and carve her own legacy?

A sports series packed with humor and heart, similar to the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso, Running Point aims to quickly bring a smile to your face and never let it drop. Alongside a terrific performance from Hudson, who is having a great year thanks to her recent Academy Award nomination for Song Sung Blue, the show also features the likes of Brenda Song and Chet Hanks, who are joined by recurring and guest characters, including Max Greenfield, Ray Romano, Ken Marino, and Nicole Sullivan​​​​​.

2

‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ (2026)

IMDb: 4.2/10

Although it technically debuted at the end of last year, early 2026 was dominated by Stranger Things discourse following a divisive final season. Four months later, the next chapter in the franchise is finally here, as the animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 fills in the gap between the events of the second and third seasons of the original.

Set in the winter of 1985, the series follows Eleven (Brooklyn Davey Norstedt) and other kids from Hawkins, Indiana, as they uncover strange, paranormal happenings in their quiet town. Of course, the next Stranger Things installment couldn’t disappoint in the casting department, with the voice ensemble including Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, Brett Gipson as Hopper, Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxer, Jeremy Jordan as Steve, Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter, and Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer.

3

‘Dirty John’ (2018–2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.3/10

It isn’t just new arrivals worth watching on Netflix this weekend. A crime anthology series based on Christopher Goffard‘s podcast of the same name, Dirty John tracks crimes of passion, as horrific events centered on some sort of warped love turn the everyday into the extraordinary. The first season follows Connie Britton’s Debra Newell, an interior designer who falls head over heels for anesthesiologist John Meehan (Eric Bana), only for the truth behind his intentions to be much darker.

Also featuring a second season titled Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story, which boasts a pair of gripping performances from Amanda Peet and Christian Slater, Dirty John is a crime genre gem waiting to be uncovered on Netflix. For plenty of twists and turns to help guide you through your weekend, don’t miss Dirty John.

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Release Date

2018 – 2020-00-00

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Directors

Jeffrey Reiner, Maggie Kiley, Kat Candler, Shannon Kohli

Writers

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Alexandra Cunningham, Kevin J. Hynes, Christopher Goffard, Lex Edness, Diana Son, Evan Wright, Sinead Daly, Stacy A. Littlejohn, Juliet Lashinsky-Revene, Aaron Carew

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David Beckham gave fans a rare and playful peek into his marriage with Victoria Beckham, but the lighthearted moment comes at a time when their family remains under quiet scrutiny.

As the couple stepped out for one of New York’s biggest events, David couldn’t resist joking about his wife’s habits, offering a candid look at their dynamic. 

Behind the smiles, however, the Beckhams are also navigating a challenging period involving their children and ongoing public attention.

On April 23, David Beckham showed off his sense of humor while getting ready with Victoria for the 2026 TIME100 Gala in New York City. 

The couple, dressed to impress for the high-profile event at Jazz at Lincoln Center, paused for a mirror selfie before heading out, with Victoria in a sleek ivory silk dress and David in a classic black dinner jacket.

While the moment looked polished, the former soccer player added a playful twist by poking fun at his wife’s love for documenting their outings. 

“My night every night we go out quote of the night ‘you look great I’m gonna post this,’” he wrote in the Instagram post’s caption, tagging Victoria. 

His expression in the photo made it clear he was leaning into the joke, as he made quite a funny face.

David And Victoria Share Sweet Gala Moments

Despite the teasing, the couple’s strong bond was evident throughout the evening. 

Victoria also shared her own photos from the event on Instagram, including shots of the pair smiling together and walking arm in arm. 

Other images captured her posing solo, as well as a more playful moment where she pouted while holding onto David Beckham, who appeared delighted.

She captioned her post, “Heading to the @time 100 Gala in NYC  Kisses @davidbeckham.” 

The appearance was especially meaningful as Victoria was recognized on this year’s TIME100 list, marking another milestone in her career as a designer and businesswoman.

David Beckham And Victoria Address Life In The Spotlight

Just days before the gala, Victoria reflected on their long-standing relationship during a public appearance, offering insight into how they’ve handled years of attention. 

Speaking at the TIME100 Summit, she made it clear that outside opinions have never defined their marriage.

“This has been happening since I was 20, so it’s been going on a long time,” she explained per PEOPLE. 

The fashion designer also emphasized the support they provide each other, saying, “I have an incredible husband who supports me enormously. We’re always there for each other.” 

Over time, Victoria has learned to tune out criticism entirely, adding, “I learned a long time ago to really not listen to the noise. Someone’s always going to have something to say. I focus and I just don’t pay attention to it.”

Victoria Beckham Addresses Brooklyn Feud With Just One Firm Statement

Victoria’s interview came days after she finally addressed the highly publicized rift with her son Brooklyn Beckham, but her response made one thing clear: she’s refusing to engage in the drama. 

As The Blast reported, Victoria said, “We love our children so much,” adding, “We’ve always tried to be the best parents that we can be… That’s all I really want to say about it.”  

Her brief but pointed remarks came after months of escalating tension, which erupted publicly in January, when Brooklyn accused David Beckham and Victoria of trying to “endlessly” ruin his relationship with his wife, Nicola Peltz, and of spreading “countless lies.”   

He also alleged that they attempted to “bribe” him over naming rights and even “hijacked” moments during his wedding, claims that intensified the fallout.  

The rift is believed to have been building since the couple’s 2022 wedding, after Peltz wore a Valentino dress instead of Victoria’s design.

Victoria Reveals Family Rule She And David Beckham Follow In Difficult Moments

A few days later, Victoria opened up about how she and David navigated difficult times, emphasizing that their children always came first. 

According to The Blast, the 52-year-old reflected on a “challenging year,” saying, “We always put our children first,” adding, “We love our children so much and have always really focused on protecting our children.”   

Victoria explained that despite ongoing family tensions, their priority remained unity and support for all four of their children. 

She also highlighted the importance of humor and partnership in her decades-long marriage, noting that laughter and their close bond helped them cope with pressure.   

Furthermore, Victoria added that their strong support system, including extended family, played a key role in helping them stay grounded through tough moments.  

It’s been a big year for HBO in 2026, which started off with two of the biggest new releases in The Pitt Season 2 and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The former is a critically acclaimed medical drama starring Emmy-winner Noah Wyle, and the latter is a Game of Thrones prequel. Both shows have been renewed with another season on the way. Another HBO show that likely won’t have another season, at least according to its biggest star, is Euphoria. Following a gargantuan four-year gap between Seasons 2 and 3, Euphoria finally returned a few weeks ago with its highly anticipated third season.

Though the reception to the new season has been mixed at best, it hasn’t stopped Euphoria Season 3 from rocketing to the top of HBO Max streaming charts. The negative reviews may have been concerning, but the reality is that fans were going to turn up in droves to watch Euphoria Season 3, no matter what critics were saying. Euphoria stars Chloe Cherry and Martha Kelly, who play Faye and Laurie in the show, recently sat down for an episode of Collider Superlatives, where stars are asked to pick co-stars for hilarious and interesting categories.

When it came time to ask who involved in Euphoria was most likely to “run off and join the circus,” both stars chimed in instantly and said: “Sam Levinson.” Explaining why, they said: “Honestly, I think that he just loves to learn new things and experience new things. He finds so many things very interesting that I wouldn’t be surprised [if he ran off and joined the circus]. He could do anything. He’s a very interesting person, very multidimensional.” Whatever Sam Levinson’s plans are once Euphoria is over, it sounds like the circus can’t be ruled out.

Is There Going To Be a ‘Euphoria’ Season 4?

In the week leading up to Euphoria Season 3, fans began asking questions about the future of the series beyond its next batch of episodes. Zendaya was even asked about a potential Season 4 while on the Drew Barrymore show, and she said she thinks that Season 3 will be the last. This isn’t all that surprising, especially considering how long it took to put the pieces in place to make Season 3 happen. The Season 3 ending will likely provide more clarity, but now that Euphoria’s stars have moved on to other projects, it’s a safe bet that this will likely be their final time playing these characters.

Check out new episodes of Euphoria on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the show. You can watch the latest episode of Collider Superlatives below.

euphoria

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Release Date

2019 – 2026-00-00

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Network

HBO

Showrunner

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Sam Levinson

Directors

Jennifer Morrison, Augustine Frizzell

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