Mentalist Oz Pearlman dropped out of his planned appearance on the Monday, April 27, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.

Deadline reported on Monday that Pearlman “backed out of the appearance” and was replaced by comedian Jon Lovett.

Us Weekly has reached out to Pearlman for comment.

Pearlman, 43, was one of the attendees at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 25, when gunfire broke out at the annual event.

Related: Donald Trump Praises Melania’s Reaction to ‘Traumatic’ WHCD Shooting

President Donald Trump praised first lady Melania Trump’s reaction to a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “I want to thank the first lady, that was a rather traumatic experience for her,” Trump, 79, told reporters from the White House on Saturday, April 25. “We’re not going to let anybody take over our society, […]

“I was performing right then for the president, the press secretary and the first lady,” the magician recalled during a Sunday, April 26, appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. “It [was] kind of a pivotal moment in the trick where you’re just about to do the reveal … and we hear commotion.”

“I see everyone swarming one table,” Pearlman said. “I didn’t hear any shots or see what looked like a shooter. I thought there was about to be a bomb. I really, very much thought, ‘Oh my god, it’s about to explode,’ because of the way it was being approached.”

Last week, Kimmel spoofed the annual political event on the Thursday, April 23, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

“Our first lady is here. Mrs. Trump … you have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said in the bit. “By the way, in the unfortunate event that our president has a medical emergency tonight, do we have a doctor in the house — oh, I’m sorry. I mean, do we have a Jesus in the house? I always confuse them, too.”

Days after the joke aired, gunfire erupted at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. President Donald Trump, wife Melania Trump and additional administration officials were escorted out of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel. A Secret Service agent was caught in the crossfire and shot and transported to the hospital. The Secret Service member is expected to make a full recovery. No one else was injured.

The suspected shooter was later identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, an engineer and part-time teacher from Torrance, California. He was allegedly armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives, per authorities. The suspect appeared in court on Monday, April 27, and was charged with three criminal counts, including attempting to assassinate the president.

Two days after the incident, Donald, 79, slammed Kimmel’s joke and called for his immediate termination.

“Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his show that is really shocking,” Donald shared via his Truth Social platform on Monday. “He showed a fake video of the First Lady, Melania, and our son, Barron, like they were actually sitting in his studio, listening to him speak, which they weren’t, and never would be. He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’”

The president continued, “A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason. I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Related: Donald Trump Explains Why He ‘Slowly’ Evacuated WHCD During Shooting

President Donald Trump recalled his experience during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting on Saturday, April 25. The president said in an interview on the Sunday, April 26, episode of 60 Minutes that he “wanted to see what was happening,” which led to Secret Service agents taking longer to usher him out of the Washington […]

Melania, 56, also reacted to Kimmel’s joke in a statement shared via X on Monday, “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

The first lady continued, “A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?”

Donald and Kimmel have had a contentious relationship over the years. The late night host has frequently joked about Donald since he took office. Donald has been critical of Kimmel for his countless jokes.

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Last year, Donald supported ABC’s decision to temporarily suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September 2025 following controversial jokes about Charlie Kirk‘s death. After coming back on air from a suspension period, Kimmel has stood by his decision to address politics on his show.

“To me, it just seems obvious and unavoidable, and I just can’t imagine on those nights talking about anything other than what we are talking about,” Kimmel said on an April episode of the “IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson” podcast. “I give a lot of credit to my colleagues for doing the same thing.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on ABC every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET.

Machine Gun Kelly is opening up about a travel headache that’s still following him years later. The 36-year-old artist revealed he’s unable to use TSA PreCheck or any expedited airport programs, and the reason goes back to a past drug charge.

Machine Gun Kelly Reveals Drug Charge Left Him Without TSA PreCheck For Years

Speaking on the “Take Flight” podcast, MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, explained that a prior incident had kept him from accessing faster airport security options.

“I got caught with cocaine on the way back from New Zealand last time I was out here. Traveling was difficult because I have a level one narcotics possession or whatever,” he said. “I still don’t get [TSA] PreCheck or Global Entry or any of that fast stuff in the airport. I’m still stuck in lines like normal.”

He added that the situation even delayed his return to Australia, noting it took eight years before he was able to travel back.

MGK Opens Up About Sobriety Journey

The revelation comes as MGK continues to speak candidly about his sobriety journey. In August 2024, he shared that he had been sober for nearly a year, explaining that stepping back and taking a broader look at his life helped him make the change.

“I had to zoom out and take a look at myself from a holistic perspective,” he said in a previous interview. “I was born on the 22nd. Twenty-two is a master number. What am I here to master? I had to ask myself that question.”

That same period of reflection has also made its way into his music, with MGK channeling his sobriety journey and personal struggles into his latest album.

Machine Gun Kelly Gets Raw About Rehab And Megan Fox Drama On ‘Lost Americana’

Machine Gun Kelly is letting the music do most of the talking, but he’s also peeling back the curtain on some of his most personal moments. With the release of his latest album, “Lost Americana,” MGK addressed the inspiration behind several tracks. One of the most revealing songs, “Treading Water,” reflects on his time in rehab in late 2024.

“I wrote this in Room Three, spending Christmas in rehabilitation/I got no phone, just a cell that I’m trapped in while my home’s vacant,” he sings on the bridge. Elsewhere on the album, MGK appears to touch on his complicated relationship with Megan Fox, hinting at emotional fallout in lyrics about regret and broken trust.

Though he noted that the music “speaks better than how I would be able to articulate it,” he did offer some clarity on his personal life, revealing he spent the holidays in rehab before returning to intense public scrutiny.

“Here’s the real truth,” he said. “I spent Christmas and New Years, the whole month of December and late November, in a rehab facility. I came out, the world was very loud about me and my personal business. Ironically, neither me or Megan have said anything. Still, to this day, there could have been zero drama, and you would never know, ’cause none of us have said one thing. It’s all claims and things that have happened out of our control.”

MGK Shifts Focus To Fatherhood, Praises Megan Fox As ‘The One’ Doing The Work

Outside of music, MGK has been focused on fatherhood, often sharing glimpses into life with his children. He shares one-year-old daughter Saga with ex Megan Fox, and is also dad to 16-year-old daughter Casie from a previous relationship.

While celebrating his birthday recently, MGK posted a video reading to his youngest daughter, making it clear his priorities have shifted. “Usually I throw a big birthday party today, but this all I want,” he said.

He has also praised Fox for her role as a mother, previously crediting her for doing the heavy lifting when it comes to parenting. “I want to detract all of the congrats to me and just move it to Megan because she really does all the work,” he continued.

“Someone the other day was like, ‘You’re such a good dad!’ just because I was holding the baby,” the artist said. “And [Megan] was fuming, like, ‘No, no, no, no.’ She’s the one. I just play the guitar and pray that the baby is happy.”

Tensions Resurface Between Machine Gun Kelly And Megan Fox Amid Co-Parenting Struggles

Despite recent moments of unity, new reports suggest things may not be smooth behind the scenes for Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox. According to an insider, the pair has hit another rough patch in their co-parenting dynamic, with ongoing disagreements causing friction.

“They were on a good path, and things have blown up again,” an insider said. “They have been having so many disagreements and explosive fights. Their communication with each other has been terrible.”

Production has picked back up on season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — but is every cast member returning?

Viewers were originally introduced to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast after the show premiered on Hulu in 2024. Among the stars front and center were Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney Leavitt and husband Conner Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews and husband Jace Terry, Mayci Neeley and husband Jacob Neeley, Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul and then-partner Dakota Mortensen and Layla Taylor.

Miranda McWhorter, meanwhile, joined the show in season 2 after her split from Chase McWhorter.

After airing four seasons — and hosting several crossovers with Vanderpump Villa — production was halted on the show in March 2026 after an alleged domestic violence incident between Taylor and Dakota one month prior. Dakota and Taylor subsequently filed temporary restraining orders against each other, with Dakota earning temporary custody of their son, Ever. Taylor was granted supervised visits until their next court hearing.

Related: ‘Mormon Wives’ Couples Status Check: Who Is Still Together? Who Broke Up?

For some The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives couples, going on a reality TV show made their marriage stronger — while others crumbled under the pressure. When Hulu debuted The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024, viewers were introduced to Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney […]

The Bachelorette also canceled Taylor’s season of the ABC reality dating series days before its premiere. Authorities have since confirmed that Taylor would not be charged with any crime for the February 2026 incident with Dakota.

Us Weekly confirmed that filming would resume but it is unclear if everyone — specifically Taylor — would reunite with her costars on screen. Keep scrolling to see who is — and isn’t — returning:

Jen Affleck

Jen and husband Zac Affleck will appear in season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The reality star has also teased an appearance on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County spinoff.

Demi Engemann

After having a limited role in season 4, Demi is likely not returning to the show. It hasn’t been confirmed, however, whether Demi and husband Bret Engemann officially exited The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

Whitney Leavitt

Whitney has hinted that she isn’t sure about a return to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Whitney and her husband, Conner Leavitt, have been living in New York City amid her stint on Broadway’s Chicago as Roxie Hart.

Mikayla Matthews

Mikayla teased that season 5 will address her separation from husband Jace Terry.

Mayci Neeley

Mayci filmed for season 5 while her sister McCall DaPron headlined The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County cast.

Jessi Draper

News broke while season 5 was in production that Jordan Ngatikaura filed for divorce from Jessi. Their divorce will likely play out on screen — with a possible return from Marciano Brunette who has been spending time with Jessi since her marriage came to an end.

Taylor Frankie Paul

“The producers and cast have welcomed Taylor to return to this year’s filming,” a source told Us Weekly about Taylor’s future on the show after production picked back up. “It is still unclear whether she will come back this year, but she is expected to be back in the future.”

The insider noted to Us that Taylor is “focused on her mental health,” adding, “She does want to return at some point.”

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Dakota, meanwhile, “will not be involved” in the show moving forward.

Layla Taylor

Layla broke up with her boyfriend, Mason McWhorter, between seasons 4 and 5, which will be mentioned when the hit Hulu series returns.

Miranda McWhorter

Season 5 is expected to address Miranda weathering the revelation that her ex Chase kissed her friend Jessi.

Jimmy Kimmel has broken his silence over President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump demanding his firing from his late-night show.

“Sometimes you wake up in the morning and the first lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job. We’ve all been there, right?” Kimmel, 58, joked in his Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue on Monday, April 27.

Controversy arose following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 25, where a Secret Service agent was injured. The president, first lady and members of the cabinet were safely evaluated from the Washington Hilton ballroom, while authorities captured suspected shooter Cole Tomas Allen.

(On Monday, Allen was charged with “one count of attempt to assassinate the President of the United States, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence,” per the Justice Department. Allen has not yet entered a plea.)

Related: Jimmy Kimmel Weighs In After Melania Trump Shuts Down Epstein Rumors

Jimmy Kimmel shared his thoughts after Melania Trump held a press conference to clear up her supposed connection to Jeffrey Epstein. “Why is this happening today?” Kimmel, 58, asked the audience during the Thursday, April 9, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! before making reference to President Donald Trump‘s threats against Iran. “He spent the past […]

The comments the Trumps took issue with were made on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, April 23 — two days before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. As part of a 10-minute roast of the president, Kimmel joked that Melania had a “glow like an expectant widow.”

Kimmel later teased that Melania would celebrate her 56th birthday on Sunday, April 26, “the same way she always does — looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’”

Following the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, Melania released a statement accusing Kimmel of “hateful and violent rhetoric” that “is intended to divide our country.”

“His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” she insisted. “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

Kimmel stressed during his monologue on Monday that his reference to Melania, 56, being an “expectant widow” was a simple joke about the age gap in her marriage.

“This was Thursday. There was no big reaction to it, until this morning, when I greeted the day facing yet another Twitter vomit storm and a call to fire me from our first lady, Melania Trump, saying I should be fired because of a joke I made, again, five nights ago. It was a pretend roast,” he pointed out.

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host went on, “It obviously was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together. It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination, and they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence, but I understand that the first lady had a stressful experience over the weekend, and probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house.”

Kimmel outright rejected Melania’s accusation that he’d contributed to “hateful and violent rhetoric” with his joke last Thursday.

“I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it,” he quipped.

Kimmel then more seriously told Melania, “I am sorry that you, and the president and everyone in that room went through that. I really am. Just because no-one got killed doesn’t mean it was not traumatic and scary. We should come together and be best.”

Us Weekly has reached out to the White House for comment.

On Monday, Donald, 79, took the matter one step further than the first lady by calling for ABC to fire Kimmel from his late-night show.

“Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his show that is really shocking,” the president shared via his Truth Social on Monday. “He showed a fake video of the First Lady, Melania, and our son, Barron, like they were actually sitting in his studio, listening to him speak, which they weren’t, and never would be. He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’”

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The president went on, “A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason. I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale. Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Kimmel was briefly suspended by ABC last September following comments he made on air following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Numerous Hollywood stars and fans mounted a campaign in his defense and he eventually returned to the airwaves. (He later signed a one-year contract extension with ABC.)

Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights on ABC.

The Harry Potter franchise has never really left the conversation, even all these years after the original film series wrapped up. The books still have a massive hold on readers, the movies remain comfort-viewing staples, and the Wizarding World continues to find new ways to keep itself alive. Now, HBO is getting ready to take fans back to Hogwarts with a new television adaptation, one that will retell the story across a much bigger canvas. That naturally comes with a lot of curiosity, especially from fans who grew up with the original cast.

One of those original stars has now shared how she feels about the upcoming reboot. Speaking to Collider’s Maggie Lovitt during a panel at this weekend’s Calgary Expo, Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley across the original Harry Potter films, opened up about the new generation of actors stepping into the Wizarding World. Wright seemed thoughtful about how different the experience would be for the new cast, especially because the world around them has changed so much since the original films were made. She told the audience in attendance:

“I guess it’s difficult for us, because they’re on the other side of it. I’m sure it’s more intense for those [actors]. When we were starting to do those stories, like we were saying, social media wasn’t a thing. The world just wasn’t the same. So I feel like it’s just very different.”

When Wright, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, and the rest of the young cast first entered the franchise, they were becoming famous in a very different version of celebrity culture. There were tabloids, press junkets, premieres, and massive fan attention, obviously, but the constant online reaction machine wasn’t what it is now. For the new HBO cast, every costume reveal, set photo, performance choice, and line delivery will probably be picked apart in real time. Wright also made it clear that, despite the pressure facing the new cast, she sees value in the franchise continuing. She added, “And the only thing I believe I do celebrate is that it’s continuing. That people still want to tell these stories and be in that world.”

Bonnie Wright Wants More Stories From the Wizarding World

Wright also spoke about the wider potential of the Harry Potter universe and how the new series will give fans even more than the film series was able to. Her comments are especially interesting because they don’t just focus on Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the original Hogwarts years. As a fan of the stories herself, Wright said she’d love to see the franchise explore other corners of the Wizarding World, particularly characters and eras that the original movies didn’t have time to fully unpack. She told Lovitt:

“As a fan of stories, there’s like a million different characters that I’d love to pick up shows to. I love all the Aurors that make up the Order of the Phoenix. I love the Marauders’ Map story. I love Lupin, Sirius Black, all those. As a fan of stories, I want that story because I feel like we spend so much time with our characters. So I honestly love a new story and a new world to spin off. I would love to see, like, the 10 years before Harry’s parents die, that [time].”

That’s a pretty relatable take, especially for longtime fans who have spent years asking for a proper Marauders-era project. The friendship between James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew has always been one of the most heavily discussed pieces of Harry Potter lore, despite barely getting real screen time in the films. The same goes for the original Order of the Phoenix, the First Wizarding War, and the years leading up to Voldemort’s first fall. For now, HBO’s series is expected to go back to the beginning and adapt the original books again, but now that the seal has been broken, anything is possible.

HBO’s Harry Potter will premiere on Christmas Day.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026

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Showrunner

Francisca Gardiner

Directors

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Mark Mylod

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Science fiction is such an expansive genre that can encompass such epic films that sometimes it’s easy to forget how successful it can also be as a vehicle for thrills. Unstoppable killing machines, time-travel doppelgängers, and the Sun itself all feature as antagonists in some of the best sweat-inducing sci-fi thrillers. These movies use their high concepts in the name of taut, tense action, psychological torment, and cosmic terror. The subgenre can be so broad that many movies might technically fit within it — after all, films can be thrilling in so many different ways, but the best are thrillers from top to bottom.

These sci-fi thrillers can be unrelenting or quietly cerebral, but they are all incredibly well made. Many of them were underrated gems that became cult classics that are now considered among the best of the genre. They come from some of the most beloved filmmakers to have worked in the sci-fi genre, and are often based on works by the most critically acclaimed authors. They can be high-tech or low-budget, but they are all among the greatest sci-fi thrillers ever made.

10

‘Looper’ (2012)

Image via TriStar Pictures

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Before Rian Johnson ventured to a galaxy far, far away for The Last Jedi, he proved his sci-fi genre skills with Looper. With one of the most clever time travel thriller conceits since The Terminator, the film offers paradoxical action between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis, playing past and future versions of the same character. Johnson never tries to bog the film down with convoluted explanations of its time travel logic, but instead uses it as a jumping-off point to tell a story about cycles of violence.

Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, a contract killer who specializes in killing targets sent from the future, also known as a looper. Loopers operate with the knowledge that one day they will be asked to kill their future selves to close the loop. When that happens to Joe, he accidentally lets his future self go free, putting both their lives in danger. The two actors play well off of each other as their opposite selves, and the film embraces its pulp sensibilities in some clever and killer uses of time travel.

9

‘Snowpiercer’ (2013)

Image via Radius TWC

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Bong Joon Ho‘s dystopian sci-fi thriller Snowpiercer features a relentless pace wrapped in a social satire as its characters literally engage in class warfare as they fight their way up the economic food chain. Based on the French graphic novel of the same name, the film is set on a high-tech train traveling across a frozen Earth, its passengers the only humans left alive. Even in a winter apocalypse, economic disparity persists, as the lower classes occupy the rear of the train, and the elite take up residence in the front. It’s a blunt metaphor, but it gives Bong lots of cars to populate with colorful characters, wild visuals and some spectacular setpieces.

Chris Evans plays a lower-class citizen who begins a revolt that moves from the caboose to the cab. It’s equal parts brutal and beautiful as the group moves through each train car, revealing the darkness and deception that lies beneath the opulence of the wealthy class. The film isn’t afraid to get its characters dirty, and Evans gives one of his best performances as an anti-hero who is on the polar opposite end of the morality scale from Captain America. Bong is as adept at juggling the various tones of the film as in his other masterpieces, Parasite, Memories of Murder, and The Host, and Snowpiercer is one of the most fiercely uncompromising sci-fi films of the 2010s.

8

‘Under the Skin’ (2013)

Image via A24

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Under the Skin is a sci-fi psychological thriller that borders on horror in some of its imagery. It’s not a propulsive film like Snowpiercer but a more contemplative one that does exactly as its title implies, digging deep with an unnerving feeling that stays hooked into you for days. It’s sparsely made with understated performances that make its close encounters feel far more threatening than any of the bombastic destruction of movies like War of the Worlds or Independence Day.

Scarlett Johansson plays an extraterrestrial who wanders Glasgow in the form of a human woman, looking for men to abduct and bring back to her empty void. That may sound like a clumsy sexual euphemism, but it’s very much the basis of the film’s plot, which is light on exposition and heavy with atmosphere. A dread hangs over the entire movie, and while there’s violence and some upsetting deaths, it’s less about getting you to grip your seat than it is to make you squirm in it. Under the Skin was directed by Jonathan Glazer, and it has the same ability to fill you with dread and despair as his holocaust drama The Zone of Interest.

7

‘Sunshine’ (2007)

Image via Searchlight Pictures

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Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, the same madmen behind the increasingly unhinged 28 Days Later franchise, followed the first of those zombie films with the ticking clock space thriller Sunshine. Set in the near future where the dying sun has put all of humanity at risk of extinction, the film is an existential nightmare, and the filmmakers use its cosmic setting to explore religion, spirituality, and fanaticism. Interestingly, Sunshine is far more interested in the philosophical and psychological aspects than it is in being a true hard sci-fi film.

Cillian Murphy leads the terrific ensemble cast, which includes Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, and Rose Byrne, as the crew of scientists headed to detonate a bomb to revive the dying sun. Each struggles with the isolation and cosmic indifference of the yellow giant that is responsible for all of their lives. In addition to that ever-present reminder of their mortality, they face peril at every turn, in the form of physical obstacles and human ones as well. The film’s third act goes directly into more conventional thriller territory with a secondary villain reveal that some viewers and critics were disappointed with, but it’s a natural extension of the film’s themes and definitely gives the finale a jolt of thrills. Sunshine is an underrated sci-fi thriller that, unfortunately, was a failure when it was originally released, but has since earned a devoted fan following.

6

’12 Monkeys’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

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The second time-travel thriller on this list to star Bruce Willis, Twelve Monkeys is a more surreal and mind-warping film, thanks to the direction of Terry Gilliam. Inspired by the sci-fi short film La Jetée, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a disease has wiped out almost all of humanity, and scientists are using time travel to investigate the origins of the virus that caused it. It’s a looping plot that will definitely have you scratching your head the first time around, but it’s a wild ride nonetheless with some fantastic performances and an ending that hits hard.

Nobody plays burnt out like Willis, and this may be the most burnt out character he’s ever played, a convict of the future used as a time-traveling guinea pig. On his trips back to investigate the virus, he finds himself institutionalized, where he meets another inmate, played by a manic, Oscar-nominated Brad Pitt. Twelve Monkeys offers a pessimistic view of fate, with time travel in the film only proving the futility of any attempt to change the future. It’s a dark, but wickedly entertaining, thrill ride through time.

5

‘The Terminator’ (1984)

For how big the franchise has gotten, and how quickly James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger shot to the A-list, it’s hard to remember that The Terminator was essentially an exploitation film. It may be high concept and have a budget slightly higher than the average Roger Corman production of the time, but it’s still a mean-spirited, nasty little thriller underneath the skin. Cameron got his start on Corman productions, and his directorial debut was Piranha II: The Spawning. While his direction is a big part of what elevates The Terminator, he still has his exploitation sensibilities.

The first movie has more in common with slashers than epic sci-fi. Linda Hamilton‘s Sarah Connor is a fantastic final girl, and Schwarzenegger’s T-800 is the perfect killing machine. As he hunts her down, he leaves a path of bodies that would make Jason Voorhees proud. Sarah, meanwhile, has a passionate romance with her savior from the future, Kyle Reese, played by Michael Biehn, culminating in a steamy ’80s sex scene, though it’s far tamer than the Corman equivalent. All the exploitation hallmarks are there, but they’re executed better than ever. The franchise and Cameron would go on to bigger budgets and more prestigious films, but The Terminator is the original model thriller.

4

‘The Prestige’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros.

Christopher Nolan has explored several sci-fi worlds to thrilling results. Inception is a mind-heist thriller that owes just as much debt to James Bond as his techno-spy thriller Tenet, and Interstellar is an intergalactic survival film. His best, though, is the dueling magicians drama of The Prestige. Based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Priest, the film is another one of Nolan’s puzzlebox narratives, but here its structure is purposeful in mimicking a magic trick, which the film pulls off right in front of your eyes.

Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman are perfectly cast as Victorian London magicians; one a technical genius, the other a masterful showman. They break from collaboration after a death causes them to become rivals, and their feud escalates to extremes. Jackman’s character seeks out Nikola Tesla to gain an advantage, which is where the film’s sci-fi elements come into play. The Prestige is a film of doubles that explores the nature of obsession with perfection and the sacrifice needed to obtain it. It’s plot twists into a knot that only unravels when Nolan wants it to, like a true magician.

3

‘Minority Report’ (2002)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Steven Spielberg‘s prescient sci-fi noir Minority Report features all the eclectic elements of a classic thriller, from chase scenes to a protagonist framed for murder and a deeper conspiracy he has to uncover. It’s as thrilling as any blockbuster the director has ever made, but with a more cynical tone to it, aside from the slightly jarring happy ending. Tom Cruise is both a solid action lead and a tortured soul driven by a past tragedy. The set pieces are also immaculate, as is expected from Spielberg, who combines stark visuals with slick effects.

Cruise plays John Anderton, the lead officer of PreCrime, an experimental law enforcement unit that uses three psychics, called PreCogs, to predict and prevent violent crimes. When Anderton himself is accused of a future crime, he goes on the run to clear his name and discover who his supposed victim is. Loosely based on a short story by renowned sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, the film’s plot deals with the notion of free will and is set in a future where privacy has been incrementally diminished. Minority Report is one of Spielberg’s best, representing a noirish mix of his gifts as an entertainer with his darker impulses as a thrill maker.

2

‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Image via Warner Bros.

Two decades before Minority Report turned Dick’s words into a futuristic detective thriller, Ridley Scott made the definitive sci-fi noir with Blade Runner. A visually stunning thriller that has had an immense impact on the aesthetic of so many cyberpunk films, video games, and anime, the film had some of the biggest artists and designers in science fiction, from Syd Mead to Douglass Trumbull, working behind the scenes. It’s an oppressive, rain-soaked movie that uses its atmosphere to immerse the audience in its dystopic vision of the future. The slow burn narrative and measured pacing of the film make it less thrilling than more fast-paced films, but its punctuations of violence hit hard with a more emotional impact and an existential undercurrent.

Harrison Ford is Rick Deckard, a cop who specializes in hunting down rogue replicants, the highly advance androids of the future. He’s given a task of tracking down four especially dangerous replicants, led by Rutger Hauer‘s Roy Batty, whose tragic nature and poetic talents belie his skull-crushing abilities. Deckard’s investigation also brings him into contact with the replicant Rachel (Sean Young), who breaks through his barriers and exposes his emotional frailties, causing him to question the purpose of his entire existence. Blade Runner is a hard-boiled, sci-fi masterpiece.

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‘Children of Men’ (2007)

Image via Universal Pictures

Thrillers that get under the skin or cut deep emotional wounds are one thing, but a thriller that gets your pulse racing and adrenaline pumping is what the genre was made for. Alfonso Cuarón delivers both deep themes and hard thrills in the dystopic thriller Children of Men. Based on the P.D. James novel, it envisions a future where women have become infertile, leading to societal collapse precipitated by generational hopelessness, communicated in the film’s gritty visuals depicting an England on the edge of total chaos, with clashes between the people and the authoritarian regime becoming increasingly violent. It’s both harrowing and hits a little too close to home.

Clive Owen plays former revolutionary Theo, who has become disillusioned and retreated to the hell of middle management bureaucracy. He’s pulled back into the fray by his estranged wife, Julian (Julianne Moore), who asks for his help in getting a young refugee named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to safety. Kee is the first pregnant woman in almost two decades, representing a hope for humanity that could be corrupted and used by politicians and violent extremists alike. Children of Men is best known for its bleak visual style and intense action sequences, many of which are made immersive through long, unbroken takes merged through seamless digital effects. It’s Cuaron’s dystopian masterpiece and the greatest sci-fi thriller ever made.

Keith Urban is facing fresh attention offstage as tensions within his family begin to show in subtle but telling ways. 

Months after his split from Nicole Kidman brought an end to their long-standing marriage, new developments suggest the fallout is still playing out behind closed doors. 

A recent social media move by his teenage daughter has only added to the growing speculation, while reports about his personal life continue to fuel questions about where things stand at home.

Keith Urban’s relationship with his eldest daughter, Sunday Rose, appears to have taken a visible hit after she made a quiet but noticeable decision online. 

The Daily Mail reported that the 17-year-old recently unfollowed her father on Instagram, a move that quickly caught attention given the timing. 

Despite the change, Urban still follows his daughter, making the situation even more telling.

The shift comes in the wake of his split from Kidman, which was announced in September 2025, ending their 19-year marriage. 

While the separation has reportedly been finalized from a legal standpoint, it’s clear the emotional impact is still unfolding within the family.

Reports suggest that the country singer’s bond with both Sunday and her younger sister, Faith Margaret, has been strained since the breakup. 

Urban’s New Romance Sparks Tension At Home

Complicating matters further are ongoing rumors surrounding Keith Urban’s personal life. 

The 58-year-old has reportedly moved on with 26-year-old country artist Karley Scott Collins, and that development is said to have created additional tension within the family.

According to reports, Sunday and Faith have taken a firm position by refusing to meet their father’s rumored new partner. 

Sources claim this decision reflects their loyalty to Kidman as they process the changes in their family structure. 

Speaking about the situation, a family friend told Rob Shuter, “The girls are really focused on mum right now. They’re adjusting to all the changes, and it’s natural they want to protect their space.”

At the same time, Urban is reportedly trying to navigate the situation carefully. Another insider shared, “He wants them to be comfortable, but the girls’ priority is their mum and their own well-being.” 

Meanwhile, speculation around his relationship with Collins continues to circulate. Reports have described the connection as “serious,” especially after the two collaborated musically and she joined his 2025 High and Alive World Tour.

Keith Urban Reportedly Hurt By Daughter’s Very Public Omission

In March, Urban was reportedly left shaken after his daughter, Sunday, appeared to publicly snub him during an interview, sparking quiet concern about their relationship. 

As The Blast reported, the teenager, while speaking with Elle Australia, praised her mother, Nicole Kidman, calling her “my biggest inspiration in life” and adding, “She is a key part of everything I do.” 

Sunday also shared advice she’s received from her mom, revealing, “The biggest piece of industry advice Mum has given to me is to always be on time.” 

However, what stood out was the complete absence of any mention of her father, Keith Urban. According to insider claims, the omission hit hard. 

“Keith doesn’t know what to say, but he’s trying to put on a brave front,” the source said, adding that the public nature of the snub has left him “stumped.” 

Urban ‘Feels Like He’s Lost His Daughters,’ Insider Claims

A few days later, The Blast reported that Keith Urban was struggling with a growing distance from his daughters following his split, with claims the situation had become deeply personal. 

According to insider reports, the strain had gone beyond a single public moment, with one source alleging the girls “essentially cut off contact” with their father amid ongoing tension.   

The source added that the situation had “been building for a while.” Reports also claimed Urban had been left emotionally shaken by the distance, with insiders saying he felt “like he’s lost his daughters” and was struggling to process the change.  

While other coverage noted the daughters had grown closer to their mother and primarily lived with her following the divorce, the evolving family dynamic reportedly left Urban feeling isolated as he tried to navigate the relationship.

Keith Urban Focuses On Music As Rumors Intensify

Away from the family tension, Urban is said to be pouring his energy into his career. 

The four-time Grammy winner is reportedly in Nashville, where he is renovating a studio on Music Row while working on new material, including what has been described as a breakup album.

Even as he focuses on music, rumors about his relationship with Karley Scott Collins continue to make headlines. 

At 58, Urban is significantly older than Collins, and their connection has fueled intense public interest. 

However, Collins has pushed back on some of the claims circulating online.

After a report suggested the pair were already living together, she responded directly by sharing the claim and writing, “Y’all, this is absolutely RIDICULOUS and untrue.”

Meghan Markle is once again in the headlines after her self-acclaimed title as the “most trolled person” made waves.

The Duchess of Sussex made the declaration during a speech on her recent trip to Australia with her husband, Prince Harry. While speaking about the dangers of social media, she poured her heart out, advising youngsters via her personal experience as a public figure.

Meghan Markle’s life, daily choices, and actions have never shied away from the media, and over the years, she has been the subject of great public scrutiny. This includes her business, growing lifestyle brand, and decisions concerning her family.

Meghan has weathered through the tough times, and her astrology readings affirm that after boisterous storms comes calm. The “Suits” actress shared a post on social media showing the hopeful messages from her horoscope. “Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, & Aquarius ending the hardest seven years of their lives on April 25,” The string of posts on her Instagram stories began.

She shared the message on Saturday, April 25, which featured two men dancing to one of Celine Dion’s all-time hits, “That’s the Way It Is.” The message resonated perfectly with Meghan, whose birthday is on August 4, making her a Leo. The next reading was a knock at her life, the criticism she had dealt with, and the effect it had on her.

“The tension between who you actually are and what the world around you was willing to see has been exhausting in a way that is hard to explain to people who have not lived it,”  it began. Her astrology post continued, reading, “Your confidence took hits it had no business taking. You questioned your creative direction, your spotlight, your worth.”

They sound like words that run deep as a description of what the Duchess of Sussex may have faced since her status switched when she joined the royal family. The horoscope concluded with a positive message highlighting April 25 as an auspicious day. “April 25, the pressure lifts. You get the space to just exist without fighting for it,” signaling a light at the end of the tunnel for Meghan.

According to US Weekly, Royal watchers have speculated that the seven hardest years of her life, as the post pointed out, refers to the pubic scrutiny she has faced since she tied the knot with Prince Harry seven years ago in May 2018. While Meghan uses social media to promote her lifestyle brand, As Ever, she often warns against its use and the dangers associated with online platforms and the younger generation.

On her recently concluded Australian tour, the former Hollywood star gave a speech about how social media has impacted her life over the years. The media personality and her husband spoke to young people during their visit to Batyr, a mental health charity at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.

She got candid, saying she was “bullied and attacked” online every day for a decade, tagging herself as “the most trolled person in the entire world.” Harry’s speech echoes similar views. He noted that social media has  “led to so much loneliness for so many people” before disclosing his mental health struggles, which led him to seek help in therapy.

Meghan spiced up her speech at Batyr with words of encouragement as she told her listeners, “Now I’m here,” despite the constant trolls and critics online. Speaking further, she decided to address the issue at the root, highlighting that social media companies were not “incentivized to stop.” 

The Blast reported in an earlier release that the media personality informed her listeners that the clickbait nature of social media was not going to change, hence they had to develop tough skin and become stronger as they navigate the use of online platforms.

“When I think of all of you and what you’re experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realize that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks,” she said to the youths. She further noted that she has an ever-listening ear to those going through similar experiences with the media, as they easily resonate with her.

Not Everyone Sees The Mom Of Two As ‘The Most Trolled Person In The Entire World’

Meghan has admittedly had her fair share of one too many bad days in the media, but the title as the person with the most trolls seems to be a stretch to some people, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Right from inside Capitol Hill, the politician spoke with news outlets, saying that the title belongs to President Donald Trump.

Cruz explained that Trump is the most trolled person on the planet, and the former Hollywood star is still in the shadows when it comes to internet trolls. As reported by The Blast, he went on to praise Meghan for her work as an actress, referencing her phenomenal role on the hit legal drama TV series “Suits.”

The Texas Senator emphasized that Trump has seen more online hate, and as such, in his opinion, the title goes to the POTUS. His judgment comes as a no-brainer as he has experience in that department. Cruz noted that he gets trolled as well, but often responds to them with laughs or trolls back.

Meghan Markle Recently Gave Royals Another Reason To Frown

Meghan’s brand, As Ever, recently launched new candles in her candle collection as part of a Mother’s Day celebration. She claimed that two of them were inspired by her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The candles are named No.506 and No. 604, and according to reports, the numbers are not random but linked to her children’s birthdays.

This move, allegedly, does not sit right with other members of the royal house. A source described it as “an outrageous use of their titles,” adding that the late Queen Elizabeth II would not have approved of Meghan incorporating the kids into her business. They stated that the late queen previously stressed that the Sussexes should not profit from their titles after dropping their status as working royals in 2020.

The Blast also reports that the former TV personality had her children’s names, email addresses, social media handles, and domain names all trademarked. Some insiders do not view the trademark move as an issue; however, they have eyebrows raised if Meghan’s intention is to use them for the sale of future goods.