Related: ‘Bridgerton‘ Stars Who Left the Netflix Show: Where Are They Now?
Advertisement
Young and the Restless intense new spoilers for next week talk about Adam Newman‘s (Mark Grossman) concern because he thinks Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) might have killed somebody. And guess what? Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) also suspects Victor might have gone too far.
We have the latest Y&R spoilers for the week of February 9th, including some jealousy at the Abbott Mansion when Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) sees Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) doing something sketchy and Mariah Copeland‘s (Camryn Grimes) dodgy plans for Dominic Chancellor (Ethan Ray Clark).
All right, let’s start with Nikki’s hot take on Victor. So, as this week wraps up, Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn) is very worried about what Victor has done with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) and the twins. Nikki, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle), and Adam Newman get an update on Mariah from him. Then, Victor assures his family that Lily agreed to this kidnapping plan.
Victoria doesn’t believe it because Lily is still salty about getting cheated on the Chancellor deal. Adam tells Victor he saw Cane and he looked really rattled. If you recall, Cane threatened Adam and said a Newman would get hurt if Lily or the kids are harmed.
Victoria and Nikki also want to know the exact terms of what Lily agreed to, but Victor won’t answer them, as usual. Nikki tells Victoria it’s ironic that Victor’s faking a kidnapping while his grandson Dominic is really kidnapped right now.
Nikki is not excusing Victor’s behavior, but as usual, she’s enabling it and justifying it, saying that she knows he’s trying to save his life’s work. They’re debating if Lily hates Cane more than she hates Victor and if that’s why she made the deal. They also worry that Cane may retaliate and things are going to get a lot worse. Nikki is quite worried they will lose everything because Cane may just decide, “Okay, I’m just gonna watch it all burn down.”
After talking to Victoria and stressing out at the end of this week, in next week’s Young and the Restless spoilers, Nikki heads over to the Abbott mansion to vent about her husband, Victor, to his ultimate enemy, Jack.
Do you guys remember when Victor walked into the living room of the new ranch a few weeks ago and he saw Jack hugging Nikki and comforting her? Victor went nuts, he threatened Jack. And he got really ticked off. We’re going to revisit that same dynamic, but it’s going to flip around.
Next week on Y&R, Nikki is really upset and she goes to see Jack and opens up to him. She tells him she’s really worried what Victor could do next. I’m guessing if Jack doesn’t already know, we’ll see Nikki telling Jack about Victor kidnapping Lily or her playing along and pretending to be kidnapped.
Nikki opens up to Jack and asks, “What if Victor goes so far that I can’t take it anymore?” Again, we’re going to see Jack comforting Nikki and he takes her in his arms for a hug. That’s right as Diane Jenkins starts to walk into the room and she sees them.
She does not like seeing Jack with his arms around his ex-wife Nikki. This is about to get ugly. This past week, Diane told Jack that she hates his closeness to Nikki almost as much as Victor hates it. Jack’s already been warned, but Nikki is back in his arms.
Meanwhile, we’re going to see more of Claire Grace Newman (Hayley Erin) digging into Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) and Holden Novak’s (Nathan Owens) dirty LA secret next week. Cane told Holden to head to LA and oversee the private investigator who’s searching for Lily. Claire decides to tag along on this Los Angeles trip. I think she’s going to drop in on Sienna with some follow-up questions.


All right, now let’s talk about Mariah and her unhinged plan to keep Dominic away from his parents, Devon Hamilton (Bryton James) and Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway). This week we had brand new GCPD detective Burrow meeting with them, Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks), and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case). They were talking about what Mariah’s thinking and whether she is a danger to their son.
Next week on Young and the Restless, spoilers have Dominic and Mariah wearing matching trucker hats, sitting down for a meal in a little cheap-looking diner. They’re still on the run. Dominic asks Mariah why she won’t tell him where they’re going. She tells Dominic she’s taking him to the best hideout in the world.
Turns out Mariah is planning to take Dominic out of the country, which is incredibly scary news. Mariah is fully unhinged. If she gets Dominic out of the country, it is going to be harder for Abby and Devon to track them down.
But how exactly is Mariah going to do this? She may have a passport for herself, but I’m guessing she doesn’t have one for Dominic. We also know that very soon Burrow is on a private jet with Abby and Devon. And they are heading to try and stop Mariah from fleeing with their son.
Also related to this, there’s some big Young and the Restless casting news. Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) is coming back; she is Doug Williams’ sister. We haven’t seen her in 10 years.
She saved Ian Ward (Ray Wise) from certain death in that fire he started at Newman Tower. And she wanted to stay with him, but he sent Patty away. She and Ian bonded. And then she left. Patty was last seen when she had been remanded to a high-security psychiatric facility.
If you remember, she stabbed a doctor at Fairview. That’s the other mental hospital. I do suspect that they brought back Patty Williams as part of the Mariah and Ian storyline, but we’ll see. We’re going to talk about Patty more in the full weekly spoilers video and in the weekly predictions.
All right, now let’s get to the big one: Adam thinking that Victor has killed somebody. At the end of this week, Adam is telling Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) that Victor said he got Lily to agree to fake her and the twins’ kidnapping.
When Chelsea hears that Cane made threats against the family, she’s scared that Connor Newman (Judah Mackey) may be at risk and does not trust Victor to protect them. She tells Adam all of that. Meanwhile, Victor headed over to the “Cane train” so that he can push for him to give back Newman Enterprises to get Lily and the kids back.
But it’s not going to be that easy. Cane wanted proof of life. He wants to know that Victor actually has Lily and the twins and that they are safe. Cane vows if they’re not okay, he’s going to be out for Victor’s blood. We pick up with this conversation early next week.
Victor is still on the Cane train. And I guess he calls Adam over because he walks in and Victor gestures to Cane lying there unconscious and says, “Look at that.” Adam is worried that Cane is dead and he starts to ask his dad about it, but Victor doesn’t answer right away.
I doubt that Cane is dead. We all know Billy Flynn is on contract, but I am wondering if Victor somehow drugged him, slipped something in his whiskey, or pulled some other kind of shady move to get physical control over Cane. Maybe he wants to buy time to get Lily to send a picture or something.
We’ll find out. Be sure to check out our full weekly spoilers video for all the action coming on Young and the Restless the week of February 9th through the 13th, plus our predictions and more coming soon.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/lincoln-lawyer-s4-020626-cee9c4561a664d44b5273cc0e835146a.jpg)
Season 4 saw Mickey go from defender to defendant.
NBA YoungBoy never fails to get the timeline’s attention whenever he decides to pop out. The rapper recently took to X to get a few things off his chest, quickly sparking reactions across social media. Amid his rant, the father of Dejounte Murray appeared to enter the chat. That caused a little tension on the timeline, as Dejounte is currently dating Jania Meshell, the mother of one of NBA YoungBoy’s sons. Following the backlash, it’s clear Dejounte wants no part of the online back-and-forth.
On Wednesday, the rapper took to X with a series of heated tweets. “I’m gon keep it real, all the ‘P’s’ just lame dudes with money. Y’all bag keep these h****, I’m him. N**** f*** you,” he wrote. He later appeared to address one of his children’s mothers, writing, “And to my baby mama, f*** this industry h** stuff. I don’t like you neither. Let me pop out.”
The rapper didn’t stop there.
“Privacya b****, I don’t like ya!!” he added, before continuing, “Ooh… I want one of you b**** to say something today. I been waiting!! And you ain’t bout no murder.” In the series of cryptic tweets, he continued to go off, leaving the timeline trying to piece together who he was referring to.
Following YB’s tweets, it appears that Dejounte Murray’s father entered the chat under a post resharing the tweets. In his response, he suggested that money does not guarantee happiness and encouraged the rapper to focus on personal growth and healing.
He wrote, “This proves that money doesn’t make you happy for long. You gotta attach yourself to some outdoor activities and enjoy life. I’ve hardly ever seen this man post positive thoughts. Hopefully he can find a good therapist because growing up in the hood will have you looking at every situation on a toxic level. Pick your battles, young man.”
He tweeted, “Oh man, you unexpected, old a***,” before adding, “But f**** you pops, you’ll get slapped tf out. Let me fight with my h**, bruh. I’m not even talking ’bout that one #fool.” The posts left the timeline believing the message was aimed at Dejounte’s dad, as the rapper seemingly warned him to mind his business.
Many NBA YoungBoy supporters then flooded Dejounte Murray’s father’s page, calling him out over his comments. In response, he shared a video captioned, “My own experience. I’m headed to the beach & y’all be too soft and always getting in your feelings over celebrities that don’t give a f about you. Go get some money and seek help if you’re miserable.”
In the clip, he played YoungBoy’s song ‘Kacey Talk,’ making it clear he doesn’t have an issue with the rapper. He also expressed love for YoungBoy’s son, referring to him as his own grandson, while clapping back at critics in the comments.
While supporters also began flooding Dejounte’s comment section, he subtly reacted. He liked a comment under his recent post that read, “Y’all slow… Whatever his dad and YB got going don’t got nun to do with him!”
Before the drama unfolded, Dejounte Murray was outside showing love to his girlfriend, Jania Meshell. Lately, the couple has kept the drama off the internet and only popped out when they’re boo’d up. On Tuesday, Jania showed off her brand-new all-black 2026 Range Rover on TikTok, captioning the post, “New 2026 Range Rover. Thanks to my man.”
Folks gathered under The Shade Room Teens to see what’s going on with NBA YoungBoy. Some are still trying to figure out who the rapper was referring to in his initial tweets. Others argued that Dejounte’s father didn’t say anything wrong in his advice. Meanwhile, some supporters clapped back, saying the father should’ve minded his business.
Instagram user @_taliaskye23 wrote, “I came to the comments to see who he was talkin bout and don’t nobody know either”
Instagram user @darealdeal_ added, “I’m not sure what it mean but it’s sounds dangerous Imaooooo”
While Instagram user wrote, “Kacey must ain’t put that good word in”
Instagram user @itsparisdior wrote, “He mad cause nene man got her a new car”
Instagram user @missm00dy wrote, “His ‘wife’ is God’s strongest soldier! Ain’t no way my husband gonna keep crashing out about his bm.”
While Instagram user @thaarealplayyaaa.k wrote, “Omg you not gone defend yo daddy???”
Instagram user @universal_godess? Wrote, “Yb literally said he wasn’t talking about jania so his pops looks crazy for inserting himself. He doesn’t need to say nothing be that’s between them….”
Instagram user @kuttt.hroatsum added, “the daddy didn’t say anything about jania. He said that man mind is negative and it’s not wrong”
While Instagram user @ms.skyami wrote, “Ngl every time Dejounte in drama the man never the one that put himself in it”
What Do You Think Roomies?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/charlize-theron-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-01-020626-4689a7fe6f6e48e4b90d6d73e2a46fa2.jpg)
The “Mad Max: Fury Road” star recited a quote from Nelson Mandela.
Published
François Arnaud might be choking on that “none of your f***ing business” line he tossed at Andy Cohen … ’cause the rumors about him dating Connor Storrie are getting louder, steamier, and a lot harder to dodge!
TMZ snagged photos of the two actors settling in for a cozy dinner at the old-school, fancy Smoke House in Burbank … and while there wasn’t full-on PDA, the energy was very much date night. Dim lighting, nonstop laughs, and that locked-in, only-you-exist vibe said plenty.
There’s no denying the chemistry here — and if this is the real deal, François better brace himself for even more backlash from diehard “Heated Rivalry” fans who seriously struggle separating fantasy from real life. Even NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said he is a big fan.
For those not fully caught up — Connor plays half of a forbidden, fan-obsessed romance with Hudson Williams’ character Shane Hollander in the steamy, queer hockey drama — and viewers are deep in their feelings. So deep, in fact, that when Connor was first spotted with François — who plays Scott Hunter in the show — at JFK earlier mid-June, the internet spiral got ugly fast … including reported death threats.
Bottom line — the frenzy isn’t slowing down. Whether this turns into a full-blown IRL romance or not, fans (and Andy Cohen) may want to cool it, stop fanning the flames, and wait for S2 to get their fix of Connor/Shane’s on-screen chemistry.
Bravo

1/19/2026
And lucky for Connor and François? The show’s already been renewed … meaning they’ll be seeing a whole lot more of each other, one way or another.
Alabama Barker had a little slip-up on livestream after accidentally referencing her ex-friend Bhad Bhabie instead of Latin artist Bad Bunny. Social media couldn’t get enough of the moment.
On Thursday evening (Feb. 5), Alabama Barker had a slip-up on livestream after praising her ex-friend Bhad Bhabie when she meant to shout out Bad Bunny. In a clip circulating online, Alabama chats with her fans while Latin artist Bad Bunny’s music plays in the background. She then says, “W Bhad Bhabie in the ch…” catching the mix-up before she could finish her sentence.
Alabama laughs before correcting herself, saying, “That was crazy, chat,” as she continues to chuckle. She adds, “Definitely not W Bhad Bhabie,” then follows with, “You know what, actually W her for not posting that man anymore,” seemingly referring to the father of Bhad Bhabie’s child, LeVaugn, whom Alabama and Bhad Bhabie previously had a falling out over.
Fans quickly took to Instagram to comment:
Instagram user @lakaylaa.a wrote, “Aww she miss her friend 😂😂😂”
Another Instagram user @dylanfilss wrote, “You can tell it was an accident fr 😂”
While Instagram user @itsjadaarenee wrote, “Bhad Bhabie finna drop a diss now 😭😭😭😭”
Instagram user @itskelsiee wrote, “honest mistake lol”
Another Instagram user @bunny2cold wrote, “This is what happens when u talk about someone too much 😆 told on herself”
While Instagram user @big_lay__ wrote, “Obsessed”
Instagram user @nybangaaaa wrote, “She got condos in that girl head 😂”
Another Instagram user @girlyreallyhavin wrote, “She said W her for not posting that man… but you was also f*** that man 😂😂”
While Instagram user @kendricharnei wrote, “Idk my granny told me that mean the other person talking about me but hey 😂”
Once friends, Alabama Barker and Bhabie had a falling out in 2024 after she accused Alabama of stealing her boyfriend, Le Vaugn. At the time, Alabama denied those claims. However, the accusations sparked heated exchanges between the two online and even included diss tracks.
Following their feud, Bhabie shared videos discussing a miscarriage with her on-and-off ex-boyfriend LeVaugn and alleged abuse claims. Alabama responded in the comments: “Even though we had our differences, I don’t support the way he treats her & she doesn’t deserve it.”
By October 2025, Bhabie confirmed she was single and officially done with LeVaugn.
What Do You Think Roomies?
Super Bowl Sunday is just days away, and what better way to get ready for the big event than by watching some of the greatest football movies of all time? Few genres capture the spirit of determination, teamwork, and heart quite like them. Whether set under the bright lights of professional stadiums or the muddy fields of small-town America, football movies remind us why the game holds such a special place in American culture.
The best football movies combine thrilling athletic action with deeply human drama, balancing the highs of victory with the heartbreak of loss. They reveal the sacrifices players make, the challenges coaches face, and the emotional toll of chasing glory under immense pressure. In doing so, these stories connect audiences to the passion, pride, and pain that define both the sport and life itself. At their core, football movies capture the essence of what it means to compete with courage and conviction. Here are the 10 greatest movies about the sport.
Varsity Blues is a coming-of-age dramedy set in a small Texas town where high school football is treated like a religion. When the star quarterback, Lance Harbor (Paul Walker), is injured, his academically minded backup, Jonathan “Mox” Moxon (James Van Der Beek), is thrust into the spotlight. As Mox leads the team, he clashes with the ruthless, win-at-all-costs Coach Kilmer (Jon Voight), who pushes his players beyond their limits.
Varsity Blues is often considered one of the greatest football movies because it goes beyond the sport itself to explore the deeper social and emotional pressures of high school football culture. It captures the intensity, passion, and identity that the game represents for players, coaches, and communities. Ultimately, Varsity Blues is a commentary on how much high school football has become part of the American teen experience.
Heaven Can Wait is a romantic comedy-fantasy movie that introduces Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty), a talented quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams who is mistakenly taken to Heaven before his time by an overzealous guardian angel. To correct the error, the heavenly overseer, Mr. Jordan (James Mason), places Joe’s soul into the body of a recently murdered millionaire, Leo Farnsworth. While adjusting to his new identity, Joe uses Leo’s wealth to pursue his dream of returning to football.
Heaven Can Wait is often considered one of the best football movies of all time because it uses the sport not just as a backdrop, but as the emotional core of its story. Unlike many sports stories that focus on competition or victory, it ties football to deeper themes of passion, identity, and destiny. Joe Pendleton’s love for the game defines his character. His drive to play again, even after death, symbolizes his determination and optimism.
Any Given Sunday introduces Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino), a veteran coach of the fictional Miami Sharks, who struggles to hold his team together amid internal conflict, aging players, and a ruthless new team owner, Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz). When star quarterback Jack “Cap” Rooney (Dennis Quaid) is injured, an untested rookie, Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx), rises to stardom but clashes with the team and his coach.
Any Given Sunday stands out as one of the greatest football movies of all time because it captures the chaotic nature of the sport. The movie emphasizes the physicality that football demands, as well as how brutal it can be. More than this, Any Given Sunday also delves into the psychology and politics of football through locker room rivalries and the exploration of how challenging the limelight can be for athletes.
The Replacements takes place during a professional football players’ strike, when the Washington Sentinels hire a group of ragtag replacement players to finish the season. Led by Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), a former college quarterback whose career fell apart after a humiliating championship loss, the team is coached by Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman), who believes in giving second chances. Despite their lack of polish and professional experience, the mismatched crew finds a way to work together.
The Replacements is one of the greatest football movies ever because it perfectly captures the heart and humor of an underdog story that football fans love. The movie balances laugh-out-loud moments with inspiring speeches and thrillingly authentic scenes directly from the field. At its core, The Replacements isn’t just about football. Instead, it’s about perseverance, teamwork, and finding dignity in redemption.
The Longest Yard follows Paul “Wrecking” Crewe (Burt Reynolds), a former professional football quarterback who is sent to prison after a run-in with the law. Inside, the warden coerces Crewe into assembling a football team of inmates to play an exhibition game against the prison’s semi-pro guard team. Initially motivated by self-interest, Crewe gradually earns the respect of his fellow inmates and transforms the ragtag “Mean Machine” into a united, determined squad.
The Longest Yard is one of the best football movies of all time because it perfectly balances gritty realism, dark humor, and rebellion, creating a timeless story about pride, justice, and the power of banding together behind a common goal. The movie uses football as a powerful metaphor for freedom and resistance against authority. The actual football seen throughout the movie is raw, hard-hitting, and realistic, reflecting the physical and psychological toll the sport takes.
Brian’s Song is based on the true story of Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams), two players for the Chicago Bears. The movie follows their unlikely friendship as they navigate the pressures of professional football in the late 1960s. Despite differences in background and personality, including the fact that Piccolo is outspoken and working-class, while Sayers is reserved and talented, the two develop a deep bond both on and off the field.
Brian’s Song is much more than a football movie, which is why it stands out in the genre. It proves that the game is about more than competition — it’s about loyalty, courage, and the human connections that endure through adversity. Its power comes from the real-life bond between Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, showing how camaraderie and personal integrity can inspire anyone. Brian’s Song handles complex issues with grace and nuance, which makes it accessible to all.
Jerry Maguire follows its titular character (Tom Cruise), a successful sports agent who experiences a moral awakening after questioning the cutthroat practices of his industry. Following his controversial “mission statement” advocating for personal integrity and client care over profit, Jerry is fired and loses nearly all his clients, except for the talented but temperamental football player Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.).
Although Jerry Maguire focuses less on the mechanics of football and instead delves into the ethical and personal issues those involved in the sport face, it’s an essential commentary on what drives people to work in this world. It shows the pressures, compromises, and moral challenges of the sports industry through the eyes of an agent who wants to do things differently. Jerry Maguire doubles as a love story between two people and a tribute to what football can be at its best.
Rudy is an inspirational sports drama that tells the true story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger (Sean Astin), a young man from a working-class family who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite numerous obstacles. Lacking size, natural athletic ability, and financial means, Rudy faces repeated rejection but refuses to give up, fueled by sheer determination, hard work, and the encouragement of supportive friends and mentors.
Rudy stands out as one of the best football movies ever because it perfectly distills what makes this sport so inspiring for so many. Watching Rudy maintain his relentless optimism in the face of seemingly impossible odds never gets old. Beyond football, Rudy teaches lessons about resilience, faith, and the importance of never giving up on one’s dreams, which is why it resonates far beyond the sport. The movie celebrates effort, dedication, and passion, which makes it a universal story.
Friday Night Lights is based on H.G. Bissinger’s non-fiction book about high school football in Odessa, Texas. The movie follows the Permian High Panthers, a talented but under-pressure high school football team, as they chase a state championship under the watchful eye of Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton). Beyond the game, the movie explores the intense social, economic, and personal pressures put on the players.
Friday Night Lights is such a notable football movie because it highlights football’s potential to bring communities together. It emphasizes how football shapes identity and community in small-town America, specifically. Players are portrayed as full people, facing family issues, societal expectations, and personal challenges, making their victories and losses on and off the field meaningful. Friday Night Lights captures the thrill of the game while portraying the courage, dedication, and humanity of those who play it.
Remember the Titans is based on the true story of the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria, Virginia. When the school is racially integrated, tensions run high as Black head coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) takes over the team, working alongside former head coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Through discipline, teamwork, and shared purpose, Boone unites his players despite the obstacles they face.
Remember the Titans is one of the greatest football movies of all time because it uses football as a metaphor for reconciliation, showing how a diverse team learns to trust, respect, and love one another during a time of deep division. The movie captures real struggles, including loss, bias, friendship, and triumph, without ever feeling forced or preachy.Its lessons about teamwork, character, and unity resonate far beyond sports, making it meaningful for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
September 29, 2000
113 minutes
Boaz Yakin
Gregory Allen Howard
By Robert Scucci
| Published

Road thrillers always make for a great time because there is nothing more unnerving than barreling down the highway when you are either in danger yourself or trying to help somebody else who might be. 1981’s Road Games, an Australian thriller that plays like a strange middle ground between Mad Max and a Hitchcock-style serial killer story, has no shortage of tense moments. It shows just how badly the road can mess with your head after a long day’s work as a commercial trucker who just wants to grab a few hours of sleep between jobs. Perspectives grow hazy, lines begin to blur, and you are almost certain you have seen that green van and its driver doing something suspicious on multiple occasions, even if you cannot quite prove what they are up to.
A tense, white knuckle experience from start to finish, Road Games is a lean thriller built around an exceedingly simple plot. That simplicity should not lull you into a false sense of security, though, because not everything is what it seems, especially once the horizon darkens, the road goes quiet, and a radio news broadcast suggests you may be sharing the highway with somebody who is very, very dangerous.

Road Games introduces us to trucker Patrick Quid (Stacy Keach) and his pet dingo, Boswell. Patrick makes a point of telling anyone who will listen that there is a difference between a man who drives a truck and a trucker, implying that he views his current line of work as something beneath him, even if it pays the bills for now. He travels alone with Boswell, often taking back-to-back jobs against his better judgment. There is nothing to suggest Patrick is unstable, but his dispatcher encourages him to push through sleep deprivation with caffeine pills so he can take on more work.
While sleeping in his truck outside a motel one night, Patrick notices a man driving a suspicious looking green van who checks in with a female hitchhiker. The next morning, Patrick sees the man leave alone after stopping at the dumpster and climbing into the van before heading back out onto the road.

Once he is driving again, Patrick encounters a recurring group of colorful characters. There is an elderly man hauling a boat, a face-masked motorcyclist who keeps popping up, a nagging woman named Frita (Marion Edward) and her visibly annoyed husband, and another woman standing roadside looking for a ride. Against his better judgment and company regulations, Patrick picks up Frita after her husband abandons her on the side of the road. During this stretch, he spots the green van again, this time catching its driver burying suspicious looking bags in the desert and carrying around a small cooler.
Frita becomes uneasy with Patrick’s calm attitude about the encounter, especially after hearing a radio report about a possible serial killer operating in the area. She eventually parts ways with him, but not before Patrick picks up the hitchhiker he passed earlier, known only as Hitch (Jamie Lee Curtis). The two hit it off almost immediately, and Hitch reveals herself to be Pamela Rushworth, the heiress of a wealthy US diplomat who wanted to go on an adventure of her own, suggesting that she may have been reported missing from her high-profile life. As Patrick continues his route with Pamela, the green van keeps resurfacing, prompting them to investigate its driver under the assumption that he is the killer mentioned in the news.

As sleep deprivation takes hold, Pat and Pamela get separated, and Pat finds himself unsure of who he can trust. Everywhere he turns, the green van seems to be there. He starts pushing his truck at reckless RPMs to make his delivery on time, becoming increasingly unhinged along the way. Pat is convinced he needs to track down the green van to stop anyone else from getting hurt, but things spiral further when Frita reports him to the authorities. She suggests that Pat himself might be the killer, and that the story about the green van is nothing more than a distraction.
As Pat unravels while searching for Pamela and the van, all while evading police and trying to finish his route, his sanity is put into question. Every possible pressure point is hit, and Pat is fully aware that he is starting to lose his grip. With law enforcement closing in, his hitchhiker companion missing, and the green van’s driver still at large, Pat is forced to pull himself together and see his increasingly bizarre job through before the road swallows him whole.

Road Games toys with the familiar tropes you see in films like the grossly underrated Black Dog. Hallucinations feel inevitable, and the job itself takes a back seat to the strange, inexplicable encounters that keep piling up. Stacy Keach’s straight faced performance as an expatriate American trucker tearing through the Australian outback with a pet dingo is half the fun. His deadpan presence grounds the film even as everything around him starts to feel unreliable.

If you want to find out whether Pat finally snaps or if the world around him is the real problem in Road Games, you can fire it up on Tubi, where it is currently streaming for free.
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Steven Spielberg invented the Summer blockbuster with Jaws, and then did it again with E.T. and Jurassic Park, but in terms of sheer spectacle, Roland Emmerich invented the visual language used by today’s Summer blockbusters with 1996’s Independence Day. The shot of a massive alien ship hovering over the White House and then blowing it to smithereens was everywhere that year, from the Super Bowl to every primetime TV ad break.
Story became secondary, special effects on the biggest screens possible took over as the real reason to go to the theaters, and Hollywood was never the same. Now you can relive the experience on Netflix.

Independence Day wastes no time starting off the massive alien motherships moving into position above the world’s largest cities. In the most realistic moment of the entire film, there’s a group of people who decide to gather directly under the ships to welcome the aliens. That’s when they open up and unleash a devastating blast that destroys Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. It’s hard to understand today what it was like to see this level of devastation on a scale never seen before, with this budget and looking this good.
The other half of Independence Day, the plot, is supported by an all-time great cast, including Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Mae Whitman, Brent Spiner, Bill Pullman as one of the greatest fictional Presidents ever, and the breakthrough role of a sitcom star: Will Smith. No one cares that the plot is as thin as Flat Stanley. From top to bottom, every member of the cast understood the assignment. This is one of the most fun movies ever.
You can pinpoint the exact moment when Will Smith became a movie star. After Captain Steven Hiller is shot down, he walks right over to the alien fighter he took with him, pops open the hatch, and drops a one-liner, “Welcome to Earth,” as he punches the alien in the face. He was no longer The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; he was King of the Summer Blockbuster.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Independence Day has a critic rating of 69 percent and an audience rating of 75 percent, both of which seem irrelevant. Roland Emmerich’s follow-up to Stargate is a pure popcorn movie. For every bit of horrible dialogue, there’s Bill Pullman’s triumphant speech. For every contrived plot device, there’s an extended dogfight between alien saucers and F/A-18 Hornets. This is the ultimate “turn off your brain” and enjoy movie.
At the time of its release, Independence Day became the second-highest-grossing film of all time with $817 million, making Jeff Goldblum, star of Jurassic Park, the then-highest-grossing film star of all time and one of the most successful box-office stars of the 90s. Decades later, every superhero movie, every Summer blockbuster, can trace its visual style back to Emmerich’s groundbreaking disaster film.
For years, fans wanted more. Finally, in 2016, the sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, which brought back Pullman, Goldblum, and Hirsch, hit theaters with Liam Hemsworth as the new hotshot pilot. After 20 years, no one cared.
Don’t let the forgettable and pointless sequel deter you from going back and streaming Independence Day now that it’s on Netflix. Some movies are hits, some become cult classics, and then there’s Independence Day, which managed to transcend Hollywood and reshape the world of entertainment in its image. Whether it’s the hundredth time or the first time, you will get hyped when Will Smith punches the alien, Bill Pullman announces today is our Independence Day, and when Randy Quaid gets his revenge. Just don’t think about it too hard. It’s not that type of movie.
Beyond the Gates exposes Dr. Ted Richardson (Maurice Johnson) sparking a new relationship. And while Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix) is fine with him dating Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson), his insane former sidepiece Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is not okay with it.
His daughter Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad) may have some issues if he and Shanice get really serious and settle down.
All right, so we have Shanice and Ted getting more serious by the day. They’re not just getting intimate. I think Shanice is more than a rebound for Ted. Right now, Shanice is in the smitten kitten phase, but I see Ted falling for her and Shanice falling for Ted.
This week, we saw Shanice a little annoyed when she found Leslie’s loose drawers in the sofa cushions of Ted’s hotel room. The timing for her finding Leslie’s underthings couldn’t be worse because it looks like Ted was getting all romantic and telling Shanice she’s the one he wants to move on with. This happened right after she got a bit irritated with Ted for paying too much attention to Nicole and her hot date, Kyle Rollins (Greg Vaughan), at Uptown.
Then they come back and Shanice finds what Ted’s sketchy ex Leslie left there, hoping that Shanice would find them. It’s a bit much. Good thing Shanice was smart enough to pick those panties up using a tissue and not her bare hands. She’s ranting at Ted this week that if she’s the one, who do these tacky panties belong to?
I don’t think he recognizes them. It’s not like he’s been taking a tour of Leslie’s lingerie drawer. But Ted immediately is going to realize only one person would have left them there. The good news is I’m sure he’ll tell Shanice, “Look, this is another one of those schemes by psychotic Leslie.” I’m sure Shanice will immediately see that makes sense, and I don’t think she’s going to hold it against Ted.
But I think him living at the hotel under the same roof as Leslie is a problem. It’s a big building and a big roof, but Ted is too close to Leslie. It’s long overdue for Ted to move out of that hotel and get further away from lunatic Leslie. I’m hoping that this incident blows up in her sneaky face. I also hope that Leslie’s prank actually winds up moving Shanice and Ted’s relationship forward. That would be a little bit of karma.
By Friday of this week, he’s had enough and confronts Leslie in public about her sketchy behavior. I wonder if Ted is going to make a scene at Fairmont Crest or maybe up at the hospital because we know Leslie keeps showing up to harass and insult Shanice at work.
Of course, we all know what was eating at Leslie. She was the other woman and was jealous of Nicole, who was from a good family, was educated, and sophisticated. Meanwhile, Leslie was a waitress. There is nothing wrong with that, but she felt like her being blue-collar made her less than. That was part of why she and Ted didn’t happen.
All of a sudden, Leslie is feeling fancy because of that big pile of money from Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) that she fell backwards into and didn’t earn. Somehow Leslie now feels better and like she’s been elevated. She’s clearly so insecure and the money’s not going to help that.
Then in comes Shanice, who’s gorgeous and smart, also educated, but not DMV royalty. Ted is not a snob. He really liked Shanice and having peach cobbler with her at Oree Jean’s. She also fits seamlessly into Ted’s country club scene. I loved seeing Shanice hand it back to gossipy Anastasia (Erica Hubbard) the other day, and Shanice consistently shuts down Leslie and doesn’t let her intimidate her at all.

When Ted publicly lays into Leslie, I’m sure that’s going to reiterate to Shanice that she is his priority. We have another spoiler for Friday saying that two people get engaged. I’d be cheering if Ted went there, but I feel like it’s way too soon for them. It may be Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) that proposes to Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) or the other way around, but we’ll wait and see.
Despite them probably not being the couple that’s engaged, I do suspect we’re going to see Ted and Shanice continue to get more and more serious. I think Ted may get his own place and we could see him and Shanice moving in while they’re moving forward and evolving.
This week Ted sees Nicole playing tonsil hockey with Kial at Uptown. That’s hot on the heels of Ted seeing Nicole out with Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley). She’s made it crystal clear to Ted that he’s in her rearview mirror. Nicole is single and mingling with multiple hot men. Since they’re okay with it, it’s none of Ted’s business.
Here’s the point that I’m really curious about: how will Ted’s kids handle it when he gets serious with somebody else? They know Leslie was a mistake from the past. This relationship with Shanice is very much the present and possibly the future.
Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and Kat were both very upset when they found out Ted cheated on their mom. Meanwhile, Martin has been very welcoming of his new sister, Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle). Martin isn’t holding Leslie’s awful antics against Eva. Martin understands and he’s tried to explain to Kat that Eva was raised being told the worst things about all of them.
Eva came to the DMV with an agenda because she’d basically been gaslit her whole life. But once she saw that Leslie had lied and misled her, Eva did try and stop what her mom was doing. She tried to stop her from breaking up Nicole and Ted. But of course, Kat doesn’t want to show Eva any grace ever for any reason.
Kat was also offended when Ted said he loves all his children equally: her, Martin, and Eva. It’s incomprehensible to Kat that Ted would love all his children the same, no matter who their mom is. I say this just because I’m curious how Kat will feel if Ted starts a third family, this time with Shanice.
Ted never intended to start the second family; that was a mistake. But Shanice has no kids of her own. She’s at the right age for her biological clock to be ticking. It’s not like Ted is over the hill. If he wants to settle down with Shanice and she wants kids, I can see Ted saying, “Okay, let’s do it.”
The other day when Kat saw Ted and Shanice at Uptown, I thought it was very nice. Kat was making an effort to get to know Shanice since both Ted and Shanice were very clear that they started seeing each other after Ted and Nicole’s divorce was official. But will Kat change her mind if Ted decides he’s going to marry Shanice and make some more babies?
Kat seems to think love is finite and that there’s not enough to go around when more people come into the picture. She’s feeling very insecure and threatened while saying that Eva is the one who’s insecure. I know Beyond the Gates fans are deeply divided on Kat versus Eva. I’m not going to weigh into those waters, but I’m curious to see how Kat will handle it if Ted decides to expand his family beyond Martin, Kat, and Eva.
I think Martin and Eva would be very accepting. I don’t think they would even question that if Ted wants to do that. But Kat’s reaction when Ted gets really serious with Shanice is what interests me. Even if they don’t say they want to start a family, Kat can probably look down that road and see it’s a possibility, and she’s already feeling shortchanged. Is she going to freak out? We’ll see.
As Bridgerton fans continue to worry that a major character is dying in the second part of season 4, a cast member hinted at their departure.
The hit Netflix series returns on Thursday, February 26, by picking up where it left off with Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie’s romance (Yerin Ha). The sneak peek for part 2 caused concern when viewers noticed several characters dressed in black attire. It remains unclear whose funeral the others could potentially attend since there are several options.
Many fans of Julia Quinn‘s Bridgerton book series, however, had pointed out that John (Victor Alli) is the most reasonable conclusion based on Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) story. Quinn’s When He Was Wicked is focused on Francesca’s marriage to now-husband John before his shocking death. Francesca would then go on to find love again with John’s cousin Michael. (The series swapped Michael out for Michaela, played by Masali Baduza, during the season 3 finale.)
While Alli, 30, wouldn’t confirm or deny his onscreen fate, he did spark rumors of an exit. The actor was asked about his experience on Bridgerton amid his rumored last scene with the show.
“Words can’t quite encapsulate what it’s meant to be on this wonderful show,” he told Numero Netherlands earlier this month. “I’ve met people who I’ll be friends with for a long time and I’m so thankful to have been a part of it. I’ll miss them all greatly.”
Alli talking about Bridgerton in the past tense quickly caused concern for viewers. He previously spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about the overwhelming concern for his character despite John still being alive — for now.
“It’s like, ‘Just let the scenes happen.’ I’m just like, ‘I don’t wanna start grieving John already,’” Alli joked to Us in 2024 about the fans hinting at John’s fate before it’s happened on screen. “Everyone’s like, ‘He’s dead already.’”

Victor Alli and Hannah Dodd Liam Daniel/Netflix
Alli noted that he understood that fans who know what is in store for John are prematurely mourning the character.
“It is nice that people are invested. It’s nice that people know the story and it’s nice that people care. That was part of what [showrunner] Jess [Brownell] wanted. She really wanted the fans to be invested in John and Francesca,” Alli explained to Us. “So that when [John] does eventually go, it will be so, so hard and really tough. It’ll be really sad actually because I know that I’m gonna obviously leave Bridgerton eventually.”
John’s tragic future is such a spoiler that Alli’s casting wasn’t even announced until the first batch of episodes dropped. Instead of basking in the success of his new role, Alli initially recalled having to go through great lengths to hide his association with the show.
“I had some friends who found out and asked me. I denied it. I denied it hard,” he recalled about set photos surfacing. “It was funny because when the pictures came out and it was obviously me, I had to say ‘No.’” People are like, ‘It just looks like you.’ I was like, ‘That’s crazy. I’ve got a doppelgänger. I’d love to meet him.’ I’ve never had to do that. I’ve never had to have that experience. It was quite surreal. But I just found it funny as well.”
The story line for his character is such an open secret that even Alli’s costars poked fun at the book spoilers on set.
“Everyone knows what’s gonna happen and everyone knows my fate. There’ll be moments where I’ll be doing a scene and Luke might just be like, ‘Well, it’s fine. You’re gonna die anyway,’” Alli quipped. “So it was just really, really funny.”
Despite knowing where John’s story goes, Alli made an effort not to let it influence his work.
“I didn’t allow it to shape my performance. It’s part of the story and of course that happens in the future and what will be will be. But I guess you don’t anticipate it,” he noted. “Everything I did was just in the moment as opposed to, ‘Oh, gosh, I’m gonna die soon.’ It was more in the moment and living in the now.”
There is also the chance that Eloise’s (Claudia Jessie) turn is sooner — and Quinn’s To Sir Phillip, With Love hinges on Marina’s (Ruby Barker) death. Following Marina’s death, Eloise gets in touch with Phillip (Chris Fulton), which kickstarts their romance.
Other options include Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) husband, King George (James Fleet), whom she mentioned earlier this season. Historically, the real Charlotte’s death would be coming up in the next few years, which could get moved up.
Season 4 of Bridgerton returns for part 2 on Thursday, February 26.
When Money Enters #motivation #mindset #selfimprovement
Wikipedia volunteers spent years cataloging AI tells. Now there’s a plugin to avoid them.
Sky News Presenter Criticises Lord Mandelson As Greedy And Duplicitous
U.S. government enters partial shutdown, here’s how it impacts bitcoin and ether
Sinner battles Australian Open heat to enter last 16, injured Osaka pulls out
Bitcoin Drops Below $80K, But New Buyers are Entering the Market
First multi-coronavirus vaccine enters human testing, built on UW Medicine technology
Market Analysis: GBP/USD Retreats From Highs As EUR/GBP Enters Holding Pattern
New and Huge Defender Enter Vikings’ Mock Draft Orbit
Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s blood was found on porch of home, police confirm as search enters sixth day: Live
Quiz enters administration for third time
US-brokered Russia-Ukraine talks are resuming this week
Shannon Birchard enters Canadian curling history with sixth Scotties title
GAME to close all standalone stores in the UK after it enters administration
Still time to enter Bolton News’ Best Hairdresser 2026 competition
Russia’s Largest Bitcoin Miner BitRiver Enters Bankruptcy Proceedings: Report
Here’s Why Bitcoin Analysts Say BTC Market Has Entered “Full Capitulation”
Why Bitcoin Analysts Say BTC Has Entered Full Capitulation
Images of Mamdani with Epstein are AI-generated. Here’s how we know
Very first Apple check & early Apple-1 motherboard sold for $5 million combined