Colin Jost might have accidentally manifested the wild moment Pete Hegseth quoted the Bible verse from Pulp Fiction.

“We were talking in the writers room, we were pitching ideas for one of the cold opens like two months ago,” the Saturday Night Live star, 43, said during a Thursday, May 14, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “And I was like, ‘Would it be funny if Hegseth just did that bible verse that they have in Pulp Fiction.’”

Jost, who has been impersonating the Secretary of War on the variety show all season, shared that he and the writers “talked about it” making the fictional scenario part of the cold open but thought it would be “too ridiculous.”

Little did they know, art would imitate life and Hegseth, 45, would do that same exact thing Jost allegedly pitched.

“And then, he for-real did it … like two weeks later!” Jost shared. “And I was like, ‘Well, the good news is, I’m being surveilled.’ So, that’s a relief.’”

Last month, Hegseth spoke at a “Faith in Military” event at the Pentagon and recited Samuel L. Jackson’s speech and fictional Bible verse from Pulp Fiction.

“They call it CSAR 25:17, which I think is meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17,” Hegseth began. “It reads — and pray with me please — ‘The path of the downed aviator is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.”

The Secretary of War continued, “Blessed is he who in the name of camaraderie and duty shepherds the lost through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother, and you will know my call sign is Sandy 1 when I lay my vengeance upon thee.’ Amen.”

Hegseth’s moment went viral after many realized he quoted Quentin Tarantino’s fictional version of Ezekiel 25:17. In the film, Jackson’s character Jules recites verse before he and his partner-in-crime Vincent Vega (John Travolta) execute a shady crook.

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men,” Jackson said in the movie. “Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”

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Scarlett Johansson finally got her revenge against Michael Che for his crude ‘Weekend Update’ Joke Swap punchline in Saturday Night Live’s season 50 finale. Che and Johansson’s husband Colin Jost marked the end of the season with another round of ‘Joke Swapping’ on the NBC show on Saturday, May 17. The fan-favorite segment features Che, […]

The real version of Ezekiel 25:17 is a much shorter passage that reads, “And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.”

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reacted to Hegseth’s speech claiming that it was intentional.

“Secretary Hegseth on Wednesday shared a custom prayer, referenced as the CSAR prayer, used by the brave warfighters of Sandy-1 who led the daylight rescue mission of Dude 44 Alpha out of Iran, which was obviously inspired by dialogue in Pulp Fiction,” Parnell wrote via X. “However, both the CSAR prayer and the dialogue in Pulp Fiction were reflections of the verse Ezekiel 25:17, as Secretary Hegseth clearly said in his remarks at the prayer service. Anyone saying the Secretary misquoted Ezekiel 25:17 is peddling fake news and ignorant of reality.”

Throughout the years, NBA YoungBoy and Young Thug have shown love to each other throughout their rap careers. They even teamed up on tracks like ‘Permanent Scar’ and ‘Million Dollar Kid.’ When Young Thug was released from jail, he also appeared to ask NBA YoungBoy to call him on social media. Seeing the bond they built over the years has many fans confused as folks now wonder if there’s tension between the two following a post from NBA Youngboy’s artist NBA Herm

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Young Thug Drops Message About Lil Durk & Late Rapper Lil Keed

On Wednesday, Young Thug took to X (formerly Twitter) with a few tweets about some of his industry friends. In one tweet, he wrote, “Free Smurk please God,” showing support for Lil Durk amid his current legal situation. The two have also collaborated on music together over the years, including the song ‘Up The Side.’ He also shared an emotional tweet about late rapper Lil Keed, who was signed to Young Thug’s YSL label. Lil Keed passed away while Thug was still in jail. The rapper wrote, “I love you Keed. I miss you son.”

Young Thug Seemingly Responds After NBA YoungBoy’s Artist NBA Herm Calls Him Out

While fans were still reacting and sharing their thoughts on Young Thug’s tweets, NBA YoungBoy’s artist NBA Herm entered the chat with a message for the rapper. He took to Instagram Stories and appeared to mention NBA YoungBoy, also known as “Top,” while tagging Young Thug’s account. He wrote, “@thuggerthugger1 Top say your b**** ain’t slime no more anyway.. how u wanna do it?”

As the post began making its way around the internet, Young Thug seemingly responded with a now-deleted message that read, “N**** shut yo fan a** up lol.” NBA Herm quickly fired back, this time using Young Thug’s government name. He wrote, “Ohhh yeah?? Bet that Jeffery you kno waddup from here.”

As the back-and-forth continued making rounds online, DJ Akademiks also shared reposted tweets from Young Thug’s sister. In the posts, she appeared to defend the rapper while writing, “you can’t unslime the creator.” She also added, “these n**** know Jeff is on restrictions… Thank GOD.”

Social Media Weighs In

Supporters gathered under The Shade Room Teens trying to figure out how things may have escalated between NBA Herm and Young Thug. Some speculated Young Thug showing love to Lil Durk, amid Durk and NBA YoungBoy’s ongoing issues may have set things off. Others believe the back-and-forth could simply be promotion for another collaboration.

Instagram user @luvvliyaa wrote, “how tf Mr. Slime ain’t slime nm”

Instagram user @btsofbarlywarly added, “why is another grown man, speaking for another grown man ???”

While Instagram user @aadorehunterr wrote, “whatever top say go”

Instagram user @actuallyybri wrote, “thug and durk beennn friends .. he is trippin”

Instagram user @dos. shawn added, “ng wouldn’t kno slime if it wasn’t for thug added, “

While Instagram user @msxarface wrote, “It’s coo thug picked his side #YBBETTER”

Instagram user @ijanayg wrote, “Thug want ppl to pick a side between him n gunna but wanna play middle man with the next man and his beef boy you the fan”

Instagram user @overly.oak1y wrote, “all this because he said free durk??😂😂 durk got them pressed”

While Instagram user @shahadahhh_ wrote, “If yall got a song dropping say that but leave durk out of it! Thanks”

Instagram user @phillywikii wrote, “but was begging yb to answer the phone, soo who’s the fan?”

Instagram user added @12tnfn added, “Yb next album “King Slime”

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Roommates, a late-night shift at a fast-food spot spiraled into a violent confrontation that’s now landing Wisconsin man Adam Samida in court. And, the details behind what went down inside that McDonald’s are raising eyebrows.

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Adam Samida Pleads No Contest In McDonald’s Shooting Case

According to reports, 25-year-old Adam Samida pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct while using a deadly weapon. The charges stem from an Oct. 29, 2025 incident at a McDonald’s in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where a workplace disagreement between Samida and his manager escalated into a physical altercation that ultimately ended with a gun being fired.

McDonald’s Dispute Escalates Into Violent Confrontation

Per a criminal complaint obtained by the Oshkosh Northwestern, the dispute began after a manager told a coworker he intended to send Adam Samida home because he “did not seem to be working his post.” The manager reportedly overheard Samida earlier complaining about his pay and allegedly making a comment about robbing the restaurant — though officials noted the manager did not interpret it as a serious threat at the time. Still, the situation escalated when Samida was told to leave and refused, leading to a verbal exchange where he allegedly told his manager to “meet him outside.”

Authorities say surveillance video showed the manager physically preventing Samida from exiting the restaurant by grabbing him, with both men exchanging threats during the confrontation, including the manager saying, “I will beat your a—” and “I will whoop you[r] a—, boy.” The complaint further states the manager “bear-hugged” Samida, tackled him to the floor, and later pulled him from a bathroom during the struggle.

More Details On What Happened

During the fight, Adam Samida allegedly pulled a firearm from his waistband and shot the manager in the foot before the two briefly continued wrestling until Samida was able to break free and leave the restaurant. Police responded to the McDonald’s for a weapons complaint, found Samida at the scene, and he reportedly cooperated with officers, showing them the gun before they arrested him.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Michigan McDonald’s Manager & Mom Of Six Reportedly Stabbed & Killed After Dispute With Employee

Duck Dynasty star Alan “Al” Robertson is looking back on how he and wife Lisa Robertson overcame their marriage woes following her affair.

“When unfaithfulness happens in a marriage, so many times, that’s the end of it, but it doesn’t have to be,” Al, 61, said in an interview with Fox News Digital published on Friday, May 15. “Everything can be worked through.”

Al, who is the eldest son of Phil and Kay Robertson, shared that he was “willing to fight” for his and Lisa’s marriage because he “made a lot of mistakes” of his own.

“When I first met Lisa, she was actually a good girl, who had experienced some hard things in her life up until that point, but really was looking for what she called her ‘knight in shining armor,’ someone to take her hand and lead her out of some things,” he recalled. “And I just wasn’t that guy in the early years.”

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The couple were high school sweethearts and dated on and off before tying the knot in 1984. Al and Lisa went on to welcome daughters Anna and Alex. While Lisa raised their children, Al became a pastor at the church his family attended for years. He eventually found himself occupied and traveling for work, which left Lisa feeling lonely.

“To be quite honest with you, I made a huge mistake in not pulling Lisa in as a partner in what we were doing, in my career and my dreams,” he told the outlet. “[She] was also dealing with all this internal stuff from when she was young. I just didn’t recognize it. I didn’t see it.”

Lisa ended up reconnecting with an ex-boyfriend — and Al found out.

“I think for the first few weeks, I was leaning toward thinking that it was probably over,” he reflected. “I was just not sure if I could ever fully trust again. [I wasn’t] sure Lisa really wanted to be in our marriage. Do you really know if your spouse wants to stay? Do they want something more than you have to offer?”

During that rough part of her and Al’s marriage, Lisa had an epiphany while praying in her yard.

“Once I turned my life over to the Lord, out in the backyard, when I finally called out to God, He came and met me right there in the backyard,” she told the outlet on Friday. “From that day forward, I think I knew I could make it because I’d never called on Him before. I’d never asked for His help and asked Him to rescue me. [But] He came, and He rescued me. I think that was the most important thing I did.”

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In addition to finding strength through her faith, Lisa sought out counseling. As Lisa made an effort to change, Al forgave her.

“What changed my mind and heart about Lisa was her,” he said. “It was obvious to me from talking to friends who were with her that she wanted this marriage to stay together. She was very sorry for what had happened. She had finally come to a reckoning in her own life. She was dealing with a lot of her past through counseling, through people who were helping her life.”

Lisa and Al renewed their vows in 1999 and have been going strong since.

Toosii has the internet cuttin’ UP with reactions after he shared his response to his fiancée Samaria J. Davis’ stance on living together after marriage. If y’all recall, Samaria made it real clear that she’s down to say “I do,” but when it comes to sharing a roof, she’s passing on that!

RELATED: Aht! Aht! Toosii’s Fiancée Samaria Sparks Reactions After Saying She Would Prefer Not To Live With Him Post-Marriage 

Toosii Weighs In After Samaria Gets Real About Living Together After Marriage

Roomies, Toosii has entered the chat after his boo Samaria J. Davis went viral for saying she doesn’t want to live together once they’re married. The rapper dropped a video on social media reaction to her message, posting a video showing him scratching his head and staring straight into the camera. In the caption he wrote, “tf you mean you don’t wanna live with me?” From there, fans assumed he just found out how Samaria really feels, as he added on the video, “pov: you just found out your partner hates you.” 

Social Media Reacts After Toosii Responds To Samaria’s “Separate Homes” Stance

After The Shade Room dropped the video of Toosii, the comment section was flooded once AGAIN. Folks were still split with some thinking he basically found out how she feels online just like everybody else. While other sided with Samaria saying they see nothing wrong with her wanting her own space.

Instagram user @beauty_jabree wrote, “Not he found out with us 😂😂”

Instagram user @preeconsuelaa wrote, “You’d be surprised how many women don’t want to live with their man 😂”

While Instagram user @zombich wrote, “I don’t think the idea is crazy at all, what’s crazy is posting that without even talking your partner about it, that’s hurtful for sure.” 

Then Instagram user @manda_kittyk_renee wrote, “Maybe she should have told him first then added us to the chat 😩🤣” 

Another Instagram user @slaywithdre wrote, “.. Ion want live with my 🥷🏽 either but here we are 😂” 

Then another Instagram user @mzb3rri wrote, “Im trying to live in my man’s skin and yall cant even live under the same roof 🥴”

While another Instagram user @pmfkiaa wrote, “i kinda get her tho🤣😩” 

Finally, Instagram user @debxxa wrote, “She just values her space and there’s nothing wrong with that.” 

Samaria Sparks Debate Over Post-Marriage Living

If you’ve been out the loop, Samaria had the internet split after she dropped a message on X (formerly Twitter) sharing her stance on living with a man after marriage. She said she always dreamed of being married, but when it comes to living together, she’s good on that.

“I love my man and I wanna be married to one person forever, but I don’t want to share a room with a man or live with a man lmao idk how to explain this,” Samaria wrote.

Then, when My Mixtapez shared her message, she spun the block AGAIN admitting that she would only have her man come out to eat once a day. “Yes and I also make him stand in a corner and he can only come out to eat once a day.” 

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The first season of Off Campus ended on a shocking twist when Hunter Davenport was introduced in a big book change — but who is the mysterious character?

Fans of Elle Kennedy‘s book series are familiar with the character who is played by Charlie Evans on the show. Season 1 showed Allie (Mika Abdalla) form a connection with then-mystery man who she then hooked up with amid a casual relationship with Dean (Stephen Kalyn).

The final scene of the season showed Dean getting into an argument with Hunter but no further details were revealed. There appeared to be a hint that Dean’s issues were connected to his sister, Summer, dating Hunter in the past.

On the page, meanwhile, Hunter was Dean’s teammate in The Score and they were on good terms. Hunter then became the focus of his own book — The Play — while Summer was featured prominently in The Chase.

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Prime Video’s Off Campus follows different love stories at Briar U — but which couples end up together in the books? Based on the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, the show follows an elite ice hockey team — and the women in their lives — as they “grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery […]

“[Hunter’s arrival is] a launching point to hopefully explore some of Dean’s backstory in season 2,” creator Louisa Levy told Swooon in May. “But it really was an opportunity to put a little bit of a twist in their story line and prolong it just a little bit, so that we have lots of room to play with them in future seasons.”

She continued: “And we also wanted to nod to the book fans that we might have some other characters that you might not expect showing up in fun ways.”

Based on the Off Campus book series, the show, which premiered Wednesday, May 13, follows an elite ice hockey team and the women in their lives as they “grapple with love, heartbreak and self-discovery — forging deep friendships and enduring bonds while navigating the complexities that come with transitioning into adulthood,” read the official synopsis.

Hannah (Ella Bright) and Garrett’s (Belmont Cameli) love story took center stage in season 1 — with several key moments from their book, The Deal, swapped for an updated version. At the same time, the show set up Allie and Dean as the next possible leads despite them being featured in the third book in the series.

“Since the cast was announced, I feel like there’s been theories circulating online, and it’s been really interesting to read it,” Abdalla exclusively told Us Weekly about Allie and Dean’s bond. “I for sure think people are going to be at least surprised.”

She continued: “Even though we do tease Dean and Ali a lot earlier than people expect, you are still left wanting a lot more. That’s something I’m really excited about too because I get it if I was on the other side of it.”

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To push Allie and Dean’s story along, the show introduced Hunter despite him not being linked to Allie on the page.

“It was really important to have that scene to slow down what was happening between Allie and Dean. I want to see them kind of go. I want to see them really separate,” Abdalla hinted. “Allie just got out of a long-term relationship. She can’t do what she always does. … I really like the edition of the Hunter story line drama. They need to grow as individuals. And so I really want to see Ali and Dean grow separately in season 2.”

Off Campus is now streaming on Prime Video.

Here’s a rundown of Us Weekly‘s top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on May 15, 2026. Here are key takeaways:

• A heartwarming reunion: Reese Witherspoon and ex-husband Ryan Phillippe reunited in New York City to celebrate their son Deacon’s graduation from NYU Tisch at Radio City Music Hall on May 15. The exes, who split in 2006, were joined by daughter Ava, 26, and Witherspoon’s youngest son, Tennessee, for the family milestone.

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• New revelations: Former NFL defensive end Josh Mauro‘s cause of death has been revealed as acute combined fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol intoxication, with the Maricopa County Medical Examiner ruling his death an accident. Mauro, who died April 23 at age 35, played eight NFL seasons across five teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.

• A wild tale: Matthew McConaughey revealed he once moved to Peru under the name Mateo for 22 days to escape his fame after the success of 1996’s A Time to Kill. The actor shared on the May 5 episode of the “No Magic Pill with Blake Mycoskie” podcast that he later took another off-grid trip to a desert location with no electricity while writing his 2025 book Poems & Prayers.

Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance

Roommates, social media went into full detective mode after a viral concert clip appeared to capture a tense moment involving Trina and her husband, Benjamin “Swurv” Kearse. The footage quickly had fans speculating that the Miami rap icon was publicly checking her man during a live performance — but according to Trina, the internet got the story all wrong.

RELATED: Couple Goals! Trina Turns Up The Romance For Her Husband’s Birthday With Dreamy Beachside Dinner Date (PHOTOS)

Trina And Swurv’s Onstage Interaction Goes Viral

In a now-viral video, Trina appears visibly upset while yelling toward the stage area before grabbing her hubby Benjamin “Swurv ” Kearse by the arm and pulling him away from the crowd. The interaction immediately sparked reactions across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, with many viewers assuming the married couple was arguing in public after cameras caught the emotional moment in real time.

Trina Clears The Air On Viral Interaction With Husband Onstage

However, Trina later jumped on Instagram to shut down the rumors and explain what was really happening behind the scenes. Trina claimed that she was not “checking” her husband, but rather making sure he was “good” after an alleged altercation. The rapper also accused social media users of creating a “false narrative” surrounding the clip and made it clear that her actions came from concern, not conflict. FYI, Trina and Swurv, who quietly tied the knot in 2024 after years together, have largely kept their relationship private despite public interest in their romance.

“I was NOT checking my husband! I was making sure he was good due to an altercation that took place on stage.!! Too many ni**as with bad energy… So l made everybody back up. I’m gonna always protect mine. Stop with the false narrative and lies. Sh*t so wack,” Trina wrote on Instagram.

You Know The Internet Couldn’t Stay Quiet

Fans quickly flooded the Live Bitez comment section after the clip went viral, and whew — everybody had an opinion about Trina and Swurv’s interaction. Some users joked that Trina was “at work” while still having to manage what was going on around her man, while others argued the footage really did make it seem like she was micromanaging him in the moment. Meanwhile, a few fans came to Trina’s defense completely, saying the rapper simply doesn’t play about her husband and warning folks not to misread her protective energy.

One Instagram user @spthedonn said, “NOT SHE GOTTA BABYSIT WHILE PERFORMING …….“

This Instagram user @zuritaylor07 claimed, “This is a whole joke your husband should be your security. You have to stop performing to break up a dispute with your husband😂😂😂😂😂.”

And, Instagram user @nicole_rae1102 added, “Nah, she did right! Folks be having weird energy and she want to make sure her and her husband make it home safe“

Meanwhile, Instagram user @notetojas_ shared, “Chile not during one of her most known songs 😭”

While Instagram user @msesidc commented “She at work and gotta deal with that.“

Lastly, Instagram user @monixnechelle wrote, “She can’t even focus, she too worried about him“

RELATED: What’s Tea? Trina Sparks Reactions On Social Media After Dropping THIS Cryptic Message

There are some science fiction movies that demand to be watched more than once. Fewer, yet even more precious, are the sci-fi films that allow viewers to revisit them multiple times without ever getting bored. Whether it’s because of their mind-bending twists, their highly detailed narratives, or simply because of how incredibly entertaining they are, these sci-fi classics aren’t just timeless: they genuinely get better with every rewatch.

Perhaps it’s because you discover a new narrative or visual detail every time you watch the film again, or because its character work and thematic complexity are enriched by rewatches. Whatever the case, classics like Blade Runner and far newer gems like Interstellar not only remain equally entertaining and compelling no matter how many times fans re-watch them, but they actually get better every single time.

‘Inception’ (2010)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

If there’s any director who’s an expert at making groundbreaking sci-fi blockbusters that invite multiple re-visits, it’s Christopher Nolan. A master of both the science fiction and action genres, the filmmaker made Inception, one of the most perfect thrillers of the last 20 years. Inspired by the dream logic of films like Satoshi Kon‘s Paprika, it’s one of the most deliriously fun action flicks of the 21st century as a whole.

Getting to fully understand the rules of Inception‘s world upon one’s very first watch is incredibly challenging. Upon further rewatches, once you have a solid grasp on how the movie’s premise operates, it becomes delightful to lose oneself in this world created by Nolan. Even the characters themselves take on wholly new dimensions, leading all the way to an ambiguous ending whose ambiguity only keeps growing more and more intriguing with every single revisit.

’12 Monkeys’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

12 Monkeys was Brad Pitt‘s very first sci-fi movie, and it still remains his best. Directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame, this post-apocalyptic sci-fi extravaganza is just about as odd as any fan of Gilliam’s films would expect, with a good dash of mind-bending writing. What, on first watch, feels like trying to solve a mystery alongside Bruce Willis‘ James Cole, upon further rewatches, transforms into something entirely different.

By the time 12 Monkeys‘ credits run for the first time, its real purpose becomes abundantly clear: It was never about the mystery of its narrative (however fascinating it may be), but rather about the closed-loop tragedy at the center of that story. From there, it becomes an almost irresistible temptation to keep watching the movie again and again, with its commentary on themes of memory and identity growing more and more nuanced every time.

‘Coherence’ (2013)

Image via Oscilloscope Laboratories

Coherence was James Ward Byrkit‘s directorial debut, and what a way to make a splash. It’s one of those forgotten sci-fi movies that are perfectly written, a single-location thriller that serves as a love letter to the art of low-budget genre filmmaking. Heavily inspired by The Twilight Zone, this underrated modern gem should be considered essential viewing for all those who love Rod Serling‘s classic science fiction show. This film would feel right at home among its best episodes.

One’s first watch of Coherence inevitably becomes defined by a single word: chaos. A second rewatch then becomes practically a necessity, by which point, watching the film becomes all about pattern recognition. Every further rewatch is all about pure enjoyment of how masterfully this quantum puzzle of a movie drops clues across its narrative to better understand its layered reality. It’s a character study at its most thought-provoking.

‘Primer’ (2004)

Image via THINKFilm

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Primer single-handedly redefined low-budget sci-fi filmmaking when it came out in 2004. It’s the kind of film you need to be a genius to fully understand, highly experimental and philosophically complex. It was directed, written, produced, edited, and scored by Shane Carruth in one of the most impressive debuts in the history of cinema, and his first splash in Hollywood has only gotten better with age.

Due to its innovative plot structure and deliberate use of mind-bending elements, Primer is a movie that’s virtually impossible to entirely understand upon one’s first watch. As such, it demands revisits, and those revisits only keep getting better. The more you watch Primer, the more you become an active decoder of its layered time-travel narrative rather than a passive observer. Very few sci-fi films are so intellectually challenging or rewarding.

‘Interstellar’ (2014)

Interstellar may not be nearly as mind-bending or impossible to decode in one go as some of its sci-fi peers, but if any film has made Christopher Nolan gain popularity as one of Hollywood’s leading filmmakers of mind-twisting spectacles, it’s this one. It’s one of the best climate-fiction movies of all time, a space adventure as well as it does because, at its core, it’s a story about the love between a father and a daughter.

That emotional core is what keeps people coming back to Interstellar time and time again. The second viewing helps reorganize the film after its twisty third act and better comprehend its rules, but everything that comes after is pure enjoyment. The first time around can be a little overwhelming, but every subsequent watch keeps getting more moving, more exciting, and more addictive.

‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

Image via Warner Bros.

Back when it originally came out in 1982, Ridley Scott‘s Blade Runner was an all-out failure at the box office. With time, however, this flop started becoming a sci-fi cult classic like no other. Today, it’s so immensely acclaimed as one of the greatest examples of the genre that it’s more of a mainstream classic than anything else.

It’s one of the best sci-fi noir masterpieces ever made, perfectly blending a moody atmosphere with compelling characters, philosophically weighty thematic work, and mind-bending elements. In other words, it’s science fiction at its most rewatchable. On a second viewing, everything seems to slow down, and that’s precisely the point. From Scott’s quiet direction to Vangelis‘ legendary score, Blade Runner‘s every element is best enjoyed at a more subdued pace. It’s a thought-provoking philosophical reflection unlike any other the genre has ever produced, and that’s why it’s so magical and timeless.

‘The Thing’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

John Carpenter is one of the greatest and most important filmmakers in the history of Hollywood horror. Back in 1982, he demonstrated that beyond a shadow of a doubt with The Thing, his faithful adaptation of John W. Campbell Jr.‘s novella Who Goes There? It’s one of the most perfect horror movies of the 20th century, even if it was originally a commercial and critical flop.

Time is often a flop’s best friend, however, and such was the case here. The Thing went from cult status to the outright mainstream classic status that it holds today. One’s first time watching The Thing consists of pure paranoia and horrified shock, but further visits to this chilling world turn it into a game. It becomes delightfully fun to analyze each character’s every look and every expression, culminating in an ending whose ambiguity only grows more rewarding with every rewatch.

‘Donnie Darko’ (2001)

Image via Pandora Cinema/Newmarket Films

Donnie Darko is the ultimate endlessly rewatchable sci-fi film, a cult classic largely credited with helping revive the midnight-screening cult circuit that had been lying dormant during the ’90s. You’d be a genius if you understood this movie the first time—the film’s mind-twisting nature and infinite room for theories and speculation is precisely what allowed it to become a cult classic in the first place.

For one, rewatching Donnie Darko becomes pretty much obligatory for all those hoping to grow even a modicum of an understanding of what is going on with its narrative. But aside from being intellectually rewarding, rewatches of this cult classic also greatly enrich its emotional core. The bittersweet tragedy of Donnie is one that keeps getting more enjoyable every single time you watch it.