John Travolta opened up about why he’s been sporting a specific look during the Cannes Film Festival.

“The old school directors wore berets and the glasses and I thought, ‘That’s what I’m doing,” Travolta, 72, explained while chatting with CNN on Monday, May 18, about his accessories at the star-studded event.

“I’ve been around for over 50 years doing movies but I can’t tell when I look back the difference between the events,” Travolta added. “And I said, I’m a director this time. You’re an actor, play the part of a director. Look like an old school director.”

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The Grease star went on to say that he researched photos of directors in the “20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s,” and wanted to “do an homage to being a director,” he said. Travolta added, “So I’m gonna play the part of being a director and then when I look back, I’ll know, ‘Oh that was Propeller One-Way Night Coach, that was Cannes, that’s when I won the Pale d’Or. I will have vividness of it.”

Travolta debuted his first beret and pair of eyeglasses on Friday, May 15, during the Karma premiere. He wore a white cap and thin gold-rimmed glasses. The Cash Out actor styled his look with a white dress shirt and matching tie, a black vest, a blazer and pants. He completed his ensemble with leather shoes and a white pocket square.

He wore another beret the following day, during the Propeller One-Way Night Coach photocall on Saturday, May 16. He rocked a black version of the soft cap, which he matched with dark-rimmed circular glasses. He also wore a black suede top with buttons lining his chest and white stitching. He paired the piece with charcoal jeans and leather Chelsea boots.

Galaxy Quest’s original director’s cut was an R-rated version complete with naughty words and other shenanigans.

By Henry Hards
| Published 35 seconds ago

Galaxy Quest was one of the last great PG-rated movies. It was completed before Hollywood abandoned the more family-friendly rating in favor of skewing its movies towards a PG-13. So the last thing you’d expect is for there to be a raunchier, more adult version of Galaxy Quest out there, but apparently a fully R-rated version exists.

Galaxy Quest‘s original director’s cut was an R-rated version complete with naughty words and other shenanigans. That’s according to John Carter producer Lindsey Collins, who told corporate media that she learned of the film’s more adult origins from Sigourney Weaver herself.

Here’s what Collins had to say:

We had lunch with Sigourney [Weaver] who was telling us that there actually used to be an R-rated version of that movie which was awesome. It was the director’s cut and it was R-rated and everybody was swearing and there were sex scenes, and the whole thing.

They didn’t know what to do with it, so they had to re-edit the whole thing and made it what it is today. We were like, ‘How do we get our hands on the R-rated version of Galaxy Quest?’ She said ‘I don’t know!’ and we were like, ‘Come on, Sigourney!’

Multiple cast members have now confirmed that an R-rated cut of the movie exists, but it’s still not available out there to watch. Below are just some of the changes present in the R-rated version.

• Sigourney Weaver’s famous “Well, screw that!” line was originally “Well, fuck that!” and was awkwardly dubbed over on purpose because she hated the censorship.
• The original script had darker and more adult material, including:
  • Gwen DeMarco attempting to seduce aliens.
  • More bizarre Alan Rickman/Dr. Lazarus material.
  • A much gorier convention crash sequence where people were reportedly decapitated.
• Several Rickman scenes were cut because DreamWorks thought they were “too kinky” or strange for the softer rating they wanted. Tim Allen described one deleted Lazarus set as looking like “a proctologist’s dream and nightmare.”

It’s believed a more complete R-rated Galaxy Quest cut still exists in Paramount/DreamWorks archives, but no credible source has ever said there’s a finished director’s cut ready for release. There probably never will be.

As much as we’re all curious to see this cut of the film, I am actually glad that they went with the more family-friendly version for release. Galaxy Quest is one of those rare movies that is equally enjoyable for all age groups. Adults will love the sly references to the SF shows they grew up loving, while kids will love the silliness and the adventure.

Kendall Jenner is reportedly taking her relationship with Jacob Elordi to the next level following an intimate tropical vacation with the popular actor.

The supermodel is said to be entering a much more meaningful phase of her love life after their recent travels significantly strengthened their connection. 

This development comes after the duo was spotted enjoying a cozy moment during a getaway in Hawaii. 

The 30-year-old reality television star and 28-year-old actor Elordi have experienced a major shift in their relationship following a romantic getaway to Hawaii.

An insider revealed to Page Six that the tropical trip completely accelerated their bond, making their connection significantly stronger and much more serious than the model had originally anticipated.

According to sources, Kendall did not expect to develop such deep feelings so quickly, but the vacation changed everything for the couple. 

“They got super close on that trip, and it definitely made their connection stronger. It’s becoming a lot more serious than she expected,” the source noted, adding that she is “really happy right now and loves how easy things feel.” 

A major highlight of this blossoming romance for Kendall has also been the opportunity to share these experiences with her younger sister, Kylie Jenner. The reality star has thoroughly enjoyed navigating her personal life alongside her sibling while getting to know the men in their respective lives together. 

Kendall Jenner And Jacob Elordi Recently Enjoyed A Cozy Hawaiian Vacation

The effortless connection they shared during their double date was on full display during their intimate getaway, where the couple was recently spotted relaxing along the Hawaiian coast. An eyewitness told TMZ that Kendall and Elordi appeared to be on a cute little date while spending a laid-back afternoon together on a private beach in Kauai. 

A photograph obtained by the outlet captured the reality star lounging in a bikini while holding a bottle of Avaline rosé as she sat closely beside the actor on the sand. Elordi kept his look casual for the oceanside outing, wearing blue shorts and a green baseball cap.

This quiet sighting adds further fuel to the dating rumors that first began circulating at Coachella earlier this year.

The Model And Jacob Elordi Went On A Double Date With Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet

The private beach date in Kauai directly contributed to the couple feeling much more comfortable together back in California. Kendall and Elordi also spent their Saturday evening on a star-studded double date with Kylie and Timothée. 

Photographs obtained by Page Six showed the foursome driving around Los Angeles after leaving a private Fanatics party. The “Euphoria” actor took the wheel with Kendall next to him, while Kylie and Chalamet, who have been together since 2023, snuggled in the back next to friend Renell Medrano. 

Although the group tried to block their faces from the flashing paparazzi cameras, they could not hide their laughter from inside the vehicle. Interestingly, Kendall and Elordi first sparked romance rumors last month when reports surfaced that they were making out at Justin Bieber’s Coachella afterparty.

Kendall Jenner And Jacob Elordi Have Reportedly Been Dating Secretly

A few weeks before Kendall’s double date with her sister, an insider revealed that the couple had already been together for a few months before their public debut, noting that everything was going very well between them. 

The source added that they had been an official item since early February, explaining that their frequent presence in Los Angeles gave them a great opportunity to bond quietly. Interestingly, this successful relationship might never have happened without a helpful push from Kendall’s younger sister, per The Blast. 

Kylie reportedly played a key role in orchestrating the match after spending time around the actor earlier in the year. The source explained that Kylie was frequently around Elordi during Chalamet’s extensive awards season run. 

Kylie quickly took a liking to the actor and immediately recognized that he would be a perfect match for her older sister. She was reportedly direct with her advice, telling the model to act quickly and start dating him right away.

Jacob Elordi’s Absence From The Cannes Film Festival Raised Some Eyebrows

Elordi’s presence on those high-profile dates has now triggered a completely different kind of attention regarding his recent professional decisions. He is facing intense online scrutiny after pulling out of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month under the claim that he was recovering from a broken foot. 

As reported by The Blast, at the time, the public believed the actor was dealing with a legitimate medical issue that kept him from flying to France. However, skepticism grew rapidly once photos emerged of him vacationing comfortably in Hawaii with Kendall.

Observers quickly pointed out that Elordi showed absolutely no signs of an injury, completely lacking any protective cast or medical boot while relaxing on the sand.

The online doubt only worsened after he was seen driving a vehicle during his recent Los Angeles double date with Kendall, Kylie, and Chalamet. 

Young and the Restless sees that the villainous Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) still does not remember who he is or any of the heinous things that he’s done. And this could be setting the stage for a redemption story that nobody expected to happen on the CBS soap.

Whenever a villain gets amnesia on a soap, that can be a red flag of an impending redemption arc. So, we’re going to talk about how Roger Howarth’s character could be redeemed on Young and the Restless, as improbable as that seems.

Phyllis Tells Matt His Laundry List Of Crimes on Young and the Restless

This week, we’re going to see Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) telling Matt a whole laundry list of crimes that he has committed that he just can’t remember. Phyllis stuns Matt when she tells him he’s committed attempted murder. He has raped at least two women, one of them being Sharon Newman (Sharon Case). There’s also kidnapping Noah Newman and Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) and Matt running a fentanyl drug ring, several crimes in his past, including the rape and setting up Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) as an attempted murderer.

Plus, more recently, Matt tried to blow up Nick, Sharon, Noah, and Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) in Las Vegas. And basically, the list goes on and on. Matt was absolutely appalled, and he told Phyllis he didn’t want to believe he’s such a horrible person. And Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) told Matt that he shouldn’t trust Phyllis. And then Patty said she wants Matt to get his memories back. But guess what? He said he doesn’t want his memories back. That’s what he told Phyllis.

New Matt Clark Appalled on Y&R

So, it seems to me that this newest version of Matt with no memories is a pretty decent person and he’s got some sort of conscience. And he told Phyllis and Patty both that he doesn’t want to be a villain. So, that sure sounds like Y&R may be looking to redeem him so they can keep Roger Howarth around.

Now, the very idea that Matt Clark might be redeemed sounds crazy, right? However, this is soap land, so it’s totally possible. And we’re going to talk about exactly how they could pull this off. And that we might be seeing Roger Howarth as a permanent player on Young and the Restless, which honestly I wouldn’t mind. I am a fan.

Matt’s Criminal Charges Have to Be Dealt With

The first matter is Matt’s arrest warrant that Christine Romalotti (Lauralee Bell) confirmed is lurking out there. The criminal charges have to be dealt with. Given that Sienna beat Matt into a traumatic brain injury that caused his amnesia, I think a lawyer could make a case that he is incapable of standing trial. You know, you have to understand what you did and what your charges are, stuff like that.

So, I’m sure when Detective Burrow (Matt Cohen) catches up with him, Matt is going to be arrested. Because the warrant’s not going to just evaporate. But he could get a lawyer that convinces a judge he’s incompetent to stand trial. And Matt might wind up being sent to Fairview Sanitarium.

In cases like this, when you are sent to a psychiatric hospital, it comes down to the doctors. They decide how long the person stays. And whether they’re fit to be admitted back into society. So they could put Matt into Fairview. And if you remember we’ve seen Sharon and Patty and others sent there. Because sorting the criminal charges is critical if the showrunners want Roger Howarth to stay.

Nick And Sharon Could Help Redeem Matt on Young and the Restless

Another path towards redemption for Matt would be through Nick and Sharon Newman. It would be really interesting if Nick also wound up at Fairview for rehab for his fentanyl addiction. I mean, it would be absolutely wild if he wound up there the same time as Matt, who is the guy who got Nick hooked on fentanyl. I do think that Matt is feeling genuine remorse over the things he’s been told that he did.

So, Matt might spend time with Nick at the sanitarium and be absolutely sickened at what he did to him, not just recently. But also back in the day. And of course, Sharon would be visiting Nick at the rehab center. So, if they are trying to redeem Matt, I think we’d have to see Sharon in the mix. If she were visiting Nick, then Sharon might also interact with Matt, who may beg Sharon to forgive him. And for the chance to prove he’s changed.

You know, I do think that Sharon is capable of forgiving Matt. We could see Sharon realizing that there was something deeply wrong with Matt and he was mentally ill when he did those bad things to Sharon, Nick, and the others, and Sharon might have faith that therapy can heal Matt so he is not a danger to anybody anymore.

Matt Truly Remorseful on Y&R?

If Josh Griffith decides he wants to redeem Roger Howarth’s character, I’d also assume that Matt would eventually recover his memories. But I think it would be gradual. I think they would trickle back in and maybe he remembers things he did to Sharon and Nick and others. But not all at once.

If Matt gets his memories back gradually, then he can cope with things as they come, regret his past actions, and genuinely take ownership and accountability and prove that he’s changed. This version of Roger Howarth’s character seems like he’d be horrified to remember the things that Matt did to Sharon in particular. So, that head bashing Sienna gave him may have straightened his brain out and truly changed him for the better.

Matt Could Do Something Heroic on Young and Restless

And another way to move Matt towards a possible redemption could be the approach of an ultimate sacrifice. This is a very famous thing they’ve done on lots of soaps where somebody has a criminal conviction or charges looming over them and they do something heroic and then they get a gubernatorial pardon or something like that.

So, maybe Matt does something heroic and saves one of his past victims like Nick or Sharon or maybe even Noah. And then if Matt risks his life and he has saved somebody that’s important to people in Genoa City, they may accept that he’s really changed and stopped pressing charges. You know, heck, it’d be the wildest outcome if he actually saved Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). The old Matt would certainly never do that.

Roger Howarth Has Played Redeemed Villains Before

And in case you think he’s irredeemable, two other soap operas would disagree. Roger Howarth has played two other really terrible villains that are actually quite similar to Matt’s history. That may be what have inspired his casting to start with. So, he played really wicked characters on both One Life to Live and General Hospital.

Over on One Life to Live, Roger Howarth played Todd Manning, who was really bad. He was part of a gang rape in college. He did just all these bad things. But then One Life to Live kicked off his redemption story by having Roger Howarth’s character saving the woman that was the victim of the gang rape and also saving her two kids from certain death. And then they connected Todd Manning to a core legacy family, put him in a romance with somebody really nice, had him inherit money, gave him stability, and all that led to a gradual redemption for Roger Howarth’s character.

Roger Howarth’s History of Redeeming Characters

Then over on General Hospital, he played this guy Franco, who was a serial killer and an artist who the character was originally created and played by the actor James Franco. So, he did some raping and murdering. But then GH recast him after he was supposedly killed.

They brought him back with Roger Howarth in the role and with the idea in mind from the get-go that they wanted to redeem and keep him. So, they diagnosed Franco with a brain tumor, had it removed, and then his lawyer argued that it was the reason he did all those crimes, and she was able to get his charges dropped. I think a conviction overturned.

It’s been a few years, so I don’t remember exactly how it went. But she brought the little tumor in a jar into court, and it was really good legal work. So, then Roger Howarth played Franco on this redemption arc where everybody hated him and he had to claw a way to acceptance. He became an art therapist. He worked with trauma patients.

There Are Solid Reasons to Keep Matt Around on Y&R

Plus, even over on Y&R, there are solid reasons to keep Matt around. First of all, he’s a great actor. Second, ratings have been up since he returned. Third, Roger Howarth has established chemistry with Michelle Stafford. Because their characters were romantically involved over on General Hospital.

Plus, with Patty in the mix, the three of them together is a whole bag of crazy with a lot of soapy potential, and they may be keeping Stacy Haiduk around as Patty. She’s done over at Days of Our Lives as Kristen DiMera, so she has room to stay.

Now, we have heard backstage chatter that head writer Josh Griffith is a big fan of Roger Howarth, so I could see them trying to redeem him just like they did on One Life to Live and on General Hospital with villainous characters who were at least as bad, if not worse, than Matt Clark. So, while it seems like he may have been intended to be a short-term villain, if he has upped ratings, I smell a redemption story.

Hayden Panettiere is opening up about deeply disturbing experiences she says she endured while navigating Hollywood at a young age.

In her memoir “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” the actress revisits painful moments involving older men in the industry, including one shocking incident at a private party that left her horrified.

The “Heroes” actress shared details about an unsettling experience she says happened when she was 19 years old.

According to Panettiere, she attended a private party with a friend and quickly began feeling uneasy while interacting with a group of older men.

In her memoir, she explained that the men were “in their forties and fifties” and that she “sensed these men’s eyes on me and it made me uncomfortable.”

The actress said the atmosphere at the gathering changed the way she viewed herself in that moment. Per the Daily Mail, she described feeling like a “young commodity ripe for the picking in that moment” before deciding it was time to leave the party.

As she was preparing to go, one of the men approached her. Panettiere described him as a “well-respected” Oscar-winning actor and director.

According to her account, the man attempted to get her attention by claiming he had a “big wad of gum on his pants.”

The situation immediately turned disturbing. “I looked down and recoiled. This well-respected, award-winning actor’s testicles were hanging out from his unzipped fly,” Panettiere wrote in the memoir.

The actress said she left immediately afterward and did not even stop to tell her friend goodbye before leaving the party behind.

Hollywood No Longer Felt Safe

Hayden Panettiere admitted that the incident left a lasting impression because, until then, she had largely felt protected around the powerful men she encountered in Hollywood.

“Up to that moment, men in Hollywood had always been kind and respectful around me. There may have been a peck on the lips here and an inappropriate comment there, but nothing had crossed a line,” she wrote.

Even though the encounter disturbed her, the actress said she chose not to discuss it with her friend afterward. Instead, she convinced herself the experience was something she should simply move past.

According to Panettiere, she assumed “some older men had just grown up with no manners.”

The revelation arrives as the actress continues speaking candidly about traumatic experiences from earlier in her career. Panettiere, who recently came out as bisexual, has been discussing several painful chapters from her life while promoting her memoir.

Her latest claims come shortly after she emotionally revisited another shocking incident she says happened when she was just 18 years old.

Hayden Panettiere Opens Up About Boat Incident

Earlier this month, Panettiere appeared on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast, where she discussed another encounter detailed in “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”

During the interview, Shetty referenced a moment from the book involving a boat trip and a much older celebrity.

“You write about a moment in your career where a friend of yours takes you onto a boat. You’re led to a room which has an older man in it and then basically told to perform sexual acts,” Shetty said.

Panettiere reflected on how young and inexperienced she truly was at the time, despite believing she understood the world around her.

“The fact that I was 18, even though I’d lived such a huge life and I thought I was oh so mature at 18… scientifically, your frontal lobes don’t develop until we’re what, 25, 26?” she said. “So even though I felt like I could make healthy decisions, safe decisions, I wasn’t capable of being fully aware of what was going on around me.”

The actress explained that the person who brought her into the situation was someone she trusted deeply at the time.

Hayden Panettiere Says Trusted Friend Betrayed Her

According to Panettiere, the individual who arranged the meeting was someone she viewed as a “protector.” She said that trust made the experience even more devastating.

The actress claimed the friend “physically put me in the bed next to this undressed man who was very famous.”

She recalled being led downstairs into a smaller room before being placed in bed beside the unidentified celebrity. Panettiere said the older man behaved “like this was just an average day for him.”

That realization immediately triggered panic.

Panettiere described becoming “ferocious” as she processed what was happening around her.

“That lion in me, that fire in me… my hair stood on end…” she recalled.

The actress said she instantly knew she needed to escape the situation.

She added, “I was like, ‘This is not happening’” before running out of the room and trying to hide.

Fame Came Fast For The Young Actress

Hayden Panettiere admitted that the terrifying moment made her realize how powerless she felt at the time. Because the incident happened aboard a boat, she said there was no easy way to remove herself from the situation entirely.

“There was no jumping off and swimming away,” she explained. “And there was nobody who was going to be empathetic to my situation. I realized that this was nothing new to them.”

The actress rose to fame in 2006 after landing the role of Claire Bennet in “Heroes” at just 17 years old. Her portrayal of the cheerleader with regenerative powers quickly turned her into one of television’s biggest young stars.

Now 36, Panettiere is revisiting some of the darkest moments from her early years in Hollywood as she shares her story publicly for the first time.

Hilary Duff may have landed the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2026, but the actress and singer made one thing clear from the start. She wasn’t doing bikinis. The 38-year-old mother of four recently opened up about setting boundaries for the shoot and why feeling comfortable in her own skin mattered more than baring it all.

During an appearance on “Not Gonna Lie” with Kylie Kelce, Duff reflected on her early conversations with the Sports Illustrated team and revealed she had one major request. “It was great to have conversations with them and be like, ‘Hey, I’m not going to wear a bikini,’” Duff explained.

The former Disney Channel star said motherhood played a big role in how she approached the shoot. “Like, I have had four kids. I feel comfortable showing this. I don’t feel comfortable showing this,” she continued, adding that the magazine team was immediately understanding. “And they’re like, ‘Got it. Got it. Got it.’”

Duff Admits Her First Reaction Was Panic

While the cover ultimately became a confidence boost, Duff admitted her first reaction to the opportunity was far less glamorous. The actress said she found out she landed the cover while driving to pick up her kids from school, and instantly began second-guessing herself. “My first reaction was like, ‘Sh-t. I thought I’d get in, like, rip-roaring shape,’” Duff admitted. “And I’m also like, I’m not a model. I’m 5’2. I’ve had four kids.”

What ultimately eased her nerves, however, was the environment on set. According to Duff, the shoot was largely female-led, and she was surrounded by a trusted glam team that helped her feel comfortable throughout the experience. “The editor-in-chief is incredible. The photographer was who I wanted. It got to be my whole styling team, my hair and makeup,” she said. “They wanted me to feel my best.”

Hilary Duff Says Motherhood Changed How She Sees Her Body

Duff posed for the cover in a plunging white one-piece swimsuit while shooting in South Caicos for photographer Kat Irlin. Though the shoot was fast-paced, taking place during a whirlwind one-day trip on the night of the Super Bowl, Duff described the experience as freeing.

“My body’s worked really hard for me and produced an entire family,” she said, before also admitting that each pregnancy has helped her find more peace with the physical changes that come with motherhood, saying she’s found “a little bit more ease” in the process.

Duff shares the 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover alongside Alix Earle, Tiffany Haddish, and Nicole Williams English.

Duff Is Also Entering A New Era Of Music

The Sports Illustrated milestone comes during a major comeback year for Duff. Earlier this year, the actress released her sixth studio album, “Luck … Or Something,” marking her first new album in more than a decade.

Next month, Duff is set to launch her global “The Lucky Me Tour,” where fans can expect a mix of nostalgic favorites and brand-new tracks. “I’m so excited for the scale to change,” Duff told PEOPLE. “There is something so sweet about getting to see everyone’s face, and being so intimate and close with everyone, and it was really a great way for me to start and build confidence.”

She continued, “But I just feel like I know what I’m doing and kind of got my reps in. Now I’m ready for more. I’m ready for my set list to change. I’m ready to surprise people with some of the songs that I’m going to be singing and my new music.”

Hilary Duff Says Her Old Hits Still Mean Everything To Fans

During her “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” tour, Duff performed fan-favorite hits like “Wake Up,” “So Yesterday,” “With Love,” “Why Not,” and “Come Clean.” She also performed “What Dreams Are Made of” from “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” live for the first time.

“What’s been so fun about the live shows is realizing how much the old songs mean to people,” Duff said. “A lot of those songs just live rent-free in my head, so it’ll be nice for the other music to catch up and join the mix.”

When people think of the perfect miniseries, their minds tend to go straight to Band of Brothers. Although, while a masterpiece, an epic like that can also feel intimidating and a lot to get through, given the brutality and the suffering on show. However, for those who love suffering and brutality, and for those who survived Band of Brothers, its scrappy little cousin is making a mighty big comeback on streaming right now.

The Pacific is streaming on HBO Max and it’s the next late-night binge for anyone who wants to experience the true brutality of war, provided they’ve also got a blanket to hide behind. The miniseries is intended to serve as a companion piece to Band of Brothers, but it’s a very different story because, instead of following Easy Company across Europe, The Pacific shifts to the Pacific Theater and tracks the experiences of U.S. Marines fighting against Imperial Japan during some of the most horrific — and we really do mean horrific, because these tactics were horrific — battles of World War II.

The series mainly follows three real Marines in the shape of Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge and John Basilone. Leckie was a writer and journalist who served in the 1st Marine Division and later wrote his memoir Helmet for My Pillow upon which the series was based, while Sledge was a young Marine who fought at Peleliu and Okinawa, two of the most brutal battles in the Pacific, and later wrote about what he saw in With the Old Breed. Basilone was already a national hero before the war ended, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions at Guadalcanal before returning to combat and being killed at Iwo Jima.

Who Stars in ‘The Pacific’?

​​​​​​​

The Pacific stars James Badge Dale (The Departed, World War Z) as Robert Leckie, Joseph Mazzello (Jurassic Park, The Social Network) as Eugene Sledge, Jon Seda (Selena, 12 Monkeys) as John Basilone, Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, No Time to Die) as Merriell “Snafu” Shelton, Ashton Holmes (A History of Violence, Smart People) as Sidney Phillips, William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption, Die Hard 2) as Lewis “Chesty” Puller, Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Immortals) as Gwen, Caroline Dhavernas (Hannibal, Hollywoodland) as Vera Keller, and Annie Parisse (National Treasure, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) as Lena Basilone. ​​​​​​​The series is produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman.

The Pacific streams on HBO Max.

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2010 – 2010-00-00

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HBO Max

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The thriller genre has evolved in pretty fascinating ways over the last five decades. What started with classic noir mysteries and crime investigations slowly transformed into psychological mind games, complex narratives, and morally gray characters. The problem is that plenty of thrillers are great for their time but don’t always age well as audience tastes change and storytelling trends evolve.

However, some films manage to defy that limitation and feel just as effective years later because the fears they tap into are timeless. Here is a list of six perfect thriller movies of the last 50 years that redefined the genre in their own, unique ways.

6

‘Memento’ (2000)

Image via Newmarket Films

Memento is a one-of-a-kind thriller that genuinely offered the audience something new back when it premiered. The Christopher Nolan masterpiece follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man suffering from anterograde amnesia after a brutal attack that left his wife dead and his memory permanently broken. Leonard is unable to form any new memories and retains information through Polaroid photos, handwritten notes, and tattoos carved directly onto his body as he hunts the man he believes murdered his wife. The premise sounds fairly simple, but what’s interesting is that the narrative actually moves backward, so the audience is forced to experience Leonard’s confusion in real time.

This reverse structure never feels like a gimmick because Nolan masterfully uses it to make everything feel constantly unstable. The audience never knows what’s coming next, and that adds a whole new layer of depth to the central mystery. The film gradually transforms from a revenge thriller into something far darker and more existential. That, combined with Memento’s neo-noir aesthetic that thrives on fragmented editing, creates a sense of paranoia that never fully leaves the audience, even when the credits start rolling. The film practically demands several rewatches because every scene takes on a new meaning once all the puzzle pieces come together. Even decades later, Memento stands as one of the most haunting cinematic experiences of all time.

5

‘Se7en’ (1995)

Image via New Line Cinema

David Fincher’s Se7en is as brutal a thriller as can be. The film follows veteran detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and the younger, impulsive David Mills (Brad Pitt) as they hunt a serial killer whose brutal murders are inspired by the seven deadly sins. As the investigation unfolds, the detectives realize that they are chasing someone who isn’t an ordinary criminal, because he sees himself as a man carrying out necessary moral punishments. Se7en takes place in an unnamed, gloomy, and perpetually rainy city that completely immerses the audience in its rotten world.

Fincher avoids showing too much gore on the screen, but the crime scenes still feel viscerally horrifying. The dynamic between Somerset and Mills is the emotional core of the story, with their two opposing worldviews creating a constant tension underneath the investigation. By the time the killer finally appears on the screen, the story becomes less about his identity and more about understanding his twisted philosophy. The film builds a sense of dread and culminates in an ending that refuses to offer any kind of comfort or closure to the audience, but that was the point all along.

4

‘Basic Instinct’ (1992)

Image via TriStar Pictures

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Basic Instinct is a cultural phenomenon. The thriller practically weaponized seduction to manipulate not just its characters, but the audience. Paul Verhoeven’s neo-noir classic follows troubled San Francisco detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) as he investigates the brutal murder of a rock star, only to become dangerously entangled with the prime suspect, crime novelist Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone). The deeper Nick falls into Catherine’s world, the harder it becomes to separate fantasy from reality. The film’s biggest strength is how it never lets anyone feel fully in control.

The narrative thrives on ambiguity and plays out almost like a fever dream that the audience can’t look away from. Stone is definitely the star of the show and completely dominates the screen as the perfect femme fatale. Unfortunately, Basic Instinct is usually remembered for its shock value and reduced to its more sensual scenes. However, the reality is that beneath all the controversy is an incredibly entertaining and genuinely well-crafted story. The film fully embraces its pulpy roots while still delivering sharp character dynamics and a mystery that keeps evolving right until the final scene.

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‘Shutter Island’ (2010)

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Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is the perfect slow-burning thriller that traps the audience inside the protagonist’s mind. The film follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), who arrives at the remote Ashecliffe Hospital to investigate the disappearance of a dangerous patient. From the moment Teddy steps onto the island, everything feels wrong. The doctors seem to be hiding secrets, the patients are terrified, and no matter how hard Teddy tries, he just can’t seem to find any answers. The investigation pulls him into increasingly disturbing territory involving secret experiments, wartime trauma, and conspiracies, but everything leads to one dead end or another.

The film never rushes to solve its central mystery — it builds tension through Teddy’s growing sense of paranoia. DiCaprio does complete justice to the character who is both a determined investigator and a man trying to run from unbearable grief. What makes Shutter Island truly unforgettable, though, is how all that confusion eventually leads to one of the most devastating twists in modern thriller cinema. The reveal completely recontextualizes everything that came before it, and the best part is that the audience experiences the realization at the same time as Teddy. Very few thrillers balance mystery, emotion, and psychological tension as well as Shutter Island does, which explains why the film has only gotten better with time.

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‘Memories of Murder’ (2003)

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Long before the global success of Parasite made him a global phenomenon, Bong Joon-ho gave the world one of the most brilliant thrillers ever made: Memories of Murder. The film, inspired by South Korea’s first confirmed serial murder case, follows two detectives investigating a series of brutal killings in a small rural town during the late 1980s. Local detective Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) relies on instinct, intimidation, and forced confessions. Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung), a detective from Seoul, approaches the case with logic and procedure. However, as the killer goes on a rampage, the pressure mounts, and both men slowly begin to unravel. Unlike most other thrillers, the investigation doesn’t really lead to any solid answers.

In fact, the director ensures that the audience realizes how helpless the two detectives really are. The film portrays the non-glamorous parts of their jobs, including contaminated crime scenes, false leads, and lost evidence. What’s interesting, though, is how Memories of Murder plays with tone to convey all this. The film constantly shifts between dark comedy, procedural drama, and outright horror to highlight the absurdity of the situation. After all that, Memories of Murder delivers one of the greatest and hardest-hitting endings in film history to prove that evil doesn’t always look the part. That final image lingers in the viewer’s mind for a long time, which is exactly how one knows the film accomplished everything it set out to do.

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‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

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The Silence of the Lambs remains an integral part of pop culture to this day, which goes to show the film’s staying power. Jonathan Demme’s psychological thriller follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is tasked with tracking down serial killer Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). Now, to understand the criminal she is hunting, Clarice is forced to seek help from the imprisoned psychiatrist and cannibalistic killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). What starts as a professional exchange quickly turns into something far more unsettling as Lecter begins dissecting Clarice psychologically just as much as he helps her solve the case. It’s almost baffling how personal this investigation becomes.

Buffalo Bill is a terrifying antagonist, but the conversations between Clarice and Lecter make for the most horrifying moments in the film. Their interactions feel like a psychological chess match as Lecter quietly manipulates Clarice. Despite his limited screentime, Hopkins completely dominates every scene he is in. The Silence of the Lambs is also brilliant because of how it places the audience directly into Clarice’s perspective to emphasize her isolation inside male-dominated spaces. At the same time, the central mystery itself keeps evolving in unpredictable directions, which keeps the audience hooked till the very end. This is a film that completely redefined what suspense could look like on the big screen.

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The Silence of the Lambs

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Release Date

February 14, 1991

Runtime

119 minutes

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Director

Jonathan Demme

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Writers

Ted Tally, Thomas Harris

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