Earlier this year, Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy said goodbye to his most beloved franchise, as he donned his flat cap once more as Tommy Shelby in the Netflix feature Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Scoring 25.3 million views in its first three days of release, the movie was a huge hit on the streamer and proved so popular that the plans for it to end the Peaky saga were scrapped, with creator and writer Steven Knight continuing the story with two 6-episode seasons.

Before Peaky Blinders returns, albeit without the genius Murphy, one of the Irish actor’s most underrated movies is heading to a new streamer. The film in question is Red Eye, a 2005 thriller starring Murphy alongside Rachel McAdams (Send Help) and Succession‘s Brian Cox. The movie follows hotel manager Lisa Reisert (McAdams) as she bumps into the charming Jackson Rippner (Murphy) whilst attempting to fly home. Thinking she has struck luck when they are seated next to one another, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident, with Jackson hiding a dark secret.

At the 2005 box office, the movie was a quiet success, earning just shy of $100 million against a reported budget of $26 million. This success was no doubt helped by the pedigree of the movie’s director: horror icon and all-round Hollywood legend Wes Craven. Critics were fond of the film too, with Red Eye “certified fresh” at 80% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling the film “slick fun,” “electric,” and “a simple, straightforward, surprisingly effective thriller with a minimum of gimmickry.” Over two decades on, and you can officially catch this underrated Murphy effort on Starz, starting June 1, 2026.

What Is Cillian Murphy Doing Next?

Alongside an as-yet-untitled Damien Chazelle movie, Murphy’s next project is as part of the ensemble in one of the most exciting returning horror movies. No, it’s not the next installment in the 28 Years Later trilogy; it’s A Quiet Place Part III, which features Murphy alongside the returning Emily Blunt and Jason Clarke. John Krasinski will be back behind the camera for the threequel, which recently kicked off production, as announced via a first-look image on The Office star’s social media.

Cillian Murphy’s Red Eye officially joins Starz this June 1. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the latest streaming news.

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2024 – 2026-00-00

Network

ITV1

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Directors

Kieron Hawkes

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  Lesley Sharp

  Madeline Delaney

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While not every martial arts movie is about revenge, a good many of them are, which is okay, because revenge works as something to drive the sort of conflict you want to see play out in such an action movie. Martial arts films foreground hand-to-hand combat, be it with or without weapons used at a close range, and that’s probably why revenge works well with such films. Seeing a character get direct and physical revenge with an intimate fighting style tends to be both more intense and ultimately satisfying, both for the person seeking vengeance and the viewer.

There are some action movies that feature revenge while almost feeling like martial arts movies (see The Crow and Oldboy), but it feels like a little bit of a stretch to call them genuine martial arts films. They’re great action movies about revenge with some hand-to-hand fighting, though, and were worthy of honorable mentions here, just without appearing in the ranking below, since this ranking’s focused on genuinely great martial arts revenge movies that are sufficiently martial arts-focused.

10

‘The Avenging Eagle’ (1978)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

Though The Avenging Eagle doesn’t often get the appreciation it deserves, if you’re talking about all-time classic martial arts movies, it really should. There’s nothing here it really does wrong, in terms of delivering a good deal of exciting action within a no-nonsense narrative, here mostly just “complicated” by the fact that there’s one person who wants revenge against a particular clan for personal reasons, and another person who wants to fight back against that clan as a former member.

Both have been wronged by the same people, essentially, and so they form a duo to go about fighting a bunch of bad guys. The Avenging Eagle clocks in at just 90 minutes, and has a generous amount of well-choreographed fight scenes for a film of such a brief length (it also helps that there are quite a few different weapons used throughout, which keeps the action scenes sufficiently varied).

9

‘John Wick’ (2014)

Image via Summit Entertainment

While the sequels to John Wick get a bit wilder and perhaps even convoluted (not necessarily in a terrible way, since all the criminal underworld stuff proves quite entertaining), the first one is stunningly simple. The titular character is a man who’s lost pretty much everything by the time of the film’s start, except a puppy he was gifted by his wife before she passed away.

Some rather foolish criminals kill that dog and steal John’s car, so he sets off getting violent vengeance for them taking what little he had left, and since he’s got nothing left to lose, he doesn’t mind using the skills he used to have in his previous life as a hitman to get that revenge. Also, John Wick does admittedly have more by way of shootouts than all the other martial arts movies mentioned here, yet many of the fights here are kind of “gun fu,” combining some aspects of hand-to-hand combat with firearms, and that approach is one of the things that helps much of the action stand out.

8

‘Vengeance!’ (1970)

Image via Shaw Brothers

The exclamation mark in the title Vengeance! is well-earned, since this whole movie goes pretty big, loud, broad, and bloody. And not just bloody by the standards of the early 1970s, since this one still feels visceral today. It would’ve probably been a shock to the system back in 1970, though, doing for martial arts movies what The Wild Bunch kind of did for Westerns (and yes, that’s an entirely different movie, but it came to mind just now because that one was also graphic for its time, and still holds up as pretty darn violent to this day).

As for the plot of Vengeance!… well, it’s all in the title. There is a young man who’s murdered, and then his brother sets out to kill the people who killed him. And he goes very far in achieving such a goal, to the point where he begins to feel less and less heroic, more or less going from sympathetic, to an anti-hero, and then to someone similarly vicious as the violent people who got the whole blood-drenched mess started in the first place.

7

‘Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance’ (1972)

Image via Toho

There’s a distinction between martial arts cinema and kung fu movies, because kung fu movies are a sub-genre of the martial arts genre (or a sub-sub genre to a sub-genre, if you want to count martial arts movies as an action sub-genre). So, there will be samurai movies worth mentioning here, even if they’ve obviously got a focus on combat with swords over literal hand-to-hand stuff, with the first of note, for present purposes, being Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance.

You’ve got “Sword” in the title, obviously, and it’s also near the word “Vengeance,” so go figure. This is the first of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies, which are, broadly, all about an ex-executioner being betrayed by the clan he once worked for, and seeking revenge against anyone who still belongs to said clan. He and his son get up to some other things throughout the series, and the six main films are all pretty great, but the first one’s being singled out here just because that sets up why the central character wants to become the vengeful one-man army he is for the rest of the series.

6

‘The 36th Chamber of Shaolin’ (1978)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is wonderfully straightforward, even by the standards of martial arts movies that involve revenge. Evaluated cynically, you could call it the most basic and no-nonsense of perhaps the quintessential martial arts movie premise (in that there’s a person who’s wronged, then that person trains, then finally, that person gets revenge), but less cynically, you could also say it’s the movie that does that straightforward premise the most seamlessly.

There’s catharsis here, and maybe that’s the main thing. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin spends what feels like the bulk of its runtime on the training, and that extended process proves surprisingly compelling to watch, as there are so many challenges – both physical and mental – for the protagonist to overcome. So, once he does master everything, he blasts through those who wronged him… and all that’s quite entertaining to watch, too.

5

‘Lady Snowblood’ (1973)

Image via Toho

Another samurai movie, and one of the all-time great ones, Lady Snowblood is about a young woman who, from a young age, was basically brought up just to get revenge. It’s almost all she knows, given her mother lost almost everything, and then wished for her to be brought up as someone who could avenge all the deaths in the family that occurred before her birth.

In that sense, it’s quite a desolate and despairing movie, because the core story here is incredibly sad, even if there’s also some level of spectacle here (owing to the visuals), not to mention a good bit of excitement when there’s action (the fights here are rather bloody). Lady Snowblood does have a sequel, but it’s not the kind of thing where you really need to see that movie… not the case for a two-part film that Lady Snowblood famously inspired, but more on that duology in a bit.

4

‘The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter’ (1984)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

Since both The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter starred Gordon Liu, were directed by Lau Kar-Leung, and produced by Shaw Brothers Studio, they’d make for a pretty solid double feature. Also, they kind of have the same premise, but The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter ends up being a little more about the struggle to get revenge, as it sees its protagonist failing quite a bit more during his training.

The focus, as such, is a little shifted, and it also leads to the action in the final act being messier and arguably more thrilling. It’s an approach to that previously mentioned well-worn formula that ends up working quite well, and even if it’s a bit more chaotic overall (things had to be altered when one of the film’s stars, Alexander Fu, died suddenly during production), it’s still ultimately a great martial arts movie that’s (largely) about revenge.

3

‘Harakiri’ (1962)

Image via Shochiku

Again, it’s a samurai movie, and one that doesn’t really emphasize action, for the most part, but Harakiri still feels very much worth mentioning because it’s eventually a pretty impactful revenge movie. Elaborating on the details or even mentioning revenge is a part of it could be ruining things, yet there’s also something to be said about the execution here, and that’s something you can only fully appreciate from watching the film.

Harakiri is largely a drama, and centers on a man who tells a samurai clan why he feels compelled to end his life via the titular ritual (sometimes called seppuku). The reason the movie’s light on action is that Harakiri wants to build tension and focus on a heavy-going narrative before, all so that you do feel the intensity of the fighting far stronger when it does eventually begin. The approach ends up working remarkably well, to say the least.

2

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 has more action than the second volume, yet that one’s heavily indebted to the martial arts genre in slightly different ways, even if it’s narratively a direct continuation. So, the first movie is getting mentioned first, and gets to take its own place here. It’s largely a homage to martial arts movies, with a particular focus on swordplay, and you get a ton of action in the final act.

This first volume of an overall epic moves at a wildly fast pace throughout, as in, if it were any faster, you’d probably feel overwhelmed and might struggle to keep up. The motivation of the main character, The Bride, is incredibly straightforward at this point in the story, and Kill Bill: Vol. 1, overall, is like, “Yeah, the nuance can wait; it comes later.” This one’s mostly about action, and the action is undeniably exciting.

1

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004)

Image via Miramax Films

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So, if Vol. 1 has all the action, and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is a technically talkier affair, why does it take the #1 spot over the first half of the story? It’s a fair question, and it’s first worth mentioning that there is still some action in Vol. 2, and what you do get is largely satisfying and well-choreographed. But there are more interesting places it goes as an exploration of revenge, and the dramatic highs and lows that come with actually getting vengeance.

Also, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 has a great training sequence that plays out as a flashback in Vol. 2, with the flashbacks also making The Bride (who’s even given a name in this half of the story) a more fleshed-out and compelling character. Bill’s also a proper character in this one, as opposed to the almost voice-only appearance he has in the first, and that helps, because he’s also a great character. Vol. 1 pays homage to martial arts action, while Vol. 2 pays homage to the comparatively “slower” scenes you get in most classic martial arts movies, and somehow, it all works, and adds up to an immensely satisfying whole.

The White House shooting suspect allegedly claimed he was Jesus Christ in a police run-in months before he was killed in a skirmish with the Secret Service.

CNN identified the suspected shooter as 21-year-old Nasire Best, reporting that he had a series of documented mental health issues. Best was allegedly once arrested while claiming “he was Jesus Christ” and was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital on another occasion for obstructing a vehicle entry near the White House in July 2025.

“I’m actually the son of God,” he allegedly wrote in one social media post.

The outlet reported that Best previously threatened the life of President Donald Trump and allegedly had multiple encounters with police near the White House in the past.

Related: New WHCD Shooting Video Shows Moment Shots Were Fired With Trump Nearby

Shocking new video footage shows the moment shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last weekend. Jeanine Pirro, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, posted what appears to be security camera footage of the shooting incident via X on Thursday, April 30. Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen can allegedly be […]

An affidavit from 2025 indicated that Best was “known to the Secret Service” for “walking around the White House complex inquiring how to gain access at various entry points,” per CNN.

Us Weekly reached out to the Secret Service for comment.

Gunfire erupted near a Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House at around 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, with a bystander being struck in the crossfire and hospitalized in critical condition. No Secret Service agents were injured in the crossfire.

“Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, an individual in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told Us on Saturday. “Secret Service Police returned fire, striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting, one bystander was also struck by gunfire.”

His statement went on, “No injuries were sustained by officers. The President was in the White House during the incident, however no protectees or operations were impacted. The incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”

Several reporters were on the premises of the White House when shots broke out. They were rushed from the Pebble Beach media location into the White House briefing room and instructed to shelter in place for around 40 minutes.

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“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” ABC News White House correspondent Selina Wang tweeted at the time. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”

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Related: Oz Pearlman Details Moment He Locked Eyes With POTUS During WHCD Shooting

Mentalist Oz Pearlman was performing for President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, April 24, when he realized something was very wrong. “I was performing right then for the president, the press secretary and the first lady,” the magician said during a […]

This latest Washington D.C. shooting incident occurred less than one month after gunshots rang out in the lobby of the Washington Hilton at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were in attendance. The Trumps and other officials were evacuated from the Hilton as the violence unfolded.

A Secret Service agent was struck in his protective vest and hospitalized. Shooting suspect Cole Tomas Allen was arrested and later charged with attempting to assassinate the president, interstate transportation of weapons and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime, to which he pleaded not guilty earlier this month.

When you think of Elijah Wood, what first comes to mind is probably characters who embody innocence or heroism. From his career as a child actor to his performance in the record-breaking Lord of the Rings trilogy, to family films like Happy Feet, he has found great success portraying people who exemplify what is good in the world. However, one role lurks in the shadows of his filmography: Kevin, the sadistic cannibal killer in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s 2005 film Sin City.In a movie full of tough guy actors such as Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Benicio del Toro, it’s Wood that stands out as the most intimidating, as he uses a unique approach to make the audience squirm in their seat.

Elijah Wood’s Kevin Is the Most Disturbing Character in ‘Sin City’

The character serves as the villain of the film’s third story, “The Hard Goodbye,” which follows Marv (Rourke), a hardened criminal who finds momentary happiness with a woman named Goldie (Jaime King). After spending the night with her, he wakes up to find her murdered next to him, and is framed for her killing. He embarks on an investigation to avenge Goldie, which leads him all the way to the top of Basin City’s church establishment, and its cardinal, played by Rutger Hauer. It emerges that Goldie’s murderer is Kevin, a serial killer who has been weaponized by the cardinal to carry out murders under the pretense of some divine experience.

Of all the dark and bloody deeds done in the movie, Kevin is set apart as something altogether more sinister. A figure trained to kill like an animal — accompanied by wolves who are taught the same thing — the combination of his deadly appetites and the unsettling realization that something as sacred as the Church could be protecting him takes this beyond the usual corruption to something no one watching can understand. Whatever Marv’s past misdeeds, few (if any) would begrudge him his revenge in these circumstances.

Elijah Wood Will Terrify You Without Saying a Single Word

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So much of the impact of the character comes from Wood’s performance, which is the definition of the phrase “less is more.” He says nothing in the movie, only appearing in the shadows wearing a sensible sweater and round glasses, while sporting a detached, unmoving smile. When he moves, he moves like the wolves that accompany him, but with no explanation or backstory beyond how he met the cardinal, he remains frighteningly ambiguous, and therefore, unpredictable.

Part of the effect is also what the audience associates with the actor. For most, he is Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings, the brave Hobbit that saves the world because it’s the right thing to do, a character a million miles from the evil deeds of Kevin. Any movie fan will find it odd to see him be the instrument of such heinous crimes, let alone watch him simply smile in the aftermath. Like Robin Williams in One Hour Photo, or Hugh Grant in Heretic, there’s an extra dimension in seeing an actor outside what is expected of them.

Elijah Wood’s Career Is Way More Than Just Lord of the Rings

For Elijah Wood, taking chances on more outlandish roles has proven a consistent success for him, even if those movies do not have the same global impact as The Lord of the Rings. He has worked on unusual films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Toxic Avenger, tense dramas such as Grand Piano, and even returned to Middle-earth with a small role in The Hobbit films. These independent films might not have the same reach, but offer the creative diversity that can show a different side to the actor.

Over two decades on, Sin City remains a true individual in the history of comic book adaptations. With black and white visuals ripped from the pages of Miller’s original graphic novel, few characters were realized more vividly on film than Kevin. If you haven’t seen the film in a while, it’s time to revisit the dark and ruthless streets of Basin City again. Just beware of two unblinking eyes watching you, with an emotionless smile.

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Release Date

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April 1, 2005

Runtime

124 minutes

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Writers

Frank Miller

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Lizzo has tried all she can to shake the feud rumors, and now she is facing it head-on!

The singer has once again corrected the notion that she spends her free time talking ill about her peers in the industry, especially when it comes to Taylor Swift.

Lizzo has definitely name-dropped the billionaire once or twice in the past, often declaring her admiration for the pop star and reiterating that she is not in a competition with the musician.

The day began with a post from an X user attempting to compare streaming numbers from some of their projects, stating: “The Life Of A Showgirl + MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING — 4.005M. ICEMAN + MAID OF HONOUR + HABIBTI — 683k.”

Lizzo reacted to the post, asking for clarification on what the X subscriber meant, to which a fan responded that all that sh-t talking has finally caught up to her and impacted her record’s position on the chart. 

The musician quickly tackled the commenter, reiterating that she has never talked sh-t about Swift for any reason. Lizzo continued, “Also, while we’re on the subject, I’ve never talked sh-t about any artist. Just because I mention an artist by name does not mean I’m talking sh-t — grow tf up pls.”

Internet users did not waste time rushing down to Lizzo’s comment section with lots of opinions about her past behavior and new claims. According to them, Lizzo is getting those allegations now because she had indeed thrown shade at Swift at some point in the past.

This commenter declared: “YES YOU HAVE TALKED SH-T ABOUT TAYLOR STOP GASLIGHTING US ?? You literally sided with KANYE WEST in 2016, let’s not.”

Some X subscribers praised Lizzo for shutting down these reports, thereby laying unnecessary fan wars to rest for good. Others also praised her for always showing love to female artists instead of descending into mindless dramas.

“Please don’t respond to trolls on social media.  Get off social media and just do your job/art, be happy, and live your life.  Take a clue from some of the biggest artists that are your friends and acquaintances and how they handle SM,” this user stated.

Lizzo Publicly Shouted Out The ‘Shake It Off’ Singer In 2023

As shared by Seventeen, Lizzo got talking with a fan during one of her performances in Perth when she addressed a fan who held up the “I chose you over Taylor” sign. The singer responded by first thanking the fans for attending the show, joking that she would even get them tickets to attend a Swift show.

Lizzo continued that Swift is an amazing artist, and the fan should not have to choose between herself and the billionaire because she also adores her as an artist. Lizzo also extended a request to the fan holding the “I chose you over Taylor” sign if she could put her autograph on the sign.

Although the singer realized midway into her performance that Swift was not scheduled to sing at the venue, she reminded the audience that she “heart Tay Tay too,” stressing that there was no competition between them.

The ‘Juice’ Hitmaker Previously Called Herself A ‘Black Taylor Swift‘

In 2022, Bustle noted that Lizzo openly compared herself to the pop superstar during an interview about songwriting and relationships. While promoting her album “Special” on “The Breakfast Club,” the singer shared that her real-life experiences and romances inspire a lot of her songs. 

When asked whether the people she dates should expect to end up in her music, she jokingly replied that she is the “Black Taylor Swift,” admitting she writes candidly about her love life. Lizzo referred to her track “Break Up Twice” as an example, revealing her relationship inspired it with boyfriend Myke Wright during a period when they rekindled their romance. 

The singer recalled one of her protective friends threatening Wright at a barbecue if he hurt her again, a moment that later made its way into the track. The singer also humorously noted that she and Wright had only done a “soft launch” of their relationship online at the time, teasing that things would only become truly official once they appeared on a red carpet together.  

Like Swift, the musician emphasized that she often channels personal experiences into her songwriting while still keeping some details private. She also revealed that she wrote more than 170 songs for “Special,” hinting that many unreleased tracks could eventually end up on streaming platforms.

Fans Are Not The Only Ones Catching Words From Lizzo

A few days ago, the singer spoke about the rollout for her upcoming fifth studio album, “B-TCH,” claiming her label, Atlantic Records, has not properly promoted the project ahead of its release.

As reported by The Blast, Lizzo took to her TikTok to urge her fans to support the album and place their pre-order before it gets released in a few weeks.

Lizzo responded to a fan who asked why there had been little promo for her album, such as absent billboards and advertisements. According to the singer, the promotional plans have been decided upon during marketing meetings.

However, despite her signing off on the billboard campaigns and ads for the album rollout, work is yet to take off in that department, leaving the singer frustrated over the lack of support.

Some of the most celebrated shows tackle tough topics. The ability to take a complex issue and present it in an entertaining but informative way is a huge risk that can backfire if not handled correctly. However, some shows like Dopesick, Adolescence, and I May Destroy You have been praised not only for being great works of art but also for exploring nuanced topics with the complexity and care they need. Netflix has been at the forefront of such shows recently, but HBO has forever remained the home of difficult storytelling. Their latest show is another attempt to explore the effects of masculinity, abuse, and sexuality.

This limited series follows two half-brothers over a 30-year period as they develop a complicated yet unhealthy relationship. Their personalities could not be more different, which causes friction but also allows them to complement each other. Ruben (Richard Gadd) is the older, more popular, and masculine of the two, while Niall (Jamie Bell) is the more intelligent one. They both struggle with personal issues; for Ruben, it is blinding anger, while Niall’s is his sexuality. The show is deeply violent — physically, emotionally, and sexually. Viewers and critics alike have found it difficult to watch, even when it is excellently written and acted.

That show is Half Man, the six-episode drama created by, written by, and starring Richard Gadd of Baby Reindeer. Gadd rose to prominence for doing the same thing with Baby Reindeer, and the show was a breakout hit thanks to its honest exploration of obsession and sexual assault against men. Half Man circles the same themes but from a more intimate place between relatives in a relatively challenging time period. The final episode airs on Thursday, May 28, bringing to a close the story of Ruben and Niall. All lingering questions get answered, and the intensity justified.

Is ‘Half Man’ Worth Watching??

While the show has not achieved the critical acclaim Baby Reindeer enjoyed, critics have praised it for its ability to remain entertaining even when hard to watch. “Richard Gadd delivers a broodingly bleak sophomore effort that dares to plumb the depths of toxic masculinity and repression in a complex and unsettling tale that makes for unsettlingly good TV,” their verdict reads on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, accompanying a 77% score. Viewers are not that far away, giving it an 80%. Half Man also stars Mitchell Robertson (Young Niall), Stuart Campbell (Young Ruben), and Neve McIntosh (Lori).

Catch the series finale on Thursday or stream episodes on HBO Max in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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BBC One

Directors

Alexandra Brodski, Eshref Reybrouck

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Writers

Richard Gadd

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2026 has been a great year for sci-fi movies, with releases like Mercy, Project Hail Mary, and War Machine. These films have seen varying degrees of success, with Mercy underperforming at the box office but excelling on streaming. Meanwhile, Project Hail Mary has been a critical and box office hit and is expected to replicate this success when it eventually arrives on streaming. War Machine never had a theatrical release, but it has become Netflix’s top movie of 2026. But looking ahead at the rest of the year, there are still some strong contenders that have yet to have their moment. Among them is a thriller that promises an emotional but action-packed tale.

This dystopian sci-fi drama has assembled a powerful cast, and the story gives them a lot to work with. The film has been set for an August 28 release by 20th Century Pictures. It follows the main character, Hig, a young pilot who, together with a military survivor, Bangley, has carved out their own space in a violent world where humanity has ceased to be the bare minimum. However, when Hig intercepts a radio transmission, he leaves their secluded compound because, despite what this brutal world has shown him, he believes that out there somewhere, humanity still exists.

The film in question is The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott (The Martian). Mark L. Smith adapted it from Peter Heller‘s book of the same name. The main cast includes recognized actors like Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Guy Pearce (Memento), Benedict Wong (Avengers: Endgame), and Allison Janney (I, Tonya). 20th Century has already released a trailer that sets the stage.

‘The Dog Stars’ Indicts Humanity Once Again in Emotionally Charged Trailer

The video above introduces Hig (Elordi), who has survived a world-ending event. So he knows the before and the after. He knows the joy of love and family, and the pain of losing it. Hig is forever optimistic, even when the world gives him no reason to be. Bangley (Brolin), on the other hand, doesn’t share the same optimism. He knows what humans are capable of, especially when pushed to their limits. Nothing pushes people more than the realization that the rules no longer exist and society has collapsed. But the world of “wake up, survive, rinse and repeat” doesn’t appeal to Hig. He knows there must be something more out there, and he’s willing to take a risk. So he puts his pilot skills to use and ventures out on a dangerous but potentially rewarding mission. And who knows, he might find love again.

The Dog Stars is in theaters on August 28. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

August 28, 2026

Writers

Mark L. Smith, Peter Heller, Christopher Wilkinson

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Sometimes, all it takes is the first 10 minutes of a TV show to hook you immediately and confirm that this show is going to be a huge hit. Breaking Bad was like that, for example, as was its sequel series Better Call Saul. The latter cold opened with a black-and-white scene of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) working behind the counter of a Cinnabon in Omaha, a direct reference to a comment he made in Breaking Bad that unknowingly, it seems, predicted his exact future.

Another great one is The Walking Dead, which shows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as sheriff walking through a parking lot when he comes across a disheveled little girl clutching a teddy bear. As he calls to her, and she turns, he realizes her face is completely deformed, and she’s groaning like a monster. Despite his clear reluctance, he shoots her dead. It’s scenes like these that draw you into a show, and HBO shows have some of the best.

‘The White Lotus’ (2021–Present)

Image via HBO

How could you not instantly know that The White Lotus was going to be a massive hit? The show opens with a sad young man in the airport traveling home alone. He chats with an older couple, who heard about a death at the resort where he was staying. This is juxtaposed by the flashback of excited families and individuals, this man included, arriving at the fancy resort in Maui. It builds intrigue right from the jump, because you realize this is a murder mystery that needs to be solved.

Within the first 10 minutes, you’re scanning everyone, analyzing every conversation to try and figure out both who is the killer and who is dead. The scene of the waving staff members, which has become a signature of the show through its first three seasons (and the fictional resort), really has you wondering how this wonderful-looking trip suddenly turned so horrible. The story, along with the familiar faces among the cast like Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Jake Lacy, and Sydney Sweeney, will have you dying to blaze through all six episodes in a single sitting.

‘The Penguin’ (2024)

Image via HBO

The Penguin might tell the backstory of one of the most iconic DC Comics villains, traveling back in time to when he was just the low-level mob wannabe known as Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Colin Farrell). But it feels more like a gangster show/movie than it does a superhero one, and you pick up on this right from the jump. It begins with an ominous scene, news reports about an explosion as Oz looks out the window at the devastation. But it’s just his outline in the dark.

Those who watched The Batman know it’s Colin Farrell in heavy make-up behind the long coat, but it’s only when the camera pans around to his face that you get chills. In his first scenes that follow, you can’t help but wonder what shenanigans Oz is going to be up to. When he confronts the late mob boss’ son Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), at first in a friendly way, you think maybe he isn’t so bad. But the events that occur from there are the beginnings of proof that Oz is not someone to be underestimated. That sets up the entire show from there.

‘True Detective’ (2014–Present)

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Widely considered to be the best season of the anthology series so far, or at least among the best, True Detective Season 1 provided a good indication of what the show was all about as immediately as in the moments following the intriguing opening credits. It’s a dark, creepy night scene as a body is being taken into the forest. A fire breaks out, and it’s clear something very bad is happening. This is the case that will come back to haunt the two leads decades later.

The scene in the perfect from start to finish detective show fades to black and officer Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) is giving his statement about his partner, which instantly has you wondering who his partner is, why Marty is being questioned about him, and what it has to do with that opening scene. It flips to former partner Rusty Cohle (Matthew McConaughey), whose life has clearly gone a very different way. As they both begin to recall the case of Dora Lange, a woman who was murdered in 1995, the scene takes viewers back. Seeing the younger, baby-faced versions of these two characters will have you itching to know not only what happened in this case, but also what happened between them.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

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Game of Thrones begins with men of the Night Watch being attacked by White Walkers in a snowy scene. It’s clear based on the fantastic directing of this scene along with the setting and cinematography that this show is going to be brilliant. The intensity, costumes, and makeup will also blow you away.

When the scene switches to men on horseback riding on a luscious, green hill, you get the idea that Game of Thrones spares no budget, and it is going to be like a Hollywood movie told across multiple seasons. Once the scene flips to the Starks, you’ll instantly want to learn more about this family who will very likely play a pivotal role (those who read the books know they will). For anyone who has read the George R. R. Martin novels on which the show is based, the picture painted looks like pages from the book come to life instantly.

‘The Last of Us’ (2023–Present)

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Who doesn’t love a good flashback? The Last of Us really sets the stage by flashing back to a news program in 1968 when a scientist basically predicts exactly what happens with the viral pandemic decades later, including fungus mutating to the point that it becomes uncontrollable and can’t be stopped. In the beginning, the show’s host and the audience are smiling and laughing at the absurdity. But as his explanation begins to sound more and more real, it seems like they are all quietly panicking inside. Viewers at home know very well what is coming in this adventure video game masterpiece, which makes this scene even more impactful.

The story flips to 2003, and we see Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) going about their day in what is very clearly just before the virus begins to spread in a big way. Seeing the interactions and picking up on subtle clues, you can’t wait for the other shoe to drop, but also appreciate the slow burn. It sets the stage for the pre-surly Joel, a glimpse into who he was before the loss of his daughter. The first few minutes also introduce Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who, as fans know, becomes pivotal to the plot going forward.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

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The opening scene of Succession is the most vulnerable Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is throughout the entire series, but it’s important to set up the premise and why it’s so important. He awakens in the night, unaware of where he is. He walks into a room, pulls down his pants, and urinates. When the lights go on, he’s in the hallway and has relieved himself on the floor. Cut to his goofy son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) in a suit rapping to music with headphones on while in the backseat of a limo.

You instantly understand that Succession is going to follow an elderly media head in desperate need of passing the torch to someone else. But if Kendall is any indication, his grown kids clearly aren’t ready to lead. Kendall, who seems to be first in line, is desperate for respect but isn’t getting any. He’s the only Roy sibling introduced in the first 10 minutes, along with COO Frank (Peter Friedman), the obvious buffer between family and business. You can tell it’s going to be a wild ride the second Kendall and Logan are in the same room together. The circus it becomes hasn’t even begun, but you just know that when the other kids come along, it’s going to be explosive. The setup is perfectly subtle while getting the point across.

‘The Newsroom’ (2012–2014)

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The Newsroom has one of the cleverest, perfectly delivered opening scenes that sets the stage for the lead character, the show’s political slant, and the overall tone. It’s a Q&A session at a university and news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) is innocently asked by a young student what makes America the greatest country in the world. He delivers a long monologue basically saying America is not the greatest country in the world and here’s why. Of course, it goes viral.

The idea that this drama is going to follow an already very outspoken and cynical man through a rocky situation will perk your ears up. He returns to work a month later to learn that most of his staff is gone, and his new producer happens to be his ex-girlfriend. When Will learns she has been brought on to improve the network, he doesn’t take too kindly to both the change and the awkwardness of answering to his ex. The Newsroom went on to be one of the best political shows of the decade.

‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)

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A woman is naked, sitting in a chair and being questioned by a man. He seems to be controlling her. She is staring into space as a fly crawls along her face, even onto her eyeball. But she doesn’t instinctively swat it away as most humans would do. It’s evident that this woman isn’t actually human. But what is she? When the scene in Westworld switches to the woman in bed in a lovely home, looking out into the town and discussing the order and purpose of her days, everything seems fine, like it exists in another time.

Once she meets a young man in a cowboy hat, it’s like an old Western movie. The situation turns bleak quickly, however, and you get the sense that this is just the beginning of many horrors to come. There’s no way you can stop watching now, especially when the Man in Black (Ed Harris) shows up, hinting that this show could have been the next Lost. Those who read the books know what Westworld is about, seeing it come to life in such a convincing way will have you hooked.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

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One of the best miniseries on HBO, Chernobyl tells the story of the catastrophic nuclear plant disaster of 1986 that occurred in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union back in the ’80s. It begins with the voiceover of a man talking about truth, stories, and the importance of knowing not who the heroes are but who is to blame. You know something very bad has happened that this person is recollecting. Since it’s based on a true story, you also understand the gravity of it.

When you see the clearly broken up man recording his testimony on several mini cassette tapes then wrapping them in paper, you know this isn’t going to end well. And it doesn’t. The horrifying nature of this subtle yet powerful scene leaves it virtually impossible for you not to want to keep going to learn more about who this man is, and what his involvement was in everything that happened.

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

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Today, The Sopranos is mostly remembered for its ambiguous finale that had everyone talking. And of course, the fantastic stories and moments throughout the show’s six seasons. But it’s easy to forget how the beginning of this crime drama instantly set the stage and had fans sold on watching. It begins with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) in the waiting room of his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s (Lorraine Bracco) office. He sits down for his first-ever session. These sessions, of course, would become integral to the show as Tony gets help dealing with panic attacks.

Tony has a violent job as a mob boss but also struggles to balance this with being a family man. It’s an awkward conversation as Tony seems disinterested in sharing, forced to see her by his family doctor. But Jennifer is intrigued. As Tony begins to tell his story, she seems to imply that she’s willing to keep his secrets. It almost feels like you’re watching a gangster movie like Goodfellas. Tony is someone you need to get to know, and his dynamic with Jennifer is instantly interesting, providing a nice reprieve from the action that you suspect is coming as the plot unfolds.

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The Sopranos

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Release Date

1999 – 2007

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Network

HBO

Showrunner

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David Chase

Directors

Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García

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Off Campus star Mika Abdalla had an epic dance party with the one-and-only Jennifer Lopez after her viral replica costume.

“It’s a new Jeneration of party people…🎶,” Lopez, 56, wrote via Instagram on Friday, May 22, alongside footage of Abdalla, 26, outside a dance studio.

“I don’t know her personally, but I’m pretty sure that’s J. Lo,” Abdall lip-synched Khobe Clarke’s line from Off Campus.

As the cameras cut to Lopez herself, she mouthed Abdalla’s onscreen excitement that “On the Floor” had started playing. The two women subsequently hugged before dancing together.

Related: Jennifer Lopez Wears a Cutout Crystal Gown to Play Poker

Whether she’s walking down the red carpet, performing live or simply out and about, Jennifer Lopez always serves up a seriously hot style moment. The actress’ sexy style is just as iconic as her eponymous J. Lo glow. From plunging necklines and thigh-high leg slits to slinky dresses and itty-bitty minis, the Wedding Planner star […]

Abdalla plays Allie Hayes in Prime Video’s Off Campus, a collegiate hockey romance adapted from Elle Kennedy’s bestselling novels. In one episode, Allie and then-boyfriend Sean (Riley Davis) attended a theme party as Lopez and Ben Affleck.

For Abdalla, that meant rocking a replica of the Hustlers actress’ navel-baring Versace gown that made a statement at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

“It was unbelievable. I had, like, four fittings. They built that [dress] from scratch,” Abdalla exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the series’ premiere this month. “I had several fittings where they were just, like, draping these fabrics over me, and different brooches and different whatever. I had so much body makeup on. It was unbelievable.”

She continued, “I was seriously, seriously taped into that dress like all day, and I’m dancing around and moving around at the end of the day, I just had, like, a layer of skin [come] off my body. It was so worth it because it looks so cool. The dress looks so good and so cool, and it was so much fun.”

According to Abdalla, she spent an entire dat on set “dancing around in this unbelievable custom-made” replica of Lopez’s iconic dress.

The scene ultimately earned Lopez’s approval.

“Love this shooooww,” Lopez tweeted on May 18, alongside footage of Allie’s J. Lo dance.

The “On the Floor” dance also introduced Allie to her eventual love interest, Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn).

“I’m just really looking forward to digging deeper into who Allie and Dean are,” Abdalla told Us of her hopes for future Off Campus seasons. “They both, kind of, have these fronts, these personas that are hard to kind of crack through. They are kind of stereotypes of themselves. But in the books, as we know, there’s so much beneath the surface of Dean, and there’s so much beneath the surface of Allie.”

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She added, “When it is time for our season, I’m excited to dig emotionally into that a little bit more, because, you know, we see Allie and Dean as their exteriors a lot in season 1. While that is fun, and they are super fun characters to play, I think as actors, selfishly, both of us are really excited to, kind of, like, get psychological.”

Off Campus has already been renewed for a second season, though it is known whether Dean or his hockey teammates Logan (Antonio Cipriano) or Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks) will take the lead next after Garrett (Belmont Cameli) in season 1.

Off Campus season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.