Over the course of the last 40 years, filmmakers from all around the world have delivered several of the greatest romantic movies of modern times. This is a genre that has always evolved with the times, and from 1986 until the present, tracking the different ways in which artists have depicted romance on film results in a fascinating new understanding of what the genre as a whole can achieve.

Whether it’s an international indie masterpiece like Past Lives or a mainstream Hollywood production like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, these films are the best of what modern romance has to offer. They can be poignant or purely romantic, dramatic or more comedic, down-to-Earth or mixed with some other kind of genre. Whatever the case, they should all be considered essential viewing.

10

‘Past Lives’ (2023)

Image via A24

It’s impressive that a film as masterful and truly perfect as the romance drama Past Lives is Celine Song‘s directorial feature debut. It’s one of the most perfect A24 movies ever, with a semi-autobiographical plot inspired by real events from Song’s life. Bolstered by a trifecta of exceptional performances by Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro, it’s one of the greatest dramas of the 2020s so far.

There are no cheap clichés here, no villain, no traditional sense of conflict, no riding off into the sunset in a moment of romantic triumph. Song stays admirably true-to-life in this emotionally stirring study of destiny, romance, and the human condition, which ultimately amounts to one of the most beautifully bittersweet outings that the romance genre has ever seen.

9

‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)

Image via Focus Features

Those who love sad romance dramas ought to check out Brokeback Mountain, which has some of the saddest stuff that the genre has to offer. It’s one of the best R-rated Westerns of the 21st century, anchored by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal‘s powerhouse lead performances. Praised by many as the greatest LGBTQ+ film ever produced by a big Hollywood studio, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves this genre.

Brokeback Mountain essentially functions as a sort of anti-Western, subverting the traditional tropes and imagery of the genre in favor of a delectably progressive study of masculinity and love. Thematically layered, impeccably performed, and gorgeously directed by Ang Lee, it stirred some controversy back in 2005, but has aged as one of the most acclaimed romance films of the 2000s.

8

‘Three Colours: Red’ (1994)

Image via Miramax Films

Krzysztof Kieślowski is perhaps the greatest and most iconic of all of history’s Polish filmmakers, and his filmography contains an admirable number of cinematic masterpieces. One of them is the final installment of his Three Colours trilogy, Three Colours: Red. Starring Irène Jacob at her very best, it’s the perfect way to close off one of the heaviest movie trilogies of all time.

It’s one of the most beautifully complex films ever made about the nature of human connections, a captivating masterpiece with a well-deserved Tomatometer score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s made all the more special by the fact that it almost functions as some kind of anti-romance, diving deeper into the very concept of intimacy and subverting what anyone might expect from a film about romantic love.

7

‘A Brighter Summer Day’ (1991)

Image via Cine Qua Non Films

The four-hour-long coming-of-age epic A Brighter Summer Day is one of the greatest Taiwanese movies ever made, directed by the greatest of all Taiwanese filmmakers, Edward Yang. It’s one of the most important examples of the New Taiwanese Cinema movement, a fascinating period piece whose engrossing narrative spans several years.

This is another instance of a cinematic masterpiece whose 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is perfectly deserved. A Brighter Summer Day is essentially faultless, a melancholic and politically-charged portrait of Taiwanese identity that can be enjoyed by any cinephile, regardless of their nationality. It’s grand, complex, and beautifully immersive, making each minute of its daunting runtime entirely worth it.

6

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)

Image via Pyramide Films

Paris specifically, and France at large, are often considered the home of love and romance. As such, it’s no surprise that France is where Céline Sciamma‘s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, the most perfect romance film of the 2010s, comes from. It works both as a richly lavish period piece and a soul-stirring romantic drama, as well as one of the movies with the most groundbreaking female representation.

How could a film with lead performances as perfect as those offered here by Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel not be perfect itself? Add to that the seductive, absolutely eye-popping female gaze with which Sciamma approaches the story, and you get one of the most gorgeous movies the romance genre has ever delivered. Full of yearning and surreal eroticism, this is some of the best filmmaking that the 2010s ever saw.

5

‘Cinema Paradiso’ (1988)

The Italian-French coming-of-age drama Cinema Paradiso is widely recognized for having helped revitalize Italy’s film industry, and that should hardly be a surprise. It is, after all, one of the most perfect films ever made. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and with one of the greatest scores in cinema history by Ennio Morricone and his son Andrea, it’s the peak of what modern Italian cinema has to offer.

Cinema Paradiso covers pretty much the whole spectrum of emotions that a viewer can feel, from the ecstasy of its opening moments, to the poignancy of its sadder bits, to the beauty of its romantic elements, to the life-changing beauty of one of the greatest endings of any movie in history. It’s one of the best crowd-pleasing dramas ever made, and then some.

4

‘Y Tu Mamá También’ (2001)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Advertisement

Y Tu Mamá También is the kind of erotic drama that could have only been made outside Hollywood. Indeed, Alfonso Cuarón returned to his native Mexico to make one of the best NC-17 movies of all time, a movie that’s about the coming-of-age of its three protagonists as it is about the coming-of-age of its setting, Mexico itself. The way Cuarón intertwines his characters’ stories with those of the unseen people of his country is a spectacle to behold.

But aside from being spectacular, Y Tu Mamá También is also irresistibly steamy, the most flawless erotic drama of the last 40 years. With Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, and Maribel Verdú at their best and Cuarón in full control of his craft, this profoundly thought-provoking and ultimately quite depressing film may not be the happiest of all romantic movies, but it sure is one of the best.

3

‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

Image via Focus Features

Advertisement

Initially developed as a concept in the late ’90s by director Michel Gondry, who then approached Charlie Kaufman to write the script, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind eventually materialized in the form of one of the best soft sci-fi masterpieces ever. Kaufman is perhaps the most talented screenwriting currently working in Hollywood, and there’s no example of his work more perfect than this.

Eternal Sunshine explores the concept of memories and how they relate to romance and human connections in ways too complex and thought-provoking to properly put into words. With Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet both delivering some of the strongest work of their careers, Gondry directing with masterful surrealism and poignancy, and Kaufman’s script being as flawless as it is, there’s no doubt that this is the best sci-fi romance movie ever made.

2

‘In the Mood for Love’ (2000)

Image via Block 2 Pictures

Advertisement

Right as the 20th century was coming to a close, Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai released what most cinephiles still remember as his best work to date: In the Mood for Love, which one may go so far as to call one of the best romantic movies of the last 100 years. Starring the legendary Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, this is no traditional sort of romantic film.

Indeed, this is an anti-romance masterpiece built entirely on restraint and unfulfilled desire, its characters choosing dignity and moral duty over the passion that’s so often front-and-center in most romance dramas. This creates a film that’s undeniably sad, but there’s also an irresistible beauty to the way Wong approaches the story that makes it endlessly rewatchable in spite of the poignancy of watching it.

1

‘Before Sunset’ (2004)

Image via Warner Independent Pictures

Advertisement

Richard Linklater is a filmmaker unlike any other, and his Before trilogy is perhaps his magnum opus. Before Sunrise is a beautiful coming-of-age romance drama that re-defined ’90s indie romance, and Before Midnight is the most perfect way imaginable to bring this refreshingly mature study of love and romance to a close. But it’s easily Before Sunset, one of the best second chapters of any movie trilogy, that stands the test of time the most.

Playing out in real time with some of the most natural-sounding dialogue that the romance genre has ever seen, this masterpiece is held together by Linklater’s airtight direction just as much as it is by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy‘s perfect performances. Masterfully paced and without a single dead spot in its admirably simple narrative, this is the most perfect romance movie of the last four decades.

Advertisement

Before Sunset

Advertisement

Release Date

July 30, 2004

Runtime

80 minutes

Advertisement

Director

Richard Linklater

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Horror has always been the gateway genre for a large variety of filmmakers, and that’s what has led to the current YouTuber invasion of Hollywood. In recent years, those from the internet space have broken into the mainstream film industry, such as the Philippou Brothers with their wonderful horror hit, Talk To Me, and even video game YouTuber Seán McLoughlin (AKA Jacksepticeye) is producing a new movie at Sony based on PlayStation’s Bloodborne. However, this unique phenomenon has tripled in 2026, with Mark Fishbach‘s depth-defying Iron Lung, Curry Barker‘s recent indie mega-hit Obsession, and now 20-year-old Kane Parsons‘ feature film adaptation of his viral web series, Backrooms.

First released in January 2022, The Backrooms web series became a viral sensation for its found-footage brand of horror and unique world. The original chapter of the series currently has over 72 million views, so the fact that A24 stepped in to produce a full-fledged feature film is no surprise. Kane Parsons, at 20 years of age, managing to make an A24 movie with two renowned Oscar winners as its stars is impressive enough, but the additional note that the film is one of the year’s best horror movies makes an already admirable feat a true triumph.

What Is A24’s ‘Backrooms’ About?

Taking place during the 1990s, Backrooms is primarily the story of two individuals trying to move on from a checkered past. The first is Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) — a struggling furniture store owner who finds a portal to a hidden world that almost looks like an unused office space, but with all manner of bizarre sights like chairs melting into the floor and hallways that lead to nowhere. The second is Clark’s therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve), who finds herself in these so-called “Backrooms” when Clark goes missing — but they both soon learn that they may not be the only ones lurking there.

From the get-go, Backrooms gets off to a fantastic start that will please hardcore fans of the original web series as well as horror fanatics itching for a memorable cold open. Director Kane Parsons opted not to make the entirety of the movie in a found footage format like the series that started it all, but the first ten minutes are recorded with a good old-fashioned ’90s-style camcorder. The result is one of the best first few minutes of a horror movie of the year, and a near-flawless tone-setter for the rest of the feature.

A Backrooms movie also certainly wouldn’t be one without top-notch set design, and Longlegs production designer Danny Vermette once again proves why they are such a rising star in the horror world. Backrooms‘ liminal spaces and reliance on the fear of the unknown make for a wholly unique and claustrophobic horror setting, and one that, refreshingly, is lit with bright fluorescent lights rather than consistently shrouded in darkness like most of its peers. There is such an otherworldly feeling to the Backrooms, with everything looking like it comes from the real world, and yet, it has more than a few things that are just a little bit off, creating this almost uncanny valley type of feeling.

Renate Reinsve Is the Next Great Horror Movie Scream Queen

Image via A24

The Worst Person in the World, A Different Man, and Sentimental Value have already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Renate Reinsve is one of the best actors working today, and Backrooms gives the Oscar nominee something quite different with her first proper foray into an adaptation of a major IP. The Armand star steps into the world of sci-fi horror like a true natural, with every single acting choice adding more depth and dimension to the character. Seeing her go from a professional therapist to an unprofessional scream queen almost makes Backrooms feel like a twisted version of Apple TV’s Shrinking (which is fitting given that Shrinking star Lukita Maxwell is also part of the cast).

Doctor Strange franchise alum and 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor also has a sizable role in the film, essentially functioning as the audience’s eyes and ears for this bizarre horror world. While Ejiofor is more used to big-budget epics, seeing him return to something smaller-scale but still very high-concept is a refreshing change of pace. Much like Reinsve, Ejiofor’s performance is one that gets better and better as the movie progresses — even if his character’s motivations are just a hint on the confusing side.

Yes, even a movie as mesmerizing and enchanting can’t escape the ever-ubiquitous horror trope of characters making stupid decisions. Ejiofor’s Clark is the most susceptible to this, as his fascination with the Backrooms is never really fully explained and largely seems to occur off-screen. It’s not that Backrooms needs to explain every minute detail. If anything, the mystery behind the entire movie is exactly what makes it so special. However, it does feel like there are portions between acts that could have been better explored had they taken place on-screen and added a bit more context to the already well-developed characters.

‘Backrooms’ Is a Masterclass in Building Suspense and Tension

Kane Parsons is the youngest director ever to direct an A24 movie, and yet his methodical approach to letting Backrooms breathe and take its time building up its suspense and scares requires the patience of masters in the genre. The slow burn of Alfred Hitchcock, the surreal visuals of David Lynch, and the human stakes of Stanley Kubrick are all on full display here, making for one of the unique and intriguing horror properties of the decade, let alone of the year. The slight stumble of the curious character decisions is comparatively small with the massive accomplishments that Backrooms achieves. Whether you’re a fan of the miniseries or are just discovering Kane Parsons’ wildly successful franchise for the very first time, Backrooms is a door that any horror fan should absolutely walk through.

Backrooms premieres in theaters on Friday, May 29, 2026.

Advertisement

Release Date

May 27, 2026

Advertisement

Runtime

110 minutes

Director

Advertisement

Kane Parsons

Writers

Will Soodik

Advertisement

Producers

Chris Ferguson, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, James Wan, Jenno Topping, Kori Adelson, Michael Clear, Osgood Perkins, Peter Chernin, Roberto Patino, Shawn Levy

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pros & Cons

Advertisement

• Kane Parsons shows a marvelous sense for suspense and tension.
• Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor are both fantastic.
• Some of the year’s best production design.

• Some of the characters’ choice and decisions are hard to justify.

Science fiction is a genre that’s tricky to get right. When done properly, these stories of space exploration, futuristic societies, and speculative technology can make for some of the most fascinating movies out there. It’s remarkably easy, however, for a sci-fi movie to make no sense. Perhaps its time travel plot is a bit too convoluted, or its world-building involves rules that defy traditional logic, or the director made use of elements of surrealism that are hard to get a grasp on.

Whatever the case, it’s still very much possible for a sci-fi movie to make no sense and still be absolutely phenomenal, and there are eight movies in particular that best demonstrate that. Sure, these films aren’t the kind of puzzle that you can put together in a way that’s fully and appropriately satisfying, but that may just be the whole point. After all, if there’s any genre that can easily earn the right to ask its audience to stretch the limits of their imagination, it’s science fiction.

‘Looper’ (2012)

Image via TriStar Pictures

There’s a certain subgenre of science fiction that tends to have more than a few issues with logic, and that’s the time travel story. Case in point: Rian Johnson‘s Looper, where a hired gun learns that the mob wants to take him out by sending his future self back in time to assassinate him. The mere synopsis already brings up too many paradoxes for any one screenwriter to solve, so Johnson did something that some may consider clever and others may consider a cheap cop-out.

Looper pretty much admits that the rules of time travel make no sense and asks its audience to not think about it too closely. And frankly, one can only be grateful that it does, because that allows Johnson to focus on the nitty-gritty of the action and deliver a character-driven spectacle that shows science fiction at its most entertaining. In other words, enjoy Looper for what it is, and don’t concern yourself with making sense out of it.

‘Tokyo Gore Police’ (2008)

Image via Sony Pictures

Anyone who watches a movie called Tokyo Gore Police expecting anything less than a brutal bloodfest is a fool. One of the most underrated splatter movies of the 21st century, this sci-fi horror film is set in a futuristic Tokyo, where a young policewoman tracks down her father’s killer while battling against mutant rebels. The result of such a wild premise is definitely not for everyone, but for people who love gory and over-the-top sci-fi, it’s a must-see.

As you could imagine, Tokyo Gore Police is a ridiculous film that plays its cards in an entirely tongue-in-cheek way, and it never really takes itself seriously. As a result of its focus on camp and shock value, it doesn’t really spend any time trying to make any element of its narrative make any sort of sense. However, if you went into this movie expecting a serious drama that prioritizes logic over style, then that’s on you, honestly.

‘Southland Tales’ (2006)

Image via Universal Pictures

After he revived the midnight screening circuit of the cult cinema world in 2001, Richard Kelly followed things up with one of the most ambitious and divisive films of the 2000s, Southland Tales. Upon release, it split critics and performed atrociously at the box office, but in the years since, it has grown to become one of the biggest sci-fi cult classics of the era. But if there’s one thing that even the movie’s loyal cult following will admit, it’s that it makes next to no sense.

The narrative is bloated and chaotic, and Kelly develops a ton of ideas that don’t really mesh well together at first glance — or at second or at third. But patient and committed viewers will slowly be taken over by Southland Tales‘ unparalleled charm and fascinating vision of the future, captivated by a movie that often feels like a crazy fever dream you don’t really want to wake up from.

‘Under the Skin’ (2013)

Image via A24

Advertisement

A24 has distributed some of the best mind-bending movies of the 21st century over its history, but there is arguably no outing in its filmography more masterfully confusing than Jonathan Glazer‘s Under the Skin. And like any surrealist, mind-bending masterpiece, this one has remained highly divisive as the years have passed. Nevertheless, it’s one of the boldest drama movies of the 21st century.

Glazer spent over a decade developing what would end up becoming Under the Skin, turning it from the effects-heavy concept that it was originally devised as into a more minimalistic story about the human condition. But while the film makes sense philosophically, it doesn’t really make all that much sense narratively. There’s nothing here that resembles the traditional understanding of plot or character work; Glazer instead favors an abstract and experimental nature over any sort of logic. This approach has cemented Under the Skin as a true modern classic, but it has also made it unapproachable for most mainstream audiences.

‘Interstellar’ (2014)

Ever since the start of Hollywood’s blockbuster era in the mid-’70s, the film industry has had several different kinds of blockbusters. The one who sits on the throne today is arguably Christopher Nolan. The question of what his best film is will inevitably elicit many different answers, but one is guaranteed to come up more than most: the emotionally stirring space opera Interstellar, which is one of those sci-fi movies that get better with every rewatch.

But though a few of Interstellar‘s mind-bending aspects definitely start making a little more sense as one revisits the story, there are other elements that simply don’t track. From the mechanics of the tesseract to the whole “love transcends time” theme, there are a few elements of Interstellar that demand quite a bit of suspension of disbelief in order for the whole movie to not fall apart. For all its commitment to being accurate to real-life physics, the film remains a piece of art that is, first and foremost, concerned with its narrative rather than with any genuine logic.

‘Brazil’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame has a filmography that proves that the best comedies can often be the ones that make the least sense. Highly surrealist and with a uniquely absurdist sense of humor, Gilliam has made plenty of exceptional films over the course of his career, and Brazil might be the most acclaimed of the bunch. This satire of bureaucracy, capitalism, and technocracy has aged incredibly well, with its over-the-top, satirical tone even more resonant today than it was in 1985.

It’s one of the best sci-fi noir masterpieces ever, a scathing critique of the dehumanizing effects of industrial society and excessive bureaucracy that keeps revealing new angles to itself. But Gilliam intentionally designed Brazil to be a confusing, surreal, almost nightmarish experience, and he most definitely succeeded. It’s an outstanding movie, but not one that cares much about its audience making any sense of it.

‘Donnie Darko’ (2001)

Image via Newmarket Films

Throughout the ’90s, the culture of the midnight movie lay dormant due to the boom of the home video market and cable television. It was a man called Richard Kelly who brought it back with one of the most notorious box office bombs of the 21st century, Donnie Darko. Its highly convoluted plot made it an instant cult classic that lent itself flawlessly to rewatches, and with the rise of DVD home viewing, the writing was on the wall for this becoming the next big thing on the cult film circuit.

With its thought-provoking narrative, Kelly’s enrapturing and deeply atmospheric direction, and one of the best movie soundtracks of all time, Donnie Darko has aged like fine wine through and through. But it’s impossible to deny that the main thing that made it a cult classic back in the 2000s is what still keeps it as a cult classic today: It’s the fact that it doesn’t make sense. Its mind-twisting narrative evades logic in ways that feel entirely intentional and brilliantly handled, making for a movie that makes rewatching and theorizing something that never gets old.

‘Stalker’ (1979)

Image via Goskino

Though his career was cut short by his death from lung cancer at the age of 54, Soviet auteur Andrei Tarkovsky has still managed to remain one of the most acclaimed and beloved European filmmakers in history. It’s a widely held belief that it was Stalker that contributed to his premature death, since it was shot in highly toxic environments that led many members of the cast and crew to contract different kinds of cancer in the years following the shoot. But the legacy that Tarkovsky left behind is an indelible one, and Stalker is one of the best sci-fi movies of the last 75 years.

That said, Stalker doesn’t really make much narrative or logical sense, but neither does the majority of Tarkovsky’s filmography. That’s because he was a filmmaker whose work audiences were meant to feel, not think, their way through, and Stalker is no different. Though its sci-fi elements are hugely creative and deeply powerful, they’re not the core of the story. Instead, it’s Tarkovsky’s potent exploration of faith and how it has evolved and faded in the modern world that serves as the beating heart of Stalker. Any sort of intellectual analysis of its plot is pointless because it is a masterpiece that proves that a sci-fi movie can make no sense and still be great.

“Summer House” star West Wilson admitted he’s a bit frazzled going out in public after his fallout with his co-star Ciara Miller. On an episode of his “Show Me Something” podcast, Wilson opened up about his relationship with Amanda Batula and also addressed some of the rumors swirling about them.

Speaking with his co-host, Wilson said that he and his girlfriend, Batula, are “doing our best” to maintain a normal relationship amid the chaos.

“Going out in public is kind of scary,” Wilson admitted before touching on several of the “stupid f-cking posts” that are filled with rumors. “Once it got to AI ones and sh-t I was like, ‘OK, let’s talk about these,’” he said.

Wilson then brought up a post suggesting that Batula had been wearing all of Wilson’s clothes before they confirmed they were dating. “People do wear striped shirts,” Wilson said. “People just post anything, and it works. A lot of people have been like, ‘She wears your clothes all the time.’ We actually do dress the same.”

Is West Wilson Trying To Be Like Tom Sandoval When ‘Summer House’ Returns For Another Season?

Elsewhere in the episode, Wilson brought up claims that he was trying to be like Tom Sandoval of “Summer House.”

“Knowing all my friends that I have a group chat with, they don’t know who the f-ck Tom Sandoval is,” Wilson said passionately. “That is not what we talk about in our f-cking group text.”

Continuing, Wilson said that the rumors claiming he announced his relationship with Batula to spite Miller or create a storyline are flat-out false.

“It’s not that crazy, it’s just, like, someone made up that they are in a group chat with me,” he said.

West Wilson Confirmed His Relationship With Batula In March 2026

Wilson’s comments come months after the reality TV personality confirmed he was in a relationship with Batula. Their announcement stirred up trouble because of Wilson’s previous romantic relationship with Batula’s former friend, Ciara Miller, with whom he was seen making out in last week’s finale episode.

“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” their joint post read, according to a previous report from The Blast. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we need a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”

How Is Miller Feeling About The Wilson And Batula Drama Ahead Of The Reunion?

Miller, on the other hand, has been living her best life since learning that Batula and Wilson were dating. Not only has she crossed the million-follower mark on Instagram, but she’s also received major brand deals with Sonic and recently accepted a new gig as the “Love Island Aftersun” host.

According to The Blast, Miller said she’s been in “survival” mode since the news broke, but also said she was excited to “move on” and leave the drama behind her.

“I’m excited to put it all behind me,” she said. “The reunion was quite a day, but we’re on to bigger and better.”

She added, “You know, we can say goodbye to certain things.”

Miller Let’s Batula Have It During The Three-Part ‘Summer House’ Reunion On Bravo

Part 1 of the three-part “Summer House” reunion airs tonight, May 26, on Bravo. Based on the teaser, the sit-down gathering will be anything but peaceful.

In the clip, Miller goes head-to-head with Batula, saying she’s been her “champion” for the last six years while she struggled in her marriage with her estranged husband, Kyle Cooke.

“I couldn’t fathom that I would be sitting here p-ssed that you’re f–king my ex,” Miller said in the trailer. “[West] wants to embarrass me. He wants to get his last little words in. And I hope it works, because he’s with you to spite me.”

Regarding the reunion, Miller said just days ago that the upcoming batch of episodes will offer a lot of insight and clarity for the viewers.

“I think it was very cathartic. It was one of those situations that was very unfortunate, but I’m so excited to move on from this, and you can’t take everyone with you,” she said.

Zayn Malik has been making headlines as of late, with the latest reports alleging he was rude to his fans. The former One Direction singer addressed the controversy and pushed back against the narrative, explaining his side and sharing what wasn’t seen in the video that spread online.

The news about the singer comes weeks after his alleged altercation with his former bandmate and his revelation that he was hospitalized for an undisclosed illness.

On May 25, TMZ published a video of Zayn Malik exiting his hotel in Manchester and heading toward his awaiting vehicle. A crowd gathered by his car, with some holding up phones to capture photos and videos of the singer.

“You guys we can’t get in the car,” a woman, presumably part of Malik’s team, was heard saying. Malik visibly had a difficult time getting into his car and, at one point, was heard saying, “Get the f-ck out of the way,” before grabbing the door handle and slipping inside the vehicle.

Several days prior, Malik was also involved in an incident at a Q&A event when a woman hurled a water bottle straight at the singer. Fortunately, he ducked right on time and dodged the object.

The Singer Set The Record Straight

TMZ also posted the video on its official Instagram account, and the following day, Malik responded in the comments section to explain his side.

The “Pillowtalk” singer prefaced his comment by writing that his fans “were and always respectful and amazing.” However, he noted that most of the people waiting outside the hotel were not fans at all. “They are not fans they are stalkers that show up where ever someone they want to meet is and do the same thing to everyone to try to get content,” Malik wrote.

He further explained that the people had been blocking the hotel doors and his vehicle for about 10 minutes, not making space for security personnel.

“It is not safe and not okay and they ruin it for the real fans,” Malik concluded.

Zayn Malik’s Alleged Fight With Louis Tomlinson

Malik has been the topic of headlines for various reasons in recent months. In April, entertainment publications reported on an alleged feud between Malik and his former One Direction bandmate, Louis Tomlinson.

The two were the subject of a Netflix documentary that focused on their reconciliation years after skyrocketing to fame with One Direction and their public feud on social media. Malik and Tomlinson have since reconnected following the death of Liam Payne in 2024. However, they allegedly got into a physical altercation during filming.

Despite neither side speaking out about the alleged incident, reports of a feud were further fueled when the documentary’s director, Nicola Marsh, wrote on Instagram Stories, “And there goes the last year of work,” seemingly alluding to the project. Fans also noticed that Tomlinson unfollowed Malik on Instagram after the reports.

The Singer Was Hospitalized For An Unknown Ailment

Malik released his fifth studio album, “Konnakol,” on April 17. That same day, however, the singer took to Instagram Stories and updated his fans from a hospital bed. He thanked his fans for their support, noting that he was “unexpectedly recovering.” He also expressed his gratitude to the hospital staff for taking care of him during his stay.

Malik didn’t disclose the reason for his hospitalization, but per a report from PEOPLE, the 33-year-old singer sought treatment from the “No. 1 cardiologist in the world.” The source continued to say that Malik had to cancel an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show due to the doctor’s orders, and he’s “still working through his health issues.”

Zayn Malik Canceled Tour Dates

Prince William prefers to stay locked in when watching his team play, even when a phone call comes in.

The senior royal, an avid supporter of English soccer club Aston Villa, recently drew attention online after clips from the club’s Europa League final match went viral. In the footage, William appeared to ignore a phone call while recording the action on the pitch.

William has attended several Villa matches over the years and has also spoken about why he chose to support the club instead of one of the Premier League’s more dominant teams.

Aston Villa’s Europa League final win over SC Freiburg came with a royal moment that has since gone viral.

William was spotted in the stands watching the team play, as he has done on several occasions while supporting his beloved club.

Villa eventually emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline, and the Prince of Wales wasted no time pulling out his phone to film the celebrations.

However, while he was recording the moment, an incoming call appeared on his screen. Rather than pick up, William chose to stay locked in on the action and swiped the decline button, per People Magazine.

It remains unclear who was calling, as the caller ID was not visible, or whether the call was urgent enough to require the prince’s immediate attention.

William’s Villa Loyalty Wins Fans Over

Following the celebrations, William headed backstage, where he posed with the Europa League trophy.

In the photo, the future king was seen alongside team manager Unai Emery and another club official. William appeared all smiles as he held the trophy with both hands, as seen in an image posted on Aston Villa’s official X  page.

The moment sparked several comments from fans, many of whom praised William for his continued support of the Villans.

“Oh, our Prince of Wales is so happy tonight!! He is a true Villa fan for sure,” one fan wrote.

“One of the true celebrities/Royals who cares about the club and not using it as a stunt. I salute you,” a second fan remarked. Another commented, “An unforgettable and iconic [moment] for Prince William as he is a huge fan of Villa.”

Prince William Celebrates Aston Villa’s Historic Win

William also took to the official page for the Prince and Princess of Wales to issue a congratulatory message to Aston Villa.

“Amazing night!! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff, and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware,” he wrote.

His message also included a special shoutout to Villa’s defensive star Boubacar Kamara, who suffered a serious knee injury in January that left him sidelined for the rest of the season. “Special shout out to Boubacar Kamara, who has been out injured but is such an integral part of our team and helped lay the foundations of this success,” William added.

William Picked Villa For The Highs And Lows

He previously explained his choice during a 2015 BBC interview, revealing that his support for the club began during his school years. According to William, he wanted the highs and lows that come with backing a team outside the Premier League’s traditional dominant sides.

“A long time ago at school I got into football big time. I was looking around for clubs. All my friends at school were either Man United fans or Chelsea fans, and I didn’t want to follow the run-of-the-mill teams,” William said. He added, “I wanted to have a team that was more mid-table that could give me more emotional rollercoaster moments.”

Prince William And George Bond Over Villa Passion

Like his father, Prince George has also developed a strong interest in Aston Villa and has often been seen joining him at high-profile matches.

The pair attended the team’s Champions League quarter-final clash against PSG in April last year.

“I have got my son here too so I am on [my] best behavior, but 43 years since this has happened, and I want George to experience a night out in a big competition; those memories are really important to create, and bringing him away is important,” William told the Daily Mail at the time.

“I am open to who they support. I am biased, but they come to games with Villa, so it will likely be Villa, but I have left the other two at home, probably watching on TV. We will see who they support,” he added.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 22 seconds ago

Whenever fans talk about the best Bill Murray movies, they always call out the obvious ones: crowd pleasers like Ghostbusters, quirky comedies like Groundhog Day, and even mournful indies like Lost in Translation. Each of those films is a great choice, and they collectively demonstrate Bill Murray’s surprising range of depth as an actor. However, none of those films ever quite match the easygoing charm of Meatballs, the 1979 summer camp comedy from future Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman.

Compared to Murray’s big-budget films, Meatballs has a decidedly lo-fi charm. It’s about a summer camp filled with youngsters trying to discover who they really are. The counselors are doing the same thing, and they form a cozy, found family relationship with the kids they are watching over. It’s a film filled with colorful characters and one amazing line after another, but this ‘70s banger gets a little more forgotten every year. Fortunately, it’s currently streaming for free on Tubi, meaning that you’re just one click away from the discovery of a lifetime (or, at least, the afternoon): Bill Murray’s first big film may be his best!

The premise of Meatballs is that Murray’s character is the leader of some counselors-in-training for a low-rent summer camp in Ontario. He quickly bonds with one of the young camp attendees who’s still reeling from the death of his mother. Meanwhile, the camp is filled with drama of different stripes. For example, several of the counselors (including Murray’s character) are looking for love, but they still find the time to play the most elaborate jokes on the camp director. By the third act, Meatballs becomes the ultimate snobs-vs-slobs film as our down-and-dirty campers must compete against the wealthy elites from a rich, rival summer camp.

As you can probably tell from that description, Meatballs isn’t a movie filled with lots of dramatic events. Instead, it’s very much a vibes-based film where you get to kick back and have fun with the nerdy kids and their horny, somewhat inept counselors. Unsurprisingly, Bill Murray is the most entertaining performer, constantly bouncing off other actors like the hilariously understated Harvey Atkin. While Murray is filled with his signature quirky quips, he gives a very heartfelt performance, especially when he’s acting alongside young Chris Makepeace. The result is a movie that provides plenty of laughs along with a surprisingly large number of warm and fuzzy moments.

The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship

If you’re a major Bill Murray fan, it’s also worth watching Meatballs because it quietly represents a major turning point in his career. After all, it’s not just his first big film; it’s also the first time that he collaborated with the late, great Harold Ramis, one of the film’s writers. The very next year, Ramis would direct Murray in the seminal early ‘80s classic Caddyshack. Over a decade later, Ramis also directed Murray in Groundhog Day, considered one of the cynical actor’s finest films. Notably, Ramis co-wrote those films, and he also co-wrote the two Ghostbusters films that arguably transformed Murray into a household name and bankable superstar.

Speaking of Ghostbusters, Meatballs is also the first breakout film for Ivan Reitman, who would later direct the first two Ghostbusters movies. Meatballs established his close, working relationship with both Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, and the trio soon reunited to create the military comedy Stripes. Arguably, it is these early experiences that helped the three men gel as a creative team, which is a big part of why Ghostbusters was so impossibly good. That’s right, ‘Buster fans, this proton-packing ‘80s icon of a film may have never existed (or simply fizzled out altogether) if not for a largely-forgotten camp counselor comedy starring Bill Murray.

But The Kids Love Him

While Murray later became famous for his ad-libbing on set, it was the immaculately well-written Meatballs that helped establish his particular brand of laconic, wiseacre humor. My absolute favorite part of the movie is when his character is called upon to give an inspirational speech about how their camp could totally beat their wealthy rivals in an upcoming competition. Murray goes into a sarcastic rant about how their improbable victory is meaningless because the cute girls will just go out with the wealthy jerks anyway. He ultimately reassures everyone with a chant that perfectly captures jaded Gen X malaise: “it just doesn’t matter. IT JUST DOESN’T MATTER!”

In many ways, that scene is the true essence of Meatballs. Murray’s attempts at reassurance seem cavalier and cynical at first glance, but he’s actually being a good counselor here and imparting a lesson on his young camp enrollees. Focusing entirely on an arbitrary competition with rivals who have beaten them for the last 12 years is foolish. By emphasizing that victory doesn’t really matter, Murray’s character encourages the kids to focus on what does matter: their own accomplishments and their willingness to help each other succeed. Is it sweet and schmaltzy? Sure, but what else were you expecting from a movie that proudly wears its heart on its sleeve?   

All You Can Eat Comedy

Incidentally, that competition with a rival camp helps the final act of this 1979 film transform Meatballs into a staple of ‘80s comedies: a snobs vs. slobs showdown. It’s the same reliable formula that would transform later films like Stripes and Caddyshack into such influential hits. The formula works because it forces us to root for our misfit outsiders against a group of pretty and popular kids. This results in broad comedy that all audiences will get a real kick out of. However, if you were ever a weird outcast kid made to feel weak and small by the beautiful, rich kids, you will likely find the climax of Meatballs particularly resonant.

Do you want your streaming forecast to be cloudy, with a chance of Meatballs? That’s easy enough. Just row, row, row over to your remote control and stream this quirky cult hit for free on Tubi. It’s the movie that properly launched Ivan Reitman’s career, kicking off a collaboration between himself, Harold Ramis, and Bill Murray that absolutely dominated the ‘80s. Therefore, it’s worth watching as a piece of cinematic history or simply as a vehicle for some of Bill Murray’s best lines. Come for the killer quips and stay for the weird earworm that is Rick Dees’ “Meatballs” song!

Ashley Tisdale French is explaining why she won’t allow her daughters to attend sleepovers.

The High School Musical star, 40, who shares two daughters, Jupiter, 5, and Emerson, 20 months, with husband Christpher French, explained her reasoning via a Tuesday, May 26, blog post on By Ashley French.

“I’m just not a fan of sleepovers,” Tisdale French wrote. “As a parent, it comes down to this: You can know someone well and still not really know them. You just don’t always know who people are in their home. You don’t know how parents talk to each other, how they handle conflict, who else has access to the home… the list goes on.”

The post continued, “A family can seem lovely from the outside, and most are. But the risk of getting it wrong isn’t one I’m willing to take.

The actress stated that while her stance may sound “dramatic,” and that plenty of children “have fun” at sleepovers, she stands by the belief that if danger presents itself, “statistically, it’s rarely due to a stranger.”

Tisdale French also recalled a childhood experience of her own that left her feeling far from comfortable about sleepovers. “One time, I was staying over at my best friend’s house at the same time that her older brother had a bunch of friends over. They were probably around 10 years old,” she wrote in the blog. “I thought I’d slept soundly through the night, but the next morning, they all thought it was hilarious that I had gone sleepwalking. I remember feeling really weird and vulnerable about having no memory of that.”

Despite declaring a firm opinion on allowing children to stay overnight at another family’s home, Tisdale French reiterated that she’s determined to help her daughters have fun with friends and has come up with a sleepover alternative. “This is the plan. Some of my friends and I have decided that when our girls are older, we’ll do some group getaways. The moms can get away from the house for a night, bring the kids, and they can have a sleepover in the same space,” she wrote. “Maybe an Airbnb or hotel rooms with a shared door. The kids can have their independence and fun while the parents unwind nearby. That feels different and doable.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Related: What Really Happened Between Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff and Mandy Moore

The “toxic mom group” drama between Ashley Tisdale French, Hilary Duff and Mandy Moore has taken the internet by storm this week. “The root of the issues was that some of the women just became closer friends with each other, and Ashley started to feel left out,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “There were […]

Advertisement

Tisdale French’s exploration of parenthood will soon extend to her professional life. She revealed in February that she will star in and executive produce a comedy for CBS that will center on coparenting with an ex.

Her parenting views had attracted headlines one month prior when she blasted her mom group as “toxic” in an essay for The Cut. The January piece did not name any moms but online speculation pointed to celebrities including Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Meghan Trainor who all enjoyed early motherhood alongside Tisdale French, as documented via social media.

A rep for Tisdale French denied insinuation towards Duff, 38, Moore, 42, and Trainor, 32, at the time, but all three have reacted to the essay in recent months.

Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris Jackson, opened up about her personal struggles while she suffered from addiction.

“The behavior is really ugly. It’s really ugly behavior in a moral way, because I was raised to be kind — and not nice,” Paris, 28, said during a Tuesday, May 26, appearance on Jack Osbourne’s “Trying Not to Die” podcast. “I could give a s**t about being nice — but being kind and looking people in the eye and asking the waiter their name so you can write it down on the receipt later, just little things of, just like, how do you treat people?”

Paris recalled going through “years and years and years of self-hatred” before achieving sobriety.

“‘Oh, I may be a liar, a cheater, a piece of s**t, a thief, whatever, but I do have a good moral compass, like, I was raised right in that way. What happens when I drink is that goes away,” she said. “That goes right out the window and I become a very vindictive person.”

Paris confessed she had other personal struggles before turning to alcohol and drugs.

“I struggled with self-harm for a really long time before I ever had my first drink or drug. I had weird relationships with overeating and food as a young kid,” she recalled. “There was this overall reachy, graspy energy that I only ever see in other addicts. Reaching for something outside of yourself.”

Paris shared that she went to treatment “several times” before — and after — starting her sobriety journey.

Over the years, Paris has been candid about how she has struggled with addiction since her teen years. Last year, Paris revealed that she achieved a major milestone in her sobriety.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“Hi, I’m pk, and I’m an alcoholic and a heroin addict,” she wrote via Instagram in January 2025. “Today marks 5 years clean and sober from all drugs and alcohol. To say that I’m thankful would be a poor euphemism. Gratitude hardly scratches the surface.”

Earlier this year, she opened up about how she is still putting in the work to maintain her sobriety,

“Getting sober ain’t always the indication that life is perfect,” Paris wrote via Instagram in January. “A few years in, it all got very very hard for what felt like an eternity. I didn’t have the same survival skills I was used to having to cope. I had to learn to live life on life’s terms.”

It’s the season of book adaptations, and one of the most popular on Netflix, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, returns with an even stronger second season. The TV series brought Holly Jackson‘s popular book trilogy to life, with Season 2 adapting the second installment, Good Girl, Bad Blood, and this time, the adaptation is a lot more faithful to the plot and the story’s darker atmosphere. The question of fidelity to the source material has always been debated, but in this case, mostly sticking to the original book is hugely beneficial for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. The first season added plotlines that didn’t serve a larger purpose, but Season 2 is far more condensed and cleaner, making every scene land effectively.

What Is ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 2 About?

Season 2 launches into the fallout of Pip’s (Emma Myers) investigation into the murder of Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies); Becca (Carla Woodcock) is in prison, Sal’s (Rahul Pattni) name is cleared, and Max (Henry Ashton) is on trial for drugging and assaulting several women. However, Pip’s friendship with Cara (Asha Banks) is also fraying at the edges after she uncovered Cara’s father’s secrets, which led to his imprisonment. In the Season 2 premiere, Pip declares on her podcast that she will never investigate a case again. She envisions a normal life with her boyfriend Ravi (Zain Iqbal), filled with murder-mystery parties and a decisive court victory over Max.

However, Pip’s life flips upside-down when her friend Connor (Jude Morgan-Collie) knocks on her door after his brother Jamie (Eden H. Davies) disappears. What makes it worse is that Jamie is a key witness in Max’s trial and is also linked to another anonymous witness dubbed “Woman A,” which means if Pip wants justice to be served, she needs to pull out her detective board once again. The stakes are higher this time, now that Pip understands the cost of uncovering the truth, and she forges deeper into the darkness of Little Kilton, afraid of what she may find.

Emma Myers Continues To Anchor the Emotional Weight and Mystery of ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Image via Netflix

After the first season, it should come as no surprise that Myers is the anchor and driving force of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2. She slips back into the role of Pip with ease, this time playing the character with a fear of rocking the boat again and guilt over how her past actions incited so much destruction. Myers balances Pip’s innate curiosity and determination with self-doubt and hesitation, deepening the character as the show progresses. It was already easy to root for Pip in Season 1, but Season 2 elicits more empathy than ever, with the story’s burgeoning darkness taking a psychological toll. It feels less like a coming-of-age story and more like a reckoning towards the end, where Pip is forced to look in the mirror and dissect the parts of herself she was initially proud of.

Myers’ approach to her character also raises the stakes of the mystery surrounding Jamie’s disappearance, as Pip’s self-worth becomes increasingly tied to the case’s revelations. By the finale, it turns out her self-image isn’t necessarily what needs protecting, and Myers’ performance is downright haunting, with several incredible scenes that land with necessary impact, deepening the show’s complexity. Her performance is still the heart of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and her ability to excavate new layers to Pip is a main reason why Season 2 is wildly stronger than the first.

‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 2 Is Filled With Notable Performances

Surrounding Myers’ Pip in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 is a cast that handles their roles well and fleshes out the town of Little Kilton. It is a shame that Cara doesn’t get a bigger role this season, especially after Banks has a notable and heartbreaking scene in the beginning, but Morgan-Collie’s Connor fills the best-friend role with enough goofy charm to complement Pip’s motivations. However, what’s a little surprising and disappointing is how stiff Pip and Ravi’s romance is, especially since Season 2 introduces a couple of major developments in their relationship. Compared to the wholesome and light chemistry of the previous season, the air between them is almost dead now that they’ve officially become a couple.

Ashton delivers Season 2’s most compelling performance, as he dives into the pits of Max’s psyche and pulls something spine-tingling out. Ashton strikes the right balance between portraying Max as a monster and humanizing him, even rendering the sight of the character tearing up into something eerie, instead of an effort to detract from his crimes. Every single one of his scenes is chilling, especially when the show affords viewers a glimpse into his family life, where the layers of Max’s psychology are unraveled in a twisted way while still positioning him as an antagonist.

‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ Season 2 Covers Heavy Topics With Sensitivity and Impact

Image via Netflix

Season 2’s investigation unfolds far more smoothly and cohesively than its predecessor, with storylines that tie together into an explosive ending. It is almost reminiscent of 13 Reasons Why, but A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder does a better job of not using crimes to fuel teenage melodrama and actually handles heavier topics with the sensitivity they deserve. There are a handful of scenes that are terrifyingly devastating, lending emotional weight to the overarching mystery while heightening the suspense. With enough moving parts to keep you guessing and a firm storytelling direction, Season 2 is even more immersive than the first.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 ends on a strong note that sets up anticipation for the final book of the trilogy to be adapted. It’s also far more intentional, nuanced, and precise than the first, leaning into the story’s darker elements until viewers are drowning in it like Pip is. Where the previous season wavered, Season 2 has forged its identity and hit a stride that elicits more excitement for the future of Pip’s story, especially with the promise of Myers carrying her character’s emotional growth and conflicts to the end.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

July 10, 2024

Network

BBC Three

Advertisement

Writers

Zia Ahmed, Poppy Cogan, Ruby Thomas, Ajoke Ibironke

Advertisement

• 

  Adam Astill

  Advertisement

  Toby Hastings

• 

  Annabel Mullion

  Rosie Hastings

  Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pros & Cons

• Emma Myers leads the series with a stellar performance that dives into her character’s emotional conflict.
• Henry Ashton makes a chilling antagonist and fleshes out his character this season.
• Season 2’s mystery and storytelling has a stronger direction and level of suspense.

• Some supporting characters are let down this season.