White, pink, yellow — the same colors come around every summer, but this year is different. Amanda Seyfried jumped on the chocolate brown trend that’s taking over 2026, and it transitions seamlessly through seasons. Her year-round bag style screams ‘expensive,’ and we found the luxe look on sale for just $20.

At a recent Tory Burch Foundation event, the actress arrived in a head-to-toe brown outfit that gave off ritzy espresso martini vibes. The crowning piece was a chocolate-colored quilted bag that looked designer from across the room. Like Seyfried’s, this brown shoulder bag reads more polished than a pastel version ever could.

Get the Tutuebobe Quilted Shoulder and Crossbody Bag for $20 (was $26) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

What makes her getup so sleek isn’t just the color, it’s also the texture. The quilted detailing adds dimension to an otherwise sleek silhouette, thanks to its elevated pillowy surface. This puffy lookalike goes the extra mile with two strap options: a chain-wrapped shoulder strap for glam and a removable crossbody strap for errands.

Related: Kate Middleton Retired Basic Flats for a Chic Slingback Ballet Shoe

Advertisement

Kate Middleton is rarely spotted in anything other than heels, but she swapped pumps for something even classier than regular ballet flats. Middleton’s two-toned slingback flats give timeless a trendy edge, so it’s no wonder the style is taking over the internet. The Princess of Wales visited Italy wearing a simple yet elegant ensemble that […]

Better yet, the interior is roomy enough for all of your essentials. One reviewer said it fits their on-the-go items, like a phone, wallet, keys and more, making it ideal for everything from work days to date nights.

They’re also big fans of the style. “The design is classy and trendy at the same time — the quilting looks high-end, the stitching is even and the shape holds itself beautifully,” the reviewer wrote. “It has that designer-inspired vibe without the designer price tag.”

Pair the purse with cream trousers and a tank for the dinner reservation you’ve been meaning to make, or sling it over a satin sundress. You can also go full Seyfried and mix caramel, cocoa and espresso shades. Rich brown accessories dress up the basics you already own, so don’t be surprised if that white tee in your drawer suddenly becomes chic.

And although brown is the obvious move to channel Seyfried’s look, this classy silhouette comes in three other colors. At only $20, we’re grabbing two!

Get the Tutuebobe Quilted Shoulder and Crossbody Bag for $20 (was $26) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more chic bags here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Los Angeles in the seventies was a different kind of wild, and no band understood its highs and lows better than The Eagles. Although founding members Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner were technically not Los Angeles natives, they quickly became familiar with the city’s shadier realities, no matter how normalized they seemed at the time. People say dreams come true in Tinseltown, but making those dreams a reality usually demands compromising parts of yourself along the way.

While many accepted this lifestyle as normal, The Eagles recognized it as something far more disturbing: the seedy underbelly hidden beneath California glamour. They immortalized those contradictions in their most important album to date, Hotel California. Although the title track remains the song most listeners still revisit today, one of the album’s more overlooked tracks exposes an even darker perspective on human progress and its consequences.

“The Last Resort” Mourns the Damage Caused by Gentrification

Despite not being intentionally written as a protest song, “The Last Resort” is the most political track on the album, serving as a commentary on environmental gentrification in the States. “The Last Resort” begins by retelling the age-old American story of migration, tracing it back to the English settlers who arrived in Providence, Rhode Island. Like the generations before her who “came across the sea,” the song’s central figure is drawn by stories of opportunity waiting beyond the Great Divide. However, she is far from alone in chasing this dream.

Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?

As more people flock to this supposed “paradise,” the paradise itself begins to deteriorate. The song places the blame on greed and exploitation, accusing how “some rich men came and raped the land.” Yet the cycle does not end there. Once people believe they have exhausted one place, they simply move on to the next place (“sail to Lahaina”), repeating the same destructive behavior in someone else’s homeland. Through this pattern, “The Last Resort” portrays American expansion not as progress, but as a vicious cycle of taking away something that isn’t ours in the first place.

“The Last Resort” Warns Against Humanity’s Need to Conquer

Released as the closing track on Hotel California, no song could end the album more fittingly than “The Last Resort.” While “Hotel California” explores the seductive allure of the state and the disillusionment of the state, and “Life in the Fast Lane” warns against addiction and reckless excess, “The Last Resort” speaks to something far more universal, reflecting humanity’s tendency to destroy good things simply through its presence. Not every untouched place needs to be conquered, developed, or transformed for human consumption. Not all urban progress is necessary, especially when it’s at the cost of destroying nature (“Somebody laid the mountains low / While the town got high.”).

While the first half of “The Last Resort” sings about gentrification from a capitalist and consumerist perspective, the second half gets a lot more provocative. The Eagles suggest that humanity’s urge to expand — specifically “the white man’s reign” — did not emerge out of nowhere. Instead, it is history repeating itself: “Just like the missionaries did / So many years ago.” The song points out that this expansion is often justified through the idea of Manifest Destiny, framed as something sanctioned by both fate and religion: “In the name of destiny / And in the name of God.” However, it is worth noting that “The Last Resort” is not a sole attack on religion itself. Rather, the song shows how people use something as personal and sacred as faith to justify humanity’s insatiable desire to conquer, expand, and claim ownership of people’s lands.

“Hotel California” Spent Eight Consecutive Weeks on the Billboard 200 Chart

Numbers-wise, many listeners deeply resonated with the Hotel California — so much so that the album was certified 26-times platinum by the RIAA for selling more than 26 million copies in the United States. The album took over Stevie Wonder’s No. 1 position on the charts, surpassing his most successful album, Songs in the Key of Life, and spent a week there before being bumped off by Paul McCartney and Wings’ live album Wings over America.

Despite being a concept album, Hotel California also serves as a realistic warning to those susceptible to the trappings of decadence. As much as people love the light, humans can’t help but be attracted to darkness. The slightest dip into it could instantly pull you into a downward spiral that you can leave from, but never really escape. After all, not all that glitters is gold — sometimes it’s grievance and guilt.

Suki Waterhouse has opened up about the deep emotional challenges she faced behind the scenes after stepping into parenthood. 

The multitalented artist admitted that the major lifestyle shift brought intense personal difficulties that directly impacted her domestic life and relationship with Robert Pattinson.

Despite going through a period of internal upheaval, the singer successfully translated her complex family experiences into a new musical project that has resonates with fans all over. 

While opening up about Waterhouse’s new studio album, “Loveland,” the singer dished on her postpartum period and the evolution of her romantic partnership. 

In an interview with Variety, the artist confessed that entering motherhood felt as though her very identity had been completely “cut open,” especially since she placed an immense amount of pressure and high expectations on herself throughout the process.

“Internally, there’s been quite a bit of turmoil, and just wondering if I’m doing the right thing,” she said. 

The transition caused the performer to constantly second-guess her choices while managing the incredibly intense hormonal shifts that immediately follow childbirth.

However, the creative process ultimately allowed her to regain absolute belief in herself while navigating a completely transformed domestic dynamic. While she clarified that she was absolutely never out of love with her fiancé, she explained that welcoming a child essentially wipes out an old relationship. 

“Your old relationship has been wiped out, and so it’s building that new one and kind of celebrating the beauty in that, like, we’ve survived this,” she added. 

What Suki Waterhouse Said About Raising Her Child In The Public Eye

The intense emotional process of surviving these postpartum changes has been further complicated by the unique challenges of raising a child under constant media scrutiny. In the candid discussion, the performer further revealed that shielding her family from the spotlight has not been an easy task. 

Notably, the couple has made a conscious decision to completely hide their daughter’s name and facial features from the public, even as photographers continuously hound them to capture a photo.

The singer firmly believes it is entirely possible to maintain a balance and keep a personal life private while pursuing a career. She emphasized that protecting her child’s identity is a serious safety concern, noting that she never wants strangers to recognize her daughter on the street.

Additionally, she wants her daughter to grow up entirely free from the intense pressure of the entertainment industry.

The Couple Confirmed Their First Child’s Arrival During A Serene Los Angeles Stroll 

So far, the musician has successfully tried to protect her daughter’s personality from the public eye.

However, she was no match for the eagle-eyed paparazzi that photographed her family enjoying a serene family stroll through the streets of Los Angeles immediately after the birth of her first child in 2024. 

According to The Blast, the “Twilight” actor was seen tenderly pushing a light pink stroller while the stylish singer walked right by his side, accompanied by her mother, Elizabeth.

The tranquil outing served as the official confirmation of their new family status, arriving shortly after the couple had been seen together in late February when the actress was still heavily pregnant.

The Couple Also Took A Major Milestone Step Together

Before capturing the world’s attention with their stroll in Los Angeles, the famous couple solidified their commitment behind the scenes. In late 2023, the duo officially took their connection to the next level by getting engaged, proving their real-life love story is incredibly strong. 

According to The Blast, a source confirmed the news, revealing that both individuals were eager to tie the knot because marriage holds immense value for them in their relationship.

Insiders noted that the actor was absolutely thrilled about entering fatherhood and could not wait to become a dad, feeling incredibly lucky to share such a deep bond with his partner. 

Inside The Wardrobe Choice That Sent The Musician To the Hospital

While securing their private family life behind the scenes remains a top priority, the performer has still found ways to connect deeply with her audience by sharing the more chaotic realities of her career. 

The Blast reported that in July 2025, she revealed that she had been hospitalized due to a severe wardrobe mishap during a concert. 

She first shared a picture capturing her performing on stage in tight green leather trousers. The second photo was a hospital bed selfie showcasing her with tangled, wired earbuds and a vape resting on her chest. 

In her caption, she jokingly asked her followers if they had ever considered that she wore pants so tight half a year ago that it literally triggered a painful hernia.

It took a village and a bunch of sleepless nights to bring “Sex and the City” to life, according to Sarah Jessica Parker!

The actress looked back on the style experiments and risks on set that birthed the iconic run of her character Carrie Bradshaw on the show, gaining her a cult following and critical acclaim.

Sarah Jessica Parker first played her character, a columnist and fashion enthusiast, in “Sex and the City” in 1998, airing for six seasons through 2004. She reprised the character in two movie continuations, which launched on television in 2008 and 2010.

During an interview with PEOPLE at a Primark event in New York, Parker revealed that she willingly tried on some of the most unconventional pieces imaginable during late-night costume fittings with costume designer Molly Rogers. She noted that these fittings often occurred in the early hours of the morning after tedious hours on set.

In her words, “It would be 2 or 3 or 4 a.m., and we had just finished shooting, and I was in a fitting, and they would have some of the most insane stuff.” The actress added that there was pictorial evidence buttressing her point about going the mile and trying out these outfits.

Parker described the experience as a mix of chaos and incredible fun because life looked very different for the cast at that time, and Rogers’ dedication to sourcing unique pieces further elevated things for her. The actress raved about the stylist’s vast connections, which offered her access to coveted wardrobes and collections for the cast.

Inside The Glamorous ‘Sex And The City’ Reunion That Had Fans Talking About Samantha Jones

In 2023, The Blast stated that SJP and her co-stars from “Sex and the City” turned back the clock to show up for a reunion in New York, in celebration of the show’s enduring legacy, which defined a whole generation. 

The much-anticipated gathering was attended by Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Nicole Ari Parker, as well as Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell. The event was a fitting tribute to the popular franchise, featuring interactive exhibits and some of the most iconic moments of the franchise. 

In a showbiz grandstand pose, the “Sex and the City” star perched on the steps of a recreation of Carrie’s iconic apartment at 66 Perry Street.

However, Kim Cattrall’s absence at the event sparked concerns as fans really fell in love with her Samantha Jones character and began speculating about her future involvement in the franchise.

In 2017, Cattrall made comments criticizing the franchise and some aspects of her relationship with her co-stars. Allegations at the time also linked the cancellation of a proposed third “Sex and the City” film to disagreements involving the actress.

Sarah Jessica Parker Opened Up About the One Thing That Made Filming Uncomfortable

The actress appeared fearless and audacious on the television screen, but right there on set, something that may seem so small really made her nervous during filming. Parker revealed that having her husband, Matthew Broderick, on set left an uncomfortable itch in her ear.

The actress confessed that with Broderick on set, shooting intimate scenes became hellish, and she would internally murmur with hopes that her husband was not looking at her to take down those scenes. 

Interestingly, Parker’s husband never made an appearance on the hit HBO show despite repeated approaches by the creators to get him on board. Broderick himself revealed that he declined opportunities to take roles in the production.

The actress and his beau tied the knot in a Manhattan wedding in 1997 after meeting through a theater company. 

The Television Star Detailed How Fame Opened Her Up To Extreme Vitriol

Appearing on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast last year, The Blast shared that Parker admitted that the comments she read about her appearance on the show between 1998 and 2004 were very hard to endure.

The actress noted that the most difficult part about dealing with the comments was the fact that features she had no plans to alter were also attacked.

“I didn’t feel like I could sit in a room and someone would say to me, ‘You’re really unattractive. And then I could say, ‘Why do you feel it’s necessary to comment?’” the actress continued.

Although the actress did not let the negativity affect her, she admitted that one particular piece of content in a magazine pushed her over the edge, and it became hard to ignore.

She recalled breaking down in a pool of tears surrounded by her close friends, and that outburst was a result of years of buried hurt over the criticism directed at her looks. Eventually, the actress moved on from it and chose to define life on her own terms.

Sarah Jessica Parker Accused Of Harsh On-Set Treatment

In January, sources shared that Parker was in a state of panic about former crew members finally speaking out about her alleged behavior behind the scenes.

According to sources cited by Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop, the “Sex and the City” star expressed worries that her former colleagues may spill several stories about her treatment of staff on set. 

Several insiders claimed crew members had stomached the truth for years to avoid jeopardizing their careers. Sources equally accused Parker of constantly losing his temper over minor issues, including wardrobe mishaps and styling concerns. 

One insider claimed crew members were sometimes left in tears after run-ins with the actress. Another source alleged that while Parker is polite in public, her behavior on set could be far different, and now she fears becoming the next major celebrity accused of mistreating staff.

However, these damning allegations remain unverified, and Parker has not publicly responded to the claims.

Safe to say “Sex and the City” is forever etched in Sarah Jessica Parker’s memory!

Some movies should employ a bit of subtlety in order to work properly. On the other hand, some films should stay as far away from subtlety as humanly possible, and this franchise is the exact kind of series that needs the deft hand of a sledgehammer. If you like watching action stars blow stuff up, exchange quips, and shoot big-ass guns, this is the one for you. Just one problem: The clock is ticking.

Netflix is losing all four Expendables movies on June 20, meaning subscribers don’t have much longer to stream the billion-dollar action saga. The series began in 2010 with Sylvester Stallone putting together a cavalcade of past and present action stars as a team of elite mercenaries taking on dangerous missions around the world. Over the next three sequels, the cast kept growing, pulling in more legends, more villains, and increasingly nonsensical assignments. And that’s exactly why we love it.

The Expendables movies star Stallone (First Blood) as Barney Ross, the leader of the mercenary team; Jason Statham (The Beekeeper) as Lee Christmas, Barney’s knife-wielding right-hand man; Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV) as Gunner Jensen, the team’s unstable heavy hitter; Randy Couture (Setup) as Toll Road, the crew’s demolitions expert; Terry Crews (White Chicks) as Hale Caesar, the team’s weapons specialist; Jet Li (Hero) as Yin Yang, one of the original team members; Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) as Trench, Barney’s rival and ally; Bruce Willis (Die Hard) as Mr. Church, a CIA figure; Jean-Claude Van Damme (Timecop) as Jean Vilain, a ruthless enemy.

Were the ‘Expendables’ Movies Successful?

The series started out like a house on fire, with the first one grossing $268 million worldwide against an $82 million budget, while The Expendables 2 did even better with about $312 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Then things started slipping with the third outing, which grossed $209 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Not a nightmare by any means, but there’s a clear drop in interest, especially domestically, where it only took in about $39 million. Then Expend4bles pretty much died on arrival. This was a full-blown box office bomb, as it cost around $100 million and grossed only about $51 million worldwide.

The Expendables, The Expendables 2, The Expendables 3, and Expend4bles leave Netflix on June 20.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

August 13, 2010

Runtime

103 minutes

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

While it may feel like your options for a lightweight spring jacket are endless, none is as tried-and-true as a simple trench coat. Even statement lovers like Blake Lively are fans of the classic piece. In fact, the actress just wore the timeless layer for her latest night out — and it’s a style that you can add to your closet for just $35.

While attending Fendi’s Baguette handbag relaunch party in New York City, Lively dressed down in a black tank top and high-waisted jeans. Her casual look was instantly dressed up, however, with a versatile beige trench coat that she nonchalantly draped over her shoulders. The collared outerwear featured a double-breasted silhouette with glossy black buttons and adjustable buckled cuffs, a look also seen in a similar budget-friendly style from Walmart.

Get the Canis Long-Sleeve Trench Coat for $35 at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The crisp, clean silhouette of the sharp jacket style is known for its versatility and ease. Light, thin textures and subtle accents allow the piece to be worn with virtually any outfit, no matter how formal or casual. Plus, a smooth finish makes the piece windproof — a practical detail that will keep you protected on gusty spring and summer days.

Related: Taylor Swift Wore the ‘It’ Girl Leather Trench Coat Style of Our Dreams

Advertisement

You can always count on leather jackets to bring a cool factor to any look — just ask Taylor Swift. The star’s latest date-night outfit included a sophisticated take on the rugged outer layer, which we duplicated with a budget-friendly style for less than $32. During an evening in London with fiancé Travis Kelce, Swift […]

Trench coats’ layering potential also makes the classic outerwear style perfect for color-blocking or framing your outfits. Lively used her piece as a lighter contrast to darker staples, which she spices up with black patent leather pumps, colorful rings, sparkling earrings, a gleaming gold watch and a diamond collar necklace. Of course, the Gossip Girl star also carried a black version of Fendi’s iconic Baguette shoulder bag, which was covered in small, rounded mirrors for a high-shine finish.

As Lively proved, there’s no outfit too casual to pair with a streamlined trench coat. Like the actress, you can easily wear the piece with basics or a denim silhouette. Still, the style looks especially chic when paired with a knee-length or mini dress, and while pumps will certainly match the sophisticated feel, classic penny loafers or low-heeled boots provide an elegant complement. Low-top sneakers are also perfect for adding a cool, carefree finish to more casual trench ensembles.

Aside from its fashionable elements, a crisp trench coat is a practical piece you’ll reach for constantly. As seen on Lively, the style’s sharp details and classic silhouette make it an elevated addition to any look. Truly, there’s no limit to the layering abilities a trench coat can bring to your wardrobe this season.

Get the Canis Long-Sleeve Trench Coat for $35 at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Related: Blake Lively’s Outer Layer Is Perfect for Casual Nights

Even stars need a casual outing now and then, including Blake Lively. While on a rare off-duty outing, the actress layered a casual outfit with a soft jacket style we instantly loved — and found a similar take for less than $35. While stopping by the newly opened Go Greek Yogurt in New York City, […]

Advertisement

Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and Kaybrie Patterson have tied the knot.

In a joint point shared via Instagram on Thursday, May 28, the couple announced they have officially married just two months after debuting their romance on social media in March.

The couple announced they were engaged on May 2, while their wedding took place just days later on May 5.

Patterson, 19, explained in Thursday’s post that she and Bates, 22, were compelled to bring forward their wedding, which was originally slated for September, so that her late father could attend the nuptials before he died of Stage IV colon cancer.

Related: Bringing Up Bates’ Warden Engaged Nearly 2 Months After Debuting Courtship

Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and his girlfriend, Kaybrie Patterson, are engaged after a whirlwind courtship. “The easiest yes 🤍💍,” the couple captioned joint proposal photos via Instagram on Saturday, May 2. Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love […]

“I am learning that even in the midst of sorrow, there can be joy. I don’t think I ever truly understood that until recently,” she wrote.

Patterson shared that her dad had been diagnosed with the disease three years ago and fought to survive until treatment “was no longer an option.”

“And yet, right in the middle of all that heartbreak, one of the happiest moments of my life happened. I got engaged to the love of my life, and we began planning our big wedding celebration for this September,” she wrote.

Patterson continued, “As my dad continued to decline and we were faced with the reality of hospice care, I came face to face with something I had never allowed myself to imagine. I could not picture a life where my dad was not the one to walk me down the aisle. So we decided to gather our immediate families and share a small, private ceremony together while we still could.”

Patterson shared her gratitude that she was able to include her father in her special day before his death, creating a “beautiful” memory that will last a lifetime.

“On May 5th, my dad walked me down the aisle. It was simple, emotional and beautiful in a way I will spend the rest of my life trying to find words for,” she wrote. “The next day he became unresponsive, and three days later he went home to be with the Lord.”

Patterson added that she and Bates plan to still hold a bigger wedding celebration in September, knowing that her dad will be looking down on them.

Bates and Patterson announced their engagement on May 2 by sharing joint proposal photos via Instagram. The post was captioned, “The easiest yes 🤍💍.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love you more than words.”

Warden is one of the 19 children of Bringing Up Bates couple Gil and Kelly Jo Bates.

Following their son’s engagement, the proud parents wrote via Instagram, “We’re beyond thrilled to see the smiles they’ve brought each other, & we’ve already all fallen in love with Kaybrie’s sweet, fun, enthusiastic personality! Couldn’t feel more blessed!”

Erotic cinema gets flattened more cruelly than almost any other kind of film. If it is explicit, people reduce it to heat. If it is elegant, people call it stylish and move on. If it is dangerous, they remember the scandal more than the craft. And if it is genuinely great, if it uses desire to expose grief, class shame, self-invention, power, loneliness, rot, fantasy, or the humiliating distance between what people want and what they can safely admit they want, it still somehow ends up being treated like a side corridor of film history instead of one of the genre spaces where filmmakers have often been bravest.

That is why lists like this matter. Not because these films need pity. They do not. They are alive. They are sharp. They are often smarter than the movies that overshadowed them. But they do need rescuing from the lazy idea that erotic films are only about surface. These 10 films are erotic and they’re actually great with substance and plot and everything. Lock in.

10

‘White Palace’ (1990)

Image via Universal Pictures

What I love about White Palace is that it understands sex as class collision before it understands it as romance. That is the thing people miss when they treat it like some vaguely “unlikely couple” drama. Max Baron (James Spader) is grief-stricken, polished, educated, younger, and moving through a world of upper-middle-class taste and coded restraint. Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon) is older, rougher, louder, more direct, more alive in a way that threatens every defensive layer he has built around his bereavement and his social identity.

When they come together, the film is asking whether he can survive being stripped of the superiority and control his whole emotional life is leaning on. And Sarandon is extraordinary because she never lets Nora become a fantasy of earthy authenticity for some younger man’s awakening. She is sexual, yes, but also embarrassed, proud, wounded, funny, defensive, and fully alert to how the world judges her body, her age, her background, her appetite. That makes the film much more painful than its premise sounds. Every tender moment is brushing up against humiliation or social violence or the possibility that attraction is not enough to bridge the lives around it. White Palace matters because it knows desire does not level class and shame. It exposes them.

9

‘Dream Lover’ (1993)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

This is one of those erotic thrillers that feels like it should be mentioned much more often than it is, because Dream Lover understands the core pleasure of the form better than a lot of bigger titles do. It is not only about sex, and it is not only about deception. It is about how erotic obsession makes people willingly unreadable to themselves. Ray Reardon (James Spader) falls for Lena Mathers (Mädchen Amick) with the exact kind of hungry certainty that thrillers like this need. He wants her quickly, confidently, and with just enough self-satisfaction to make the audience nervous on his behalf. That nervousness is where the movie lives.

And then Amick starts doing the real work. The film keeps letting Lena stay slightly ahead of definition, in a way that makes desire itself feel complicit. Ray keeps treating intimacy as knowledge, as if sleeping with someone, marrying them, possessing access to them, must eventually stabilize who they are. Dream Lover knows that is fantasy. It keeps turning marriage into a hall of mirrors where sex, money, suspicion, and self-invention get knotted together until trust itself starts looking like an erotic mistake.

8

‘Sirens’ (1994)

Image via Roadshow Film Distributors

There is a softness to Sirens that makes people underestimate how sly it really is. On the surface it is all sun, skin, art, teasing, pre-Raphaelite beauty, and social comedy. A young clergyman and his wife visit an eccentric painter in Australia and step into this sensual, half-mocking, half-seducing world built around the body and image and temptation. That sounds light, and in some ways it is. But the film’s intelligence is in how it turns erotic energy into a test of temperament rather than a cheap moral provocation. Everyone is exposed differently by the atmosphere of the place.

Estella Campion (Tara Fitzgerald)’s awakening feels like the film recognizes that repression and innocence are not the same thing, and that beauty can destabilize people not because beauty is evil but because it reveals how frightened they are of desire once it stops being abstract. The painter’s household has this languid, unserious surface, though the movie is quietly doing something deeper underneath, asking what forms of purity are actually just fear in ceremonial clothing. Sirens seduces and laughs at the same time. That is a hard balance, and it makes the film linger.

7

‘The Duke of Burgundy’ (2014)

Image via Artificial Eye

This is one of the most exquisitely made erotic films of the last few decades because it understands that ritual can be both erotic structure and emotional prison. The setup sounds simple enough, a relationship between two women involving elaborate dominance-and-submission routines, but the film is so much more than a “BDSM drama.” It is about repetition. It is about maintenance. It is about how desire can remain real while the performance of desire starts exhausting the person trying to keep another person’s fantasy alive. That is such a sad, adult thing for an erotic film to understand.

And because the movie is so beautifully tactile, the fabrics, the rooms, the sounds, the little ceremonial humiliations and corrections, the ache gets stronger, not softer. Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Evelyn (Chiara D’Anna) negotiating love through power, and those negotiations are full of disappointment, tenderness, resentment, caretaking, longing, and the unbearable knowledge that what turns one person on may be what quietly tires another person out. The Duke of Burgundy is erotic in the deepest sense because it treats desire as a pattern with emotional consequences. That addition gives it depth.

6

‘Swimming Pool’ (2003)

Image via Focus Features

This is one of those films where the erotic charge is inseparable from authorship and envy, which is exactly why it is so rich. Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) arrives in France blocked, controlled, chilly, and faintly contemptuous, a writer whose relationship to sex seems more observational than lived. Then Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) blows into the house like a deliberate disruption, all appetite, noise, danger, body confidence, and narrative instability.

The obvious reading is older woman versus younger woman, repression versus freedom, watcher versus exhibitionist. The film keeps giving you that material and then making it slipperier every minute. What I adore is how mercilessly Swimming Pool links erotic fascination to creative theft. Sarah is magnetized by Julie. She watches, judges, absorbs, rearranges. The sexual atmosphere becomes inseparable from the artistic one. Is Julie a real person? A projection? A fantasy of everything Sarah cannot admit she wants, fears, or envies? The movie never locks the door neatly, and that ambiguity is the whole seduction.

5

‘In the Cut’ (2003)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing 

I will defend In the Cut forever because it is one epic New York erotic thriller and was punished, in part, for how completely it refused to flatter anybody. Jane Campion made the city feel bruised, sweaty, literate, dangerous, and uncomfortably intimate. Frannie Avery (Meg Ryan) is not written as a glossy thriller heroine drifting through a sexy mystery. She is solitary, observant, turned on by danger in ways she does not fully respect in herself, and moving through a story where language, violence, and eroticism keep sticking together in ways that feel dirty rather than sleek. That dirtiness is the point.

What makes the film so good is how little distance it puts between desire and vulnerability. Frannie’s attraction to Giovanni Malloy (Mark Ruffalo) is not romanticized as “bad-boy chemistry” in the cheap sense. It feels like compulsion mixed with curiosity mixed with self-endangerment. Ruffalo gives him exactly the right kind of rough, unreadable pull, and the movie keeps asking whether Frannie is moving toward him because she sees something true in him or because truth itself has become erotically fused with threat. The murder plot matters, yes, but less than the atmosphere of female subjectivity under siege by its own appetite. In the Cut is messy, feverish, and emotionally exposing. That is why it is great.

4

‘Damage’ (1992)

Image via Entertainment Film Distributors

This film is so punishing and so elegant that watching it can feel like being trapped inside a confession somebody should never have made out loud. Louis Malle strips the affair down to something almost ceremonial in its inevitability. Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons) and Anna Barton (Juliette Binoche) are not simply in love and not simply behaving recklessly. The movie treats their desire like a force that humiliates ordinary language. Politics, family, adulthood, social roles, parental obligation, all of it starts looking flimsy the moment they enter a room together.

That kind of fatal eroticism is very hard to pull off without becoming ridiculous. Damage pulls it off because it never blinks from the destruction. Anna is not a simple temptress figure and not a solved psychological profile. She carries silence like a weapon, and the film is wise enough to let that silence keep its danger. Irons, meanwhile, understands Stephen’s collapse not as romantic liberation but as something much more degrading. He becomes smaller under the appetite, less articulate, less dignified, more frighteningly willing to destroy everything that once told him who he was. That is what makes Damage so powerful. It does not treat passion as noble.

3

‘The Last Seduction’ (1994)

Image via October Films

This is one of the sharpest erotic thrillers ever made. This film, for once, shows that sex and intellect can be fused into the same predatory style without softening either one. Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino) is the center of everything, of course, and she is so good that she almost broke the category around her. She does not play femme fatale as some old-school decorative danger but like an appetite armed with contempt. Bridget is always reading people, always measuring weakness, always two moves ahead, and the movie’s whole pleasure lies in how ruthlessly it lets her stay that way.

What makes the film more than just a deliciously evil ride is the precision of its social understanding. Men keep misreading Bridget because they want to, because desire flatters them into believing they are the one player in the room who cannot possibly be handled. That makes their downfall feel less like plot mechanics and more like character truth. The eroticism in The Last Seduction is inseparable from power’s theater. That is hard, bright, vicious filmmaking.

2

‘Bound’ (1996)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

I love Bound because it is one of the sexiest films ever made about competence. Not just bodies, though it has plenty of charge there. Competence. The Wachowskis probably understood that erotic thrillers become transcendent when desire and plotting start feeding each other, and Bound does that with an almost impossible amount of confidence. Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet (Jennifer Tilly) are hot together, obviously, but what makes the movie truly intoxicating is the way attraction sharpens into strategy. Every glance becomes a transfer of information. Every seduction becomes a practical maneuver. Every intimate moment deepens the con. That is movie pleasure at a very high level.

And the film is so beautifully engineered. The apartment geography matters. The money matters. The mob pressure matters. Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) is all sweat and unraveling masculine panic, which gives the film this deliciously claustrophobic counterpoint to the cool, lucid charge between Corky and Violet. One is grounded, tensile, built for action-space. The other is breathy, performative, slippery, and much smarter than the performance first suggests. Bound is one of the purest examples of how sex, suspense, and formal precision can make each other smarter.

1

‘Exotica’ (1994)

Image via Alliance Communications Corporation

Atom Egoyan’s Exotica is not great for an erotic film. It is just great. Full stop. The club itself is one of the most beautiful and sorrowful locations in modern cinema, all ritualized desire, repeated music, controlled fantasy, and private damage humming under every performance. People go there to look, yes, but also to mourn, to displace, to rehearse, to punish themselves, to sit inside longing without naming what the longing is really for. That is such a devastating thing for a movie to understand.

And the film’s whole structure deepens that insight. Christina (Mia Kirshner) is not just an object of desire. Francis (Bruce Greenwood) is not just a lonely man with an obsession. Eric (Elias Koteas) is not just a jealous DJ. Thomas (Don McKellar) is not just a pet-shop owner with his own clandestine life. Everybody in Exotica is trying to manage pain through ritual, and the erotic atmosphere makes that pain visible rather than hiding it. The film keeps rearranging who knows what, who wants what, and why desire in this world is so knotted up with memory and guilt. It makes erotic performance feel unbearably sad without draining it of its charge. That is true magic. That is why it belongs at number one.

Advertisement

Exotica

Advertisement

Release Date

March 24, 1995

Director

Advertisement

Atom Egoyan

Writers

Atom Egoyan

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The anime community as a whole cannot decide on the best anime, which is only natural since everyone has different tastes and preferences. However, one of the most popular anime series ever is One Piece, which still hasn’t hit its peak at over a thousand episodes. The anime still has a bunch of time left with plenty of storytelling potential, but its expansive world, engaging characters, intriguing themes, creativity, and entertainment value have established it as an anime juggernaut.

One Piece may be a lot of fans’ favorite anime, but it isn’t the best, and while others think there are many better series than it, there may only be 8 anime shows better than One Piece. This list will highlight anime series that most fans can agree are better than the biggest thing on TV based on writing, animation, originality, lack of flaws, popularity, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality.

Image via Bones Inc.

Let’s get the obvious entry out of the way, because many consider Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood the best anime of all time, and therefore, it is most likely better than One Piece. After Ed and Al lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo experiment, they go on a quest to restore these lost parts with the philosopher’s stone. However, when they uncover a government conspiracy, they must now stop it before it consumes the entire world.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is hailed as the best anime ever because of its wide appeal, from the engaging characters, riveting story, mystery, lore, worldbuilding, comedy, drama, romance, and action. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood didn’t need thousands of episodes to create a magnificent world that is ripe with well-written characters and profound themes. Only a series such as this can compete with One Piece, and in this case, excel above it.

7

‘Steins;Gate’ (2011)

Image via Whit Fox

This list tries to feature anime that are similar to One Piece so that they can easily be compared, but certain series are so good that they had to be featured here, including Steins;Gate. When a self-proclaimed mad scientist accidentally creates a machine that can send texts into the past, he and his friends must now correct the timeline before it collapses on itself, while also battling a secret organization.

Steins;Gate and One Piece don’t have much in common, with each having its own strengths. However, the former is tightly written with no plot holes, and that is rare when dealing with time travel. Steins;Gate is a psychological masterpiece and a profound thriller that delves into the philosophical side of time travel. Its narrative structure is phenomenal, and the direction is incredible, creating an all-time great that is better than most shows, proving to be a genre-defining anime series.

6

‘Gintama’ (2006–2021)

Image via Bandai Namco

There are a decent number of long-running shōnen anime on this list, and one of the most underrated is Gintama. Set in an alternate universe in feudal Japan where aliens have taken over the world, Gintoki is a former samurai who now works odd jobs to keep the lights on. Alongside Kagura and Shinpachi, the trio take on whatever job comes their way, whether it involves aliens, terrorists, police, or space pirates.

Gintama takes a very different approach to other anime, focusing mostly on episodic comedy episodes. However, the handful of times it had a serious arc, Gintama wowed with its marvellous storytelling, fantastic fights, and renowned cast of characters. Gintama excels at keeping its characters relevant, with plenty of side adventures and serious plot lines, handling those aspects much better than One Piece.

5

‘Mob Psycho 100’ (2016–2022)

Image via Bones

ONE is an iconic author who has made a couple of the best manga and anime series in the world, including Mob Psycho 100. Shigeo is the world’s strongest psychic, but he only wants an average life and to impress his crush. Unfortunately, because he suppresses his emotions, they come out through an explosion of uncontrollable psychic powers, which makes life difficult for him, his friends, and his enemies.

Mob Psycho 100 is one of the best anime of all time, and it does this by creating a gorgeous character study where each episode is a different descent into the ego and self-improvement. From some of the best characters in anime to top-tier humor, incredible rewatchability, remarkable animation, and riveting fight scenes, Mob Psycho 100 is better than almost every single anime out there, not just One Piece.

4

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Image via Sunrise

Advertisement

As mentioned, not every anime on this list is like One Piece, and Cowboy Bebop is another distinct masterpiece that has cemented itself in history. Spike Spiegel and his crew of bounty hunters make a living by cleaning up the scum of the galaxy, taking jobs every day that lead them into danger. However, when his dark past catches up with him, Spike must face it or risk losing everything.

Cowboy Bebop uses its unique blend of noir, jazz, and lived-in sci-fi to create a philosophical space adventure. Each episode is a masterpiece in this series, creating a distinct aesthetic and narrative architecture that is much better than what One Piece has built. It is hard to compare the two, but Cowboy Bebop has a lasting legacy and made Westerners realize that anime has rich storytelling potential.

3

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011–2014)

Image via Madhouse

Advertisement

One Piece is a legendary series, and therefore, there are a lot of series that will feel similar to it. One of the most similar anime series to One Piece is Hunter x Hunter, which follows Gon, an optimistic child who wants to find his father. To do so, he follows his father’s path, going on an adventure to become a hunter. Little does he know that this journey will put him through hell and back.

Like Eiichiro Oda, Yoshihiro Togashi is a legendary manga author, and these two series go hand in hand as some of the best series ever. Hunter x Hunter is also a master of worldbuilding, and while it may not reach the heights of One Piece, it has plenty of other aspects that rise above it, including pacing, character development, tight storytelling, and memorable moments. Hunter x Hunter has a grand sense of adventure that explores the world and the characters inside of it.

2

‘Monster’ (2004–2005)

Image via Madhouse

Advertisement

Naoki Urasawa is a prolific author with some of the best manga mysteries of all time, and his magnum opus is Monster. Tenma is a surgeon who chooses to save the life of a child instead of the mayor. However, when that same child becomes a serial killer, Tenma takes matters into his own hands. But will he be able to kill Johan when he learns of his dark past?

No anime creates as big a mystery and rising tension as Monster, which uses its slow-burning, suspenseful story to ignite an inferno of a writing masterclass. This philosophical battle between humanism and nihilism creates an unwavering triumph of narrative prowess that no shōnen anime can compare to. Monster is better at most things than most anime, and One Piece is no different.

1

‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ (2012–Present)

Image via Warner Bros. Japan

Advertisement

For some fans, there are a lot of anime better than One Piece, and for others, there are none, but either way, viewers can acknowledge a series such as JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure for its creativity. Each part follows a new character in the Joestar lineage, fighting a variety of villains with varying goals, from becoming a vampire to taking over the world.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s best attribute is its variety, using new protagonists, side casts, and villains to create a new spice every season. Whether it focuses on a globe-trotting adventure with engaging fight scenes or finding a serial killer in a small town, each journey is magnificent. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a tense and wildly imaginative series that mixes storytelling with absolute surrealism, making the new season one of the best anime of 2026.