One of the biggest mistakes horror franchises make is assuming that a good concept automatically needs a bigger sequel. A successful first movie introduces an idea people are compelled by, audiences respond with overwhelming positivity, and the next installment arrives with a larger budget, higher stakes, and more mythology. Sometimes it works, but other times the ambitions for a bigger sequel stretches a simple premise beyond what made it appealing in the first place. Obsession finds itself in a unique position. The independent horror movie revolves around a deceptively simple idea: a mysterious wish-granting service capable of giving people exactly what they think they want. The horror doesn’t come from a masked killer or a supernatural creature stalking its victims, it comes from desire itself. Every wish carries consequences, and every attempt to shortcut happiness creates new problems.

That concept gives Obsession something many horror movies never achieve: a framework that can support countless stories. While speaking with ScreenRant recently, writer-director Curry Barker revealed that he already has ideas for where the universe could go next. He mentioned having a concept for a traditional sequel, but he also shared an idea that’s even more exciting. Barker said he would love to create an eight-episode television series set within the same world, with each episode centered around a different wish. There couldn’t be a better potential future for Obsession.

Curry Barker Understands What Makes ‘Obsession’ Work

What stands out most about Barker’s comments is how clearly he understands the appeal of his own creation. “I have a really cool idea for the sequel, which is basically just another wish gone wrong with the same mechanism as the One Wish Willow,” Barker explained. “But also, and these are just things that — there’s no confirmed anything, ever. But I’d love the idea of a TV show, which is eight episodes. Each episode is a wish.” That distinction matters. The true star of Obsession isn’t a specific character, it’s the wish itself. The One Wish Willow serves as the mechanism that sets events in motion, but the stories are ultimately about the people who interact with it. Every person approaches desire differently. Every person believes they know what will make them happy. Every person carries different flaws, fears, and blind spots into the decision.

That means the premise doesn’t rely on following one protagonist forever. Instead, it can introduce entirely new people while exploring the same central theme from different angles. One episode could focus on someone desperate for fame, while another could center on a person seeking revenge. Someone else might wish for wealth, youth, love, or success. The possibilities feel nearly endless because the source of the horror is universal: everyone wants something.

Not Every Wish Needs a Full-Length Feature

Image via Focus Features

Barker’s television pitch also addresses one of the biggest challenges facing any potential sequel. Not every wish naturally supports a two-hour movie. “Some wishes don’t deserve an hour and 45 minutes,” Barker said. “Some wishes should only be a 60-minute thing.” It’s a practical observation, but it’s also what makes the anthology concept so appealing. Modern franchises often treat every idea as if it needs to become a feature-length event. Television offers more flexibility because some stories can be small, while others can be sprawling. An anthology format allows each wish to receive exactly as much time as it needs without forcing every concept into the same structure.

It also creates opportunities for experimentation. Barker suggested the possibility of bringing in other filmmakers to direct different episodes, allowing multiple creative voices to explore the world he created. That approach could keep the series fresh while expanding the mythology in unexpected directions. Different directors would naturally gravitate toward different styles of horror. One episode might function as a psychological thriller, but another director could choose to lean into body horror, or dark comedy, or science-fiction… and that’s only scratching the surface. The rules of the universe would remain consistent, but the storytelling possibilities would continue to evolve.

The Possibility of a Happy Ending Changes Everything

Image via Focus Features

The most intriguing part of Barker’s pitch arrived when Bear actor Michael Johnston asked a simple question. “Any happy endings?” Barker’s response was telling:

“Who knows? Maybe there’s an episode where it really works out, and you’re waiting for something crazy to, and it just never does.”

That possibility might be the smartest part of the entire concept. Most cursed-wish stories follow a familiar pattern: someone gets what they want, the wish backfires, and the character pays a terrible price. Because of this established pattern, audiences typically see the twist coming long before it arrives. A television anthology could play with those expectations in ways a single movie cannot. If viewers assume every wish is doomed, an episode where things genuinely work out becomes unpredictable. Suddenly, every story carries uncertainty. Audiences can no longer assume they know how events will unfold. The tension shifts from anticipating the punishment to wondering whether punishment is coming at all. That’s an incredibly valuable tool for a horror series.

The best anthology shows thrive on unpredictability. The moment viewers believe they understand the formula, the formula stops being effective. Barker’s willingness to entertain the possibility of a positive outcome suggests he understands that challenge. Whether Obsession returns as a sequel, a television series, or both remains to be seen. What Barker’s comments reveal, however, is that the franchise’s greatest strength isn’t a specific character or storyline, it’s a premise flexible enough to support countless interpretations. An eight-episode anthology built around different wishes could explore that potential better than any traditional sequel ever could.

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Release Date

May 15, 2026

Runtime

108 minutes

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Director

Curry Barker

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Mackenzie Shirilla’s mother, Natalie Shirilla, revealed that her daughter has gained weight and looks healthier as she serves her two concurrent 15 years to life sentence in prison for a fatal car crash that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend Davion Flanagan.

“She’s actually gained a little bit of weight, she looks healthier,” Natalie, 51, told The Daily Mail of Mackenzie, 21, in an interview published on Sunday, June 14.

While Natalie said that Mackenzie is doing “physically better,” she added that “she’s still mentally struggling.”

Mackenzie was arrested after she drove 100 mph into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, in July 2022. Russo, 20, and Flanagan, 19, died in the car crash, while Mackenzie sustained severe injuries.

Related: The Crash’s Mackenzie Shirilla Calls Hometown Residents ‘Sad and Depressing’

Mackenzie Shirilla, the subject of Netflix’s true crime documentary The Crash, described the residents of her hometown, Strongsville, Ohio, as “sad and depressing” in a prison phone call with her mom. TMZ published audio of a call between Mackenzie, 21, and her mother, Natalie Shirilla, on Tuesday, June 2, in which Natalie complained to her […]

She was convicted of 12 felony charges in 2023, including murder, felonious assault and aggravated vehicular homicide. Following a high-profile trial, Mackenzie was sentenced to serve two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life in prison. She is currently in custody at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

Despite being found guilty, Mackenzie has maintained her innocence and insisted she never intended to kill Russo or Flanagan in Netflix’s May documentary The Crash.

Also during the interview, Natalie said she’s not worried about Mackenzie being bullied behind bars because she knows how to stand up for herself.

“I think some people get targeted at times but it’s not something she talks about,” she said. “She’s not afraid to stand up for herself. We talk about how to navigate through those situations.”

Natalie added that she is under the impression that “the women really take care of each other” in the prison.

Mackenzie is also keeping busy by spending her time painting and drawing, according to the mother.

“She listens to music or watches movies,” Natalie said. “They have tablets that have controlled apps. They can’t access the Internet but they can watch movies or listen to music. They also have a gym and can take fitness classes.”

Additionally, Us Weekly previously reported that Mackenzie recently took on a job as a food service worker at the prison.

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Related: Mackenzie Shirilla Reveals Her Post-Prison Plans If She’s Ever Released

Convicted murderer Mackenzie Shirilla is revealing her post-prison plans, should she ever secure her release. “I’ma be a life coach and stuff,” Shirilla, 21, reportedly told her mom, Natalie Shirilla, via phone from the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio, according to audio obtained by TMZ and published on Saturday, May 30. “I’m just […]

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A prison spokesperson confirmed her job to Us on Thursday, June 11, as well as explained that inmates can make up to $24 per month. However, the spokesperson did not confirm exactly what Mackenzie’s income is.

Mackenzie’s new job was revealed after a prison phone call between her and Natalie was released, in which Mackenzie complained she was bored behind bars.

At one point during the conversation, Mackenzie complained about how slowly time moved for her. “Like it’s only 3:30, how is it only 3:30?” she asked, according to the call obtained by TMZ. “For real I did not even know it was 3:30 I thought it was like 5. It’s 3:30.”

American singer Oliver Tree was reported dead following a plane crash in June 2026. He was 32.

Two helicopters crashed into each other in Brazil, resulting in six fatalities. According to CNN Brazil, Tree (full name Oliver Tree Nickell) was among those reportedly on board at the time of the crash.

Us Weekly has reached out to a representative for Tree for comment.

Scroll down to learn more about the accident and Tree’s death and the fatal crash:

When Did Oliver Tree Die?

Tree reportedly died on June 14 while traveling in Brazil amid his world tour. The “Life Goes On” singer had recently performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was scheduled to take the stage on July 1 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The fatal plane crash occurred just before 9 a.m. local time, Rio de Janeiro’s Military Fire Department said, according to NBC News.

How Did Oliver Tree Die?

According to reports, two helicopters collided southwest of Rio de Janeiro. Six people were found dead following the crash, with Tree’s name being on the list of passengers given to aviation authorities. Police, however, revealed they have yet to identify the bodies.

After colliding in the air, one helicopter fell onto a car dealership parking lot, causing a fire involving 15 cars, per authorities. The blaze was later extinguished.

Who Died in the Plane Crash?

Authorities reported that all five travelers, including the pilot in one helicopter were killed. The solo traveler who was piloting the second helicopter also died, per the fire department. The names of the victims, however, have not been released by police.

Argentine streaming channel Blender reported that content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz — also known as Gaspi — was believed to be in one of the helicopters, per the Associated Press.

BBC reported on June 15 that the first helicopter’s manifest also listed passengers Lucas Brito Chaves and Lucas Vignale, and pilot Alexandre Souza. The crew manifest for the second aircraft reportedly listed pilot Charles Marsillac.

What Have Authorities Said About the Crash?

“We express our deep sorrow for the six victims resulting from the accident involving two aircraft in the Southwest Zone of Rio de Janeiro,” the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro said in a post via X. “In this moment of pain, I express my solidarity to the family members and friends of the victims of the tragedy.”

A spokesperson for Rio de Janeiro’s State Civil Police Press Office told USA Today that an investigation is underway in Recreio dos Bandeirantes to determine “the causes of the aircraft crash.”

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The Portuguese statement confirmed that the six bodies “will undergo forensic examination for identification.”

Following a forensic examination conducted at the scene, the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center will release its report.

USA Today reported that preliminary reports indicate that the reports of the helicopters colliding in mid-air and crashing “into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that consumed at least 20 vehicles” is correct.

General Hospital 2-Week Spoilers for June 15-26, 2026 stun with Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) absolutely horrified by something he finds while on the run. And also, Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) has to defend somebody that he does not know is a secret villain.

General Hospital Spoilers: June 15th-19th – Secrets and Schemes Unravel

On Monday, June 15th, we’ve got Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) worried because she hasn’t heard from her aunt. And she asks, “Not Nathan, when is the last time he heard from his mother, Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati)?” Now, I suspect that Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) isn’t going to tell Nina the truth and may instead tell her a plausible lie about Liesl leaving town just to buy some time.

Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) tells Carly Corinthos (Laura Wright) to use him, not Sonny, as he and Carly have a very heartfelt scene. She’s ready to run off to Wyndemere to find Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy), but Valentin does not want her in danger.

Also, after Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) brings Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) into the PCPD on an assault arrest, we’re going to see Chase snarking at DA Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) that maybe she should consider her own bias against Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen). I’m sure Justine’s not happy that Chase arrested Tracy out of uniform, off duty, and on the Quartermaine property.

GH Spoilers: Michael Plays Willow

Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) asks Willow if she’s really the right person to go up against Tracy. I think that Michael is actually playing Willow and doing a little reverse psychology to encourage her to actually keep going after Tracy.

We also have Emma Scorpio-Drake (Brayden Bruner) down at the boat house calling for Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza). Looks like he may be hiding to surprise Emma and Gio shares something exciting with her. We also have Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) chatting about plans they’re making. Maybe they’re working on a party for Molly Lansing (Kristen Vaganos) to celebrate her book launch and upcoming tour because she and Cody Bell (Josh Kelly) are leaving to do that very soon.

Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins Bruening) interviews Laura Spencer (Genie Francis) for an article about Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). And while on the record, Laura says she’s had doubts about Sidwell and really wants to see him face justice. And Laura says she’s also glad that his victim Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) survived. And then after Lulu stops taping and they’re off the record, that’s when Laura tells Lulu she hates Sidwell and is glad people are finally seeing him for the thug that he really is. Also, Lulu makes a confession. So, she may go ahead at that point and tell Laura that Rocco shot Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

General Hospital Spoilers: Valentin Steps Up for Carly

Tuesday, June 16th, Valentin accepts his fate and may tell Carly that he will save Josslyn at all costs, knowing if he goes on to Spoon Island, Valentin may be caught or killed, or both. Tracy and Michael are on the same page on Tuesday. I’m sure it’s about Chase and Willow. We’re going to see Michael aiming Willow and Tracy at each other for his benefit.

Also, Dante has to defend Cassius, and Justine may want him fired for letting Sidwell escape, but Dante has his back, but he may give Cassius a warning in private over this colossal screw-up, which of course wasn’t an accident.

Willow and Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) bargain. She and Cassius are back at Turning Woods, and Willow may tell Jack that Sidwell’s on the run, so she can’t get any more shots, and she needs the evidence against Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) right now. Also, Cullum gets some new intel on Tuesday, maybe about Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) or Rocco or what Sidwell’s up to.

General Hospital Spoilers: Ethan Tricks Someone

Wednesday, June 17th, Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean Parsons) deceives somebody. On Friday, he stole evidence from the PCPD file room while disguised as a cop. So, I’m assuming he took something from Delilah Wilson’s (Lily Cardone) case file. Also, we have Lulu being totally honest with Dante. So, she may have some info on Rocco or maybe something that Laura said off the record that she wants to tell him.

Willow is utterly blindsided on Wednesday, and this may be when Brook lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) launches her attack, and there could be a story in the press about her as the second driver in Jordan Ashford’s (Tanisha Harper) crash, or it could be that the DA questions Willow about it. Also, Carly is cornered and this may be by Cullum who is suspicious of Carly and her WSB agent daughter or maybe it’s Lucas with some questions.

Tracy blasts Brook Lynn on Wednesday and I’m guessing Tracy’s angry that Brook Lynn’s hubby, Chase, had the nerve to arrest her. That’s when Brook Lynn may tell Tracy about her plan to destroy Willow’s reputation and get her out of power.

General Hospital Spoilers June 18th-26th and July Sweeps: Sonny Plots & Rocco Horrified

Thursday, June 18th, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) fills Ric in on his plan. Maybe how to eliminate Cullum and Sidwell in a two birds, one stone move. Plus, Rocco is horrified by a discovery he makes. And judging by the GH weekly promo, I’m guessing it’s when Rocco finds Britt unconscious.

Britt deteriorating because of her Huntington’s, and it may be just really bad. Sidwell sets a trap for somebody on Thursday. So many enemies, so little time. I suspect he’s going after Lucas, but we’ll see.

Dante vents to Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst). This week, Dante goes up to see Elizabeth at General Hospital and may need another favor from her. Could be about Rocco and Britt. Also, somebody gets an offer from Laura.

General Hospital Spoilers: Ethan Blackmailed & Brennan Panicked

On Friday, June 19th, we’ve got Ethan delivering a message to Ava Jerome (Maura West). This could be Ethan trying to shut down Ava’s blackmail. Remember, she told him her silence about him and baby Phoebe wouldn’t come free.

Lulu gets new info from Cassius. So, I wonder if he possibly has a lead on Rocco and Britt from his bad guy bosses. And Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) decides what’s next on Friday. I think this is about her parent problems. Maybe the music showcase, but her parents are the more pressing issue.

Plus, something has Jack alarmed. He still can’t defend himself and Cullum may turn up at Turning Woods to tie off that loose end. And somebody gets encouragement from Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner). Maybe it’s Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson).

General Hospital: July Sweeps and New Casting News

The week of June 22nd through the 26 is big because July Sweeps kicks off on Thursday the 25th. We have Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) coming back in July. So, it’s going to be towards the end of sweeps, but Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) should be popping up very soon, much earlier in July sweeps, which kicks off, as I said, on Thursday of this second week.

Trina’s fed up with her parents and may set some strict guidelines like call me when my new sibling is born, but otherwise leave me alone because it is so very messy between Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) and Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) right now.

We’ll see if Sidwell’s trap works and he catches his target. And of course, Carly’s desperate to get to Josslyn. So, Valentin may make his move to find Josslyn no matter the risk. And Lulu may take action after she gets that new info from Cassius. We should see more of Rocco and Britt and get an update on what’s going on with Josslyn and Liesl with Cassius overseeing their captivity.

General Hospital Spoilers: Brennan in Danger & Lots of New Faces Coming to GH

Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke) and Danny Morgan (Asher Jared Antonyzyn) do some more plotting and Jack Brennan may be in big trouble until he’s out of Turning Woods so that Cullum can’t easily get to him and Nina may protect Jack until he can protect himself. Sonny pushes forward with his plan to rid Port Charles of Sidwell and Cullum permanently. And we’ll see if Ava has to deal with Sidwell. And I wonder if he’s going to show up demanding her help.

We’ve also got some casting news. Troy Appel debuts on GH as this new guy Hudson on July 30th. He is a business executive with mysterious ties who makes a big impact in Port Charles. And of course, Kelly Krueger is debuting in July as recast Serena Baldwin, who is Cody Bell’s half-sister. Scout Cain (Kayden Tokarski) has been aged up. We will see her SORAS recast with Kayden Tokarski in the role. She airs in July. And Dean Geyer debuts on July 13th as Tristan Roberts.

Although it was one year into the new millennium, 2001 technically marked the beginning of the 21st century. Proving how quickly time passes by, the year that signaled the dawn of a new era for humanity, culture, and technology is now 25 years old. While the year has obviously been memorialized by the September 11th attacks, 2001, in retrospect, it turned out to be an inflection point in pop culture, and its aftershocks still linger in cinema today. Fittingly enough, the year that shares the name with Stanley Kubrick‘s sci-fi masterpiece about the evolution of life saw totemic releases like the debut of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, franchises that showed Hollywood a new pathway to the future of moviegoing. From major blockbusters to acclaimed arthouse auteurist visions, narrowing down the 10 best movies of 2001 was a cumbersome task.

10

‘Moulin Rouge!’

Image via 20th Century Studios

Movie musicals were never the same after Moulin Rouge! swung into theaters in the summer of 2001. Baz Luhrmann, the master of visual and auditory glamor, revamped the genre with his rapid-fire editing, hypnotic visual language, electric pacing, and use of anachronistic pop music to round out this jukebox musical.

Starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor as star-crossed lovers whose romance becomes a Shakespearean tragedy, Moulin Rouge! earns its exclamation point in its title. “Loud” doesn’t even come close to describing the vigor and relentless enthusiasm of Luhrmann’s signature movie. Right when you get on the film’s bonkers wavelength and catch up with its intense camera movements and breathless editing, Luhrmann undercuts the sensationalism with a tender, affectionate, yet poignant romance between wistful poet Christian (McGregor) and aspiring actress Satine (Kidman). Just as indelible as the sets are the catchy songs, which sample the best pop music and musical numbers of the 20th century. Although Moulin Rouge!‘s story is predictable, if not maudlin, it hits all the right spots. Luhrmann kicked off the right kind of boisterous party to start the century.

9

‘Ghost World’

Image via MGM

This is no superhero movie. In what comic book or graphic novel could you ever find a story about two disaffected teen girls navigating through a cruel and confusing world? That’s what makes Ghost World, the Daniel Clowes graphic novel and the Terry Zwigoff screen adaptation, so special. After honoring the work of iconoclastic comic book artist Robert Crumb, Zwigoff directed a signature film for everyone who’s ever been misunderstood.

Ghost World, led by Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch, and featuring a stand-out supporting performance by Steve Buscemi, reflects an era where comics were underground and fashionable among arthouse corners before they became billion-dollar enterprises for movie studios. Zwigoff’s pitch-black and countercultural sensibilities that drove Crumb and Bad Santa are at their peak in his 2001 indie that earned a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. Ghost World is effortlessly hilarious, even when it seems like Zwigoff has such scorn for his own quirky characters and their world that’s alien to them. While it’s initially coated in irony, the movie embraces the emotionality of Rebecca (Johansson) and Enid (Birch). Despite their glib attitude, these outsiders just want to feel loved and understood in a thankless world.

8

‘Ocean’s Eleven’

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

In what is perhaps the slickest and effortlessly cool Hollywood movie made in the last 25 years, Ocean’s Eleven is the best piece of evidence that filmmakers should remake unsuccessful movies with a strong premise. The original 1960 heist movie starring members of the Rat Pack was strangely dull and meandering, but if you find a sharp director like Steven Soderbergh and the present-day batch of the most suave stars, the movie ostensibly writes itself. Sure enough, 2001’s Ocean Eleven paid out like a slot machine.

This murderer’s row of seismic movie stars, which includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon, tells you everything you need to know about Ocean’s Eleven. The film carries itself with a swagger and flair that can only manifest with this level of Hollywood pedigree. Not to mention, Soderbergh’s fast-paced and precise direction keeps the flow electric. The director knows when to expedite the plot and let the scene play out methodically so that his charismatic stars can banter. Ocean’s Eleven perfectly calibrated the stardom of Clooney and Pitt, and their respective careers are indebted to Soderbergh’s blueprint. A lively piece of pop entertainment crafted with the excellence of prestige fare, the film is exactly the kind of cinematic bravura that appeals to four quadrants.

7

‘The Piano Teacher’

Image via Kino International

You have to be in the right mood to sit down and let the psychological dread and unsettling vibes of Michael Haneke‘s movies enter your world. The world-renowned Austrian filmmaker of dark, often bleak dramas rattles everyone to the bone, and his films leave an indelible imprint. Before delving into the dread and nihilism portrayed in Funny Games or Caché, a strong gateway film to Haneke’s world is The Piano Teacher, arguably his most striking and formally impressive effort to date.

Starring Isabelle Huppert as Erika Kohut, a repressed music instructor who enters a thorny relationship with her student, Walter Klemmer (Benoît Magimel), The Piano Teacher chronicles the generational domino effect of trauma and domineering partnerships, as Erika’s mother (Annie Girardot) controls every ounce of her being, causing the icy teacher to turn to masochistic proclivities. Huppert gives one of the signature performances of the decade, seamlessly walking the tightrope between absurdist black comedy and gut-wrenching anguish throughout the film. Haneke lets the innate character drama and uncanny quirks of human relations carry the momentum, making The Piano Teacher a surprisingly captivating watch, despite its emotionally burdensome ideas. As perverse as the movie is, you’ll never want to look away.

6

‘Memento’

Image via Newmarket Films

After watching Memento, no one will need tattoos or Polaroids to remember what they just witnessed. Before becoming the face of blockbuster cinema with The Dark Knight and The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan was the most exciting voice in the mystery/neo-noir genre. Thanks to his slick style and inventive manipulation of narrative chronology, Nolan was destined to have a modern noir classic in his repertoire. Even after all these years, Memento, which tracks the director at his darkest and most haunted, remains one of Nolan’s crowning achievements.

Memento taught audiences to never expect a conventional story structure in a Nolan film. With his second feature, the Oppenheimer director crafted a labyrinthian mystery crime thriller about Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), who tracks down his wife’s murderer under harsh circumstances, as he suffers from short-term memory loss. Nolan makes the bold decision to drop the audience into Leonard’s mindset, and it’s up to you to put the pieces together by connecting a linear timeline with a reverse linear timeline. Filled with gripping procedural and action set pieces, a rich character study about manipulation and alternate realities, and even dashes of refreshing levity, Memento makes you wish that Nolan would return to stripped-down, mid-budget crime movies in between his galactical epics. In the century’s inaugural year, the industry found its next great auteur.

5

‘Y tu mamá también’

Image via 20th Century Studios

Audiences have never seen a love triangle movie like Y tu mamá también before or since its release. For cinephiles, this Mexican coming-of-age road-trip dramedy was the thing to seek out, although its shotgun blast of laughs, lurid images, and fiery character dynamics make it accessible to all viewers. More than anything, the film announced the presence of a genuine auteur in Alfonso Cuarón, who would go on to direct major blockbusters like Gravity and even a Harry Potter movie.

Y tu mamá también is an erotically charged, provocative study of age, masculinity, and repressed sexuality that lures you in with its compelling setup and promise for explicit material, but in the end, it confronts your psychology and overall comfort. The chemistry between its stars, Maribel Verdú as Luisa and Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna as Julio and Tenoch, respectively, crackles with fluid romanticism and thick tension. Cuarón’s gifts as a visual storyteller shine in this film that doesn’t necessarily demand flashy filmmaking, but it’s grandeur and documentary-like grit make this archetypal story unforgettable. A poignant reflection of coming-of-age and aimlessness as an adult, Y tu mamá también is a multi-layered odyssey of licentiousness, pent-up rage, and alienation.

4

‘The Royal Tenenbaums’

To this day, Wes Anderson continues to push his idiosyncratic vision to new territories. While he’s gotten more formally ambitious and thematically dark in recent years, Anderson has still yet to recapture the level of heart and rich characterization of The Royal Tenenbaums, his third feature that made it crystal clear that he was no flash in the pan. Paired up with a Hollywood legend, Gene Hackman, and his usual robust ensemble cast, this family dramedy proved that the writer-director has always been a humanist beneath his opulent set design.

What separates The Royal Tenenbaums from the Anderson pack is its titanic, career capstone performance by the late Gene Hackman, a no-nonsense, old-school dramatic heavyweight and the perfect counter to the director’s hyper-detailed, painterly visual language. Hackman upends his familiar steely edge for a riveting performance that sees him playing a quintessential bad dad trying to open the emotional pathways he locked away from his dysfunctional kids. Along with remarkable performances by Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, and Ben Stiller, The Royal Tenenbaums is Anderson’s most subtle effort behind the camera, but his unique eye for New York City interiors remains splendid, and his affinity for serio-comic story and character beats is evidence of his preternatural talents.

3

‘A.I. Artificial Intelligence’

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Unfairly maligned by many and egregiously misunderstood upon release, true fans of Steven Spielberg know that A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a landmark achievement for not just the legendary director but also the entire medium itself. Burdened with the high expectation of being Stanley Kubrick‘s unrealized passion project, Spielberg honored the late director’s cold dissection of humanity with his own pop and adventurous sensibilities to create something magical, haunting, and a sobering cautionary tale about advanced technology.

First things first when discussing A.I. is to address the elephant in the room: its ending, erroneously read as a cop-out, Spielbergian happy ending, is anything but optimistic. The film’s heart-wrenching final moments tie together Spielberg and Kubrick’s themes surrounding the perils of humanizing artificial intelligence. In the end, it’s an inhuman life form that cannot replace love, family, and personal growth. A film that grows in importance each passing day, A.I. underlined the dark side of Spielberg’s glossy and hopeful vision of the world. The state-of-the-art android, David (Haley Joel Osment), can be programmed to love and serve as an adopted child, but this artifice ultimately destroys our entire notion of true love. Featuring arguably the finest child performance in history by Osment, A.I. is an expansive odyssey that depicts the world at its most vulnerable and susceptible to technological takeover.

2

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’

Image via New Line Cinema

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One of the boldest gambles in cinematic history, New Line Cinema granted a relatively unknown filmmaker, Peter Jackson, carte blanche to faithfully adapt J.R.R. Tolkien‘s Lord of the Rings book trilogy with the scope of a classic Hollywood epic. On top of it all, he would be shooting all three movies concurrently. Because The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, as well as its two successors, is so revered, it’s easy to overlook how miraculous the first movie’s triumph was, as it paved the way for the future of blockbuster cinema.

Although The Two Towers and Return of the King raise the stakes and capitalize on the world-building of their predecessor to epic proportions, Fellowship of the Ring remains the series’ apex. Jackson pulls an incredible trick by making the film feel complete and wholly satisfying while also making you excited to continue how this saga manifests on Middle-earth. While lighter on action than its sequels, Fellowship‘s hero arcs, mythmaking, and iconic lines represent the peak of cinematic euphoria. The key to the viability of Lord of the Rings as a franchise was its cast, which Jackson nailed, and minted Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, and Orlando Bloom into stars. Fellowship of the Ring signaled that the tides were turning in Hollywood, and audiences began demanding that all adaptations of beloved texts have this level of craft and integrity.

1

‘Mulholland Drive’

Image via Universal Pictures

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Having been anointed as one of the finest achievements in cinematic history by the 2022 Sight and Sound poll, Mulholland Drive‘s sheer existence is a miracle, let alone standing as a triumphant masterpiece. Initially conceived as a television series by David Lynch, this failed pilot was adapted into a feature film before becoming the late director’s most uncompromising and masterful work of art. With its alluring ambiguity, deconstruction of fame, and haunting portrait of the dreamscape, the film will endure for the rest of time.

By 2001, one would think that the medium couldn’t be evolved any further, but Lynch quietly proved everyone wrong with Mulholland Drive, which channels his earlier work in film and television while pushing the envelope to new, profound heights. While Lynch’s exploration of the subconscious and the disillusionment of an aspiring actor, Betty (Naomi Watts), aimed towards more abstract ideas, the film manages to be shockingly accessible and open to surface-level entertainment. Rich with immersive photography, unsettling atmospheres, thorny questions about fame and identity, and a sprinkling of amusing exchanges, Mulholland Drive showed that surreal cinema doesn’t have to be an anguishing exercise for casual audiences. It’s compulsory viewing for everyone to understand the mythical potential of the art form. Lynch’s ability to speak to the viewers’ hearts and probe their psyche will remain unmatched.

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Release Date

October 19, 2001

Runtime

147 minutes

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Director

David Lynch

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Writers

David Lynch

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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are opening up about one of the most painful chapters of their relationship. In the upcoming documentary “Travis Barker: Love Is Louder Than Fear,” the couple revealed they suffered a heartbreaking pregnancy loss before welcoming their son, Rocky. The deeply personal revelation comes as the documentary offers an intimate look at Travis Barker’s life, career, and relationship with the reality star.

According to the documentary, Kardashian became pregnant with a baby girl roughly six months after the couple transitioned from longtime friends to romantic partners in late 2020.

However, the pregnancy tragically ended around the three-month mark. “When we lost the baby, we were devastated. We cried for days,” Kardashian said in the film. The emotional revelation sheds new light on the challenges the couple quietly faced before eventually becoming parents together.

Barker and Kardashian welcomed their son, Rocky, in November 2023 after years of publicly documenting their fertility journey.

Kardashian And Barker’s IVF Journey

Following the pregnancy loss, Kardashian said the pair turned to IVF in hopes of growing their family. According to the documentary, the couple underwent IVF treatments five separate times across an eight-month period without success. Eventually, Kardashian and Barker made the difficult decision to stop fertility treatments.

Despite the setbacks, the couple later conceived naturally and welcomed Rocky, now 2. The “Kardashians” star had previously spoken publicly about the emotional and physical toll IVF took on her body, admitting the process was far more difficult than she initially anticipated.

Kourtney Kardashian Previously Opened Up About Bonding With Baby Rocky

Long before opening up about their heartbreaking pregnancy loss, Kardashian gave fans a glimpse into her deeply hands-on parenting style with son Rocky. During an appearance on the “Khloé in Wonder Land” podcast last year, Kardashian revealed she still holds Rocky throughout the entirety of his nap times, sometimes for hours at a stretch.

“You are very scheduled and planned out throughout the whole day, like activities, outfits, [and] all the things,” Kardashian told sister Khloé Kardashian while comparing their parenting approaches. “We’re just kind of go with the flow.”

The reality star explained that her attachment-style parenting approach includes physically holding Rocky while he sleeps. “And, also with the attachment style parenting, I hold him for his naps,” Kardashian shared.

After confirming she holds him “the whole time,” Kardashian admitted one nap session once stretched to five hours. “I’ll sit in my little chair, usually in the room, and then I still have my little breastfeeding pillow, and he’ll kind of lay on there with my arms under,” she explained.

Kardashian added that she also uses “a little radiation blanket” to help shield Rocky from EMFs while he rests.

As Barker and Kardashian continue navigating parenthood, the Blink-182 drummer previously revealed that son Rocky is already showing signs of inheriting his musical talents.

Speaking to PEOPLE last year following his Run Travis Run 5K event in New Orleans, Barker shared that Rocky had already started experimenting with instruments at just 15 months old. “[Rocky], he just turned 15 months today, and he’s like already playing drums and guitar and everything,” Barker said.

According to the rocker, Rocky had become obsessed with music and was already spending nearly all day around instruments. “He’s playing the instrument constantly, 24/7,” Barker revealed.

Looking ahead, Barker said he and Kardashian hope to guide Rocky and the rest of their blended family by simply setting a positive example. “I hope we just lead by example,” Barker told PEOPLE after he and Kardashian crossed the finish line hand-in-hand.

“I think you’re born with like this DNA of who you are, but, like, we could always be there to just, you know, lead them in the right direction,” he added.

‘Love Is Louder Than Fear’ Explores Travis Barker’s Trauma And Family Life

While the documentary revisits Barker’s rise to fame with Blink-182 and his battle with addiction, it also offers a rare glimpse into his life with Kardashian. The film explores how Kardashian helped Barker overcome his fear of flying following the devastating 2008 plane crash that left him with severe burns and PTSD.

The documentary also features appearances from Barker’s children, Landon and Alabama Barker, as well as Atiana De La Hoya, whom he helped raise during his marriage to ex-wife Shanna Moakler.

“Travis Barker: Love Is Louder Than Fear” premiered at the Tribeca Festival over the weekend and is set to begin streaming on Hulu on August 13.

From friends to lovers, Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns have supported each other through numerous ups and downs over the years.

The former best friend of Kylie Jenner made waves in February 2019 when she and Tristan Thompson kissed while he was dating Khloé Kardashian. While Woods and Jenner had a falling out over the scandal, Woods found love with her own basketball star — whom she had previously been strictly pals with — the following year.

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Woods and Towns started dating in May 2020 after meeting through friends.

“The right person will bring a lot out of you. We have been friends for a long time,” she told Extra that September. “Naturally, we both connected about losing a parent at a very young age … so it was a very organic relationship that we’d been best friends for a while.”

Scroll through for their complete timeline:

Travis Barker’s ex-wife, Shanna Moakler, is making startling new claims about the drummer’s past battle with addiction. In the upcoming documentary “Travis Barker: Love Is Louder Than Fear,” Moakler alleged the Blink-182 rocker once admitted to taking as many as 30 pills a day at the height of his substance abuse struggles.

The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City over the weekend, with Travis Barker and his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, in attendance ahead of its Hulu debut on August 13.

According to Us Weekly, Moakler opened up about Barker’s addiction during the documentary, claiming his substance use once reached alarming levels.

The former Playboy model, who married Barker in 2004 before the pair finalized their divorce in 2008, alleged the musician admitted to taking up to 30 pills daily during one of the darkest chapters of his life. Barker himself reportedly acknowledged the severity of his addiction in the film, revealing that those closest to him feared for his safety.

According to the documentary, one security guard would reportedly stay awake through the night to make sure Barker was still breathing.

The Documentary Revisits Trauma, Addiction, And Near-Death Experience

“Travis Barker: Love Is Louder Than Fear” offers an intimate look into the drummer’s personal struggles, career highs, and devastating setbacks. More than a decade in the making, the documentary follows Barker’s rise from a difficult childhood to becoming the drummer of Blink-182, while also exploring the emotional toll of addiction and trauma.

The film also revisits Barker’s devastating 2008 plane crash, which left him with severe burns and PTSD after four people died in the tragedy. According to the documentary, Barker spent years balancing what is described as a line between “survival and surrender” while processing grief and recovery.

Travis Barker Says Plane Crash Became His ‘Wake-Up Call’

Barker has previously been candid about how his devastating 2008 plane crash forced him to confront his addiction and ultimately quit painkillers for good. After surviving the horrific crash, which left him with third-degree burns on 65% of his body, Barker spent roughly three months hospitalized in Georgia, enduring 26 surgeries and multiple skin grafts during his recovery.

Looking back, the Blink-182 drummer said one of the first things he did after leaving the hospital was throw away every prescription medication he had. “People are always like, ‘Did you go to rehab?’” Barker told Men’s Health five years ago. “And I [say], ‘No, I was in a plane crash.’ That was my rehab.”

“Lose three of your friends and almost die? That was my wake-up call,” he added. “If I wasn’t in a crash, I would have probably never quit.” According to Barker, he flushed all of his medication down the toilet, “including stuff that I really needed.”

Barker Previously Revealed Addiction Left Him Waking Up During Surgeries

Before the plane crash, Barker admitted he relied heavily on marijuana and painkillers to cope with his intense fear of flying while touring with Blink-182.

The rocker said he would smoke “an excessive amount of weed” and developed a dependence on pain medication, eventually building such a high opioid tolerance that it complicated his medical treatment after the crash. As a result, Barker said he developed osteoporosis and, shockingly, woke up during surgeries while doctors worked to save his life.

Barker also revealed he struggled with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor’s guilt in the years following the tragedy, admitting he was unable to sleep for weeks after being released from the hospital. “I was dark,” Barker admitted. “I couldn’t walk down the street. If I saw a plane [in the sky], I was determined it was going to crash, and I just didn’t want to see it.”

The 2008 Plane Crash Changed Travis Barker’s Life Forever

The 2008 plane crash remains one of the darkest chapters of Barker’s life.

The musician was one of just two survivors after a private jet crashed shortly after takeoff in South Carolina, killing both pilots as well as Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, and security guard, Charles “Che” Still. Barker’s close friend Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein also survived the crash but died less than a year later from a drug overdose.

In the years that followed, Barker said therapy and time helped him slowly process the trauma. “The closer I was to [the crash], it felt like I was closer to the bad stuff than I am to the good stuff,” Barker said. “Now it’s been so many years, it’s getting easier for me. There are days where I’ll wake up and never think about it.”

Life behind the gates of a celebrity dream estate is not always as perfect as it appears. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds recently found themselves facing unwanted attention after contractors claimed they were owed millions for work completed on the couple’s sprawling New York property.

Now, the dispute appears to have been resolved, but questions remain about the long-delayed project.

The controversy centered on the couple’s massive estate in South Salem, New York, a secluded property spanning roughly 110 acres.

The Daily Mail initially reported that at least five contractors had filed claims connected to unpaid work performed at the compound. The combined value of those claims reportedly reached approximately $2.1 million, drawing fresh scrutiny to a project that had already experienced significant delays.

Among the largest claims was one filed by Flower Construction, which sought roughly $1.3 million. According to filings, the company had been hired to complete a wide range of work, including framing, HVAC installation, plumbing, electrical systems, drywall, masonry, waterproofing, painting, and millwork.

Other contractors sought payment for projects involving custom copper roofing, drainage systems, and septic-related work.

The claims became public earlier this year, creating an unexpected headache for one of Hollywood’s most recognizable couples.

The Dream Estate Blake Lively Called Paradise

Long before the dispute surfaced, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds had ambitious plans for the property.

The couple quietly acquired the estate through a limited liability company in 2018 for approximately $12 million. They later expanded their holdings by purchasing neighboring parcels, including a four-bedroom home reportedly worth $1.6 million and additional surrounding land.

Their vision was to create a private retreat far removed from the spotlight.

During a planning board hearing, Lively described the property as “heaven” and “the most beautiful place in the world.”

She also envisioned creating what she called a “beautiful buffer” around the estate for her family.

At the same hearing, the actress discussed plans for an environmentally conscious luxury compound that would offer extraordinary privacy, explaining that “our neighbors will never see us”.

The proposed development included plans for a pool, pool house, gym, septic systems, and stormwater management facilities.

Speaking about the property, Lively told local officials, “We love this land so much.”

She continued, “We’re so grateful to have this land and to have such space and such privacy.”

Supportive letters from neighboring property owners were reportedly submitted as part of the approval process.

Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds’ Property Dispute Quietly Comes To An End

Despite the growing attention surrounding the claims, the situation appears to have been resolved without a prolonged legal fight.

According to the Daily Mail, records indicate that the various liens filed against the property were amended shortly after becoming public. The filings reportedly noted that the claims had been satisfied as of May 26.

The development suggests that the outstanding amounts were paid, bringing an end to a dispute that briefly cast a shadow over the couple’s high-profile project.

Construction on the estate is believed to have continued through much of 2025 before reportedly slowing significantly or stopping altogether sometime between late 2025 and early 2026.

While the exact reasons behind the delays remain unclear, the settlement of the contractor claims removes one major obstacle facing the project.

Legal Troubles Continue Surrounding The Couple

The timing of the contractor dispute attracted even more attention because it emerged during another challenging period for the couple.

News of the property claims surfaced while Blake Lively was dealing with the aftermath of her highly publicized legal battle involving her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.

The dispute generated months of headlines before both sides ultimately reached a settlement shortly before a trial was scheduled to begin.

Although the matter was resolved, reports suggested the legal fight came at a considerable cost, both financially and reputationally.

Another Legal Challenge Emerges For Ryan Reynolds

The resolution of the contractor dispute comes as Ryan Reynolds finds himself linked to yet another legal matter.

As reported by The Blast, a separate lawsuit filed in New York stems from a March 2024 traffic accident involving a Tesla owned by Reynolds and an Access-A-Ride vehicle carrying two passengers.

According to court filings, Bronx residents Kawanna Coleman and Taji Kelly are seeking millions in damages, alleging they suffered serious injuries following the collision.

Although Reynolds was not inside the Tesla at the time, the vehicle was reportedly being driven by one of his employees.

Rather than naming the actor personally, the legal action targets 2382 Walker Holdings LLC, a company connected to Reynolds’ real estate holdings.

Court records allege the crash occurred after the Tesla changed lanes and stopped suddenly in wet conditions. The allegations have not been proven in court. A judge has since combined the lawsuits, with further proceedings expected to continue later this year.