Fantasy cinema has a unique allure. With its otherworldly appeal and transfixing high-concept nature, it can truly captivate an audience from the opening scene and keep them immersed right up until the credits roll. However, having the ability to do something and actually doing it are two entirely different things. Showcasing the mesmerizing majesty of fantasy cinema in all its glory, these films are all perfect examples of the genre from start to finish.

As another testament to the brilliance of fantasy filmmaking, they also encompass everything from sweeping epics set in mystic realms to grounded dramas that illuminate the sense of magic, adventure, and imaginative awe present in our very own world. From modern masterpieces to Old Hollywood classics, from triumphs of animation to thought-provoking and cerebral drama, these fantasy movies are truly faultless from beginning to end.

‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy (2001-2003)

Entirely entrancing throughout every single second of its extensive 9-hour runtime (over 11 hours in the case of the extended editions), The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the defining masterpiece of high fantasy cinema. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic novel, it follows the members of the Fellowship of the Ring as they set out to take a ring of terrible power to the fires of Mount Doom to be destroyed.

Every single aspect of the trilogy is an achievement to behold: the gorgeous cinematography and meticulous integration of visual and practical effects to the scale of the battle sequences, the detail of the set design and costuming, and even the ensnaring atmospheric allure of Howard Shore’s impeccable score. From Galadriel’s (Cate Blanchett) opening monologue detailing the history of Middle-earth and the quiet charm of The Shire, through all the kingdoms and characters of the world, right up until the heartbreakingly beautiful final moments, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a stunning feat of fantasy filmmaking.

‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)

Image via AB Svensk Filmindustri

Advertisement

Ingmar Bergman produced several medium-defining masterpieces throughout his illustrious career, renowned for their meditative style and his philosophical depth; The Seventh Seal is perhaps the best example. The historical fantasy drama follows a knight of the Crusades as he returns to his homeland to find it decimated by plague. As he explores the ruins of his native land, Antonius (Max von Sydow) is also visited by Death (Bengt Ekerot), challenging him to a game of chess for his life.

Bergman’s ability to juxtapose piercing contemplations on mortality and faith with life-affirming celebrations of humanity makes The Seventh Seal a compelling viewing from start to finish. The moody atmospheric pull of its striking black-and-white imagery ensnares from the outset. Beautiful, thought-provoking, and rich with intriguing insights into the human condition, it is a timeless triumph of fantasy cinema that oozes perfection in everything it does.

‘Harvey’ (1950)

Image via Universal Pictures

Advertisement

Fantasy cinema has rarely been as touching and tender as it is in Harvey. Based on Mary Chase’s play of the same name, it follows Elwood P. Dowd (James Stewart) as his family tries to admit him to a psychiatric hospital due to his friendship with Harvey, an invisible six-foot-tall talking rabbit. As one misadventure leads to another in delightful fashion, it starts to become clear that Harvey might be far more than a figment of Elwood’s imagination.

Gentle, charming, and deftly wise, Harvey is a beautiful yet often melancholic observation of humanity at its best. Stewart is at his heartwarming best from the opening moments, championing the essence of curiosity, empathy, and unassuming acceptance as strengths of character in a world of cynics who all think they know everything that can and cannot exist. Not only a gorgeous, grounded fantasy that suggests magic exists in the world around us, but a razor-sharp social satire as well, Harvey is a masterpiece of family drama that flaunts a timeless message of the importance of being pleasant.

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Advertisement

Combining infectious adventure, swashbuckling action, sweeping romance, and slapstick comedy all under the guise of a period fantasy epic, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl epitomizes fantasy cinema and blockbuster spectacle at its most energized and entertaining. It holds a magical mystique from the opening prologue, enthralling viewers in a pirate age laced with dark magic and evil curses, and only builds momentum throughout the rest of its 143-minute runtime.

Here, we have a mesmerizing medley of richly designed and memorable characters, seafaring adventure, a deceptively intricate story, and some of the most audacious and awe-inspiring action sequences blockbuster cinema has seen. The 2003 fantasy presents a treat of high-concept creativity and endlessly intoxicating fun. Defined by Johnny Depp’s iconic and brilliantly chaotic turn as the gleefully eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow, The Curse of the Black Pearl is fantasy adventure in its purest and most pleasurable form.

‘Mary Poppins’ (1964)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Advertisement

More than 60 years later, Mary Poppins remains a staple of family entertainment courtesy of Julie Andrews’s iconic performance and its graceful balancing of whimsical fairy tale fun and the grounded evolution of the Banks family. Perhaps the perfect example of a flat arc narrative—a story where the protagonist doesn’t change or develop, but rather sees their innate qualities change the world and characters around them—it is an ageless gem of cinema bolstered by its ravishing musical allure and enduring visual splendor.

Inviting, charming, and ceaselessly feel-good, Mary Poppins follows the titular nanny as she uses her magical talents to mend the mischievous nature of the Banks children while creating a sense of harmony and happiness in the family environment. For decades, the film has transcended generations, touched the hearts of viewers of all ages, and stood as a defining pillar of fantasy cinema at its most enrapturing and universally accessible.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Advertisement

The opening of It’s a Wonderful Life is simple yet deceptively brilliant. It features a montage of prayers for the struggling George Bailey (James Stewart) that melt away into a charming conversation between God, Joseph, and the wingless angel Clarence (Henry Travers) depicted in glistening stars. It may seem rudimentary by modern standards, but it is infectiously endearing, immersing viewers in the gentle optimism and heartwarming idealism that punctuates every beat of the story.

The journey through George’s life is laced with sweet sincerity. The twist of him seeing how Bedford Falls would have turned out had he never been born is steeped in heartbreaking despair, and the grand climax is as powerful an ode to the beauty of life and humanity as cinema has ever seen. Grounded in Stewart’s sublime performance as an ordinary community hero who seldom grasps the influence his good nature has on those around him, It’s a Wonderful Life is a life-affirming triumph that, even after 80 years, remains one of fantasy cinema’s greatest offerings.

‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

One of the most beloved international movies ever made, Pan’s Labyrinth exhibits Guillermo del Toro’s astonishing Gothic dark fantasy allure at its absolute best. Excelling as both a twisted fairy tale and a violent depiction of the evil of war, it follows young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) as she and her heavily pregnant mother are whisked away to be with the vile Captain Vidal (Sergi López), the father of the unborn child. Amid the chaos of Francoist Spain and the savagery of the civil war, Ofelia is told by a mystical faun that she can retake her place as the princess of the Underworld if she completes three trying tasks.

Nightmarish and beautiful, Pan’s Labyrinth captivates from its opening moments. It uses both wonder and brutality to conjure an endlessly enthralling spectacle of the complex morality of mankind, the power of disobedience and resistance, and, of course, the otherworldly awe of the Underworld and its creatures, be they marvelous or monstrous. A sublime visual treat, an emotionally enriching adventure, and a masterclass in dark fairy tale splendor, Pan’s Labyrinth stands tall among the greatest fantasy movies of all time.

‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Image via Studio Ghibli

Even with its gentle and relaxed opening, Spirited Away exudes an engulfing majesty from its first frames. It’s a testament to the divine majesty of its animation and atmospheric richness, but it also serves as a masterstroke from Hayao Miyazaki in immersing viewers in grounded, real-world simplicity before stepping into a realm of unbridled fantasy spectacle. When Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi/Davleigh Chase) does step into the magical world, audiences are transfixed by its colorful allure, imaginative brilliance, and its deft mixture of sheer wonder and underlying eeriness.

Utterly hypnotic, Spirited Away has become a defining masterpiece of animated cinema as well as a flagship icon of Studio Ghibli’s excellence. It blends family adventure and fantasy wonder with a rich thematic journey of self-discovery, humanity, compassion, and even environmentalism with immaculate delicacy and precision. Ceaselessly transfixing and only growing in splendor and impact as it unfolds, Spirited Away is a highlight of modern fantasy and a true masterpiece of 21st-century cinema.

‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)

Image via 20th Century Studios

The 1980s mark one of the strongest eras of fantasy cinema in the medium’s history. That The Princess Bride has become such a definitive icon of the decade and the genre is a testament to its enduring perfection. Directed with such precision and tonal conviction by Rob Reiner, it blends soaring fantasy adventure and romantic passion with inflections of gleefully ridiculous comedy. It follows Wesley’s (Cary Elwes) conquest to rescue his true love from the clutches of a cruel and power-hungry prince.

Even the film’s side characters and their journeys are steeped in perfection, with Inigo Montoya’s (Mandy Patinkin) drive to avenge his father becoming one of the most famous B-plots in cinematic history. The beautiful touch of bookending the movie with the story of the sick child being told a story by his grandfather imbues the movie with a sense of meta-commentary on the value of narratives. Entertaining, exciting, and entirely heartwarming, The Princess Bride is the pinnacle of fantasy adventure fun from beginning to end.

‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

Image via Warner Bros.

Not only an ageless masterpiece of fantasy cinema, but also one of the most important movies in history, The Wizard of Oz is a beacon of Old Hollywood brilliance that continues to appeal to new generations. Following Dorothy (Judy Garland) as she navigates the magical realm of Oz hoping to find a way to return to her home in Kansas, the 1939 classic is a majestic triumph of family entertainment. Everything, from its groundbreaking visual wonder to its unforgettable musical numbers, touching characters, and enrapturing production design, transfixes viewers of all ages.

Even the movies of today struggle to rival the piercing beauty of its Technicolor vibrancy and ravishing set design. The heartfelt story of friendship, self-discovery, and facing adversity with grace and compassion has proven to be timelessly captivating. Its influence has been felt in thousands of movies over the decades since its release, and yet it has never been surpassed. The Wizard of Oz still stands as one of cinema’s greatest achievements some 86 years after it first released.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 5 seconds ago

The ‘80s is the decade that just keeps giving, with its countless colorful franchises being reinvented for the modern day. This is especially true of IPs that were originally made to sell toys, which is why beloved cartoons like Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been repeatedly remade into live-action movies. However, He-Man failed to make the leap into modernity: after the 1987 live-action film featuring Dolph Lundgren became a critical and commercial bomb, the franchise steered clear of the big screen, with only a few controversial animated revivals to keep the brand alive.

Now, though, a new Masters of the Universe movie has hacked and slashed its way into theaters. When news of this movie was first announced, even the beefy barbarian’s biggest fans were worried it would be a disaster. Given how badly most Hollywood revivals go, it was easy to imagine that this film would change up crucial lore fans loved about the original show, or maybe transform the cartoon’s legendarily campy tone into something so grimdark only edgelords could enjoy it. 

Fortunately, we had nothing to worry about: Masters of the Universe is the new gold standard for franchise revivals, one that will leave old-school fans grinning while winning over new audiences with a sexy, silly, and utterly spectacular sci-fi thrill ride.

A Bone To Pick With He-Man

The premise of Masters of the Universe is that when Skeletor (Jared Leto) and his evil army attack the city of Eternos, its only prince (Nicholas Galitzine) is sent to Earth for his own safety. He brings with him a sword filled with magic power, but he loses it almost as soon as he arrives. Fifteen years later, he’s close to finding the sword, a weapon that can transform him into a hulking He-Man and, even more importantly, transport him back to his home world of Eternia.

However, this hero will need all of the sword’s power and all of the help he can get from his old mentor (Idris Elba) and childhood best friend (Camila Mendes) to defeat the combined forces of darkness and lead the world of Eternia into a new golden age. Along the way, he will need to learn more about what it means to be both man and He-Man, the wisdom necessary to rally a battered-down rebellion into a fighting force that can take Skeletor down for good.

The Most Faithful Designs

As an ‘80s kid who had way too many He-Man figures, the first thing that pleasantly surprised me about Masters of the Universe is how faithful the character designs are to the original cartoon. He-Man’s iconic look is replicated so faithfully that Nicholas Galitzine (a great comedic actor who sells the transition from puny prince to battling barbarian) looks like a walking, talking action figure. The same can be said for Teela, and Camila Mendes imbues this character with the perfect balance of grace, strength, and beauty. Familiar villains like Beast Man and Evil-Lyn are scarier than ever before, and I was particularly impressed by Trap Jaw, whom the movie transforms into a one-man walking army.

But the wildest character to behold is, without a doubt, Skeletor. He is the perfect live-action incarnation of his iconic cartoon design, one whose skull-faced visage expresses a surprising range of emotion. The CGI used to do so is very effective, and it helps bring to life some of this character’s most gloriously goofy faces straight out of the ‘80s. In his own way, Skeletor symbolizes the greatest selling point of this movie to the franchise’s older fans: this is the cartoon brought to life, full stop, with no fussy concerns over modernizing the designs or sanding off the adorable cheesiness of the characters.

Between the accurate costume and the unrestrained, gonzo performance from Jared Leto (who is almost shockingly good here), the movie has everything you could want from this iconic villain. The sneers, the monologuing, the humor, it’s all here, and Skeletor is simultaneously the funniest and the scariest character in the movie. At times, this can create a slightly distracting tonal whiplash. Overall, though, Skeletor will please the fans who wanted him to be a pastel goth meme king and those who wanted an intimidating villain who is as ruthless as he is relentless.

Crude And Campy, Through And Through

Speaking of humor, it’s worth noting that almost everything in Masters of the Universe has its tongue firmly in cheek. There are occasional serious moments, like when He-Man has heart-to-heart conversations with his dad about being a good son and with his old mentor about what it means to be a man. For the most part, though, the movie is in the vein of a Guardians of the Galaxy-style irreverent sci-fi adventure. Between the steady supply of jokes, the film is a breezy thrill ride, one that goes by remarkably fast despite the two-hour, fifteen-minute runtime. 

Some humor is aimed squarely at adults, and not everything lands. For example, this adaptation of an old kids’ cartoon has a lot of jokes about fisting, and there are some sexual innuendoes Skeletor tosses to He-Man that are sure to raise a few eyebrows. In one of the movie’s crudest moments, Teela jokingly calls Cringer (He-Man’s talking tiger who hates fighting) a “p*ssy,” getting an accordingly shocked reaction from He-Man. It got a relatively shocked reaction from my theater, which is fair: for a film being marketed as a family-friendly sci-fi blockbuster, there are a lot of things in Masters of the Universe that you probably wouldn’t want your kids repeating. 

At the same time, it’s pretty refreshing to see a blockbuster refuse to play things safe, and like Marvel’s Guardians movies, it’s fun to see good guys who are rough-around-the-edges instead of squeaky-clean exemplars of morality and goodness.

An Action-Packed Fantasy Epic

Masters of the Universe packs in far more action than I was actually expecting. Unlike the 1987 movie, this latest film spends only a small fraction of time on Earth, and those scenes are worth it because they crescendo with a nerve-wracking fight scene with Beastman. Honestly, while the new He-Man movie doesn’t break the sci-fi mold, it does deliver many different kinds of battle scenes sure to get your heart pumping. 

This includes one-on-one showdowns (like He-Man and Skeletor, or Man-at-Arms and Trap Jaw), big group battles (like the initial attack on Eternos and the later, desperate assault on Castle Grayskull), and even multiple, high-flying scenes of starship combat. This variety helps keep things fresh, while witty writing and wonderfully earnest acting help to ground every CGI-laden fight scene with humanity.

Not Too Woke, Not Too Weird

Speaking of humanity, the movie walks a very fine line between being an ‘80s homage and being a modern action opus. There are some very 21st-century lessons here about the need to temper power with empathy and the importance of solving the occasional problem without violence. Nonetheless, a brief scene at Prince Adam’s Human Resources underscores how mind-numbing touchy-feely mantras can be and how many of those touting them are secretly control freaks relishing in the surprisingly robust power they have over others. 

Throw in He-Man’s early worries that he isn’t manly enough and some Man-at-Arms speeches about how wars are won by soldiers and not poets and you have a movie that will mollify just about anyone who worried it would be too “woke.” At the same time, Masters of the Universe stays mercifully clear of politics, presenting itself as an epic clash of good versus evil that you can enjoy regardless of who you voted for.

Easter Eggs As Far As The Eye Can See

If you are a big fan of He-Man from way back, you’ll probably love one aspect of Masters of the Universe more than anything else: the Easter eggs! There are practically too many to count, including a cameo from Dolph Lundgren (the original live-action He-Man) and several references to the 1987 film. At one point, Prince Adam tracks his sword to a comics and collectibles store called the Fright Zone, which is named after Hordak’s base of operations in She-Ra. That store also prominently features Big Jim, the toy line that preceded He-Man and provided the mold that would become Cringer.

There are multiple great music drops, including the original cartoon theme and, hilariously, Four Non-Blondes’ “What’s Up,” which was featured in the greatest He-Man fan video ever made. 

Plus, without spoiling things, there are two different mid-credits scenes and one post-credits scene sure to make older fans grin harder than they have in decades. In short, the more you know about this sprawling fictional universe, the more you’ll enjoy this ambitious new film.

Notably, these Easter eggs are inserted pretty seamlessly into the film. Masters of the Universe is very accessible to complete newbies, and you can enjoy all of these weird little moments at face value, even if you don’t know what they are homaging. When you do get the references, though (“whoa, did He-Man just thunder punch Skeletor?!?”), it just makes some already-awesome scenes that much cooler. Careful, though: the more you recognize, the more likely you are to speed home and bust out all your favorite childhood He-Man toys.

Nostalgia You’ll Feel Right In Your Bones

Collectively, these Easter eggs help to cement something that becomes apparent very early into the film: Masters of the Universe is a true labor of love, made by a director (Travis Knight), writer, and producers who have a clear passion for the source material. It’s not perfect, but this movie is leaps and bounds better than most sci-fi revivals, and it’s infinitely better than The Mandalorian and Grogu, the new Star Wars movie oozing its way down the box office ranks with the slimy tenacity of a Hutt.

Against all the odds, this revival of a classic ‘80s property is better than fans could have possibly hoped for. It’s full of dynamic action, fun characters, witty dialogue, and one gloriously scenery-chewing performance after another. Totally, this is basically the love child of Conan the Destroyer and Thor: Ragnarok, which is fitting for a franchise that has always blended sci-fi with fantasy. Masters of the Universe is an unrelenting thrill ride of action and adventure, one that winks at the camera a little more aggressively (and a little more infectiously) with every scene.

Looking for an unapologetic love letter to a bygone decade that served as the perfect intersection of action schlock and action figure? Good news, kiddos: for the first time since the ‘80s, He-Man has the power!

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (2026) SCORE

Kelsey Asbille is making her return to acting in her first role since the Yellowstone finale — and the shocking death of her character, Monica, in the Marshals spinoff.

Deadline confirmed on Thursday, June 4, that Asbille, 34, will star opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Liam Hemsworth in The Kellys. The action film has been acquired by Amazon MGM for worldwide release on streaming but character details are being kept under wraps.

Production is currently underway with The Kellys following Jack Kelly, a disgraced New York City cop whose wife, Molly, is taken hostage by terrorists inside an old armory building.

“Subsequently, he’ll have to join forces with the people he fears most to save her: His family,” the official synopsis read.

The Kellys is Asbille’s first role since Yellowstone wrapped in December 2024. The Paramount Network series, which aired from 2018 to 2024, introduced Us to Kayce (Luke Grimes) and his wife, Monica, who remained at the center of the show until the finale.

After teaching at a local school on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Monica went on to become a professor at Montana State University while navigating life with Kayce, who moved them back to the Yellowstone Ranch following his past tension with dad John (Kevin Costner).

Following John’s death, Kayce, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, became the new owner and operator of the Yellowstone Ranch. Kayce and Monica ended the show alive — and were still together — before Marshals began.

When the series premiered in March, however, fans learned Monica had died after battling cancer.

“Kayce had such a perfect ending in Yellowstone,” showrunner Spencer Hudnut told TVLine at the time. “His dreams had finally come true. As we were trying to figure out how to tell the next chapter in Kayce’s story, it felt like he really needed to be shaken out of that. Unfortunately, tragedy tends to find Kayce, so something bad was going to happen for him one way or the other. It just sort of played out that it was going to be Monica.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Related: ‘Yellowstone‘ Cast: Where Are They Now Amid Multiple Show Spinoffs?

Advertisement

The Yellowstone cast has continued to find success after the hit Paramount Network show came to an end — with some even scoring spinoffs. Yellowstone, which ran from 2018 to 2024, became an overnight success for its story about the conflicts along the shared border of a large cattle ranch, the Broken Rock Indian reservation […]

Hudnut said Monica’s death will continue to drive Kayce, adding, “To me, Monica is really guiding Kayce through this first episode, trying to help him find his new path. And if you actually break it down, Tate is at that rally to honor his mother, and Kayce goes there to protect Tate. So if not for Monica, Kayce never would have been in that position and may not have found this path.”

He concluded: “We really wanted to be respectful of the way that we said goodbye to her. I also didn’t want to step on the ending of Yellowstone, because what they had was a beautiful ending. Unfortunately, real life intervened.”

Asbille has not yet broken her silence on Monica’s onscreen death. She did grant access for her likeness to be used on the show, which allowed Marshals to include photos of the fictional character on screen.

OnlyFans star Lena the Plug denied that she filed for divorce from her husband, podcaster Adam22.

“I’m here to address the chaos,” Lena, 35, announced in a video message via X on Thursday, June 4. “Last month, I went to check my mail and I had all of this rejected paperwork from a courthouse. Somebody has been trying to file for divorce on my behalf.”

Per documents obtained by Us Weekly, Lena (real name Lena Nersesian) seemingly filed for divorce on her 35th birthday on Monday, June 1, citing April 15 as the official date of separation in court documents. It appeared as if she asked a Los Angeles Superior Court to grant her legal and physical custody of her and Adam22’s (real name Adam Grandmaison) daughter.

“[Someone] has all this information and they attached a check for $435,” she told followers on Thursday. “I look at the name of the check and I start to freak out a little bit because I remember the name … The name of the check matches the name that police gave me when they arrived at my house two different times doing a wellness check … Somebody called and claimed I was being abused by my husband.”

Per Lena, she assured cops that she did not make the emergency call and the matter was apparently resolved.

“I remembered the name. The name was hard to forget,” she said.

Lena explained that she was alarmed to see the name pop up in connection with a divorce filing so she alerted both police and the local court.

“The courthouse said there’s nothing under [my] name. They were not able to make the filing,” Lena recalled.

When she spoke to police, Lena was warned that it was a “weird situation” because “this person is forging your signature, claiming they are you.” She said she was advised by police to file an identity theft report, which she said she did on May 6.

“I thought it was over,” she admitted.

The issue resurfaced this week when Adam22 informed Lena that the media was reporting “on our divorce.” Lena insisted she called the courthouse back, though she was told this time that was now an active divorce case on the docket.

“They’re like, ‘We don’t know [what to tell you]. We’ve never been in this situation. Technically, you have filed for divorce,’” Lena said. “Now I have to hire an attorney.”

She went on, “My theory is that this person is being spoken to by a catfish who is pretending to be me online. This person is trying to get money … They’re claiming Adam abused me. They’re claiming everything that [is in the reports], all of which is not true.”

The OnlyFans content creator closed the video by addressing the state of her marriage to Adam22.

“I’m not divorcing at all,” she declared. “I love my husband. We’ve been together for 10 years. I know that all of you are plotting on our downfall but it’s not happening. That day has not come.”

She concluded, “I found out I was getting divorced when you guys found out I was getting divorced. This is such a weird situation. Honestly, if it didn’t happen to me, I wouldn’t believe it.”

Adam22 shared Lena’s statement via Instagram, along with writing, “I love my citch. Could never turn my back on her.”

Lena previously promised fans on Thursday, June 4, that she planned to address the divorce “soon,” while denying that it was merely a “publicity stunt.”

The OnlyFans star and “No Jumper” host, 42, have been married for three years and share a 5-year-old daughter.

In her initial court filing, a person claiming to be Lena stated that she does not currently have a job and depends on $3,000 monthly spousal support from Adam 22.

“I have no access to any financial resources in this marriage or actual financial information, so all amounts entered are estimates,” the person wrote to the court.

Subsequent financial disclosure forms obtained by Us Weekly included someone claiming to be Lena asking to keep around $730,000 in marital assets, including half of the couple’s $1.152 million in real estate holdings. The filer also requested to retain $50,000 in household appliances and $20,000 worth of jewelry, art and collectibles on Lena’s behalf.

The filer suggested an equitable split of the $100,000 in their savings account, plus half of the $40,000 valuation of their two podcasts, ”No Jumper” and “Plug Talk.”

However, Lena clarified in Thursday’s response video that none of the financial information in court documents was accurate.

The matter is all the matter unusual since Lena seemingly referenced changes in her personal life in a message celebrating her 35th birthday, also marking the same day as she allegedly filed for divorce.

“A few years ago, I was terrified of turning 30. I thought getting older meant something was ending. Instead, it’s been the opposite,” she wrote via Instagram on Monday. “I’ve learned more about myself, built a life I’m proud of, and found a level of contentment I didn’t know was possible.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Lena went on, “If my 30s have taught me anything, it’s that life keeps getting better. Here’s to the next five years. And thank you for being part of the journey.”

Adam22 took a more sarcastic tone when addressing his supposed divorce, asking via his Instagram Story on Wednesday, June 3, “All Black women who want to date me please DM me. I will buy you a car.”

He also shared the word “freedom” over an Instagram Story set to Jay-Z’s hit “Girls, Girls, Girls” that same day.

OnlyFans star Lena the Plug denied filing for divorce from YouTuber and podcaster Adam22 — revealing that she may have been the victim of “identity theft.”

Per documents obtained by Us Weekly at the time, the content creator, whose real name is Lena Nersesian, seemingly filed for divorce on June 1, 2026, which also happened to mark her 35th birthday. However, she later clarified via an X video on June 4, 2026, that the documents were filed fraudulently on her behalf.

“I’m here to address the chaos,” Lena announced. “Last month, I went to check my mail and I had all of this rejected paperwork from a courthouse. Somebody has been trying to file for divorce on my behalf.”

Earlier the same day, Lena insisted that the drama around her marriage was not “a publicity stunt.”

Keep scrolling for all the details about Lena and Adam’s divorce drama:

Related: OnlyFans’ Lena the Plug and YouTuber Adam22’s Relationship Timeline

Lena the Plug and Adam22 were together for years before news broke of their split. Us Weekly confirmed in June 2026 that Lena the Plug (real name Lena Nersesian) and Adam22 (real name Adam Grandmaison) filed for divorce. In an interview with VladTV one year prior, Adam22 got candid about filming NSFW scenes together. “I’ve […]

Advertisement

When Did Lena the Plug and Adam22 Separate?

According to Lena, someone claiming to be her filed the paperwork on June 1, 2026, listing April 15, 2026, as the couple’s official date of separation — meaning the pair had quietly parted ways nearly two months before her filing.

In her petition, the alleged filer requested legal and physical custody of the couple’s daughter, Parker. The alleged filer also claimed that Lena is currently living in a Studio City home with Parker.

Lena the Plug’s Financial Requests

Court documents obtained by Us Weekly lay out a detailed financial picture of the influencer couple’s assets, of which someone allegedly claiming to be Lena is asking for a substantial portion in the legal proceedings.

The alleged filer requested roughly $730,000 in assets, including half of a $1.152 million entertainment studio, $50,000 from a $100,000 savings account and half of $5,000 in cash on hand, per the court docs. They also asked to keep all $50,000 in household furniture and appliances. The documents value the couple’s two podcasts, “No Jumper” and “Plug Talk” at a combined $40,000, to be split equally, plus an estimated $20,000 for her own social media presence and $20,000 in jewelry, art and collectibles.

According to the court documents, she doesn’t have a job and allegedly is dependent on $3,000 in monthly spousal support from Adam, whose real name is Adam Grandmaison.

“I have no access to any financial resources in this marriage or actual financial information, so all amounts entered are estimates,” she claimed in the filing.

In her X video, Lena insisted that the financial disclosure forms were filed without her permission and thus were not accurate.

Adam22 Breaks His Silence

Adam appeared to make light of the split through a series of social media posts just two days after Lena filed for divorce.

“Freedom,” he wrote via Instagram Stories on June 3, 2026, which was set to Jay-Z’s “Girls Girls Girls,” before reposting news coverage of the breakup adding, “All Black women who want to date me, please DM me. I will buy you a car.”

Adam later shared Lena’s denial video via Instagram alongside a comment, writing, “I love my citch. Could never turn my back on her.”

How Long Have Lena the Plug and Adam22 Been Married?

The pair’s relationship has played out largely in the public eye. Lena and Adam first started dating in 2016, one year before they started collaborating on adult content. They welcomed daughter Parker in November 2020 and tied the knot in May 2023.

“Oh by the way … we got married,” he wrote via Instagram at the time, sharing photos from their Italian wedding. “Almost 7 years strong and more in love than ever.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Lena the Plug Denied Filing For Divorce

While coming forward with the “identity theft” allegations, Lena insisted that she had no actual plans to get divorced.

“I’m not divorcing at all,” she declared. “I love my husband. We’ve been together for 10 years. I know that all of you are plotting on our downfall but it’s not happening. That day has not come.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

Ellen Pompeo is returning to television in a new capacity with the upcoming show Chicks.

Multiple outlets confirmed in June 2026 that Hulu ordered a pilot for the Chicks. The dramedy will star Pompeo. She will also serve as an executive producer on the series alongside collaborator Laura Holstein via Pompeo’s Calamity Jane production company. The Hulu show is based on an original idea from writer Katie Robbins.

Robbins reportedly was inspired to create the show after having a conversation with Pompeo on the set of Good American Family. The limited series, which premiered on Hulu in 2025, was Pompeo’s first major project after the actress reduced her role as Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy. Pompeo joined the medical drama when it premiered in 2005. She remained a full-time cast member up until season 19 which aired in 2022. (Pompeo, who also serves as an executive producer, has continued to make guest appearances on Grey’s Anatomy since then.)

According to Deadline, Robbins created the concept of Chicks specifically with Pompeo in mind.

Keep scrolling for everything to know about Pompeo’s involvement in Chicks:

What Is ‘Chicks’ About?

According to the family drama’s synopsis, Chicks will tell the story of two sisters as their lives change amid the rapid gentrification of neighborhoods in old Boston. (Pompeo grew up in Everett, Massachusetts which is north of Beantown.)

“It follows Chickie and Doreen, two estranged half-sisters who are both struggling to get by when their wise guy dad unexpectedly kicks the bucket,” the synopsis read. “Their only inheritance is a legacy of two-bit crime that inspires them to run increasingly audacious frauds. As their con grows, so does their odd-couple bond, as they each start to fill the father-shaped hole in the other’s heart.”

What Is Ellen Pompeo’s Role in ‘Chicks’?

Pompeo will play Chickie who is one of the leading sisters in the series. She is also an executive producer on the project.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Who Else Has Been Cast in ‘Chicks’?

Pompeo is the only confirmed name attached to the project. Details of additional cast members have yet to be revealed.

When Does Production for ‘Chicks’ Start?

Deadline reported in June 2026 that production for the pilot is expected to begin in New York City in September 2026.

Will ‘Chicks’ Interfere With Ellen Pompeo’s Role on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’?

Since Hulu has only ordered a pilot for Chicks, it should not prevent Pompeo from appearing on Grey’s Anatomy as she currently has a recurring role. However, things could change if the streamer orders a full season for Chicks.

You could be someone who’s largely apathetic to movies in general and still be, in all likelihood, at least a little aware of how superheroes have been kind of a big deal lately. Maybe the 2010s was the golden era, and there was also a fruitful 2000s leading up to that next decade’s dominance, but you can’t rule out the 2020s when something like Avengers: Doomsday is still pretty hyped (at least at the time of writing, because time will ultimately tell whether it’s any good or not).

Doomsday seems like it’ll be pretty darn ambitious, so looking at superhero movies that have already come out – and focusing on ones that were impressively ambitious – feels like it could be worth doing. These aren’t necessarily the best superhero movies of all time, but more ones that did something new, started some kind of trend, successfully threw together countless iconic characters on screen, or even did all of the above, to some extent.

10

‘Spider-Man’ (2002)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Sure, X-Men (2000) and Iron Man (2008) are worth shouting out if you’re talking about superhero movies that helped kick off some kind of overall trend. X-Men was a flawed but solid movie for its time that showed you could make something with tons of superheroes work on the big screen, and then Iron Man ultimately served as the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, albeit in a way where it didn’t feel like dozens of later films were part of the plan (at least not at first).

So, why not include them while including Spider-Man? Maybe because Spider-Man (2002) is a better film, and also because it’s hard not to be fond of it, if you’re one of those people who can remember it being the first big superhero/comic book movie you ever saw. It’s not a perfect film, but it gets all the basics right and hits all the beats it has to quite effortlessly, as an origin story, paving the way for various Spider-Man movies – and other superhero fare – to come.

9

‘Watchmen’ (2009)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

With Watchmen, there was an attempt to get some very beloved source material (to say the least) adapted into a single movie, and that attempt was, honestly, a mostly successful one. There are things to nitpick here if you want, and like just about any adaptation, it’s not a one-to-one thing, but Watchmen does look and feel like the graphic novel series of the same name.

It’s also a film that gets across the deconstructive elements of the source material, being like a psychological drama with superheroes, and also having some distinctive sci-fi elements, plus a sense of brutality that, even nowadays, you don’t see much of in comic book/superhero movies. Watchmen is a better adaptation than some give it credit for, and there’s a lot here worth celebrating and admiring.

8

‘Superman’ (1978)

Image via Warner Bros.

Superman wasn’t the first superhero movie ever, but it was the first big-budget one, and also arguably the first superhero movie about a recognizable character that did such a character justice. Like 2002’s Spider-Man, Superman (1978) does what you’d expect an origin story to do, but the ambition here comes from when you consider the time in which the film came out.

It was a risk, and a lot of money was spent on the whole thing, and the movie had a tagline it really needed to live up to, since that tagline was “You’ll believe a man can fly.” If Superman hadn’t made people believe, and if it had been a failure in other ways, the whole future of blockbuster cinema (especially blockbusters involving superheroes, for hopefully obvious reasons) might well have looked incredibly different.

7

‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The Dark Knight is one of Christopher Nolan’s biggest movies, and it’s probably also his best film overall, too. It comes in the middle of a trilogy which is made up of two other movies that definitely aren’t bad, and then The Dark Knight in the middle of them, which doesn’t really have anything bad in it, delivering everything you’d want out of a comic book movie, plus some things you might not really expect to see in a comic book movie.

It’s that quality which makes it feel extra ambitious, since The Dark Knight manages to work exceptionally well as a fairly action-heavy crime/thriller film that just so happens to have Batman – plus some other associated characters – in it. There is also an argument to be made that The Dark Knight Rises is more ambitious, but that film sort of collapses under its own weight (even if it’s not bad overall), so The Dark Knight feels more worthy of a shout-out. It’s just cleaner, more well-crafted, and overall quite a bit more satisfying.

6

‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014)

Image via 20th Century

Advertisement

The first X-Men was promising, then the second was an improvement in pretty much every way, and then things got a bit messy, what with a third movie and a solo Wolverine prequel, neither of which were particularly well-received. But then in 2011, there was X-Men: First Class, which was a better prequel, and then a few years later, X-Men: Days of Future Past came out, and it was a grand old crossover between the “original” X-Men movies and First Class.

There’s a time-travel plot that gets everyone on the same wavelength, more or less, having to team up to prevent a dystopian future that seems otherwise inevitable. And maybe it was inevitable, since the world of Logan is pretty desolate, but then again, the X-Men have now joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Logan might not be canon, and so it’s all very confusing. Eh, plenty of movies in the series are still good. Maybe time-travel is going to muddy any timeline, but still, what a time-travel movie this one is.

5

‘The Batman’ (2022)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Advertisement

Now, The Batman is ranked higher than The Dark Knight here, but that’s not a suggestion that it’s a better Batman movie overall than The Dark Knight. Ambition is what’s being focused on, and The Batman is a hugely ambitious movie, with the runtime standing out as the first thing that feels notable, given it’s just a minute or two shy of three hours, in total.

Also, it introduces a new Batman without doing it as an origin story, and then it also ventures outside of expected territory by de-emphasizing action more than just about any other big-budget superhero movie in recent memory. The Batman is all about the quieter and moody side of Batman, with detective work being highlighted more than fight sequences, and all in a way that gives this version of Batman a genuinely interesting character arc, too. Like a certain Spider-Man movie that’s about to be mentioned, it’s a shame that, at the time of writing, the wait for some kind of follow-up movie set in a world this interesting has been more than four years (and counting).

4

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Advertisement

After Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse came out and more or less blew everyone’s minds, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had its work cut out for it, needing to live up to the first. Thankfully, it did that and then some, going above and beyond in the sense that it felt much bigger, and ran for a fair few minutes longer, and increasing the scope of something that was already about the multiverse can’t have been easy.

Things overflowed when it came to this movie, because it really doesn’t conclude, and there’s been one hell of a prolonged cliffhanger because, at the time of writing, it’s been three years since Across the Spider-Verse came out. Still, it’s an easy movie to rewatch and pick up details or isolated jokes you might’ve missed the first time around, so that’s nice, at least.

3

‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ (2021)

Image via HBO Max

Advertisement

2017’s Justice League was possibly ambitious, but not in a good way, since it was really quite a mess, owing to how it tried to do way too much in too short a runtime. Maybe 2021’s recut, called Zack Snyder’s Justice League, is a lot spread out over too long a runtime, in the eyes of some, but it works a whole lot better than the 2017 cut, and it’s hard not to be at least a bit impressed by the grandiosity of it all.

At the time of writing, it’s the last superhero movie Zack Snyder has directed, and it feels like it could be a grand finale of sorts to that part of his filmography. It is the most Snyder-ish of all the Snyder movies, and, in all likelihood, very much the movie he wanted to make (hence his name being in the title and stuff). It’s a four-hour-long superhero epic that’s overflowing with ideas, but that’s not really a problem for most of its runtime (it’s only the endless set-ups for movies that’ll probably never come, in its final 20 to 30 minutes, that’s a bit hard to defend nowadays).

2

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)

Since it got labeled – both sincerely and ironically – as “the most ambitious crossover event in history,” it feels more than fitting to mention Avengers: Infinity War whenever you’re talking about extra ambitious superhero movies. There was an attempt at getting most of the main heroes who’d appeared in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie in this one film, and said attempt was a largely successful one.

Certain characters do get more screen time than others, and anyone rocking up for Hawkeye or Ant-Man specifically might’ve left disappointed, but the size of this film still feels impressive. Avengers: Infinity War does all that while also being the movie that made Thanos perhaps the most memorable villain of the MCU so far, after earlier films had shown him kind of hovering in the background. There’s also the rather bold way this movie ends, which, of course, leads into…

1

‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)

Image via Marvel Studios

…Avengers: Endgame, which may or may not be even more ambitious than Avengers: Infinity War. That 2018 epic ended with Thanos actually winning, and half of all life in the universe disappearing in an instant. Avengers: Endgame picks up with all that life being avenged, albeit emptily, and then there’s a big time-skip before those who are left devise a time-travel-related plan to get the disappeared people back.

And it all sounds a little silly when you lay it out like that, but this was a logical continuation of the events depicted in Infinity War, and a film that did a lot to pay off – or have callbacks to – various movies that came before. There’s also a dramatic and cathartic final act to Endgame that future Avengers movies will probably struggle to exceed, as far as spectacle and sheer emotion go (still, never say never).

Advertisement

Avengers: Endgame

Advertisement

Release Date

April 26, 2019

Runtime

181 Minutes

Advertisement

Writers

Keith Giffen, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Jim Starlin, Joe Simon, Steve Englehart, Jack Kirby, Steve Gan, Bill Mantlo, Stephen McFeely, Christopher Markus

Advertisement

• 

  Robert Downey Jr.

  Advertisement

  Tony Stark / Iron Man

• 

  Chris Evans

  Steve Rogers / Captain America

  Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement