Entertainment
The Greatest Action Movie of Each of the Last 6 Years
All in all, the 2020s have been an excellent time for action movies. These are films all about constant movement, exciting combat sequences, and adrenaline-pumping explosions. From suspenseful thrillers to terrifying horror films to unexpectedly hilarious comedies, the action genre lends itself perfectly to being combined with other genres—and these combinations have resulted in some truly exceptional films over the course of the last six years. From 2021 to the present, audiences around the world have been treated both to huge action blockbusters and surprising action indie spectacles. By the time the 2030s roll in, these are bound to be remembered as some of the genre’s best recent outings.
Whether it’s a pure action flick like Nobody, an Oscar-winning masterpiece like Everything Everywhere All At Once, or an animated gem like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, these are some of the greatest action films of modern times that we’re talking about. The wonderful thing about this genre is just how incredibly versatile it is, and as a result, it shouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see how vastly different yet equally entertaining these genre-defining gems are.
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2021: ‘Nobody’
In 2021, both the world in general, and the film industry more specifically, were still right in the middle of a global pandemic. As such, this year’s output of action films wasn’t the highest purely in terms of quantity, but as soon as the conversation veers toward quality, some excellent films emerge. Dune was an incredible sci-fi epic, The Suicide Squad was a surprise hit for the superhero genre, and No Time to Die brought Daniel Craig‘s tenure as Bond to an exceptional (and at times considerably overhated) conclusion. But as the years have passed, the 2021 action spectacle that has aged the best is Ilya Naishuller‘s Nobody.
Only a handful of 2020s action movies are perfect. Nobody may not be one of them, but it sure is one of the most entertaining popcorn flicks that the 2020s have had to offer thus far. Led by an incredible Bob Odenkirk, the film introduced the world to Hutch Mansell, a refreshing action hero who knows how to take a hit just as well as he knows how to be a badass. John Wick copycats have been aplenty since the film’s release in 2014, but Nobody elevates the formula to the stratosphere with its compelling story, the powerhouse performance of its lead, and its commitment to some of the most entertainingly brutal and visceral action of any 2021 film.
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2022: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’
Back when it originally came out, the Daniels‘ Everything Everywhere All At Once began to take the world by storm—somewhat quietly at first, and then, all at once. It became A24’s highest-grossing film at the time four months into its theatrical run, but that wasn’t the last surprise it had stored up its sleeve. At the 95th Academy Awards, the film achieved the tremendous feat of earning seven Oscar victories, and it probably deserved to win even more. Though blockbusters like The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick are also guaranteed to go down in history as some of the 2020s’ best action films, it just doesn’t get better than this.
It’s one of the best martial arts movies of the 2020s, but it isn’t the kind of film that’s content with operating within a single genre. It’s an existentialist dramedy, a family drama, a sci-fi epic, and a surreal comedy. Dealing with themes of nihilism, absurdism, generational trauma, and immigration, it truly is one of the most complex and ambitious films that have been made at any point during this decade. It runs for just a little under two and a half hours, and every minute of that runtime is easily spent with a massive smile on one’s face—except for when the tears inevitably start coming.
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2023: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’
After Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took Marvel fans, animation lovers, and the world in general by storm in 2018, the standard for its sequel was set sky-high. Somehow, not only did Across the Spider-Verse meet that bar, it even surpassed it by quite a bit. It remains the highest-rated film of the 2020s so far on both Letterboxd and IMDb, and for good reason. Though it’s logically best enjoyed by those who already love the Web-Slinger, it’s a film so fun that it should be more than enough to entertain even the most ardent superhero genre hater. As good as 2023 action flicks like Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One and John Wick: Chapter 4 were, none of them were even remotely as perfect as this.
As one of the most ambitious superhero movies of all time, there’s no shortage of areas where Across the Spider-Verse excels. For one, it’s perhaps the single most visually stunning animated movie in history, full of eye-popping colors, adrenaline-pumping action sequences, and visual details that keep coming up in every rewatch. But what really makes this a masterpiece is that, aside from working flawlessly as a sci-fi action epic, it also works flawlessly as a deconstruction of both the Spider-Man mythos and the figure of the superhero. In a blockbuster scene that’s perhaps more full of superhero movies than it should be, masterpieces like this one are all the more appreciated.
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2024: ‘Dune: Part Two’
Before the 2020s, fans of Frank Herbert‘s Dune—easily one of the most groundbreaking and important works of science fiction literature of the entire 20th century—likely believed that no film could possibly live up to the legacy of Herbert’s work. That was before Denis Villeneuve came into the scene. The imagination of the Canadian auteur seemed to match Herbert’s vision like two pieces of the same puzzle, and though 2021’s Dune was as solid as any fan of the source material could have asked for, it’s Dune: Part Two that really blew everyone away. 2024 had other great action spectacles, from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga to Monkey Man, but Dune: Part Two is on a tier all of its own.
As far as sci-fi action blockbusters go, this is arguably this generation’s The Empire Strikes Back. At the very least, it’s one of the best sci-fi blockbusters of all time, packed with awe-inspiring sequences bolstered by stunning visuals, Hans Zimmer‘s best score of the decade so far, and adrenaline-pumping action scenes. The way that Villeneuve understands the tonal essence and thematic core of Herbert’s source material is worthy of the utmost admiration, and the way he elevates the material through some of the most perfect technical qualities of any action film of the 2020s is no less than what this legendary story deserved.
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2025: ‘Sinners’
Ryan Coogler has been delivering some of the greatest action movies of the 21st century over the course of his career, but he really outdid himself in virtually every sense imaginable with Sinners. Only a handful of 2020s horror movies are true masterpieces, and this one’s right up there, a complete revolution of the vampire genre that will likely only get better with age. Winner of four Academy Awards and anchored by its standout ensemble cast and Ludwig Göransson‘s legendary tunes, it’s one of the most near-perfect blockbusters of the decade so far. Films like Predator: Badlands and Superman are also worthy of praise, and One Battle After Another may even be a superior film overall, but purely in terms of what the action genre can achieve, there are few examples from this decade more notorious than this.
The wonderful part about Sinners is just how well it works on multiple different levels. It’s an incredibly entertaining and suspenseful action film, yes; but it’s also a very effectively scary horror film, a complete recontextualization of the vampire genre, and even a remarkably fun and catchy musical at times. This sort of genre juggling is something you don’t often see in modern action films, which only makes the achievements of Coogler and his team all the more worthy of admiration. All those who love horror action movies will find virtually nothing significant to complain about when they watch Sinners, which can already be counted among the best examples of its genres from the 21st century.
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2026: ‘Masters of the Universe’
All in all, 2026 hasn’t really been a particularly prolific year for action cinema so far. Movies like The Rip and Mortal Kombat II have kept fans of the genre perfectly entertained so far, but it’s easy to tell that the action films that’ll end up being remembered as the best of the year still lie on the horizon, from The Odyssey to Dune: Part Three. But so far, the best action film of 2026 is one that probably not many people had on their bingo card as being even remotely as fun as it was: Travis Knight‘s Masters of the Universe, a nostalgia-fueled reimagining of Mattel’s media franchise.
This visually delightful sword-and-sorcery gem may be full of nostalgia aimed at those who grew up loving the adventures of He-Man, but it also sprinkles in plenty of its own modern magic and charm, perfect for young newcomers to fall in love with the franchise in the same way that the grown-ups did decades ago. It’s not particularly well-written and it relies a bit too much on CGI, so it very likely won’t end up being the year’s best action blockbuster by the time 2027 comes around; but as the first half of the year comes to a close, it’s a real treat that the best action flick we’ve had thus far is such an entertaining and energetic reinvention of such a beloved ’80s icon.
Masters of the Universe
- Release Date
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June 5, 2026
- Director
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Travis Knight
- Writers
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Chris Butler
- Producers
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Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, Todd Black
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John Lithgow is looking back on his role in “Shrek”, where he famously voiced the villainous Lord Farquaad in the 2001 animated hit. Despite the character’s demise in the first film, the actor has expressed genuine enthusiasm about returning to the role.
The “Shrek” franchise has grown into one of DreamWorks’ most successful projects, expanding to several sequels and spin-offs that attracted a global fanbase. Excitement is building for the fifth installment, which will bring its iconic characters back to the big screen.
John Lithgow was on “The Tonight Show” to talk about his latest projects, and the conversation touched on one of his most beloved roles, Lord Farquaad in “Shrek.” Jimmy Fallon mentioned that the first movie just celebrated its 25th anniversary, to which Lithgow said its popularity still endures.
“Well, unfortunately, I never got any sequels because I was eaten by a dragon in the very first one,” Lithgow said. The tyrannical, short-statured Lord Farquaad, indeed, met his demise on “Shrek” in the middle of his supposed wedding to Princess Fiona, when the dragon swallows him whole and spits out his crown.
“All the others went on and made millions just for spending five minutes,” Lithgow said. Fallon suggested that Lord Farquaad could return with a prequel that shows how he became a lord, to which Lithgow replied, “I’m available.”
The Actor Recalled The Gingerbread Scene
Lord Farquaad only had less than 10 minutes of screentime on “Shrek,” but despite that, he remains one of the most beloved villains. Lithgow explicitly recalls voicing the scene where Lord Farquaad tortures Gingerbread Man.
According to Lithgow, he did the scene with writer Conrad Vernon, who was helping him with cues and temporarily voiced the Gingerbread Man. “They went and looked and looked and looked for the right Gingerbread Man, and they ended up hiring him. And he became the Gingerbread Man for like, five ‘Shrek’ movies! Me? Eaten by that goddamn dragon,” Lithgow said in mock exasperation.
Not only did Vernon return as Gingerbread Man in all the “Shrek” films, but he also co-directed “Shrek 2” and will be co-directing the fifth installment in the franchise.
John Lithgow Expressed Interest In Past Interviews
This isn’t the first time the 80-year-old, award-winning actor has said that he wanted to revisit Lord Farquaad. In 2024, Lithgow said he would say “yes in a minute” if he were asked to return to the franchise. However, that was quite difficult since his character was dead. “It turns out it’s impossible to recover from being eaten by a dragon,” he added.
In the musical short film “Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party,” Lord Farquaad was briefly seen singing the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” while in the dragon’s stomach. Lithgow returned to voice Lord Farquaad’s ghost in “Shrek 4-D,” an attraction that debuted at Universal Studios in 2003, which was later released on TV, streaming, and home video.
The Actor Had Misconceptions About ‘Shrek’
In 2025, Lithgow revisited some of his most iconic roles for Variety, including Lord Farquaad. The actor admitted that while he thought the project looked “fun” to do, he didn’t think it was a “big deal.”
“I thought it was like a Saturday morning cartoon or something. Not a big deal,” Lithgow said. He also revealed that it took four years before “Shrek” was released, saying, “They would bring me back in once every eight months or so to record some new material. And it was like, ‘Oh, I gotta do this ‘Shrek’ thing again? What is this?’”
“Shrek” officially started production in late 1995 and was released in 2001, grossing more than $484 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million.
The ‘Shrek 5’ Release Was Delayed Twice
In July 2024, DreamWorks officially announced “Shrek 5,” announcing a release date of July 2026. However, the date was pushed back to December 2026, and then again to June 2027. It isn’t known what caused the setbacks.
The last movie in the franchise, “Shrek Forever After,” was released in 2010 and focused on Shrek, who was plunged into a dystopian alternate reality after signing a contract with Rumpelstiltskin.
“Shrek 5” will return with its ensemble cast, including Mike Myers (Shrek), Cameron Diaz (Fiona), and Eddie Murphy (Donkey), as well as newcomers Zendaya, Marcello Hernandez, and Skyler Gisondo, who will be voicing Shrek and Fiona’s triplets, Felicia, Fergus, and Farkle.
Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for The Mandalorian and Grogu.After seven long years, Star Wars finally returned with a new movie, even if the wait wasn’t that bad because of the many Disney+ TV shows. One such series was The Mandalorian, easily the most popular show Disney+ put out because of its badass action and adorable star, Grogu. With the success of the show, Disney felt like a movie sequel would be the best return to the big screen, and while that is up for debate, there is no denying that Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is one of the most enjoyable Star Wars movies of all time.
The Mandalorian and Grogu have received mixed reviews, but most Star Wars fans appreciate the passion, references, and enjoyability this movie possesses. On the topic of references, there were more than just familiar creatures or Easter eggs, but a handful of Star Wars cameos. That is why this list will highlight every single cameo in The Mandalorian and Grogu, with each person appearing somehow associated with the beloved franchise. While Martin Scorsese was in a cameo, he wasn’t previously in any Star Wars media, meaning he won’t be featured on this list.
Lee Isaac Chung
Out of all the cameos in The Mandalorian and Grogu, most of them were directors of previous TV shows, such as The Mandalorian, with the first on this list being Lee Isaac Chung. While he has directed a few episodes of Star Wars shows, he is best known for helming the blockbuster movie Twisters and the critically acclaimed Minari.
Many of the cameos on this list have appeared sometime before, but for Chung, this is his first on-screen cameo, making it one to remember. Officially credited as Dok Suri, he played one of the X-Wing pilots at the end of the movie who helped Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu escape by bombing the Hutts Castle.
Rick Famuyiwa
Another director who made a quick appearance during The Mandalorian and Grogu was Rick Famuyiwa. He is a well-known Star Wars director who made his mark in shows such as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. Famuyiwa even directed some of the most memorable episodes in The Mandalorian, including the penultimate episode of Season 2, along with the Ahsoka finale.
Unlike Chung, this isn’t Famuyiwa’s first cameo. In fact, it is his fourth, appearing as his character, Jib Dodger, in one episode of The Mandalorian Season 1, and in two episodes in Season 3. Joining other cameos in the Adelphi Base hangar, he was chatting away with other pilots and also showed up at the end for the bombing sequence. As a prominent Star Wars director, Famuyiwa is likely to make another cameo in a future project for his fifth appearance.
Doug Chiang
As mentioned, most of the cameos on this list are directors who made a quick appearance, but Doug Chiang, on the other hand, is the Vice President and Creative Director at Lucasfilm. He originally worked for Industrial Light and Magic, creating set pieces and designing items that brought the movies to life. He then served as a design director and content supervisor for the prequels, now working on every single Star Wars movie, making him a leading figure.
Like all the cameos in The Mandalorian and Grogu so far, Chiang was also a New Republic officer, being credited as Lieutenant Blick. Despite being a key figure in Star Wars for decades, it took until now for him to make an on-screen appearance. Also, being a production designer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, he was a part of why this Star Wars movie looked so good, which was one of its best attributes.
Deborah Chow
Almost all the cameos in The Mandalorian and Grogu come inside Adelphi Base, and at the end of the film, when they bomb Nal Hutta. Alongside Chung, Famuyiwa, and Chiang, Deborah Chow, another Disney+ show director, made a brief cameo. However, this wasn’t Chow’s first cameo, appearing as Sash Ketter in two previous episodes of The Mandalorian, but this was certainly her biggest role.
After this cameo, fans hope to see her and the rest of the directors make future appearances, not only because they deserve to be recognized, but also since they are slowly building their lore in Star Wars canon. After directing the acclaimed episodes three and seven of the first season of The Mandalorian, she was able to be the series director of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which, while it received mixed reviews, included many memorable moments that cemented themselves in the lore, making it one of the best Star Wars TV shows.
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
Some might not view this entry as a cameo rather than an actor reprising his role, but Park Sun-Hyung Lee returned as Carson Teva in The Mandalorian and Grogu. First appearing in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, he reprised his role in the third season as well as The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka. As a recurring character, Sun-Hyung Lee was probably the most easily recognizable cameo in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Teva is one of the most prominent New Republic officers in the entire series, making cameos in most of the Disney+ TV shows. However, The Mandalorian and Grogu mark the first time he has made his big-screen appearance, with more hopefully in the future. Unfortunately, Sun-Hyung Lee had a lesser role than fans would have hoped, even having less screen time than his TV show appearances. Even though he should have been in it more, this bodes well for his future, likely returning as Carson Teva in an upcoming film.
Anthony Daniels
Up to this point, everyone on this list had been directors or production designers in Star Wars, but this marks the first time a Star Wars legend showed up in The Mandalorian and Grogu. Anthony Daniels is best known for being the iconic C-3PO in every single Star Wars movie, first highlighting the golden droid in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. However, Daniels did not reprise his role as the legendary droid or appear as a New Republic pilot in Adelphi Base, begging the question, who was he?
Arguably one of the most hidden cameos in The Mandalorian and Grogu, Daniels was a simple voice cameo that was easily missable. His voice can be heard as an air traffic droid at Adelphi Base, keeping his streak alive of being in every single Star Wars movie. Fans would love to see more C-3PO, one of the best Star Wars characters, in more projects, but it is nice to know that the legendary actors, including Daniels, can at least appear as standalone cameos.
Sam Witwer
Every Star Wars fan knows Sam Witwer, who himself is a massive Star Wars nerd, even correcting directors and writers. From his first appearance as Star Killer in one of the best Star Wars video games to his most prominent role as Darth Maul, he is a fan-favorite who will be in anything Star Wars related. This isn’t Witwer’s first cameo either, appearing as a Shore Trooper in Season 1 of Andor.
Fans can’t wait to see Witwer as Maul in Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, especially after the last few episodes. However, if they are really missing him, then they should catch his cameo in The Mandalorian and Grogu. He has appeared in almost every Star Wars project as of late, and in this movie, he was credited for “additional voices,” meaning he likely voiced a handful of random characters. One confirmed voice was that of a Snowtrooper early in the film. It may have been easily missable, but that is what makes this cameo all the more special.
Dave Filoni
If Witwer had the most hidden cameo in The Mandalorian and Grogu, then Dave Filoni had the most obvious appearance. The casual moviegoer might not recognize him, but he has been a crucial force in Star Wars’ return, best known for his work on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He also created, directed, and wrote many other live-action and animated series, as well as having a hand in writing The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Filoni isn’t a stranger to cameos, having a couple of voice roles in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. However, this time he had a much bigger screen presence, appearing once at the Adelphi Base sporting his iconic cowboy hat and another time near the end of the film in his X-Wing. It was a fun cameo for Star Wars fans, and as the creative officer and president of Lucasfilm, there is a good chance viewers might see him make another cameo in the future.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s upcoming wedding is one of the most highly anticipated pop culture events of the year — and rumors are running rife about where exactly the nuptials will take place.
According to new reports published by Page Six and TMZ on Friday, June 5, Swift and Kelce, both 36, could be planning to tie the knot in front of more than 1000 guests at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The wedding has also previously been rumored to be scheduled for June 13, 2026, a number Swift has long considered lucky.
While the couple has kept tight-lipped about their wedding location and have not yet publicly confirmed or denied where they’ll exchange vows, fans are weighing in on the growing speculation.
Flocking to social media, many Swift and Kelce fans shared that they didn’t believe the couple would choose such a public venue for their ceremony.
“Although Sly Stone was married at MSG, I seriously doubt Taylor Swift is going to do this. She’s excellent at faking out people and especially the press in order to keep her private life private,” one X user wrote.
Others were convinced that the reports were a ruse to keep the real wedding venue a tightly guarded secret.
“Why on earth would they want to have the wedding there? This feels like a cover for where they are really having it,” questioned one X user, while another added, “Oh please. It’s a decoy. I’ll bet they ARE getting married in [Rhode Island].”
Another echoed a similar sentiment, writing, “Maybe it’s a decoy location and it’s happening someplace else.”
One social media user had another theory about the timing of the reports being released.
“There’s an orchestrated plan to distract from Taylor’s successful song,” they wrote.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
The X user claimed that the wedding venue rumors flushed out news of Swift’s song “I Knew It, I Knew You” becoming the biggest first 24-hour streaming debut globally for any song on Amazon Music in 2026.
“When you google TS the MSGarden story comes up instead of her hit song breaking records. Yesterday it was 2 billion status with the ‘greedy’ spin,” they added.
Meanwhile, not everyone was against the idea of the Grammy winner and NFL star saying their “I do’s” at the MSG.
Some fans thought Madison Square Garden was a venue big enough and iconic enough that it could be fitting for such a famous couple, likening the event to a royal wedding.
“This is so romantic, this is honestly gearing up to rival the dream wedding I always envisioned as a child 🥹🥹🥹 (and I’m only a little bit jealous 😒😂) 🥹🥰🥰🥰💒💍🏈🏀🎶♾,” gushed one X user.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are gearing up to say “I do.” The couple announced their engagement in 2025, sharing a photo of Kelce down on one knee as he popped the question to Swift. “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the pair captioned their Instagram post at the time. Since […]
Another chimed in, “They are kind of our royal couple. I like both of them alot. Taylor is as smart as she is beautiful.”
One fan pointed out that the venue has been used for other large public events and could likely handle another function at the scale required.
“If Madison Square Garden can host President Trump speech event that means that MSG can deliver Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding,” they wrote.
After two years of dating, Swift and Kelce announced their engagement via social media in August 2025.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” they captioned a joint Instagram post at the time.
As well as the Madison Square Garden rumors, there has been talk that Swift and Kelce’s wedding could be split between her $18 million Rhode Island mansion and Ocean House, a five-star seaside resort nearby.
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Nobody radiates cool-mom vibes like Jessica Alba, and her secret is incredibly simple. The right sneakers give any outfit a laid-back city-girl appeal; Alba rocks these sporty Adidas kicks that look expensive, yet are on sale for only $57 on Amazon.
During a recent outing in Los Angeles, Alba wore a bomber jacket, baggy jeans and timeless black-and-white sneakers that tied the whole thing together. Her shoes pair well with anything, from denim pants to billowy dresses, so we won’t be surprised if she wears them again next week. We will be!
Get the Adidas Streetalk Sneakers for $57 (was $75) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
These Streetalk Adidas sneakers have a sleek flat silhouette that nods to vintage skater style without trying too hard. They’re the shoe equivalent of a great white T-shirt: simple, versatile and somehow always right. And they deliver on the details. The leather-like finish makes them more elevated than average gym shoes, especially in Alba’s simple monochrome color palette.
Chunky sneakers are already on their way out in favor of sleek black flats, but Kate Hudson dialed up the polish and added so much comfort. Her knit flats are basically elevated slippers, and we found the expensive look on sale for just $33! Spotted leaving an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica, the actress wore […]
Better yet, the soft textile lining is built for actual wear, as is the rubber outsole that provides grip without bulk. One happy shopper wrote, “Bought these specifically to walk around Chicago on and can verify they are the most comfortable tennis shoes I’ve ever owned.”
Another five-star fan shared, “They’re comfortable for everyday wear and go with almost everything because of the simple black design. They feel lightweight and easy to walk in, and I like that they look sporty without being bulky. Nice casual shoes for errands or everyday use.”
Alba occasionally reaches for designer, but her latest outfit proves the staying power of classic Adidas sneakers. If there were ever a time to add low-key, hardworking sneakers to your rotation, this is it. They’re a rare style pick that gets better with time.
Score them on mega sale before they’re gone!
Get the Adidas Streetalk Sneakers for $57 (was $75) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Metallics and slip-on shoes are both trending right now. Leave it to Andie MacDowell to combine the two. Ever since she stepped out in shiny silver loafers last month, ‘it’ girls are copying the look for everything from casual errands to fancy dinners. We’re doing the same — for under $50! Metallic loafers are one […]
By Chris Sawin
| Updated
A*P*E is one of those strange and horny films from the 1970s that you wonder why, in the present day, it exists in the first place. Originally rushed into production to compete with the John Guillermin directed 1976 remake of King Kong (the one starring Jeff Bridges), A*P*E is a co-production between South Korea and the United States and was originally shot and presented in 3-D.
Co-written and directed by Paul Leder with special effects by Park Kwang Nam, A*P*E is considered by many to be a Z-movie; so low budget that it’s a complete failure. The film’s entire budget was $23,000, while the special effects budget for the miniature buildings was only $1,200. Shot in just 14 days, A*P*E is mostly a direct ripoff of King Kong.
Not To Be Confused With King Kong
The story is that a 36-foot ape has been sedated and captured with the intent of showcasing it across the world. He escapes and causes havoc as he makes his way from the sea to Seoul. There’s also an actress in a red dress that he kidnaps on two separate occasions and obsesses over.
The film was originally advertised as The New King Kong before being slapped with a $1.5 million lawsuit by RKO Pictures. The film’s title was then changed to Super Ape and then A*P*E; a play on M*A*S*H and an abbreviation for “Attacking Primate MonstEr.”
The tagline was also changed to “Not to be confused with King Kong.” South Korea and other foreign countries were able to keep the references to King Kong with alternative titles such as Super King Kong and King Kong Returns. Other titles for the film include Ape (without the asterisks), King Kong’s Great Counterattack, Hideous Mutant, and Attack of the Giant Horny Gorilla.
Mr. Canadian Tuxedo Saves The Day
The film opens on an oil tanker in the dead of night, out at sea. Two shipmates discuss the giant gorilla, claiming that he’s been sedated enough to be out cold for five days and that his exhibition will begin at Disneyland, of all places. The ape wakes up and destroys the tanker in an impressive explosion. He then stands up in the middle of the water, clearly showcasing a wet ape suit as it struggles to cover up the actor’s wet arms and neck.
He proceeds to dance-wrestle a shark. He cradles it in his arms, and weaves back and forth in the water with it as if it’s a toddler that he’s teaching to swim. Soon after, he tears the shark’s jaw from its face. The ape then arrives on land and destroys a town in a fiery blaze. He stomps around all of these destroyed homes and throws explosive barrels around. One of these “barrels” is thrown into the camera, and it’s noticeable that they’re just a pile of unlabeled tin cans (think Spaghetti-O cans with the label ripped off).
An American actress named Marilyn Baker (Joanna Kerns in her film debut) has traveled to South Korea to make her first foreign picture. The picture in question, based on the scenes that are shown being shot, is filled with nothing but assault scenes. Her sort-of non-serious boyfriend, Tom Rose (Rod Arrants), decides to surprise her and is the first person to welcome her off the plane.
Tom is cringingly horny, by the way. With his curly white man afro and doused from head to toe in a blue jean jacket and bell bottoms, Tom is DTF and wants Marilyn to blow off her shooting schedule so she can Donkey Kong all night long. He proceeds to be all over her in the car while she pretends to be interested in the buildings they drive past.
Size And Scale Are Merely Guidelines
The film has a funny way of showing scale, as well. A full-size cow is shown before the film jumps to the ape, who steps over what is clearly a tiny cow figure. A man is shown hang gliding one moment, and in the next scene, a tiny version of him is seen by the ape’s head. A giant hand is used to pound through walls and grab Marilyn whenever the ape decides it’s been too long since he’s felt such supple skin, too. For shots farther away with Marilyn, the ape carries a doll in a red dress.
The ape costume is fuzzier than you’re probably expecting, as it’s covered in this curly brown hair, more so than just rubber. There are also peculiar close-ups of him in which the actor slightly moves the mask’s lips. It comes off like a tic because it isn’t really expressive apart from the fact that he’s usually doing it while watching something he shouldn’t. It’s also not flattering at all; the ape has a beer gut, a lumpy butt that’s bulbous in all the wrong places, and giant dark salami areolas.
The ape’s journey from the sea to Seoul is filled with awkward detours. He scares a bunch of kids on the playground, he lip-quiver-stares at a couple who have reluctant sex through a skyscraper window, and he dances some more as helicopters fly above him in the desert while Marilyn hides in a cave. After finally swatting one out of the air, he flips off the camera. The ending sees him throwing rocks down a mountain to cause a rockslide in an effort to continue the comparisons to Donkey Kong.
The other instances of 3-D are rather bizarre. A soldier pulling up to one of the destroyed towns drives straight into a steel beam that crashes through his windshield and attempts to be a close call like the log sequence in Final Destination 2. The ape throws a snake directly at the camera, which immediately falls over. An action movie is being filmed when the ape shows up. They shoot flaming arrows at him that fly at the screen on strings. There’s a pool sequence where the pool stick comes at the camera before the break. The ape also throws rocks at tanks and the army when they start shooting at him, which are also on strings.
Worth Its Weight In Unintended Comedy
The dialogue is full of cringe as well. When news of the ape first starts making the rounds and people aren’t taking it seriously, the police captain is in the dining room with his family and states, “Eat your breakfast, kids, or I’ll become a monster! Rawr!” Colonel Davis (Alex Nichol) serves as the Secretary of Defense, spending the majority of the film on a telephone in a room that echoes like a public bathroom. He also yells at his assistant, who seems to take notes in a planning calendar. Davis makes it a point to exclaim, “If you happen to run into him, ask him if his name is King Kong!” His facial expression and body language imply that Davis thought he really ate with that line.
Upon Marilyn’s first kidnapping by the ape, the army sends in helicopters while Captain Kim (Lee Nak-hoon) and the police stumped upon how to reach them. Tom’s big plan is to run in to save Marilyn, which somehow works because that’s the power of blue-jean bell bottoms. As Tom and Marilyn are seen driving in the city, Marilyn says, “Take it easy, Tom! Somehow I felt more safe with the ape than I do with your driving.”
And finally, after the ape is finally dealt with in the only logical way after causing so many deaths and nearly destroying all of Seoul, Tom ends the film with, “He’s just too big for a small world like ours.”
Tom claims to be a reporter and never actually reports anything. He and Marilyn joke about getting married throughout the film, which is odd, since it sounds like they were essentially just a Tinder hookup before all of this. Captain Kim has two kids who have no dialogue. Every time they’re shown on screen, they’re laughing, sometimes for full minutes at a time, at the ugliest damn marionette you’ve ever seen. There are weird helicopter-flying and tank-driving montages because the production worked with the actual army.
A*P*E is an awful film with a conclusion that seems obvious from the start, but it’s also entertaining as hell. The special effects are better than they have any right to be, and the overall cheese is thick with a rich ridiculousness that is surprisingly satisfying. The entire thing plays out like a bad drinking game where everyone was totally smashed halfway through, but had to finish the film anyway. Watch it once, then pretend it doesn’t exist. You won’t be disappointed.
I watched A*P*E via the Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, which is now out of print. The film is currently streaming for free on Tubi, Plex, and YouTube.
By TeeJay Small
| Updated
Last year it was announced that Hulu would be going the way of the dodo bird after Disney purchased the streaming service in its entirety. With little need for two platforms, Disney execs openly stated that the Hulu app would sunset in early 2026. Of course, early 2026 has now come and gone, and there’s been little word about the future of the streamer, or how existing subscribers will be grandfathered in to Disney+. Thanks to a recent report in Business Insider, we’ve got the scoop on what Disney has planned, though their internal documents seem to raise more questions than answers.
According to an internal Disney memo acquired by BI, the House of Mouse is rolling out a plan called “Project Gemini,” which is on pace to be completed by the end of the year. Despite sounding like a Bond villain plan to steal nuclear launch codes, Project Gemini basically entails ruining the Hulu app until nobody wants to use it anymore. At which point, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro will take the Hulu app behind the tool shed and give it the Old Yeller treatment. An unnamed employee is quoted as saying, “Hulu is on life support at this point, with no active development,” and steps have already been taken to reduce Hulu staff and respond slower to bug reports.
Killing Hulu Softly
The memo specifies that the plan is to “get folks to migrate organically” to Disney+ “by offering a better experience.” In layman’s terms, they plan to let bugs, glitches, and poor streaming quality consume Hulu, until subscribers quit the app and search up their favorite movies and shows on Disney instead. To facilitate this adjustment, they’re working on migrating watch history, likes, and other user data from one app to the other. Once completed, Disney plans to make their app a central hub for streaming, as well as buying merch and tickets to Disney parks.
If you’ve spent any time browsing Disney+ in recent months, you’ll know that almost everything from Hulu has already been moved over to the new library. Once the last movies and shows are migrated, app support for Hulu will be abandoned entirely. Disney’s official stance is that “The Hulu tech stack and app will be decommissioned after all users have transitioned,” but Business Insider reports “there are no current plans to sunset” the Hulu outlet at all. Meanwhile, certain app stores, such as the Nintendo eStore, have stopped offering downloads and update support to Hulu already.
Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Timelines
So it looks like the initial ‘early 2026’ timeline is firmly out the window, but there’s really no telling when we’ll get a straightforward update. For many subscribers, this is all meaningless, since Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions are largely intertwined. A majority of Hulu users even use a MyDisney login to manage their account on both apps. For others, though, this poses a major problem.
I personally maintain a free Hulu subscription bundled with my Spotify monthly plan. As of June 2026, I have received no communication from any party explaining how my account will be impacted by this new management. Disney and Spotify are not officially linked, meaning there’s technically nothing forcing the conglomerate to grandfather my free subscription into their updated library. So, by the end of the year, I may be part of a small minority clinging to the scraps of Hulu like Jack on the door of the Titanic.
Stripping Hulu For Parts
Losing Hulu won’t be the end of the world, especially if all of the content is migrated into Disney+. Despite my personal distaste for monopolies, I can admit that this change will make everything more streamlined and simple for consumers. Still, the lack of transparency behind the transition concerns me, and makes me feel like executives at Disney are moving with reckless abandon. In a media landscape that already disrespects the consumer at every turn, the least they can do is provide clearer info as they strip one of the largest streaming outlets for parts.
Sean Penn was noticeably absent at the 98th Academy Awards held in March, where he won his third Oscar. In a recent conversation at the Tribeca Festival, the actor opened up about why he was absent from the prestigious ceremony and why he most likely won’t be attending one in the future.
During the candid discussion, the actor also touched on his well-known dislike of taking selfies, a stance he has maintained for years. His comments provide a glimpse into his low-key approach to fame and public appearances.
At the 2026 Tribeca Festival’s “Storytellers” series, Sean Penn talked to moderator Kaitlan Collins about his decades-long career. At one point, Penn addressed his absence from the 2026 Oscars, telling Collins and the audience that he deliberately missed the ceremony because it “always represented social discomfort to me.”
Penn spoke with his “One Battle After Another” co-stars prior to the Oscars and told them he wouldn’t be attending. They understood his refusal, citing it was best for his mental health. The actor flew to Ukraine instead to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and support the country’s war efforts.
Penn further explained that he missed the Oscars not just because it was an awards show. He would also feel the same in any setting with large crowds. “Too many people. I’m now down, committed for life, that I won’t go anywhere to be in a designated group beyond eight people,” he said, adding that large gatherings were “dread-provoking” and gave him “anxiety.”
The Actor Attended The Golden Globes
Penn said attending the Golden Globes in January 2026 cemented his decision to no longer attend those types of affairs. “I went to the Golden Globes. I’d never been to that before. And that’s where I decided, ‘I can’t do this,’” he said, saying that he felt relieved when he decided not to go to the Oscars.
The actor made headlines at the Golden Globes after he was reportedly warned to stop smoking at the event. As The Blast previously reported, Penn was repeatedly approached by event staff to put out his cigarette, but he refused to comply.
Sean Penn Reaffirms His Hatred Of Selfies
Apart from large crowds, Penn also discussed his aversion toward selfies, telling Collings he refused to do it, no matter who the fan is.
“People should not do selfies ever with anyone. It’s bad for you. It’s bad for everyone. It’s a soul-sucker. It’s the Holocaust grandmother and her 6-year-old paraplegic wheeling over? It’s a hard no,” Penn firmly said.
His stance goes way back, and also extends to fans and paparazzi taking photos of him in public. In 2009, he kicked a paparazzo and damaged his camera equipment, which resulted in a misdemeanor charge. He pleaded no contest to the charges and was ordered to attend anger management classes and do community service. In 2013, he had an outburst over a fan taking his photo, and he was caught on video screaming, “Do we look like f-cking zoo animals? I’ll make you eat your phone!”
The Actor Has Mellowed Over The Years
Penn has had a long-standing reputation as a hothead. In June 1987, the actor was sentenced to 60 days in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $240. On the set of the movie “Colors,” Penn repeatedly punched an extra who was taking photographs of him. He also had a reckless driving charge. The actor ended up spending 33 days in jail.
In February that same year, Penn was given a one-year probation and fined $1,700 for assaulting songwriter David Wolinski, whom he assumed was attempting to kiss his then-wife, Madonna.
During his conversation with Collins, Penn shared that he has learned to walk away from confrontations. “I haven’t had a yelling match with anyone in four years. I have not listened to anyone yell for more than two seconds before I walk away,” he shared.
Sean Penn Enjoyed The Oscars From Far Away
While he didn’t attend the Oscars in March, Penn said he still made time to watch it despite its 2 a.m. airing in Ukraine.
Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in “One Battle After Another,” and his award was accepted by Kieran Culkin on his behalf. His recent win marks his third Oscar, following his previous Best Actor victories for “Mystic River” in 2004 and “Milk” in 2009.
“I really got to enjoy the Academy Awards for the first time. It was great,” Penn said of his decision to watch from afar.
Keke Palmer is giving credit where she believes it is due.
While reflecting on her upbringing and family life, the actress and television personality opened up about the important role her father played during her childhood, praising him for taking on responsibilities often associated with mothers.
Palmer shared the heartfelt detail during a conversation with “Euphoria” star Sharon Stone for Variety’s Actors on Actors.
Reflecting on her earliest years, the former child star described her father as highly disciplined and hardworking, though she said he often preferred to let her mother take the lead.
The actress also praised her father for taking on responsibilities that society has traditionally associated with women, something she believes remains uncommon among many men today.
“He did a lot of things that people would assume are mom things. My dad cooked and helped us with our laundry. If we had a problem with something tearing, he would sew it up. As I got older, I expected men to be like my dad,” Palmer said of her father, Larry.
The Actress Shares Funny Detail About Her Mother
Elsewhere in the conversation with Stone, Palmer also spoke about her mother, Sharon, who married her father in the 1980s.
She revealed that her mother loved swearing, a comment she made in response to Stone’s discussion of her own mom’s tendency to use colorful language.
Palmer further noted that her household was more matriarchal than patriarchal, echoing her earlier remarks that her father often stepped back, allowing her mother to take the lead in family affairs.
Sharon welcomed Palmer in 1993, nearly a decade after giving birth to her first child, Loreal, in 1989. She also shares twins, Lawrence and Lawrencia, with her husband, Larry, whom they welcomed in 2000.
Keke Palmer Reveals Parents’ Huge Sacrifice
During Palmer’s childhood, Sharon worked as a teacher while Larry was employed by a polyurethane company. When Palmer began finding success as a child actor, the family made significant sacrifices to support her career ambitions.
Among those sacrifices was her father giving up his pension, while the family also relocated to California so Palmer could be closer to acting opportunities and auditions as her career continued to grow.
“My dad gave up his pension. He had worked at the company he worked at for over 15 years and gave up his pension for me to have an opportunity for my dreams,” Palmer said during an appearance on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, per Afrotech.
She added, “My mother, they gave up everything. She gave up everything so she could travel with me and do what she needed to do with me. So, how I feel about it is, what’s mine is theirs. What’s theirs is mine, and I would do it again. I would give up and sacrifice 20 more years of my life.”
Palmer’s Parents Took Steps To Protect Her Money
Though Palmer has said she has no regrets about becoming the primary breadwinner for her family at a young age, her parents were careful to ensure there was no confusion about how her earnings were managed.
As her income grew, they hired a manager to oversee her finances, ensuring they were properly handled and protected from misuse.
“They wanted me to know that they weren’t the ones controlling my money. They had heard these stories, and my mom said, ‘I don’t want money to come in between me and my child,’” Palmer told the podcast host.
Keke Palmer On How She Learned Early To Give Back
A value Palmer’s parents worked hard to instill in her as her career flourished was the importance of giving back to the community.
From a young age, they involved her in community service efforts to ensure she remained grounded, remembered what truly mattered, and understood the importance of helping others during times of need.
“So, from the beginning, we would take her to do events with the NAACP, the MLK Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Club,” Sharon told Essence in an interview. “The goal was to keep her rooted in the community, to make sure she learned that a good life is a life of service and when much is given, there is a responsibility to give back in return.”
Entertainment
Apple TV’s Remake of Robert De Niro’s Classic 35-Year-Old Crime Thriller Becomes an Instant Hit Over Sci-Fi Favorite
Apple TV has been on a terrific run so far this year with shows such as Widow’s Bay and Star City, and the streamer hopes the biggest title on its summer roster will continue the momentum. Widow’s Bay is poised to conclude its first season after tremendous word-of-mouth success and widespread acclaim, and Star City is just about finding its feet after escaping from the shadow of For All Mankind. This gives Apple’s third new series of the summer perhaps the best shot at success from day one. Not only is it technically an IP play, it also features A-list stars and counts legends Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese as executive producers.
The two icons joined forces when the property was being reimagined as a feature film in the 1990s, with Spielberg initially eyeing to direct. The film was eventually taken over by Scorsese, who roped in his regular collaborator Robert De Niro to play the showy central role — a deranged stalker, fresh out of jail for a crime he claims he didn’t commit, seeking vengeance against the prosecutor who tried his case. De Niro’s performance received acclaim, although the movie was seen as something of a brief detour into populism for him and Scorsese. It ended up grossing a staggering $182 million worldwide against a reported budget of $35 million. Scorsese would return to this strategy of balancing out his commercial misfires with stylish thrillers — Shutter Island, The Departed — that earn both money for the studio and goodwill for him.
Apple’s Easy-to-Binge New Series Is Outperforming Proven Hits
Apple’s new limited series remake, Cape Fear, features Javier Bardem in the role made famous by De Niro, and by the great Robert Mitchum before him in a 1962 version. The 10-episode series also features Amy Adams and Patrick Wilson, taking over the roles played by Jessica Lange and Nick Nolte in Scorsese’s film, and by Polly Bergen and Gregory Peck in the 1962 version. This time around, the character played by Adams has been significantly beefed up compared to the previous iterations. Created by Nick Antosca, Cape Fear holds a “Certified Fresh” 75% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “Elevated by Javier Bardem’s manic charisma and the genre’s best pulpy intricacies, Cape Fear revitalizes the revenge thriller and manages to make a noteworthy name for itself.” According to FlixPatrol, the series took the number two spot on Apple’s viewership charts upon release, trailing Your Friends & Neighbors and outperforming both Widow’s Bay and Star City. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
June 4, 2026
- Network
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Apple TV
- Showrunner
-
Nick Antosca
- Directors
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Amanda Marsalis, Morten Tyldum, Stephen Williams, Jon S. Baird, Jonathan van Tulleken, Reed Morano, S.J. Clarkson, Trey Edward Shults
- Writers
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Peter Blake, Alan Page Arriaga, Maria Jacquemetton
The jokes about Love Island USA‘s Gabriel Vasconcelos having sex with a woman nearly 30 years older than him kept on coming — and the Peacock show even got Leonardo DiCaprio involved.
During the Friday, June 5, episode, narrator Iain Stirling poked fun at Gabriel’s revelation by comparing him to a “reverse Leonardo DiCaprio” in reference to the actor’s dating history. The joke came after the Islanders had to read out sex facts and figure out which of them it was about.
One of the revelations was that an Islander slept with someone in their 50s.
“I was out and I was having a good time with my friends. She started talking to me and she was hot as f*** for her age,” Gabriel, who is 26 years old, said about his encounter with the 52-year-old. “We had a good night together. She had a lot of experience.”
Love Island USA follows a group of singles who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa in Fiji. The contestants — who are referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and to stand a chance to receive the prize of $100,000.
While the islanders are filming nonstop for weeks, viewers are watching daily episodes and even get to cast votes that affect couples and the fate of the contestants.
Before season 8 premiered, Love Island USA released a statement directed at the audience, which read, “The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected.”
The statement continued: “This is a space for fun, not negativity – so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”
Love Island USA is all about coupling up — so which Islanders are currently together and which have already called it quits in the villa? Peacock’s popular dating show returned in June 2026 with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum […]
In addition to Gabriel, season 8 of Love Island USA features Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum, Kayda Bosse and Zach Georgiou.
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
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