Jared Leto wearing a bandanna on the red carpetImage via Abaca Press/INSTARimages
When Tim Burton‘s Batman broke box-office records in 1989, Hollywood decided that audiences were hungry for movies featuring pulp comic book characters. This explains the existence of Darkman, Dick Tracy, The Crow, and The Phantom. When Michael Bay‘s Transformers became a summer smash, Hasbro plunged headfirst into film production and made movies such as Battleship and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. And now, after the success of Barbie, we’re getting film adaptations of Mattel properties such as the upcoming Matchbox: The Movie and this week’s Masters of the Universe. All of this is to say that Hollywood often learns the wrong lessons from success. It’s still unclear if Masters of the Universe is a gamble that’s going to pay off, especially since the market has very clearly pivoted from boomers to zoomers in recent times.
The last two weeks have seen the phenomenal box-office performance of Backrooms and Obsession, two low-budget horror movies directed by twenty-somethings. Meanwhile, the audience for The Mandalorian and Grogu seems to be shrinking by the day. Some would say that there is an overlap between the folks who were disappointed by that Star Wars film and those who will give Masters of the Universe a chance. Based on the He-Man character from the 1980s, whose adventures were previously turned into a commercially unsuccessful theatrical movie in 1987, Masters of the Universe has braved weeks of bad press ahead of its opening this week. Somewhat surprisingly, the movie wasn’t panned like many had anticipated.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
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🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
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01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
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02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
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03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
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04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
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05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
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06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
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07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
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08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
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09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
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10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
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Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
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Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
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Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
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John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
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Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
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Here’s How Much ‘Masters of the Universe’ Grossed at the Box Office
Instead, it’s now sitting at a 66% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “By the power of Grayskull and with a little help from its self-deprecating script and spirited cast, Masters of the Universe is a delightful adventure that finds the humanity in He-Man.” The movie’s 87% audience score is a welcome sign for its future. Directed byTravis Knightand starring Nicholas Galitzine in the lead role, the movie also features Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, and Jared Leto as Skeletor. The film grossed around $29 million domestically in its first weekend, falling short of the $37 million opening-weekend haul of fellow swords-and-sandals fantasy film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Masters of the Universe added around $25 million from overseas markets for a cumulative global debut of less than $55 million, against a reported budget of nearly $200 million. It would need to gross around $400 million worldwide in order to break even, given the typical split between studios and exhibitors and the sort of marketing spend allocated for films this size. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
June 5, 2026
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Director
Travis Knight
Writers
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Chris Butler
Producers
Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, Todd Black
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Heidi Klum just gave Us a masterclass in “quiet luxury” without saying a word. The supermodel and Project Runway host stepped out in a crisp white sleeveless blazer paired with matching wide-leg trousers, and honestly? She made the whole “money whispers” trend look effortless. No loud logos, no flashy accessories. Just clean lines, polished tailoring and that signature Klum confidence.
This monochromatic white set fits right into the warm-weather wardrobe pivot. It’s the kind of outfit that works for a daytime business meeting, a lunch reservation or a summer rooftop event where the dress code reads “elevated but breezy.” The best part? You don’t need her modeling paycheck to copy the look. Mimic the supermodel’s outfit with the Zesica Summer Two-Piece Suit Set on Amazon!
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Get the Zesica Summer Two-Piece Suit Set for $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Zesica Summer Two-Piece Suit Set includes a sleeveless blazer vest, giving you that sharp, structured shoulder line (very boardroom-meets-Hamptons), while the wide-leg pants do all the heavy lifting in the elegance department. Wide leg pants are flattering on basically everyone, and they instantly make any top look more expensive than it is.
The quiet luxury magic happens when you wear the set together, but you can also pair the blazer with denim and sandals on its own, or wear the trousers with a silk camisole for date night. Add gold hoops, a slicked-back low bun and a tan leather tote, and suddenly you’re the one people are sneaking photos of at brunch.
As one five-star Amazon reviewer put it, “This outfit is so elegant! Great fabric and classic look! Fit is perfect!”
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The official start to summer 2026 is a few weeks away, and this quiet luxury-inspired matching set is the easiest, supermodel-approved outfit formula you’ll reach for again and again.
Get the Zesica Summer Two-Piece Suit Set for $70 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Roommates, what started as a day filled with community, family fun, and celebration quickly took a devastating turn at the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio. Authorities are now searching for answers after a violent incident near the beloved annual event left multiple people injured and sent festivalgoers scrambling for safety.
Gunfire Breaks Out Near Popular Community Festival
According to officials, officers with the Toledo Police Department responded around 5:37 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, after receiving reports of a shooting near Delaware and Glenwood avenues, just outside the annual Old West End Festival. Investigators believe at least two individuals exchanged gunfire in the area, striking multiple people who were attending or near the event. When officers arrived, they discovered numerous victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Gunfire struck 12 people, leaving two victims in critical condition. Authorities reported no fatalities as of late Saturday.
Furthermore, police revealed that the victims ranged in age from 14 to 61 years old, highlighting just how many lives were impacted by the violence. Several injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, while investigators continued interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence from the scene. Speaking during a press conference, Toledo Police Lt. Dan Gerken described the incident as “over the top” and urged community members to come forward with any information that could assist investigators.
Police Continue Search For Suspects
Police have not arrested any suspects so far. Authorities say investigators are actively pursuing leads and reviewing evidence collected from multiple locations connected to the shooting, including areas near Delaware and Robinwood avenues. Officials are also asking anyone who attended the festival to share photos, videos, or other footage that may help identify those responsible. Police noted that officers were already on-site at the festival when the shooting occurred and immediately responded after hearing gunfire.
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Community Leaders React To The Violence
The shooting unfolded near the Old West End Festival, a longtime community tradition that attracts thousands of visitors each year to one of Toledo’s most historic neighborhoods. Deputy Chief Joseph Heffernan said a few individuals turned a beloved community event into a scene of chaos. Meanwhile, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine addressed the incident on social media, saying he was “deeply concerned” by the shooting. He added that summer festivals should remain safe spaces for families and expressed confidence that law enforcement would locate those responsible as the investigation continues.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is giving fans another sweet glimpse into motherhood, and her latest video of her daughter, Aurora, has social media melting down. The internet star recently shared a heartwarming clip on Instagram showing a playful moment with her little girl, who is now officially on the move.
Instagram | Gypsy Rose Blanchard
In the adorable video, Blanchard could be seen kneeling on the floor while encouraging her daughter to walk toward her. Aurora, dressed in pink pajamas, toddled across the room before stopping to blow kisses toward her mom, prompting an emotional reaction from fans in the comments.
While Blanchard allowed followers a peek into the milestone moment, she continued to keep her daughter’s face concealed from public view. Throughout the clip, Aurora’s back remained turned toward the camera as she walked toward her mom and wrapped her in a hug.
Blanchard captioned the touching post simply, “My world [pink heart emoji].”
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The wholesome moment quickly sparked a wave of emotional reactions from followers, many praising Blanchard’s journey into motherhood. “Motherhood is the sweetest. You’re healing your younger you and your current you too,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “I’m glad you get to have this, Gypsy.”
“Motherhood can be so healing. So happy for you,” a third fan shared. But others could not believe how quickly Aurora appears to be growing up. “She’s growing so fast. Make all the best memories with her as possible!!” one person commented. “Such a cutie. Can’t believe she’s walking now!” another wrote.
One fan also praised Blanchard’s parenting journey, commenting, “Broke the cycle [red heart emoji]. Gypsy you are doing amazing as a mama.” As previously documented, Gypsy Rose spent years subjected to medical abuse and manipulation, later revealing she had been falsely portrayed as severely ill throughout much of her childhood.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Has Been Protective Of Her Daughter’s Privacy
Instagram | Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Although Blanchard has become increasingly open about sharing glimpses of motherhood online, she has remained intentional about protecting her daughter’s privacy. In recent social media posts, the reality star has avoided fully showing Aurora’s face, instead opting to share moments from behind or at angles that keep the toddler largely concealed.
“It has come to my attention that fake Gypsy accounts are posting pictures of random babies with the intent to gain followers and views,” she said in 2025 after several social media accounts claimed they obtained photos of Aurora’s face. “I will not be posting pictures of my daughter nor would I post pictures of other babies. Please be cautious of what Gypsy accounts you follow and receive information from.”
Instagram | Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Blanchard has also spoken candidly about why she chooses to keep her daughter largely off social media, explaining that protecting her privacy remains a top priority. In a 2025 interview with PEOPLE, the new mom admitted that the growing number of fake Gypsy Rose accounts online has become increasingly “frustrating,” especially as misleading content continues to spread.
“Followers on social media need to be proactive in questioning the content they consume. There are many scam and fake accounts and an individual like myself can easily be misrepresented by the content that scammers put out,” Blanchard told the outlet. “I care about the content that I put out and so it is extremely frustrating when I am misrepresented.”
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The reality star also explained that limiting her daughter’s presence online is an intentional parenting decision. Blanchard said it is her “personal choice to keep our daughter off social media platforms to protect her from the scrutiny of the public eye.”
“She is a minor and can’t consent to her image being used,” she continued. “We respect that fact.”
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Shares Daughter Aurora With Boyfriend Ken Urker
Instagram | Gypsy Rose Blanchard
Blanchard welcomed daughter Aurora with boyfriend Ken Urker, marking a major new chapter in the couple’s relationship after years of ups and downs. The pair first met while Blanchard was serving time in prison and became engaged before eventually ending their relationship in 2019. However, after Blanchard’s release in December 2023, the two ultimately found their way back to one another.
Their reunion came shortly after Blanchard’s split from estranged husband Ryan Anderson. Gypsy Rose and Anderson married in July 2022 while she was still incarcerated, but their relationship quickly came under public scrutiny after her release from prison. In March 2024, Blanchard confirmed the pair had separated, later filing for divorce.
Not long after the breakup, Blanchard rekindled her romance with Urker, with the pair later announcing they were expecting their first child together.
On 5 June 2026, news broke that Anthony Head had passed away at the age of 72, and there was an understandable outpouring of sadness from those who’d appreciated his work in the past, not to mention tributes to the actor paid by both fans of his and actors he’d worked with. Head had a steady acting career over decades, and also boasted a pretty varied body of work on both the big screen and in the world of television, with notable roles played in movies like Repo! The Genetic Opera, and TV shows like Ted Lasso and Merlin.
The role he might be most beloved for, though, is that of Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of all the cast members on that show, he was the fourth most regularly occurring character, being a member of the main cast for seasons 1 through 5, and then appearing as a recurring character throughout the final two seasons. He brought his A-game throughout all those appearances, but the following episodes stand out particularly so, doing a great deal for the character of Giles and providing undeniable stand-out moments for Head, as an actor.
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10
“Lie to Me” (1997)
Season 2, Episode 7
Image via The WB
The second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is where things start getting both more dramatic and largely better in quality overall, with “Lie to Me” not quite being the ultimate turning point, though it is a sign of darker things to come. Buffy runs into an old friend of hers who wants to become a vampire because he’s dying from a terminal illness, and he falls in with Spike, trying to get the new-to-Sunnydale vampire to sire him.
It happens at the end, but Buffy and Giles are prepared for it, waiting over Ford’s grave so that Buffy can stake/slay him, as she has to do. It’s a naturally more personal and morally difficult kill for Buffy than the usual kind of slaying, and it makes her reflect on the challenges of being the Slayer going forward. She talks to Giles about this, and asks him to lie to her about her probable future, which is where Giles gets to sarcastically drop one of the season’s best lines:
“The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats. And, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and… everybody lives happily ever after.”
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9
“Prophecy Girl” (1999)
Season 1, Episode 12
Okay, there was some shade directed toward season 1 just then, but the first season does conclude with “Prophecy Girl,” and it is the first properly great episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The prophecy states that Buffy is to die while fighting the Master (season 1’s big bad), and it’s the first time she – and you, as a viewer – really feel the emotional weight of her situation and bleak destiny.
She does die, albeit temporarily, and of course that’s going to happen when the show’s seven seasons long, and this is only the 12th episode overall. But it creates compelling drama either way, with Sarah Michelle Gellar getting to be the obvious MVP, but Head’s Giles is also given more dramatic material here than he had up until this point in the show, with both cast members’ acting doing a lot to elevate an already very compellingly written episode.
8
“The Gift” (2001)
Season 5, Episode 22
Image via The WB
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Another season finale, “The Gift” concludes season 5, and was done in a way where it could’ve been the series finale, had the show not been brought back, on another network, for a sixth and then seventh season. Buffy and the other Scoobies have their final battle with Glory, who’s a full-on God, albeit one who shares a body with a mortal man named Ben, switching back and forth between one and the other.
It’s Giles who gets his hands dirty by killing Ben before he switches back to Glory, with it being perhaps the character’s darkest moment, even if doing so is something that helps save the world. Of course, it pales in comparison to Buffy’s sacrifice at the end of “The Gift,” which is the most memorable part of the episode, and an all-time iconic scene within the show overall, but what this episode does for Giles, as a character, also shouldn’t be overlooked.
7
“Helpless” (1999)
Season 3, Episode 12
Image via The WB
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The premise of “Helpless” is an inherently quite frightening one, as it sees Buffy temporarily stripped of her Slayer powers, and made to take part in a cruel test that involves surviving and defeating a vampire. It’s done by the Watcher’s Council, who are notoriously terrible, given what they put Slayers through, even outside the extreme tests one finds in an episode like “Helpless.”
Giles is torn between his loyalty to the Council, and his loyalty to Buffy, and while the episode does make Giles and Buffy clash, the whole ordeal does convince Giles to distance himself further from the Council. Their bond is strengthened in the long run, since Giles sticks by Buffy in the end, even if the Council has fired him and he’s no longer Buffy’s official Watcher (which leads to the introduction of Wesley, who’s a frustrating goofball more loyal to the Council, all before he gets a compelling character arc later on, when he makes the jump to Angel).
6
“Innocence” (1998)
Season 2, Episode 14
Image via The WB
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Since “Innocence” deals with the events immediately following on from Angel reverting into Angelus (Angel without a soul, basically), it’s a particularly Buffy-focused episode, since so much of the show up until this point had been about her falling in love with Angel. The two have sex for the first time in the previous episode, this makes Angel lose his soul, and then Buffy struggles with him starting to rampage around while beating herself up for some time, feeling responsible.
Buffy does keep on fighting, though, and Giles also gets a moment to shine near the episode’s end, talking to Buffy in his car and telling her it’s not her fault and that he still supports her. This is one scene in the overall episode, but it was one that people were bringing up surprisingly often while remembering Head’s finest moments on the show, since the warmth and compassion Giles exudes here feels incredibly sincere, and progressive for the time, as he’s an authority/father figure not blaming a female character for her sexual behavior (and it can’t be delved into in detail here, but there is a history of female – and some male – characters, particularly in supernatural/horror stories, effectively being punished for having sex).
5
“Tabula Rasa” (2001)
Season 6, Episode 8
Image via UPN
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“Tabula Rasa” occurs right after the musical episode, which will be broken down in a bit. It’s not convenient to talk about the second half first, when the two episodes are almost a two-parter, but that musical episode does deserve a better placement ranking-wise. Anyway, certain things are revealed during the musical episode, and while everyone is coming down from all the singing, dancing, and uncomfortable truths, Willow tries to make some things forgotten, through magic, but the spell goes wrong and everyone forgets too much.
After waking up with amnesia, Giles ends up assuming he might be married to Anya, and then Spike and Giles both come to the conclusion that they’re related, and all that’s undeniably funny, and the episode’s admirably committed to its high-concept premise. “Tabula Rasa” does get more somber by the episode’s end, though, with Willow and Tara’s relationship permanently affected for the worse, and Giles committing to leaving Sunnydale and returning to England (and it’s from this point on, in the series, that Giles becomes more of a recurring character than a true main one).
4
“A New Man” (2000)
Season 4, Episode 12
Image via The WB
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There are some slower and less amazing episodes in season 4, truth be told, but it would be wrong to call it a bad season of television. It’s more the case that it’s just not quite as consistent as season 3, and it doesn’t quite have as many highs as the more dramatic second and fifth seasons (a couple of characters leaving the show post-season 3 didn’t help, since Angel and Cordelia went over to Angel, and then there were some growing pains with the setting going from high school to college).
But to stick with the positives, and to stick with Giles, he gets one of his best episodes in season 4, with “A New Me.” This does for Giles what “The Zeppo” in season 3 did for Xander, as he’s the center of this one, getting turned into a demon who can’t speak English, and forced to fend for himself while trying to return to his human form. It’s been described as a midlife crisis episode for Giles, and it’s also fun/novel to see a main character put in the sort of extensive make-up and prosthetics usually only reserved for certain villainous characters. Giles is, for this one episode, the monster of the week, in effect.
3
“Band Candy” (1998)
Season 3, Episode 6
Image via The WB
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“Band Candy” is Head’s finest comedic hour, since this episode’s premise involves the adults of Sunnydale falling under a spell that makes them revert to their teenage selves. Giles does not get out of this, and acts in an incredibly different way than he had always been up until that point, with the episode laying out how he used to have a rebellious streak as a teenager, and went by the nickname “Ripper.”
Ripper Giles is obviously interesting/fun to get some insight into, but that he looks like grown-up Giles (with different hair and after losing the glasses, admittedly) obviously makes him funny, too. And he strikes up a brief fling with Buffy’s mom, who’s also acting like a teenager again, and while all that’s all obviously horrifying for Buffy, it’s funny when you’re on the other side of the TV screen.
2
“Once More, with Feeling” (2001)
Season 6, Episode 7
Image via UPN
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Anyone who appears in “Once More, with Feeling” can have it count as one of their best episodes, since it’s an all-around very strong musical episode that gives pretty much everyone at least a moment or two to shine (with the possible exception of Alyson Hannigan, who reportedly didn’t want to be given too much to sing). Anthony Head has always been a singer on top of an actor, though, so he really got to shine in this musical episode.
That Head is perhaps the best singer in the main cast does also help him make a particularly strong impression.
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His singing was previously heard in “Restless,” albeit in a dream sequence, but he gets one solo song here (“Standing”), and then participates in a few of the ensemble numbers. “Once More, with Feeling” is also an important episode for the character of Giles, since he grapples with the conflict of how much he can – or should – be involved in Buffy’s life, with what she’s going through at that particular moment as someone who’s now been an adult for several years. That Head is, as mentioned before, perhaps the best singer in the main cast (though Amber Benson, as Tara, is also worth a shout-out) does also help him make a particularly strong impression here.
1
“Passion” (1998)
Season 2, Episode 17
Image via The WB
“Passion” is one of the heaviest episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and gives Giles what’s probably his most dramatic hour in the show’s entire run. In that sense, it gives Anthony Head a lot to do, as an actor, and he really rises to the occasion, intensifying what is an already grim and emotionally harrowing episode: the first to have a significant non-villainous character die.
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It is the “Jenny dies” episode, to put it bluntly, but it’s also a bit more interesting than that, given that it doesn’t happen right at the end of the episode, meaning parts of “Passion” deal with the immediate aftermath of that death, and Giles’ almost suicidal attempts to avenge her murder. Giles discovering Jenny’s body, and then the sequence where he breaks down after nearly dying while trying to murder Angelus, are two of the very best scenes in the whole of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s run.
Chris Hemsworth headlined Michael Mann’s divisive thriller Blackhat.
Doug Peters/PA Images/INSTARimages
Despite a glowing track record as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth has had a rather difficult time trying to grab a piece of pre-existing franchises. The actor played a memorable supporting role in Paul Feig‘s Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, which underperformed at the box office for reasons other than its quality. He also played a supporting role in George Miller‘s long-awaited prequel film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which underperformed commercially as well. He also voiced Optimus Prime in Transformers One, which you probably forgot came out less than two years ago. However, arguably his least successful attempt to join a new franchise remains Men in Black: International.
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The movie was released to poor reviews in 2018, after an infamously difficult shoot that must rank, along with Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, among the worst productions that Hollywood saw during the 2010s. Things became so bad on the set of Men in Black: International that Hemsworth and his co-star Tessa Thompson reportedly had their own personal screenwriters on call to patch up the dialogue. Director F. Gary Gray, at one point, was on the verge of quitting the movie altogether but was told to hang on by the studio. The end result was a film that was roundly rejected by the franchise’s fans and critics alike. Men in Black: International now holds a 23% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Amiable yet forgettable, MiB International grinds its stars’ substantial chemistry through the gears of a franchise running low on reasons to continue.”
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
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🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
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You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
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The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
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You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
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Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
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The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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Here’s Where You Can Watch ‘Men in Black: International’ for Free
The movie grossed $253 million against a reported budget of $100 million, making it the lowest-grossing installment of the franchise. By comparison, Men in Black III earned $653 million more globally, but it also cost significantly more ($250 million). Hemsworth’s latest movie, the neo-noir crime-thriller Crime 101, also underperformed at the box office, but has turned into a streaming super-hit on Prime Video. The star will hope that the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday brings him back to winning ways at the box office to complement the considerable success he’s had on streaming thanks to movies such as Crime 101 and the Extraction films. You can watch Men in Black: International for free on Tubi this month, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Draya Michele just switched things up, and the internet wasted no time weighing in. She popped out with some “new hair, who dis” energy, showing off a major transformation and says the change has her feeling lighter.
Draya Michele is stepping into a whole new era and popped out with a fresh look to match. The Mint Swim founder hopped on social media to show off her hair transformation, revealing that she chopped off her split ends and went for a shorter style. Draya said she loved rocking buns, but decided it was time to switch things up and start embracing her natural curls. In the clip, she cuts her hair to her jawline and says the change has her feeling light and free. She also put her followers on to the details, revealing that she went with a French bob complete with curtain bangs. “Anyone that needs motivation to go ahead and cut your hair. Go ahead and cut your hair girl!” She added, “Do it!”
Draya Said, “New Hair, Who Dis?” And Social Media Tapped Right In!
After The Shade Room dropped the video of Draya, the Roommates flooded the comment section with reactions. Plenty of folks said they love her new vibe, while others said they would event want to see go even shorter with the cut.
Instagram user @dominiquechinn wrote, “I like the short look on her 😍”
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Instagram user @runwaymia wrote, “The hair cut suits her very well 😍”
While Instagram user @tracydimarco_ wrote, “A side part would absolutely be diabolical on that haircut it would be so chic 👏”
Then Instagram user @shaylalashaii.22 wrote, “Yessss hair! It’s giving Joan from girlfriends 🔥😍🤏🏾”
Another Instagram user @sexyaries___ wrote, “Health over length always.”
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Instagram user @slayedbymatthew wrote, “Them ponytails will do it to you 😫 love the cut 😍”
While another Instagram user @_thebeautyboutique wrote, “I love it when a girly gets a much needed haircut✂️”
Then another Instagram user @thatseuro wrote, “Pixie would look so 🔥on her.”
Finally, Instagram user @diorb wrote, “Giving very demure, like grown and sexy, giving peace and love 😍”
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From Fresh Cuts To Chef School — Draya Stays On A Pivot!
Draya’s new era goes way beyond her hair. In April, she told fans she enrolled in culinary school and dropped pics of her fully locked in wearing chef attire. She said in her IG caption that chef life never showed up on her mood board, but she’s always enjoyed cooking. She also encouraged her followers to pivot and tap into new passions.
“You’re allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to pivot. You’re allowed to discover new passions you never saw coming. It’s never too late to change your path or start something new. If you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.”
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Who doesn’t want a Zara wardrobe? Boho, breezy and all sorts of luxe, the brand is a rich mom summer go-to for a reason. The price tags are the only not-so-cute element, but we found 17 chic summer dresses that channel the exact same energy — for under $30.
These Amazon dresses have all the telltale characteristics of Zara: breezy fabrics, soft boho prints and unique textures, all with a quiet luxury finish. Not only are our favorites expensive-looking, but they’re also flattering thanks to the loose, billowy fits that skim over problem areas (if you know, you know). Scroll on to find your new favorite warm-weather outfit!
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17 Loose Zara-Style Dresses — Under $30
1. Our Favorite: The scoop neckline and floor-grazing length give this floral maxi dress an old-money appeal. Throw on gold hoops and leather sandals, and you’ve got dinner-on-the-coast energy.
2. Runner Up: The ruffle sleeves soften your shoulders and the pockets are deep enough for your phone. This cutesy mini dress is one you’ll want to reach for at least three days a week.
3. Luxe Long Sleeves: Hot weather, but you still want arm coverage? This lightweight long-sleeve dress does it without making you overheat.
4. Beach Day: It’s hard to believe Dokotoo’s misty blue maxi dress is only $15 yet pulls double duty as a swimsuit cover-up. With a few key accessories and stylish shoes, no one will ever know it feels like loungewear.
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5. Wedding Guest: Skip the wedding-guest panic! This polished mini dress handles outdoor ceremonies, rehearsal dinners and welcome parties alike.
6. Dreamy and Drapey: If you’re tired of maxi dresses that cling in all the wrong places, this A-line sundress promotes airflow, hanging away from your body to keep you cool.
7. Effortless Elegance: With satin fabric, a high mock neckline and a shiny finish, this sophisticated maxi dress looks like something off a runway.
8. East Coast: Saturday errands inevitably turn into an impromptu lunch with friends. This casual striped shirtdress takes you from Trader Joe’s to the wine bar without a second thought.
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9. Vacation Mode: The walk from your beach chair to lunch shouldn’t require a wardrobe change. This button-front cover-up makes you look expensive at both.
10. Business Casual: Slip on this pink lapel dress with loafers, and you’ll be the most put-together person at the client luncheon.
11. Elevated Tee: When getting dressed feels like a chore, a solid-colored T-shirt dress is your outfit shortcut. Just add sandals and go!
12. Could Be Linen: Morning walk along the marina, coffee cup in hand, hair still salty from yesterday. This linen-looking shirtdress is the ‘It’-girl vacation uniform.
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13. Early Bird: Cool summer mornings call for a comfy sweatshirt dress that handles 60-degree coffee runs with ease. You’ll ditch your lounge set for good.
14. Smocked and Ready: Smocking does the definition work of a waistband without the squeeze. This ultra-flattering sundress gives you shape without anything digging in.
15. World Traveler: Long-haul travel days call for a dress that doesn’t wrinkle into oblivion. This striped maxi survives the flight and still looks crisp at baggage claim.
16. Summer Denim: This flowy denim dress is more weekend-in-Provence than country fair. Ruffles add a dainty, boutiquey flair.
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17. Baby, Yes: Bridal shower in the backyard, lemonade in your hand and photos you’ll actually want to keep. This sunny babydoll dress hits that boho-luxe sweet spot.
You don’t need a plane ticket to imagine the aesthetic. New York rich moms, the ones that live on Park Avenue and carry totes worth quadruple digits, are polished beyond compare, and they somehow seem comfortable. That’s the magic of their comfy, luxe-looking sundresses. These 21 summer dresses deliver uptown-meets-downtown ease, the kind you can […]
Avery Woods is teasing the first season of “SLOMW OC” and says there’s tons of drama to go around. In a new interview, the influencer-turned-reality TV star opened up about the cast and also responded to the criticism that many of the women aren’t part of the Mormon community.
MEGA
Speaking with Us Weekly, Woods, 31, said “SLOMW” fans have nothing to worry about regarding the show’s drama.
“It’s reality TV, there’s going to be drama,” she said. “There’s a lot of different personalities and a lot of different beliefs and views.”
Hulu announced the spin-off series at their upfronts event earlier this year, according to The Blast. The cast includes Bobbi Althoff, YouTuber Madison Bontempo, Aspyn Ovard, Salomé Andrea, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease, McCall DaPron, and, of course, Woods.
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Additionally, an original “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star, Jen Affleck, is part of the group.
Woods Addresses The Rumors That Many Of The ‘SLOMW OC’ Cast Members Are No Longer Mormon
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Regarding the cast member’s affiliations with the Mormon church, Woods said that many of the women are “still active in the church,” while a few others were “raised Mormon and have left the church.”
She also said some of the cast members have never been Mormon; however, they are “very close to people that are part of the church, so we know a lot about it.”
According to Woods, the Mormon church feels like a “community” she’s very familiar with. “I was married at 21, had my first baby at 23. I met my husband at 18. That was just kind of like the culture we were raised in, but I will say it’s really cool seeing the dynamic of the girls who are still actively part of the church. And then there’s like the LA girls that are not part of the church,” she said.
Woods Said The ‘SLOMW OC’ Cast Are All Very Different From Each Other
Disney | Maya Dehlin
While the cast will focus on the women’s relationships with the Mormon church and each other, Woods said they all have differences that will be showcased to the audience.
“We all could not be more different, but I think the coolest part about us all coming together is we’ve started to understand and be more open to how each one of us lives our life, because we all make different choices and different decisions, and we raise our children differently, we dress differently, we speak differently,” she said.
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Woods explained that their differences have allowed them to develop a deep appreciation for each other, adding that it will be “really cool” for viewers to see that.
How Did Hulu Settle On Orange County For The Next ‘Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ Series?
Disney | Maya Dehlin
“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” producer Jeff Jenkins opened up about the upcoming spin-off while speaking with Variety, saying that Orange County was the perfect location for the next iteration of the franchise due to its deep ties to the Mormon Church.
“There are a handful of pockets in America that are really the home base for LDS, and one of them was Orange County,” he said. “We all wanted to present a world of LDS that was kind of at least a 90 degree pivot away from the mothership. When you’re in Utah, that’s a very specific type of culture. LDS in Southern California is a little more relaxed, a little less intense, a little more forgiving.”
According to Jenkins, viewers will be in for a treat when they tune in to the OC spin-off, and based on the reaction, more shows could be coming.
“I would say three more potential spin-offs in the pipeline right behind this one. It’s a really rich community when you have the luxury of looking all across the country,” he said.
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The OG ‘Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ Show Will Return For Season 5, But There Will Be A Major Change
OConnor-Arroyo/AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Loyal “SLOMW” fans are also waiting for the fifth season of the OG series to come back to Hulu. According to The Blast, the show will look different, though, as the cast only filmed five episodes before production was shut down. A source previously shared that the women won’t finish the season and will instead go straight into filming season 6.
While shocking, the decision came after the show’s leading lady, Taylor Frankie Paul, was involved in a series of alleged domestic disputes with her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, which led the cast to refuse to film with her.
While the details about the new batch of episodes have mainly been kept under wraps, it’ll all be on display when season 5 returns to the streaming giant later this year.
Netflix has been an ever-growing, extensive hub for fantastic action films over the years. Many were instant hits upon release, while others had only a brief stint of popularity—or none at all—before fading out of most conversations. Some of those forgotten action movies count as Netflix’s finest, delivering top-tier performances, thrilling action, and consistently entertaining storytelling.
Movies like 2021’s The Harder They Fall, which is a rather stylish modern interpretation of the western genre, and The Old Guard, a 2020 action film that masterfully balances consistent emotional storytelling with hard-hitting action, are just two on the Netflix platform that feel truly satisfying from beginning to end, but have consistently remained away from the spotlight. Compiled on this list are the perfect action films that deliver pure entertainment from start to finish, but don’t truly get the recognition they deserve.
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‘The Night Comes for Us’ (2018)
The Night Comes for Us – 2018Image via Netflix
This extremely chaos-driven Netflix action movie is one that truly embraces its brutality and pure anarchy. The Night Comes for Usfollows triad enforcer, Ito (Joe Taslim), who finally snaps during a massacre and saves young Reina (Asha Kenyeri Bermudez) instead of finishing the job, which turns him into a target for his own syndicate.
The Night Comes for Us is an unbelievably violent survival story filled with emotional desperation, relentless fight choreography, and some of the most intense action sequences ever produced in cinema. The Indonesian action thriller may be extremely violent, but throughout its entire runtime, it balances that unrestrained brutality with themes of loyalty, survival, and betrayal. What marks The Night Comes for Us as a truly perfect watch, despite its widely forgotten status, is its sheer intensity and extremely creative aspects, especially when it comes to heated bouts of action. The movie is perfection incarnate that genuinely feels as relentless, visceral, and physically exhausting as it is extraordinarily captivating.
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‘Athena’ (2022)
Protestors staking out a wall in the Netflix movie ‘Athena’Image via Netflix
Despite being a fantastic example of one of Netflix’s finest action films, Athena stands as a pretty heinously forgotten drama. The film centers around the lives of Abdel (Dali Benssalah), Karim (Sami Slimane), and Moktar (Anthony Bajon), who are completely shattered in different ways after the unexplained death of their youngest brother. The film tracks the three as their responses to grief clash, increasingly throwing them into a realm of complete chaos.
Athena is actually one of Netflix’s boldest movies. It’s an action film that has been quite frequently lauded for its sheer cinematic force in both staging and directing. Athena is also pretty underrated, having faded rather quickly from mainstream conversations shortly after its release. The movie is a quality Netflix watch that does entertain its audience with thrills and action, but eventually exposes itself as a family tragedy disguised as actual urban war cinema. With extraordinary, emotionally intense storytelling and true technical brilliance, Athena stands as one of Netflix’s most ambitious action films that is genuinely perfect from beginning to end.
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‘The Harder They Fall’ (2021)
This Netflix film brilliantly revitalizes the Western genre through energy, style, and a truly memorable cast of characters. The Harder They Fall is a thrilling action movie that focuses on Nat Love (Jonathan Majors), who grows up marked by the murder of his parents at the hands of Rufus Buck (Idris Elba), and his strenuous path of revenge.
With a blend of sharp dialogue, extraordinary visual confidence, and stylish action with captivating revenge storytelling, The Harder They Fall stands as one of Netflix’s most original watches. The movie is pretty consistent in its brilliance, delivering kinetic pacing, charismatic performances, and visually stylish direction from start to finish. The Harder They Fall readily embraces all that makes it different from other westerns that tend to lean heavily into restraint and realism, resulting in a wildly entertaining action drama that leaves its mark. The movie may be one of the streaming platform’s most forgotten works of fiction, but it stands as a stylishly complete action film— a modernized Western that is genuinely the perfect action watch for anyone who desires a consistent high-quality thrill ride.
‘The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf’ (2021)
Vesemir on the tub smiling and toasting in The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.Image via Netflix
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The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolfis an underrated action fantasy. The enchanting animated film follows Vesemir (Theo James), who may have built his reputation as a swaggering monster hunter, but whose confidence gradually yields far more information about who he truly is at his core, tying deeply into the origins of the witchers.
What makes The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf the perfect action watch is the 83 minutes of consistency that doesn’t stray off the path to indulge in meaningless side quests. The movie actually expands the Witcher universe, giving beloved characters a real arc, stages dynamic creature combat, and lands a melancholy finish. Most Netflix subscribers, unfortunately, don’t even know that the animated film sits quietly on their shelves, awaiting its next lover of action films. Few films in recent years have delivered such a perfect balance of emotional storytelling and thrilling action as effectively as Nightmare of the Wolf. It may not be as well-known as it deserves to be, but the movie is the perfect bout of action-bound chaos that stands as one of Netflix’s best.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
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🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
🔧John McClane
🎭Ethan Hunt
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01
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You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
02
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You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
03
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You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
04
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The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
05
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How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
06
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Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
07
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Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
08
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What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
09
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Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
10
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It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
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Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Rambo
Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
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James Bond
Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
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Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
John McClane
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Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Ethan Hunt
Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
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‘Space Sweepers’ (2021)
Song Joong-ki as Kim Tae-ho and Nas Brown as Karum having a conversation on a spaceship in Space SweepersImage via Netflix
This sci-fi work of cinematic art is consistently overlooked, but it remains one of Netflix’s most thrilling action-adventure movies. Set in 2092, Space Sweepers centers around Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki), Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri), Tiger Park (Jin Seon-kyu), and Bubs (Yoo Hae-jin), a group surviving by hauling space junk aboard the Victory, only for their lives to take a turn when they discover a child believed to be a dangerous humanoid weapon.
Space Sweepers is extremely entertaining as it delivers futuristic world-building and chaotic space battles, while also offering audiences a deeply human story about connection and survival. The sci-fi epic feels truly emotionally engaging-a lovable watch that succeeds through its grounded storytelling and memorable crew dynamic. Space Sweepers, as an international film, is mostly “forgotten” in English-language discussions, but not necessarily globally. It’s a movie that delivers in sentiment, scale, and tactile world-building throughout its entirety, making it a fantastic addition to this list of action Netflix greats.
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‘Army of Thieves’ (2021)
Army of Thieves Matthias Schweighöfer with his ear against a safe.Image via Netflix
Army of Thievesis the prequel film to Netflix’s Army of the Dead, and it is honestly one of the best, effortlessly fun, and quirkily charismatic films on the streaming platform. The movie centers around safecracking nobody, Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert, later Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer), who is recruited by Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel) into a multinational heist crew including Korina (Ruby O. Fee), Rolph (Guz Khan), and Brad Cage (Stuart Martin).
Army of Thieves is definitely one of those quiet favorites. While Army of the Dead seemed to get most of the attention, the prequel film lingered in the background, simply becoming what most people file away as “that prequel” and silently became one of Netflix’s most entertaining action-comedy surprises. Army of Thieves is extraordinarily playful, romantic, and surprisingly elegant in its pacing, a truly likable watch that may not be as memorable to mainstream audiences but is a genuinely good time from beginning to end.
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‘The Old Guard’ (2020)
Charliez Theron and the cast of The Old GuardImage via Netflix
This underrated action hitwas actually pretty quick in establishing itself as one of Netflix’s strongest action films. The Old Guard followsthe exhausted leader of a covert group of immortal mercenaries, Andy (Charlize Theron), who has spent centuries saving lives, fighting wars, and watching the world endlessly repeat the same cycles of violence.
Beginning to end, The Old Guard remains consistent in its high quality. From fantastic hand-to-hand combat choreography to a very real focus on the heartbreaking isolation and pure exhaustion some characters face, The Old Guard does an all-around fantastic job. Sure, the film may not be some kind of revolutionary reinvention of the action genre, but it is one of Netflix’s clearest examples of how effective straightforward blockbuster storytelling can be when grounded in emotional seriousness and outstanding performances. The Old Guard may not be the streaming platform’s most iconic action movie that is constantly discussed, but it is an incredible balance of large-scale spectacle and genuine emotional weight that definitely deserves a place on this list.
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‘Troll’ (2022)
A troll reaching out with its mouth wide open and someone leaping in the Netflix movie TrollImage via Netflix
Troll is one of Netflix’s most well met surprises. The Norwegian movie follows paleontologist Nora Tidemann (Ine Marie Wilmann), who is thrust into crisis mode when a gargantuan creature from Norwegian folklore is awakened and starts destroying everything in its path.
Troll came to screens in 2022, and the film instantly stood as a pleasant surprise, growing into one of the most unexpectedly entertaining monster movies thanks to its Nordic mythology influences, thrilling destruction sequences, and sincere sense of adventure. The action fantasy film delivers massive creature chaos, military action, and disaster-movie suspense throughout its entire runtime, keeping fans thoroughly engaged. Troll’sconcept is pretty clean, and its escalation works rather well. The movie definitely does its part to be genuinely appealing with its understanding of monster-movie fundamentals at a level that many bigger franchises have trouble reaching. Troll is an absurdly great movie, yet somehow it never seems to be in mainstream conversations, marking it as an ideal pick for this list of fantastic cinematic watches on Netflix that have been thoroughly forgotten.
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