Matt Damon has spent decades building one of Hollywood’s most successful careers, but these days, the Oscar winner is thinking more about fatherhood than box office numbers. 

While promoting his latest film, “The Odyssey,” Matt reflected on the challenges of balancing a demanding career with raising four daughters. 

The actor admitted that the entertainment industry’s constant uncertainty has sometimes made it difficult to stay present, even as he tries to savor precious moments with his family before they slip away.

As his children get older, Matt Damon says he finds himself thinking more about time and how quickly it passes. The movie star shares daughters Isabella, Gia, and Stella, with wife Luciana Damon, and is also a stepfather to Alexia, from Luciana’s previous marriage.

Speaking with GQ, Matt explained that his priorities have shifted significantly from the early years of his career.

“There’s less of that kind of young person’s engine of needing to prove something and more about, like, accepting work and doing it on your terms and doing it as precisely and as well as you can,” he said. 

Still, the 55-year-old admitted being fully present remains a struggle. “I think about it a lot, especially as my kids are getting older: really trying to be here now,” Damon revealed. 

Despite recognizing the importance of slowing down, Matt admitted it remains difficult. “And it’s hard for me to do that,” he confessed.

The actor explained that part of the struggle comes from his own personality, but also from the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry, which constantly pushes performers to think about what comes next.

Matt Says Hollywood’s Uncertainty Never Fully Goes Away

According to Matt Damon, years of working in an uncertain business trained him to always focus on the future.

“It also has to do with this career where you’re always trying to figure out what’s ahead, because it’s such an uncertain business and a pretty ruthless one,” he admitted.

Those pressures have followed him throughout his career. The “Interstellar” actor entered Hollywood at just 18 years old with a small role in “Mystic Pizza.” 

Less than a decade later, he became a household name after starring alongside Ben Affleck in “Good Will Hunting.” The success was life-changing, but it also fueled a nonstop work schedule.

“I don’t think either of us stopped for years,” Matt recalled of himself and Affleck. For five straight years, he moved from project to project, traveling constantly and living out of two duffel bags.

“I loved it. It was great. I loved what I was doing. I didn’t want to stop,” Matt shared. Yet even amid success, he said actors often worry about how long opportunities will last.

Matt Damon Reveals The Fear That Followed His Success

Despite becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, Matt says insecurity never completely disappears. According to him, “There’s that insecurity of actors of like, the phone’s going to stop ringing.”

He also described the invisible hierarchy actors often feel they are navigating. “There’s that list that you hear about, and you never know. I’ve always been really aware of that,” Damon said.

Over time, however, family helped change his perspective. While his career continued to flourish, becoming a father gave him a different emotional foundation and unexpectedly improved his work as an actor.

During a 2021 interview with Fatherly, Damon explained that parenthood made it easier to access emotions on screen. “I feel like fatherhood has made my job a lot easier in a lot of ways,” he said.

Instead of searching for emotional experiences to draw from, those feelings became readily available through his experiences as a dad.

Matt Chose Family Over Constantly Chasing Roles

Over the past decade, Matt Damon has intentionally slowed down. Rather than pursuing every opportunity, he focused more on spending time at home and building Artists Equity, the production company he founded with Affleck.

His children’s ages played a major role in that decision. “My youngest is a freshman, and I’ve been through this a few times and I know how quickly these years go,” he told GQ.

Still, one recent opportunity proved impossible to pass up. Matt stars as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of “The Odyssey,” a project he described as unique within today’s film industry.

The film producer admitted the experience felt nostalgic because it reminded him of the types of large-scale movies that helped define the industry when he was first starting out.

Matt Damon Reflects On Time, Parenting, And Watching His Children Grow

While discussing both family and career, Matt repeatedly returned to one central theme: how quickly life moves. Reflecting on his experience as a parent, he said children often arrive with their own unique personalities already firmly intact.

“Your kids show up—like that spirit that soul is there, and it’s going to do what it’s going to do,” he shared. 

The father of three acknowledged that parents play an important role in shaping their children but believes much of who they become is present from the very beginning.

“The nurture part is very important; you’re going to be helping with that, but they really are who they are right away,” Matt noted.

Those lessons have become especially meaningful as his daughters move closer to adulthood. Looking back on years spent balancing Hollywood and family life, Matt offered a simple piece of advice during an appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast.

“Don’t blink,” he told the brothers per Page Six.

One month ago today, the forces of Outworld and Earthrealm engaged in a deadly tournament to determine the fate of both worlds in Mortal Kombat II. Now, Shao Kahn and his champions are about to invade homes everywhere. Simon McQuoid‘s bloodier and more brutal sequel to the 2021 film, based on NetherRealm Studios’ iconically gory series of fighting games, officially hits digital platforms tomorrow after testing its might at the box office to the tune of $126.8 million and wowing viewers with a new round of bone-crunching fatalities. Ahead of its arrival, Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek that plunges into the fiery depths of the Netherrealm for a clash of blades between two of the most recognizable fighters from the series — Hanzo Hasashi, aka Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada), and Bi-Han, the former Sub-Zero now known as Noob Saibot (Joe Taslim)

In the footage, Scorpion, flanked by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) and Kano (Josh Lawson), draws his sword as the camera slowly turns to meet the shadowy ninja in front of them. After being roasted alive by Hanzo at the end of the first film, Bi-Han has returned from the fires of Hell himself, trading his original icy abilities for phantom powers that allow him to split his being into dark doppelgängers and even teleport around. That sinister moveset allows Noob’s clone to get the jump on Johnny and Kano and distract them, while Scorpion seeks to banish his old nemesis back to the shadows once and for all. The fast-paced clash of steel and fists between the fighters serves to demonstrate how Mortal Kombat II‘s action and effects were leveled up from its predecessor, showing off everyone’s moves from Noob’s shadows to Scorpion’s chain and Kano’s eye laser. Of course, to see who pulls off a flawless victory, you’ll have to watch the full movie.

Mortal Kombat II picks up in the aftermath of the previous film as the tenth Mortal Kombat tournament between Earthrealm and Outworld is about to begin. To help even the odds, Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) enlists the washed-up martial arts movie star Johnny to be the final combatant on Earth’s side to save them all from being brought under Shao Kahn’s (Martyn Ford) brutal rule. Although his best days of lighting up the silver screen with his flashy moves and sick shades are past him, every fighter, from the last film’s protagonist, Cole Young (Lewis Tan), to Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), has a purpose in the competition. For Johnny, it represents a chance to redeem himself as a true hero, while, on the opposite side, Princess Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) seeks to free the people of Edenia from Shao Kahn’s grasp.

‘Mortal Kombat II’ Brings Home a Stacked Roster of Special Features

For those willing to wait a bit longer to have the hit video game adaptation on their shelves, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD copies will be released on July 28 and will come packed with special features breaking down how McQuoid, writer Jeremy Slater, and the team brought more of the Mortal Kombat world to life. That includes a breakdown of the expanded roster of fighters, which featured plenty of familiar names, including those named above alongside Jessica McNamee, Damon Herriman, and Mehcad Brooks, but also no shortage of newcomers in fan-favorite roles like Urban, Rudolph, Ford, and Tati Gabrielle as Jade. These featurettes will also shine a light on the game-accurate recreations of iconic locales Edenia, Outworld, and the deadly Pit, the wardrobes and training required for each cast member to become their respective fighters and recreate the same moves employed by players, and a sit-down with franchise co-creator Ed Boon exploring the many pieces of the mythos, from the mainline games to comics and more, that informed Mortal Kombat II.

Mortal Kombat II arrives on digital on June 9. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.

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May 8, 2026

Runtime

116 Minutes

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Pink kicked off the 2026 Tony Awards by not-so-subtly touching on the current state of global politics and the ongoing political attacks aimed at the transgender community.

“We go to a Broadway show to look at what the state of the world is. This year, the worst parts of history began repeating itself and we were given Liberation and Ragtime,” Pink, 46, said during her opening monologue at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7. This year, our country became more divided than ever, and we were given Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York,” Pink told the crowd.

The host’s opening monologue continued, “This year, our trans siblings began to lose even more rights, and we were given Cats: A Jellicle Ball.”

Summarizing the impact of commercial theater, the Grammy winner concluded, “Broadway theater is brave.”

Related: Pink Through the Years: From ‘Lady Marmalade’ to Mother of 2

Pop royalty! Pink rose to fame in the 2000s and thanks to her edgy sound and rebellious attitude she became a music sensation. The “Try” artist, whose real name is Alecia Moore, got her start singing at nightclubs in Philadelphia when she was only 14 years old. By the time she turned 16 she and […]

Pink, who was joined by daughter, Willow, on the red carpet as well as husband, Carey Hart, and their second child, son Jameson, further sung the praises of theater on a smaller human-to-human level.

“Theater is like group therapy: We journey to Midtown not knowing one another,” she said. “We laugh and cry together, and by the time we leave, we have a different perspective on life. And how much Twizzlers should cost.”

Prior to delivering her monologue, Pink had flown into the venue during a performance of “I’m Flying” from Peter Pan before her musical bit morphed into snippets from Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Her final song was “Lady Marmalade,” performed alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Whitney Leavitt, Lea Michele, Sara Chase, Marla Mindelle and more recent Broadway stars.

Related: The Best Red Carpet Fashion From the 2024 Tony Awards: What the Stars Wore 

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Fan-favorite stars stepped out in style to celebrate Broadway’s biggest night.  The 77th annual Tony Awards took place at the Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City on Sunday, June 16, and the red carpet was almost too hot to handle. Celebrities brought their fashion A-game, blessing Us with glamorous gowns, fabulous […]

Pink has never shied from expressing her political perspectives. In November 2024, the musician took to Instagram to speak her mind after voting in that year’s presidential election.

“Vote for democracy, vote for love and vote for respect. Vote for your family, your loved ones and your community. Freedom of the press, reproductive freedom, the right to vote, the right to read books,” Pink captioned a selfie that showed an “I Voted” sticker fixed to her shirt. “The right to go to school and get an education separate from religion. Vote for the future. Vote for decency.”

Pink has also given multiple interviews that discuss politics and social issues, frequently advocating for human rights and gender equality.

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Related: Krysta Rodriguez Dishes on Tony Awards and ‘Chicago’ with Whitney Leavitt

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For Broadway actress Krysta Rodriguez, there are all sorts of emotions come Tony Awards time. The actress, 41, who will begin a stint as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway later this month, fondly recalls her first Tony’s moment: Performing with the original cast of Spring Awakening back in 2007. “After we had won Best […]

As for her interest in theater, Pink has also shown support for the arts in the past, revealing that she relocated her family to New York City in order for Willow, 15, to pursue dreams of performing on Broadway.

During her opening monologue, Pink even referenced Willow.

“Tonight, I am here as Broadway’s biggest fan — well second biggest next to my daughter, Willow,” she quipped. “I don’t know where she is [in the venue], but I did not take this job so my kid could get Broadway selfies, although [we have done that backstage before] … and a couple for mama.”

Sherri Shepherd‘s daytime talk show, “Sherri,” ended its four-season run in May 2026 after replacing “The Wendy Williams Show” in 2022. Now, less than a month after her final episode, the actress and comedian is reflecting and revealing why the sudden cancellation caught her off guard.

Shepherd took to social media in June 2026 to reflect on the end of “Sherri” following its cancellation by Debmar-Mercury in February. Luckily, The Neighborhood Talk posted a clip from her live session. She began by expressing her gratitude to fans of the series who welcomed her into their homes for four years.

The actress said, “I appreciate all the support. I appreciate everybody who watched my talk show. It’s something that I loved doing. It was a dream come true.” After that, she said she was “disappointed” by the series’ conclusion.

She continued, “Of course, I was disappointed that it is over because I felt like I was just hitting my stride.” From there, she discussed her faith, saying she knows “there is something else down the pipeline.”

Sherri Was Blindsided By The Show’s Cancellation

Shepherd continued her line of conversation by addressing the show’s cancellation. Notably, the former host says she didn’t see it coming and fully expected to be renewed for a fifth season by Debmar-Mercury and their partners at Lionsgate.

She stated, “Right now, it just happened so suddenly. I was really blindsided by the cancellation, so I didn’t get to make plans because I thought I was coming back, but it’s all good.”

It’s worth noting that Debmar Mercury released a statement in February about the show’s cancellation, rather than giving Shepherd the opportunity to announce it herself.

According to Variety, the statement came from the company’s co-presidents, Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, and it read, “This decision is driven by the evolving daytime television landscape and does not reflect on the strength of the show, its production – which has found strong creative momentum this season – or the incredibly talented Sherri Shepherd.”

The announcement continued, “We believe in this show and in Sherri and intend to explore alternatives for it on other platforms.”

Fans Say Bring Back Wendy Williams

Shepherd’s daytime talk show eventually found its footing and gained an audience of its own. However, for many, it never escaped the shadow of “The Wendy Williams Show.” For context, Shepherd filled in for Williams in 2021 and 2022, even hosting the show’s final episode.

After that, Debmar-Mercury greenlit “Sherri” following the end of “The Wendy Williams Show,” as it became clear that the iconic host could not return amid her health and personal struggles.

Now that “Sherri” has ended, fans say daytime TV needs Williams. One person wrote on Instagram, “Sherri is cool, but it’s just not Wendy. It wasn’t giving what it needed to give clearly. I’m surprised Jennifer Hudson’s show is still on, she’s such a dang drag.”

Another person wrote, “That show sucked, and so does Jennifer Hudson’s show. Everybody shows sucks except for Wendy’s past show.” Someone else wrote, “This is what happens when you steal from Wendy.”

However, the comedian and actress had some support from social media. One user stated, “She will bounce back; she actually was a good interviewer.” A different fan said, “Sherri’s show was stellar.”

Sherri First Reacted To The News In February

As mentioned, Shepherd didn’t have the chance to announce that “Sherri” had been canceled. She took to Instagram the day after Debmar-Mercury’s statement, saying she’d learned she had COVID and would discuss the news once she was back on the air.

She said in the post, “Wow! I am completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for me and The @sherrishowtv . You might’ve noticed that yesterday and today, I was struggling because I wasn’t feeling up to speed. Well, it turns out I have Covid.”

Shepherd continued, “As soon as I feel better and return to the show, I will address all of the news that has come out. Until then, I am truly grateful that SHERRI has made such an impact on you! See ya soon.”

The Former Daytime TV Host Is Continuing Her Acting Career

Following the end of “Sherri,” Shepherd has a new movie in the works. She spoke to TMZ in May 2026, saying that she’d soon travel to South Africa to shoot a movie. The film, “Angel in the Rubble,” is being shot for Lifetime.

Additionally, she’s set to release a novel, “Like is a K Drama,” in April 2027. Shepherd cowrote the book alongside Jayci Lee.

It takes a lot for a historical drama to win at the box office, especially when it doesn’t even have that big a star (for the time) at the head of it. But thankfully, when Ridley Scott is your director, you need to have a bit more faith in the system and let it do its thing, because that’s exactly what this utter masterpiece does.

Gladiator is streaming for free on Pluto this month, so put on your armor, enter the Colosseum, and prepare to be entertained. And definitely get some snacks, because it’s a long one and you’ll need to keep your blood sugar levels up. The film follows Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), a betrayed Roman general who is forced into slavery and rises through the gladiatorial arena while seeking revenge against the emperor who murdered his family.

Alongside Crowe, the epic features Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) as Commodus, Connie Nielsen (Wonder Woman) as Lucilla, Oliver Reed (Oliver!) as Proximo, Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) as Juba, Richard Harris (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) as Marcus Aurelius, Derek Jacobi (I, Claudius) as Gracchus, and David Schofield (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) as Falco.

Was ‘Gladiator’ a Success?

At the box office, Gladiator dominated like its titular character in the Colosseum. It grossed around $465 million worldwide against a budget of roughly $103 million, and that’s before you get into its long afterlife on home video and rentals, then cable TV and then, of course, streaming. This was a movie everyone seemed to own on DVD. In 2026 money, that gross explodes up to over $850 million off a budget of around $190 million. Rome, and indeed the rest of the world, was very entertained. Interestingly, though, the film was not a universal smash with critics. It sits at just 76% on Rotten Tomatoes while Metacritic has it at 67, but that’s not where the movie’s legacy is.

The real gold came from the awards circuit. Gladiator earned 12 Oscar nominations and won five, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe’s towering performance as Maximus. It also won Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects. While critics didn’t completely dig it, the classical-style filmmaking saw Hollywood swoon.

Gladiator is streaming for free on Pluto this month.

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May 5, 2000

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155 minutes

Writers

David Franzoni, John Logan, William Nicholson

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Aya Cash wants to set the record straight when it comes to that rumor about her Giant rehearsals.

“Let’s debunk this,” Cash, 43, told Us Weekly exclusively while walking the 2026 Tony Awards red carpet on Sunday, June 7. “I did the play in London. I had seven days of rehearsal for the play in London, and then I did a whole run.”

Cash took on the role of Jessie Stone at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London last year. Following her run, the actress went to film the Prime Video series Vought Rising. She returned to her character Jessie Stone on Broadway this past March.

“My schedule would only allow me three days to come back to the Broadway show,” she clarified to Us. “I only got three days for Broadway, but I did do the play in London. So I just want to be totally clear about that.”

Cash joked that she “missed the [Vought Rising] wrap party to do my three days of rehearsal.”

Related: Tony Awards 2026 Nominees and Winners: See the Complete List

Broadway’s biggest night is bringing together this year’s nominees and past winners for an unforgettable 2026 Tony Awards. Pink made her Tonys hosting debut during the Sunday, June 7, ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! lead this year’s nominees with 12 nods each. Ragtime follows closely […]

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Cash was nominated on Sunday in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play category for her role in Giant. She was up against Betsy Aidem for Liberation, Marylouise Burke for The Balusters, June Squibb for Marjorie Prime and Laurie Metcalf, who won the Tony Award for her role in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Cash is set to reprise her The Boys role as Clara Vought/Liberty/Stormfront in the upcoming Vought Rising spinoff series, set to premiere next year. While Us wanted Cash to share “all the spoilers,” she couldn’t reveal too much.

“I can tell you that this cast is bonkers good. The scripts were incredible, and the action is big, and that feels very exciting,” she said. “It was a really special experience.”

The prequel series is set in the 1950s, so The Boys fans will get to see “a totally new” side of her character.

“[It was] a little scary to be honest because, obviously, the spinoff when it was first proposed — which was many, many years ago — they responded to Stormfront,” Cash explained. “Coming in, I was like, she’s got to be played pretty differently, because she’s just Clara at this moment.”

The Boys fans will see her as “a nice little Nazi wife,” which is not how fans know her.

“That’s a very different person than who Stormfront ends up being,” she added. “I think it’s fun to see her journey into that.”

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The Boys final season, which wrapped up last month, hinted at a relationship between Cash’s character and Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy.

“I will say that working with Jensen was a total dream,” she said. “He has a massive fanbase that goes so hard for him. Sometimes, you meet those people and you’re like, ‘If only they knew.’ I’m gonna tell you right now, Jensen’s safe.”

She added, “He’s a really wonderful human. So that was just the best part. He’s a great dude, and we had a great time working together.”

Morgan Wallen seemingly threw a phone across the stage in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, after snatching the device from a security guard’s hands.

Wallen, 33, appeared to launch the phone during his Friday, June 5, show at Acrisure Stadium, with footage from the moment circulating via social media in the following days.

In one fan’s post-show clip, shared via X, Wallen is seen walking over to where a security guard is holding the phone up in the air to film his performance from the ground beneath the stage. The musician then appears to gesture into the phone’s camera to halt filming, before he turns away from the security guard to continue singing.

Appearing frustrated over the guard’s refusal to stop filming, Wallen then returns to the guard to snatch the phone out of her hands before tossing it across the stage.

The fan who posted the clip offered an explanation of what went down, sharing the claim, “A fan handed their phone to security, Morgan took the phone and threw it across the stage.”

The incident occurred one day prior to Wallen canceling a second Pittsburgh show due to dangerous weather conditions. “After talking with local officials and my team, there is no choice but to cancel tonight’s show due to severe adverse weather conditions expected throughout the rest of the day and night,” Wallen stated via his Instagram Stories on Saturday, June 6. “Safety for my fans and crew is the highest priority.”

Wallen’s current Still the Problem Tour, which kicked off in April, has drawn earlier moments of frustration on his part. During the Denver, Colorado, leg of the tour just one week prior, the “Last Night” hitmaker was seen flipping a piano over mid-performance inside Empower Field at Mile High stadium. Reports stated that the instrument’s upturning was sparked by technical difficulties experienced by Wallen.

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Related: Morgan Wallen Overturns Piano Amid Technical Difficulties During Live Show

Country music star Morgan Wallen appeared frustrated after experiencing technical difficulties during a recent show. During the singer’s Friday, May 29, show at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, Morgan, 33, flipped over his on-stage piano mid-performance after it appeared he was unable to hear the instrument, per social media footage shared on […]

To make light of the piano mishap, Wallen took to TikTok four days later to publicly address it. Sharing a sarcastic response via the social media platform, which appeared to have been filmed one night after the piano flip, Wallen told fans, “Hey, I just want you guys to know that right now this piano is working. That’s what they told me last night, too.”

Us Weekly reached out to representatives for Wallen at the time but did not hear back.

It is not the first time Wallen has taken issue with a phone while performing. In 2024, social media footage seemingly showed a phone thrown at the singer while he was on stage in Denver for his One Night at a Time Tour.

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Wallen has attracted headlines over the years amid various controversies, including his May 2020 arrest outside of Kid Rock’s bar in Nashville for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He was later cleared of the charges.

Related: Morgan Wallen Waives Right to Appear in Court for Throwing Chair Incident

Morgan Wallen won’t be attending a Friday, May 3, court date regarding his arrest for allegedly throwing a chair from the roof of a Nashville bar. “The court has formally waived Morgan Wallen’s appearance on Friday, May 3 as his presence is not required to advance the case,” Wallen’s lawyer, Worrick Robinson, said in a […]

Headlines swirled again later that year when he was seen without a face mask and kissing multiple women at college bars in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In February the following year, TMZ published a video of Wallen saying the N-word. It led Wallen to issue a public apology for his actions.

“I’m embarrassed and sorry. I used an unacceptable and inappropriate racial slur that I wish I could take back,” his statement read at the time. “There are no excuses to use this type of language, ever. I want to sincerely apologize for using the word. I promise to do better.”

HBO, the premium cable network, has been producing original content since the early 1980s. Over four decades, HBO has built a reputation for itself by creating some of the best dramas and comedies in recent history. Before they had the streaming service Max, they created masterpieces like Six Feet Under and The Sopranos.

The moments from these series have gone down in history as some of the most iconic moments in television. Looking at IMDb’s Top 250 TV Shows of all time, many of the titles on the list are HBO projects. These projects have left their mark on television history and have inspired many more series created today.

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‘Oz’ (1997–2003)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Image via HBO

You might think, with the name Oz, that this is a prequel series based on The Wizard of Oz. But no, we can leave that to Jon M. Chu and his Wicked movies. Instead, this series is set in a fictional prison. Oz was actually HBO’s first one-hour drama series. It ran for six seasons from 1997 to 2003.

The Wizard of Oz inspires the name, with the prison’s name being Oswald State Correctional Facility. Much of the story takes place in “Emerald City,” and the original poster for the series had the phrase “It’s no place like home” written on it. HBO’s Oz also launched the careers of J. K. Simmons and featured Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco. Interestingly, while other prison series feature a mix of innocent and guilty inmates, Oz has all guilty characters.

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‘Rome’ (2005–2007)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Image via HBO

Rome is a historical drama series co-produced by HBO and the BBC. It was one of HBO’s most expensive series, with each episode costing about $10 million. Rome ran for two series from 2005 to 2007 with 22 episodes. The series covers the birth of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC and features a large ensemble cast.

Rome features iconic historical figures like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, but mostly follows the stories of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. The historical drama featured Grey’s Anatomy‘s Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, and others. Rome won four Emmys but was cancelled only after two seasons. The series was planned for five seasons, but declining viewership and high production costs led to its early cancellation. The plans for a follow-up film also never materialized.

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‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2005)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Image via HBO

Six Feet Under is widely recognized as having one of the best TV show finales of all time. The HBO series follows a family reeling from the loss of their patriarch and managing a funeral home. While a funeral home might sound like a perfect setting for a drama, Six Feet Under is actually a dramedy. The series masterfully interweaves humor with grief. Like other procedural series, every episode follows the Fisher family helping a new person with their loved one’s funeral.

The series was critically acclaimed and went on to win nine Emmys, as well as a Peabody Award, for “its unsettling yet powerfully humane explorations of life and death.” The ensemble cast features Peter Krause, who went on to star in Parenthood and 9-1-1, Michael C. Hall, who went on to star in the HBO hit Dexter, and Justin Machado, who is best known for her role in Netflix’s One Day at a Time. If you want to watch a series that makes you rethink your view of life and death, all while laughing at its exceptionally dark humor, Six Feet Under is a great choice.

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‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (1999–2024)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Image via HBO

HBO hasn’t only created incredible one-hour dramas, but they’ve also created iconic sitcoms like Curb Your Enthusiasm. The series, created by and starring Larry David, ran from 2000 to 2024, with 12 seasons and 120 episodes. The series follows the life of the semi-fictionalized version of David. David also created Seinfeld, and both of these shows were about everyday life. Curb Your Enthusiasm is interestingly done with David writing a loose storyline for each episode, but most of the dialogue is improvised by the actors.

Many of the episodes featured celebrity guest stars who played fictionalized versions of themselves. The cast also included Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, and J. B. Smoove. Curb Your Enthusiasm was praised for its improvisational comedy and received 55 Emmy nominations, although it won only twice.

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‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Image via HBO

Succession follows the dysfunctional Roy family who prove that money really isn’t everything. The show depicts media titan Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his children as they battle for control of Waystar Royco, a global entertainment empire. As Logan’s health declines and questions about succession grow more urgent, siblings Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Connor (Alan Ruck) battle for control.

The HBO series became a hit for its portrayal of what is essentially a Shakespearean tragedy mixed with biting satire. It exposes the absurdity of wealth through the Roy siblings’ dilemmas, while also injecting a good dose of dark humor and intense emotionality throughout. Bolstered by phenomenal performances and some of the sharpest writing television has ever seen, Succession cemented itself as one of HBO’s defining modern dramas.

7

‘True Detective’ (2014–Present)

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

Image via HBO

True Detective is HBO’s anthology crime series. Every season has a new cast and a new mystery to solve. The first season aired in 2014, and the series is still running, with season five currently in development. Each season’s cast includes impressive actors, including Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Mahershala Ali, and Jodie Foster.

The series has an overall score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, but not all seasons were equally well-received. The second season was criticized and received a Rotten score of 47%. Although the other three performed better, the fourth season had the highest score of 93%. A big reason the series remains so compelling is its willingness to reinvent itself, with each season exploring different themes, settings, and investigative styles while maintaining the dark atmosphere.

6

‘The Pitt’ (2025–Present)

IMDb Rating: 8.9/10

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Taking place entirely within a single emergency department, The Pitt‘s intense episodes and incredible format revitalized the medical drama genre. It follows Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) and his colleagues through a grueling shift at a Pittsburgh trauma center. Told in near real-time, each episode chronicles a single hour of the day as doctors, nurses, and residents navigate real challenges in the ER.

Overcrowding, understaffing, life-or-death decisions, and the emotional toll that comes with working on the front lines of modern healthcare are depicted with impressive realism that feels refreshing to see on a medical series. It’s this commitment to portraying what goes on behind the scenes in an emergency room that has had viewers hooked. Plus, an excellent ensemble cast and fantastic writing have elevated The Pitt to modern classic status.

5

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

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Game of Thrones is an international phenomenon and is likely the most well-known series created by HBO. This fantasy series is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. It ran from 2011 to 2019 over eight seasons and 73 episodes. The series follows a fictional world where a huge cast fights over the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Filled with dragons and entire creative worlds, it’s not too surprising that the series was extremely expensive. By the final season, each episode was estimated to cost about $15 million.

Game of Thrones has had a massive cultural impact, from Halloween costumes to a rise in new fantasy series. While other HBO series have been praised for their endings, Game of Thrones’ last season was criticized by many fans and called a disappointment. Despite this, the series went on to spawn successful spin-off series: House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

4

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

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It’s impossible to explain The Sopranos’ influence on television. The series is frequently credited with starting a golden era of television. Before The Sopranos, television wasn’t often seen as a medium that could portray complex characters. With the help of this series, we were able to get other dark and complex series like Six Feet Under and Breaking Bad. It also fully established HBO as a channel for the most premium content.

The series ran from 1999 to 2007 with six seasons and 86 episodes. The Sopranos received 112 nominations and 21 wins. The series follows Tony Soprano as he navigates life in the mafia and his personal family life. Tony Soprano was played incredibly by James Gandolfini. While Edie Falco was first on Oz, her role as mob wife Carmela Soprano fully launched her career. She won three Emmys for her portrayal. In 2021, The Many Saints of Newark was a prequel to The Sopranos, and James Gandolfini’s son, Michael Gandolfini, played a younger version of Tony Soprano.

3

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

IMDb Rating: 9.3/10

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The Wire is most praised for its ability to grow and expand its scope as its seasons went on. Based in Baltimore, this HBO show successfully depicted the city’s education system, its dock workers, its politics, and more. The series was praised mainly for accurately representing Baltimore in all of its colors. While each season highlighted a different aspect of the city, the series somehow managed to seamlessly tie it all in without leaving any of the previous characters behind. It never felt forced and creates a natural progression of the story.

Besides the incredible story, the series also launched the careers of stars like Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan. Despite receiving universal acclaim, The Wire received only two Emmy nominations throughout its five-season run. Despite the lack of awards, the series is widely recognized as one of the best of all time.

Nintendo is one of the greatest gaming companies of all time, and with the Nintendo Switch 2 going strong through games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, many are considering the Nintendo Switch the greatest console the company has delivered since the Nintendo 64. However, looking back, there are serious contenders, including one of the most iconic pieces of video game hardware, the Nintendo Wii.

This legendary console made its way into everyone’s home, but hardware is useless without software, which is why this list will rank the all-time best video games on the Wii. Based on elements such as gameplay, design, narrative, originality, popularity, fan opinion, critical acclaim, overall quality, and how well it used the Wii’s interface, these are must-play titles. Note that only first-party Nintendo games will be featured.

10

‘Metroid Prime Trilogy’ (2009)

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This may be cheating since it isn’t an original game, but the Metroid franchise includes some of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, and Metroid Prime Trilogy puts three of them together. Samus Aran is a space bounty hunter, and these titles take her through multiple adventures, from a mysterious planet with lore and history to an alternate dimension where she must fight an evil doppelgänger.

The third one, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, was released on the Wii, but the other two games were ported together, delivering the complete package. The first game pioneered the Metroidvania genre by bringing it into 3D with magnificent results, keeping the gameplay flowing and introducing fun gimmicks that enhance the worldbuilding, lore, and combat.

9

‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword’ (2011)

The Legend of Zelda franchise might just be Nintendo’s best, and the Wii contains one of its most controversial entries, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Set as the first chronological entry, Link must rescue Princess Zelda from the evil Demise while traveling from the sky to the lands below, and also spend time crafting the legendary sword that will defeat the villain.

The HD version instantly became one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch, but that is because it revamped the controls, the most polarizing part of Skyward Sword. The motion controls are fun, but often glitchy, making combat more frustrating than it needs to be. But still, Skyward Sword earns an entry on this list because of its charming style, hub world, side quests, and magnificent story, which is the best the franchise has to offer.

8

‘Xenoblade Chronicles’ (2010)

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Some franchises might be renowned, but still don’t get the recognition they deserve, such as Xenoblade Chronicles, whose first game came out on the Wii. Set on the corpses of two gigantic creatures, Shulk is a researcher who seeks revenge for the destruction of his colony, taking him on a profound philosophical adventure.

It may not be fully open-world, but Xenoblade Chronicles feels like one of the greatest open-world games ever made. Pushing the limits of the Wii, this game redefined the JRPG genre and is one of the best-looking games on the console. The technical feats are impressive, but Xenoblade Chronicles also boasts real-time combat that is addictive to play as gamers explore its vast world.

7

‘New Super Mario Bros. Wii’ (2009)

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Mario is the most iconic video game character of all time, and he has plenty of games on this list, starting with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. While celebrating Princess Peach’s birthday, Bowser suddenly kidnaps her, forcing Mario and Luigi to embark on a quest through eight kingdoms to free her from his scaly claws.

Perhaps one of the most nostalgic Mario games, the co-op aspect featuring the two iconic brothers made it an instant must-play, adding double the fun. Whether players want to play alone and experiment with the in-depth controls or team up with three other players to share a platforming bond, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is one of the most fun games on the Wii and a staple of the franchise.

6

‘Mario Kart Wii’ (2008)

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One of the highest-selling Nintendo games is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and the Wii had its own entry in this franchise with Mario Kart Wii. Adding motion controls completely flipped the gameplay for the better, making it more immersive to feel like players are actually driving. With a grand selection of courses and characters, fans are in for the ride of their life.

Some debate whether it is the best Mario Kart game, but its online and bike balance could have been better. Still, Mario Kart Wii is a defining entry on the console, especially with the custom steering wheel which became an outright phenomenon. With some of the best courses, characters, and soundtracks, Mario Kart Wii is a bundle of pure entertainment value that will have players raging whenever a blue shell appears.

5

‘Super Smash Bros. Brawl’ (2008)

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Crossovers are always fun, and one of the original video game crossovers was from Super Smash Bros., with the Wii version being Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Players can select from a variety of their favorite Nintendo characters, and even embark on a story mission called the Subspace Emissary, where they must fight against a mysterious army trying to suck in their dimension.

It is hard to decide which is the best Super Smash Bros. game because Melee pioneered the franchise and Ultimate perfected it, but Brawl is a nostalgic gem that many consider the series’ pinnacle. The combat is perfect as always, but the crowning jewel of this game is Subspace Emissary, which uses its brilliant narrative, cinematic cutscenes, and epic scale to make Brawl one of the greatest fighting games of all time.

4

‘The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess’ (2006)

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As mentioned, The Legend of Zelda is an acclaimed franchise, so it was only natural for Nintendo to make it the launch title of the Wii. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess follows Link and his quest to collect the Spirit Lights in order to stop the usurper king, Zant. However, with the princess captured, there might be an even more sinister foe lurking in the shadows.

Technically, it is a GameCube game, but more people remember it on the Wii. After the backlash from Wind Waker, this game featured a much darker tone, but still kept the mysticism and whimsicalness of the franchise. This more mature Zelda experience is highlighted by its tone, visuals, designs, and darker story. For many, Twilight Princess was the game they were waiting for, and with its magnificent puzzle design and sense of adventure, it amounted to a masterful experience on the Wii.

3

‘Super Mario Galaxy 2’ (2010)

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3D Mario games are an absolute must for any Nintendo console, and the Wii luckily had two, with the first on this list being the sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2. With Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach again, Mario sets off with Yoshi on a giant spaceship, traveling through new galaxies to stop the Koopa King’s interstellar conquest.

It is an endless debate as to which game is better, but Super Mario Galaxy 2 scores lower because it simply built upon what the first one did. Still, this game is a masterclass in physics, level design, and movement, creating a complete package of riveting platforming content. Stripping away the hub world and narrative, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is jam-packed with new mechanics and gimmicks to enjoy, wonderfully combining with the platforming worlds to create an innovative platforming game experience.

2

‘Wii Sports’ (2006)

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The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one launch title, but the other title was paired with the console; in fact, a lot of the console’s marketing focused on it. We’re, of course, talking about Wii Sports. There is no dedicated story; players can simply pick from a selection of sports, including golf, boxing, bowling, tennis, and baseball, playing against friends or the AI.

Wii Sports Resort is also a classic, but this game in particular fed gamers for years with engaging content, and for free at that. Wii Sports is the quintessential Wii game, using its motion controls, Miis, and innovative gameplay to create a landmark game that cemented itself as a cultural icon and legendary title. The Wii is a family console, and Wii Sports could get anyone playing because of its tactile controls, immersive feel, infectious enjoyment, and bonding experience. It is a game that truly brings people together, making it arguably the most important Wii game.

1

‘Super Mario Galaxy’ (2007)

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As mentioned, there were two 3D Mario games on the Wii, and the first one was Super Mario Galaxy, which laid the groundwork for the sequel. Bowser is up to his usual antics, kidnapping Princess Peach and taking her across the galaxy. But with the help of Rosalina, Mario travels to multiple planets in order to find and save the princess and defeat Bowser.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 might have introduced new mechanics and improved on some aspects, but it is hard to beat the original since it built everything from the ground up. The new physics system and orbital gravity revolutionized platforming, making movement, momentum, character, camera, and feel completely different. These rejuvenated controls made platforming even more imaginative and fun. Super Mario Galaxy is perfect from start to finish, never offering a dull moment, but rather crafting a cinematic experience that is the greatest game the Wii has to offer.