Entertainment
10 Most Intense Fantasy Movies Ever Made
When one thinks of fantasy cinema, the mind is typically drawn to enrapturing adventure, charming journeys through magical realms of wonder and curiosity where every new scene is an exciting treat of discovery. However, this isn’t always the case for the genre. There have been plenty of times when fantasy films have blended their otherworldly majesty with a sense of paralyzing intensity, be it in the form of horrific suspense, savage violence, or dramatic conviction.
Ranging from underrated gems of American cinema to bona fide and beloved classics of the international scene, these 10 fantasy movies stand as the most confronting and demanding the genre has ever seen. With everything from biblical epics to philosophical dramas, stomach-churning horror, and aggressively violent dark mythos included, this list presents a vast array of fantasy cinema at its bleakest and most brutal.
10
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
Many fantasy movies confront viewers with their visual frightfulness and visceral violence, but others find their intensity in atmospheric surrealism and a rich philosophical descent into a complex character’s psyche. That is the case with The Green Knight, with the moody spin on Arthurian legend following Sir Gawain (Dev Patel) as he sets out to achieve glory by defeating the gigantic Green Knight (Ralph Ineson) in battle. His journey tests his convictions as he clashes with thieves, ghosts, and wild beasts on his quest.
Complimented by its thematic gravitas and eerie, horror-like tone, The Green Knight brilliantly subverts the traditional beats of the hero’s journey arc by emphasizing Gawain’s debilitating flaws, by focusing on his failures as a knight in a manner that is both painfully relatable and uncomfortably invasive. Ultimately soaring as a contemplative exploration of fear, the burden of manhood, and the inevitability of death, The Green Knight has cemented its place as a cult classic of fantasy cinema, as well as one of the genre’s most intense pictures in recent decades.
9
‘Conquest’ (1983)
A cult gem of Italian cinema that has proven to be rather polarizing, Conquest is a hallucinogenic descent into a nightmarish realm of evil and violence disguised as a swords-and-sandals adventure. Armed with a pounding synth score and a relentless appetite for body horror and gore, it follows two young warriors who stand against a ceaseless force of vicious beasts commanded by a demonic demigod.
What Conquest desperately lacks in storytelling it more than makes up for with its unreserved interest in stylish allure and experimental filmmaking, even often resorting to smearing Vaseline on the camera lens to create a disorienting, suffocating atmosphere of surrealist angst and otherworldly evil. Its abstract nature and psychedelic violence only add to this air of incomprehensible peculiarity, making Conquest a viciously intense, albeit divisive, example of fantasy cinema at its most extreme, a brutal assault on the senses that feels like a frightful fever dream from start to finish.
8
‘Solomon Kane’ (2009)
Combining the philosophical might of Robert E. Howard’s damned and dour character with a procession of unrelenting R-rated violence, Solomon Kane is an interesting intersection of ultra-violent action, spiritual fantasy, and anti-hero-driven drama. James Purefoy stars as the titular figure, a former privateer whose soul is damned to Hell after many years of sin. His new vow of pacifism is challenged when a Puritan girl he is close with is abducted by a sorcerer and his evil cult.
The balance of existentialism and morality that Kane must grapple with is integral to the film’s intensity, constantly questioning the merit of violence as Kane desperately fights to rescue Meredith (Rachel Hurd-Wood) from the gruesome fate that the cultists have planned for her. Also buoyed by its heavy, Gothic atmosphere and the visceral might of its gritty action, Solomon Kane is an underrated gem of dark fantasy loaded with questions of morality, justice, and righteousness.
7
‘Return to Oz’ (1985)
A far cry from the cheerful wonder and musical whimsy that made The Wizard of Oz such a timeless classic, Return to Oz became the sequel that traumatized a generation. Despite being rated PG, the 1985 fantasy functions as a dark, disturbing, and relentless psychological terror as it follows Dorothy (Fairuza Balk) as she escapes from a psychiatric ward and returns to Oz, only to find the magical land she knew decimated with the Emerald City resembling a post-apocalyptic ruin and her former friends being turned to stone.
Director Walter Murch leaned heavily on his background in sound design to construct a hellish aural experience that only makes the visceral unease of the movie all the more apparent. The screeching ferocity of the maniacal Wheelers and the vanity-obsessed Princess Mombi’s (Jean Marsh) bizarre gallery of heads are just some of the more visceral examples of the film’s horrifying darkness. Given its disconcerting focus on ideas of abandonment, upheaval, decay, and inhumanity, Return to Oz is a frightful picture for most adults, let alone the unsuspecting children who were scarred by it in 1985.
6
‘Coraline’ (2009)
Another example of a supposedly family-friendly movie leaving a wave of curious youngsters (and their parents) suffering nightmares, Coraline walks an agonizing line between childish suspense and scarring visual terror. The uncanny and disconcerting imagery enters the story as young Coraline (Dakota Fanning) discovers a doorway to an alternate world that initially seems far better than her own. However, Coraline soon realizes the idealized “Other World” houses some dark secrets when she finds herself trapped there and unable to return home.
Directed by stop-motion maestro Henry Selick, Coraline finds an eerie energy in the unnatural nature of character movements and the unsettling details that go into design features of the Other World’s inhabitants, namely the button eyes. From the striking horror imagery like the house made of rotting materials and Other Mother’s spidery transformation to the subliminal angst of jittery movements and disproportions, Coraline is a uniquely harrowing display of fantasy adventure full of concealed evils and chilling consequences.
5
‘The Crow’ (1994)
The Crow is an interesting amalgamation of ideas, fusing together elements of superhero vigilantism, revenge thrills, Gothic horror, action carnage, and dark fantasy to be one of the most iconic and impressionable movies of the 1990s. It is also shrouded in infamy due to star Brandon Lee’s tragic on-set death and even the original comic writer being inspired by his own traumatic experience in which his girlfriend was killed by a drunk driver.
The story itself is brutal, opening as gangsters rape and murder Shelly Webster (Sofia Shinas) before throwing her boyfriend, Eric Draven (Lee), from the window of their apartment complex. When Draven returns from the grave a year later, he seeks to exact revenge on those who wronged him. Excelling in a grim setting of perpetual rain, pulsing shadows, and urban decay as Draven’s vengeance pierces the lawless chaos with a blistering streak of righteous retribution, The Crow defines dark fantasy action at its most enrapturing.
4
‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
Powered by the striking presentation of its harsh black-and-white imagery, The Seventh Seal epitomizes Ingmar Bergman at his stunning, cerebral best. Through the story of Antonius Block (Max von Sydow), a knight of the Crusades who returns to his homeland to find his people besieged by the plague and challenges Death (Bengkt Ekerot) to a game of chess for his own life, the 1957 fantasy serves as an enrapturing mosaic of faith, mortality, humanity, and art.
While it refrains from being callous or overly cynical, The Seventh Seal does still find a certain intensity in its overarching sense of dread. The questions it asks defy easy explanations, forcing viewers to grapple with great existential thoughts concerning every aspect and impulse of the human condition. Given this philosophical might is boldly supported by the striking marriage of the film’s expressionist visuals and natural soundscape, The Seventh Seal is an arresting descent into a haunting world of doubt and fear that will linger on the minds of most viewers.
3
‘Ugetsu’ (1953)
One of the greatest movies in the history of Japanese cinema, Ugetsu is a deft marriage of period drama, anchored in the human toll and desperation of the devastation of war, and haunting fantasy folklore. Exuding a hypnotic though harrowing air of dreamlike surrealism, it unfolds in 16th century Japan as two peasants spy an opportunity to profit off the war raging around them, despite being warned against it by a local sage. Their ambitions threaten to ruin their families’ lives.
Derived from both jidaigeki—Japanese period drama—and ghost stories, Ugetsu enthralls as a macabre tale of opportunism and consequence in which the toll of the peasants’ actions is faced by their wives and families. The tragedy is deeply emotionally numbing, offering commentary on a bleak world of selfishness, violence, and despair. Through wafting shots and observational storytelling, Ugetsu delivers a scarring portrait of human evil and suffering, using fantasy to convey a sense of mythic caution that lingers on the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.
2
‘Faust’ (1926)
Coming from the same director as 1922’s Nosferatu, Faust excels as an enduring piece of German Expressionist cinema that makes an indelible mark on audiences with its deliberate blend of awe-inspiring visual grandeur, ominous folklore, and unrestrained meditations on human suffering. The silent masterpiece unfolds as the demon Mephisto (Emil Jannings) wagers with an archangel that he can corrupt a righteous man’s soul. Knowing if he wins his bet, the Devil will win dominion over Earth, Mephisto preys upon Faust (Gösta Ekman), an alchemist trying to help his struggling village.
Powered by Jannings’ harrowing portrayal of Mephisto and the piercing grandeur of its German Expressionist visuals, Faust achieves a sense of existentialism and scale that fast becomes overwhelming, especially as the bleak imagery on display marries with its imposing score. Also finding a deeply emotional sense of tragedy, Faust captures fantasy cinema at its most visceral, finding intensity in everything from the ambitions of Heaven and Hell to a mother’s desperation to nurture her baby. It remains one of the most striking and evocative fantasy films ever made 100 years on from its release.
1
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
A masterpiece of fantasy cinema at large, Pan’s Labyrinth is the defining triumph of dark fairy tale extravagance in film. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it follows Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) as she is whisked into the mountains, along with her heavily pregnant mother, to be by the side of her vicious stepfather as he fights against rebels aligned with the Spanish Maquis. Isolated in a world of war and violence, Ofelia is given a chance to escape when she meets a faun who tells her she is the princess of the Underworld and can return to her rightful place if she completes three tasks.
It is often difficult to discern which elements of Pan’s Labyrinth are more horrifying, the real-world brutality and evil of the war violence, or the nightmarish dread of the creatures of the fantasy realm. Despite its violence and terror, the Spanish film finds a beating heart of innocence, youthful rebellion, and defiant optimism, one that imbues Ofelia’s ordeal with even more tension as she navigates two treacherous and unforgiving worlds with the imminent threat of capture always apparent.
Doctor Who fans were hit with the shocking news that the BBC is putting the long-running science fiction series into competitive tender, effectively ending the current era of Who. The writing had been on the wall for a while, as the BBC severed ties with Disney following the conclusion of the second season of Ncuti Gatwa‘s tenure as the 15th Doctor. On top of that, showrunner Russell T. Davies and his Bad Wolf production banner also departed Doctor Who, fueling rumors that the show was canceled. However, Davies offered some rather pointed words concerning these rumors.
Speaking to Gaydio, Davies clarified that Doctor Who wasn’t canceled. He also explained what a competitive tender means, as someone who actually has knowledge of the inner workings of the television business:
“It’s extraordinary to see newspapers who should know better saying the show has been cancelled…It’s the opposite. It’s been put out to tender, and I understand that’s an industry phrase and people might not understand what a show being put out to tender means. Being put out to tender means – and this will happen to every BBC show, it’s happened to Casualty, it’s happened to the weather – it means the programme is pitched to be made by an independent company, as opposed to the BBC.”
This means that, in a similar vein to the previous Disney/BBC deal, the BBC is looking for someone to help co-produce a new era of Doctor Who. On the one hand, this means that Doctor Who will return to the screen at some point. On the other hand, the competitive tender has revealed that revitalizing an iconic science fiction franchise isn’t as easy as it seems.
The BBC Is Facing Major Hurdles When It Comes to ‘Doctor Who’
While the BBC has already reached out to potential co-producers, there’s an air of uncertainty around taking on such a high-profile project. A report from Deadline Hollywood reveals that most producers have reservations about investing money and creative energy in Doctor Who, especially as the shadow of the Disney breakup looms large. One of these producers even bluntly said, “You’d have to be mad” to tackle such an enterprise. It’s not hard to see their point: Doctor Who has more than 60 years of history behind it, and certain expectations when it comes to telling stories within its universe. Any new producer will be hard-pressed by longtime fans to keep those standards, which is the kind of pressure that would make anyone nervous.
The report also says that producers feel Davies’ tenure was less of a boon and more of an anchor around Doctor Who‘s neck, as ratings started to tank and episodes lacked the perfect mix of sci-fi trappings and social commentary that defined some of the series’ best eras. His departure paves the way for a new creative voice to not only steer Doctor Who back on track, but also bring something new to the table. In fact, one writer has thrown his hat in the ring to take over showrunning duties, and it’s none other than J. Michael Straczynski. Given Straczynski’s tenure scripting character-defining runs on Amazing Spider-Man and Thor, not to mention creating a truly excellent sci-fi series in Babylon 5, he definitely has the chops to bring new life to Doctor Who.
A Brief Hiatus Led To The Resurgence of ‘Doctor Who’ in 2005
Doctor Who is no stranger to being off the air, as it went off the air in 1989 due to declining ratings. Though a television movie was made in 1996 to revive the series, it received extremely poor ratings. It wasn’t until 2005 that Doctor Who returned, and under Russell T. Davies no less, who not only shook up the series by making the Doctor the last of the Time Lords but also launched another series, Torchwood, in the process. With Deadline reporting that Doctor Who might be off the air until 2028, this is another chance for the series to get a new lease on life. A lot could change in two years, and a producer might come up with a take that the BBC loves.
A key element of Doctor Who is the concept of “regeneration”, where the Doctor shifts into a new form and a new actor. With Russell T. Davies’ departure and the dissolution of the Disney deal, the time has come for Doctor Who to undergo a creative regeneration of its own.
- Release Date
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May 11, 2024
- Network
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BBC One
- Directors
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Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
- Writers
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Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson
- Franchise(s)
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Doctor Who / Whoniverse
The first game officially marketed with the term “survival horror” was Capcom’s Resident Evil. Back then, the genre was defined by fixed camera angles and tank controls, but it has since evolved into fully immersive experiences that genuinely make you feel like you’re trapped inside a horror movie. The graphics have become hyper-realistic, the scares have become more creative, but the core appeal remains exactly the same.
It’s about the eerie atmosphere, about the grotesque monsters, about that specific kind of dread you feel when you’re low on resources, something is coming, and you have no idea if you’re going to make it out of the next room. When it works, no other genre comes close to what it makes you feel. So, with that in mind, here are the 10 greatest survival horror games ever made, the titles that set the gold standard for the genre.
10
‘The Evil Within’ (2014)
Image Via Bethesda Softworks
The Evil Within comes from Shinji Mikami, the man who created Resident Evil, and it shows. You play as Sebastian Castellanos, a detective investigating a gruesome mass murder at a psychiatric hospital. The case quickly spirals into something far darker when Sebastian finds himself trapped inside the twisted mind of the game’s antagonist, Ruvik.
Because the story takes place inside the subconscious mind, reality is constantly breaking apart. Hallways can stretch infinitely, rooms will flip upside down, and entire structures will crash together. If you turn around, an exit you just used may no longer exist, essentially locking you into a room with an entity you can’t escape. It’s an unpredictable, nightmarish world that feels like a fever dream you can’t wake up from.
9
‘Until Dawn’ (2015)
Until Dawn is a different kind of survival horror experience in that it plays more like an interactive slasher film. Eight friends reunite at a mountain lodge a year after a tragedy and, in classic horror movie fashion, things go terribly wrong. The game begins like a classic whodunit, where the group is stalked and terrorized by a masked assailant who sets up lethal, Jigsaw-style traps. But midway through, it switches genres entirely and turns into something far scarier.
You control all eight of the friends at various points through the night, making choices that decide who lives, who dies, and how the whole thing ends. The genius of Until Dawn is that everyone is survivable and everyone is killable, depending entirely on your decisions. The butterfly effect system tracks your choices across the game, and the consequences of the smallest choices can show up hours later in ways you genuinely did not see coming. Moreover, the game asks players to identify their biggest fears, whether that’s clowns, needles, snakes, or dogs. It then uses those answers against them. The environment. The jump scares. Background props. Even the masks worn by enemies. All of it changes based on what the player finds most frightening.
8
‘Silent Hill 2’ (2024)
The original Silent Hill 2 is widely considered one of the greatest horror games ever made, and James Sunderland’s descent into the fog-choked streets of Silent Hill in search of his dead wife still remains one of gaming’s most psychologically complex stories. So, remaking it was always going to be a tightrope act, but Bloober Team pulled it off. The remake preserves everything that made the original iconic while bringing the visuals, combat, and exploration up to a modern standard.
The town isn’t a conventional spooky setting; it is a purgatorial, hallucinatory realm. It draws people in and manifests their innermost anxieties. Pyramid Head, the Nurses, the Lying Figures, they are all expressions of James’ guilt and his subconscious repressions. And then, of course, there are the Mannequins… pure nightmare fuel. They’ll force you to hit pause, accept that this is where your playthrough ends, and you are perfectly fine with never hitting play ever again.
7
‘Resident Evil Requiem’ (2026)
Resident Evil Requiem does something no game in the franchise has attempted before. It combines the claustrophobic first-person dread that made Resident Evil 7 and 8 so effective with the third-person action of Resident Evil 4. When you play as Grace, you’re in first person, and it feels like a literal horror movie. Weapons are weaker, and resources are painfully scarce. Then the game switches to Leon, and it almost feels like an entirely different genre. Leon is more experienced, better equipped, and capable of tearing through infected hordes with relative ease.
The story ties up decades-long loose ends regarding the fall of Umbrella, while rewarding longtime fans with callbacks to multiple entries across the series. At one point, you even get to revisit the iconic Raccoon City Police Department from Resident Evil 2. The real star of the game, however, is Victor Gideon. Easily one of the franchise’s strongest villains in years, Gideon feels like a Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) or Joker-type character combined with the physicality of a classic Resident Evil Bio-Organic Weapon.
6
‘Outlast 2’ (2017)
Outlast 2 is one of the most terrifying games ever made, and it earns that distinction through one very deliberate design choice: you cannot fight back. At all. All you can do is hide or run away. You play as Blake Langermann, a journalist who crashes in the Arizona Desert while investigating the murder of a pregnant woman and ends up trapped in a religious cult that has completely lost its grip on reality. Your only tools are a camcorder, a microphone, and your legs.
The night vision on the camcorder is your lifeline in the dark, but it runs on batteries, and once those run out, you will truly experience fear in its rawest form. The game forces you to explore because you desperately need batteries, knowing full well that if anyone happens to be inside, you are going to spend the next 15 minutes trying to get away. Outlast 2 is not a game for everyone, but if you want to know what genuine helplessness feels like, this is it.
5
‘MADiSON’ (2022)
To understand why MADiSON matters, you have to understand what P.T. was. In 2014, Konami released a free playable teaser on the PlayStation Store called P.T., which turned out to be a demo for a new Silent Hill game directed by Hideo Kojima. It was set in a single looping corridor of a house, and it was so frightening, so atmospherically perfect, that it became a landmark moment in horror gaming overnight. It is also the reason Resident Evil 7 went first-person. Then, Kojima fell out with Konami, the Silent Hill game was cancelled, and P.T. was permanently removed from the PlayStation Store. After P.T.‘s removal, a bunch of clones came out, and MADiSON is widely regarded as the best and most polished one out of them all.
You play as Luca, a teenager who wakes up with his hands covered in blood and a cursed vintage camera. You have no weapons and cannot fight back. All you can do is use the camera. The flash acts as a limited light source, and developing the photos can reveal hidden pathways or trigger environmental changes. The game was even scientifically ranked as the scariest horror game ever in the Science of Scare Project, where it provoked the highest average heart rates in players compared to any other game.
4
‘Alan Wake 2’ (2023)
In Alan Wake 2, you play through two connected storylines. One follows Alan Wake, an author trapped in a nightmare dimension called the Dark Place, and the tone feels straight out of Twin Peaks or The Twilight Zone. The other follows FBI agent Saga Anderson, who is investigating a series of ritualistic murders in a town called Bright Falls, and her story feels very much in the vein of something like True Detective. But as you keep playing, the two stories slowly start to overlap, and you find yourself questioning what is real and what is not.
One of its coolest mechanics lets Alan rewrite parts of the story. And as you make changes to the plot, the world literally changes around you in real time. For example, you can apply a “Murder Cult” plot in a subway tunnel, which turns it into a bloody ritual site, opens new pathways, and introduces chanting cult members into your surroundings. Or you can apply a plot thread about a detective being shot, which creates a trail of blood for Alan to follow deeper into the chapter. Visually, as well, the game is on another level. Every level is created with immaculate attention to detail. And the game even incorporates live-action cutscenes and elements. The actors look identical to their in-game versions. And these real-world elements are not just for cutscenes; they actually interact with the playable world as well.
3
‘Resident Evil 2’ (2019)
Resident Evil 2 remake does what the original game did best, then expands on it in all the right ways. It follows Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they try to survive the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City, with most of the game taking place inside the Raccoon City Police Department. The RPD itself is still one of the most iconic survival horror locations ever made, and the remake adds new rooms, new puzzles, and even some entirely new sections to the story while staying true to the horror roots that made the original a classic.
The thing that elevates this remake above almost everything else in the genre is Mr. X. This massive Tyrant is introduced partway through the game, and from that point on, he is an ever-present threat. He constantly stalks you through the police station with no fixed patrol pattern, no way to permanently stop him, and a footstep sound that will haunt you for weeks.
2
‘Alien: Isolation’ (2014)
Alien: Isolation takes place exactly 15 years after the events of the original 1979 Alien film. You play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), as she investigates the disappearance of her mother. That search leads her to the Sevastopol space station, a remote facility that has become overrun by a single Xenomorph.
The Xenomorph in here is powered by a groundbreaking two-tier AI system. One layer, known as the Director AI, is always aware of the player’s general location and keeps nudging the Xenomorph in that direction. The second layer is the on-screen hunter. It is fundamentally blind to your true location unless it sees, hears, or smells you. In a lot of ways, it’s like if Mr. X from Resident Evil 2 was always aware of your location and kept coming closer, instead of just roaming around randomly.
1
‘Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’ (2017)
By 2017, the Resident Evil franchise had drifted so far from its survival horror roots that many fans had written it off entirely. Then Capcom switched to first-person, stripped away much of the action, and delivered what is arguably the scariest game in the entire franchise. Resident Evil 7 genuinely feels like being trapped inside a horror movie, something halfway between The Evil Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. You play as Ethan Winters, searching for his missing wife Mia in a Louisiana plantation owned by the Baker family, and things get very bad very quickly.
If you’ve played it, you know the moment. You’ve worked your way through the house, found some clues, and started to get your bearings. Then you open the basement door, and you see Mia crawling up the stairs toward you. That image. The way she moves. Her blackened eyes and demonic voice. It’s probably burned into your brain. And that’s just the beginning. The Baker family is among the greatest horror antagonists in gaming history, and each of them gets a sequence that is distinctly grotesque in its own way. Nearly a decade later, Resident Evil 7 still remains the gold standard for modern survival horror.
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Raise your cozy coffee mugs in tribute.
The broad umbrella that is science fiction has allowed filmmakers to take their audiences to galaxies far, far away or terrify them about the potential threats of artificial intelligence. Whether on Earth or in space, the sci-fi films we adore have pushed our imaginations to the brink as we ponder the what-ifs. With such a vast ability to tell stories, sci-fi subgenres have provided some unique narratives, especially in the crime department.
While we might think of sci-fi as space adventures, the truth is, there’s also a hell of a lot of crime! For this list, we are going to examine the greatest crime sci-fi movies of all time. From dream heists to cyber cops patrolling the streets, these sci-fi crime thrillers have given us extraordinary cinematic moments we continue to celebrate. Even in advanced, futuristic civilizations, crimes are aplenty!
10
‘Gattaca’ (1997)
Directed by Andrew Niccol, Gattaca tells the story of a society strictly divided by genetic engineering where parents can choose their children’s traits, creating an elite class of “Valids.” Vincent (Ethan Hawke), a naturally conceived “In-valid” born with a weak heart, assumes the identity —including blood and hair samples— of genetically superior but paralyzed athlete Jerome Morrow (Jude Law), to travel to space. Just before Vincent’s scheduled launch, a mission director is murdered at the facility, and an eyelash Vincent drops at the crime scene brings the police sniffing around, forcing him to evade genetic background checks.
A retrofuturistic thriller that questions humanity’s spirit in the face of ambition and perseverance, Gattaca brings an all-star cast to a genuinely fascinating premise. Between identity theft and murder, crime is more than abundant. By slipping into a neo-noir-style murder mystery, Gattaca remains gripping from start to finish, and through the exploration of genetic engineering and biometrics, it forces a conversation about a future where DNA dictates your destination. The atmosphere built for the film is a key factor in its brilliance, pairing sleek retro-futurism with stark, cold architecture. Even with crime front and center, the film is a genuine underdog story.
9
‘Predestination’ (2014)
Shall we continue praising Ethan Hawke by discussing another of his exceptional films? This time, it’s 2014’s Predestination. Directed by Michael and Peter Spierig, the thriller follows Temporal Agent (Ethan Hawke) as he travels through history to stop major crimes before they happen, including the mass-casualty terrorist known as the “Fizzle Bomber.” As he investigates future crimes, he meets a mysterious confession-story author (Sarah Snook) who shares a story that leads to a major clue about mind-bending time travel and the bootstrap paradox.
An airtight thriller that flawlessly honors madcap science in order to keep you guessing what the big twist might be, the Spierigs’ film elevates typical time-travel tropes into a tragic, character-driven study of identity and fate. Predestination leaves no loose ends while ensuring the story never veers into uncontrollable territory. It’s a carefully plotted story that works as a slow-burning crime caper. Once again, Hawke does extraordinary work, providing a melancholic, grounded presence as the story’s emotional anchor. If you’re coming to the film fresh, you’d expect Snook to dominate, and she does in a breakout performance that’s almost chameleon-like, finding great nuance to a part that easily could have veered into cheesy territory.
8
‘Dark City’ (1998)
Being accused of murder is quite horrible when you can’t remember a single thing; that’s the premise of Dark City. Directed by Alex Proyas, Dark City follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), an amnesiac man who awakens in a perpetually dark, noir-style metropolis. Accused of a string of murders, he soon ventures into the city, a dangerous setting that seems to change all the time.
Dark City is all about establishing a mood, and Proyas does so impeccably. Drawing inspiration from German expressionism in classical cinema, the oppressive atmosphere plays an essential role in the storytelling. For a story that could easily be overwhelming and confusing, the lore and worldbuilding are excruciatingly clear, quite fascinating, and it keeps the narrative gripping. The film uses a classic noir setup to establish the story; you’re hooked on a grounded crusade for the truth. A breathtaking film, we’d likely be championing Dark City today had it not been for the Wachowskis’ masterpiece a year later.
7
‘Upgrade’ (2018)
Another entry in the underrated masterpiece department comes the gripping Leigh Whannell cyberpunk action thriller Upgrade. Set in a hyper-connected near future, the story follows mechanic Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green), an analog purist living with his wife, Asha (Melanie Vallejo). When a corrupted self-driving car crash leaves Asha dead and Grey a quadriplegic, a rogue billionaire offers him a controversial cure: SYNAPSE, a clandestine evolution of the original STEM (Simon Maiden) implant that merges directly with the spinal cord.
Mixing a steadfast revenge thriller with a terrifying AI crime story, Upgrade is a brutal, full-throttle story with a killer twist. Through a grimy cyberpunk atmosphere with a technophobic lead character, Whannell expertly makes the setting quite claustrophobic. In turn, Marshall-Green delivers a career-best performance. A clever twist on the body-snatcher story, Grey’s journey is mesmerizing, as he slowly figures out who’s in control. While there are quite a few films that watch a lead character embark on a daring quest alongside a crime-finding artificial intelligence cohort, Upgrade’s iteration is refreshing.
6
‘Minority Report’ (2002)
Steven Spielberg has made extraordinary science fiction films in nearly every decade of his storied career. At the turn of the century, his entry was the exceptional Minority Report. Set in Washington, D.C., in the year 2054, the story follows a specialized police unit called “Precrime” that uses three psychic humans—the “precogs”—to predict and prevent murders before they happen. The plot shifts into overdrive when the head of the Precrime unit, Captain John Anderton (Tom Cruise), is unexpectedly identified by the precogs as the perpetrator of a future murder, forcing him to go on the run to prove his innocence.
A high-octane philosophical thriller, Minority Report forces a rich conversation about fate and free will, the ethical boundaries of preventative law enforcement, and the consequences of government surveillance. The high-profile combination of Cruise and Spielberg proved worthy. Looking back today with a new lens, Minority Report was ahead of the curve in its exploration of personalized targeted advertising, biometric surveillance, and gestural computer interfaces. Perhaps we should be worried if the concept of precogs arrives next!
5
‘Blade Runner 2049’ (2017)
Rarely are sequels better than the original, especially when it helps to reboot a franchise, but Blade Runner 2049 sure came close! Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 serves as a sequel to the 1982 classic. Fret not, we’ll get to Blade Runner soon. The sci-fi noir crime drama follows Officer K (Ryan Gosling), an LAPD “blade runner” who hunts and decommissions rogue synthetic humans known as replicants. After uncovering a buried secret that proves replicants can reproduce biologically, K embarks on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
At its heart, Blade Runner 2049 works as a smart dissertation on humanity and personhood, marrying a hard-boiled detective story with a philosophical exploration of the nature of the soul. Villeneuve takes the gritty confines of the original and deliberately forces his audience to absorb the world, from the radioactive, blood-red ruins of Las Vegas to the rising sea walls of Los Angeles. Though Ford is more than present, it is Gosling’s story; together, they work profoundly well, alongside a dynamite ensemble. Every frame, every sound, every image of this film is worth watching. Some may call it better than the original, but that’s a tough sell.
4
‘Looper’ (2012)
Science fiction writers love time travel, but not every screenwriter can tackle the loop well. Fortunately for writer-director Rian Johnson, his skill set is on full display in Looper. Johnson’s masterpiece tells the story of Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a 2044 “looper” who kills targets sent back in time by future syndicates. When his older self (Bruce Willis) is sent back to be killed, he escapes, causing young Joe to hunt his future self, who is trying to kill a child destined to become a crime boss.
Johnson treats time travel not as a magical plot device but as a dirty, illegal method used by future mobsters, thus subverting common tropes for a whip-smart crime thriller. Looper is a satisfying story that lets the themes of aging, regret, and the cyclical nature of violence mirror the science-fiction element that drives it. The film navigates the potential paradoxes by focusing first on the characters’ emotional arcs. Like many time-travel-based stories, the script tackles the morality and ethics of attempting to change timelines and the potential consequences that accompany them. Gordon-Levitt and Willis have stellar chemistry, and Emily Blunt provides the necessary groundedness and emotion, truly anchoring the latter part of the film.
3
‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)
One of the more distinctive films of the early aughts was A Scanner Darkly. The adult animated sci-fi thriller from Richard Linklater is based on the 1977 novel by Philip K. Dick and is set in a future America that lost its war on drugs. Undercover narcotics cop Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) becomes addicted to a mind-altering substance known as Substance D, causing him to suffer a fractured psyche and lose grip on his own reality. As he investigates the source, his brain deteriorates, causing him to spy on himself unknowingly.
A brilliant take on surveillance, paranoia, the loss of identity, and the devastating consequences of addiction, A Scanner Darkly is an introspective philosophical work with groundbreaking rotoscope animation that feels off and slightly dreamlike. This unique technique is not just stylistic; it is integral to the plot, enabling the representation of the scramble suit. It might feel disorienting, even psychedelic, but it’s instrumental. A Scanner Darkly forces you into questioning personal identity crises through the war on drugs and the dangers of surveillance, resulting in a scathing satire directed to perfection.
2
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
An adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Blade Runner tells the story of Rick Deckard (Ford), a burnt-out blade runner tasked with hunting down and retiring rogue androids—known as replicants— engineered for slave labor but escaped to Earth. Set in the year 2019, the revolt is led by Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), who seeks their creator, the bioengineers at the powerful Tyrell Corporation, to demand an extension of their lifespans. Throw in a sci-fi love story between Deckard and Rachael (Sean Young), a Replicant girl, and you have a tremendous neo-noir science fiction film.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Blade Runner is all about its atmosphere, as Scott crafts a breathtaking, moody, gritty cyberpunk future set against crime-thriller tropes. Deckard works well as a hard-boiled detective within the world’s specificity. The neon-lit metropolis may look stunning, but how the urban decay is infused gives the world its unique identity. All these years later, there is still a timelessness to Blade Runner— and not just because the franchise continues to expand. Perhaps it’s Barry’s final iconic monologue that the film resonates still today.
1
‘Inception’ (2010)
No one has played with a dream heist quite like Christopher Nolan. Inception follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a professional thief who steals corporate secrets by infiltrating his targets’ subconscious. A chance to have his criminal history erased as payment for the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s subconscious sends him back into action. Blurring the lines between dream and reality, this multi-layered film uses corporate espionage and a dream heist as the backdrop against a twisted, complex dreamscape.
Tackling themes of memory, grief, and the perception of reality, Inception is one of the most fascinating films ever made. The meticulous heist planning is profound, setting up the mind as the “scene of the crime.” Nolan’s ability to engross audiences while blowing their minds is unmatched. Toss in a masterclass in editing and sound design, and Inception stands out as a unique beast. With a brilliant cast, Inception is an action-packed adventure that goes to places other films never dreamed of (pun intended). The legendary ending is still debated to this day, an expert combination of sci-fi and crime that makes it the pinnacle of the category.
“Summer House” fans are excited they can finally say goodbye to West Wilson. According to a new report, the Missouri native, who initially charmed the Bravo fandom as a new cast member in February 2024, has been axed from the long-running television program following his dating scandal with Amanda Batula.
Rumors had been swirling for some time that Wilson would not be asked back to the Bravo reality series; however, TMZ confirmed the news today, June 15, 2026.
According to the publication, a source close to the show said that the sports journalist-turned-TV personality was not asked back for the next season, which will begin shooting during the July 4th weekend.
While Wilson, 31, won’t be part of the main cast, the insider said the “Show Me Something” podcast host could make a cameo at some point during the upcoming season.
Wilson’s firing comes as no surprise, considering he was on an island by himself after confirming his romance with co-star Batula following months of intense speculation, per The Blast.
West Wilson In A Bad Place With His ‘Summer House’ Co-Stars
Wilson’s romance with Batula left a sour taste in the mouths of his “Summer House” co-stars, including his former bestie, KJ Dillard. According to The Blast, Dillard told Carl Radke that he and Wilson were no longer communicating.
“I know people make mistakes. I’m someone that gives grace, trust me,” Dillard said. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes, and people have given me grace, but it just seems like he’s not learning from his mistakes.”
Dillard went on, likening Wilson to his father, with whom he has said he has had a strained relationship. “My dad has apologized to me and said, ‘I’m gonna do this. I’m gonna be better.’ Then, it just continues to repeat these cycles. It’s just like, ‘What is going?’”
Radke Blasted West Wilson During Previous Interview Over Lack Of ‘Accountability’
Radke, meanwhile, blasted Wilson during a previous interview, per The Blast, accusing him of failing to take ownership of his behavior and how his actions impacted the rest of the cast.
“I think a lot of us were hoping to feel the feeling you get when someone actually apologizes and takes accountability,” he said. “Especially watching it now, I didn’t feel it, and that’s what’s hard.”
According to Radke, Wilson’s secretive relationship with Batula not only hurt her estranged husband and their “Summer House” co-star, Kyle Cooke, but it also hurt Ciara Miller, whom he dated in 2023.
“People are really hurt. Ciara, Kyle. I mean, I’m looking at him right now. He’s my best friend, and watching that s–t, the footage of West at his family house with Kyle. Like, he not only brought Ciara home, he brought Kyle home. And then does that. It’s just diabolical,” Radke said.
Wilson’s Firing Comes After He Appeared To Steer Viewers Away From A New ‘Summer House’ Episode Scheduled To Air
Wilson’s firing also comes after he told his podcast listeners that he hoped the 2026 NBA Finals would spill over into Tuesday, June 16, so people would watch the contest instead of a new “Summer House” episode that’s scheduled to air.
“If the Spurs win Saturday and they go back to MSG and they play Game 6, it will be Tuesday night [at] the same time they air this f-cking, g-d-mn bonus episode,” he said. “Give me f-cking Knicks in 6 at the same time this sh-t is on TV. I will be the happiest person in the motherf-cking world.”
Bravo mainstay Lindsay Hubbard took issue with his words, calling him “trash” in a social media post and blasting him for appearing to sabotage their show.
Viewers Are Feeling Good About Wilson’s Firing
Online, viewers seem happy about Wilson’s firing, as one user said, “F boys having consequences for their sh-tty behavior is so satisfying to see.”
Another user referenced a popular scene from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” during which NeNe Leakes tells Phaedra Parks, “You can never win when you’re dirty.”
“Fine with me,” a third person wrote about Wilson’s firing. “I think he was a completely different person than who he portrayed himself to be on TV.”
Magic is an integral part of the fantasy genre, and is often the driving force behind many of a fantasy story’s core events. In fantasy literature, these systems of magic are generally divided into two categories: hard or soft magic. Hard magic means it is a complex magic system with specific rules and drawbacks, with soft magic systems being freer, loosely defined, and easier to use.
Likewise, fantasy is commonly divided into two types: high and low. High fantasy is set in a world separate from that of our own, with its own set of rules, whereas low fantasy often intertwines with our own world. High fantasy tends to make use of hard magic systems a lot, and this is seen in movies, books, and TV shows. In fact, many high fantasy TV shows have really imaginative or interesting magic systems, which serve as one of the best parts of the series.
‘The Color of Magic’ (2008)
The Color of Magic is a two-part miniseries based on the first Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. The series is primarily a fantasy-comedy, one that satirizes and parodies standard fantasy tropes to a ridiculous degree. The universe gets its name from the shape of the planet: it is a flat disc which sits on the backs of four giant elephants, which in turn sit on the back of a giant sea turtle flying through space. Sound absurd? It’s supposed to.
The Color of Magic is part of the wizard-themed subseries of the entire saga, meaning magic is delved into heavily. The magic system of Discworld is loaded with irony. First, the primary job of a wizard isn’t even to use magic, because magic is often extremely cumbersome to use, complex, and hard to control, often resulting in disaster. In this series, wizards treat magic like loading a musket. They go through a complex series of mathematical calculations to lock the spell in their brain for future use. When they need it, they use it, and it’s gone in seconds. Then they have to repeat the process all over again. Moreover, it often leaves one physically exhausted. It’s funny how lame magic actually is in Discworld, but it’s also an interesting and unique concept.
‘Dragon Age: Absolution’ (2022)
Dragon Age: Absolution received mixed reviews from audiences, since it is, after all, a video game adaptation. A lot of video game adaptations are pretty terrible. Whatever you think about this show, the magic system it borrows from the world of the games is pretty spectacular. See, in the Dragon Age universe, magic comes from a limbo-like dimension known as the Fade, which is tied to the world of dreams.
This means that only sapient species that can dream can use magic. Dwarves, for example, cannot dream, and thus, cannot use magic. Those who can access magic are born with the innate gift of it — it is not something that can be learned or acquired. The way spells work is that the magic user reaches through the Veil, drawing energy from the Fade, and using it to warp reality and physics to their will. This, like many RPG games, comes at the expense of mana, a magical energy similar to one’s stamina. The miniseries doesn’t delve into this too deeply, but the games do, and, while it might be very similar to other magic systems in fiction, it’s still interesting.
‘The Witcher’ (2019–Present)
The Witcher is one of those shows that’s had a less-than-impressive reception over the years, although it was loved during its first season. The series is based on the novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, so the show, appropriately, borrows its magic system from that. There are two major veins of magic in this world, which are used by two drastically different types of individuals.
The first is the magic used by the titular Witchers. This magic form is incredibly simple, with all Witchers having access to it, a privilege that they earn in the process of becoming a Witcher. To cast spells, they write a rune in the air, with each rune representing its own spell. For example, a fire rune will cast a fire spell. The second form of magic is that used by mages and sorceresses, which is a more classic magic system. These people tap into their own life force to cast spells, which are highly unstable and require exceptional control, so this is only limited to a few individuals. The magic isn’t too deep in this show, but it is fun to watch, and it really makes you feel the gravity and chaos of using it.
‘One Piece’ (1999–Present)
There’s some debate about whether the magic system in One Piece is even a magic system at all. It’s pretty simplistic, but it stands out amongst the others because of how truly unique it is. In this world, pirates rule the seas, many of them possessing magical or supernatural powers. However, these are not gifts given naturally. See, one can only gain these powers by eating Devil Fruits, which are surprisingly common.
Most people choose not to indulge in Devil Fruit, though. This is because there is only one kind of each fruit, meaning each individual fruit grants a unique ability. Once a person has claimed it, they will be the only person in the world with that power. As a result, there is no telling what ability one will get — some abilities are pretty volatile and are more dangerous to oneself than to others. On top of that, eating the fruit will curse the consumer, meaning they will lose their ability to swim, and will never be able to relearn how. This is obviously not a good idea in a primarily oceanic world. What’s great about this magic system is that it’s simple, but there’s also a genuine risk to using it, clearly explaining why not everyone is capable of it.
‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022–Present)
The Legend of Vox Machina is actually based on a custom Dungeons & Dragons campaign played by the Critical Role podcast. What’s pretty neat is that the podcast members actually voice their in-game characters in the show. That aside, the fact that it is based on one of the most iconic tabletop role-playing games means that the magic system used in the show works much the same way as it does in the RPG.
There are three schools of magic: arcane, divine, and natural. Arcane magic is basically shooting magic missiles, enchanting items, and using magical energy itself. Divine magic is more about casting miracles, relying on the power of deities and the light. Lastly, natural magic concerns the elements, especially manipulating the earth or plants. While it might not be an original magic system since it’s borrowed from the RPG it’s based on, it’s so classic that it’s hard not to love it.
‘The Shannara Chronicles’ (2016–2017)
Magic in The Shannara Chronicles comes from the book series of the same name by Terry Brooks. Although, it should be noted that this show is technically low fantasy, since it takes place on Earth, thousands of years after a nuclear apocalypse. However, many still consider it high fantasy since this Earth barely resembles the one we currently know. In any event, the source of magic comes from deep within the Earth itself — an ancient and mystical force that is tied to faerie culture.
Magic manifests in many ways. There are magical talismans, which only work in the hands of the gifted, and there is the traditional form of magic casting. However, this is very unpredictable and dangerous, and requires highly-specialized training in order to wield effectively without accidentally blowing yourself up or dying of exhaustion. There’s also dark magic, which draws upon the power of the Void. It’s a bit complex to explain in full detail here, but needless to say, not everyone is born with the ability to access this. The books explain it in more detail, and while it is pretty traditional in the fantasy world, it’s still entertaining.
‘Shadow and Bone’ (2021–2023)
Shadow and Bone is based on a novel series by Leigh Bardugo, which occurs in her expansive universe known as the Grishaverse. Sadly, the show was cancelled due to low viewership. Still, this is a treatment it didn’t deserve, because people loved its witty dialogue, immersive world, and intriguing magic system. Magical individuals are called Grisha, who divide themselves into three orders.
There are the Corporalki, who manipulate the human body. Some can change their shape, some serve as healers, and others use it as a weapon. Then there are the Etherealki, who can summon aspects of nature, such as light, shadow, air, and fire. Lastly, there are the Materialki, who can manipulate things like metal, poison, and stone. Each order has their own suborders based on what they can control. Interestingly, the magic is performed via hand gestures, so if a Grisha’s hands are bound, they are unable to use magic. This is actually quite a unique one that suits its universe perfectly, and that is fun to not only imagine, but to see play out on screen.
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
The magic in Avatar: The Last Airbender is admittedly, pretty simplistic, but that’s what makes it so great. You have to understand that this is primarily a show geared towards kids, so simplicity is strength. The series takes place on a continent consisting of four nations. Each of the four nations corresponds to one of the four elements, i.e., air, earth, fire, and water. Certain gifted individuals born on these continents, known as “benders,” can manipulate the element of their nation.
For example, a gifted person from the Water Nation would be able to bend water. What’s notable is that most benders cannot conjure their elements from thin air; they can only manipulate what already exists around them. Firebenders seem to be able to conjure fire, but that’s about it. Earthbenders must use the rocks beneath their feet, water benders must use a nearby water source, and airbenders use the surrounding air. Amongst them all, however, is the eponymous Avatar, a chosen one destined to master the art of bending in all four elements, and bring peace to the land. If you weren’t a child of the 2000s, you likely won’t understand the impact the magic in this show had. Playground debates and discussions were everywhere about which element was best. It’s simple, but it works, and that’s why people love this one.
‘The Dragon Prince’ (2018–2024)
In The Dragon Prince, there are three major sapient species: the humans, the elves, and, of course, the dragons. However, only elves and dragons are able to use magic. This actually causes humanity to begin a war with dragons and elves, which is pretty ill-advised. Let’s face it, having a non-magical force go up against two magical forces is probably not going to end well. However, magic can still be accessed by humans via Primal stones, it’s just that humans are the only species that doesn’t have the innate ability.
Anyway, there are two forms of magic: Primal magic, and Dark magic, with Primal being the most common kind. Primal magic is derived from six Primal sources: the sun, the moon, the sky, the earth, the ocean, and the stars. In order to make the magic physically manifest into a spell, one must draw a rune into the air and utter an incantation in Ancient Draconic, the language of dragons. It might be a bit of an amalgamation of a bunch of different fantasy magic systems throughout literature, but the show makes it its own by adding a special flair to it.
‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–2025)
The Wheel of Time is another series that’s technically low fantasy since it is set in our world, (albeit thousands of years in the future). However, it’s so far removed from reality that many consider it high fantasy anyway. The magic in this show comes from the original novel series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. It starts off with one’s innate ability. Every individual has a unique power level, some being very gifted, others, not so much.
The magic is the One Power, which has two halves: saidar and saidin. Saidar is the female half, which only women can access, whilst saidin is the male half. However, saidin has been tainted by the Dark One, meaning any man who can access the One Power is doomed to lose his mind eventually. The way magic actually works is that gifted individuals, called Channelers, tap into the One Power, and weave magical threads consisting of five elements: fire, air, earth, water, and spirit. Combining the elements can give different effects or weaves. The magic is directly tied to one’s energy, meaning it is completely possible, and not uncommon, for one to actually die from exhaustion from channeling too much. The whole concept of threads and weaving comes from the title itself, with time being a spinning wheel or loom rather than a wheel from a vehicle. The show never really got the chance to delve into it too much, but the magic system is moderately complex, and is one of the most iconic magic systems in all of fantasy.
Candiace Dillard Bassett announced her exit from “The Real Housewives of Potomac” in 2024. Since then, she and former costar Ashley Darby have remained on bad terms. Now, ahead of them both appearing on “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th,” the former “RHOP” star is giving an update on where they stand.
Bassett interviewed with Kevin Bobby while at LA Pride in June 2026. During the short chat, the reporter mentioned Bassett’s run-in with Darby and Gizelle Bryant for “Ultimate Girls Trip.” Specifically, he asked if there was any chance of reconciling with the two “RHOP” stars.
She said, “What I’ll say about Ashley is that we’ve had some calm conversations and I think my time away from the show has shown me- I think she and I can have a mutual understanding.” After that, Bassett had warm wishes for Darby.
The singer and reality star continued, “I wish her well as a mom, and figuring out her new life outside of her marriage and finding peace.” She went on to essentially congratulate her former foe after her years-long divorce from Michael Darby before saying, “Happy Pride, perhaps subtly hinting at rumors of the former husband’s sexuality.
Candiace Previously Celebrated Darby’s Breakup
Darby went through her breakup in April 2022. After that, Bassett appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” several months later and reacted to Darby’s then-romance with fellow Bravo star Luke Gulbranson.
When asked how she felt about the blossoming relationship, Bassett responded, “As much as I, like, just cannot stand her, I’m really happy for her.” She added, “We have so much fun together. Outside of the show, I would maybe go on record as saying we’d maybe be friends.”
Bassett then emphasized, “outside of the show.”
Many fans of “The Real Housewives of Potomac” are hopeful that Darby and Bassett can someday fully mend their relationship. Because of this, some are hopeful following the former “RHOP” star taking the high road despite their contentious past.
One person wrote, “Lmao!!!! The happy pride was some slick-a-s shade toward Michael! The first thing that came to her mind while trying to prevent herself from uttering his name. I miss her so much on my TV.”
Another “RHOP” fan stated, “I mean, Candiace has spoken about the Ashley/Gizelle of it all many a time, and I think we all know where she stands with everybody. It’s time to end that conversation. More interested in her future prospects. She seems to have been putting a lot of effort into her music.”
Someone else reacted, “I love to hear the maturity! She kept it real cute here.” Regarding the relationship dynamic, another social media user stated, “She always despised Michael. Ashley was just collateral from her beef with him.”
Candiace Recently Dished On NeNe Leakes’ ‘Girls Trip’ episode
As mentioned, Bassett will appear on Bravo’s upcoming “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th.” The limited series is intended to celebrate 20 years of “Real Housewives,” featuring a principal cast of seven women, as well as dozens of other fan-favorites, including NeNe Leakes from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
After filming concluded, Bassett took to her “Undomesticated” podcast to dish on not only her experience, but also what fans can expect from Leakes. Of course, the upcoming appearance will mark her first time on Bravo since leaving “RHOA” in 2020 and later filing a lawsuit.
Bassett said, “I thought that would have been a great segue for her to kind of come back in if ever she was going to come back in.” She continued, “But I will say, her being on that episode, she was honored, and she was honored not just by the cast in the room, but the production honored her.”
The “RHOP” alum then stated that not only did Leakes attend the party that will be featured in the episode, but that she filmed a scene prior to it.
The ‘RHOP’ Alum Shoots Down Returning To The Show
Years after her 2024 exit, Bassett remains a “Real Housewives of Potomac” fan-favorite. During a December 2025 episode of her podcast, she addressed fans’ questions about whether she had plans to return for season 11.
According to her, “I do not have any plans to return to Potomac at this time. I say that, you never know, as someone who believes firmly in never saying never. I’m not saying it will never happen. But what I am saying is, as you all are badgering and beating down my door to come back like, yesterday, I am not having those conversations.”
Actor Hayden Christensen, best known for portraying Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy and several other Lucasfilm projects, has drawn the ire of fans who were hoping to catch him at Spacecon in San Antonio, Texas, last Saturday. The actor left the convention early in order to watch Game 5 of the NBA finals between the Spurs and the New York Knicks.
Hayden Christensen Departs Space Con Early To Catch NBA Finals
Christensen appeared on a panel alongside actor Jimmy Smits and Ian McDiarmid at Spacecon on Saturday, before announcing that he was “going to try to catch the second half of the game” in a clip that an attendee uploaded on TikTok.
Several witnesses told TMZ they were “upset” that Christensen left the event early, especially since it cost them a pretty penny to attend. In addition to the cost of the panel, the actor charged $175 for autographs, $225 for autographs on special items, and $210 for photo ops.
Now Play Podcast Claims The Actor ‘F-cked Over Fans’
The Now Playing Podcast responded to a video that featured Christensen holding up a jersey. The video, posted by the San Antonio Spurs, featured the caption, “The Force is with us tonight (and so is Anakin! Hayden Christensen is in the building tonight.”
The podcast channel responded to the post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to explain the “story behind this photo” and claimed that “Hayden f-cked over his fans to get the photo.”
They claimed that the actor “somehow has a clause no other guests have—for him to do a panel at a con he wants more money so they make it a paid, ticketed event.”
“NEVER on 25 years of con going have I seen people pay to attend panels (which are usually pretty sucky). People paid *$100* per ticket to see Hayden with Ian McDermid [sic] and Jimmy Smith [sic] (both of whom would have done the panel for free…but not Hayden),” they alleged.
They went on to say that the panel was scheduled for 8:15 PM, long before the NBA finals were announced, but they decided to move it to 8 PM due to the game. Although the beginning of the panel “went well,” Hayden allegedly got up and left twenty minutes into the panel.
Ian McDiarmid and Jimmy Smits Reportedly Stayed For The Whole Panel
Although McDiarmid and Smits apparently stayed for the entire time, the podcast channel claimed that “attendees say the entire energy left the room with Hayden.”
They concluded: “The unmatched greed and ego shown by Christiansen [sic] for this photo op is really a sign of unwarranted entitlement and a way to sh-t on fans (not me!) who paid $100 ON TOP OF A CON BADGE just to hear him talk.”
In the comments, many fans pointed out that they had attended paid panels in the past, especially at night. One fan who attended the same Spacecon that Christensen left noted that Tom Hiddleston also had a paid panel; however, it was the day before, and he stayed for the whole time. Other fans also questioned the “clause” Christensen allegedly had and doubted its validity.
At this time, it is unclear if disappointed attendees will be refunded.
Hayden Christensen To Return As Anakin Skywalker In ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2
Even though he might have disgruntled some fans with his decision to leave the convention early, Christensen will return to his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in season 2 of “Ahsoka,” as announced by The Hollywood Reporter in April 2025.
The announcement was made at the Star Wars Celebration event in Tokyo, Japan. Show creator Dave Filoni, executive producer Jon Favreau, and “Ahsoka” actress Rosario Dawson discussed the inspiration behind the show and the making of season 1.
They then featured a clip between Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka on the screen before Christensen walked out to thunderous applause. “There’s not much I can share, but Anakin will be back for season two,” Christensen said at the time.
Although season 2 of “Ahsoka” was filmed in 2025 and many fans expected it to be released on Disney+ in 2026, the show’s sophomore outing has been delayed to 2027.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Right now, there is an ongoing debate about the role of AI in filmmaking. Some consumers and creators think that movies should be free of AI and that everything we see onscreen should be made entirely by humans. Others see this technology as a great equalizer, one that allows independent directors to create movies they otherwise couldn’t afford to make. While companies like OpenAI and Anthropic may be stumbling right now (a switch to token-based billing will do that!), it’s obvious that we can’t put the cat back into the bag. AI is here to stay, and it’s important for us to figure out what it means for future films and filmmakers.
Now, one filmmaker has proposed a solution that is both simple and elegant. At a recent film festival, Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski proposed a solution. Rather than calling for no AI in films whatsoever, he believes that movies should get a separate rating based on what they used AI for. As an example, he thinks that using AI for scriptwriting is egregious enough to warrant an “F” rating. In other scenarios, Verbinski believes it is more acceptable for, say, cash-strapped directors to use AI for various production needs. The key to making all of this work? Simple: complete transparency.
Making AI Walk The Plank
Recently, Gore Verbinski attended the Taormina Film Festival. His primary purpose was to discuss his film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, which stars Sam Rockwell as a traveler from the future. He’s come to the past to recruit allies to fight a rogue AI. If they can’t stop the AI in time, it will destroy all of humanity.
Given the context for this movie, it’s no wonder that Verbinski has some deep thoughts on the role of AI in modern society. On the subject of AI use in movies, he took a relatively nuanced stance, claiming that (depending on your definition), Hollywood has relied on AI tools “for 20 years.” Regarding generative AI, he has a simple proposal: a rating system that specifies exactly how AI was used in the movie.
“If you use AI to write a script, you get an F,” he said. “What people are most afraid of is that there is no transparency. People are afraid of what is real and what isn’t.” Unlike many in the industry, Verbinski is not a hardliner who thinks all future films should be made without AI. Instead, he thinks that it is more acceptable for directors to use this technology in certain cases, like when microbudget directors can’t afford to bring some crucial element of their film to life.
Transparency Is Everything
For Verbinksi, the most important thing about this proposed rating system is that it lets customers know what to expect before they spend any cold, hard cash. “I think you have to be absolutely transparent [about] what it was used for. I would never try to use it to be in front of the story,” he said. Obviously, there is plenty of room to debate which uses of AI don’t have a negative impact on the story. But in broad strokes, Verbinski’s proposal is nearly perfect: it serves to warn audiences about the potential presence of AI while also warning us of how that AI was used.
This would allow everyone to vote with their wallet. If more people show up for films made without AI, we will see a Renaissance of human-made content. Similarly, if more people showed up for films made with AI, such movies will become the norm. Honestly, I think if movies made by AI were conveniently labeled, most customers would shun these films in favor of ones made entirely by humans. We’ll never know until we try it, and Gore Verbinski’s proposed AI rating system is the best idea yet for offering the transparency audiences deserve.
On Monday night, fans were shocked to hear that Jelly Roll had filed for divorce from Bunny Xo after nearly a decade of marriage. The couple met in 2015 and secretly married in Las Vegas the following year. The couple renewed their vows in 2023 and have been public about their love for each other, which has led to even more shock at their sudden split.
On May 18, the country star filed for divorce in Williamson County, Tennessee, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The news came as a shock to many fans, as he recently credited Bunny for helping him turn his life around during his 2026 Grammy Awards speech in February.
The two had shared plenty of PDA throughout the evening and posed together on the red carpet. While accepting the award for Best Contemporary Country Album, he became emotional as he thanked his wife.
“I want to thank my beautiful wife,” he said at the time, as previously reported by PEOPLE magazine. “I would have never changed my life without you. I would have ended up dead or in jail. I would have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus. I thank you for that.”
The Couple Met At His Concert More Than 10 Years Ago
Their relationship began after they met at one of Jelly Roll’s concerts at Las Vegas’ Country Saloon in 2015. After dating for about a year, he proposed to her on stage in Las Vegas in 2016. Later that night, they secretly tied the knot in a courthouse ceremony without telling friends or family.
In 2023, Jelly Roll admitted that they made the decision to wed “while on a bender” in Vegas in the middle of the night, but still maintained that it was the right decision.
“She’s my best friend, man. She truly is my favorite person to talk to. She’s my first and last line of defense,” he told PEOPLE in 2023. “She’s my everything. There’s anchors in life that kind of keep us straight, and Bunnie’s definitely mine.”
They Were Never 100% Sure Of Their Wedding Date
He went on to tell the publication that the decision to renew their vows in 2023 was due to the fact that they could never remember the actual date of their wedding.
“There was always a discrepancy with our anniversary, because she thought it was on one day. I thought it was on another day. Neither one of us knew,” he admitted.
“I was like, ‘Everybody else talks about the seven-year itch. Why don’t we call it the seven-year stretch?’ We’ll just go in there and double down,” he continued.
“It is officially — I think — September 1st. And September 1st felt right, because we thought it was between the 30th and 31st, so I said, ‘Well, now we can just both be wrong and just set it on the first.’ Even money that way,” he added.
Jelly Roll Has Two Children From A Prior Relationship
Jelly Roll also talked about how it has been “really cool” co-parenting his daughter, Bailee, and his son, Noah, who were both from prior relationships.
“Bunny didn’t have children, [but] she has such a maternal instinct. I call her mama bear, because that’s just who she is to all of us,” he said. “To watch her come in, and to watch her and Bailee’s relationship develop, has been the highlight of my life.”
In May 2023, he took to Instagram to share a sweet Mother’s Day message for Bunny.
“It takes a special kind of woman to raise a child that isn’t hers,” he wrote at the time. “When Bunnie and I was first starting to talk, I knew I was about to get full custody of Bailee and also had another woman pregnant. Most women would’ve ran for the hill, but not Bunnie. She told me no matter what happened between us she wanted to help me get custody Bailee.”
“7 years later Bailee calls Bunnie Momma with no hesitation, and 7 years later Bunnie still blows my mind everyday with how loving and patient she is with Bailee,” he continued. “Happy Mothers Day Mama Bear. You deserve to be celebrated on this day more than anyone I’ve ever known. I love you so much!”
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