By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 25 seconds ago

Back in 1998, the coolest Star Wars video game quietly dropped on PC. Star Wars: Behind the Magic was less a game and more an interactive encyclopedia, one filled with all kinds of weird secrets about the franchise. It was from this weird little CD-ROM that I first learned about the Rule of Two, something that would become a big deal in the Prequel Trilogy. It was also the first time I learned more details on Darth Vader being a Sith, something that was weirdly absent from most of the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Of course, the coolest thing about Behind the Magic was the inclusion of deleted scenes from A New Hope.

If we’re being honest, most of the deleted scenes from that first Star Wars movie are pretty bad, and it’s easy to see why they were cut from the film. However, one deleted scene that most fans have never seen (it most certainly wasn’t on that old CD-ROM!) was an extended version of the Death Star conference scene. It’s actually surprisingly great, with world-building and politics that feel right out of Andor. The scene also paints General Tagge as one of the most intense officers in the entire Empire. Most fascinatingly, though, this scene has Tagge call Darth Vader a “Sith,” a word we wouldn’t hear onscreen for another 22 years! 

Tagge, You’re It

The extended version of this scene from A New Hope only has one angle, and it’s fixed on Tagge the entire time. While that’s a little weird, it also lets us appreciate how much passion the late, great Don Henderson is putting into his performance. Tagge puts forth some rather justified paranoia, saying that Vader has “gone too far” and that this Emperor-sent errand boy will be their “undoing.” He goes on to describe how dangerous the Rebel Alliance is and how the Death Star is more of a vanity project for Tarkin than a useful military asset. The rest of the scene plays out as it did in the original movie. 

Beyond Henderson’s awesome performance, this extended scene is compelling because it provides some Andor-style Imperial worldbuilding. We find out that Motti isn’t the only one who distrusts Vader. We also find out that Vader was sent by the Emperor; the original film makes it seem like he is mostly Tarkin’s attack dog. Speaking of Tarkin, it’s awesome that Tagge calls out the Death Star as being part of “Tarkin’s bid for recognition” rather than “prudent military strategy.” Just like that, we have a fascinating glimpse into Imperial politics, including a high-ranked official saying that his boss is putting his ego ahead of the needs of the Empire. 

When The Sith Hits The Fan

Of course, the main reason this extended scene excites Star Wars fans is that it represents the first time the word “Sith” is spoken onscreen. “Onscreen” is the keyword here: the novelization of A New Hope called Darth Vader a “Dark Lord of the Sith,” and he had the same title in some early Star Wars marketing. He was also referred to by this title or, more simply, by “Evil Sith Lord” on some of the Kenner toys. Despite Dark Horse Comics giving more details about ancient Sith in comics like Tales of the Jedi, we didn’t really get much information before the prequels about Vader’s Sith specifics.

This is likely because George Lucas was hesitant to let Star Wars Expanded Universe writers muck about with certain aspects of his mythology. That’s why the EU was filled with so many Dark Jedi bad guys, like Joruus C’baoth. Lucas didn’t have a problem with people writing about corrupted Jedi, but he had his own plans for how he’d portray the Sith. Those plans played out in the Prequel Trilogy, where the word “Sith” was first officially spoken onscreen in The Phantom Menace. In those prequels, details about the Sith were a well-kept secret, mostly known to Jedi and Sith practitioners such as Palpatine.

Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe

Had this extended scene from A New Hope made it to the final film, fans would have spent decades begging to know more about the Sith. Plus, they’d probably want to know how an Imperial commander knows all about one of the most secretive cults in a galaxy far, far away. However, Lucas cut this dialogue out, leaving the Sith to be a secret that he mostly explored onscreen in the prequels and, later, the Clone Wars TV show. Now, it’s left to fans like us to spread the word of a deleted scene that nearly changed everything.

Don’t know how to introduce it to your buddies? I recommend starting out by asking if they’ve heard the tragedy of General Tagge, the wise. Tell them it’s not a story that George Lucas would tell them, and then roll that beautiful bean footage! 

There are plenty of spy thrillers being made today, but there’s really only one that far surpasses the rest. Apple TV’s Slow Horses has already produced five seasons of heart-pumping, thrilling action and shows no signs of slowing down. While the series has finally confirmed the release of its sixth season on September 16, Slow Horses will be switching up its format in one notable way when it returns.

Every Season of ‘Slow Horses’ Has Followed the Same Format So Far

Slow Horses‘ approach to adaptation has been pretty straightforward so far, with each season based on one book in Mick Herron‘s fantastic spy series. While the first novel, also titled Slow Horses, was originally published back in 2010, Apple TV didn’t bring it to the small screen until 2022. The series follows a team of MI5 rejects who find themselves banished to Slough House, led by the irascible, slovenly Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). Well past his own glory years as a spy, Lamb isn’t interested in mentoring these agents or helping them return to a more respected position at MI5. The story officially begins when aspiring agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) is relegated to Slough House after a disastrous training exercise.

As the action surrounding Slough House and its inhabitants plays out, each season of Slow Horses has followed the plot of Herron’s book series, with storylines covering everything from the reemergence of Cold War spies to murderous mercenaries. This has been a winning formula for the spy drama, allowing it to earn devoted fans, critical acclaim, and 14 Emmy nominations (including two wins). But Slow Horses has never been one to rest on its laurels, and it’s been officially confirmed that Season 6 will be switching things up.

‘Slow Horses’ Season 6 Will Adapt Two of Mick Herron’s Novels

Every season of Slow Horses has somehow managed to pack all of the action from one of Herron’s novels into just six episodes, but Season 6 is going to push the envelope even further by adapting two of Herron’s books: Joe Country (2019) and Slough House (2021). Joe Country hints that Diana Taverner’s (Kristin Scott Thomas) position as First Desk isn’t as easy as she expected after she previously vied for the position, while Lamb locates the man responsible for killing one of his agents and tasks the Slow Horses with carrying out revenge. As if that wasn’t enough action, Season 6 will also tackle Taverner leading a scheme that will endanger all of the Slow Horses and put even more of a target on their backs.

Combining two novels into one season might seem like a tall order, but it makes sense to pack in even more plot development now that Slow Horses is well into its run and viewers don’t need as much exposition. This switch-up in adaptation format isn’t the only change happening to Slow Horses in Season 6. Last July, it was announced that creator and longtime showrunner Will Smith would be departing the series after Season 5, with the series being led by Gaby Chiappe for Season 6 and Ben Vanstone for Season 7. New showrunners can be a potential hazard when a show doesn’t have a strong foundation, but hopefully, some new blood will allow a seasoned series like Slow Horses to flourish. Adapting more than one of Herron’s books seems like a surefire way for Slow Horses to embrace even more character development and thrilling plotlines, but this format change should only make fans more hyped for Season 6’s release.

Seasons 1–5 of Slow Horses are available to stream on Apple TV in the U.S. Season 6 will premiere on Wednesday, September 16.

Advertisement

Slow Horses

Advertisement

Release Date

April 1, 2022

Network

Advertisement

Apple TV+

Showrunner

Douglas Urbanski

Advertisement

Directors

Adam Randall, James Hawes, Jeremy Lovering, Saul Metzstein

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, has found herself at the center of discourse after a recent sighting.

The rarely-seen 17-year-old was spotted running errands in Studio City in what has been described as a “beat-up” Toyota Sedan, leaving many online scratching their heads due to her wealthy background.

Vivienne’s outing comes days after her twin, Knox Jolie-Pitt, dropped his father’s name from his high school diploma amid the actor’s estrangement from his children.

Photos of the camera-shy teenager during her rare outing were first shared by Thought Catalog.

According to the media outlet, Vivienne ran errands around town on June 18, dropping off mail and loading up on supplies at arts and crafts retailer Michaels before hopping back into her modest sedan.

Photos from the relatively normal outing were shared online, which drew attention to the 17-year-old’s “seriously beat-up” car, causing many to question the state of things back home, especially amid her parents, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s drawn-out legal drama.

Vivienne also raised eyebrows for her look, as she embraced a relaxed, streetwear style. She donned a black graphic t-shirt with baggy, wide-leg patchwork trousers for the trip and had her hair in an effortless, naturally tousled style.

See all the photos here.

The 17-Year-Old Has Sparked Debate Online Over Her Vehicle Despite Being A ‘Nepo Baby’

On social media, the images of Vivienne in her sedan have left many commenting and sharing opinions on the state of her car, with several even branding her the infamous “nepo baby” title.

“Rich people cosplaying as the poor is a centuries-long tradition,” one X user said, while another noted, “I love how they spend a lot of money just to look like they do not have any and how much underprivileged they are.”

A third person commented, “Great performance. I have to drive an old diesel Toyota, but she’s just cosplaying poverty. Real rich people still drive cheap Toyota, but they are still well taken care of.”

Other comments even took aim at the roadworthiness of Vivienne’s car, with one individual stating, “Front brake pads are worn asf, look at all that dust from the rotors on the wheels.”

It is worth noting, though, that heavy brake dust is a completely normal byproduct of everyday driving and not a sign of neglected car maintenance.

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt Received Support Amid Claims She Was ‘Cosplaying Poverty’

Amid the criticisms, several came to the teenager’s defense, with many praising her mom, Jolie, for raising her kids to be humble and hardworking.

“People are so interesting… They hate spoiled celebrity children and also hate when they aren’t lol,” one X user said, adding, “Angelina raised her kids amazingly from what I hear and see about them. A 17yr old doesn’t need a brand new car regardless of who their parents are.”

Another person commented, “If Vivienne was driving a very expensive car. People would still find a way to complain… y’all need to go outside.”

“She’s an artist. A Porsche would f-ck up her aura. U guys don’t get it,” one individual joked, while another noted, “Toyotas are reliable cars, so this isn’t really shade.”

Angelina Jolie Opened Up About Her Children ‘Encouraging’ Her To Travel The World

Vivienne’s outing came after her mother, Jolie, revealed how she and her twin, Knox, have positively impacted her life.

The Oscar-winning actress made the comments about the teenagers while promoting her new film, “Couture.”

“I think my fighting spirit is finally back,” Jolie said, per Variety, seemingly hinting at her personal struggles after her divorce from Brad Pitt. “I lost it for a bit. I got kind of taken down a little bit, and it’s coming back in large part thanks to my children, who are now older, and encouraging it.”

She continued, “My kids are almost all 18, so now they want to see me traveling the world; they want me to get out and do things. They know me more than anybody, and they still like me, which says a lot. I think they’re very encouraging of me, kind of getting back to aspects of myself that maybe I hadn’t felt as free to do.”

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt And Most Of Her Siblings Have Ditched Brad Pitt’s Last Name In Some Capacity

Unlike Jolie, her ex-husband, Pitt, grows more estranged from their kids as the day goes by.

The actor’s relationship with his children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne, has remained strained since his high-profile divorce from Jolie.

According to reports, Pitt is entirely out of touch with his four adult kids and rarely sees teenagers Vivienne and Knox, despite having court-mandated visits.

Adding to the estrangement, the children have all shed their father’s last name in various ways. Shiloh, 20, became the first to take legal action when she turned 18, setting a precedent that her older siblings, Maddox, 24, and Zahara, 21, have only recently followed in court.

As for Pax, 22, he reportedly goes by his mother’s last name professionally, while Vivienne was notably credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the playbill for the Broadway musical adaptation of “The Outsiders.”

Knox, who for a long time seemed distant from the name drama, recently joined his siblings when it was confirmed that he omitted “Pitt” from his high school diploma.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 18 seconds ago

So far, this has been a summer filled with some real box office surprises. For one thing, The Mandalorian and Grogu seriously underperformed, despite being the first Star Wars film in six years. Meanwhile, the horror films Obsession and Backrooms made a killing, each of them coming from young filmmakers working with very low budgets. For me, the biggest surprise was also the most disappointing one: Masters of the Universe, despite receiving critical acclaim, struggled to find an audience. Now, there’s not a snowball’s chance in Snake Mountain that it will so much as break even, much less make any actual profit.

Normally, that would mean no follow-up films, which is too bad. The stingers for this movie introduced other fan-favorite He-Man characters like Orko and, most enticingly, She-Ra. However, we may yet see the most powerful man in the universe on the big screen again. That’s because this film was made by Amazon MGM Studios, and their primary goal isn’t theatrical sales; it’s Prime Video subscriptions. Based on a recent statement from domestic distribution guru Kevin Wilson, Masters of the Universe did well enough to warrant a sequel, which, like the first film, will keep people watching Prime Video.

A Box Office Disappointment

Right now, the numbers for Masters of the Universe look pretty bleak. It cost $170 million to make and, as of this writing, has only earned $92.1 million. That means this new He-Man movie isn’t going to make anywhere close to its production budget. Throw in factors like the high cost of marketing, and it’s clear that this movie isn’t going to bring in any real profit. For movie studios that rely entirely on theatrical sales, that would be the end of the story: if a movie bombs, they’re not going to shell out another $170 million just to roll those dice again.

However, Amazon MGM has a different goal. Basically, they want to make as much money as they can in theaters before bringing their original productions to Prime Video, where they serve as the most enticing streaming carrot of them all: exclusive content. How does this translate to Masters of the Universe getting a sequel? According to the studio’s domestic distribution chief Kevin Wilson, the film’s debut “represents a very solid start” that garnered a “passionate, multigenerational audience response…around the world.” He declared, “this opening is exactly the kind of critical first moment that validates our holistic distribution strategy – building awareness and engagement that will carry well beyond the theatrical window.”

He-Man Still Has The Power

What does that mean, exactly? Basically, Amazon MGM does not evaluate its movies on a pass/fail system where box office revenue is everything. They have a “holistic distribution strategy” that involves making as much as possible at the theater and then making the movie a staple of Prime Video. While Masters of the Universe may not have generated any real profit, it did generate tons of good buzz and positive word-of-mouth that will help it make a killing on streaming. This happened with Red One, a box office flop that went on to get 50 million views in its first week, making it the best debut in Prime Video history.

Amazon is hoping that Masters of the Universe will be a similar success story, one that helps it corner the streaming market with a hit sci-fi/fantasy movie. Should that happen, the studio is likely to greenlight a sequel. Considering that the sequel will introduce She-Ra and that Amazon is actively working on a She-Ra television series, it’s a safe bet the show will be a spinoff of the sequel. All of this modern marketing mojo can make your head spin like Triklops, but it adds up to some good news: despite poor box office, Masters of the Universe may still “have the power” to get a sequel!

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

Right now, Doctor Who fans are really going through it. It seemed like we were in for a real franchise revival when Russel T. Davies came back as showrunner, and the BBC partnered with Disney. The guy who brought Doctor Who back after 16 years was returning and teaming up with one of the biggest companies in the world. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything. The episodes were weak, Disney canceled the partnership, and new Doctor Nucti Gatwa left the show. Our only hope was the upcoming Christmas Special, and Davies later confirmed the show was canceled, we weren’t getting a special, and he had never written anything for it. 

That annoyed fans for two reasons. First, the most recent season left us with a ton of unresolved questions; now that the show is canceled, we may never get answers to any of them. Second, Davies previously claimed to have written a script for the Christmas Special, so he was either lying then or he’s lying now. Incredibly, there’s now more fuel for this dramatic fire: there has been a leak allegedly outlining the details of the canceled special. This leak has further divided a fandom that is split between believing that it isn’t real and lamenting that we’ll never see this story onscreen.

The (Final) Day Of The Doctor

The second season of Doctor Who on Disney+ left us with quite a few unresolved plot threads. For example, we had no idea why the Doctor’s granddaughter (someone from literally the very beginning of the franchise) was back and what her story was. We had no idea who the shadowy “boss” character was, even though villains like the Meep had been alluding to this person since 2023. Most importantly, we had no idea why Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor had regenerated to a very familiar face: Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler, the popular Companion who first teamed up with Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor back in 2005.

The plot of this leaked Christmas Special would clear up many of those details. The plot involved the Doctor investigating a frozen human colony that orbits a dying star. Residents start seeing visions of dead loved ones; the colony’s leader doesn’t believe it’s a big problem. However, he interacted with Rose Tyler way back when, so the Doctor’s new face had been chosen to help deal with this specific crisis. The Big Bad turns out to be the star itself, hoping to suck energy out of the Doctor. It had taken on the appearance of Susan, his granddaughter, to try to lure him there.

In Doctor Who fashion, we find out the star isn’t truly evil; it really did want to provide life for the colony, but it had to resort to absorbing energy in order to do so. The Doctor figures out how to give the star all of the energy it needs so that it and the colony will continue to thrive. The star is grateful, revealing that it created the mysterious time hotel and allowing the Doctor to say goodbye to the real Susan. The Doctor speculates that Joy Almondo interfered with the regeneration to help save a fellow star. We get a happy ending, jettisoning past trauma and preparing for new adventures.

A Divided Fandom

The Doctor Who fandom is a bit divided over this leaked Christmas Special outline. The main point of contention is whether it is real or not. This leak originally came from a Discord server dedicated to Doctor Who leaks, and they were right on the money with some of the leaks regarding Russel T. Davies’ latest seasons. It also has some of the quirks that Russel T. Davies is known for, including a line about needing CGI to animate “small cute creatures of some kind” (the man loves weird critters so much he once turned the Doctor into one). The outline also neatly wraps up several different hanging threads.

That’s actually the primary reason that skeptical fans don’t think this is real. Much of the outline reads like a wishlist of things the fandom has been waiting years for the franchise to answer. That could just be a sign that Davies knew he was on the way out and wanted to courteously avoid leaving too many hanging threads for a future showrunner to deal with. But it could also be glorified fanfiction from a fan trying to pass his own theories off as a kind of lost episode. Both theories are valid, though given his recent Instagram post, it doesn’t seem like courtesy is Davies’ highest priority right now!

The Wilderness Years Are Back

Whether the leak is real or not, one thing is for sure: there will be no Doctor Who Christmas Special this year. We won’t see one for many years, as the BBC has put the show out to tender. That means they are looking for someone else willing to produce this overly expensive sci-fi series. That would be difficult under any circumstances, and it’s especially difficult because so few people watched the latest seasons on either Disney+ or the BBC.

For better or for worse, Doctor Who has now entered its second set of “wilderness years.” Things could ultimately work out for the best; last time the show came back from the wilderness, it became a phenomenon that dominated pop culture for two decades. Of course, the first wilderness period lasted for a whopping 16 years. Should the latest wilderness period last that long or even longer, all of us may be a bit more like the main character once Doctor Who returns. That is, we’ll be wearing dramatically different faces and feeling our age like never before!

As the Emmy season kicks off, the conversation surrounding the nominees is heating up, with networks and streaming services already making their FYC bids. Competition is stiff this year, with heavy hitters like Netflix, Apple TV, and HBO submitting in different categories. From seasoned actors to newcomers, everyone is throwing their hat in the ring, even as some actors, like Jon Hamm, get early disappointing news after being disqualified from their category. HBO has consistently taken home numerous awards, and this season, they have submitted a new intense miniseries that is generating a lot of buzz despite the controversy it has attracted.

Predictions put this 6-part miniseries high up on the list of shows and performers that could secure a nomination when the announcements are made on July 8. The series that tells the story of two brothers entangled in an intense relationship completed airing two weeks ago, but it hasn’t relented on streaming, appearing on HBO Max‘s top ten list for the past several weeks, according to FlixPatrol. As the chances of its stars securing Emmy nominations rise, the show, titled Half Man, continues to make a mark on streaming despite criticism of its violent portrayal of the central relationship.

HBO has submitted Half Man for 21 categories, with some actors competing for the same category. Events in the series span three decades, with different actors portraying the characters at different stages. For Lead Actor in a limited series, Mitchell Robertson and Jamie Bell have been submitted for their portrayals of younger and older Niall Kennedy, respectively. Meanwhile, Stuart Campbell and Richard Gadd submitted in the Supporting Actor category for their portrayals of younger and older Ruben Pallister. HBO has also submitted more acting and creative categories. While the competition is stiff, Half Man boasts some of the best performances this year, and it could secure a nomination or even a win.

‘Half Man’ Was Saved By Its Performances

Series creator and writer Richard Gadd came to prominence with his hit Netflix series Baby Reindeer. Expectations were high for his next project, but Half Man did not reach the critical acclaim of Baby Reindeer. The show’s use of violence was singled out by critics, who noted that it could be uncomfortable to watch at times. However, the writing and acting remained top tier, with all the actors receiving acclaim for their performances, especially Bell.

All episodes of Half Man are available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

Advertisement

BBC One

Directors

Alexandra Brodski, Eshref Reybrouck

Advertisement

Writers

Richard Gadd

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Soccer star Trinity Rodman made a surprise appearance at the 2026 World Cup — and used the memorable moment to debut a new ‘do.

Rodman, 24, attended Team USA’s qualifying game against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Friday, June 19, where she presented the match ball ahead of kickoff. (USA ultimately won 2-0.)

The pro athlete looked chic in a blonde bob chopped to her chin, which complemented her Adidas T-shirt, camouflage-printed jeans and gold statement earrings.

Rodman, who previously appeared on the American team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, is no stranger to switching up her look — much like her famous father. Rodman has tried out the likes of curls and pink braids through the years.

Related: Team USA Soccer Standout Trinity Rodman: 5 Things to Know

USWNT forward Trinity Rodman is making a name for herself on the Olympic stage, ushering in a new era of U.S. women’s soccer. After briefly attending Washington State University, Rodman, 22, was chosen as the second draft pick for the Washington Spirit. At only 18, Rodman became the youngest player ever drafted, and went on […]

“Me to my pink hair: your work here is done,” she wrote via her Instagram Stories after the Paris 2024 Olympics, revealing her plans for a fresh haircut.

Whether it’s her hair or her outfits, Rodman is in a class of her own.

“I’d say my style is very loud, colorful, creative, and personal. I’m all over the board,” she told Vogue in 2024. “I feel like I’ll wear whatever and somebody [inevitably] says, ‘Oh, that’s such a Trin outfit.’ I’m, like, ‘I don’t know what that means!’ I do think there’s a vibe to it. Whatever I find that looks cool, and whatever stands out, I am going to grab it. And that could be a genetic thing.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

@ciara

That’s it. We’re going on tour! 😂🤟🏽

♬ William Acosta – William Acosta 🫥

Trinity’s estranged father, former NBA star Dennis Rodman, is also known for his standout style choices.

“I think he changed the game. I think he started that crazy out-there fashion in the NBA. People can disagree with me, and I’m probably biased, but I just think what he did in his time,” Trinity recalled. “It shows today. He kind of also showed the world not to be afraid to express yourself in any type of way, if that’s masculine, if that’s feminine. You can do it, through fashion.”

The line-up for Avengers: Doomsday is perhaps the most stacked of any movie this decade, with seemingly everyone from the MCU’s past making an appearance. Even Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the franchise, although this time the Academy Award winner won’t be donning his Iron Man costume, instead controversially starring as the villainous Doctor Doom. The cast also includes Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach‘s new Fantastic Four, as well as Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Tom Hiddleston, Florence Pugh, and many more.

Although almost every beloved MCU face will appear, one man currently not confirmed for the future of the franchise is Dave Bautista, known for his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. Bautista has admitted the character is “completely closed” to him, hence his name missing from the Doomsday team sheet. However, he admitted he didn’t rule out an appearance in the blockbuster in some other capacity, saying in an interview, “I do wanna be in that world, I’m a fan of that world, I’m a fan of comic books and the whole universe.”

He continued, “Marvel, DC, I just wanna be in it. I made that known to James, I made that known to the [Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars directors] Russo brothers. Personally, I talked to them, all of them, and told them, ‘Don’t count me out. If there’s a character that I’d be right for and that you want me for, man, I’d be totally open-minded to it.’ It’s just the Drax character ran its course.” If you’re missing your Bautista fix ahead of Doomsday, fear not, as one of his more recent projects is a sleeper streaming hit right now.

Which Bautista Movie Is Currently a Streaming Hit?

The movie in question is the sci-fi action Western, Afterburn, released by Amazon MGM Studios, which made its debut in September 2025. Attempting to capture the same post-apocalyptic chaos of Mad Max, the film failed spectacularly, earning just a few million dollars at the box office against a reported $60 million budget. Thankfully, Bautista made up for the miss just a few months later, taking Prime Video subscribers by surprise with the quietly brilliant crime thriller The Wrecking Crew, also starring Jason Momoa. At the time of writing, Afterburn is one of the ten most-streamed movies on MGM+ in the U.S.

Afterburn is streaming now. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

September 19, 2025

Director

Advertisement

J.J. Perry

Writers

Tommy Wirkola, Matt Johnson

Advertisement

Producers

Neal H. Moritz, Steve Richards, Toby Jaffe

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Steven Spielberg fans are charging back to theaters around the world to see his latest sci-fi blockbuster, Disclosure Day, which features some big stars like Emily Blunt and Colman Domingo. The film opened in theaters last weekend, grossing only $90 million during its first few days at the box office, but it has a long way to go considering it carries a $165 million budget. Spielberg has been on a bit of a hiatus from the sci-fi genre, with his last two feature films — West Side Story and The Fabelmans — going in a much different direction. Spielberg is known as one of the directors that both revolutionized the sci-fi genre and made it relevant, and although he’s now almost 80 years old, it appears he still has a few more films left in him.

Spielberg’s last sci-fi movie before the release of Disclosure Day was Ready Player One, which took itself much less seriously than his new alien invasion thriller. Make no mistake: this isn’t an insult — Ready Player One is, without question, one of the most fun movies Steven Spielberg has ever directed, even if it isn’t without its flaws. Eight years removed from the worldwide premiere of Ready Player One, the film is now streaming on HBO Max in America, and it’s also quietly become one of the top 10 most-watched titles on VOD platforms around the world such as Prime Video and Apple TV. Spielberg recruited Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke to star in Ready Player One, along with Ben Mendelsohn and T.J. Miller. Cooke is now best known for her role as Alicent Hightower in the HBO original fantasy series, House of the Dragon.

What Is ‘Ready Player One’ About?

A condensed synopsis for Ready Player One, which also stars Mark Rylance, reads as follows:

“In 2045, the real world is a bleak wasteland, and most of humanity escapes into the OASIS — a vast virtual universe. When its visionary creator dies, he leaves behind a series of hidden challenges, and teenager Wade Watts joins a global race to find the ultimate Easter egg that grants total control of the OASIS.”

One of the aspects of Ready Player One that was criticized the most was the intense amount of pop-culture references. Parts of the film felt like Space Jam 2, where it was more of an advertisement for other Warner Bros. properties than anything else.

Check out Ready Player One on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg’s new sci-fi movie.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

March 29, 2018

Runtime

140 minutes

Advertisement

Writers

Zak Penn, Ernest Cline

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 
• 

  Tye Sheridan

  Parzival / Wade

Advertisement

Advertisement