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Entertainment

Layla Taylor Teases Why She Is ‘Glowing Lately’ After Coming Out

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Layla Taylor at Hulu's Get Real House 2026

A mystery lady is fully sponsoring Layla Taylor‘s glow!

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star recently came clean about her sexuality and has intensified her confession with a big reveal on just how far she has gone with that part of her life, leaving her with impacts in real time.

“SLOMW” star Layla Taylor became a single woman in the first quarter of the year when she ended her romance with Mason McWhorter in February 2026.

Layla Taylor at Hulu's Get Real House 2026
Nicky Nelson/WENN/ MEGA

The reality star made some hearts flutter on her social media today when she unveiled her relationship status about four months after she opted out of an old romance. Taylor’s post alluded to the positive attention she has been getting behind her glow lately, sharing who is causing that to happen.

With a bright grin on her face, flashing her pearly whites, complemented by a white tank top and animal-print pants, Taylor finally confirmed she has indeed found love, in the arms of a woman.

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The reality star teased her fans with a glimpse of her new partner locking hands, with a heavily tattooed arm peeking into the camera. Although faceless, Taylor’s happy expression gave away exactly how she felt — joyful, uplifted, and absolutely smitten.

She rounded up her TikTok post with a caption which read, “Chivalry isn’t dead, it’s w the lesbians” as SZA’s “Good Days” played over the video.

The Reality Star’s Online Family Endorsed Her New Normal

@laylaleannetaylor

Chivalry isn’t dead it’s w the lesbians

♬ good days – ‍r7ptor

Taylor’s comment section instantly got buzzing with positive reactions from her fans, friends, and loved ones who were either guessing who the lucky woman is or expressing their satisfaction towards the development.

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“Layla, I love this glow for you, and I am here for your new chapter,” a fan stated, as her co-star, Jennifer Affleck, stressed that her pal looks so happy.

A nosy commenter confessed that they do not mind perching around patiently for someone to unravel the identity of Taylor’s mystery lover with their arm tattoo as a clue.

The television star confirmed how genuinely happy she is in a response to a comment from a fan about their first time seeing a genuine smile from the reality star.

“I absolutely love this for you! Ever since I have been with my girlfriend and decided to date women, I have never been happier!! I wish you nothing but happiness, Layla,” another TikTok user stated.

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How Lack Of Queer Representation Delayed Layla Taylor’s Coming Out

While Taylor has always carried a strong romantic attraction to women in her heart for years, she has exclusively dated only men publicly until her breakup from McWhorter, which changed everything.

The Blast had stated that the media personality found the voice to convey her innermost thoughts about her sexuality as she got candid with Jay Shetty on his “On Purpose” podcast. 

She recalled that during her relationship, she constantly placed other people’s interests above hers, and she never really got to understand herself as a person. Since the split, Taylor has been able to sit in silence and listen to her thoughts to process her feelings better. 

Unfortunately, the timing could have come earlier if she grew up with adequate queer representation around her in her early days who could help her understand certain occurrences. Even when she saw romantic scenes between women on television, she did not find anyone around her to make these things appear normal.

The Influencer Was Once Romantically Involved With Her Ex-Boyfriend’s Brother

Layla Taylor
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Taylor and McWhorter’s relationship first became public knowledge in 2025, and she confirmed the same year that things were steaming hot between them. While the reality star closed scenes on the 3rd and 4th season of “SLOMW,” McWhorter often found herself lurking around the set and even making the cut on screen.

Interestingly, Taylor and her ex-boyfriend are connected in more than one way, as she had briefly dated his brother, Chase, two years before she met her ex. As shared by PEOPLE, McWhorter’s brother was also previously married to Taylor’s “SLOMW” co-star Miranda McWhorter.

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The reality star clarified in a previous interview with Swoon that her episode with Chase was very brief and nothing really tangible emerged from it.

McWhorter’s time on “SLOMW” often gave fans a glimpse of his efforts in helping Taylor raise her two sons from her failed marriage to Clayton Wessel better and more firmly.

Inside Layla Taylor’s Split Before Coming Out

Layla Taylor at Wuthering Heights World Premiere
LISA OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

The reality TV personality, fresh off her breakup from Mason McWhorter, explained that as the relationship advanced, they realized that they were not compatible anymore.

The Blast noted that the former continued that she realized she and McWhorter were on two different paths, and in order for growth to happen, he had to do it on his own.

She clarified that the split was mutual, amicable, and they respected each other’s decision with no bad blood between them. However, Taylor showed up moments after she made a post about their stress-free breakup, appearing upset over a discovery she made about McWhorter.

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Taylor’s reaction caused her social media fans to drop uplifting comments under her post, urging her to keep her eyes on the prize and make peace that something good is around the corner for her.

Her co-stars Mayci Neeley and Jessi Draper all voiced their undying support for the media personality as she dealt with the split blues.

Congratulations, Layla Taylor!

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10 Thrillers That Are Perfect From the Opening Shot to the Last

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Dustin Hoffman caresses Susan George in Straw Dogs

The thriller is one of the most versatile film genres out there. There are political thrillers, noir thrillers, sci-fi and supernatural thrillers, action thrillers…the list goes on and on. Within this massive net of films, there are, subjectively, a wide swath of truly fantastic ones. And then, there is la crème de la crème; an ultra-elite brand of thriller — the thriller that is pitch-perfect from its opening frame to its final shot.

Regardless of sub-genre, here are the thrillers that thrill from the moment they begin to their stunning finales. Some examine deep elements of the human psyche, like Straw Dogs, and others, well, they do that too, but also add some boldly compelling visuals that universally leave audience’s jaws agape, like Black Swan. So, prepare yourself for a little slice of cinematic heaven and let these exhilarating screen gems fully engulf you.

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10

‘Straw Dogs’ (1971)

Dustin Hoffman caresses Susan George in Straw Dogs
Dustin Hoffman caresses Susan George in Straw Dogs
Image via 20th Century Studios

Some films peel back the layer of civility that most humans operate under, and expose the raw nerves underneath with brutal honesty. Director Sam Peckinpah’s masterwork of rising tension and unmitigated rage, Straw Dogs, was one of the first films to bring this level of harsh realness to American audiences. The way the plot weaves and twists, deliberately drawing primal instincts out of the protagonist, is masterful, thus prompting oodles of much deserved praise.

The tale begins with David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman, full immersion method acting on display), an egghead who’s married to a striking British woman, Amy (Susan George). They move to a remote area of Cornwall, England (it’s Britain, what could possibly go wrong?). Well, some local rednecks (yes, they have them in the U.K., too) do not take too kindly to David’s book-learnin’ ways, and they become envious, etc. etc. Eventually Amy is attacked, savagely… Then, David elects to protect a wrongfully accused man from a mob of torch-wielding villagers, and David’s true nature is exposed (in a vengeful, but quite satisfying way). The slow-burn pacing of this film really pays off, and Hoffman’s examination of a man pushed to his breaking point is a thing of sheer (brutal) beauty.

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9

‘Black Swan’ (2010)

Nina dancing on stage with red eyes in Black Swan (2010).
Natalie Portman transforms in Black Swan (2010).
Image via Searchlight Pictures

Darren Aronofsky has a penchant for crafting extremely tight, well-paced thrillers in a host of sub-genres. His films like Requiem for a Dream and Mother! exquisitely tell captivating, entirely unique stories, but none of his other works are as remarkably, painstakingly executed as Black Swan.

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman, pushed to the very brink of physical and mental exhaustion, with the best possible outcome…an Oscar win) is a prima ballerina looking to take the coveted duel roles of The White Swan and The Black Swan in the famed ballet masterpiece Swan Lake. Her biggest competitor for the part just so happens to be her only friend in the dance company, Lily (Mila Kunis, also delivering a career-high performance at the time). Lily is much more of a free-spirit than the straight-laced Nina, and she does a nice little job of corrupting Nina in the slightest bit…or so it seems. Nina’s relationship with her mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey), is toxic, at best, as Erica reinforces the pressure that Nina places on herself to be “perfect.” Nina’s journey from frilly white swan to devious black swan is remarkable…even if the end result is a bit grisly. The whole movie is a disorienting swirl of dream-like terrors mixing with real-life horrors. Every scene is nuanced, imbued with ineffable meaning — and breathtaking to behold.

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8

‘The Fugitive’ (1993)

Harrison Ford in distress as Dr. Kimble in The Fugitive 
Harrison Ford in distress as Dr. Kimble in The Fugitive
Image via Warner Bros.

Harrison Ford was already an international superstar when he was cast as Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive. The addition of Tommy Lee Jones as Samuel Gerard, the unrelenting U.S. Marshal, cemented this adrenaline-fueled action thriller as a film with two of the best lead characters ever. Andrew Davis’s sharp direction coupled with a stylishly adapted script (it was originally a TV series) elevate this movie to one of the most heart-pumping, awesomely executed thrillers ever.

The story begins with Kimble, a man in a “happy marriage.” When his wife, Helen (Sela Ward), is murdered by a one-armed man, but Kimble is framed for the attack, he has no choice but to go on the run (after a convenient little prison break). The ensuing chase, with some of the most jaw-dropping cat-and-mouse set pieces featuring the wily Kimble and surprisingly spry Gerard, is one for the ages. As Kimble pieces together a conspiracy plot, involving illicit pharmaceuticals (…of course…), he leaves Gerard clues, and the plot keeps on thickening until the thrilling conclusion.

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7

‘The Night of the Hunter’ (1955)

Robert Mitchum as "Preacher" Harry Powell looking up at a person offscreen in The Night of the Hunter.
Robert Mitchum as “Preacher” Harry Powell looking up at a person offscreen in The Night of the Hunter.
Image via United Artists

This film strikes many cords of originality. Famed actor Charles Laughton directed this chilling classic, and broke all kinds of conventions. Focused on a villain as the actual protagonist, The Night of the Hunter cracked the mold of the typical hero story, presenting a very strange type of hero. This look into the mind of a pseudo-religious zealot left audiences aghast, but also, pleasantly shocked by an expertly woven tale.

The plot, especially for the time period, is wild. Morally lax (read: serial killer, focused on slaughtering promiscuous women) reverend Harry Powell (a eerily convicted Robert Mitchum) is sent to jail for a minor infraction. His death row-bound cellmate, Ben Harper (Peter Graves), divulges the secret that he’s stashed ten grand somewhere in his hometown. Naturally, when Powell is freed, he travels to the town and creates a charming facade to get close to Harper’s wife, Willa (Shelley Winters), and family. As Powell’s insidious nature seeps through, the fam begins to suspect him of, er, malfeasance. So, mom ends up dead in the river, and Powell pursues the two tykes who know where the cash is (spoiler: it’s in the little girl’s doll). The ensuing chase is a surreal trip down the (actual) river, with Powell unraveling even more. Structurally, the movie is extraordinarily tight and engaging throughout. Stylistically, it set the stage for many a boldly bizarre thriller to come.

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6

‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)

Michael Douglas and Glenn Close leaning close about to kiss in Fatal Attraction
Michael Douglas and Glenn Close leaning close about to kiss in Fatal Attraction
Image via Paramount Pictures

Some stories have such a tight structure that they inevitably will make good films. Then, there is the brand of expertly crafted tales that are coupled with some of the most intense performances ever found in the thriller genre. Welcome to the anxiety-inducing Fatal Attraction, director Adrian Lyne’s magnum opus.

Poor Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas). He made one little tiny mistake (that of infidelity) and then had his entire world rocked. That’s what happens when you mess with the feelings of the wrong person, and in this case, Alex Forrest (Glenn Close, Oscar-nominated (again) for this role) was definitely the worst person to attempt to have a casual fling with (…she will not be ignored). The reason this movie is so good is that the tension just keeps escalating, as Alex’s behavior becomes more and more erratic (and eventually, lethal — RIP bunny). As Dan’s wife, Beth (Anne Archer), eventually is made aware of the severity of the situation (beyond just Dan’s flippant philandering), the creeping sense that this will end in tragedy feels completely justified. Lyne’s direction of the brutality inherent to rejection is palpable the entire runtime of this classic.

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5

‘The French Connection’ (1971)

Roy Scheider and Gene Hackman inside a car in The French Connection
Roy Scheider and Gene Hackman in The French Connection
Image via 20th Century Studios

This “loosely based on a true story” masterpiece truly reinvented the American crime thriller. The car chase scene alone was one of the most revolutionary new aspects of modern cinema of the time. This, and other crazy action scenes, help land The French Connection on many a “best films ever” list, but it’s so much more than just cars racing around New York City. The precise direction provided by William Friedkin, including the cinéma-vérité manner of shooting the high-octane sequences, is really what makes this such a gritty classic — along, of course, with the intense performances of virtually the whole cast.

Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Gene Hackman, in the role that made him a star — and got him an Oscar) and Buddy “Cloudy” Russo (Roy Scheider, pre-Jaws) are two narcotics narcs working a major drug smuggling case in New York. It’s an international affair (hence the title), involving beret-wearing, wine-swilling criminals. The big fromage is Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey), who has been operating with impunity for years. Jimmy and Buddy need to stop a massive shipment of heroin from becoming available to the smack-doing public, and Jimmy especially will stop at nothing (even, heaven forfend, break the law himself) to intercept the drugs. This kind of “anti-hero” was seen before in noirs, but not so much in contemporary detective roles, so it was a refreshing take for audiences to consume. Every scene in this film is a banger, and that’s precisely why it took home five Oscars.

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4

‘Taxi Driver’ (1976)

Robert DeNiro as Travis Bickle looking angrily out of his taxi cab window in Taxi Driver.
Robert DeNiro as Travis Bickle looking angrily out of his taxi cab window in Taxi Driver.
Image via Columbia Pictures

With a long, long list of sensational films to choose from, spanning many decades, Taxi Driver may hold up as Martin Scorsese’s finest film. It’s a film in the truest sense, in that it’s a “story told with pictures” more than anything else. While Goodfellas is arguably more entertaining, The Departed is more action-packed, and Raging Bull is more real, Taxi Driver is simply a work of high art. That is, one that is focused on some of the most depraved aspects of humanity imaginable.

Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro, in hands-down one of his best roles ever) is in a bit of an existential pickle. While soft-spoken, he’s got a lot of feelings leftover from serving in the Vietnam War, and he doesn’t really know where to place them. He drives his cab around NYC at night (not the most uplifting setting for a sensitive person, especially in the 70s), searching for fare, but really more for a purpose. A brief stint trying to “help out” a politician’s campaign, and the pulchritudinous visage of Cybill Shepherd (as Betsy), just aren’t cutting it. When he encounters the wily street-child Iris (Jodie Foster), he finally figures out what he’s meant to do: go on a killing spree of the vile offenders of this innocent, naturally. The way Scorsese shot this thing is mind-blowing, and De Niro’s commitment to this tricky part is astounding. This movie is highly disturbing, but it’s certainly thrilling from the first murky shot to the bitter last.

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3

‘Seven’ (1995)

Sergeant Mills (Brad Pitt) looks into the distance distraught as he stands in a large field at sunset.
Sergeant Mills (Brad Pitt) looks into the distance distraught as he stands in a large field at sunset.
Image via New Line Cinema

Or Se7en, as it was originally titled, is the prime example of using every single frame of a film to aid in the overall story. It’s so precisely constructed that it leaves the viewer longing for the next scene, all while reveling in the current moment. When the end credits first rolled, most audiences found their jaws on the floor, and could only sit and marvel at what the heck they just witnessed.

Inchoate Detective Mills (Brad Pitt) is partnered with long-time veteran Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) to try to crack a new serial killer case that looks like it’s just taking off. It appears that some sort of religious nut is enacting the seven deadly sins (listed in your handy bible), utilizing (murdering) “sinners” to illustrate his point. The thing is, this guy, John Doe (Kevin Spacey) is quite creative. And patient. And, well, genius. Most of the movie-going world is aware of how this film concludes (with a very special delivery), but just in case, no spoiling here. Just be aware that what’s in the box is quite heady. Overall, Seven contains one of the best plot lines in cinematic history, some of the strongest performances of any thriller ever, ironically wonderful direction by David Fincher, and the grandest finale ever. Still, this is some dark stuff.

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2

‘Vertigo’ (1958)

Judy (Kim Novak) wearing a robe and looking intently in Vertigo (1958).
Judy (Kim Novak) wearing a robe and looking intently in Vertigo (1958).
Image via Paramount Pictures

The phrase “Hitchcockian” was really born out of the film Vertigo. His use of unsettling angles, twirling cameras, and unconventional filming techniques in general were completely innovative at the time (and have since inspired countless imitators). The way that Mr. Alfred Hitchcock made the viewer actually feel like they had an inner ear infection (or any other condition that would cause vertigo) was unprecedented in filmmaking. The final result is an absolutely thrilling picture that is made up of one genius shot after the next.

The disorienting story is (off-) centered on John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart, who worked with Hitchcock on four films, and could thank the English director for helping shed his squeaky clean image). Scottie was a detective, but after a harrowing incident, he came to suffer from acrophobia (fear of heights) and a nasty case of vertigo (y’know, the spins). He’s hired as a private dick to follow this dude’s gorgeous but weird wife, Madeleine (drop-dead gorgeous Kim Novak). Scottie thinks she’s a hottie, but that doesn’t help him prevent her death (again, involving heights)…or so it seems. Scottie eventually meets Madeleine’s doppelgänger, and falls for her…but forces her to dress and act like Madeleine… Things spiral further out of control, and the movie culminates in a twist that will have you falling over in shock. Laden with themes of identity-crisis, unresolved trauma, and unrelenting obsession (your welcome, Obsession), this stunning film laid the groundwork for many thrillers to come. It’s a masterpiece from frame one to the final credit (probably a grateful gaffer).

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1

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

The Silence of the Lambs - 1991 - Jodie Foster, looking scared, holds a gun, as Agent Clarice Starling
The Silence of the Lambs – 1991 – Jodie Foster, looking scared, holds a gun, as Agent Clarice Starling
Image via Orion Pictures

Perfection. Really the only adjective appropriate to describe this thriller. From the opening scene where soon-to-be agent Clarice Starling’s drive and determination is shown as she navigates a woodsy FBI training obstacle course (a metaphor itself for emerging “out of the woods”) to the final, deliciously ironic wordplay spoken on the phone by the good doctor Lecter — and, of course, literally every scene in between — this masterpiece doesn’t miss a single, tasty beat.

Starling (Jodie Foster, in probably her best role ever) is tasked with interrogating a genius, lunatic serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins, in definitely his best role ever), to garner info on a newly risen killer, deemed Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) by the media. Every scene between Foster and Hopkins is fraught with tension, intrigue, and, oddly enough, charm. The rest of Starling’s quest is expertly laid out by director Jonathan Demme, as he fills each set piece with anxiety, guile, and bone-chilling mystery. The atmosphere is rich, fecund even; the sound editing is razor sharp, the scoring terrifying. Every other detail of this film combines to provide a work of cinema that doesn’t have a single lagging moment. The Silence of the Lambs (which, incidentally, swept all the major Oscars) deserves an annual watch, just to appreciate every little nuance. So, sit back, pop open a bottle of nice chianti and enjoy…


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The Silence of the Lambs

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Release Date

February 14, 1991

Runtime
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119 minutes

Director

Jonathan Demme

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Writers

Ted Tally, Thomas Harris

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Netflix Officially Lands Christopher Nolan’s First Masterpiece Ahead of ‘The Odyssey’

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fktph2wvh8nhtxebybvhawtrqtr.jpg

Hollywood became an independent municipality in the early 1900s and as early as the 1920s, had already become the world’s film capital. Hollywood as we know it, has been in existence for well over a hundred years, meaning that the industry has seen its fair share of genius pass through it. Besides the stars who light up the screens with their performances, like the timeless talents of Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart, we hold in equally high esteem, and rightly so, the filmmakers who bring everything both on and offscreen together.

While Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO Radio Pictures, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios, the production titans that were then known as the “Big Five” ran the industry for the better part of those hundred years. Filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman, and Akira Kurosawa, among others, are recognized as the pioneer figures of the industry as far as filmmaking is concerned. In the modern day, filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and the titan of the box office, James Cameron, have all gone on to make their mark. Over the past two decades plus, one filmmaker has made his way onto that list and rightly so: Christopher Nolan.

When one thinks of Nolan, they often think of grand, epic cinema. The legendary director returns to theaters with The Odyssey later this month, in what is one of the year’s most anticipated movies. However, long before he became the guy revered for massive IMAX epics about space, war, dreams, physics, and Greek soldiers, Nolan kicked off his movie career with one of the cleverest thrillers made in the industry. Now, ahead of the arrival of Nolan’s reimagining of Homer’s tale, his twisty psychological thriller, Memento, is now available to stream on Netflix. The thriller is commended as having launched Nolan’s career and offers a deeply satisfying, refreshingly intimate tale as compared to the filmmaker’s later productions, which were larger in scale.

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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country

Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

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🐦Birdman

🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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How Successful Was Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’?

Before we encountered Interstellar and Inception, Memento was the movie that put Nolan on the map. Right off the bat, the psychological thriller was a brilliant success. It was a small, twisty indie thriller with a $9 million budget. It would go on to become a financial success, grossing $25.5 million domestically and $39.7 million worldwide from its original release. Memento has also been a critical hit for Nolan, as the film holds an impressive 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic lists it at 83, meaning it holds universal acclaim. With two Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing, the film also put Nolan on the awards map.

Memento, which premiered in 2010, follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a former insurance investigator who is seeking out the man he believes killed his wife. Unfortunately, Leonard suffers from antegrade amnesia after a brain injury, meaning he can’t form new memories. Thus, relying on notes, photographs and a maze of tattooed reminders all over his body to track down the man he believes responsible for his condition and the death of his wife. Memento‘s cast also includes Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) as Natalie, Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos) as Teddy, Mark Boone Junior (Sons of Anarchy) as Burt, and Stephen Tobolowsky (Groundhog Day) as Sammy Jankis.

Memento is streaming now on Netflix.


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Release Date

October 11, 2000

Runtime
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113 minutes

Producers

Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd

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These 4 Laura Dern Movies Are Masterpieces

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Laura Dern and Saoirse Ronan in Little Women

Laura Dern’s career has never been about one type of greatness. Dern has shown that she can fit inside anything from a literary period drama to a dinosaur blockbuster without feeling like the same performer dropped into different costumes. So the real argument is bigger than “Laura Dern is great in them.”

Dern has appeared in over 60 feature films since 1973 but these four films in here are masterpieces. They understand how to use her presence inside the larger machine of the film and more. Scroll down and find out.

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4

‘Little Women’ (2019)

Laura Dern and Saoirse Ronan in Little Women Image via Sony Pictures

Greta Gerwig’s Little Women retells Louisa May Alcott’s story through memory, money, ambition, sisterhood, and the painful question of how women build full lives when every choice comes with a cost. Marmee (Laura Dern) plays the mother of Jo March (Saoirse Ronan), Meg March (Emma Watson), Beth March (Eliza Scanlen), and Amy March (Florence Pugh). The role could easily fade into gentle background support because the daughters have the loudest dreams and conflicts. But that doesn’t happen here and Marmee remains central.

Her biggest moment comes when Jo admits her anger, and Marmee quietly reveals that she feels angry almost every day. That confession changes the way the whole performance reads. Marmee’s patience has struggle inside it. Her kindness comes from discipline, faith, exhaustion, and a clear understanding of how little room the world gives her daughters. Dern’s acting makes motherhood feel active and political without turning Marmee into a speech machine. She helps make Little Women feel alive across generations because the film respects both youthful hunger and adult restraint.

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3

‘Marriage Story’ (2019)

Nora in court talking in Marriage Story Image Via Netflix

Marriage Story follows Nicole Barber (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie Barber (Adam Driver) as their separation turns from a painful private decision into a legal fight that starts reshaping every feeling between them. Nora Fanshaw (Laura Dern) becomes Nicole’s lawyer. She listens to Nicole’s frustration about career, motherhood, marriage, and identity, then begins translating that pain into a strategy built to win.

Nora is fascinating and this character’s warmth has real usefulness and danger to it simultaneously. That comes off brilliant on screen. She comforts Nicole, flatters her, protects her, and pushes her toward a harder version of herself. Her monologue about the impossible standard placed on mothers hits so hard because the anger behind it feels earned. The brilliance of the movie is that Nora can say something true and still feed a system that makes everyone more ruthless. Dern, in Marriage Story, therefore, turns a supporting role into one of the sharpest portraits of modern divorce on screen.













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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country
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Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

🐦Birdman

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🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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2

‘Blue Velvet’ (1986)

Laura Dern and Isabella Rossellini looking over at Kyle MacLachlan in 'Blue Velvet'
Laura Dern and Isabella Rossellini looking over at Kyle MacLachlan in ‘Blue Velvet’
Image via De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
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David Lynch’s Blue Velvet begins with the image of clean American suburbia and then drags Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) into the violence, desire, and sickness hiding underneath it. Sandy Williams (Laura Dern) is the police detective’s daughter who helps Jeffrey understand the first pieces of the mystery. She could have been a simple symbol of innocence beside Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini)’ suffering and Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper)’s terror. But she has more than that. Sandy has enough curiosity, fear, intelligence, and romantic hope to make her feel like a real teenager caught near something poisonous.

That matters because Blue Velvet needs Sandy’s belief in goodness to make the darkness hurt. Her dream about robins bringing light back into the world sounds almost fragile against the movie’s brutality, but Dern makes the fragility meaningful. Sandy watches Jeffrey become more fascinated by the nightmare he claims to be investigating. She feels the moral danger before he fully understands it. Through her, the film becomes more than a descent into evil. It becomes a story about how evil stains the people who keep staring at it.

1

‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) looks off into the distance while lit from behind in Jurassic Park.
Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) looks off into the distance while lit from behind in Jurassic Park.
Image via Universal Pictures
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Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park is one of the cleanest examples of blockbuster filmmaking ever made: the concept is instantly exciting, the dinosaurs still feel miraculous, and every major set piece has perfect rhythm. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) is the paleobotanist invited to inspect John Hammond (Richard Attenborough)’s island park before it opens to the public. She arrives as a scientist excited by the impossible, then quickly becomes one of the few people who understands that wonder without responsibility turns dangerous.

Ellie’s greatness comes from how much she actually does. She studies the plants, investigates the sick Triceratops, challenges Hammond’s fantasy of control, protects the kids, and risks her life to help restore power when the park collapses. Dern gives the character fear, humor, authority, and physical urgency. Jurassic Park has the T. rex, the raptors, the music, and the awe, but Ellie gives the film one of its strongest human arguments: intelligence and courage matter most when the miracle starts trying to kill you.


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Jurassic Park

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Release Date

June 11, 1993

Runtime
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127 minutes

Writers

Michael Crichton, David Koepp

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Video Shows Diddy Behind Bars As Trump Pardon Rumors Persist

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Sean

Sean “Diddy” Combs is settling into a daily routine behind bars as he serves his federal prison sentence, but a growing number of developments outside prison walls continue to shape his future. Newly released footage offers a rare glimpse of the music mogul at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he is serving just over four years after being convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The sighting comes amid renewed discussion surrounding his appeal efforts, recent adjustments to his projected release date, and reports that President Donald Trump has considered granting clemency to several high-profile figures, including Combs.

Sean
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

TMZ recently obtained video showing Combs walking through the grounds of FCI Fort Dix during one of his regular outdoor exercise periods.

According to sources familiar with his routine, Combs spends approximately two hours outside each day, typically walking the prison compound between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. when weather conditions permit. Sources told the outlet that the Bad Boy Records founder is frequently seen wearing a hat, listening to music on a prison-issued tablet, and participating in activities within the facility’s chapel.

While the video itself is brief, it provides one of the first public glimpses of Combs since he began serving his sentence at the New Jersey facility.

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Diddy’s Release Date Has Quietly Moved Up Several Times

Diddy in white suit
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The prison sighting arrives as Combs has received a series of favorable adjustments to his projected release date. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Combs is currently scheduled for release on February 23, 2028. That date has steadily moved forward over the past year.

Earlier Bureau of Prisons records listed his release date as April 15, 2028. Before that, the anticipated release was April 25, 2028, and at one point was projected for June 4, 2028. While prison officials have not publicly explained the changes, the adjustments may reflect credits earned through participation in prison programming and rehabilitative efforts.

The progression is significant because it suggests Combs could leave federal custody months earlier than originally anticipated, assuming no future changes are made to his sentence.

Why Diddy’s Lawyers Wanted Him At Fort Dix

Sean P.Diddy Combs is seen at the Met Gala in 2017
Eric Kowalsky / MEGA

Combs’ placement at FCI Fort Dix was not accidental. Court filings submitted by his legal team before sentencing show that attorneys specifically requested the facility because of its treatment and rehabilitation programs, as well as its location near family members.

“In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix,” attorney Teny Geragos wrote in an October 2025 filing, per ABC.

The filing offers insight into how Combs’ defense team approached the incarceration phase of his case, focusing on rehabilitation opportunities while preserving family access during his sentence. That strategy appears to be continuing, with reports indicating Combs has been participating in treatment programming while incarcerated.

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Trump Pardon Report Adds To The Drama

Trump Speaks At Salute To America 250 Celebration On The National Mall
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At the same time, reports have emerged suggesting Combs’ name has surfaced during broader discussions about potential presidential pardons. According to recent reporting, Trump has been considering clemency options for a variety of individuals while reviewing recommendations from advisers.

Sources familiar with those discussions indicated that Combs’ case has been mentioned as part of wider conversations involving several well-known figures. However, the reports also note that Combs was not expected to appear on the official recommendation list prepared by the White House pardons team, and there has been no indication that a pardon is imminent.

While he was acquitted of the more serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges brought against him, the prostitution-related convictions still resulted in a federal prison sentence that his legal team continues to challenge.

Diddy’s Appeal Effort Remains Active

Diddy arrives at the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

Beyond the pardon speculation, the most immediate factor affecting Combs’ future remains his ongoing appeal. His legal team continues to fight the conviction that sent him to prison, arguing that the verdict should not stand.

For now, however, the former music executive appears focused on a structured daily routine inside Fort Dix while the legal battles surrounding his future continue to play out beyond the prison gates.

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Kendall Jenner Uses This Neck and Jawline Cream Post-Workout

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A focused adult woman practices facial self-massage in her well-lit bathroom. Using her fingertips, she gently smoothes her skin to improve circulation, reduce tension, and promote a healthy, natural glow. This authentic at-home wellness moment captures the popular beauty and self-care trend

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Kendall Jenner is known for her glowing complexion, so whenever she shares a peek inside her skincare routine, beauty lovers are quick to take notes. The latest product to earn a spot in her routine? The Anua Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream. The model recently featured the innovative treatment in a TikTok showcasing her post-workout “detox” ritual, using the multitasking cream to massage her neck and jawline before continuing with the rest of her routine.

Designed with a built-in gua sha-inspired applicator, the retinol refining cream combines targeted skincare with a sculpting facial massage all in one step. What sets the cream apart is its blend of anti-aging ingredients paired with an easy-to-use massage tool. The formula contains encapsulated retinol, which helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and refine skin texture through a slow-release delivery system that’s gentler than traditional retinol. It’s also infused with collagen and peptides to help support firmer, plumper-looking skin, making it especially well suited for the neck and jawline, where skin is often among the first to show visible signs of aging.

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Get the Anua Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream for $30 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Beyond its wrinkle-smoothing benefits, the cream is packed with hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients that help keep skin comfortable and moisturized. Squalane, panthenol, cholesterol and nourishing oils work together to replenish moisture while helping strengthen the skin barrier. Plus, the cooling metal applicator glides over the skin so easily, making it simple to massage the product into the face and neck while helping temporarily reduce the look of puffiness

One Amazon reviewer noted that after just a few days of use, their skin “feels softer, looks more radiant and appears firmer.” Another with combination skin says “after a couple of days ONLY, my skin feels softer, looks more radiant and appears firmer.”

If you’re looking to upgrade your nightly skincare routine with a product that delivers both effective ingredients and a spa-like experience, try the Anua Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream today.

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Get the Anua Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream for $30 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more collagen creams here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping

Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

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Shop the UsNow Summer Sale –>

A focused adult woman practices facial self-massage in her well-lit bathroom. Using her fingertips, she gently smoothes her skin to improve circulation, reduce tension, and promote a healthy, natural glow. This authentic at-home wellness moment captures the popular beauty and self-care trend


Related: Thousands of Amazon Reviewers Use This Gentle Retinol to ‘Erase’ Fine Lines

If there’s an industry that’s ridiculously oversaturated with endless products that promise miracle results, it’s skincare. But when it comes to reviewer testimonials, visible, long-lasting results and real-world performance without the splurge, Amazon shoppers say LilyAna Natural Retinol Face Cream is a rare standout that deserves every one of its 8,000+ five‑star reviews. Far from […]

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Christopher Nolan’s Forgotten Thriller Has a Performance That Makes It Essential Viewing

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Brad Pitt in Fight Club

When people rank Christopher Nolan‘s filmography, Insomnia almost always ends up near the bottom. It’s not because it’s a bad movie — far from it, actually. It’s just that it sits in the shadows of cultural juggernauts like The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer. What’s more, it’s the only feature that Nolan directed but didn’t write, and one of the few films in his catalog that’s a straightforward remake. In other words, it’s not exactly what comes to mind when someone brings up the subgenre that is Nolan films.

That’s unfortunate, because Insomnia deserves far more attention than it gets. While it lacks the time-bending puzzles and blockbuster spectacle that would go on to define the most entertaining films of Nolan’s career, it’s still an incredibly effective psychological thriller anchored by one of the finest performances of star Al Pacino‘s career. Arriving between the actor’s larger-than-life ’90s classics and his much less notable 2000s projects, Insomnia finds Pacino in a real sweet spot: He’s in an unusually restrained register here, turning in a nuanced portrait of guilt, exhaustion, and moral compromise that remains one of his most underrated performances to date.

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An Internally Conflicted Al Pacino Carries ‘Insomnia’

Based on the acclaimed 1997 Norwegian thriller of the same name, Insomnia follows Los Angeles homicide detective Will Dormer (Pacino) as he travels to Nightmute, Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. The case quickly spirals soon after his arrival: Dormer accidentally shoots his longtime partner during a pursuit through some dense coastal fog. Rather than confess the truth, Dormer lets everyone believe the girl’s killer pulled the trigger.

That single split-second decision takes Insomnia from a by-the-book murder mystery to a psychological character study not unlike David Fincher‘s Se7en. It’s a part that needs more subtlety than spectacle, and — somewhat surprisingly, given his hammiest heights — Pacino delivers exactly that. He comes off as the most exhausted detective of all time, stumbling through the investigation with bloodshot eyes, bad judgment, and increasing paranoia. It’s incredibly convincing, and remains one of the best things he’s ever done.

And Pacino isn’t the only actor working against type. Robin Williams soon shows up as murderer Walter Finch, at a time when the star was still mostly associated with broad comedies and heartfelt dramas. (Another Williams-led psychological thriller, One Hour Photo, would come out later that year.) Our expectations make his turn as a soft-spoken killer even more genuinely unsettling. It’s exactly the right thing to bounce off of Pacino’s performance: two deeply flawed men attempting to rationalize their actions and excuse their moral failures.

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‘Insomnia’ Deserves a Better Reputation, If Just for Pacino’s Performance

Hilary Swank and Al Pacino as Ellie Burr and Will Dormer, looking at a file in Insomnia
Hilary Swank and Al Pacino as Ellie Burr and Will Dormer, looking at a file in Insomnia
Image via Warner Bros.

As far as critical consensus goes, Insomnia was hardly a disappointment. It earned strong reviews upon release, with critics praising both Pacino’s and Williams’ performances. Even to this day, it remains one of Nolan’s best-reviewed films: 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic. Nolan himself has recognized it as the most underrated movie he’s made. And yet… Insomnia still continues to be overshadowed by everything that came afterward.

Given the course Nolan’s career would take after 2002, it’s not hard to see why this movie gets less attention than the rest of his filmography. Nolan would go on to reinvent the superhero blockbuster, turn high-concept originals into major box office events, and eventually win the Academy Award for Best Director. Compared to what came next for him, a relatively straightforward psychological thriller would naturally get overlooked. That doesn’t make it any easier to justify, though.

Revisiting Insomnia today, you’ll find a film that’s still remarkably effective in its own right. Sure, it’s not Nolan’s flashiest or most “epic” work, but it’s absolutely one of his most mature. (Can you imagine Nolan putting out something like this today?) More importantly, it’s some of Pacino’s best work. If one can be so bold, he wouldn’t turn in anything this great again until his cameo in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and his part as Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman, both 17 years later in 2019. That’s reason enough to include this title in your next marathon of Nolan rewatches.

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Release Date

May 24, 2002

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Runtime

118 Minutes

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Stars Who Missed Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s Wedding

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Charles Barkley

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding at MSG brought together an impressive guest list packed with celebrities, athletes, and close friends. While many high-profile names were in attendance to celebrate the couple’s union, a few invited personalities ultimately chose to skip one of the biggest events of the year. Here’s a look at some of the notable names who declined the glamorous celebration.

Singer-songwriter and ’70s music icon James Taylor, after whom the pop superstar was named, missed Swift’s nuptials to Kelce.

At a performance in Lenox, Massachusetts, over the Independence Day weekend, James revealed to the audience that he and his wife, Kim, had received an invite to the wedding of the year. However, he had to decline to keep with tradition. James had been performing annually at the Tanglewood Music Festival for 52 consecutive years, excluding event cancellations and COVID restrictions, and he wasn’t about to break his streak.

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Despite missing the wedding, he shared his well wishes to Swift and Kelce, saying, “I do want to wish the couple all happiness and smooth sailing, and strength when it can’t be smooth.”

In a 2015 interview with Stereogum, James talked about his connection with Swift, saying, “She told me that her mom and dad had been really, deeply into my music and I got a real kick out of the fact that she’d been named after me.”

Charles Barkley Doesn’t Go To Weddings Or Funerals

Charles Barkley
Chris Chew/UPI Newscom/MEGA

Charles Barkley also got an invite to the Swift-Kelce nuptials, but he “politely” said no. The basketball legend’s refusal had nothing to do with the couple; it’s simply his policy not to attend two specific events. “I don’t go to weddings or funerals,” Barkley stated.

In an interview on 97.5 The Fanatic’s “Unfiltered with Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo,” Barkley shared that he loves the Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason, and only met Swift one time. “But I did get an invite, and I politely declined because I thought it was going to be a cr-p show,” he said.

Admittedly, Barkley said he knew going to the star-studded affair was going to be “too much” for him. “I just want to hang out and play golf, and I don’t want to dress up and all that other stuff,” he said, adding that despite his decision, he appreciated the invite and thought it was “pretty special.”

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Robert Pattinson Had Work Obligations

Robert in a suit
C Flanigan/imageSPACE / MEGA

Robert Pattinson and his partner Suki Waterhouse have been friends with Swift and Kelce for years, and while Waterhouse was spotted at MSG for the wedding, Pattinson was noticeably absent.

As reported by The Blast, the actor had professional obligations lined up on the day of the couple’s wedding. At the premiere of his movie “The Odyssey,” Pattinson shared that he had been busy filming “The Batman: Part II.”

When he found out that he missed out on the couple’s lavish giveaways at the wedding, he jokingly asked, “What did I get?”

Ryan Seacrest Rescinded His Confirmation To Swift-Kelce Wedding

TV host Ryan Seacrest planned to attend the wedding and admitted that he was excited to go to the A-list affair. He confirmed he was going, but then had to backtrack a few days before the event.

Seacrest shared his reason on “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” telling listeners that Disney brought him on for an Independence Day special that was taking place on July 3 and 4. While he did his best to fit both events into his schedule, he simply couldn’t make it work.

“I couldn’t have done both. And the actual wedding was in the afternoon. I went through the minutes,” he said. Nevertheless, he was honored to have been invited.

Prince William And Kate Middleton Met Privately With The Couple

Many of Swift and Kelce’s fans expected Prince William and Kate Middleton to attend the wedding, but they were a no-show.

In late May, Prince William was asked whether he was invited to the wedding, which he answered with a smile, saying, “No comment… I’m hoping, and I’m sure there might be an invitation around, but we’ll see.” Despite his refusal to reveal any information, many suspected that he and his wife were on the guest list. Speculation further intensified when he appeared on the Kelce brothers’ “New Heights” podcast episode, released on the morning of the wedding.

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Despite their absence on the couple’s big day, the royals reportedly met with them before their wedding, per PEOPLE. The private meeting allegedly took place in May when Swift and Kelce visited London.

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Marvel’s Most Important Superhero Breaks Free From Disney+ Now Streaming On Netflix

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Marvel's Most Important Superhero Breaks Free From Disney+ Now Streaming On Netflix

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated

There’s a few things in life you can always count: Death, taxes, Firefly appearing on every list of best one-season sci-fi shows, and Spider-Man is Marvel’s most popular superhero. Every single Spider-Man movie has been a success and now Tom Holland’s first standalone in the webs is one of Netflix’s most popular movies. Spider-Man: Homecoming, thanks to the unique licensing deal Marvel has with Sony, isn’t trapped on Disney+ anymore.

Spider-Man: Homecoming Did Everything Right

Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first solo Spider-Man film in the MCU following his brief introduction in Captain America: Civil War. At the time, it was the most anticipated movie in the MCU. What no one saw coming was how Tom Holland would take the role already made famous by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, and make it his own. He did so well, that for the second time, all hopes for the future of the MCU rest on his next movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

If Spider-Man: Homecoming wasn’t as fun as it was, the MCU would have crashed and burned years ago. Taking a little bit from Miles Morales by turning Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) into Ganke, removing Uncle Ben completely, and replacing Mary Jane Watson the fashion model with MJ (Zendaya) the socially conscious hipster, Disney created a Spider-Man for a new generation. It’s hard to remember now how controversial these changes were, and even now classic comic book fans are still waiting for Ned to turn into Hobgoblin (which was only ever sort of true, it was a brainwashing technique used by Kingsley, the real Hobgoblin, because comics!). 

michael keaton

Part of what makes Spider-Man so popular is his rogue’s gallery. Michael Keaton’s updated version of Vulture as a tech scavenger/thief was an improvement over the original Adrian Toomes and whatever it was the “Brand New Day” era mob enforcer Vulture was supposed to be. Taking a former Batman and making him a bird-based Marvel villain was, as it turns out, inspired casting. Against all odds, Keaton’s most threatening moment comes when he’s out of costume, behind the wheel of a reliable, practical car. 

Spider-Man Saves The MCU

Spider-Man: Homecoming wasn’t an outlier, it was the first sign of how reliable Tom Holland’s Peter Parker was going to be in terms of box office, and quality. Three movies in, and not one of them is less than amazing. Spectacular even. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is about to hit theaters and so far, all signs point to it being the most successful Marvel movie since Deadpool & Wolverine. Once again, the fate of the MCU rests on Spider-Man. 

Ever since Avengers: Endgame Disney has struggled to reach their previous heights. The “Multiverse Saga” was a complete dud except for No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine, with even Multiverse of Madness and Fantastic Four falling flat on their faces. The younger audience is bored of superhero movies, which is why Tom Holland is Disney’s secret weapon.

Tom Holland Is The Most Important Marvel Star

As with every Peter and Mary Jane before them, Tom Holland and Zendaya started dating, but unlike the rest, the pair have been together over a decade and recently tied the knot. It’s impossible to overstate how popular they are among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Tom’s “Umbrella” performance from Celebrity Lip-Sync Battle has been a social media viral hit for nine years, longer than anyone else has played Spider-Man and Zendaya has been fashion icon for even longer. If anyone can get the young’uns back into theaters for a Marvel movie, it’s those two. 

And it all started with Spider-Man: Homecoming. 9 years later, it’s still one of the best super hero movies of all time, and now that it’s on Netflix, the largest streaming service on the planet, it will still, somehow, find a new audience. There is no Marvel without Spider-Man, and without Tom Holland, we might not have a MCU right now.

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Bombshell Taylor Swift Wedding Dress Details Finally Land

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Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift may have said “I do” behind closed doors, but the biggest mystery from her lavish wedding to Travis Kelce is only now beginning to unravel. 

While the newlyweds successfully kept cameras away from their ultra-private ceremony, wedding guests and insiders are slowly revealing new details about the bride’s breathtaking look. 

From a dramatic 25-foot train to a romantic lace veil, Swift’s bridal fashion is becoming one of the most talked-about moments from the star-studded celebration.

Taylor Swift
MEGA

Taylor Swift’s wedding gown has quickly become one of the biggest mysteries to emerge from the couple’s ultra-private celebration, with fans eagerly searching for even the smallest clue about what she wore down the aisle.

The singer and NFL star guarded nearly every detail of their Madison Square Garden wedding, leaving even the bride’s gown hidden from public view. 

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That secrecy only fueled speculation, with AI-generated images circulating online before quickly being debunked as fake. 

Even authentic footage from inside the venue, first published by the Daily Mail, managed to avoid capturing Swift’s walk down the aisle. Now, those who attended the celebration are beginning to share some details.

“Taylor wore a big white dress that was off-the-shoulder and had a super long train. It looked to be 25 feet long,” one source told the Daily Mail.

Another guest described the gown as “fluffy and white,” while recalling that Swift’s lace veil looked “pure romantic perfection” as she glided toward Kelce.

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Officially, however, only a handful of details have been confirmed. In a brief statement released Friday, Swift’s publicist said the bride and groom both wore matching custom Christian Dior Haute Couture created by the fashion house’s newest creative director, Jonathan Anderson. 

Swift Kept Her Bridal Fashion Surprisingly Understated

Taylor Swift
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Although the wedding itself has been estimated to cost around $20 million, Taylor Swift reportedly resisted one of modern celebrity weddings’ biggest trends: endless wardrobe changes.

According to insiders, the pop superstar wore just two dresses throughout the celebration. After exchanging vows in her custom Dior gown, she reportedly changed into “a more comfortable dress during the reception,” choosing comfort over multiple designer outfits.

The restrained approach stands out in today’s celebrity wedding landscape. Lauren Sanchez, for example, famously wore 28 designer looks during her wedding festivities with Jeff Bezos last summer, making Swift’s decision to limit herself to two bridal outfits feel unexpectedly modest despite the scale of the event.

Her accessories, however, remained every bit as luxurious. According to her publicist, the 36-year-old completed her bridal look with Cartier jewelry and custom Christian Louboutin heels.

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Taylor Swift And Kelce Perfectly Matched On Their Big Day

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hold hands as they arrive to the snl after party
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The coordinated fashion extended well beyond the bride. Sources said Kelce complemented Swift’s bridal look by wearing a custom white tuxedo with a matching white top hat, ensuring the couple embraced a unified aesthetic throughout the ceremony.

While the Grammy Award winner eventually changed into a second dress for the reception, her husband reportedly stayed in his formal attire for the rest of the evening, maintaining the polished look that defined the celebration.

Together, their matching Christian Dior Haute Couture designs showed the carefully curated style of a wedding that has captivated fans despite remaining almost entirely out of public view. 

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Depart Or'esh Restaurant in NYC
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Speculations have swirled that Taylor Swift and Kelce filmed the celebration for a future documentary after cameras and production equipment were spotted around the venue.

However, an insider recently shut down those claims, telling Us Weekly there is “no truth” to reports that the newlyweds created a wedding film or documentary for public release. 

While the couple did document their July 3 celebration, the source explained, “They had it documented for themselves but are keeping it private.” 

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While the insider did not rule out the possibility that some footage could be shared one day, the clip is said to be intended solely as a personal keepsake rather than commercial content for now.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce celebrate Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win at XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas
Danny Mahoney/Wynn Las Vegas/MEGA

Before reports claimed Swift and Kelce had no plans to publicly release footage from their wedding, details suggested the pair’s commitment to privacy extended well beyond keeping the cameras’ final product under wraps. 

As TMZ reported, guests attending the lavish Madison Square Garden celebration were asked to follow a series of strict rules to protect the event’s intimate nature. 

In addition to a no-phone policy, invitees were instructed not to bring wedding gifts, as the newlyweds preferred that their loved ones simply enjoy the celebration. 

Attendees also adhered to a formal black-tie dress code and signed non-disclosure agreements before receiving full wedding details. 

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NFL star George Kittle, who attended with wife Claire, even revealed he and other invitees had very little information before the event, joking that Kelce laughed when asked about the venue and that he half expected everyone to be flown somewhere else. 

Preparations for the celebration remained equally secretive, with crews working through the night as trucks unloaded décor, equipment, and boxes labeled “Garden Party” and “Mirror Ball” before the festivities began. 

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The Most Misunderstood Sci-Fi Movie On Netflix

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The Most Misunderstood Sci-Fi Movie On Netflix

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Be honest: Have you ever been in a job interview, and when asked what your biggest weakness is, you want to say, “I just work too hard?” It’s the kind of thing that makes an interviewer want to kill you, but in Hollywood, veteran director Paul Verhoeven can get away with such a wild claim. That’s because he worked incredibly hard to create the stone-faced satire that transformed Starship Troopers into history’s most misunderstood sci-fi movie, and it’s available to stream on Netflix for audiences who are finally ready to get in on the joke.

Verhoeven Is A Master Of Satire

Before you start watching Starship Troopers, though, you might need a bit of context about its director. He’s made plenty of great films over the years, including Total Recall and Basic Instinct, but he is arguably best known for RoboCop.

That movie (which featured a corporate-controlled police department as a statement on the militarization of cops and the dangers of exploitative executives) was once considered the finest film satire ever made, and fittingly enough, the film that took its satirical crown away was Verhoeven’s own Starship Troopers.

Structured Like A Propaganda Video

Starship Troopers 1997

What is Starship Troopers about, though, and where does the satire come into play with this sci-fi blockbuster? On paper, this is a pretty straightforward tale of teenagers who enthusiastically join humanity’s war effort against the alien “Arachnids,” leading to one cool action scene after another.

Look closely, though, and you’ll see the seams tearing in this easy narrative … humanity is deeply racist, and frequent propaganda spots help harness that racism into jingoistic praise of a military that can do no wrong, despite the implication that Earth actually started this devastating war. 

Starship Troopers 1997

Interestingly, even the casting emphasized this satire: for example, Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Neil Patrick Harris are all good-looking young actors, so nobody thinks twice about their casting as carefree teens turned into bloodthirsty soldiers. However, the movie itself is presented like a propaganda film … the kind of thing that would be shown in-universe to help recruit more kids into the military.

The more you see the creeping fascism of our main characters and this universe as a whole, the more you realize these are the exact kinds of pretty people you’d cast to make evil stop looking so banal and start looking so sexy.

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Appreciated Today As Smart Satire

Starship Troopers 1997

Now that audiences are generally more media-literate, it’s easy enough to appreciate how smart Starship Troopers really is. But when it was first released, many editors of mainstream publications didn’t clock the satire and were extremely angry at Verhoeven for releasing a film celebrating fascism. 

Other critics thought the satire was functionally indistinguishable from an endorsement of these ideas, and countless fans didn’t care about these themes at all … they just wanted to see some “hoo-RAH” humans killing some evil aliens. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this cult hit, of course, but being able to appreciate the great action and fierce satire helps you get the most out of a movie that is always firing on all cylinders.

Destined To Be A Cult Classic

Starship Troopers 1997

When Starship Troopers was first released in 1997, it wasn’t exactly a bomb, but not exactly a hit either … the movie had a budget between $100-110 million and earned $121 million worldwide which, after marketing, means it was likely a loss for the studio.

It resonated more with critics, though: on Rotten Tomatoes, it currently has a critical rating of 72 percent. Critics called the movie “fun” but complained about “the excessive gore and wooden acting,” both of which are part and parcel of the satire (though in a world where every other movie is Marvel-style slop, satire is increasingly hard to notice).

Starship Troopers 1997

As for me, I contended that Starship Troopers is the rare literary adaptation that is far superior to the book it was based on. Robert Heinlein’s novel of the same name is a genuine sci-fi classic, but the author was so close to this universe that he never seemed to notice or care how fash-friendly slogans like “service guarantees citizenship” really are.

By contrast, Verhoeven’s adaptation serves as a commentary on the author and his work, all while delivering a killer action film that manages to be much smarter than most people watching it.

Starship Troopers 1997

Now, I’m not saying that Starship Troopers is smarter than you, but I am saying you won’t know until you stream it on Netflix. Will you enjoy all of the knife-sharp (watch that hand, Jake Busey!) satire or just enjoy quoting great lines like “the only good bug is a dead bug?” Either way, this is one misunderstood sci-fi movie that you’ll never forget.


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