Entertainment
R-Rated Director’s Cut Of The Worst X-Files Movie Is Streaming In Less Than A Month
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Possibly no TV series ever made has had such a meteoric rise and epic fall as The X-Files. The early seasons captivated ‘90s audiences with a potent combination of sexy lead actors and stories about alien abductions and government conspiracies. The franchise arguably hit a high point with the first movie, The X-Files: Fight the Future. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. Later seasons got progressively worse, and David Duchovny eventually left the show for good. He came back for the worst revival in television history, one that followed up on some of the revelations of the second movie, The X-Files: I Want To Believe.
Whereas Fight the Future advanced the complex mythology of the series, I Want To Believe was modeled more after the series’ monster-of-the-week episodes. Unfortunately, the monster was weaksauce, and the film’s vestigial ties to some of the stupider lore really dragged it down. But could this failed film be one good edit away from being a banger? Chris Carter seems to think so. Last year, he teased that he was working on an R-Rated director’s cut of the film, one that brings it to bloody life like never before. Now, fans will be able to judge for themselves: The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn will begin streaming on Hulu on August 14.
Somehow, Mulder And Scully Returned
The X-Files: I Want to Believe is a movie where Mulder and Scully have long since left the FBI; she’s a doctor, and he’s a hermit. But when an FBI agent gets kidnapped, and a Catholic priest starts seeing her in psychic visions, the Bureau gets Mulder to consult on the case because of his prior experience with all things spooky. Unfortunately, the PG-13 movie was a flop: it has a 32 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and audiences alike. It also earned only $68.4 million against a $30 million budget, with its box office likely suffering because it premiered only one week after Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
It’s a movie so bad that most X-Files fans would rather forget that it exists. However, when Chris Carter appeared on David Duchovny’s Fail Better podcast last year, he said that he was working on an R-rated director’s cut and hinted that it would premiere on streaming. “Now I have a chance to go back and make the scary movie that I always intended to make,” he said. “It’s not just doing a director’s cut to do a director’s cut. It’s really kind of bringing to life something that for me was on the page and never got to the screen.”
It’s Alive!
For better or for worse, the teasing is over. Previously, the new cut (titled The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn) was set to debut on Disney+ in June, but it got quietly yoinked off that streamer’s schedule to make time for some last-minute tweaks. Now, the movie is set to premiere on Hulu on August 14. While Carter is excited to show us his original vision for this flawed sequel, it’s not yet clear how it will differ from the theatrical version. It’s also not clear what the weird new title is about, though many think it’s a hint that Carter has, Frankenstein-style, cobbled together a new film out of assorted footage that had been left on the cutting room floor.
Will this director’s cut from Chris Carter leave fans screaming “it’s alive,” or will we just want to burn the movie with fire? Like Mulder always says, the truth is out there. And we can find out together: The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn premieres on Hulu on August 14. Here’s hoping it can help to erase the stink of Season 11 from our collective minds!
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Some movie stars dominate by taking over the room. The more interesting ones can haunt it from the corner, make the loudest person look ridiculous, or turn one quiet reaction into the part everyone remembers. That is the lane Michelle Pfeiffer kept finding again and again, even when the films around her were packed with dangerous men, strict social codes, cartoon villains, gangsters, or full Hollywood mythology.
Her best work has glamour, sure, but glamour is never the whole meal. There is intelligence under it, hurt under it, sometimes fury, sometimes boredom, sometimes a private sadness the movie refuses to overexplain, and more. That is why these five films have lasted. Scroll down to find out.
5
‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (1988)
In a movie where seduction gets treated like war strategy, Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the one person whose sincerity makes the game feel cruel instead of clever. Valmont (John Malkovich) targets her as part of a poisonous social contest, and the danger comes from watching a decent woman enter a world where decency has no protection. In Dangerous Liaisons, Tourvel has faith, restraint, desire, shame, and fear without making her look foolish for believing in goodness.
The tragedy cuts deeper since Tourvel’s collapse is emotional, spiritual, and physical at once. She is not built for the kind of casual destruction Valmont and Merteuil (Glenn Close) enjoy. When she starts breaking, the film stops feeling like a stylish duel and starts showing the human cost of aristocratic amusement. Pfeiffer lets the character’s longing stay pure even after it becomes unbearable. Valmont may think he is winning a game, yet Tourvel exposes the rot behind every move.
4
‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ (1989)
In The Fabulous Baker Boys, Susie Diamond (Michelle Pfeiffer) walks into the Baker brothers’ tired lounge act and immediately changes the air. Jack Baker (Jeff Bridges) and Frank Baker (Beau Bridges) have the routine down, the piano parts polished, the bookings familiar, and the disappointment baked into their faces. Susie has no patience for their stale professionalism. She can sing, tease, fight, flirt, and call out the deadness in the act before either brother wants to admit it.
Pfeiffer’s performance has that rare nightclub electricity where the glamour feels earned by survival. Her “Makin’ Whoopee” number on the piano is famous for obvious reasons, but the real heat comes from Susie understanding exactly how people look at her and deciding how much access they deserve. With Jack, the attraction has bite because both of them know talent can curdle into bitterness when life gets too small. The film becomes more than a smoky romance about music. It is about people who know they are good enough for something better and hate how long they have tolerated less.
3
‘The Age of Innocence’ (1993)
New York high society in The Age of Innocence is terrifying precisely due to how polite everyone sounds while ruining lives. And mind you, this is a Martin Scorsese film and he turns manners, flowers, dinner invitations, seating arrangements, and whispered judgments into instruments of control. Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer) returns from Europe after leaving a disastrous marriage, and her presence threatens a world that survives by pretending desire can be managed through rules.
Ellen is intelligent enough to understand the trap and lonely enough to still hope for air inside it. Her connection with Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) has romance, yes, but also frustration. He wants her partly because she represents freedom, while she has already paid for freedoms he only imagines. That imbalance makes the love story ache. Ellen is not the fantasy escape from his respectable life. She plays a woman carrying scandal, taste, pain, and clarity in a society that knows how to punish all four. The final memory of her feels less like lost romance than a whole life Newland never had the nerve to choose.
2
‘Batman Returns’ (1992)
Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) begins Batman Returns as someone the city has trained itself to ignore. She works for Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), gets talked over, pushed aside, and treated like an office inconvenience until the violence done to her turns into something wild. Tim Burton’s Gotham already looks diseased, but Selina’s rebirth gives the movie its sharpest charge. Catwoman is not a clean empowerment fantasy. She is rage, trauma, sexuality, comedy, revenge, and self-invention stitched together in black vinyl.
Pfeiffer is unreal here. Every version of Selina has its own rhythm. The nervous secretary, the shattered woman trashing her apartment, the prowling Catwoman, the wounded romantic with Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), the furious avenger circling Shreck. The performance keeps changing shape without losing the person underneath. She’s probably the best catwoman out there, to this date.
1
‘Scarface’ (1983)
Scarface is a classic. Everybody loves this film. And Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer) is surrounded by men who mistake possession for love here. Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) treats her like part of the luxury package. Tony Montana (Al Pacino) sees her as proof that he has climbed high enough to take what the powerful men had before him. The mansion, the clothes, the cocaine, the parties, the money, the whole rotten dream keeps getting bigger around her, and Michelle Pfeiffer lets Elvira look more empty the richer the world becomes.
That emptiness is the point. Elvira is glamorous in a way that almost feels ghostly. She has learned how to survive rooms full of appetite by staying bored, sharp, and unreachable. Tony wants her fire, then hates her disgust when she sees him clearly. Their dinner fight is brutal because she finally says what the empire looks like from inside the cage. Scarface is remembered for excess, violence, quotes, and Pacino’s volcanic Tony, but Elvira gives the dream its aftertaste. She is the beautiful prize who knows the prize is worthless.
Scarface
- Release Date
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December 9, 1983
- Runtime
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170 minutes
- Director
-
Brian De Palma
- Writers
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Oliver Stone
Chile! Savannah James had folks stopping their scrolls after stepping out with a look that reminded everyone exactly why she stays in her own lane. The NBA wife and entrepreneur had the internet buzzing after sharing a series of photos that showed off her confidence, style, and undeniable presence.
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Savannah James Turns Heads With Her Latest Photo Drop
On Friday, Savannah shared the stunning shots while rocking a black dress featuring a deep V neckline and feather details around the neckline. She completed the look with blonde hair styled in a side part, black heels, an anklet, statement earrings, and a flawless glam beat that had fans showing plenty of love.
Savannah kept the caption short and sweet, writing, “🖤What’s understood, doesn’t need to be explained🖤,” leaving the photos to speak for themselves. Apparently, the flicks were taken the night she attended the Time100 Sports Gala. Nonetheless, the comments quickly filled up with reactions praising her look and reminding everyone that Savannah has always carried herself with confidence. Between her style, beauty, and effortless confidence, fans celebrated the woman standing beside LeBron James.
Mama Has The Comment Section Going UP
You already know the comments were coming in hot! Fans flooded Savannah James’ comment section with praise, with some calling her the “First Lady of the NBA” and reminding everyone she continues to set the standard. Others jokingly told Savannah to have LeBron hurry up and reveal where he’s headed next, while everyone else stayed focused on hyping up her stunning look.
One Instagram user @lala shared, “That part 🔥🔥🔥🔥“
This Instagram user @jadoretee wrote, “Who’s badder than Mrs.James lol 😍”
And, Instagram user @itss_domnic_ added, “Please tell Bron to hurry with his decision🙂😂”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @everybodyscrzy claimed, “Your honor… she is serving!”
While Instagram user @thecrystalsade said, “1ST LADY OF THE NBA! 👏🏾♥️😍”
Finally, Instagram user @youngtay_official commented, “Thank you for letting my Goat play more seasons Queen 🙌🏾”
LeBron James Hypes Savannah Amid NBA Decisions
Even with plenty of big decisions reportedly surrounding his basketball future, LeBron James still made time to show his wife some love. Furthermore, the NBA superstar hopped into Savannah James’ Instagram comment section and reacted to her stunning photo drop, writing, “GODD*MN RIGHT!! 😍😍😍🤤🤤🤤,” making it clear he was just as impressed as everyone else.
The comment comes as LeBron remains in the middle of major career conversations after informing the Los Angeles Lakers of his plans to move on. Despite the uncertainty surrounding what’s next for the four-time champion, he still took a moment to publicly hype up Savannah and remind everyone that he’s always going to support his wife.
RELATED: Too Much Sauce! Savannah & Zhuri James’ Fans Are Loving Their Mother-Daughter Dance Session (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Adam Sandler officiating Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s star-studded wedding felt a bit unbelievable to the lucky 1,000 in attendance.
“Adam Sandler … came down [the aisle], everybody laughed and thought it was a joke at first,” American Century Investments CEO Jonathan Thomas said on the Thursday, July 17, episode of “The Compound” podcast. “He probably spoke for 20 or 30 minutes, vacillated between funny, very sincere [and] sang a few things.”
Swift and Kelce, both 36, said “I do” on July 3 inside New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden arena surrounded by some of the biggest names in sports and Hollywood.
After their enchanted garden-themed nuptials, Swift’s rep revealed in a statement that the couple’s friend Sandler, 59, presided over the ceremony.
Adam Sandler has quietly become one of the most unexpected constants in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love story — and in July 2026, he made it official. The comedian officiated the couple’s star-studded black-tie wedding at Madison Square Garden following years of family fandom, movie experiences and surprise cameos that pulled him deeper into […]
“In your typical vows the officiator says, ‘For rich or for poor.’ Adam said, ‘You’re not going to have to worry about that,’” Thomas recalled on Thursday, referring to Swift’s billionaire status and Kelce’s multimillion-dollar NFL salary. “His key message was [to] kiss each other every day, in the morning, at night [and] after dinner.”
In addition to Sandler’s heartfelt-yet-humorous speech, the now-newlyweds spoke for just as long delivering their vows.
Travis Kelce and Adam Sandler on the set of ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’ Scott Yamano/Netflix
“Travis went first with his vows. He probably spoke for 30 minutes and I don’t want to violate his privacy, but I was crying, which I was trying to hold back,” Thomas recalled. “He made himself unbelievably vulnerable. I was sitting there crying, and I was trying to hold it back until I look around and there’s all these 300-pound men from the football business crying, as well. So, I felt really comfortable [to] let go. I mean, it was very, very powerful.”
Thomas further revealed that the Grammy winner also wrote her own vows during the ceremony.
“She probably spoke for 30 minutes, and it was poetic. It was really well done,” he gushed. “The vows and the ceremony were very solemn, very sincere, very emotional. Then, they opened up [the venue and] you walk through this massive castle that they built.”
Thomas, for his part, was especially in awe of how Swift and Kelce transformed MSG into their dream wedding venue.
“You would never guess you’re in Madison Square Garden the way they did. It was incredible,” the businessman said on Thursday. “But you [walked] through this castle that they built and behind it, um, they had all sorts of games [and] amazing giveaways to people.”
Swift and Kelce have yet to reveal any photos from the big day but are expected to eventually share portraits via Instagram.
Every best action movie list since the 1990s has included this explosive cop classic, and for good reason. Often hailed as one of the greatest action films ever made, it completely changed what audiences expected from the genre with its groundbreaking action sequences. Its influence can still be seen in modern hits like John Wick, while its claustrophobic premise — one man standing against countless armed criminals — captures the same tension that made Die Hard a classic. More than three decades later, it hasn’t lost any of its impact, making now the perfect time to watch it before it disappears from free streaming.
Directed by the legendary Hong Kong maestro John Woo with a script by Gordon Chan and Barry Wong, the crime epic marked Woo’s final Hong Kong production before he made his transition to Hollywood. Woo actually conceived the project as a direct response to critics who accused his earlier heroic bloodshed films (such as The Killer and A Better Tomorrow) of romanticizing criminals. So, he set out to create a police-centered thriller heavily inspired by Clint Eastwood‘s Dirty Harry. While it only performed modestly at the local box office upon its initial release in April 1992, Woo’s masterpiece quickly achieved legendary status, earning near-universal international acclaim.
Where Can You Watch This Explosive Cop Classic?
Labeled one of the defining works of the heroic bloodshed genre, you can stream Hard Boiled for free on Tubi in the U.S. However, per MovieWeb, you only have until the end of the month, July 31, to catch it, as the film is scheduled to leave the platform on August 1. If you need any more convincing, the film boasts a stellar 92% on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. Besides, even the critics’ consensus praises it as “a powerful thriller that hits hard in more ways than one.”
Starring frequent Woo collaborator Chow Yun-fat as Inspector “Tequila” Yuen, a rule-breaking Hong Kong detective, Hard Boiled begins with the murder of Tequila’s partner during a violent raid on gun smugglers. To bring down the ruthless syndicate responsible, Tequila reluctantly teams up with Alan (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), a deeply conflicted undercover cop who operates as a high-ranking hitman. Their investigation ultimately culminates in an unforgettable climax inside a besieged hospital, where the duo must resort to excessive force.
Watch Hard Boiled on Tubi before it leaves.
A late-night situation inside a Tennessee home quickly turned into a deadly investigation. Kendra Scott is now facing serious charges after authorities say a confrontation at a Memphis residence ended with a 20-year-old man being shot and killed. Investigators are working to piece together what happened before the gunfire.
RELATED: Washington Man Convicted After Shooting Mother Of His Children More Than 20 Times While Eight Kids Were Inside Home
Authorities Reveal What Led Up To The Fatal Encounter
According to the Memphis Police Department, the incident happened on Wednesday, July 15, around 1:45 a.m. at a home on Travis Road in the Walker Homes neighborhood. Officers arrived and found 20-year-old Rodderius Morton lying in the front yard near the porch with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Authorities say Kendra Scott allegedly told police she discovered a man hiding under her daughter’s bed and claimed she “saw a dude under my kids’ bed, and I did what I had to do.” Investigators later identified Scott as the woman involved and say a neighbor reported hearing banging before finding Morton injured near the porch.
Witnesses Share More Details About The Night’s Events
The neighbor also allegedly told police he saw Scott standing outside with a firearm, saying, “I shot him, I shot him.” A girl inside the home told investigators Morton had been invited over and entered through the back door before Scott arrived. According to the charging documents, Scott returned home around 1:30 a.m. and was allegedly knocking loudly while asking, “Who’s at my house?” The girl reportedly told investigators she was afraid because Scott appeared angry and was carrying a gun, and she claimed Scott had previously made comments about what she would do if she found a boy inside the home.
Scott Faces Serious Charges As Investigation Continues
Police say the girl eventually let Scott inside, where Morton was allegedly hiding under the bed. The girl told investigators that when Morton attempted to leave, Scott confronted him, and the two began arguing before he made his way toward the front porch. Authorities allege Scott followed him, and the girl heard a single gunshot.
Scott, 36, faces charges of first-degree murder and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Authorities are holding her without bond at the Shelby County Jail, and she will appear in court as the case moves forward.
RELATED: Prayers Up! Heartbreaking Photos Show Funeral Of 8 Children Killed In Louisiana Mass Shooting (UPDATE)
What Do You Think Roomies?
After three seasons and four years, Netflix’s Heartstopper wraps up this week with Heartstopper Forever. The movie will focus primarily on wrapping up Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie’s (Joe Locke) stories as Nick starts applying for university, forcing the two to think about what comes next. This comes shortly after the conclusion of Alice Oseman‘s webcomic-turned-graphic-novel series on which the show is based. While it will be sad to say goodbye to Heartstopper, Oseman has several other excellent novels that would make amazing television shows, and it would be wise for Netflix to adapt one of those next. There’s one book, in particular, that even takes place in the same universe as the Heartstopper graphic novels, so it could stand on its own as an adaptation.
What Is Alice Oseman’s ‘Radio Silence’ About?
Radio Silence follows Frances Janvier, a star student in her final year of secondary school, and academics are pretty much her whole life. In between trying to finish the year strong and get into Cambridge, Frances is secretly a fan of a podcast called Universe City and posts her art dedicated to the show online. She’s absolutely thrilled when the podcast’s anonymous creator, who goes by Radio Silence, asks her to become Universe City‘s official artist. One night, while out letting off steam, Frances runs into Aled Last, her neighbor who’s a year ahead of her at the affiliated boys’ school. Aled confesses to Frances that he is Radio Silence, and shortly afterward, she reveals the truth about herself as well. Despite never speaking much before, the two realize that they actually have a lot in common, and they quickly become best friends.
As Frances and Aled grow closer, their collaborative efforts on the podcast take off, but they struggle to balance their secret passion with their academics. They’re both expected to lead much more practical lives than they’d prefer, and their friendship leads them to start doubting everything they have been working towards up until this point. Frances and Aled’s friendship represents the perfect little bubble where they can dream big and focus solely on Universe City, but their real lives constantly threaten to get in the way.
‘Radio Silence’ Would Be the Perfect Show for ‘Heartstopper’ Fans
After Heartstopper‘s success, now would be the perfect time for Netflix to tackle a Radio Silence adaptation. While Heartstopper is a romance first and foremost, Radio Silence is a story about friendship. Frances is deeply lonely and unhappy in her fast-paced pursuit of academics, only feeling truly like herself when listening to and making art for Universe City. Similarly, Aled is keeping Universe City a secret from the people in his life, feeling like he has to hide who he is to pursue the future that he’s on track to have. After accidentally meeting in person, Frances and Aled realize that they’ve already found each other online, making them feel as if they were always meant to be best friends.
Those who have read the Heartstopper graphic novels will know that Aled is also present in that series as one of Charlie’s friends, but the character was replaced in the Netflix adaptation by a new creation, Isaac (Tobie Donovan), particularly because Aled has his own story. That said, Nick and Charlie do briefly appear in a chapter of Radio Silence and, with some tweaks, could easily cameo in a potential adaptation. Just like Heartstopper, Radio Silence centers teens and their journeys without talking down to its viewers. It also tackles heavier themes, including mental health, making it the perfect successor to Heartstopper now that Forever has concluded that story.
Entertainment
GTA 6 Reportedly Generates $260 Million in Pre-Orders, Could Reach $5 Billion During Launch Week : Coastal House Media
Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially confirmed that it will stop producing physical disc versions of all new PlayStation games beginning in January 2028, marking one of the biggest shifts in the company’s gaming history.
Under the new policy, every PlayStation title released after the January 2028 cutoff will launch exclusively in digital form through the PlayStation Store and participating retailers. Games released before that date will continue to be available on physical media, and existing disc-based games will remain supported.
The announcement reflects the gaming industry’s continued move toward digital distribution, with Sony pointing to changing consumer habits as the driving force behind the decision.
In a statement announcing the transition, Sony said:
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”
The decision applies to both first-party PlayStation Studios releases and third-party games launching on PlayStation platforms after January 2028. While collectors will still be able to purchase physical copies of games released before the deadline, future releases will exist only as digital downloads.
The news has already sparked heated discussion among gamers. Many players have expressed concerns about game preservation, digital ownership, resale value, and the inability to lend or trade games. Others see the move as inevitable, pointing to the steady growth of digital purchases over the past several console generations.
Sony’s announcement also comes shortly after controversy surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI’s physical edition, which ships as a download code rather than a game disc, fueling ongoing debate about the future of physical media in gaming.
Whether welcomed or criticized, Sony’s decision signals the beginning of a new era for PlayStation—one where physical game collections will eventually become a thing of the past for all new releases.
Entertainment
Guy Ritchie Is Officially Outdoing ‘MobLand’ With New Prime Video Crime Thriller Series
2026 has already been an important year in the saga of Guy Ritchie’s career, with more success stories to share and controversies to overcome. Ritchie’s first project of the year, Young Sherlock, was a massive hit on Prime Video despite all episodes being dropped at once as a binge. Prime Video even renewed the show for Season 2, and with cameras already rolling on the sophomore season, it’s all but confirmed that Young Sherlock Season 2 will stream in 2027. Ritchie then returned to the big screen with the release of his latest action movie, In The Grey, but the film struggled to get off the ground at the box office before scurrying to digital platforms. This was despite the star power of Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal, who had both worked with Ritchie in the past.
One of Ritchie’s biggest shows to emerge in the last few years has been MobLand, the hit Paramount Plus crime thriller starring Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan. MobLand is coming back for Season 2 later this year, but Ritchie is moving to Prime Video for a new project sure to please fans’ of the Paramount Plus series. News broke last week that Ritchie is working with Young Sherlock producer Rob Williams to develop a new British crime series, Capital, which will explore the modern-day underbelly of London’s world of organized crime. Prime Video subscribers who refused to venture to Paramount Plus for MobLand need not fret — Ritchie is bringing the MobLand vibe to other services with his new replacement series. Further details such as casting and release information are being kept under wraps for now.
Does Guy Ritchie Have Any Other 2026 Movies?
At the time of writing, Ritchie does not have any more movies coming to theaters before the end of this year. It was thought that his new thriller, Wife and Dog, was hitting theaters in 2026, but the film was recently delayed to February 19, 2027, to give the post-production team extra time to make sure it’s fully polished and ready to go. James Norton, Rosamund Pike, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Anthony Hopkins lead the new film, which is billed as Ritchie’s answer to Succession. It follows a rich family and their quest for power that leads them down paths of betrayal and murder.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Ritchie’s new crime series, Capital, and check out new episodes of MobLand on Paramount Plus.
- Release Date
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March 30, 2025
- Network
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Paramount+
- Directors
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Daniel Syrkin
-
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Pierce Brosnan
Conrad Harrigan
Celebrity beauty trends may spark interest for some looking to make a change, but today’s cosmetic patients are looking for results that feel more natural and personalized.
Dr. Waqqas Jalil, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Aspect Plastic Surgery in Toronto, shared his thoughts with The Blast on why the “overfilled” aesthetic look is fading, how stars like Kylie Jenner continue to influence requests, and why the future of aesthetics is focused on customized treatments, skin health, and subtle enhancements that help patients look less transformed and more refreshed.
Not long ago, there was a trend of overfilling the face with filler, but that has slowly moved toward a more natural look. Instead of drastic changes, many patients are now seeking more refreshed, natural looking results.
“What we’re seeing among celebrities reflects a broader shift in aesthetic medicine. Patients are increasingly drawn to treatments that offer meaningful results without significant downtime, things like skin quality treatments, subtle volume work, and body contouring that looks natural rather than overdone,” he told The Blast.
“The key difference between a result that reads as ‘refreshed’ versus ‘obvious’ is almost always the planning stage: understanding the patient’s anatomy, proportions, and long-term goals before any treatment begins. When done well, these procedures should enhance someone’s features rather than alter their identity, and that principle applies whether you’re on a red carpet or not.”
Cosmetic Trends The Majority Of Patients Are Currently Asking For
Dr. Jalil said that he sees a consistent “seasonal rhythm” depending on what time of year it is.
From January through March, he often sees requests for “facial refreshes” after the holiday season. Requests for neurotoxin, fillers, peels, and blepharoplasty are the norm.
“As spring comes around, we see a surge of consultations as patients plan to be recovered by summer,” he said. “Summer months favor procedures with shorter recovery or timing that fits vacations, such as liposuction or select breast surgery.”
In the fall and winter, things pick up the pace with larger procedures, such as facelifts, mommy makeovers, and extensive body contouring.
Cosmetic Trends Often Start With Celebrities
When a celebrity posts about a particular treatment or procedure, or reveals in an interview something they’ve done, widespread interest tends to fire up a trend. One example of this is when Kim Kardashian shared her experience with XERF and everyone suddenly wanted to try it out because she raved about her results.
“Celebrity looks often spark widespread interest. A prominent makeover on Instagram or in the press creates buzz and prompts patients to ask, ‘Can I get that?’ Celebrities can introduce techniques and shape preferences, but those looks must be adapted to each patient’s anatomy, goals, and lifestyle,” he explained. “For example, when high-profile figures such as Kylie Jenner publicly discuss breast augmentation, interest in similar procedures rises but her result reflects her unique frame, proportions, and aesthetic goals.”
Dr. Jalil added that many patients will go into the office asking for the exact same thing a celebrity has done, but he has to “translate trends into realistic, individualized plans so patients achieve flattering, natural outcomes rather than attempting a one-size-fits-all copy.”
Setting Realistic Expectations When Deciding On Cosmetic Treatments
One thing Dr. Jalil focuses on is setting realistic expectations. He said he sometimes will even ask the patient to bring in a “wish photo” to help identify the goal.
“I usually take an opposite approach to some and actually encourage patients to bring in ‘wish photos’ or ‘celebrity photos’ to reveal goals and help me gauge realism,” he said. “During a thorough consult, we explain what’s achievable given their anatomy, skin quality, and lifestyle.”
He will also outline any risks, what recovery can look like, and even show some before and after examples. If someone comes in with unrealistic expectations or signs of body dysmorphic disorder, he will recommend a second opinion with a trusted colleague.
A top concern for Dr. Jalil has become DIY procedures or the mentality that there’s a one-size-fits-all thought process thanks to social platforms.
“DIY injections or at-home treatments dangerously underestimate risk, and viral trends ignore individual anatomy and safety,” he shared. “Equally troubling are edited or AI images and selectively staged before and after posts that create unrealistic expectations. Add in toxic fitness culture which celebrates transformations without acknowledging when surgical or medical interventions are involved, and you have a recipe for misinformation that puts patients at risk.”
Laser And Skin Resurfacing Are In Strong Demand
For people who are seeking to dip their toes into the world of cosmetic procedures and treatments and aren’t ready for surgery, Botox, fillers, lasers, and skin resurfacing have become popular options.
“They have strong demand but serve different needs. Injectables are quick, low-downtime solutions for volume and lines,” Jalil said. “Lasers/resurfacing address texture, sun damage, and skin quality long-term. For many patients, especially moms wanting improvement with limited downtime, we combine modalities for superior, natural-looking results.”
Dr. Jalil said that he expects more “combination protocols” such as energy devices plus biologics and targeted surgery alongside lifestyle modifications to continue to rise in popularity. He also expects there to be an increasing interest in procedures that restore pre-pregnancy body shape with natural-looking results.
Whatever a patient decides to do, Dr. Jalil said he advises they chose a qualified, experienced surgeon who will listen to your goals, explain the process and outcome, and build a tailored plan to your particular case.
Sandy Brondello, the coach of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo team, has apologized following Angel Reese reacting to her calling her a “protected species.”
RELATED: Internet Users Are Droppin’ Mixed Reactions To Angel Reese’s Recent ‘Fit Check (PHOTOS)
Toronto Tempo Coach Apologizes After
On Saturday, July 18, Sandy Brondello took to X to share an apology directed toward Angel Reese. According to USA Today, Brondello made headlines after her team, the Toronto Tempo, faced off against the Atlanta Dream on the evening of Friday, July 17. Nyara Sabally was reportedly guarding Reese when Reese pushed toward the basket and came into contact with Sabally. Subsequently, Brondello pleaded for a foul to be called on Reese.
“Angel, she’s a protected species. Oh, come on. You can agree. It’s (expletive),” Brondello reportedly said the refs.
Angel Reese sends Sabally to the locker room in pain pic.twitter.com/jhDfvuoTxp
— Angel Reese Truth Teller (@Daxson_12) July 18, 2026
Ultimately, the play was reviewed and called a foul. But officials reportedly declined to upgrade it to a “hostile act.”
“Angel, I’m sorry. Last night, in the emotion of the moment after Nyara’s injury, I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that. My frustration was with the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on you,” Brondello initially tweeted before adding. “I also understand that my words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I’m deeply sorry for that. I’ve spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible Black women… I regret that my words caused hurt to a community I respect so deeply. I have a lot of respect for you as both a player and a person, and I sincerely apologize to you, your teammates, and the Dream organization for my comment.”
Angel Reese Reacts To Her Calling Her A “Protected Species”
Hours earlier, on the evening of Friday, July 17, Reese had taken to X to share her reactions to Sandy Brondello’s words. Furthermore, Reese reposted a message that read, “Calling a Black woman a species…”
Then, she added, “ARE WE SURPRISED?! @SBrondello 🤡”
Social Media Reacts To Toronto Tempo Coach Calling Angel Reese A “Protected Species”
Social media users reacted to Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @anggdenise wrote, “Only headline I wanna see now should include the word ‘fired’ !!!”
While Instagram user @terenthial added, “What is a protected species?????? Asking for myself”
Instagram user @boognextdoor_ wrote, “We will not accept anything, but termination.”
While Instagram user @peteralexeze added, “‘Protected species’ isn’t a racial term. It’s used in football all the time. Smh.”
Instagram user @jfitts_official wrote, “Take her job . Only reasonable action”
While Instagram user @lovelyyladyyt added, “When they get ‘mad’ ’emotional’ their true feelings always come out…. Chileeeeeeeeeee”
Instagram user @iamanniebcosmo wrote, “Think before you speak 🗣️ -all that apologizing after you see the effect is played out ‼️”
While Instagram user @stanzzayvette added, “I’m over the Angel disrespect. Find something safe to do.”
Instagram user @beautifull.lala wrote, “wtf does that even mean??”
Meanwhile, former WNBA player Monique Currie added:
“Sandy is most definitely sincere in her apology. She’s a good one.”
RELATED: Not Feelin’ It? Internet Users Are Goin’ IN On Angel Reese’s Latest Game-Day ‘Fit Check (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
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