Before Reacher made Alan Ritchson a household name, he spent years as a journeyman actor with a familiar face. The former model first broke through when he famously serenaded Paula Abdul during American Idol auditions, launched into acting as the first-ever live-action Aquaman in Smallville, and built a cult following as unhinged football captain Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State. Over nearly two decades, he played everything from a young Norm Scully in Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Raphael in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but his best role is one we don’t talk about nearly enough: as Hank “Hawk” Hall in Titans.

Ritchson’s imposing physical presence comes with a profound capability to display emotional vulnerability, making him a natural fit for action and superhero casting. But he was deemed too inexperienced when Smallville considered spinning off Aquaman, was turned down for Thor because producers said he didn’t have “the craft,” and was told he was too old for the role of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and given a smaller part instead. The Greg Berlanti-led Titans was the first franchise to play off his true potential; he plays a central role that showcases the depths of his acting ability and delivers the best performance of his career, one that very clearly laid the groundwork for taking on the mantle of Jack Reacher.

What Makes ‘Titans’ a Must-Watch Superhero Series

Image via HBO Max

A gritty, mature, high-budget reimagining of the classic Teen Titans franchise, Titans premiered in 2018 and ran for four seasons; the first two were aired on the DC Universe streaming platform, then the show moved to HBO Max. Centered on a found family of young misfit heroes and vigilantes who band together to navigate their personal demons, master their abilities, and fight dark supernatural forces, the series opens with former Batman sidekick Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) attempting to erase his violent Gotham past and live a normal life as a Detroit detective, but still moonlighting as Robin at night.

That all changes after demon-powered teenager Rachel “Raven” Roth (Teagan Croft) witnesses her mother’s brutal murder, and after Dick takes her into his protection, is forced to reboot his former squad – the Titans – to fight the ongoing threats that they encounter, alongside fire-powered alien princess Kory “Starfire” Anders (Anna Diop), shapeshifting former Doom Patrol member Gar “Beast Boy” Logan (Ryan Potter), Batman’s second Robin, Jason Todd (Curran Walters), the genetic offspring of Superman and Lex Luthor, Conner “Superboy” Kent (Joshua Orpin) and original Titans members Hank and his girlfriend, Dawn “Dove” Granger (Minka Kelly), better known as the masked vigilante duo Hawk and Dove.

If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is – but in the best possible way. Part soapy drama, part chaotic lore-based romp, there’s absolutely nothing that was off the table for the plot in terms of angst, danger, or even resurrection. But what made Titans so different from any other superhero show was the human element; at the end of the day, the characters spent time processing the surrounding madness, not just creating it or acting like it was commonplace, and it was a fascinating thing to behold.

Hank Hall’s ‘Titans’ Backstory Is Harrowing

Image via HBO Max

The character that Ritchson plays, Hank, is initially introduced in the second episode of the series when an attempted kidnapping goes sideways, and Dick brings Rachel to stay with Hank and Dawn. He comes across as a hotheaded, toxically masculine, drug-addicted brute; he’s especially horrible to Dick, presumed to be the result of a complicated love triangle between Dick, Hank, and Dawn. But towards the end of the first season, an entire episode, delivered primarily through flashbacks, reveals a deeply traumatic past hidden beneath his abrasive exterior, reframing his demons as grief and physical pain and his motivations as fierce loyalty and deep morality.

Much like Jack Reacher, Hank has a ton of baggage and no special powers, but what makes Ritchson’s performance so much better in Titans is that while the imposing presence is there, we get to see the raw, emotional side, too. It’s revealed that in his youth, he was a star football player who submitted to sexual abuse from his coach to protect his younger half-brother, Don “Dove” Hall (Elliot Knight), and that in college after their mom died from cancer, he felt so helpless after being unable to protect her from that pain that he played through multiple concussions in college to ensure he didn’t let his team down, too. After Don informs the school that he needs to stop, Hank is pulled off the team – and absolutely furious about it – but Don convinces him to channel his energy into something more productive, so they end up becoming the original iteration of Hawk and Dove, violent vigilantes in search of justice against predators.

How Alan Ritchson Made ‘Titans’ a Better Show

Image via HBO Max

The devastation of his youth culminates in a random encounter that leads to Hank’s brother and Dawn’s mother being killed in the same freak accident. The new Hawk and Dove are bonded by their shared trauma – she, too, was a victim of childhood abuse – and their deep grief about losing their families. Through his volatile relationship with Dawn, it becomes clear Hank’s struggles with drugs and alcohol are a result of long-standing grief and physical injury, and his brusqueness stems from an unyielding, moral obligation to protect his loved ones and hurt the ones that hurt others. These unchecked emotions are visible in everything he does, and make Hank the most tragic, compelling character in the series – especially when he meets his ultimate end.

In Season 3, Jason Todd, who has been expelled from the found family and become his evil alter ego, Red Hood, convinces Hank he’s changed, knowing he has a soft spot for those in need and will always protect him. Jason betrays his loyalty, using a moment of weakness to surgically implant a bomb in Hank’s body, and since he’s the character that always ruins everything, manages to trick Dawn into pulling the detonation trigger and killing him. Hank appears once more towards the end of the season to tie off his tragic arc, appearing alongside Don in the afterlife, to guide Tim Drake (Jay Lycurgo) and Donna “Wonder Girl” Troy (Conor Leslie) back to the living.

Soon after Hank’s journey ended – one in which he was revealed as emotional, relatable, and a force to be reckoned with – so did Alan Ritchson’s tenure as a journeyman actor. Less than six months after his final episode aired, Reacher premiered. Titans would end due to a DCU shake-up just one season later, but Ritchson powered forward and became the powerhouse star we know today. But his best performance will always be the one where he showed his vulnerable side, when we got to see not just him as a formidable actor but also a glimpse at the soft underbelly of the tough guy we’ve come to love.

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Release Date

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2018 – 2023-00-00

Network

DC Universe, HBO Max

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Showrunner

Akiva Goldsman

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  Michael Mosley

  Arthur Light / Dr. Light

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  Anna Diop

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  Koriand’r / Kory Anders / Starfire

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Pop star Britney Spears has been the subject of rumors that she has been cloned for years. After getting her start on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” the Princess of Pop went on to dominate the entertainment industry with hit songs like “Oops!… I Did It Again” and “…Baby One More Time.” After her controversial 13-year conservatorship, she has largely faded from the spotlight and has repeatedly stated on Instagram that she has “retired” from the industry. That being said, she still appears in Instagram videos, often dancing in her home. Some fans have taken to social media to insist that it’s not actually Britney in those videos, but a clone. Now her son, Jayden James, is speaking out about those rumors.

Britney Spears’ son Jayden doesn’t seem to be too happy with rumors that his mother has been cloned, although she’s far from alone. Actors like Jim Carrey and Selena Gomez have also faced similar accusations that they have been replaced with clones.

“I hop on TikTok, and I see this one video that has 1.2 million likes, and the caption is like, ‘The biggest theory ever: Is Britney Spears still alive?’” Jayden said during a July 17 livestream, per screen-recorded footage obtained by Us Weekly. “Like, bro, you can go to her page and see her right now.”

He went on to call the accusation “ridiculous,” adding, “It makes me know that a lot of the stuff on media is exaggerated and fake.”

Instead of blaming fans for believing the “crazy” conspiracy theory, he put the blame on the media for taking advantage of “gullible” people.

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“People know how gullible people are, and they use that to their advantage,” he said in the video. “Anyone that sees it on media, they just see it and if it has a lot of likes, they [believe] it. They don’t even research it, they’re just, ‘Wow, yeah, it’s crazy. I believe it.’”

Jayden’s brother, Sean Preston, did not comment on the accusations. Britney shares both of her sons with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline.

Britney Spears Is Repairing Her Relationship With Her Sons

Although the “Toxic” singer had a notoriously difficult time raising her sons due to complications stemming from her court-ordered conservatorship, it appears they are now working to repair their relationship.

Following her March 2026 DUI arrest, Spears’ rep said that her sons were spending time with her. Weeks later, a source told Us Weekly that the pop star had decided to check into rehab after “several conversations” with her sons.

“They expressed concern about her recent behavior and urged her to seek professional help, which has been long overdue, to get her back on track,” the insider shared. “All they’ve ever wanted for their mom is health and happiness, even during the years they were estranged. They hope she’ll take it seriously.”

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Britney Spears’ Sons Made Their Paris Fashion Week Debut

Earlier this year, Jayden and Sean made their debut at Paris Fashion Week. “She wasn’t there with us, but she sent us flowers to our hotel as a good luck thing, and called and texted us so many times,” Jayden told Vogue. “It was good to have that and to carry that with us before we went out there.”

He went on to say that the “Lucky” singer was “so nervous” for her sons, but went on to say, “She was just looking out for us and making sure that this was what we wanted to do.”

When asked if their famous mother gave any tips before their big debut, Jayden said, “I feel like she knew we had it,” adding, “She was like, ‘Yeah, you guys are my sons. You’ve got this.’”

Both Sean and Jayden walked the runway together during the Vetements Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 show on June 26. Us Weekly reported that Jayden wore a white tank with light-wash jeans. Preston wore a black dress top and a long jacket over blue jeans.

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Britney’s Sons Are Interested In A Music Career

Jayden reveals on recent IG Live his love for Céline Dion’s “The Power of Love” because of his mother, and that is “the most beautiful music i’ve ever listened to.”

Céline Dion is returning this fall on Paris ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TGfB6pA3pd

— B Spears Promo 🪩 (@BSpearsPromo) July 18, 2026

Looking back, Jayden said he could “master my walk better” and felt “stiff” due to his nerves. “But Preston and I are trying to do music and other things,” he said, noting that a modeling career is probably not in his future.

Sean Preston added, “I don’t know if it’s something that I’m super passionate about, but I know I had a lot of fun doing it. Music is the foundation of everything for me. Jayden and I have done music our whole lives, and we definitely gravitate towards that more than anything else.”

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Fans are looking forward to her sons’ first steps in the music industry and a potential collaboration with their famous mom!

One of the burning questions on the lips of cinephiles at the moment is “Who will play the next James Bond?” We know that the list for the actor has recently been narrowed, as certain popular names continue to be ruled out. Casting director Nina Gold commented that he will be someone who “oozes sex appeal” and is young enough to carry the role for many more movies, as the new era for the franchise dawns following Amazon’s eye-watering $1 billion acquisition.

Recently, Debbie McWilliams, an integral part of the Bond casting process since 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, has had her say, commenting, “Ian Fleming wrote a character, and that’s the character that stays. That’s what I think. I mean, other people might think otherwise, but I don’t think that.” Whoever the new Bond is, they will certainly be in safe hands, considering Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight will pen the script for the next installment, Dune‘s Denis Villeneuve is stepping behind the camera, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing.

Next month, you can get in the Bond mood in a way you might not have expected, as a hugely underrated Hollywood veteran’s Bond-esque conspiracy thriller gets a new streaming home. The film in question is Chief of Station, starring Thank You For Smoking and The Dark Knight‘s Aaron Eckhart in a performance that perhaps deserves more credit. In the film, Eckhart portrays Ben Malloy, a former CIA station chief grieving the horrific loss of his wife. When a cryptic message sends him back into the clutches of danger, Ben must face both evil and his own demons head-on. Starting August 1, you can stream Chief of Station on Netflix in the U.S.

Was ‘Chief of Station’ a Hit With Critics?

Image via Vertical Entertainment

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Eckhart, who is no stranger to a movie with mixed reviews, received yet another middling critical response when Chief of Station first came out. Although many praised the pacing and Eckhart’s performance, others weren’t convinced overall, with one critic writing, “This generic spy thriller consists of rudimentary action and chase scenes, tons of exposition as characters explain the plot to one another, and textbook twists that lack life or spark.” You can make up your own mind next month.

Starting August 1, you can stream Chief of Station on Netflix in the U.S. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

May 3, 2024

Runtime

93 Minutes

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Director

Jesse V. Johnson

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Will Ferrell has once again addressed a long-running rumor about his connection to the OJ Simpson trial.

In a recent podcast appearance, the comedian and actor shared more details about the time he and his comedy troupe performed a sketch show for the sequestered jurors, rather than a stand-up routine, as many people often speculate.

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During the “Fact or Fiction” segment of Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s “All The Smoke” podcast, Will Ferrell opened up about his unusual comedy performance for the jurors involved in the OJ Simpson trial.

Ferrell explained that the performance was not a stand-up routine, as many people often believe, but rather a sketch show that he performed with his colleagues.

“We were doing our sketch show at the time, which was when the OJ jury was sequestered, and we felt so bad for, you know, this group of people that just went from their hotel to the courtroom that we performed right comedy in the courtroom,” Ferrell revealed, adding, “Not in the courtroom, but a courtroom.”

Describing the experience as “surreal,” Ferrell also recalled how strange it looked for him and his fellow comedians to appear in wigs and costumes while entertaining the jurors.

Will Ferrell Claimed The Jurors Were ‘Mildly Entertained’

Early last year, Ferrell also recalled the performance during an appearance on “The Graham Norton Show.”

He admitted that the idea to perform the sketch show did not come from him, but the group unanimously agreed to do it in an effort to “lighten the mood” for the jurors.

“It was just us and the jurors,” Ferrell recalled. “They seemed mildly entertained, but it was very bizarre.”

In both instances in which Ferrell discussed the performance, he did not reveal what types of sketches he and his colleagues presented to the jurors.

Ferrell Says Comedy Will Always ‘Ebb And Flow’

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As for what Ferrell thinks about today’s comedy landscape, the comedian told Barnes and Jackson that he does not spend much time analyzing the genre’s state and explained why.

“I don’t really get into the weeds of comedy analysis too much,” he said. “It’s always a thing that’s going to ebb and flow in terms of people’s tastes and what people want to create.”

Ferrell said he simply focuses on following his instincts and hopes people connect with the results. Although he has achieved tremendous success in comedy, he admitted that he is sometimes still surprised by the career he has built.

“A lot of times, uh, what still strikes me today is the weird stuff that comes out of my brain,” he said. “Somehow, a majority of people thought it was funny for the most part.”

‘SNL’ Taught Will Ferrell To Trust His Instincts

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Much of Ferrell’s success as a comedian can be traced back to his time on “Saturday Night Live,” which began the same year he performed for the OJ Simpson jurors.

His seven-year run lasted until 2002, during which he became one of the show’s most beloved cast members and earned an Emmy nomination in 2001.

Looking back on his time on “SNL,” Ferrell said the experience taught him to trust his instincts and avoid overthinking his ideas.

With a new sketch required every week, he learned to experiment, accept that some ideas would fail, and quickly move on to the next one. He also credited that process with helping him develop confidence in his comedic style.

The Actor Returns To TV With Netflix’s ‘The Hawk’

The project marks his first leading role in a television comedy since 2021 and brings him back to the small screen after years spent focusing primarily on film roles.

In the series, Ferrell portrays Lonnie, a former world No. 1 golfer who dominated the sport in 2004. Despite his physical decline, Lonnie embarks on an ambitious comeback, determined to capture one final major championship and prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Speaking about the inspiration behind “The Hawk,” Ferrell said golf’s complicated hold over those who play it made the sport ideal material for a comedy series.

“People who play it hate it as much as they love it,” the actor explained.

Prime Video’s highly anticipated live-action God of War series has hit a major setback, as star Ryan Hurst will no longer portray Kratos following a serious injury sustained during production.

According to a report from Deadline, Hurst tore his bicep while performing a stunt on set in Vancouver. The injury required surgery, and with an extended recovery expected, the production has made the difficult decision to recast the iconic Spartan warrior rather than wait for the actor to return.

The decision reportedly comes after several episodes had already been completed. As a result, scenes featuring Hurst as Kratos will need to be reshot once a replacement is cast, adding another delay to one of Prime Video’s biggest upcoming adaptations.

Hurst was announced as Kratos earlier this year, bringing an interesting connection to the franchise after previously providing the voice and motion capture performance for Thor in God of War Ragnarök. His casting was met with excitement from fans, especially after first-look images showcased his transformation into the legendary Ghost of Sparta.

God of War [sony entertainment]

The series, developed by Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Television, and PlayStation Productions, is based on the acclaimed 2018 God of War video game. It follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they embark on an emotional and dangerous journey across the Nine Realms to fulfill the final wish of Kratos’ late wife, Faye.

The cast also includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Ed Skreinas Baldur, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Max Parker as Heimdall, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn as Brok, and Jeff Gulka as Sindri. Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, with the series already receiving a two-season order before filming began.

No replacement actor has been announced, and there is currently no updated release window for the series. Production is expected to resume once a new Kratos has been cast and the previously completed scenes are reshot.

Sydney Sweeney has sparked online speculation after promoting a new design from her underwear line featuring a phrase that is a song title on Taylor Swift‘s 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”

The slogan quickly caught the attention of the singer’s fans, with some questioning whether it was a subtle reference to her amid Sweeney’s reported romance with music executive Scooter Braun.

Braun was previously involved in a dispute with Taylor Swift after his company purchased her former record label, which gave him ownership of her early music catalog.

Sweeney has sparked online debate after unveiling a new item from her SYRN underwear collection, with some Taylor Swift fans questioning whether one design contains a subtle reference to the singer’s long-running feud with music executive Scooter Braun.

The actress, 28, recently promoted a fresh batch of underwear from her brand on Instagram, sharing a photo of a pair featuring the phrase “but daddy I love him.”

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While Sweeney playfully described the designs as containing some of her “little sayings,” the slogan quickly caught the attention of Swift fans because it matches the title of a song from Taylor Swift’s 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”

The phrase sparked discussion across social media, where some users interpreted the underwear design as a possible jab at Swift.

Fans Are Divided Over The Phrase Amid Sydney Sweeney’s Romantic Link To Scooter Braun

Sydney Sweeney, girlfriend to Scooter Braun, has a Taylor Swift lyric on a pair of panties that her brand is selling: “but daddy I love him.” And then she says it is one of her little sayings? Messy girl. pic.twitter.com/bnHxhSfe9G

— 🧡Shannon🧡 (@killa_shannon) July 17, 2026

The speculation over the phrase on Sweeney’s new lingerie was fueled by her romantic relationship with Scooter Braun, whose highly publicized conflict with the pop superstar dates back several years.

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The music executive purchased Swift’s former record label, Big Machine Records, which granted him ownership over her first six studio albums.

This prompted the singer to embark on a massive re-recording project to regain leverage over her catalog. The dispute officially ended in May 2025, when Swift successfully bought her original master recordings back directly from Shamrock Capital, the private equity firm Braun had sold them to in 2020

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Reacting to Sweeney’s recent move, one social media user accused her of being “messy,” suggesting it was unlikely the phrase was merely one of her personal expressions given its strong association with Swift’s song.

Others, however, argued that there is no evidence that the actress intended the design as a jab at the singer.

“I don’t love her, but ‘but daddy I love him’ isn’t from the Taylor Swift song; it’s a line in ‘The Little Mermaid,’” a Swift fan said in defense of Sweeney.

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Sydney Sweeney’s Rumored Romance With Scooter Braun Continues To Draw Attention

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The renewed attention comes as interest in Sweeney’s personal life continues to grow. Rumors linking her to Braun first surfaced after the pair were reportedly seen together during festivities surrounding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding celebrations in Venice.

The reports emerged shortly after Sweeney’s split from longtime fiancé Jonathan Davino and were later followed by claims that she and Braun were casually dating, though neither has publicly commented on the speculation.

Addressing life in the spotlight during a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, Sweeney reflected on the challenges of navigating relationships under constant public scrutiny.

After spending years keeping her previous relationship largely out of the spotlight, she acknowledged that navigating romance can be difficult when so many people feel invested in your personal life.

“I understand that I’m a public person, but I’m still in my 20s,” she said.

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The Actress Opens Up About Dating In The Public Eye

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The actress said she is still learning about love and relationships, adding that it is “hard to do that with millions of people who have their own opinions of what that looks like.”

While she values her privacy, she admitted that balancing personal experiences with life as a public figure remains an ongoing challenge. “It’s hard deciding that I want to experience love in the public eye. I’m just navigating it all,” she explained.

The “Euphoria” star also shared the qualities she finds most attractive in a partner, describing her ideal match as someone “athletic and outgoing and funny.”

She added: “I’m a sporty girl, so someone needs to be able to climb a mountain with me, go skydiving with me. And someone who loves their family. I love myself a man.”

Sydney Sweeney To Star In Supernatural Romance ‘Hollow’

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Away from the headlines surrounding her personal life, Sweeney continues to build an increasingly busy film career. Her latest project is “Hollow,” an upcoming adaptation of Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel, which Beer will also write and direct following her work on “Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film reimagines Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as a gothic thriller infused with supernatural and romantic elements. Sweeney is attached to play Katrina Van Tassel, who becomes the central figure in a dangerous love triangle involving Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, and the legendary Headless Horseman.

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Production duties will be handled by several high-profile companies, including LuckyChap, Beer’s Brew Lab banner, and Sweeney’s recently launched production company, Honey Trap.

The novel has already generated significant industry interest. Publisher Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Random House, reportedly acquired the book before it could enter a competitive auction process. The film adaptation is also expected to be presented to studios in the near future as producers seek distribution partners.

Every so often, a television series comes around that captures America’s hearts. These shows typically feature a family that makes us feel like we’d love to be part of the gang. Whether it’s a lovable sitcom family like The Brady Bunch or Modern Family, or a more dysfunctional bunch like All in the Family or The Simpsons, these families help to represent our own shared commonalities up on the screen. When This Is Us premiered on NBC in 2016, we quickly found a new family to be obsessed with. With the series available to stream for free on Tubi, you can either catch this heartwarming drama for the first time or do a re-watch of this fantastic six-season comfort show.

What Is ‘This Is Us’ About?

At the start of This Is Us, we’re introduced to five main characters. There’s Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) and his wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), a happily married couple who are expecting triplets. Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is raising two daughters while struggling with bouts of anxiety. Kate (Chrissy Metz) is kickstarting a wellness journey in an effort to lose weight. And Kevin (Justin Hartley) is a famous actor who is working towards being taken more seriously. At first, it’s unclear how these people are all connected to one another. But then, in a major twist in the first episode, we discover that Jack and Rebecca’s storyline is not taking place in the same timeline as the other three adults like we assumed. In fact, Jack and Rebecca are actually the parents of Randall, Kate, and Kevin.

When we see their storyline, it’s actually occurring in the 1980s (a fact that’s cleverly concealed with non-specific clothing and settings). This shocker allows This Is Us to move forward with a unique non-linear storytelling method for the entire series. The plots in each episode are told by shifting back and forth from the past to the present, allowing us to see the Pearson family in every stage of their lives. With flashbacks ranging from when Jack and Rebecca were kids to Rebecca as an elderly woman, the series is able to traverse through a family’s entire existence in a truly captivating way. Whether the show is depicting a disaster of a Thanksgiving with Jack and Rebecca and their children, or offering the simple narrative of how one vehicle can be crucial to a family’s history, This Is Us fills each episode with rich character development and twists and turns that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.

‘This Is Us’ Utilizes Unique Storytelling Angles by Jumping Through Time

What makes This Is Us so special in its storytelling is that the viewer learns certain things about the family, like how Jack is missing from the present day timeline, but it takes its time unfolding each layer of the narrative for you to learn the details behind how these important events play out. You might not know exactly what will occur in these characters’ lives yet, but it’s an exciting, heartfelt journey to watch it eventually be uncovered. Each character’s experiences become fully fleshed out, even secondary characters like Randall’s wife, Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson), or Kate’s partner, Toby (Chris Sullivan), who also serve as instrumental aspects of the Pearsons’ lives. Even when the family experiences conflicts with each other, which they often do, there’s such a clear throughline of love that spreads throughout the series, and that ensures you can never be mad at any character for long.

The series expertly combines heart-wrenching drama and moments of humor with extremely lovable characters that you can’t help but find yourself rooting for. There are many examples of relatable occurrences, including poor decisions and trauma responses that affect their life paths, but that only adds to the realism of the series. With explorations of grief, addiction, and loss, the show is a true representation of the universal themes we all experience. This Is Us also portrays one of the most heartbreaking storylines we’ve witnessed on television in recent years, when Randall meets his biological father, William (Ron Cephas Jones). Jones, in a two-time Emmy-winning performance, cracks the show wide open in a complex depiction of a father-son relationship.

‘This Is Us’ Offers Many Impressive Performances

Image via NBC

It’s not just the excellent writing on This Is Us that makes it worthy of a binge-watch. The Pearsons’ story also comes alive because of the incredible performances by the cast. Ventimiglia and Moore are able to successfully pull off one of the sweetest and most loving marriages portrayed on television, manifesting true couple goals for the rest of us. Metz and Hartley also portray Kate and Kevin with an honesty that makes their individual journeys — as well as their sibling relationship — ultimately very believable. However, when it comes to the main cast, Brown is definitely the standout as Randall. He grounds his performance in vulnerability and a sly humor that makes Randall one of the best characters in the series. It’s no surprise that he took home an Emmy in 2017 (and netted four other nominations). The series is definitely an ensemble piece, but Brown proves he can be a leading man thanks to his role in This Is Us.

This Is Us is also able to thrive in large part because of its guest actors, particularly Jones. Gerald McRaney also landed an Emmy for his role as the wise, folksy doctor who delivers Rebecca’s babies. Several other outstanding actors earned Emmy nominations for their work, including Denis O’Hare, Brian Tyree Henry, and Phylicia Rashad. This Is Us also stands apart from the rest by casting child actors who master subtlety and vulnerability. Every actor in the series works together to create an authenticity that makes This Is Us sing.

Throughout its run, This Is Us earned an impressive 39 Emmy nominations and four wins before ending in 2022. Even if the series can get a tiny bit schmaltzy at times, it is this sentimentality that reminds us of the importance of family and love in all of our lives. Critics and audiences alike have made this show an important part of television history, which means it’s now the perfect time to binge all six seasons for free.

This Is Us is available to stream on Tubi in the U.S.

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Release Date

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2016 – 2022

Showrunner

Dan Fogelman

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Directors

Ken Olin, Chris Koch, Kevin Hooks, Anne Fletcher, George Tillman Jr., Jessica Yu, Milo Ventimiglia, Rebecca Asher, Catherine Hardwicke, John Fortenberry, Jon Huertas, Roxann Dawson, Sarah Boyd, Uta Briesewitz, Zetna Fuentes, Justin Hartley, Craig Zisk, Helen Hunt, Joanna Kerns, Kevin Rodney Sullivan, Mandy Moore, Regina King, Sarah Pia Anderson, Silas Howard

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Writers

Bekah Brunstetter, Laura Kenar, Eboni Freeman, Danielle Bauman, Elan Mastai, Jonny Gomez, Donald Todd, Joe Lawson, Jake Schnesel, Chrissy Metz, Susan Kelechi Watson, Aurin Squire, Tim O’Brien

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Wendy Williams‘ niece, Alex Finnie, has shared recent photos of the talk show queen amid celebrating her 62nd birthday.

RELATED: Pop Out, Then! Wendy Williams Stuns With Recent Look At NYFW (VIDEO)

Alex Finnie Celebrates  Wendy Williams 62nd Birthday By Sharing Recent Photos

On Saturday, July 18, Alex Finnie, Wendy Williams’ niece, took to Instagram to share a quick carousel of photos with her aunt. In the flicks, Finnie donned sunglasses, a white shirt, and bedazzled jeans. This, as Williams rocked her signature blonde tresses, a bedazzled black romper, and a Gucci belt. In the caption of the carousel, Finnie wrote, “• 07 • 18 • 2026 • celebrating the QUEEN 👑 happy birthday Aunt Wendy ❤️ LOVE YOU! 🤞🏾”

Furthermore, Instagram user @heycindii_ wrote, “OMG is this recent?? 💜”

To which Finnie responded, “@heycindii_ yes 💜”

Social Media Users React

Social media users reacted to the recent photos of Wendy Williams in TSR’s comment section.

Before Wendy Williams Celebrated Her 62nd Birthday, She Was Dealing With The Passing Of Her Dad

Months before Wendy Williams celebrated her 62nd birthday, she was dealing with another major moment. As The Shade Room previously reported, on February 8, the passing of her father, Thomas D. Williams, was announced to the world. At the time, Alex Finnie revealed the news to the public, writing that her grandfather had passed away at the age of 94.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Wendy Williams’ Family Shares Heartfelt Tribute After Her Father’s Passing (VIDEO)

Comic books have decades-long, built-in fan bases, and every single one of those fans has their own idea of what makes a great superhero story. Some grew up on a specific run. Some latched onto a specific artist’s version of a character. That means everyone walks into the theater with a different version of the character already living in their head, and a movie can only really commit to one of them. So, when a new superhero movie finally comes out, pleasing everyone in that crowd is basically impossible.

And then there’s the other kind of divide — the one between critics and audiences. A movie can deliver everything the fanbase has been begging for while still failing on basic filmmaking fronts, and that creates the most divisive results of all. Other times, a movie can be unanimously hated on release and then slowly turn beloved as the years go on, once audiences have had time to reassess it outside of its initial launch. Whatever the reason behind the split, here are the seven most divisive superhero movies ever made.

7

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)

Image via Marvel

When Deadpool & Wolverine hit theaters, it received glowing reviews. The third entry in the franchise finally brought Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) into the mainline MCU in all his R-rated glory, and it stacked the cast with legacy heroes fans never thought they’d see onscreen together. Hugh Jackman got to reprise his role as Wolverine, complete with the iconic yellow suit fans had been asking for since 2000. And cameos from Jennifer Garner‘s Elektra, Wesley Snipes‘ Blade, Dafne Keen’s X-23, and a scene-stealing Channing Tatum as Gambit turned the movie into a perfect send-off for 20th Century Fox’s mutant era.

But once the hype of the cameos wore off, the cracks started to show. Many fans now admit it’s a fun rollercoaster ride that doesn’t hold up nearly as well on rewatch. The plot is paper-thin, Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) is one of the weakest villains in the franchise, and the entire story hinges on a lazy MacGuffin. A growing number of fans now consider it the weakest Deadpool movie of the trilogy, even with all that star power on display.

6

‘Eternals’ (2021)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/ Marvel

Chloe Zhao was arguably the most decorated director Marvel has ever hired. Her film Nomadland won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars the same year Eternals came out, but her sensibilities didn’t translate that well to the superhero genre. She delivered a deliberately slow-paced story built around mythology and philosophy, and that pacing alienated fans who were used to the MCU’s usual quip-heavy formula. The film also introduced 10 brand-new heroes in a single movie, which left a lot of viewers feeling like they needed a flowchart just to keep track of everyone.

It was more so a superhero movie made for cinephiles. Eternals earned real praise for its striking visuals and cinematography, and it also delivered some of the most beautiful depictions of superpowers ever put on screen. However, the disconnect between cinema fans and comic book fans turned this into one of the most polarizing entries in the entire MCU.

5

‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ (2014)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was widely hated when it first came out. Electro (Jamie Foxx) and Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) were both weak, underdeveloped villains crammed into a movie that was already juggling too many subplots. But something changed after Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Fan opinion on Garfield’s version of the character shifted so hard that many now consider him the greatest live-action Spider-Man. It’s the small moments, like him fighting in winter wearing street clothes over his costume, hanging out with the firefighters, and helping a random kid with his science project. These are the friendly neighborhood, street-level Spider-Man moments that have been largely missing from Tom Holland‘s trilogy, and fans have grown to crave that version so badly that Brand New Day is taking heavy inspiration from Garfield-era Spidey.

4

‘Man of Steel’ (2013)

Image via WB

Man of Steel came out at a time when the Superman franchise had been dead for nearly a decade. It delivered a genuinely compelling superhero origin story, one that leaned darker and more brutal than anything the MCU was doing at the time, and that was enough to win over mainstream audiences. But for anyone who’d ever actually read a Superman comic, it was obvious that this brooding, almost Jesus-like figure wrestling with his place in the world was not really Superman. In the comics, Clark Kent is a bright, relentlessly optimistic farm boy with a heart of gold, and Henry Cavill’s version felt more like an Elseworlds take on the character.

The film also drew heavy criticism for the sheer scale of destruction in Metropolis during the final battle. When Superman fights in the comics, he goes out of his way to save as many lives as possible, the same way he does in James Gunn‘s Superman, where he refuses to even kill the giant monster tearing through Metropolis. Man of Steel skipped over that instinct, and the controversy peaked when Superman kills Zod (Michael Shannon) in the final confrontation. Sure, he’s forced into a corner, but that’s exactly the problem. Finding another way, no matter how impossible the situation looks, is the entire core of who Superman is. It’s the one trait that separates him from every other hero with god-like power, and it’s the reason kids have looked up to him for generations. Man of Steel stripped that part of the character away in its very first outing.

3

‘Captain Marvel’ (2019)

Image via Marvel Entertainment

Right before Captain Marvel came out, Brie Larson made headlines when she said, “I don’t need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work about A Wrinkle in Time. It wasn’t made for him!” The comment came off as openly hostile toward men, a group that happens to make up a huge chunk of Marvel’s audience base. And thus, Captain Marvel became a flashpoint in a much bigger online war over political correctness in Hollywood. The film got brutally review-bombed on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of release, eventually settling at a 79% critic score against a 45% audience score.

The film itself didn’t do much to cool things down either. Carol Danvers came across as the archetypal one-note girlboss character, constantly putting down the men around her while carrying almost no weaknesses of her own. And that flawless, invincible portrayal only gave the existing backlash more fuel. Fans who were already primed to dislike the movie because of Larson now had an actual on-screen reason to point to, and the two controversies fed into each other.

2

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)

Image via Marvel Studios

Avengers: Age of Ultron drew plenty of criticism when it first came out. Ultron (James Spader) was nowhere near the menacing threat he is in the comics. Instead, he came across as a wisecracking Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) clone, which fit the movie’s plot but felt like an injustice to one of the greatest villains in comic history. The film also buckled under the weight of setting up future installments. Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) entire detour into the cave felt like pure filler, tossed in just to plant seeds for future Phase 3 movies.

But now that Tony and Steve (Chris Evans) are both gone, and the team was fractured in Captain America: Civil War, fans have really come around on Age of Ultron. It was one of the last times we got to see the OG Avengers together, especially the banter between Cap and Tony, which was the emotional core of the entire MCU. They were the Buzz and Woody of the franchise. It’s also one of the last movies that features the team on their downtime, just hanging out at a party, taking turns trying to lift Mjolnir. Rewatching that sequence now genuinely feels like a warm hug. Comics and cartoons have always understood that seeing heroes hang out, argue, joke around, and act like a family can be just as interesting as watching them fight aliens or robots. The MCU doesn’t really make time for that anymore.

1

‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)

Image via Warner Bros.

BvS took everything people hated about Man of Steel and took it a step further. The Superman Jesus imagery was dialed up to 11. Batman (Ben Affleck) became a murderous psychopath who branded criminals and showed zero regard for human life. Lex Luthor felt like Jesse Eisenberg was just reprising his role as Mark Zuckerberg from The Social Network, except this time he was on crack. On top of that, the movie tried to introduce the entire Justice League, kick off the Death of Superman storyline, and set up Darkseid, the Parademons, and an alternate future with evil Superman all in one film. Then, of course, there was the infamous “Martha” moment, which became the punching bag of the internet for the better part of a year.

But time has been kinder to BvS than anyone expected. The Ultimate Edition smoothed out a lot of the pacing issues, cleaned up character motivations, and made the political subtext land with more coherence. The warehouse rescue scene still remains one of the best live-action fight sequences ever filmed, and easily the greatest live-action Batman fight put to screen. And next to later DCEU failures like Suicide Squad and Joss Whedon‘s Justice League, BvS looks like a masterpiece by comparison.

Megan Fox is not here for the haters — and can’t help but wonder if at least one of them is someone she knows personally.

“Men would have them believe disobedience was Eve’s vice, when it was her greatest virtue,” Fox, 40, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, July 16, alongside sultry photos of herself dressed in a sheer, black bandeau bra with matching underwear.

The actress received a mixed response to the pics in the comments section.

“This s*** is so unbelievably embarrassing for a 40-year-old mom to be posting,” one social media user replied. “[This is] 16-year-old tumblr s***.”

Related: MGK Thirsts Over Ex Megan Fox After Her Steamy Instagram Comeback

Megan Fox certainly knows how to break the internet. In her latest post, the Jennifer’s Body actress, 39, posed on all fours in a latex bra and a matching skirt with her thong popping out, pairing the racy getup with thigh-high boots. She completed her look with Andre Montana rimless sunglasses and a statement silver […]

Fox didn’t let the comment be.

“Which one of my exes is this 🧐,” she coyly asked, wondering if one of her past partners were responsible for the offending comment.

Fox is a mom of four, sharing three children with ex-husband Brian Austin Green and daughter Saga Blade, 15 months, with ex Machine Gun Kelly.

It’s not known whether Fox’s exes anonymously trolled her online, though the Transformers star has long been aware of her sexualized image.

“I think [being labeled a sex symbol] adds pressure to a girl who, like I said, has body dysmorphia and didn’t really ever see herself that way,” Fox admitted on a 2024 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “There’s this energy of me that I don’t give any f***s,” she continued. “To some degree that’s true, in terms of I would never change anything about myself in order to get someone to like me.”

Still, Fox noted that she is “always” confused by her constant objectification in the limelight.

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Vanessa Marcil is not here for trolls shaming Megan Fox for her rocky relationship with Machine Gun Kelly. “FEMALE TRIBE — Are y’all really still out here saying STUPID, TRANSPARENT (jealousy) s—t about each other? Tearing each other down? Calling each other whores????” Marcil, 55, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 5, alongside screenshots of […]

“I never really did anything bad. I was never associated with drugs or alcohol,” she said at the time. “I was never around, until recently, anyone who’s been associated with drugs or alcohol. I was never caught at clubs. I was never arrested.”

Fox dated Kelly, 36, on and off from 2020 to 2025. He announced in 2024 that had been sober for one year.

“I don’t drink anymore,” the rapper said on the “Dumb Blonde” podcast, revealing he went rehab for the first time after his 2023 world tour. “I didn’t tell anybody outside of the [people] closest to me. That was my first time I ever went to rehab. They just gave me so many ways to operate the body and show where this anger is coming from and methods to quell it. … I ended up falling into an awareness of what my condition is and have made peace with it. It’s a constant tightrope walk.”