For Olivia Wilde, the biggest disappointment surrounding “Don’t Worry Darling” was never the headlines themselves; it was watching the conversation drift away from the film she spent years bringing to life. 

As the actress and director returns to the promotional circuit with her new movie, “The Invite,” she says time has given her enough distance to look back on one of Hollywood’s most scrutinized productions with fresh perspective. 

While the experience remains painful, Wilde now believes she can finally separate the work from the storm that engulfed it.

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Nearly four years after “Don’t Worry Darling” dominated entertainment headlines, Olivia Wilde says the public fascination with the film’s off-screen drama prevented audiences from engaging with what the psychological thriller was actually trying to explore.

Appearing on “The Louis Theroux” podcast, the 42-year-old agreed with the host’s observation that the film had been “derailed by publicity” and caught up in “many multidimensional scandals.” 

During its release, attention shifted away from the movie itself as reports circulated about alleged friction between Wilde and Florence Pugh, speculation over pay disputes, and the intense scrutiny surrounding her romance with co-star Harry Styles.

Reflecting on that period, Wilde admitted the relentless focus on the surrounding drama came at the film’s expense.

“I think it did hurt the film for sure because we didn’t get to have the conversations about what the film was trying to say,” she explained, adding that it was especially frustrating considering the challenges of making the movie during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wilde Calls The Experience A ‘Tornado From The Inside’

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For Olivia Wilde, one of the hardest parts was watching years of creative work become secondary to internet discourse. 

She pointed out that “Don’t Worry Darling” was produced on a relatively modest $30 million budget but achieved a much grander visual scale thanks to the work of cinematographer Matty Libatique and production designer Katie Byron.

“But we never got to talk about that, so I think it hurt the film,” she said.

The experience also reshaped how Wilde views fame and online culture. Looking back, the Hollywood star admitted she had underestimated how quickly social media narratives could consume both a project and the people behind it.

“It hurt me for sure, because I was so naive up until that point about the grinder, the garbage disposal that the internet can be,” the “Booksmart” actress shared.

Although the ordeal remains one of the most difficult periods of her career, Wilde says the passing years have helped her view it differently.

“So at this point, I have enough of a perspective on it and that allows me to experience it as a fascinating time,” she said, adding, “It is interesting to witness a tornado from the inside.”

Olivia Wilde Says ‘The Invite’ Has Been A Healing Return To The Spotlight

Returning to promote “The Invite” initially filled Wilde with uncertainty after everything that unfolded during the “Don’t Worry Darling” press tour. She admitted she questioned whether stepping back into another round of interviews would reopen old wounds.

Instead, the experience has reminded her what film promotion can feel like when the conversation stays centered on the work.

“Well, it’s interesting because this is my first time back into the press cycle since then and I did wonder, would this feel quite traumatising?” Wilde recalled.

Rather than revisiting tabloid headlines, she has found herself discussing the creative choices behind her latest project, something she says has been unexpectedly restorative.

“I find that the conversations around The Invite are so wonderfully interesting to me, and I’ve actually been allowed to have them,” she remarked, further sharing,  “So, it’s been actually kind of healing because I understand that it’s not always a garbage disposal.”

Wilde Says The Invite Helped Her Move Past The ‘Failure’ Of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

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Olivia Wilde had previously acknowledged that the mixed reception to “Don’t Worry Darling” ultimately gave her the confidence to take bigger creative risks with “The Invite.” 

While promoting her new A24 film, the movie star reflected on how watching her 2022 thriller earn a 38% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes forced her to let go of the fear of failure. 

“I believe in early failure,” Wilde told Variety in June, explaining that surviving a project so heavily criticized became unexpectedly freeing because it reminded her how subjective filmmaking can be.  

Rather than trying to chase expectations after the success of “Booksmart,” Wilde said she approached “The Invite” with a greater willingness to experiment, shooting the film sequentially over 21 days and embracing an intimate, character-driven story. 

Olivia Wilde Says Diane Keaton’s Influence Is ‘All Over’ ‘The Invite’

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Wilde paid an emotional tribute to Diane Keaton by dedicating “The Invite” to the Oscar-winning actress, whom she credits as one of the project’s biggest creative inspirations. 

Speaking at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, Wilde revealed that she had hoped Keaton, who died in October 2025, would have the chance to see the movie. 

“I really wanted to show this movie to Diane. I don’t think that there is an Invite without Diane Keaton because she’s in so many of the films that inspired this film,” Wilde told The Hollywood Reporter. 

She praised Keaton for portraying women who defied convention, adding that she was “the first actress I recognized to kind of represent a totally unique and complex woman.”

Wilde also recalled how Keaton personally encouraged her to direct and be fearless in her career. As a tribute, “The Invite” closes with a simple dedication reading, “For Diane.”

Druski recently changed up his look by trimming his beard, and now his fans think he resembles other celebrities. The comedian also went from a blonde fade back to his natural hair color, and his new transformation has the skreets talking.

RELATED: Play Too Much! Druski Has The Internet In Tears With New Clip From His Joe Jackson Skit (WATCH)

Druski Cuts His Beard And Loses Blonde Hair Color

The 31-year-old content creator took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday, July 19, and shared a picture of his new look.

The comedian chopped off a good portion of his beard, and he now sports a close-cut shave. Druski also got rid of the blonde dye in his hair and went back to his natural color, and he shared a selfie with text that read, “Nomore Blonde, Nomore Long Beard. End of an Era.”

Fans noted that the content creator looks “handsome” with a shorter beard.

Fans Say Druksi Looks Like Ice Cube

Roomies weighed in after Druski’s new look was shared on TSR‘s Instagram page, and most folks co-signed the funnyman’s new look. Several also noted that Druski looks like rapper Ice Cube, while some said Anthony Anderson.

User @papersack_tan wrote, “Let’s go he looks handsome!!. This now makes him look like a grown ass Black man. 👨🏽 🔥🔥🔥.”

@ashtonnotashley, “Lookin like Ice Cube 3rd cousin on his momma side 👋🏽.”

@khaliawho joked, “If Ice Cube and Anthony Anderson had a baby.”

User @lilseveno added, “Looking like Anthony Anderson 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.”

User @_lovely_keshhh_ agreed. “Look like ice cube son 😂.”

User @taydabaee_ replied, “He look like Chris brown a lil bit ain’t it 😭.”

At least one fan seemingly missed Druski’s blonde crown. @theamiyahdeshae wrote, “Idk the blonde was iconic.”

Druski Showed off His New Do At The FIFA World Cup Finals

The comedian attended the FIFA World Cup 2026 Finals between Argentina and Spain on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and he showed off his new look.

The content creator was seen in the Tequila Don Julio 1942 FIFA World Cup 2026 Suite at New York, New Jersey Stadium. There, Druski posed with New York Knicks point guard Jose Alvarado.

Embed from Getty Images

RELATED: Major Move! Chris Rock Gives Druski His Flowers After Hosting The BET Awards (VIDEO)

Spooky season isn’t for another two and a half months, but 2026 has already been a great year for horror. The story so far has revolved around Curry Barker and his box office breakout, Obsession, which earned wildly positive marks from critics and audiences alike and hauled in over $442 million globally on a reported budget of just $750,000. However, it’s been surrounded by stiff competition, including fellow YouTube sensation Kane Parsons‘ blockbuster Backrooms adaptation, the acclaimed 28 Years Later follow-up The Bone Temple from Nia DaCosta, and indie darling Damian McCarthy‘s Adam Scott-led hit Hokum, among others. Yet, there’s a new film that’s already frightening audiences well before it bows in October.

Other Mommy, from Host director Rob Savage, has been building up buzz ever since the official trailer debuted at CinemaCon back in April. More recently, however, viewers going to see Christopher Nolan‘s epic The Odyssey have been frightened to find the horrifying teaser attached ahead of the Matt Damon-led adventure. Based on the 2024 novel Incidents Around the House by Bird Box author Josh Malerman, the film is led by Jessica Chastain as Ursula, a mother in a troubled marriage that becomes infinitely worse when another entity makes its presence known. Her eight-year-old daughter, Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), confronts the being, whom she calls the titular “Other Mommy” because of her striking resemblance to Ursula. However, this mimic is no motherly figure, but an increasingly threatening presence that endangers the entire family.

The trailer has now arrived online, giving everyone a chance to see what audiences were so terrified by in theaters. It first introduces what appears to be Ursula, who is having a light-hearted discussion with Bela about the right things to eat after she catches her hiding ice cream behind her back. She seems like an ideal mother, showing a firm hand, but plenty of care for her daughter, until she starts saying some eerie things. Her full nightmarish nature is revealed when Ursula’s husband, Russ (Jay Duplass) comes home to find the creature in hiding and twisted into a form far less human. Chastain will have dual roles to play between the mother and the monster, also joining Dichen Lachman, Karen Allen, Sean Kaufman, Adam Silver, and Carrie Dimaculangan.

Rob Savage Hopes ‘Other Mommy’ Becomes an Iconic New Horror Villain

Atomic Monster and Blumhouse backed Other Mommy, with James Wan serving as a producer and Malerman joining Savage as an executive producer. The screenplay, meanwhile, came from Nathan Elston. For Savage, the appeal of the project came from the main monster herself, who not only plays into classic tropes of maternal horror and evil beings targeting and manipulating children, but becomes her own entity. In an interview with Collider’s Michael Zimmermann ahead of the trailer’s arrival, he expressed his hopes that, with Wan’s help, effects wizardry combined with the physicality of stunt performer Lucy Johnson, and the Oscar-winning Chastain’s performance, the Other Mommy enters the pantheon of horror greats.

“I think when I first got sent the book by Josh Malerman, who, I knew Birdbox and I knew his stuff. I was reading it, flipping the pages, and very early on, this Other Mommy character comes up, and I was always looking for a new, iconic horror villain. I feel like it’s very hard to make that hit. It’s very hard to make that connect and feel like there’s going to be a legacy to these characters. I mean, James is the king at doing this, especially in the Conjuring universe. But I read Other Mommy and I felt like there is an iconic horror villain that… And I was reading it. I was like, okay, well, if I can get people dressing up as Other Mommy next Halloween, that could be something really special. So that was the jumping-off point. And then to make that horror villain Jessica Chastain, it’s kind of a slam dunk.”

Wan, on the other hand, loved the idea of exploring the concept of an evil doppelgänger, but with extra layers. “It’s a movie about, like, the evil entity in this world is trying to befriend this little kid to try and kind of get into her world to take her over, whatever it is that she’s aiming to do, and I think that’s frightening,” he told Zimmermann. The true horror of Other Mommy comes not just from her appearance, but how the being learns and slowly blurs the line between itself and Ursula. Add in the perspective of a young child who relies so deeply on her mother, and it makes for something that the Insidious and Saw maestro finds deeply unsettling and unique among his filmography.

“Thats a very scary thing, and I don’t think I’ve ever made a movie yet where the evil demonic entity is actually like your mother, or at least looks like your mother in this case, and I feel like that’s what makes this effective is that you know it’s not a faceless monster out there that’s coming into your house that’s chasing you down with a hatchet or whatever. It’s not that. It’s one that wants to be someone that is beloved. That’s from your world, and I think that, from a psychological standpoint, makes for a very effective horror film.”

Other Mommy arrives in theaters on October 9. Check out the trailer in the player above.

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Release Date

October 9, 2026

Director

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Rob Savage

Writers

Josh Malerman, Nathan Elston

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Producers

James Wan

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Cast

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• 
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  Arabella Olivia Clark

  Bela

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  Hayley Spelman

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  Other Mommy

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  Carrie Dimaculangan

  Callie

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Steven McBee Jr. is not ready to dip his toe back into the dating pool just yet after his messy split from Allie Eklund earlier this year.

“I am not dating right now. I’m solely focused on my family, myself and, obviously, the businesses,” Steven, 33, exclusively told Us on Thursday, July 16, referring to his family’s McBee Farm & Cattle Co. company and their other ventures, including selling meat and tallow skincare.

The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys star noted that the rush to date after his breakup with Allie, 29, in April goes “back to that pressure that I feel with my family all settling down and starting their lives.”

While two of Steven’s younger brothers have found The One already, he told Us he’s trying not to compare himself to them. (Cole McBee is engaged to Kacie Adkison, with whom he shares daughter Blair. Jesse McBee is married to Alli McBee, and the couple share daughter Summer. The youngest brother, Brayden McBee, is single.)

“I don’t want that to persuade my timeline or affect my timeline. I think that’s a bad way to do a relationship,” Steven confessed. “Obviously, I think it contributed to the downfall of my last one.”

The McBee Farm & Cattle Co. CEO added, “I want to make sure I’m in a relationship on the right timeline and for the right reasons. And so for that, I’m just focused on myself, family and the businesses right now.”

Steven began dating Allie in fall 2025, which fans saw play out on season 3 of the Bravo series, airing now.

Just weeks into their relationship, Steven told his family that he wanted to propose to Allie, calling her The One.

During the Monday, July 20, episode of the show, which was filmed in November 2025, Steven told his mom, Kristi McBee, that he was trying to figure out how soon was too soon to ask Allie’s dad for her hand in marriage.

“I went into it with really high expectations. I was like, ‘I’m gonna go down there, and her family’s gonna love me. I’m gonna woo her family, and by the end of the week, I’ll be asking for her dad’s blessing to marry her,’” Steven told Us of meeting Allie’s family over Thanksgiving 2025. “I was head over heels, love drunk there.”

During the episode, Steven admitted that Allie’s family wasn’t as all-in on their relationship as he was, which took him aback.

“I went in with way too high of expectations,” he recalled to Us. “Her family ended up loving me. It just took a little bit longer than I expected, but I had some really, really high expectations.”

Steven shared on the episode that he had a list detailing the exact type of engagement ring Allie wanted in his phone. He confessed to Us that he got a little ahead of himself.

“No, I did not buy the ring,” he added. “There was a financial component to it. I was gonna have to save up for a little bit for that.”

Steven never had a chance to pop the question, as he and Allie broke up in April. Their split came after Steven publicly accused Allie of cheating on him at Stagecoach Music Festival, which she denied. (Steven later issued a public apology for his “cruel and degrading” messages about Allie and vowed to be “better.”)

While Steven is not currently focused on finding a new girlfriend, he told Us that he still has a “list” of what his dream girl looks like — both physically and mentally.

Related: Steven McBee Jr. Reveals When Dad Steve Sr. Will Be Released From Prison

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The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys stars are gearing up to welcome Steven “Steve” McBee Sr. home early amid his two-year prison stint, Us Weekly can exclusively confirm. “Thankfully, we’re down to less than two months now before he gets out,” Steve’s eldest son, Steven McBee Jr., exclusively told Us on Thursday, July 16, confirming that […]

“The list [has] definitely changed a little bit since last November,” he revealed. “And I will say that list was not, like, a hard set of rules that without a doubt, this is exactly what has to happen. It was more of a manifestation. Like, if I had my dream ideal situation, this is what it would be.”

Steven noted that he is no longer set on a blonde, saying, “The physical looks have changed. I’m open to any hair color.”

“As far as what I want to do with my wife and build a life together, not only on the personal side, but professionally, I want to work day in and day out with my wife,” he shared. “I think that is such a cool experience to say that hey, we built something from the ground up together. I still really want to do that.”

Allie, meanwhile, exclusively told Us earlier this month that cowboys aren’t off the table when it comes to who she wants to date next — despite her messy split from Steven.

“Whenever I was dating Steven, you know, I didn’t think that I was going to have first dates again. So, I’ve been wrapping my head around that,” she confessed.

Allie explained, “I really would prefer to date someone that’s been in my life before, is what I am thinking. [Someone] that I know has a proven track record of supporting me.”

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The influencer, who is from Texas, added that having a man who resides in her home state would be “amazing,” because she sees herself being there “long-term.”

“I would love to find someone in Texas, and a lot of Texas boys are cowboys. So they are not off the table for me. We’ll see,” Allie teased.

The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys airs on Bravo Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.

Anne Hathaway’s summer maternity looks are seriously inspiring my style, and I’m not even pregnant! The moment I saw her step out in a beachy crocheted cardigan, I knew I had to recreate the outfit. Luckily, I found this breezy sweater style on Amazon that mimics her look for under $30.

Let’s analyze how maternity wear has changed, shall we? Gone are the days of boxy, loose items that are designed to hide the fact that your body is growing a human. Women can (and should) wear anything, and it seems Hathaway believes that, too. That’s why I love seeing her rock clothing that anyone can wear, like this cardigan style.

Get the Kate Kasin Cropped Crochet Cardigan for $22 (was $27) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Hathaway looked like a vision when she stepped out in New York City wearing an all-white get up. Her cropped crocheted cardigan added dimension and a boho flair to her summery outfit. And honestly, the simple, thin layer added even more personality to her outfit, which is inspiring me to buy one for my collection.

Related: Nicole Kidman‘s Woven Sneakerinas Break Every Fashion Rule

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If you’re seeing Nicole Kidman‘s woven shoe style all over your feed, same. Whether you call it a sneakerina, ballet sneaker, ‘jazz shoe’ or anything in between, there’s no denying it appears expensive. We found Kidman’s luxe look hiding on Amazon! For the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, Kidman paired a cream-colored power suit with ballet […]

The beauty of this Kate Kasin lookalike is its intricacy. When you wear it, you won’t even feel the need to put on additional accessories because it makes a statement all on its own with the detailed floral knit. The slight warmth it provides also makes it ideal for chillier nights when temperature dips or when the air conditioner is turned on low at the office.

We’re partial to the white color because of Hathaway’s choice, however, shoppers are fans of every hue. One even owns the sweater in eight colors. “I wear it with everything; jeans, dress pants, skirts, dresses, sundresses, crops,” the reviewer wrote. “It is a perfect sweater to wear year round . . . the sweater is lightweight and it has a beautiful texture, almost a silky feel. It is my go-to wardrobe piece.”

One simple piece, like this Kate Kasin crochet cardigan can be a game changer for your wardrobe. Level up your summer layering today by adding it to your cart.

Get the Kate Kasin Cropped Crochet Cardigan for $22 (was $27) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Kate Kasin 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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Related: Reese Witherspoon‘s Dreamy White Blouse Look Instantly Elevates Denim

Sure, jeans pair well with basic tops, but on days when you’re looking for something a bit more elevated, Reese Witherspoon‘s outfit is the perfect source of inspiration. Her classy blouse style begs to be worn with denim, and we found a near-identical, expensive-looking design on Amazon, on sale for only $13! Witherspoon recently took to […]

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“Dutton Ranch,” one of the most recent spinoffs of Taylor Sheridan‘s “Yellowstone,” premiered in May 2025 with Ed Harris among the cast. However, while promoting his new Apple TV film, “The Dink,” Harris opened up about feeling misled about his role on the Paramount+ series and wanting to quit partway through filming.

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Harris attended the premiere for Apple TV’s “The Dink” on July 20. While on the red carpet, the legendary actor spoke to Variety’s Marc Malkin, and the topic of “Dutton Ranch” arose. He was first asked how many seasons of the show, which was created by Chad Feehan and Sheridan, he’d signed on for.

Harris confirmed that he’s contracted to film two seasons of the Paramount+ show. However, regarding how he initially felt about the series, he shared that “Midway through this first season,” he told his representation to “get me the f-ck out of here.” When asked why, the 75-year-old stated, “Because I didn’t feel I was being used.”

He went on, “I felt a little bit misled. Prior to signing on for it, I was talked to quite a bit about what the season was, and what my character was going to do — and that I was one of the four main characters.” Harris then said that it “wasn’t really the case” regarding his character being one of the main ones.  

Ed Harris Still Says The ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Is A Good Show

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The “Apollo 13” alum continued his interview with Variety by sharing what he told the production crew at “Dutton Ranch” about how he felt. According to the actor, “I said, ‘I’m feeling underused and inconsequential,’ and they kind of went, ‘Oh.’”

Regarding season two, Harris said, “I’m being told my character will have a little bit more to do [in Season 2]. I was just a little frustrated, to tell you the truth.” He also shared that filming for the second season will begin in February.

From there, he revealed his honest reaction to the show, calling it “pretty good” and saying he “felt fine” about his performance in it. Harris also called his character “relatively important to the story.” However, he admitted, “But the doing of it did not feel that way.

In revealing what “really p-ssed him off” about the show, Harris stated that he was told he’d need to sing in one of the episodes. However, the song was edited out of the scene.

‘Dutton Ranch’ Is A Blockbuster Hit

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Paramount+ debuted the first two episodes of “Dutton Ranch” on May 15 of this year. The series follows “Yellowstone” characters Beth Dutton, Rip Wheeler, and Carter. The show takes place roughly six months after the events of the “Yellowstone” finale.

Regarding viewership, according to Deadline, “Dutton Ranch” became the biggest series premiere in Paramount+ history, garnering 12.9 million eyeballs in its first seven days of release. Notably, the show also debuted on Paramount Network, with 1.9 million people tuning in when accounting for delayed viewing.

‘The Dink’ Arrives On Apple TV Soon

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Harris has multiple projects in various stages of development. His latest, sports-comedy film, ‘The Dink,’ is set to premiere on Apple TV on July 24 following its premiere event, where the beloved actor spoke about “Dutton Ranch.”

The film follows a down-on-his-luck tennis player, played by Jake Johnson, who begins playing pickleball in order to rehab an injury. Over the course of the film, Johnson’s character discovers a passion for the sport. The cast also includes Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, and more.

Ed Harris Previously Spoke About Not Retiring

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Harris has played over 100 roles throughout his decades-long career in Hollywood, and it seems the actor has no plans to slow down. In 2022, he spoke to Senior Planet and was asked if he had plans to retire.

Harris responded, “No, because I don’t know what else I would do with myself. I really do enjoy acting on stage and in front of the camera. After doing this for 40+ years, I don’t particularly enjoy trailer time, waiting to work.”

He then said, “So I actually just enjoy working; it still gives me a thrill. And I really love directing. I haven’t directed a film since ‘Appaloosa,’ which was, unfortunately, 15 years ago. But I’ve got a project to direct that I’ve been trying to get going and hopefully will in the next year or so.” 

In the 1990s, the sci-fi genre reached new heights. With the advent of CG-character technology, the tools available for filmmaking increased exponentially. The impossible was now possible, and ideas that were once non-viable in the feature film format were now able to be realized. Of course, technology is only a tool—it can get you so far, but it’s story and character that determine whether a film will stand the test of time. But master filmmakers like James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Luc Besson, and the Wachowskis seized upon these new opportunities and crafted sci-fi films that would endure for decades.

Of course, the advent of new technology also opened up a wealth of new thematic potential as well. The rise of the digital age gave way to fear of robot uprisings or computers taking over the world, and this resulted in terrific (and terrifying) stories that were relevant to a rapidly changing world. All in all, the ’90s were one of the best decades for sci-fi filmmaking, and in an effort to highlight some of the most memorable films from that period, Collider’s own Haleigh Foutch, Adam Chitwood, and Dave Trumbore have singled out 25 great examples. Behold, the best sci-fi films of the ’90s.

25

‘Screamers’ (1995)

Image via Triumph Films

Set against the backdrop of a Cold War on a nuclear war-ravaged planet, Screamers takes a grim and desolate view of the future, focusing on a planet full of soldiers from two sides of the same battle who have been abandoned by their government in the aftermath of war. On the planet Sirius 6B, commanding officer Joe Hendricksson (Peter Weller) sets out to seek peace with his combatants when he learns the truth that Earth has essentially left them for dead on their remote posts. But Sirius 6B is populated by “Screamers,” a form of man-made artificial intelligence weaponry, properly called an Autonomous Mobile Sword (AMS), that evolved beyond what man ever intended. As Hendricksson and his team set out across the wasteland, they face peril at every turn from the various, sometimes deceiving, forms the Screamers have evolved into, and director Christian DuGuary makes fine work of ratcheting up the tension, along with the dramatic stakes, as they make their way towards an uncertain alliance.

The underrated Screamers has some serious sci-fi pedigree, based on a short story by the great Philip K. Dick with a screenplay co-penned by Alien scribe Dan O’Bannon. It never quite lives up to that grand promise, but Screamers is a refreshingly serious-minded spin on what could have easily become a schlocky B-movie that delivers visceral, pulse-pounding thrills every time its titular murder-bots attack. —Haleigh Foutch

24

‘Escape from L.A.’ (1996)

Image via Paramount

Where Escape from New York was a precisely cut, stylish science fiction classic — politically subversive, serious-minded in its conception, and vibrantly inventive in its imagery — Escape from L.A. seems more purposefully cheeky and cheap. This isn’t to say that the second mission by Snake Pliskin (Kurt Russell) isn’t encoded with John Carpenter’s particular brand of leftist politics, but it’s delivered in a far more bombastic aesthetic, the dark greys and blues of the first film traded in for yellows, oranges, and reds. This is, in a sense, a reflection of the difference between the two cities, but also reflects the mythology of those cities. New York is thought of as a dangerous realm rife with killers, gangs, and violent thieves, whereas Los Angeles is the playground of the blowhards, the covert sadists, the con men, and the self-obsessed.

In a sense, this is a commentary on Carpenter’s arrival in the Hollywood system, far away from his early days as a cult genre filmmaker who had to do some hard-scrapping to get his meager budgets. In Escape from L.A., pitted against a cruel revolutionary who makes himself up like Che Guevara, Pliskin is a man with a name, a celebrity even, brawling and shooting his way out of an island of West Coast maniacs and derelicts, just trying to get a job done. —Chris Cabin

23

‘Stargate’ (1994)

Image via MGM

An early work of Roland Emmerich‘s, Stargate is a disaster film that laid the groundwork for the grand-scale sweeping popcorn movies that would come to define his career. The film takes place after the discovery of an extraterrestrial teleportation device that transports matter from Earth to a far-flung alien planet with a distinctly ancient Egyptian flavor. When James Spader‘s Egyptologist Daniel Jackson discovers how it works, he joins Kurt Russell’s military man Jack O’Neill through the portal with a team of soldiers to investigate the planet on the other side. Naturally, once they’re there, everything goes to hell as they come up against the tyrannical sun god Ra (Jaye Davidson).

Emmerich hadn’t yet fully defined his signature style, and it often feels like he’s borrowing moves from familiar playbooks, but the sum of Stargate‘s parts is something that feels wholly his. It can be far-fetched and ridiculous, but part of Emmerich’s greatness is his grandiosity, and the Spader/Russell team-up delivers on its promise of eccentric odd-couple chemistry. It’s a big, boisterous popcorn movie carried by a fantastic leading duo and the emerging outlandish sensibilities of its filmmaker. —Haleigh Foutch

22

‘Tank Girl’ (1995)

Image via MGM

Straight up, Tank Girl just isn’t for everybody. It’s cheeky camp to the utmost degree that essentially boils down to a series of strange vignettes and set-pieces that occasionally feel like someone built a film around a string of high-octane music videos. But it’s also fun as hell. A pure product of the MTV generation, the forgotten Tank Girl is like a highly concentrated dose of the alt-rock ’90s, with a pretty jammin’ soundtrack that includes Portishead, Bjork, Hole, Veruca Salt, and Bush.

Based on the comic of the same name by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin, Tank Girl stars Lori Petti as the titular smart-mouthed hellion, a flippant, fearless icon of zero-f**ks-given who squares off against the evil Power & Water Corporation in a desert landscape where water has become a commodity so valuable it’s worth killing for. It’s consummately silly, unapologetically so, but it’s made joyfully and without abandon, and if you’re of the right disposition, it’s an absolute delight. —Haleigh Foutch

21

‘The Faculty’ (1998)

Spun from familiar threads of classic sci-fi yarn, The Faculty is a teen movie through and through, but in the hands of director Robert Rodriguez and screenwriter Kevin Williamson, it’s got enough punchy zeal and reverence for the genre it’s playing in to make for a fun, if somewhat silly, pulpy pleasure in its own right. If you’ll allow me to be a bit reductive, The Faculty feels like The Breakfast Club by way of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a healthy dose of The Thing. The film pits a rag-tag group of teenagers against an alien invasion that turns the infected hosts into a conforming hive mind.

While The Faculty may deal in cliché characters on the surface level — the annoying cheerleader and her quarterback boyfriend, the twerpy smart kid, the slacker genius, the vaguely goth outsider, the too-pure Midwest transplant — it works because they’re all much more interesting than your standard trope fare. The teachers don’t get quite as much of a fair break, but with actors like Robert Patrick, Bebe Neuwirth, and Famke Janssen in the roles, they’re fabulously creepy as they fall one by one to the alien infestation. While teen movies are all too easy to deride, the virulent conformity narrative may have no more natural home than the halls of a high school, and Rodriguez largely steers clear of angst and apathy in favor of a campy, gleeful thrill-ride. —Haleigh Foutch

20

‘Event Horizon’ (1997)

Image via Paramount Pictures

There’s something about Event Horizon that is just downright unsettling and chilling. It’s a complete B-movie, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson of Resident Evil fame, but it also lands on a surprisingly effective tone that somehow wrings out a nightmarish sense of doom amidst the poor character decisions and indulgent flourishes. The story follows Sam Neill as Dr. William Weir, the designer of a groundbreaking space travel vehicle, who journeys into space with a team of military scientists to uncover the cause of a distress beacon. Weir’s great invention was a gravity drive that allows for rapid space travel by creating black holes that close the gap between points in spacetime. But, as always in any good horror sci-fi, that kind of defiance of nature reaps unholy rewards when an evil force consumes the ship, thrusting the rescue crew into the same terror that befell their predecessors.

There’s no doubt that Event Horizon cribs from superior films, and not in a way that feels like homage, but the sense of dread it conjures is a work all its own, punctuated by well-rendered moments of visceral gore and violence, all of it stemming from the natural middle ground where science fiction meets horror. —Haleigh Foutch

19

‘Gremlins 2: The New Batch’ (1990)

Image via Warner Bros.

Gremlins 2 is a damn delight that may even be better than the original Gremlins, and I will fight anyone who says differently. While the first film was firmly in the horror genre, for the sequel, director Joe Dante wanted to craft a darkly funny satire, and boy did he do just that.

The follow-up takes place in a massive skyscraper in New York City as corporate greed leads to the creation of a hodgepodge of Gremlins (this Key & Peele sketch apparently isn’t too far off). The result is a hilarious, twisted, colorful monster movie with nods to classic films throughout. I get that some may think Gremlins 2 is cheesy or dopey, but Dante was purposefully leaning into the ridiculousness of the conceit, and his willingness to get crazier and crazier as the film rolls on is what makes Gremlins 2 such a joy to behold. —Adam Chitwood

18

‘Mars Attacks!’ (1996)

Image via Warner Bros.

If Tim Burton is often guilty of style over substance, Mars Attacks! is all style, no substance. The title is literally the plot of the film. Martians show up on Earth. Then they attack. That’s it. That’s the movie. It’s not bad; in fact, it’s pretty fun; it’s just not much. Fortunately, if style’s all you’ve got, Mars Attacks! has got it in spades. A doting spoof and homage to 1950s alien invasion pics, it’s pure B-movie schlock and surprisingly sadistic. As the Martians stage their no-prisoners invasion, Burton relishes finding new ways to dispatch and torment his earthlings, who are played by an impressive cast.

But this movie isn’t about the acting, and most of them end up with not much to do. The political satire is on-the-nose, and the plot… wait, just kidding, there isn’t really a plot, and without a narrative to hold things together, it’s the top-notch production value that ends up being the real star of the film. Spectacle isn’t enough to be great, but in this case, it’s enough to be good enough thanks to how Burton lovingly harkens back to the films that so obviously influenced him as a budding filmmaker. — Haleigh Foutch

17

‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’ (1991)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Nicholas Meyer just gets what makes Star Trek tick. The filmmaker behind what’s almost universally considered the greatest Star Trek movie of all time, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, returned to helm another standout installment with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The film is essentially a sci-fi murder mystery set against the backdrop of racial tensions and the threat of war that finds Captain Kirk and McCoy wrongfully charged and imprisoned for the murder of the Klingon High Chancellor, while the rest of the Enterprise’s crew rally to rescue them.

It’s a fine send-off for Star Trek‘s original crew, a philosophical and introspective exploration of the series resonant deeper themes that always respects the characters while still delivering the sci-fi spectacle with outstanding effects and clever gadgetry. The Undiscovered Country can feel bloated in parts, but it never overstays its welcome as a well-crafted vehicle for the beloved Enterprise crew and their iconic cast of characters —Haleigh Foutch

16

‘Independence Day’ (1996)

Image via 20th Century Studios