Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most influential and beloved animators in the entire world. He began his career by sketching airplanes, then co-founded Studio Ghibli alongside Isao Takahata, director of the heartbreaking Grave of the Fireflies, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. Miyazaki’s films have often been heralded as the best of Ghibli’s lineup, and though he has tried to retire several times over the years, a new idea always pulls him back into the game.

The majority of Miyazaki’s films are fantasy stories, though they often contain heavy science fiction themes and iconography as well. Aside from their gorgeous animation, his films are beloved for their environmentalist messages, strong characters who almost never fall into simple good or evil binaries, and his endless creativity, which results in all manner of one-of-a-kind locations and creatures. Every Miyazaki fantasy movie is great, but some are undoubtedly better than others: the question is, which is the best?

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‘Ponyo’ (2008)

Image via Toho

Brunhilda (Yuuri Nara/Noah Cyrus) is a goldfish-like creature and eldest daughter of the wizard Fujimoto (George Tokoro/Liam Neeson) and the sea spirit Gran Mamare (Yūki Amami/Cate Blanchett). One day, she ends up stranded on land, but is rescued by a little boy named Sōsuke (Hiroki Doi/Frankie Jonas), who calls her Ponyo. Fujimoto retrieves his daughter, but thanks to tasting Sōsuke’s blood when she healed a cut on his hand, she is able to take human form, an act which threatens to throw off the balance of nature and flood the world.

Ponyo is by far Miyazaki’s lowest-stakes film, emphasized by the fact that the protagonists are small children. That doesn’t make it bad by any stretch of the imagination: Miyazaki still goes all out with the animation and the fantastical imagery, especially with how the magical imbalance starts to transform the ocean. Plus, Ponyo and Sōsuke have a very sweet bond, which results in a cute love story.

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‘Porco Rosso’ (1992)

Image via Studio Ghibli

Marco Pagot (Shūichirō Moriyama/Michael Keaton) is a bounty hunter living in Fascist Italy who is plagued by survivor’s guilt following the loss of his squadron in World War I. Somehow, he received a curse that transformed his head into a pig’s, so now he goes by Porco Rosso as he pursues pirates in the open sky. However, the pirates recruit American ace pilot Donald Curtis (Akio Ōtsuka/Cary Elwes) to deal with Porco, leading him to team up with Fio (Akemi Okamura/Kimberly Williams-Paisley), the granddaughter of his old mechanic.

Porco Rosso is the least fantastical of the films on this list, but the way it uses its fantasy elements is creative and thematic. Porco’s pig-head is implied at times to be a self-inflicted curse that reflects how he views himself, allowing others to occasionally glimpse his real self at key moments. Visually, it’s as gorgeous as you’d expect a Ghibli film to be, and the flight scenes might be the best in any of their movies.

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‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)

Image via Studio Ghibli

Sophie’s (Chieko Baisho/Emily Mortimer and Jean Simmons) life changes forever when she has a chance encounter with a wizard named Howl (Takuya Kimura/Christian Bale), which prompts the Witch of the Waste (Akihiro Miwa/Lauren Bacall), who desires Howl for herself, to curse her. Now transformed into an old woman, Sophie heads into the countryside, where she befriends a living scarecrow named Turnip Head before finding Howl’s moving castle, where she gets a job as a cleaning lady. As she learns more about Howl and his relationship with a fire demon named Calcifer (Tatsuya Gashūin/Billy Crystal) who powers the castle, her nation soon finds itself at war, and Howl puts his life on the line to try and stop it.

Howl’s Moving Castle is based on the book of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones, but Miyazaki changed the story based on his disgust at the Iraq War. Accordingly, one of the major themes of the film is the horrors of war, demonstrated through beautifully detailed scenes of cities burning and airships crashing to the ground. It’s not all about war, however: Sophie’s story sees her go on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, which is demonstrated through her shifting age based on how much she believes in herself.

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‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ (1989)

Image via Studio Ghibli

Adolescent witch Kiki (Minami Takayama/Kirsten Dunst) leaves home on her mother’s broomstick with her familiar spirit, Jiji (Rei Sakuma/Phil Hartman), for the town of Koriko. Upon arriving, she befriends an aviation enthusiast named Tombo (Kappei Yamaguchi/Matthew Lawrence) and gets room and board from a baking couple named Osono (Keiko Toda/Tress MacNeille) and Fukuo (Koichi Yamadera/John Hostetter). As Kiki tries to find her way forward in life, she decides to put her powers to good use by opening a delivery service.

Kiki’s Delivery Service was the first Ghibli film to be dubbed by Disney, and there’s something magnetic about it that keeps audiences coming back for more. Kiki’s struggles are, at their core, universal for anyone coming-of-age, such as the stresses of moving away from home and trying to get a job. It also helps that the movie has a fun, casual tone to it that allows you to get immersed in the characters, their dynamics, and their struggles.

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‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988)

Image via Studio Ghibli

With their mother, Yasuko (Sumi Shimamoto/Lea Salonga), recovering in the hospital, sisters Satsuki (Noriko Hidaka/Dakota Fanning) and Mei Kusakabe (Chika Sakamoto/Elle Fanning) move with their father, Tatsuo (Shigesato Itoi/Tim Daly), to a countryside house. They soon discover that the nearby forest is full of numerous spirits, from dust spirits to aspects of nature and a cat that acts as a bus. The one they grow closest to is a big, rotund, friendly creature known as Totoro (Hitoshi Takagi/Frank Welker), who takes them on many adventures.

My Neighbor Totoro is the movie that made Studio Ghibli a global name, and Totoro himself has since become the company’s mascot. The film is a beautiful snapshot of childhood, namely the innocence and wonder that comes from going on adventures in one’s backyard and encountering new experiences for the first time. The girl’s interactions with Totoro and the spirits can also be seen as an allegory for how humans tend to use fantasy as a means of coping with difficult moments in our lives.

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‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’ (1984)

Image via Toei Company

One thousand years after an apocalyptic war, humans try to rebuild around the Toxic Jungle, a poisonous forest inhabited by gigantic insects, including gigantic near-sentient insects called Ohm. Princess Nausicaä (Sumi Shimamoto/Alison Lohman) from the Valley of the Wind regularly ventures into the jungle to study it and hopes to find a way for humans and the insects to live in harmony. Unfortunately, her plans are jeopardized when soldiers from the militaristic Empire of Tolmekia arrive, bringing with them their war with another nation called Pejite.

Unlike the other members of this list, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind came from Topcraft, the company whose collapse birthed Studio Ghibli, and which worked on several other fantasy films, like The Last Unicorn and The Flight of Dragons. The story is one of Miyazaki’s making, so it’s no surprise that it also contains some of the strongest depictions of his common themes, especially the environmental message and female protagonist. Speaking of, Nausicaä herself is a terrific character thanks to her bravery, kindness, and how much she is willing to sacrifice in the name of peaceful coexistence.

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‘Castle in the Sky’ (1986)

Image via Toei Company

Pazu (Mayumi Tanaka/James Van Der Beek) is a young, orphaned mechanic who is obsessed with the legend of Laputa, a floating castle said to be built by an ancient civilization. One day, he sees a girl named Sheeta (Keiko Yokozawa/Debi Derryberry and Anna Paquin) fall out of the sky, but is saved by a magical crystal she wears. Pazu learns that the crystal is linked to Laputa somehow, but they’re forced to go on the run from sky pirates and a government agent named Muska (Minori Terada/Mark Hamill), who want to find Laputa for their own reasons.

Castle in the Sky incorporates a lot of sci-fi elements into its story and worldbuilding, which leads to some of the most iconic of Miyazaki’s environmentally conscious imagery as nature and technology merge. The rest of the story is a fantastic adventure, with lots of mystery and exploration as the characters, and thus the audience, get to experience this unique world of steampunk airships and magic crystals. The characters are all fun, but the antagonists stand out the best: Muska is a mysterious man with grand ambitions, while the sky pirates are a beautifully dysfunctional family.

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‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)

Image via Studio Ghibli

After losing his mother in a firebombing during World War II, Mahito’s (Soma Santoki/Luca Padovan) father, Shoichi (Takuya Kimura/Christian Bale), marries his dead wife’s sister, Natsuko (Yoshino Kimura/Gemma Chan), and moves them to her estate while he establishes an air munitions factory. Soon after arriving, Mahito encounters a strange grey heron (Masaki Suda/Robert Pattinson) who claims it can help him see his mother again. This leads Mahito into a sealed tower built by his mysterious granduncle (Shōhei Hino/Mark Hamill), which leads to fantastical discoveries regarding the family’s past.

The Boy and the Heron plays out like a lucid dream at times, especially in the third act. This ethereal aesthetic is a great way to explore the film’s primary themes concerning grief and legacy: the first half is much quieter and somber to better reflect Mahito’s isolation due to his grief, while the second half is more vibrant and ambiguous, which becomes even more fascinating when it’s explained where these more fantastical elements come from and why they are here. The voice cast in both Japanese and English is fantastic, but Pattinson stands out the most in the dub because he is unrecognizable as the heron.

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‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

Image via Toho

Prince Ashitaka (Yōji Matsuda/Billy Crudup) of the Emishi slays a demon that used to be a boar god named Nago (Makoto Satō/John DiMaggio), but is given a fatal curse in the process. He follows Nago’s trail and arrives at Irontown, a mining colony built next to a forest inhabited by animal gods. The two groups are on the verge of war, and as Ashitaka does what he can to keep things from escalating, he meets a woman named San (Yuriko Ishida/Claire Danes) who was raised by the wolf gods.

Princess Mononoke is perhaps the best movie to showcase Miyazaki’s common themes. The conflict in the film is handled brilliantly: rather than go the easy route and say nature good, civilization bad, the film shows how both sides have their positive and negative traits, making them feel like two groups of individuals just struggling to survive in an ever-changing world. Speaking of the world, this movie is some of the most beautiful animation to come from Studio Ghibli, with gorgeous landscapes that look like photographs at times, and creative visual depictions of life and death.

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‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Image via Studio Ghibli

While moving to their new home, Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi/Daveigh Chase) and her parents find an abandoned carnival that serves as a gateway to the spirit world. Her parents are turned into pigs, but Chihiro is aided by a strange boy named Haku (Miyu Irino/Jason Marsden), who helps her get a job at the local bathhouse run by the witch Yubaba (Mari Natsuki/Suzanne Pleshette). Chihiro is safe while she tries to find a way to free her parents, but Yubaba further complicates things by taking Chihiro’s name as part of the contract, renaming her Sen.

It can be hard to put into words just how magical an experience Spirited Away is. The spirit world is a masterfully constructed world inhabited by all manner of creatures, many of whom have deep symbolic meaning behind their design and actions, as is the case with the mysterious No Face (Akio Nakamura/Bob Bergan). It’s the kind of film that knows when to let the atmosphere tell the story rather than dialogue, leading to many soft, introspective moments that facilitate Chihiro’s coming-of-age journey, and allowing audiences to bask in the lush, detailed animation.

Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo & Morgan Seymour are addressing the “enhanced” audio of them calling for Sea Tow assistance from Horn Island on July 4, and claims they were screaming about Nolan Wells being dead.

RELATED: Bart Edmiston Jr.’s Lawyer Says “Enhanced” Dispatch Audio Is “Doctored,” As Ben Crump Reportedly Reacts To Warren Hudson’s Dad Planning To Sue

Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo & Morgan Seymour Address “Enhanced” Sea Tow Dispatch Audio Amid Nolan Wells Investigation

Part two of Officer Tatum’s sitdown with Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, and Morgan Seymour was released via YouTube on the evening of Tuesday, August 11. As the conversation commenced, Tatum asked the teens to share their thoughts on the now-viral “ehanced” audio of them calling for sea-tow assistance on July 4.

In response, Pitalo referenced a now-released video clip of the group on the boat allegedly as Hudson made the call.

“Wouldn’t you think that you would’ve seen Nolan on the bottom — on the floor, something or scrambling around or everybody in a small space on the boat looking at him or something? It’s just so crazy to think that — why would we call sea-tow if we have a dead body on the boat?” he said. “Why would we call the Coast Guard? I mean, why would we do the things we did if we know we killed somebody?”

RELATED: Dr. Umar Says Ben Crump & Rev. Al Sharpton’s Approach To Investigation Into Death Of Nolan Wells Has Been “Too Soft” (VIDEO)

Additionally, Pitalo asked, “Why aren’t we in jail yet? I mean, we’re not geniuses. There’s no way we could’ve done a murder. There’s no way we could have covered it up, especially out there with that many people.”

The Trio Address Claims They Were Screaming About Nolan Wells Being Dead On “Enhanced” Sea Tow Dispatch Audio

At that point, Hudson jumped in and explained that he thinks “people, regardless of who it is, are going to believe what they want to hear.”

“I think some of these people, you can’t convince, regardless. They’re going to believe what they want to believe. If they want to believe that my friends and I had something to do with Nolan dying then they’re going to believe that regardless of what you put out,” Hudson said. “…It is [inaudible] clear that Nolan was not on the boat with us. You can almost see down into the deck… and… everybody is completely casual…”

Furthermore, Hudson said the audio that went viral was “completely enhanced.” Additionally, he said “people just want to hear what they want to hear.”

“You don’t hear about the pool party. Because it was on June 27th… Thousands of lies. Now, oh the audio comes back and now you can hear Nolan in the background [and us] screaming about how he’s dead? That’s just a complete lie. And it’s another lie to push this narrative… it’s insane,” Hudson added.

Ultimately, the group maintained their innocence alongside their lawyer, Edward Paltzik.

Watch the full part-two sitdown below.

Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo & Morgan Seymour Shared Their Regret About Going Out On July 4th

As The Shade Room previously reported, in part one of the interview, the trio explained how their lives have been “flipped upside down.” Specifically, they noted that they’re not able to frequent locations like they used to due to infamous recognition and potential altercations. Hudson noted that their heads are “always on a swivel.”

Additionally, the group shared their regret about going out on July 4.

“I wish we would have never went out on the Fourth of July because I know this wouldn’t have happened. Nolan wouldn’t be gone. It’s just really hard to think about,” Hudson said in part.

RELATED: Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo & Morgan Seymour Share Regret Following Passing Of Nolan Wells: “Wish We Would Have Never Went Out”

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently making box office history, as huge records continue to fall. In its first few days, the return of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker earned the biggest opening weekend in domestic history, which was then followed by multiple records across the next few days. In its recent second weekend — the third-biggest of all time, behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Avengers: Endgame — it is making a strong bid to perhaps even rise to the very top of the all-time box office ranks.

Much has been made of the 2026 box office, with many calling it the best year post-COVID. The summer box office has even crossed the $4 billion mark, only the second time this threshold has been met since the pandemic, with 2023 and the phenomenon that was Barbenheimer being the other year. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, with some notable titles struggling against tough competition. One such film is Mortal Kombat II, which lost more than 50% of its audience each weekend following a strong opening, eventually tapping out with just $129 million worldwide against a reported budget of $80 million.

The second adaptation of the classic fighting game from NetherRealm Studios comes following a streak of strong box office performances for video game adaptations. Sadly, Mortal Kombat II missed its mark, no doubt thanks to going head-to-head with Antoine Fuqua’s first-ever billion-dollar biopic, Michael, the horror sensation Obsession, and more in theaters. Sadly for those who love this franchise, it seems as if this poor performance is throwing its future into doubt.

In a recent interview, Simon McQuoid, who directed both the first and second films, admitted that he wasn’t sure if he would return to helm a potential third film, saying, “I think it’s still going through its life cycle,” additionally offering a disappointing update on the status of another entry, saying, “So, I don’t know yet. I’m not sure.”

Who Starred in ‘Mortal Kombat II’?

Mortal Kombat II most notably saw Karl Urban join as the beloved Johnny Cage, with this being Urban’s first notable role following the end of his Prime Video superhero series The Boys, although the two did cross over for a couple of weeks. Adeline Rudolph (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Jessica McNamee (The Meg), and Josh Lawson (Anchorman 2) also starred, with the film currently available to stream on HBO Max for those who missed out when it was in theaters.

Stay tuned to Collider for more stories.

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Release Date

May 8, 2026

Runtime

116 Minutes

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Abby Lee Miller remains one of the most revered names in reality television thanks to her eight seasons on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms.” Now, years after the show ended its run, she maintains a contentious relationship with several former contestants and their mothers, and recently made harsh comments about those she deemed ungrateful.

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Miller appeared on KTLA in August 2026. During the interview, she was asked whether there was anything she’d like to say to the former “Dance Moms” stars with whom she no longer maintains contact. The 60-year-old responded, “Yeah, I think they’re just very ungrateful. I think the girls themselves, [have said it’s] toxic the show and their memories, this that and the other thing and all their therapy — whatever.”

After that, she stated that the series played a significant part in the success of many of its former stars. According to her, “They would not be where they are today without the show. Someone should learn to say thank you.”

She then doubled down, claiming, “I don’t even think they would be where they are without me,” adding, “Forget the TV show.”

The Former ‘Dance Moms’ Star Highlighted Her Success Stories

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Miller continued sharing her honest opinion of the former students of her dance studio whom she considered ungrateful, highlighting the many who have achieved success and value the lessons she taught them.

She said, “I have a lot of successful students. I have a kid on Broadway, another director-producer-choreographer on Broadway. I have kids that are out there working in the industry constantly. They got their education at the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are grateful, and they are proud.”

Miller went on, “If their parents would’ve sent them to any other studio in town, they would not be where they are today. I don’t think the girls have really put that together yet. Maybe someday they will.”

The Hit Lifetime Series Ended In 2019

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“Dance Moms” premiered in July 2011, with the show following Miller instructing a group of young dancers and navigating the often challenging relationships with their respective mothers. In total, the series ran for eight seasons before ending in September 2019, with 224 episodes.

Years later, in May 2024, Lifetime aired a two-hour reunion special featuring some of the most notable names from the series. Some included Jojo Siwa, Brooke Hyland, Chloe Lukasiak, and Paige Hyland. Notably, Miller was not present for the reunion.

In the same month, Miller appeared on the “Just B” podcast, stating that she believes she wasn’t invited to the reunion because the girls couldn’t “face” her. She also said, “They know they would never be where they are today if it wasn’t for the show.”

In defense of her studio, Miller added, “(Kelly Hyland) left, got married, had kids, brought them to my studio at 2 years old, and stayed until the show started. So my point is, if this was so toxic for all these kids, why did they come back at 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and 7?”

She went on, “The kids came back. There were other studios in town. Mine was the best.”

Former Cast Member Nia Sioux Spoke Against Abby Miller And The Show

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Former “Dance Moms” contestant Nia Sioux published a memoir, “Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life,” in 2025. In it, she spoke openly about her experiences on the show, including what she considered to be problematic behavior from Miller.

Regarding the book’s title, she told PEOPLE that it came because “a lot of people knew me for being at the bottom of the pyramid week after week.”

Sioux added, “I felt like my story wasn’t told the way it should have been told, and what better way to reclaim that title and turn it into a positive than naming my book ‘Bottom of the Pyramid?’” Regarding her experience with the show, Sioux felt that she was often “ostracized for not fitting into an aesthetic that wasn’t designed for girls like her.”

She also shared that being the only black dancer on the series “had lasting effects.’ The author continued, “That is something that is part of my story and my journey. A lot of girls of color have been through these sorts of experiences. It’s important to share diverse stories and stories from people of color, especially when it comes to talking about racism and being the token Black girl.”

Abby Lee Miller Remains Very Active In The Dance Community

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The Abby Lee Dance Company is still in operation, although its former Pittsburgh location has been sold. Nowadays, Miller operates out of a studio in Los Angeles and teaches various online courses.

Additionally, she hosts the “Leave It On The Dance Floor” podcast and has a live event scheduled for August 23 in Long Island, New York, at the CM Performing Arts Center.

The legal war between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is now creating fallout beyond the actors themselves. 

A showbiz reporter who found himself pulled into the increasingly bitter dispute after his private messages became part of the court record is now suing his former employer. 

James Vituscka claims the Daily Mail retaliated against him after his involvement in the case, while the newspaper strongly rejects his account. His lawsuit adds an unexpected workplace battle to an already sprawling Hollywood feud.

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James Vituscka was covering the “It Ends With Us” controversy as a senior U.S. entertainment reporter when his conversations with people on both sides of the dispute unexpectedly placed him inside the legal battle. 

According to his court documents obtained by Page Six, Blake Lively’s longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, told him in August 2024 that Baldoni was the source of tension on the film’s set, but Vituscka says she did not tell him that Baldoni had sexually harassed or assaulted Lively.

After the “Gossip Girl” actress filed a sexual-harassment complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, Vituscka says he contacted the director’s crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, about the apparent discrepancy. 

During the exchange, he accidentally used the words “sexually assaulted” rather than “sexually harassed,” but maintains that he subsequently clarified that Sloane had never told him anything about sexual harassment.

Those messages eventually appeared in Baldoni’s legal filings, thrusting Vituscka into the middle of the dispute. 

He claims his comments were selectively quoted and stripped of context, after which he was subpoenaed for documents and testimony.

Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni’s Fight Creates A New Workplace Dispute

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Vituscka’s involvement allegedly became a problem not only in court but also at the Daily Mail. His lawsuit claims that the subpoena triggered a disagreement with the newspaper over how he should respond, eventually leading to changes in the way his work was supervised.

He alleges the newspaper discouraged him from obtaining his own lawyer and instead “pressured” him to sign a declaration containing language he was uncomfortable with, including a statement that he “regretted” the actions that led to his involvement. 

Vituscka claims the treatment ultimately resulted in his termination in June 2025. His lawsuit, filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court, accuses the Daily Mail of whistleblower retaliation, sex and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, interference with protected rights and wrongful termination. 

He is seeking damages that include lost wages, emotional-distress damages and punitive damages. The complaint had not yet been reviewed by the County Clerk at the time of publication. 

Lively’s Court Fight Sparks A Fierce Response From The Daily Mail

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The Daily Mail has categorically denied Vituscka’s allegations and rejected his description of how the declaration came about. 

In a statement to Page Six, the newspaper called his lawsuit “an inaccurate account of the circumstances surrounding the declaration he signed in connection with the Lively-Baldoni litigation.”

The outlet specifically disputed the claim that Vituscka was pressured into signing something he believed was untrue. 

“At no point did Daily Mail pressure James to sign a declaration he believed to be untrue,” the newspaper said, adding, “In fact, the declaration he signed was consistent with what he had already told senior management after the Baldoni complaint first came to our attention.”

The Daily Mail also defended its expectations of its journalists, saying, “As a trusted news organization, we expect our journalists to act with honesty and integrity, and we rely upon that important expectation.”

The newspaper went further, rejecting Vituscka’s characterization of himself as a whistleblower who suffered retaliation or discrimination. 

It said his “claims that he is a ‘whistleblower’ who suffered ‘retaliation,’ ‘harassment,’ ‘discrimination’ or other unlawful treatment are entirely meritless and unsupported by the facts, and we are confident they will be soundly dismissed.”

The dispute therefore leaves Vituscka fighting a separate legal battle over what happened after his reporting became entangled with the Blake Lively and Baldoni litigation.

Lively Faces New Deposition Fight Over Legal Fees

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The fallout surrounding Blake Lively’s legal battle has continued to spread into new corners, with another dispute now putting the actress back in the middle of a court fight. 

A few days ago, TMZ reported that Jed Wallace, the Texas-based PR consultant who worked with Justin Baldoni’s team during his legal battle with Lively, was seeking another opportunity to question her under oath. 

The request came as Lively pursued legal fees tied to the litigation, creating a fresh dispute even after Wallace’s own case against her was dismissed. 

Lively’s attorneys strongly opposed the request, arguing that Wallace had already had his opportunity to depose her. 

They characterized the move as “another desperate, meritless attempt by Wallace to go after Ms. Lively,” according to a statement to the outlet. 

Wallace’s request concerned questions surrounding Lively’s bid to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and costs from him. His attorneys argued that they needed additional information before the money could be released. 

Blake Lively Seeks Nearly $8 Million In Legal Fees

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The dispute over Lively’s legal costs stemmed from a much larger financial request she made after her litigation with Justin Baldoni moved toward a settlement. 

In June, The Blast stated that Lively asked a federal judge to award her approximately $8 million to cover legal fees and expenses connected to Baldoni’s now-dismissed lawsuit against her. 

Her filing sought about $7.5 million in attorneys’ fees, along with roughly $540,000 in additional costs. Those expenses included legal research, travel and meals accumulated during the lengthy litigation. 

Lively’s attorneys also disclosed that lead lawyer Michael Gottlieb billed $2,187 per hour while working on the case, below his standard rate of $2,350. 

The request followed the dismissal of Baldoni’s lawsuit in June 2025 and the eventual resolution of the remaining litigation in 2026.

2026 has been a huge year for Anne Hathaway, and things are only going to get busier in the second half of the year with several new projects on the way. After starring in A24’s Mother Mary from writer/director David Lowery, Hathaway reprised her role as Andy in The Devil Wears Prada 2, which grossed nearly $700 million at the global box office. For most stars, this would be their highest-grossing movie of the year, but Hathaway reunited with director Christopher Nolan for the $1 billion-grossing historical epic, The Odyssey, where she plays Penelope alongside Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus. Hathaway has contributed well over $1.5 billion to her career box office total this year, and her next film could push this close to $2 billion.

Hathaway stars alongside Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) in the new dinosaur movie, The End of Oak Street. Produced by J.J. Abrams, the film follows the Platt family, who band together to navigate their surroundings after a cosmic event moves their neighborhood into the middle of prehistoric danger. The first reviews for The End of Oak Street arrived today before the film premieres in theaters on Friday, and the film currently sits at 84% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This comes from 58 reviews, and it will likely change as more scores come in.

Collider’s Victoria Luxford gave the film an 8/10 in her review, praising the “fantastic action” and “storytelling” but criticizing the science, which requires viewers to “suspend their disbelief.” ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman wasn’t quite as high on the film, giving it a 7/10 in her review, even going as far as to call it a “worthy spiritual successor” to the Jurassic Park franchise. MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer called The End of Oak Street a “thrilling dino throwback to ‘80s Amblin” in his review, speaking quite highly of the Spielbergian sci-fi thriller.

When Does Anne Hathaway’s Next Movie Come Out?

After she stars in The End of Oak Street, Anne Hathaway is returning to the big screen one final time in 2026 for Verity. Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett also star in the romantic crime thriller, which is inspired by the book of the same name by Colleen Hoover. After It Ends With Us earned over $350 million at the box office, Verity can be considered a contender for massive box office success.

Check out The End of Oak Street in theaters everywhere this weekend and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the film.

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Release Date

August 14, 2026

Runtime

100 minutes

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Director

David Robert Mitchell

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Writers

David Robert Mitchell

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Chris Bender, J.J. Abrams, Tommy Harper, David Robert Mitchell, Jake Weiner, Matt Jackson, Joanne Lee

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A friend of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow has launched a fundraiser to support her and the couple’s nine-year-old daughter as she pursues approximately $1.27 million she claims she is owed following the actor’s death. Tenisha Warner recently filed legal actions in Georgia and California involving a prenuptial agreement and a family trust controlled by the late actor’s mother, Pamela Warner.

The filings were made one year after Malcolm-Jamal died at age 54 after being caught in a riptide while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica. Now, Tenisha’s longtime friend Destiny Rael says the widow is contending with legal expenses, damage to her home, and the financial responsibility of raising the couple’s only child alone.

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Rael, who said she introduced the couple, organized the GoFundMe campaign after witnessing Tenisha’s difficult first year without her husband. “I have been Tenisha Warner’s closest friend for 19 years. I am the one who first brought her and Malcolm Jamal Warner together, and I have been beside her through everything since his tragic passing,” the fundraiser reads.

It continued, “I am organizing this campaign because I have witnessed, up close, the depth of Tenisha’s grief and the weight she has had to carry, and because I know she would never ask for this kind of support herself, so I am asking on her behalf.”

At the time of the available report, the campaign had collected nearly $35,000 toward its $40,000 goal.

Tenisha Warner Is Also Rebuilding The Family Home

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Rael said Tenisha has continued homeschooling her daughter while privately coping with the loss. “Every single day she shows up for her child as though her own world had not fallen apart, and still makes sure breakfast is on the table,” she wrote, adding that Tenisha returned home following her husband’s death and discovered that the property had sustained damage from “unexpected flooding.”

“She is rebuilding not only her life without him, but the very home they created together,” the campaign states. “Every room holds their memories, with no space to truly mourn, because the demands have never paused: legal matters that began within weeks of Malcolm’s passing, financial weight carried alone, a house to put back together, and their daughter to care for every single day.”

Rael claimed Tenisha has already depleted resources and borrowed money from loved ones while addressing the mounting expenses.

The Actor’s Widow Seeks Approximately $1.27 Million

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Tenisha claims in her Georgia filing that she and Malcolm-Jamal entered into a prenuptial agreement on May 15, 2022. Under that agreement, she alleges, the actor consented to make her the sole beneficiary of a $1 million life insurance policy. Tenisha claims he did not purchase or maintain the policy before his death.

Her requested total also reportedly includes more than $50,000 in unpaid annual, tax-free marital payments; $30,500 that she says was supposed to be placed in a Roth IRA in her name; and approximately $195,000 in compensation for her work as Malcolm-Jamal’s chief of staff and assistant.

“Plaintiff performed all obligations required of her under the Agreement, including entering into and remaining in the marriage until the Decedent’s death,” Tenisha states in the Georgia filing. “The Decedent died without having satisfied his obligations under the Agreement, and no person or entity has paid or provided the sums due to Plaintiff.”

She is seeking to recover the money from a family trust established by Malcolm-Jamal in 1996 and controlled by his mother. Tenisha has also requested that the trust’s assets be preserved and not distributed while the litigation remains unresolved.

The Los Angeles petition names “The Warner Family Trust, dated October 7, 1996,” and says Tenisha is seeking “at least the total amount of $1,276,042.46 in addition to prejudgment and postjudgment interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Was Reportedly Updating His Estate Plan

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Tenisha addressed the litigation in a statement, explaining why she decided to take legal action after attempting to resolve the matter privately. “For the last year, I have attempted to privately settle my beloved husband’s complicated estate and honor his last wishes,” she said. “Malcolm had every intention to provide for our nine-year-old daughter [MacKenzie] and me.”

According to Tenisha, the existing estate plan was created long before the couple met or welcomed their daughter. “He was close to finalizing a new estate plan to replace the stale plan created in 1996 when he was 26 years old, 20 years before we met and well before we gave birth to our beautiful daughter,” she continued. “Sadly, he was unable to do so before we lost him.”

Tenisha said she has “been struggling to care for [her and Warner’s] daughter as a single mom and now as her sole provider,” adding that she “had no choice but to take action to protect our rights before any potential statute of limitations expired.”

Tenisha Warner Says There Is ‘No Moving On’ From The Loss

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The legal battle follows Tenisha’s first televised interview since her husband’s death, during which she spoke with Gayle King about the trauma of losing him.

“The moments of that day, they occupy my body so deeply, so it’s really hard for me to relive what all of that was and to think about it,” she shared. “It just breaks me in a way that makes it hard for me to stay steady… I can’t remember the details. I think [it’s because] my body went through shock.”

Tenisha described the tragedy as “the worst day of my life” and said her immediate focus was on their daughter. “All I can think about is my daughter, and what I needed to do to continue being her mother and be her only parent,” she explained.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Widow Says There Is ‘No Moving On’ From Her Loss

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Despite the painful memories attached to the family home, Tenisha said she does not want to leave it behind. “I can’t be in my own home without feeling the loss, but I can’t walk away,” she admitted.

She also expressed concern that public support may fade even though the loss remains a daily reality for her and her daughter. “The hardest thing about grief is that people move on, but for us, because we’re his wife and child, there’s no moving on,” Tenisha said. “There’s moving with and living with — he will always be a part of our every day and there’s not a moment … in my day that I’m not affected.”

Rael emphasized that the fundraiser is not intended to encourage the public to choose between members of Malcolm-Jamal’s family. “I am not asking anyone to take sides in a family matter that was never meant to be public,” she wrote. “I am asking you to stand with a grieving wife and mother, and her young daughter, so they don’t lose what Malcolm always intended to provide for them.”

Tasia Fortune‘s mother doesn’t believe that her daughter died by suicide. The 29-year-old was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi, earlier this month.

RELATED: Illinois Man Third Arrested For Alleged Threats As Mississippi Official Says Circulating Nolan Wells Toxicology Report Is “Fraudulent”

Tasia Fortune’s Mother Rejects Her Theory Her Daughter Hung Herself

The Shade Room previously reported that Tasia Fortune’s body was found on a vacant property on the 500 block of Road of Remembrance in Jackson, Mississippi. Her body was hanging from a tree in the backyard.

Her mother, Christy Spivey, told ABC News that she does not believe Tasia harmed herself.

“She did not do this to herself,” Spivey said. “I know my daughter, and she did not do this to herself.”

Cause Of Death Not Revealed

The State Medical Examiner’s Office reportedly conducted an autopsy on Tuesday, August 11. WLBT. However, the Jackson Police Department claims the Medical Examiner has not advised investigators of an official cause of death.

Additionally, the JPD Police advised the public to wait before drawing conclusions about Tasia’s cause of death. Questions about a Black woman being found hanging from a tree in a state with the racial history of Mississippi naturally drew suspicion from the community.

However, the JDP is asking that the community wait for the facts.

“Unverified information can cause additional pain for Ms. Fortune’s family, friends, and loved ones and can interfere with an accurate understanding of the facts,” JPD said.

The family of Tasia Fortune, the 29-year-old Mississippi woman found hanging from a tree, is speaking out as the investigation into her death continues. @ReporterFaith reports. pic.twitter.com/QIwJkqqcSS

— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 10, 2026

Man Arrested In And Interviewed By Police

A 65-year-old man named Terence Anderson was arrested in connection with the case on a firearm charge, and the police say he is a person of interest, according to WLBT. Per NBC News, Anderson and Tasia share a five-year-old son.

Anderson admitted to having an argument with Tasia, per WLBT. However, he denied having anything to do with her death. Furthermore, his brother, Tony Anderson, reportedly said the same, per NBC News.

Tasia’s mother said that although she doesn’t believe her daughter’s death was suicide, she also doesn’t believe it was racially motivated.

“In my heart, I feel like it’s not racially motivated,” said Spivey. “People are talking about, you know, hate and more violence, and I don’t want my daughter’s name to be affiliated with that. I want it to be affiliated with coming together and love and joy because she was the light of the room.”

Investigators are asking anyone with pertinent information related to the case to contact the JPD at 601-960-1800 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).

RELATED: Cincinnati Woman Reportedly Charged After Allegedly Making Bomb Threats To Mississippi Officials & Jackson County Officers Amid Nolan Wells Investigation

Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer are an unlikely duo in Prime Video’s Ride or Die. The hit action-comedy series premiered last month and quickly rose to #1 on the streaming charts. Now, Prime Video is celebrating its success, and Collider is proud to present an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette that takes a closer look at the series. Ride or Die centers around Debbie (Spencer), the mild-mannered wife of a British government official, and her best friend Judith (Waddingham), who’s secretly a deadly assassin…and who only kills bad guys, honest.

When one of Judith’s missions goes sideways, it becomes clear that some very dangerous people want both her and Debbie dead; Debbie, meanwhile, gets some shattering personal news that isn’t made any easier when she finds out the truth about Judith. The duo has to go on the run across Europe, with both an army of hitmen and the law vying to find them first. It also stars Ed Skrein, Calam Lynch, and Bill Nighy; it was created by Tessa Coates, and is showrun by Matt Miller (Peacemaker).

In our exclusive featurette, Miller explains that the show is about “second acts.” It’s unusual for two women in their fifties to headline a major TV series, and it’s especially unusual for that series to be an action comedy; the series makes full use of that. Debbie and Judith have been friends for two decades, and the series explores their past friendship and the new shape it’s taking, now that Debbie has to understand (and live in) the side of her friend’s life she never imagined. The featurette also features a highlight reel of the series’ most exhilarating action scenes and its most stunning European locations, ensuring that viewers will have almost as much fun as Debbie and Judith are. You can find out for yourself by subscribing to Prime Video, where Ride or Die is now streaming.

What Are the Critics Saying About ‘Ride or Die’?

Ride or Die currently holds a glowing 98% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the best-reviewed series debuts of the year. In her review, Collider’s Meredith Loftus says the series “delivers on both action thrills and heartwarming friendship.” In addition to the central duo, Loftus also praises the show’s supporting cast, whose characterizations are “richer than you’d expect, with their own unique backstories that intersect in interesting ways.”

Ride or Die is now streaming on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

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2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

Prime Video

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Showrunner

Matt Miller

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Directors

Peyton Reed, Lauren Wolkstein, DeMane Davis, Allison Liddi-Brown

Writers

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Tessa Coates

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