All movies are hard, and often expensive, to make, involving a lot of hard work and long hours from tremendously talented craftspeople and creative artists. That hard work and long hours are doubled for any movie that needs to create an entire world, whether that be another period or an entirely different realm. When it comes to creating those fictional worlds, it’s most often in service of stories of the fantasy genre, which take a tremendous amount of ambition to bring to life.

Even in the last 25 years, with massive advancements in visual effects technology, mounting a fantasy has become no less ambitious, as the movies have only grown bigger and more lavish. Some films have embraced that technology, while others have strived to avoid using it, and many of the most ambitious films attempt to find a balance between practical and digital. Groundbreaking CGI, lavish costumes, massive sets, grand locations and expansive casts are all part of what makes the following fantasy films the most ambitious of the last 25 years.

10

‘The Polar Express’ (2004)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Robert Zemeckis is known for his technical innovations. Films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Death Becomes Her, and Forrest Gump all featured pioneering uses of different visual effects technologies. In the 2000s, Zemeckis became particularly obsessed with motion capture technology, and he and his company, ImageMovers, decided to use it for his adaptation of the Chris Van Allsburg book The Polar Express, which was also the first to pioneer full facial performance capture.

While the results were uneven, with creepy-looking characters that looked like they crawled straight out of the Uncanny Valley, the film, at the very least, showed the potential of the technology. In hindsight, the story would have been better served as a live-action adaptation. There’s still plenty of beauty in some of the digitally rendered locations, and the titular train looks magnificent, but the dead-eyed children are hard to look at. The first guy through the wall always gets bloody, and Zemeckis took on a lot of hits for this film and his animated fantasy follow-ups.

9

‘Wicked’ (2024)

Image via Universal Pictures

Adapting the smash Broadway musical Wicked into a feature film took over a decade and the turnover of many creatives, but the result was a film that itself became a pop culture sensation. The first Wicked, which adapted the first half of the musical, as directed by Jon M. Chu, utilized both expansive digital effects and large-scale sets to bring its version of the land of Oz to the screen.

The effort is evident on the screen, continuing the grand musical tradition from the original The Wizard of Oz. The musical numbers are lavish, the performers are stellar, and the film manages to keep its energy up for most of its two-hour-plus runtime. Some of its darker themes of systemic oppression and corruption get a little lost under all the glitter and grandeur, but it still packs a punch in its climax. The sequel, Wicked: For Good, unsurprisingly wasn’t able to recapture that same magic, but still managed to become a box office hit and wrap up what was one of the biggest fantasy phenomena in movies in a long time.

8

‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)

Image via Warner Bros.

Adapting the beloved Harry Potter books to film was a daunting undertaking. Not only did Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone have to craft an entire Wizarding World, but it also had to find a cast who could capture the essence of the characters and carry on their roles for multiple sequels. The film did all that and managed to tell a compelling story that had many fans wishing they could be whisked off to Hogwarts themselves.

The importance of the casting of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson cannot be understated, and all three actors will remain synonymous with their roles for the rest of their lives. Director Chris Columbus gets a ton of chemistry out of the trio, despite their collective lack of acting experience, and they anchor the film, even in its silliest moments. The moments that matter most are all handled perfectly, though, from Harry getting his first wand to the introduction of Hogwarts. While later films would improve on and perfect the potion, the first film set the formula.

7

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ (2003)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Basing a movie on one of the most popular fantasy novels of all time definitely requires some brave ambition. Basing a movie on a decades-old theme park ride featuring pirates requires near-delusional levels. In the early 2000s, Disney was in another of its transitional periods, trying a lot of different things, but Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was a definite risk. Theme park ride movies had not been a success for Disney, and modern pirate movies had all universally bombed, including Disney’s own Treasure Planet from the year prior.

Johnny Depp was also not a known box office draw in the 2000s as well. Long before his movie star status and controversies, the actor was known for being a heartthrob who took on strange roles in films that were often unsuccessful at the box office. Director Gore Verbinski had only had one hit film as well, with the horror remake The Ring, but clearly had a creative energy that was ready to be unleashed. The first film in the Pirates franchise is a lot of swashbuckling fun, and has some supernatural tricks up its sleeve. It’s a genuine treasure in comparison to the cursed film it could have been.

6

​​​​​​​’The Green Knight’ (2021)

Image via A24

All the previous films on this list had plenty of ambition, but they also had plenty of money. Ambition and skill can only carry a film so far if it doesn’t have resources. It’s why so many modern epic fantasy films come with price tags consistently over $100 million. It’s also why The Green Knight, made for one-tenth of that, is such an impressive fantasy feat. Despite having a fraction of the budget, it still makes its hero’s journey feel suitably epic and fills it with fantastic imagery.

Retelling the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight, David Lowery‘s film examines its hero through a modern lens, but keeps a lot of its effects old-school. The film is a tribute to the practically made fantasy films of the ’80s, like Legend and Excalibur, and it has the same tactile quality. The Green Knight may not have gigantic battle sequences or effects-filled action sequences, but it’s no less imaginative or fully realized than films made on ten times its budget. It’s a minor masterpiece with major ambitions.

5

‘Mad God’ (2021)

Image via Shudder

Any stop-motion animated film is inherently ambitious. The painstaking medium takes excruciatingly long to properly accomplish and demands incredible patience. Stop-motion animation artists are some of the most underappreciated in Hollywood, and the films they’ve delivered all kinds of wonders and horrors over the decades. In the 21st century, there have been some very ambitious stop-motion fantasy films produced, from Corpse Bride to Kubo and the Two Strings. The upcoming Wildwood looks to be another visual feast of incredible handmade artistry as well, but in terms of sheer audacity and ambition, it’s going to be hard to beat Mad God.

A passion project of visual effects legend Phil Tippett, Mad God took 30 years to complete, with huge gaps in its production as Tippett would collaborate with different volunteer artists on weekends. The result is a dark fantasy nightmare that defies easy classification or description, but is a must-watch for any fan of the art form or the artist. Mad God is completely untethered from any standard narrative structure, unfolding as a true descent into hell. It’s definitely not for everyone, but it is a striking sight to behold and undeniably ambitious.

4

​​​​​​​’The Odyssey’ (2026)

The ambition of Christopher Nolan shouldn’t be taken for granted. Whatever failings he may have as a storyteller or filmmaker, being unambitious is not one of them. The director has been mounting epic films on an increasing scale for over a decade, transporting audiences into Gotham City, the dark reaches of outer space, and most recently into Homer‘s The Odyssey. While the discourse around Nolan’s fantasy epic began to overwhelm the film itself, it’s likely to find continued love for its epic scale.

From the production design, to the costumes, to the depiction of mythical beasts, there is a tactile quality to all of it. The film’s location shooting makes it feel practically gargantuan compared to other blockbusters shot on stages with green screens that can feel claustrophobic. The Odyssey features many visual effects, but they are meticulously designed and beautifully integrated. The best thing about a filmmaker like Nolan isn’t just that he’s able to make films on this scale, but that he commands enough power with studios to get the time and money for his crew of collaborators to accomplish them properly.

3

‘The Tale of Princess Kaguya’ (2013)

Image via Toho

Trying to compare the ambition and efforts of different animated mediums is a futile gesture. There is ambition in every animated film made, but there’s a special ambition in attempting something different. Movies that utilize the medium to create something that looks different than what mainstream audiences are accustomed to always risk rejection, even when coming from Studio Ghibli. While the storied animation studio is synonymous with director and co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, its creations extend beyond his masterpieces, including its most ambitious film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

Based on the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the film is animated in a style reminiscent of watercolor paintings, with textured brushstrokes and charcoal lines that maintain their minor imperfections. It’s an evocative art style that director Isao Takahata wanted to use to elicit an emotional response, and it does. It doesn’t conform, even to the expected style of its studio, and stands in stark artistic opposition to almost any other animated film of the last 25 years.

2

‘The Fall’ (2006)

Image via Roadside Attractions

Tarsem Singh‘s The Fall was, for a long time, the most ambitious fantasy that almost no one had seen. The film came and went without much promotion or a widespread release and quickly went out of print on physical media. It’s been brought back thanks to a restoration on streaming, allowing fantasy fans to properly witness its stunning visuals. The film was mostly self-funded by Singh, who shot it over four years in two dozen countries. Its ambition expands well beyond the edges of the frame, and it’s an overwhelming visual experience.

Presenting a fantasy story through the imagination of a child isn’t necessarily novel. Many films have made attempts to create wild fantasies that represent the unbound imagination of children, but often fall short or devolve into chaotic CGI. The Fall is vibrant, unbound to any one style, with a world that shifts as quickly as the mind of a child wanders. There were few films that looked as good as or better than The Fall before it, and there aren’t likely to be many more.

1

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’ (2001)

Image via New Line Cinema

Despite many attempts, no fantasy franchise has been able to capture the same level of epic achievement as The Lord of the Rings. The massive cinematic trilogy, adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien‘s seminal fantasy novels and shot back-to-back, was an incredibly ambitious undertaking. Peter Jackson had never directed a film close to the scale of a fantasy epic, never mind three, and the films became a behemoth production in New Zealand.

There are films that have had larger or longer productions, with just as many complexities as The Lord of the Rings, but none have been able to recapture the success of Jackson’s trilogy. Not even Jackson himself could replicate it with The Hobbit prequel trilogy. Back in 2001, audiences had never seen a fantasy epic as big as The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and now we often take them for granted. Regardless of their individual success, the ambition of filmmakers who make fantasy movies should always be celebrated.

Nashville and Heroes alum Hayden Panettiere has died.

A representative for the actress confirmed the news to Us the late hours of Sunday, August 16. She was 36 years old.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” the representative told Us in a statement. ABC News was first to report.

Details into Panettiere’s death were not immediately available.

Related: Hayden Panettiere Dons Late Brother Jansen’s Jacket at His Memorial

A heartfelt tribute. Hayden Panettiere honored her late brother, Jansen Panettiere, at his memorial service while wearing a jacket he designed. The Heroes alum, 33, joined friends and family at Palisades Presbyterian Church in New York on Wednesday, March 8, to pay their respects to Jansen following his death at age 28. Panettiere was also […]

The actress is survived by her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with ex Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere’s life in the spotlight began at just 8 months old when she signed with Wilhelmina Models. She had opened up about her life extensively in her recent memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, released in May.

In her book, the actress details years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of an ex, as well as rehab stints, alcoholism and undiagnosed postpartum depression after the birth of Kaya.

During a sit-down interview with Us in May that discussed her book, Panettiere revealed that the project was “very scary” to complete.

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Related: Hayden Panettiere Pays Tribute to Late Brother Jansen in Touching Post

Hayden Panettiere shared a touching post to honor her late brother, Jansen Panettiere, on what would have been his 31st birthday. The actress, 36, posted a photo of the siblings as children via Instagram on Thursday, September 25, alongside an emotional caption. “My little brother Jansen would’ve turned 31 today. He was a remarkable human […]

“I talk about traumatic moments and things that people don’t even know about. The abuse I went through at the hands of people that were supposed to be there to protect me. Admitting to all of the things that I did. I knew if I was going to do this, I wanted to be brutally, painfully honest,” she said at the time. “When I was honest about postpartum depression on Live With Kelly and Michael [in 2015], the repercussions were shocking. After that interview, I had no idea when I walked off that stage that I was going to get the call saying, ‘Neutrogena wants to fire you. They’re not OK with this.’ And you’re going, ‘Wait a second, of all the things, how can they judge me about something that is so human and so real?’”

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The book also delved into Panettiere’s relationship with her mother, Lesley, who also served as her manager, detailing the pressure she felt under her mom’s direction. “I feel like this is the first time [through the book] that I’ve been able to [talk to her]. I was so scared of her that approaching her and being honest about my feelings was not going to get me any positive reaction,” she told Us at the time. “This is my way of doing it.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. https://988lifeline.org/

Love Island’s Nicolas “Nic” Vansteenberghe is keeping tight-lipped about the prospect of getting back together with Olandria Carthen.

“I would love to tell you guys, but I’ll keep that private for now,” Nic, 25, said while interviewed at LIV Beach at Fountainebleau Las Vegas after reuniting with Olandria, 28, at the Saturday, August 15, wedding of Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns in Malibu, California. “We did enjoy ourselves tremendously at Karl and Jordan’s wedding last night. It was amazing.”

In photos published by Deux Moi on Sunday, August 16, Nic and Olandria were seen seated beside one another while witnessing the nuptials.

After Us confirmed last month that the pair had split after one year of dating, Nic added that he believes people can always be friends with an ex. “If you end healthily, you know, it’s cool. Sometimes it’s better to maybe not be friends but in my case … we ended on a good note,” the season 7 star said.

Related: Love Island USA’s Nicolandria Address Misconceptions, Cierra and More

Love Island USA‘s Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen know not everyone believes their romantic connection — and they don’t really care. After coming in second place during the Sunday, July 13, finale, Nic, 24, and Olandria, 27, were in a great mood while speaking to Us Weekly in a joint interview about the “unreal” support […]

Nic also shared advice for others who may face navigating a breakup. “Things will always get better. It’s rock bottom, but it’s about to climb,” he said.

The former couple met while filming the Peacock series, despite initial sparks flying between Olandria and Taylor Williams. During the early stages, Nic was paired with Cierra Ortega before a Love Island shakeup led Nic and Olandria to explore their own chemistry.

Nic told Us in May that he and Olandria chose to take their ongoing romance away from the cameras to maintain privacy. “At this point, the critics and the critiques are just overdone,” he said at the time. “I’ve said all I need to say. At this point, it’s just about not giving it any more attention.”

The duo did, however, open up during a Glamour cover shoot in December 2025, that discussed how they dealt with life after appearing on the reality TV series and how they maintained boundaries in their relationship.

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Olandria told the outlet that she found the aftermath of their on-screen stints far from easy. “It was kind of hard at first. These are the people that met us through a TV screen and watched us every single day for six weeks at a time. They’re hungry for more. We felt obligated to let them in, still, in the beginning,” she said. “He was the Nicolandria updater, literally, because I was so shook up and just not really friendly with the internet at that time. They would get all the updates from his Snapchat account—what I’m doing, what we’re up to. They were so used to seeing us on the screen and they loved us so much. It was like, ‘We have to keep giving them content.’”

Related: Love Island USA’s Olandria Slams Interest in Nic Romance: ‘Creeps Me Out’

Love Island USA‘s Olandria Carthen made a rare comment about how frustrating the public interest in her relationship with Nic Vansteenberghe has been. “Why is it your business? Are your bills getting paid? Are you touch-deprived? Go get a man — go do something with your life,” Olandria, 28, told Cosmopolitan on Thursday, June 18. […]

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She added that the pressure to maintain a public profile felt too overwhelming with time. “Eventually it became mentally draining. People started to nitpick. They were doing that on the show, but we didn’t have our phones to see it—now that we’re actually having to live with it and hear about it, it’s like, ‘Oh, maybe we don’t need to share as much anymore. Because they’ll find the smallest little thing and it’s a big discourse all over social media,” she explained.

Nic agreed, adding that he too found a balance that worked. “Being in the social media space now, people want to be let in, and the more you let in, the monetary gain is nice. So finding that balance of, ‘Okay, this is our work now, but it’s also our life,’ was kind of hard in the beginning, but now I feel like we’ve got a better grip on it,” he told the outlet.

Emily Blunt is among the actors who fit every genre easily, be it Christoper Nolan’s biographical drama Oppenheimer or John Krasinski’s horror franchise A Quiet Place or her recently released fashionable comedy-drama, The Devil Wears Prada 2, which reunites her with co-stars Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. Blunt’s antagonistic turn in the highly anticipated feature proved delicious for fans, as the feature is now holding a top spot on various streaming services after its profitable box office run.

Earlier this year, Blunt played the protagonist in Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day and received widespread appreciation. While fans love Blunt in both feel-good and hard-hitting roles, she is equally loved in the action genre. Edge of Tomorrow often comes to mind when fans think of her in an action-oriented flick; the actor ended up outshining even Tom Cruise in some combat sequences. Whereas Rian Johnson’s Looper saw her handling heavy shotgun combat as a mother trying to protect her son. There’s another Emily Blunt feature which fans are returning to in order to enjoy her flawless performance.

‘Sicario’ Dominates Streaming Platforms

The movie in question is Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve from a gripping script by Taylor Sheridan. Sicario has taken over the domestic streaming charts of three platforms: HBO Max, Lionsgate+, and Apple TV Store, as per FlixPatrol. The movie’s streaming demand is a testament to fans’ love for the movie and Blunt’s stoic performance. Along with Blunt, the 91% Rotten Tomatoes-scored film has some great performances from Benicio del Toro, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Kaluuya, and Josh Brolin. The movie follows Blunt’s principled FBI special agent, Kate, who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel. The narrative shows the early tropes that would become cornerstones of Sheridan’s storytelling later.

At the box office, Sicario made $84.9 million worldwide on a $30 million budget and garnered a lot of appreciation for the top-line talent, including Villeneuve, Sheridan, and Blunt. The movie received high praise upon its release and was nominated for several Oscars and BAFTAs. The success of the film led to a sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which was a brilliant follow-up, sans some of the original stars. A third movie in the franchise is still in development, and fans are waiting with bated breath.

Meanwhile, check out Sicario on HBO Max or in Apple TV Store, and stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.

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Release Date

September 17, 2015

Runtime

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122 minutes

Director

Denis Villeneuve

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Producers

Basil Iwanyk, Edward McDonnell, Ellen H. Schwartz, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Stacy Perskie

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Ordinary people caught up in extraordinarily terrifying events as an otherworldly threat slowly closes in around them is a recognizable formula that Steven Spielberg has practically made his own. Netflix adopted that formula with The Duffer Brothers to create one of its biggest global hits in Stranger Things. Ever since, the streamer has been trying to reproduce that magic, including with the recently ill-fated The Boroughs. Its latest attempt has been critically panned, but despite the poor reviews, it has become yet another ratings success.

The Last House is Netflix’s latest sci-fi thriller film, which premiered on Friday, August 7. The movie stars Greta Lee (Past Lives) and Wagner Moura (Narcos) as a couple living in suburban Seattle who, like the rest of the world, become trapped inside their home with their children after a mysterious disaster strikes across the globe. As the ominous threat looms over them and their resources quickly begin to run out, the family must find a way to survive whatever is happening outside their doors. The film is written by Matthew Robinson and directed by Louis Leterrier, who is set to return to the Fast & Furious franchise to direct its upcoming final installment, Fast Forever.

The Last House debuted atop Netflix’s English-language movie list, but judging by the reviews from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie was a miss. Critics have given it a rotten 27%, and the audience 28%. Regardless, The Last House benefited from a viral marketing campaign that could give the guys over at NEON a run for their money. The campaign, which saw a man apparently living inside a billboard on Sunset Boulevard, blew up on social media and helped drive curiosity ahead of the movie’s Netflix debut. It clearly paid off, with Netflix reporting that The Last House drew 27.5 million viewers in its opening week, making it the streamer’s fifth-biggest opening of the year.

Will ‘The Last House’ Get a Sequel?

High viewership numbers almost always help a movie’s chances of getting a sequel, as seen with Alan Ritchson‘s War Machine. Despite not being one of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed titles this year, the military robot thriller drew more than 39 million views, leading Netflix to greenlight a follow-up. For The Last House, however, it’s still too early to call. Its viewing performance is certainly commendable, particularly for a reportedly mid-budget movie. The film currently ranks fifth among Netflix’s biggest movie releases of the year, trailing only the aforementioned War Machine, The Rip, Apex, and Thrash, all of which came with bigger budgets and more star power behind them.

The Last House has also outperformed Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Office Romance, Swapped, and People We Meet on Vacation. However, whether those numbers will be enough to convince Netflix to give The Last House another go remains to be seen, but at least its stars seem ready to return. Moura has told Collider that he is “very curious” to see what happens after the characters leave the house and to learn more about the film’s mysterious creatures, suggesting that even he sees plenty of unexplored territory following that enigmatic ending. Stay tuned for updates.

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Release Date

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August 6, 2026

Runtime

110 minutes

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Director

Louis Leterrier

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Cast

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• 
• 
• 

  Riley Chung

  Ruth (8 Years Old)

• 

  Noah Alexander Sosnowski

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  Graham (12 Years Old)

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Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death has left Hollywood struggling to process the loss of a star many believed was entering a brighter chapter. 

The actress’ final Instagram post, shared only weeks before her death, has now become an emotional gathering place for friends and colleagues mourning her. 

From Selma Blair’s desperate pleas for her friend to come back to Bethany Joy Lenz questioning how the tragedy could be real, the tributes have revealed just how deeply Panettiere was loved. 

The final glimpse Hayden Panettiere shared with her followers was filled with the kind of carefree energy that makes the news of her death even harder for those who knew her to comprehend. 

On July 27, the “Heroes” star took to Instagram with a jubilant black-and-white photograph of herself playfully sticking out her tongue while being embraced by her longtime friend, director and podcaster Randall Slavin. 

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She captioned the image, “Good times and good friends.” After news broke that Panettiere had died at 36, the photograph took on a heartbreaking significance as friends began returning to the post to say goodbye. 

Slavin later reposted the image to his Instagram Stories, writing, “Peace be with you, H,” alongside an animated red heart. 

The post quickly became flooded with condolences from fans and people who had worked with Panettiere throughout her career. 

The timing has also drawn attention because Panettiere had recently been publicly discussing her life and experiences while promoting her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.”

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Hayden Friend Selma Blair Begs Her To ‘Be Here’

Among the earliest and most emotional reactions came from Selma Blair, who appeared unable to contain her grief after learning that Hayden Panettiere had died. 

Blair went directly to the actress’ final Instagram post, leaving several comments that captured the shock of losing someone she considered a close friend. 

“I love you. Don’t be gone. Don’t be gone. Please. Please,” Blair wrote beneath the photograph. She returned to the post 11 minutes later with another deeply personal message, noting, “I love you whale tail my friend.” 

Blair then commented again, writing, “I’m dying. Please be here.” Blair was not alone in expressing heartbreak over Hayden’s sudden demise

Rosie O’Donnell also took to Instagram to share her heartbreak, writing, “Oh my god – heartbroken #hayden,” alongside a beaming image of Hayden. 

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David Arquette, Hayden’s “Scream 4” costar, similarly commented under Variety’s Instagram post, “I love you Hayden,” while Melissa Barrera wrote on her Instagram story, “Rest in peace sweet Hayden.” 

Hayden Panettiere’s Costars Struggle To Understand Her Death

The grief surrounding Hayden’s death has stretched across generations of performers who knew her at different points in her career. 

Bethany Joy Lenz offered one of the most extensive tributes, admitting that she struggled to reconcile the news with the person she believed she had been watching find her way forward. 

“There is nothing that posting pictures on the internet can do. I avoid it usually in moments like this. But I’m here with my head in my hands and I don’t know what else to do in aside from praying for her soul, which I have done and will continue,” the “One Tree Hill” alum wrote on Instagram. 

Lenz added, “I don’t understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn’t she?” 

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She also referenced Hayden’s daughter, writing, “It’s too young and there’s still so much more life. And her daughter…. Hayden, you are surround [sic] by love.” 

Lenz ended by reflecting on the many glimpses of Hayden she had known over 27 years and saying she was praying for her to know peace. 

Hayden’s Legacy Resonates With Friends And Fans

Hayden Panettiere’s death has also prompted people who knew her in different capacities to reflect on the impact she had beyond her best-known performances. 

Jay Shetty, who had recently begun a friendship with the Hollywood star, said the loss was particularly difficult because their connection was still new. 

“I can’t believe it. Our friendship had just begun and I was so moved by the conversation we shared earlier this year. My love and condolences to her family and fans,” he wrote under Variety’s post. 

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Greer Grammer similarly expressed her disbelief, commenting, “Oh my god this is just absolutely devastating. I can’t believe it,” on a post about Hayden’s death. 

For longtime fans, the actress leaves behind a career that began when she was a child and eventually included “Heroes,” “Nashville,” the “Scream” franchise and other film and television projects. 

Hayden Panettiere’s Family Asks For Privacy Amid Investigation

Hayden tragically passed away on August 16, 2026, at the age of 36. Her father, Skip Panettiere, shared a statement through the actress’ representative, describing the loss as unimaginable for the family. 

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” he said per The Blast, adding, “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.” 

Skip also asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.” Meanwhile, Hayden’s cause of death remains undisclosed. 

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Law enforcement sources confirmed that police had responded to an incident involving the actress, while her publicist said, “There’s an investigation ongoing. We should know more tomorrow.”

After a hard day, week, or even a year, sometimes all you need to do is stick your eyes into your laptop screen and spend the entire night laughing, snorting, and crying over a comforting TV series or a feel-good film and teleport yourself into the fictional world where your everyday worries and issues don’t exist or matter.

Thankfully, Netflix is filled to the brim with heartwarming TV shows that envelop you like a hug whenever you want to abandon all your duties and tasks and just binge a show with ice cream, popcorn, or takeout to keep you company. There’s no shortage of these comforting shows that viewers can choose from at any given time.

27

‘A Virtuous Business’ (2024)

Nothing is more taboo than sex, especially in 1990s South Korea. Set in the quiet countryside of Geumje in 1992, A Virtuous Business follows Jeong-Suk (Kim So-Yeon), a devoted wife and mother desperate to ease her family’s financial struggles. After repeatedly failing to secure steady work, she stumbles upon an odd business opportunity: selling imported adult products door to door. What begins as a last-ditch effort to make ends meet soon grows into an unlikely business partnership when three other local women decide to join her, transforming their small side hustle into an unexpected success and lifelong sisterhood.

From lingerie to peculiar pleasure products, none of the women have any experience with the intimate items they’re tasked with selling. But that’s also what makes the show so wholesome: the four of them are willing to learn from scratch together. Think of it as a group of teenagers discovering sex for the first time—except instead of awkward adolescents, it’s four middle-aged women who are married or already have children. Yet there’s something deeply heartwarming about watching them open up about the most intimate parts of their lives with people they trust. Through those honest conversations, they find confidence in themselves while proving that there’s nothing shameful about supporting one another through life’s most personal experiences. —Dyah Larasati

26

‘Love on the Spectrum’ (2022–2026)

Image via Netflix

Granted, Netflix isn’t exactly known for having the best reputation when it comes to reality TV. But nestled between the controversial Love Is Blind and the titillating Too Hot to Handle, Love on the Spectrum is a refreshing dating gem that stands out among the streamer’s more notorious reality offerings. True to its name, the series follows the romantic journeys of autistic individuals across America. While each person is on the autism spectrum, they share the same hopes, fears, and anxieties that come with searching for the right partner.

Love on the Spectrum is what meaningful representation in dating looks like. It’s a wholesome, non-toxic alternative for viewers seeking authentic, patient, and vulnerable human connections. Many of the participants enter the dating world with little to no experience, and throughout their journeys, they not only discover what they want in a future partner but also learn more about themselves. There are no hidden agendas or petty schemes to make someone jealous—only pure, unfiltered honesty that makes you want to believe in love again, even if you’re the biggest cynic. —Dyah Larasati

25

‘Long Story Short’ (2025–Present)

Image via Netflix

Family can be hard, but none more so than the Schwoopers in Long Story Short. Spanning from the mid-20th century to the 2020s, the coming-of-age series hopscotches between childhood and adulthood as the three Schwooper siblings navigate growing up and adapting to modern life under the guidance of their calm father, Elliot (Paul Reiser), and their smothering, hyper-critical mother, Naomi (Lisa Edelstein). Naturally, Naomi’s parenting leaves a lasting impact, and as adults, her children struggle to emotionally connect with her.

It’s a dramedy that isn’t afraid to pull at your heartstrings. But for all its emotional moments, Long Story Short is also filled with feel-good scenes that remind you just how short life on Earth really is and that, despite our families’ flaws, our time with them is limited. We may never be on the same wavelength as our parents or siblings, but the Schwoopers are lucky enough to always have each other’s backs, no matter how difficult life gets. —Dyah Larasati

24

‘Emily in Paris’ (2020–Present)

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Emily in Paris might be a watered-down, rose-tinted portrayal of France, but for viewers who love to romanticize life, it’s about as whimsical as television gets. American marketing executive Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she packs her bags and moves to Paris to revamp the social media strategy of French marketing firm Savoir. However, her new colleagues aren’t exactly thrilled by Emily’s overly enthusiastic and occasionally out-of-touch approach. She may be a fish out of water, but Emily is determined to prove that she deserves to be there.

For anyone who’s always dreamed of visiting Paris but hasn’t had the chance yet, Emily in Paris offers the next best thing. Between moments with friends, whirlwind romances, and career mishaps, Emily wanders through the city’s picturesque streets, taking viewers from the Seine to glamorous cabaret clubs and inviting us to experience Paris through her eyes. While not everyone will move to another country, almost everyone knows what it feels like to be an outsider. Emily in Paris reminds us that feeling out of place doesn’t last forever, and that with an open mind and an open heart, it eventually starts to feel like home. —Dyah Larasati

23

‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ (2023–Present)

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Based on Ali Novak’s eponymous novel, My Life with the Walter Boys centers on the recently orphaned 15-year-old Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez), who loses her entire family in a tragic accident and is forced to leave Manhattan and relocate to Colorado to live on a ranch with her mother’s best friend, Katherine Walter (Sarah Rafferty), her husband George (Marc Blucas), and their ten children. While she processes her loss and grief, Jackie also develops a strong friendship with two of the Walter brothers, the reliable, nerdy Alex (Ashby Gentry) and the troubled Cole (Noah Lalonde).

With themes of grief, loss, and resilience, My Life with the Walter Boys makes for a wholesome, feel-good show about self-discovery and finding comfort and hope in friendships. As Jackie learns to fit herself within her new family and adapt to their charming community, the narrative also emphasizes her emotional challenges and the joys of newfound friendships.

22

‘XO Kitty’ (2023–Present)

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A spin-off of the To All the Boys film series, created by Jenny Han, who also penned the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before novel trilogy, XO Kitty marks the first Netflix series based on a Netflix original film. XO Kitty follows the titular protagonist, Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart), the youngest of the Covey sisters (from the films), who leaves her home in Portland, Oregon, and sets off to attend the Korean Independent School of Seoul, reuniting with her long-distance boyfriend, Dae (Minyeong Choi).

A hearty mix of fun characters and a sweet underlying plot, XO Kitty is an adorable yet underrated coming-of-age series where Kitty embarks on a quest to find true love and find herself in a new place among new friends. Like the films, the spin-off series also offers comforting, feel-good moments, nicely balancing a fairytale-like love story with plot twists and turns and adolescent drama.

21

‘Virgin River’ (2019–Present)

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Adapted from Robyn Carr’s novel of the same name, Virgin River follows the journey of Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse who moves from Los Angeles to the titular town in Northern California to leave her past behind and start afresh. As Mel begins a new life in Virgin River, among new people, she realizes that the new town is different than what she had imagined and holds many surprises in store for her. Treading through the good, bad, and emotional, Mel learns to rediscover herself and her stance on love and life, carving her own niche within the close-knit community of the river town.

A romantic drama from the creator of Good Witch, every season of Virgin River is similarly comforting, exploring interesting characters in a quaint small town. The Netflix original romance drama has been critically acclaimed for its emotionally and visually gratifying narrative, scenic settings, and the romanticism of life that would instantly lift your spirits.

20

‘Survival of the Thickest’ (2023–2026)

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Based on actor-comedian-producer Michelle Buteau’s autobiographical essay of the same name, Survival of the Thickest narrates the story of a 38-year-old plus-size fashion stylist, Mavis (Buteau), whose life turns upside down after a breakup. When she discovers her supportive, long-term fashion photographer boyfriend and business partner, Jacques, is cheating on her, Mavis sets out on her own to fulfill her dream of becoming a lead stylist, with the help of her friends and family, a little bit of lip gloss, and a big body-positive attitude.

From Buteau’s charming on-screen persona and incredible comedy delivery to a highly inspiring narrative on body positivity, Survival of the Thickest is a cozy slice-of-life comedy with relatable characters. While humorous, the series never forgets where its true essence lies. Mavis’s struggles as she sets out to build her life on her own terms can make you emotional, and her outlook on life can make you laugh in the same breath.

19

‘Dash & Lily’ (2020)

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As bright and cheery as Christmas lights, Dash & Lily is a holiday teen rom-com based on David Levithan and Rachel Cohn‘s book Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares. The Netflix series follows the budding romance between two New York teens, Dash (Austin Abrams) and Lily (Midori Francis). Although they’ve never met, they keep fortuitously trading a notebook back and forth, sending each other on dares around the city during Christmastime.

The holiday season doubles the magic of this whimsical tale of two teenagers discovering themselves and their love for each other, though it’s still fun to watch during any other time of the year. With the power to lighten up the grumpiest Grinch with the coldest and smallest of hearts, Dash & Lily is the secret to feel-good shows on Netflix.

18

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ (2015–2020)

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After being freed from being held captive by a doomsday cult leader for 15 years, Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) is left with a large sum of money and her entire life to figure out. Instead of going back to her Bunker Memories in Indiana, she decides to stay in New York City. When a penny-pinching, in-need-of-a-roommate Broadway actor, Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess), takes her in and teaches her necessary life skills, the sky’s the limit for Kimmy.

Produced by Robert Carlock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt clings to 30 Rock‘s goofy sense of humor and drops the cynicism. Kimmy emerges as one of television’s most likable characters yet, as she goes through each day with infectious optimism and a unique curiosity that inspires viewers to embrace similar traits in themselves.

Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey and husband Matt Ziering have officially become a family of four.

“Our whole world just got a little more whole 💛🌼,” Howey, 37, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, August 16.

Alongside the message, Howey posted a selfie of her smiling as the little one — who sported a floral-printed outfit — lay on her chest.

Howey previously announced her pregnancy in May, sharing a mirror selfie of the actress wearing a strapless yellow gown while cradling her bump.

Related: Her Peach! Ginny and Georgia’s Brianne Howey Is Pregnant

Her Georgia peach! Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey is pregnant and expecting her first child with husband Matt Ziering. Howey, 33, took to social media on Thursday, March 16, to announce the exciting news. “@boss show with my forever new +1 🥰🤎 thanks for having us! Loved every second of the new collection #hugoboss,” she […]

“Here we grow again 💛,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “Happy Mother’s Day!”

Howey and Ziering first crossed paths in 2015 while at a bar with friends. After five years together, the pair got engaged and planned to tie the knot in 2020. Howey and Ziering had to postpone their ceremony until the following year due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

The couple became parents when they welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2023. At the time, Howey shared a photo of her smiling in the hospital with the newborn on her chest.

“My whole world just got a whole lot sweeter. And smaller. Welcome my little love 💛,” Howey wrote via Instagram in 2023.

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Related: Brianne Howey Teases the ‘New Sides’ to Ginny and Georgia in Season 3

Get ready, peaches — Ginny & Georgia season 3 will bring an array of twists and turns. “We see entirely new sides of Ginny and Georgia,” star Brianne Howey exclusively told Us Weekly at the 2025 WWD Style Awards on Friday, January 3. “I feel, like, [it’s] surprising ’cause we’ve already seen so many sides […]

Last month, Howey opened up to Us about how her relationship with her husband has evolved over time.

“The first five years we were together, we weren’t married, we didn’t have a child, we didn’t have a dog yet,” she told Us. “I think it’s a really beautiful thing to continue to grow individually, but also together.”

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Howey shared that her bond with Ziering has only deepened since becoming parents. “Watching him step into all of these roles of husband and dad makes you appreciate each other more, because you don’t always know what the future holds,” Howey said. “Getting to watch it unravel in the moment and stay present and grateful for it all has been such a beautiful, reassuring, but also surprising journey to be on. I’m so grateful.”

Howey also noted that it’s “never lost on [her]” that her husband is able to travel with her, especially now that they have a daughter, and that it “means so much.”

“I feel like when I am away working, I’m able to rely on our partnership and our teamwork, and I’m able to focus on work because I know he’s there, doing all the things that I’m not able to do in those moments, whether it’s bathtime, bedtime or drop off,” she said.

Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed he is in talks with Johnny Depp about reprising his iconic Jack Sparrow role.

“We’re talking to Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay and hopefully we can get this done,” Bruckhemier, 82, said during a Sunday, August 16, interview with Deadline at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California.

The outlet also reported that “solid sources” claimed Captain Jack Sparrow, whom Depp, 63, portrayed in the first five Pirates of the Caribbean films, will serve as a “side character” in what will be a sixth installment “evolution” of the franchise.

An all-new protagonist, believed to be portrayed by Margot Robbie, per the outlet, will reportedly star as the new Pirates lead.

Related: Breaking Down Johnny Depp’s Life 2 Years After Amber Heard Trial

It’s been two years since Johnny Depp’s highly publicized defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard. On April 15, Depp, 60, stepped onto the red carpet outside the Curzon Mayfair theater in London to promote Jeanne du Barry, his first feature film since 2020. After posing for some photographs, the actor — showing off a new […]

Bruckheimer, who has served as lead producer on the Disney franchise since 2003’s Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, told Entertainment Weekly in August 2025 that he had kicked off discussions about Depp returning for a sixth film. The news came as a surprise to fans at the time after Depp testified during his 2022 defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard that Disney had cut ties with him in 2018 following allegations of abuse against Heard, 40.

Depp has repeatedly denied all allegations of abuse made against him. Both Depp and Heard were both found liable by a jury for defamation against each other.

Bruckhemier told Entertainment Weekly last year, “If he likes the way the part’s written, I think he would do it. It’s all about what’s on the page, as we all know.”

More recently, Depp made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con, an event where Disney film and television projects often dominate, in San Diego last month while promoting his upcoming film Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol. (The film, scheduled for a November 13 release, is a Paramount Pictures, not a Disney production.)

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Depp showed up to Comic-Con wearing full makeup and costume while embodying his forthcoming character of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Related: Johnny Depp Morphs into Captain Jack Sparrow for Sweet Hospital Visit

Johnny Depp brought back Captain Jack Sparrow during a recent visit to a children’s hospital. Depp, 61, showed up at the Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastian, Spain on Thursday, September 26. The actor was decked out in full costume as his famous Pirates of the Caribbean character, including the iconic garb and luscious locks. […]

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In April, Depp’s Ebenezer costar Ian McKellen told Variety that Depp was in “spankingly good form” while filming the project. “Effervescent, funny, irreverent, serious — all at the same time. It was a bit of a love fest, really. I fell in love with him. He’s very obliging to his fellow actors. [There was] a wonderful feeling on the set,” McKellen, 87, said to the outlet at the time.

In the film, which is based on Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, Depp and McKellen are joined by Andrea Riseborough as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Severance’s Tramell Tillman as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Harry Potter star Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit, and Sam Claflin and Daisy Ridley in unspecified roles.

Nearly 19 months after the deadly Palisades Fire forever changed the Los Angeles community, residents reunited to celebrate a milestone in the town’s ongoing rebuilding efforts.

“The Palisades has been home to me for most of my life, but really all my life. I was brought home to [the Palisades] in 1979, and then I was pregnant with Ryder — my son — and I was able to buy back the house I grew up in and decided to raise my kids in the Palisades,” Kate Hudson shared at the grand reopening of Caruso’s Palisades Village on Saturday, August 15, attended by Us. “This community means everything to me, and this night is deeply personal.”

Before introducing her longtime friend and One Republic member Ryan Tedder to the stage for a special performance, Hudson, 47, shared a powerful message to her neighbors.

“We’ve been through so much. To lose so many places and landmarks that held our memories is devastating, and I think all of us still carry that tonight,” she said. “But we must celebrate. We must celebrate that we are rebuilding.”

Related: Chris Stapleton and Wife Morgane Donate $1 Million to L.A. Wildfire Relief 

Wildfires continue to tear through the Los Angeles area, devastating thousands of acres and forcing even more people to flee their homes. As relief efforts are just getting underway, some of Hollywood’s most prominent stars are coming together to help those in need. The Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires, which are burning concurrently, are already […]

In January 2025, the Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres across L.A. and its surrounding suburbs. According to CalFire, more than 6,500 structures were destroyed, 975 were damaged and at least 27 people lost their lives.

Billy Crystal was one of the many residents who lost a home. Although he couldn’t be in the Pacific Palisades over the weekend, the Oscar winner — a resident of the community since 1979 — joined his wife, Janice Crystal, in a special, pre-taped message.

“Everywhere you look, something great is happening,” he shared. “You can feel it. We’re on our way back folks, and for those of us who sadly lost everything in the fires, like I said in City Slickers, there’s one thing we’ll never lose.”

Janice replied, “Our love for the Palisades.”

The Palisades Village, which did not burn down in the fires, was home to some of the city’s best shopping, dining and entertainment offerings.

On Saturday, new and returning businesses — including Jennifer Meyer, Paige, Alphabet Bar & Grill and more — opened their doors for eager shoppers and diners willing and able to lift up the community by opening their pocket books.

“I have been waiting 19 months to say, ‘Welcome to Palisades Village!’” developer and Pacific Palisades fire victim Rick Caruso wrote via Instagram after the grand reopening. “Two days after the Palisades fires, the Caruso team got together, wiped our tears and started rebuilding the Palisades Village. 19 months later, carried by the love, resilience and strength of this community, we are proud to take this mega-step in the rebuilding of the Palisades.❤️”

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Related: Jamie Lee Curtis Makes $1 Million Donation to L.A. Wildfire Relief Fund

Jamie Lee Curtis is lending a huge helping hand to all those affected by the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. “My family is donating $1 million today to the relief efforts,” the actress, 66, shared in a Thursday, January 9, Instagram post. “We are in contact with Governor [Gavin] Newsom, Mayor [Karen] Bass, and Senator [Adam] […]

When the stores closed for the day, the Caruso team held a celebratory concert for the community, featuring performances by the Hollywood Film Orchestra, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, American Idol alum Pia Toscano, members of the local high school and more.

Actor Anthony Hopkins also made a special appearance to welcome back Palisades residents.

“August 15th marks a major milestone in our Palisades comeback,” Caruso, 67, said via Instagram. “We didn’t come this far just to come this far ❤️.”