Entertainment
The 15 Most Calming Shows To Fall Asleep to, Ranked
It is a truth universally acknowledged by television fans that certain shows are best watched at certain times of day. Phenomenal yet scary series like Midnight Mass and The Leftovers are often better watched during the day, while nighttime can be the perfect time to unwind with more lighthearted and low-key shows that will make fans laugh and help them relax before it is time to go to bed.
Some television fans will watch or rewatch a few episodes of a more relaxing show before going to sleep, while others prefer to fall asleep with one of these shows on in the background. There are a number of shows that work really well for viewers looking for something like this, from sitcoms to reality competition shows. These are the most calming television shows to fall asleep to, ranked.
15
‘Love Is Blind’ (2020–Present)
There is something so calming and comforting about a reality dating show, and Love Is Blind takes this up a notch with its unique structure. The series brings in a bunch of singles each season, then has them meet each other while sitting in separate pods. Without seeing what the other person looks like, they are given time to talk, get to know each other, and possibly even fall in love. The catch is that they can’t meet each other in person until they get engaged.
Especially in the period of the season when the contestants are in the pods, Love Is Blind is a great show to throw on in the background while falling asleep. The contestants cannot even see each other, so there is not much to miss on the actual screen while listening to their voices. Additionally, it’s an easy show to fall back into and keep up with after falling asleep or missing a few moments.
14
‘Unsolved Mysteries’ (1987–2009)
Sometimes, when looking for a show to throw on in the background or to watch while falling asleep for the night, a fictional series with a serialized format may not be the best choice. Instead, it can be ideal to watch something like Unsolved Mysteries, a documentary series that explores a number of unsolved crimes, ongoing mysteries, and unexplained events throughout each episode.
Unsolved Mysteries makes for a great watch for viewers who are looking for something that will keep them engaged, but that won’t make them feel lost if they sleep through an episode or two. Additionally, the series is straightforward in its storytelling due to its documentary structure, so it’s easy to follow along for those who aren’t feeling like paying a great deal of attention.
13
‘Emily in Paris’ (2020–2026)
Emily in Paris makes for an excellent watch—or rewatch. The series follows Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), an optimistic American woman who moves to Paris to work for a marketing firm. The series is the perfect mental vacation, full of beautiful views of Paris (and Rome in Season 4), as well as some seriously swoon-worthy romantic plotlines between Emily and her love interests.
Emily in Paris is a very calming show to unwind to and even fall asleep to, as its light tone and easy pace make for a very comforting watch. Whether it be after watching a more intense show or simply on its own, Emily in Paris will make viewers feel instantly calm. Even when things get more dramatic between the characters, there is always this understanding that, somehow, everything is going to ultimately turn out okay for the characters in the end.
12
‘Ted Lasso’ (2020–2023)
For those looking for a heartwarming feel-good show to watch before going to bed, Ted Lasso is a great choice, both to watch for the first time or to watch for the dozenth time. The series follows Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), a college football coach from Kansas who moves to England to coach AFC Richmond’s soccer team. The first season makes for an especially fantastic watch, as the owner of the team, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), secretly works against Ted and the team.
Ted Lasso is the sort of comforting and calming show that makes for an excellent watch when looking to wind down and escape with something funny and engaging. It has some major plot points that viewers won’t want to sleep through, both related to its character dynamics and its focus on soccer, but they can always rewind and watch it over again after waking up.
11
‘Abbott Elementary’ (2021–Present)
Four seasons in, Abbott Elementary continues to be one of the funniest and most entertaining shows on television right now. The series follows the teachers working at Abbott Elementary School as they often have to fight an uphill battle to get the resources that their students need. They also deal with things like a ringworm outbreak, a number of not-so-friendly competitions between their classes, and rivalries with local schools.
Abbott Elementary is definitely not a show that viewers will want to sleep through, as each episode is packed with jokes. That being said, it makes for a great show to unwind to, as viewers can get lost in the silly antics that take place among the staff and students of Abbott Elementary School. Whether it be to catch a new episode on a Wednesday night or to binge-watch one night, Abbott Elementary is a great show to watch before bed.
10
‘Friends’ (1994–2004)
Whether it be during its late-night reruns or while rewatching the show in chronological order, Friends is the perfect show to watch for people who are having a hard time falling asleep. It is a true comfort show, with familiar and cozy settings like Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) apartment, Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Joey’s (Matt LeBlanc) apartment, and, of course, Central Perk.
Friends makes for an excellent series to fall asleep to, particularly for people who have already seen the show before. It will put viewers into a calm and happy mood with hilarious storylines like the friends competing to see who knows each other better, Chandler and Rachel stealing cheesecakes from their neighbor, Ross (David Schwimmer) having bad spray tan and teeth-whitening experiences, and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) and Chandler playing chicken when the friends try to expose Chandler and Monica’s relationship.
9
‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)
The Good Place follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a selfish, recently dead woman who has been mistakenly sent to The Good Place. In order to keep her cover from being blown and to keep herself from being sent to The Bad Place, Eleanor convinces her mistakenly assigned soulmate, former ethics and moral philosophy professor Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper), to teach her how to become a good person.
The Good Place has arguably the most serialized storyline and fast-paced plot of any sitcom, complete with a number of plot twists, often at the end of each episode. It’s not a show to fall asleep during, as viewers will miss key plotlines. That being said, the tone and setting are so comforting that it is a great show to watch when looking to relax. Neighborhood 12358W, complete with all of its strange antics, makes for a delightful sitcom setting.
8
‘Is It Cake?’ (2022–Present)
For those who tend to become very focused on serialized plotlines and fictional characters, a reality competition show can be the perfect thing to watch when trying to relax. One such show that is very fun but not too stressful is Is It Cake? The series is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: skilled cake artists compete to bake and decorate cakes to look like objects, and then the judges have to guess which is the object and which is cake.
Due to its silly premise, ability to not take itself too seriously, and abundance of delicious-looking cakes, Is It Cake? is a very fun watch to either throw on in the background or to focus on. Viewers can have fun trying to guess which of the two options is the cake, as well as trying to learn how the artists make these cakes seem so realistic when compared to the objects that they are supposed to imitate.
Community follows Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a once-successful lawyer who has to attend community college after it’s revealed that he faked his Bachelor’s degree. While trying to get a classmate, Britta (Gillian Jacobs) to go out with him, Jeff accidentally forms a really special, weird, and codependent study group. The series balances between classic college scenarios, homages to film and television, and more inventive science fiction storylines for a captivating watch.
For dreams of paintball and hot lava competitions that take place at a weird and wondrous community college, Community is the perfect show to put on while falling asleep. This has to be for a rewatch, of course, because the plot, characters, and pacing of the jokes require viewers’ full attention on the first watch. There is ultimately just something so comforting about Greendale Community College, and it makes the show one that continues to be a silly and calming watch each time.
6
‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)
New Girl starts out with a simple but funny premise: after getting cheated on by her boyfriend of six years, the quirky and optimistic Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) moves into an apartment with three guys she met on Craigslist. The series becomes something truly special due to its weird and specific humor, its unique and nuanced characters, and its truly phenomenal character dynamics—both romantic and platonic.
Because New Girl follows a traditional sitcom structure, it is a show that viewers can fall asleep to, then jump right into the next episode without being confused. It’s a funny, sweet, and comforting watch with found family dynamics, a lovely setting in Loft 4D, and a number of really fantastic episodes. New Girl will calm down stressed viewers and give them a laugh if they are looking to unwind.
Entertainment
Billy Ray Recalls Dolly Parton’s Savage Response To Affair Rumors
Billy Ray Cyrus is remembering Dolly Parton with an emotional tribute that perfectly captures the country icon’s humor, warmth and ability to handle tabloid attention. Following Parton’s death at age 80, Cyrus shared a collection of photographs documenting their decades-long friendship, including moments with his daughter and Parton’s goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer also revealed that Parton had recently sent him a personal message expressing how deeply she loved him.

Cyrus began his Instagram tribute by reflecting on how difficult it was to choose just one memory from their friendship. “I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start. Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms,” Cyrus wrote alongside photographs of the pair throughout the years.
The carousel opened with a photo of Billy Ray, Parton and Miley Cyrus smiling together at a MusiCares event. Another black-and-white image captured a younger Billy Ray posing with Parton inside a recording studio, while a more recent photograph showed the longtime friends seated beside each other at an event. Cyrus also included a nostalgic image from their early musical collaboration, showing Parton performing alongside him in the “Romeo” music video.
Dolly Parton Had A Hilarious Reaction To Affair Rumors
Cyrus recalled one particularly unforgettable interaction from 1992, when tabloid stories falsely linked him romantically to Parton. Rather than allowing the rumors to affect their friendship, Parton responded with the wit that became one of her trademarks.
“In 1992, I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologize for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her. In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked, and said, “Honey, this trash sells records!”” Cyrus shared.
The moment reportedly unfolded during the same period that Cyrus was experiencing his rapid rise to fame following the release of “Achy Breaky Heart.”
The Country Singers Collaborated On ‘Romeo’

Parton and Cyrus turned their friendship into a musical collaboration the following year. Cyrus appeared on “Romeo,” a song from Parton’s 1993 album “Slow Dancing with the Moon.” The recording also featured Mary Chapin Carpenter, Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea and Tanya Tucker.
According to Parton’s official website, the album reached No. 4 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 16 on the Billboard 200. “Romeo” also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.
Their Friendship Extended To Miley Cyrus
Parton’s bond with Billy Ray eventually grew to include his daughter Miley, who affectionately called the singer “Aunt Dolly.” Billy Ray named Parton Miley’s honorary godmother, creating a relationship that became one of the most recognizable mentorships in entertainment.
Parton later appeared on Miley’s Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana” as Aunt Dolly, the godmother of Miley Stewart and a close friend of the fictional Stewart family.
Away from television, Parton continued to advise Miley as she moved from child stardom to an adult music career. The two women also performed together and collaborated on several songs over the years.
Dolly Parton Sent Billy Ray Cyrus A Final Message

Cyrus concluded his tribute by revealing that he had received a deeply personal message from Parton shortly before her death. “Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will,” he wrote. His choice of words also served as a touching reference to Parton’s enduring song “I Will Always Love You.”
Cyrus did not disclose when Parton sent the message or provide further details about its contents. However, the revelation showed that their friendship remained strong more than three decades after the tabloid rumors first brought them unwanted attention.
Billy Ray Cyrus Celebrates Dolly Parton’s Enduring Legacy

Parton’s death was announced on August 25 by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who shared a video on behalf of the Parton and Owens families. The singer leaves behind a career filled with landmark recordings, film roles, business achievements and philanthropic work.
She earned 11 Grammy Awards and was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Her songs, including “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” became enduring pieces of American music.
Parton also helped provide millions of free books to children through her Imagination Library and created an entertainment destination rooted in her East Tennessee upbringing through Dollywood.
Entertainment
Marvel Officially Reveals Spider-Man’s Most Devastating Story Yet
There is no greater magnet for misfortune in the world of Marvel Comics than Peter Parker. Part of his charm is his ability to endure one tragedy after another — from losing his uncle Ben to failing to save Gwen Stacy and erasing his marriage to Mary Jane — and come out on the other end still more than willing to keep fighting for a better tomorrow. It’s an aspect visible across all versions of the character, whether on the page or on-screen in his latest theatrical outing, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Yet, there’s one thing that the superhero giant has been reluctant to do to its beloved web-slinger in the main Earth-616 timeline — kill his Aunt May.
While the MCU broke ranks and killed Marisa Tomei‘s May Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home and alternate universe comics have similarly imagined a world without her, the mainline Spider-Man comics haven’t been willing to pull that proverbial trigger, at least not definitively, to this point. The Amazing Spider-Man #400 seemingly saw the death of Peter’s dear mother figure, but it was later revealed to be an actress genetically modified to look exactly like her. Her near-demise was also the catalyst for the infamous One More Day storyline, where Peter sacrificed his marriage to Mephisto to save her. There have been a few other fake-outs too, but in a universe where characters die and come back to life all the time in some form or another, The Amazing Spider-Man May has been borderline invincible. That may not last, though.
‘The Amazing Spider-Man’s Latest Issue Sets Peter Up for Devastation
At the end of The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7, issue #35, penned by Joe Kelly, Peter is receiving a reprimand from Agent Griffyn of the Department of Damage Control. Something happened to Ghost-Spider that caused her to lash out against the city and endanger the lives of civilians until Spidey found her and snapped her out of it. Griffyn wants to take her into custody until the other Spiders swing in and whisk her away to get checked out by Norman Osborn. He is not pleased that the wall-crawler defended a criminal, considering him just as liable for aiding and abetting. Before the chewing-out can resume, however, Peter finally answers a call from Aunt May after being repeatedly dialed. However, it’s not his beloved family member, but instead her boyfriend, Ric, urging him to come to the hospital immediately because May had a stroke.
The look of pure shock and devastation on Peter’s face under the mask when he hears the news says it all. Few characters have been as continuously important to the web-slinger as Aunt May, who has been endlessly supportive of her nephew whether she knows of his identity as Spider-Man or not. Issue #9 only further drives home their relationship, with the two getting one last heart-to-heart about how he’ll always be her son, even with the reintroduction of her and Ben’s actual son, Cormac, into her life. Losing her for the first real time in the history of The Amazing Spider-Man would be a watershed moment in Marvel Comics. Whether she lives or not, though, it’s setting up for a very consequential 1,000th issue on September 30.
In the meantime, The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 7 #35 is now available for purchase. Stay tuned here at Collider for more coverage of the latest comics from Marvel throughout the year.
- Release Date
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July 29, 2026
- Runtime
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145 minutes
- Director
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Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
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Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers
- Producers
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Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Amy Pascal, David Cain
Entertainment
Taylor Swift Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Dolly Parton
Taylor Swift shared a heartfelt tribute to Dolly Parton after the country music icon’s death at age 80.
“A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right. But because of the eternally generous way she spent her time on this earth and the countless lives she changed for the better, her legacy will be an everlasting one,” Swift, 36, said in a statement obtained by Us on Tuesday, August 25.
“She was truly the gift that kept on giving. Dolly gave us someone to look up to while encouraging us to be who we are as individuals,” Swift continued. “Somehow she was able to give us her lessons about the world gently and honestly, simultaneously, and oftentimes hilariously. She managed to give the world the ultimate mystery and fantasy in some corners of her life, but to give full transparency in the ways that counted. Somehow she was true grace and true grit, all in one dazzling person. She possessed the softest heart when it came to the struggles of others and a backbone of steel to defend her own self-worth as an artist.”
The Grammy winner went on, “Along with her other fans, I am so grateful for all of it. For the melodies and lyrics she wrote that thawed even the coldest hearts. For the millions of books she provided children all over the world so that they might fall in love with stories the way she did. For the tightropes she walked so that young girls like me could grow up dreaming of joining the circus too.”
“Dolly, I’ll think of you each step of the way,” the newly married pop star concluded her tribute.
Parton died in Nashville on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer,” a spokesperson for the star confirmed.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” her rep told People. “Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.”
“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement said.
Before her death, Parton thanked Swift and husband Travis Kelce, 36, for a $2 million donation to her Imagination Library ahead of their July 3 wedding.
“I’m blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude,” Parton said in a video shared via Instagram last month.
Parton went on to joke, “Now, it’s evident that you have made giving back a key part of your lives, so hey, when you have your firstborn, can I have it? Because that is gonna be one special baby!”
Entertainment
Where is the cast of “7th Heaven” now? See the stars 30 years after the premiere
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From Jessica Biel to Stephen Collins, the cast of the wholesome WB drama has gone down various paths since the show ended.
Entertainment
Perez Hilton Faces A New Hurdle Before Seeing His Kids
Perez Hilton’s recovery journey is entering a new phase, but one of the biggest challenges he faces has little to do with physical healing.
Weeks after his hospitalization following a disturbing August 4 incident, the celebrity blogger is reportedly eager to reconnect with the three children he has not seen since being admitted for treatment.
While his wounds continue to heal, family members are taking a cautious approach, prioritizing the well-being of his children as Hilton navigates both physical and mental recovery.

For Perez Hilton, the absence of his children has reportedly become one of the hardest parts of his hospitalization.
Sources close to the family say the blogger has only been able to communicate with Mario, Mia, and Mayte by phone since entering treatment following the incident.
The children were inside Hilton’s Miami home when the episode unfolded. Although it remains unclear how much they witnessed before being taken outside by Hilton’s sister Barbara, family members are determined to avoid exposing them to further distress.
A longtime family friend told the Daily Mail that the 48-year-old’s injuries remain highly visible. “The cuts are bad. Still a lot of bandages. Wounds. They’re on his face and neck and arms. They’re everywhere,” the insider stated.
According to the source, that reality has significantly delayed any in-person reunions. The source revealed, “We don’t need to traumatize them all over again.”
While a Miami judge recently granted Hilton visitation rights, any meeting must be supervised by either an approved family member or a therapist, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Hilton Awaits Clearance Before Seeing His Kids Again

Even though visitation has technically been approved, Perez Hilton still faces additional hurdles before reuniting with his children face-to-face.
Court records previously revealed that the blogger must receive psychiatric clearance from a mental health professional before visits can move forward. According to sources, that approval had not yet been granted as of the weekend, though family members remain hopeful that circumstances could change soon.
The delay is not only tied to Hilton’s mental health recovery but also to his physical condition. Family members reportedly want more time for his injuries to heal before the children see him.
“He’s still covered with cuts that are healing, stitches are dissolving and he’s still got some on his face. We’re hoping they can heal a bit more this week before he sees the kids,” a family friend explained.
In the meantime, another source said Hilton’s children are being cared for by their grandmother, Teresita, who currently maintains temporary custody. Family members have emphasized that the children are safe and supported while Hilton continues receiving treatment and working toward the next stage of his recovery.
Perez Hilton Faces Growing Financial Pressure While Hospitalized

Beyond concerns about family reunification, Hilton is also reportedly dealing with mounting financial stress as his recovery stretches into another week.
According to a Las Vegas-based friend, medical expenses have become a major source of anxiety. “Poor Perez has been spending so much money on the hospital and doctors, it has really added up and it’s a nightmare for him,” the source said.
The timing has created additional complications because the father of three was reportedly already struggling professionally before the August incident.
Sources claim several reality television pitches failed to move beyond early development stages, while activity on his celebrity gossip website, historically his primary source of income, declined after an initial spike in traffic following the livestream.
Although Hilton’s team has resumed posting entertainment news and celebrity updates online, insiders say it remains unclear whether the site’s audience will fully rebound.
As a result, those close to Hilton believe he may eventually explore other financial options. One insider suggested a paid interview discussing his experience could generate income, while another noted that his Las Vegas home has already been listed for sale for several months.
More From The Blast
Hilton’s Sister Says She ‘Didn’t Recognize’ Him

While Perez Hilton’s family has been focusing on his recovery and the difficult question of when he can safely reconnect with his children, his sister, Barbara Lavandeira, has provided a deeply personal account of the moment everything changed.
As The Blast reported, Lavandeira described August 4 as “one of the darkest days my family and I have ever experienced,” recalling that her brother had locked himself in his bedroom, which she said was unusual because his door was almost always open.
After he stopped responding, Barbara unlocked the bedroom and discovered him in the bathroom. “When I opened the door, my nightmare became a reality,” she said, adding, “Mario was standing in front of the shower, naked, cut up, covered in blood, with a box cutter in his hand.”
Her most striking description came moments later as she noted, “What I can say with certainty is that I didn’t recognize my brother when I looked at him. I saw it in his eyes. They didn’t look the same. Then, a split second later, he smiled at me. It felt like I was staring at someone else.”
Barbara said she immediately got Hilton’s three children out of the home, called 911 once they were safe, and then returned inside to help stop his bleeding until emergency responders arrived.
She also revealed that Hilton had spoken with her and their mother about feeling “empty, hopeless, and like he was a burden on everyone” shortly before the crisis.
Perez Hilton’s Family Says Entertainment Remains Part Of His Future

As Hilton’s family works through his recovery, another question is emerging: what happens to the career that has defined much of his adult life?
As The Blast reported, his brother-in-law, Tom, revealed that the answer is not necessarily retirement. Despite everything that had happened, Tom believed Hilton still had an attachment to the entertainment world and to the celebrity-gossip business he had built.
“He does what he does because he loves doing it. He got into this because he loves celebrity gossip,” Tom stated while discussing Hilton’s professional future. He added that Hilton “still has love for the entertainment industry.”
However, Tom acknowledged that returning to that world would require more than simply walking back into the spotlight. He said Hilton will need to work out “the best ways to cope with that” as part of his recovery.
The family has not established a timetable for his return to work, and Tom indicated that his immediate focus remained on Hilton’s mental health rather than his career.
That uncertainty comes as Hilton’s longtime website has resumed publishing through his team, allowing the business he created to maintain a presence while he remains away.
Entertainment
The 10 Most Intense Superhero Movies of All Time, Ranked
Superhero movies are inescapable now, and that’s a statement one’s been able to make for a couple of decades, maybe even a quarter of a century. So, they’ve been more than inescapable just “now.” You’ll sometimes hear rumblings that they’re going away, or waning in popularity, but then bam, something like Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes out and becomes one of the highest-grossing movies ever in a matter of weeks. Like, seriously, look at how much money that thing has made… it casts doubt on the whole “superhero fatigue” thing.
So, they’re popular. And they’re often crowd-pleasing, but not always. Some of the following superhero movies have been popular, but they’re all united by being kind of dark. They’re the most intense superhero movies ever made, basically, with a mix of ones that were largely successful and popular (despite some of the bleakness contained within them) and others that were more violent and less audience-friendly.
10
‘Batman Returns’ (1992)
Batman Returns has admirably bad vibes. The first Batman movie Tim Burton helmed was sufficiently dark, and certainly more intense than most other superhero movies had been up until that point, but Batman Returns was definitely next-level. “Grotesque” feels like an appropriate adjective here, mostly thanks to the villains, and then the dark atmosphere of the first movie is made darker, too.
There is a level of camp in both movies that prevents either from being as full-on as some of the films that’ll be mentioned in a bit, but if Batman Returns wasn’t here, it would feel like too great an omission. It walked (nastily) so other ambitious, mature, and not really kid-friendly superhero movies could run (also nastily; like, big, squelchy footsteps, all through mud) later on.
9
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
Someone making the argument that Captain America: The Winter Soldier is more of a spy thriller than a superhero movie might be pushing things a little, but there is still a good deal of espionage-related thriller stuff here. It gets bigger and more superhero-y in its second half, and it is still a piece of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which might restrict it a little by way of what boundaries can be pushed, yet this does feel more dangerous than the majority of MCU movies for sure.
There is a way that Captain America: The Winter Soldier shakes up the status quo, to some extent, that is pretty neat. There’s only one other MCU movie that does more by way of disrupting the whole (generally stable) cinematic universe, and more on that one in a bit (it is definitely darker than The Winter Soldier, mostly when it comes to its ending).
8
‘Chronicle’ (2012)
Chronicle is a bit of a deconstruction of the whole superhero genre, or at least an attempt to try and do things realistically. It’s grounded, thanks to the found footage style, being about three teenagers who begin developing superpowers after coming across a strange object inside a cave. The abilities they have are fun at first, and then things inevitably get kind of bleak when one of them decides he can strike back at those who bullied him using the powers he has.
It almost feels like a stretch to label it a superhero movie, since there isn’t much by way of heroics, but Chronicle still qualifies… just. It’s good, too, and has proven to be a pretty effective time capsule for the 2010s (the first half of that decade being almost far back enough, now, to be genuinely nostalgic).
7
‘The Batman’ (2022)
Hey, another Batman movie. The Batman was yet another reboot for the character, with Robert Pattinson being yet another actor to play Bruce Wayne/Batman, and he was a surprisingly good one, too. But yeah, like Batman Returns, and at least one other Batman movie that’ll be mentioned a little later, The Batman is moody and intense, and it feels that way for a long time, too.
The Batman is long, clocking in at almost three hours. There is genuine hope at the end of it all (the last words spoken being a sincere “Take care of yourself), and Bruce Wayne/Batman’s character arc here involves moving on from being purely defined by his darkest qualities. That being said, you do get a lot of darkness and an overall very grimy feel to it all in the lead-up to that eventual catharsis, so it still feels like one of the heavier superhero movies of the last decade or so.
6
‘The Crow’ (1994)
Based on a graphic novel that’s all about grief, The Crow (1994) had to be dark. And it went dark earlier than most superhero movies, admittedly coming out after Batman Returns, but being more emotionally raw and violent than that film, mostly thanks to its R rating.
As for the story here, a man comes back from the dead, and avenges his death and that of his fiancée with supernatural powers he has post-resurrection. And there are some other things that go on, but it’s pretty focused compared to the rawer and less narrative-heavy source material. Both are very good in their own ways, though, hitting hard emotionally. Of course, what happened to Brandon Lee during the film’s production inadvertently added to that sense of heaviness… it’s hard not to think about it while watching the movie, for obvious reasons.
5
‘Super’ (2010)
While Super is technically a comedy, it’s about as dark as dark comedies get, and it also gleefully jumps around quite a lot tonally, especially by the time it reaches its final act. It’s also a deconstruction of the superhero genre, kind of like Chronicle, though going for a different thing genre-wise, obviously. Still, the approach here is more or less “Let’s do superheroes, but realistic.”
Also, Super is extra interesting to watch post-2014, since that was the year James Gunn started directing more approachable and crowd-pleasing superhero movies.
Here, the main character who aspires to be a superhero (of sorts) is going through a lot, to put it mildly, and his brutality as a vigilante is funny until it isn’t. Also, Super is extra interesting to watch post-2014, since that was the year James Gunn started directing more approachable and crowd-pleasing superhero movies, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy (even 2021’s The Suicide Squad doesn’t feel as brutal or cynical as Super).
4
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
Speaking of Guardians of the Galaxy, the characters from that are featured in Avengers: Infinity War, alongside pretty much all the heroes who’d been introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe pre-2018 (no Hawkeye or Ant-Man until the sequel – Endgame – though). Everyone is needed because the film’s antagonist is particularly powerful, and because he wants to eradicate half of all life in the universe.
Thanos is probably the best villain the whole MCU has had to date, and the one to beat going forward. Speaking of being beaten… well, you probably know what happens in Avengers: Infinity War, and why it places here. The intensity of the ending is ultimately resolved, and the cinematic universe kept marching on, but in the moment, it was one hell of a mic drop, before the mic was eventually picked up again. Still…
3
‘Watchmen’ (2009)
Watchmen is the go-to superhero/comic book deconstruction story, and it takes the idea of superheroes realistically while still being quite bold as a work of science fiction. It’s an odd line walked, but it mostly does this by taking place in an alternate history, which lets it get a bit stranger – and not as grounded – as the likes of subsequent superhero deconstructions, like Chronicle and Super.
It’s interesting to compare it to the source material, too, which feels a bit more realistic in some ways (less stylish action and characters who don’t look as Hollywood as the actors who’d go on to portray them) but then you also have to address the giant squid in the room, which is a wilder place that’s gone to narratively than where the film goes. Both the graphic novel and the movie are good, though. If that’s a hot take. It’s hard to know, nowadays.
2
‘Logan’ (2017)
The only thing that’ll cause more despair than Logan is trying to work out where it fits into the whole X-Men timeline, or chronology, or lack thereof. It’s a hopeless endeavor, fitting for a movie that feels very hopeless for 95% of its runtime, The Batman-style (with a tiny bit by way of positive emotions felt by the end of it all, though you do have to work for that small degree of catharsis).
Logan takes place in a dystopian future, with the titular character (AKA Wolverine) dealing with his body finally physically breaking down and degrading, while Charles Xavier is dealing with his mind breaking down. And the whole of society is breaking down, and mutants are going extinct and being hunted. It’s all pretty miserable, but it’s all pretty good, too, so long as you don’t mind the bleakness of it all (or so much of it, at least).
1
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Sure, lots of the previously mentioned movies are more violent than The Dark Knight, which does squeak by with a PG-13 rating (it’s one of the more intense PG-13 movies out there for sure, though), but intensity isn’t directly proportional to the level of violence in a film. The Dark Knight is just relentless with how it feels and how it’s paced, and it was a shock to the system at the time, too.
Most of the previously mentioned superhero movies also came out post-The Dark Knight, and while it’s impossible to say that it definitely influenced all of them, it probably influenced – or paved the way for – at least some of them to go to the places they did, emotionally and thematically. The darkness here isn’t as surprising now, of course, but considering how explosive and game-changing it was back in 2008, this film deserves the #1 spot here.
Entertainment
Rebel Wilson Lawsuit Connection to Blake Lively Legal Saga
As Rebel Wilson fights a Hollywood producer’s claims that she tried to damage her reputation, new legal documents have linked the legal battle to Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s now-settled It Ends With Us case.
According to documents filed with the Superior Court of the State of California on Tuesday, August 25, and obtained by Us, Amanda Ghost has provided alleged correspondence sent by Wilson, 46, to the same PR company who Lively, 39, alleged orchestrated a smear campaign against her led by Baldoni, 42.
In the documents, texts allegedly sent by Wilson to entertainment publicist Melissa Nathan, suggest that the Pitch Perfect star ordered Nathan to create anonymous websites that tarnished Ghost. (Ghost worked with Wilson on the star’s 2024 directorial debut The Deb, during which the pair experienced a falling out.)
“Question – did you receive my text for the website?” Wilson allegedly wrote to Nathan, per the text exchange. “I never received an invoice.”
Nathan’s alleged response read, “Morning, so sorry I was asleep. We have full text for the website we hadn’t heard from you – I know that it was a tough few days your end so I didn’t want to keep bugging. Your business manager has already sorted this with Bryan’s office. It will be up shortly once this is done.”
Additional emailed correspondence in Ghost’s filing appeared to show draft text for a website that appeared online in August 2024. The email included content that disparaged Ghost, labeling her “the Indian Ghislaine Maxwell,” which appeared on the site. (Maxwell, 64, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping the late businessman Jeffrey Epstein groom underage women.)

Rebel Wilson John Phillips/Getty Images
Tuesday’s court documents state that Ghost alleges that Nathan and her firm TAG PR “collectively participated in causing the publication and dissemination of websites (“Ghost Websites”) containing such accusations against Ms. Ghost as that she is involved in “procuring young women for the pleasure of the extremely wealthy.””
The documents also allege that Bryan Freedman, who represented Baldoni after Lively sued the It Ends With Us director at the end of December 2024, which resulted in a countersuit, and Jed Wallace, who was included in “text messages, depositions and legal filings as playing a key role in alleged efforts to damage” Lively’s reputation, per The New York Times.

Blake Lively Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Baldoni, Wallace and Nathan all denied Lively’s allegations and Lively’s lawsuit was settled in May.
A lawyer for Wilson told The New York Times on Tuesday that the filing was “one-sided and thus incomplete,” adding that “there are two sides to every story, and Ms. Wilson looks forward to telling her side at the trial in this disputed matter.”
Wilson is scheduled to go to trial with Ghost in Los Angeles in January 2027.
Entertainment
Vanessa Hudgens’ Dress Is Flattering on Women 35+ — The Look
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According to Vanessa Hudgens, “magic is always made with Disney.” But if you ask Us, the body-hugging dress style she wore to the Disney Entertainment Showcase is arguably the most enchanting thing we saw during the event. It’s everything dreams are made of with a gorgeous fall-ready hue, flattering details and elevated embellishments that steal the show — and we found a similar look hiding on Amazon.
The D3 Disney event drew stars from our childhood, including Anne Hathaway, the Jonas Brothers, Kristen Bell and more. And while we’re entranced by the star-studded group, our fashion radar immediately went off when Hudgens graced the stage while wearing a floor-length Bottega Veneta maxi dress outfitted with all the bells and whistles. We tracked down the exact dress, which happens to be $3,900 aka a little out of budget. However, that won’t stop Us from getting the style, not when this $33 option is ready for the taking.
Get the Valiamcep Mock-Neck Midi Dress for $33 (was $37) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The Valiamcep Mock-Neck Midi Dress is one of those pieces you’ll wear every chance you get this fall. Similar to Hudgens’ pick, it has a high neckline, comfortable bodycon fit and gold accents that elevate the dress tenfold. The main attraction is definitely the twisted ruched waist, which gathers the fabric around the smallest area of your body to give you that coveted hourglass appearance. It’s no wonder the dress is flattering on women 35 and over!
Although the dress has a bodycon silhouette, the soft and stretchy material makes it feel so comfortable while you walk, sit or dance the night away. The lightweight fabric gives off an easy-going feel that shoppers appreciate, and delivers an opaque appearance to prevent ‘oopsie’ moments. It’s honestly a gorgeous midi dress option that’s ideal for every upscale event from now through November.
Speaking of events, shoppers say this Amazon find is a great option to wear to weddings, nights out and special occasions. We can’t agree more!
A 61-year-old reviewer who wore it to a wedding said they would actually buy the style again. “I loved the ruching around the middle; for those of you who have the menopause middle . . . it’s great,” they wrote. “[I] had all the young girls complementing me.”
Meanwhile, another shopper said the dress is “so comfy, it feels like a part of your body.” And one last fan simply shared that the midi dress is “worth every penny.”
The ultra-flattering midi dress is available in so many autumnal colors, including chocolate brown, burgundy and black. However, if you want to get close to Hudgens’ look, we recommend going with the army green hue. It’s not the exact color as her designer find, but honestly, no one will be the wiser.
Now’s your chance to get the style fall dreams are made of with this mock-neck midi dress on Amazon. It proves you don’t need a Disney Channel star budget to get the look, just a keen eye and a Prime account. Before you know it, this mythical-looking dress will be at your front door. It’s just like magic!
Get the Valiamcep Mock-Neck Midi Dress for $33 (was $37) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more fall midi dresses here, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Entertainment
Influencer MacKenzie Smith Announces Split From Husband
Lifestyle influencer MacKenzie Smith has announced she is splitting from her pro surfer husband, Jeremy Johnston.
“Jeremy and I have decided to end our marriage,” the Florida-based social media star, 39, shared via Instagram on Tuesday, August 25. “The past six months have been some of the hardest of my life. I’ve been struggling physically, mentally and emotionally while navigating the biggest transition I’ve ever faced.”
The “Grilled Cheese Social” content creator continued, “Keeping something this big to myself has honestly felt really lonely. Some days have felt impossibly heavy. But other days, I can finally see little glimpses of brighter days ahead.”
Smith and Johnston, 40, share two children, daughter Poppy and son Jett.
Smith, who is also a food author and Food Network personality, did not expand as to why she has split from Jeremy, whom she married in a surprise wedding in December 2018, but did address public interest in an explanation. “I’m not going to get into the details of why. Some things are ours to work through privately, especially for our kids,” she wrote in the post. “What I will say is that I truly wish Jeremy nothing but the best. Regardless of what we’ve been through, he is the father of my children, and our kids deserve two parents who are healthy, happy and cheering them (and each other) on.”
The influencer, who boasts more than 800,000 Instagram fans alone, also explained that the split has changed her typically enthusiastic career approach and fan engagement. “A few of you have noticed things feel different and that I’ve been more absent than normal and have since reached out,” she explained. “And I truly appreciate it. I do want to say that I haven’t stayed quiet because I’m trying to pretend everything is perfect. Quite honestly, it’s felt like the exact opposite.”
She concluded of her absence, “I waited because I wanted my kids to know before the entire internet did.”
Fans took to the post’s comments section to share their sympathy for Smith’s personal news. “You have so many people who love you and are cheering you on through all of it. We got you, sweet girl!” wrote one fan. Another follower commented, “So glad you took the time to announce your way. Love you to bits.”
Just hours prior to Smith’s announcement going live, Johnston shared a message about community kindness via his own Instagram. “Just sharing a little kindness on Flagler Ave this morning because that’s what our community is all about!” he captioned a video that showed him donating clothes to locals at New Smyrna Beach.
At the time of publication, the athlete, who rarely shares content stemming from his personal life, had not publicly commented on his split from Smith.
Entertainment
Netflix Just Added One of 2025’s Biggest Hidden-Gem Spy Thrillers
When AMC acquired the rights to Anne Rice‘s two most legendary series, The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches, the company always intended to form the Immortal Universe — a collection of television shows based on Rice’s intertwined book world. The opening step toward achieving that goal, Interview with the Vampire, launched to sweeping acclaim and a recently announced Season 4. Step two, Mayfair Witches, has been less successful in general quality and adaptational terms, but has nevertheless secured an upcoming third season.
Talamasca: The Secret Order, AMC’s third and most recent spin-off, happens to be the only entry in the Immortal Universe that is essentially an original show. Members of the covert titular organization feature heavily in Rice’s supernatural catalog, but she never devoted an entire novel to their secretive inner workings. Unfortunately, Talamasca: The Secret Order is also the first spin-off to receive the cancellation death sentence. Although it contends with normal first-season growing pains, the series’ fate is a shame. Thoroughly entertaining, competently constructed, easily bingeable, and bolstered by a distinct tone and superb cast, Talamasca: The Secret Order dives into the intriguing and unexplored corners of Rice’s massive world with aplomb.
‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ Assembles a Superb Main Cast
Talamasca: The Secret Order‘s creative team, led by John Lee Hancock, builds a mythos largely authentic to Rice’s sensibilities and sets their characters not within their sister series’ Gothic opulence, but in the high-stakes world of espionage thrillers. Given the clandestine shadow that the Talamasca casts across Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, Talamasca: The Secret Order‘s experimental tone is an impressively canny idea. Hancock dabbles in suspense tropes and archetypes galore: an amateur with raw talent who’s thrown into the deep end, racing to obtain a top-secret artifact, danger lurking around every corner, infiltrating enemy headquarters, dead drops and redacted files and double agents, and a near-omniscient agency — created to monitor, study, and defend humanity from paranormal entities – that’s questionable at best and conspiratorially corrupt at worst.
From there, Talamasca: The Secret Order is a case of letting marvelous actors reel viewers in like a fish on a line. On the page, protagonist and audience surrogate Guy Anatole (Nicholas Denton), a telepath hunting down the truth about his vanished mother, could be the show’s one-note doom. Instead, Denton ensures Guy’s journey remains eminently watchable. Helen (Elizabeth McGovern), Guy’s Talamasca recruiter and the leader of their New York branch (or Mother House), glides between pragmatic leadership and her soft spot for the young man who’s prodding at her hidden wounds.
If the enticingly enigmatic witch Doris (Celine Buckens) easily shoulders the series’ late-stage emotional heft, then Olive (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), Guy’s handler, maintains the enthralling and chameleon-like energy set by her introductory scene. That said, it’s William Fichtner‘s villainous Jasper, in all his razor-precise and scenery-devouring swagger, who runs away with the entire production. Only Guy seems to keep the manipulative, vendetta-fueled, and overwhelmingly charismatic vampire on his toes. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic draws amused fondness and manipulative vulnerability from Jasper — which is quite an intoxicating combination.
‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ Carves Out an Intriguing Corner of AMC’s Immortal Universe
Talamasca: The Secret Order might not have taken off with as much ferocity as hoped, but its easily correctable flaws (overly predictable beats, heavy-handed dialogue, logistical leaps, inconsistent pacing) only need a little extra finesse to cross the finish line. Its tantalizing concepts, the ones present within Rice’s creative milieu that Interview and Mayfair are limited to lightly touching upon, merit further development. After all, the late author’s sandbox includes more creatures than vampires and witches — not to mention other realms.
Furthermore, the show itself teases worthwhile material surrounding Guy’s mother, vampire experimentation, and the agency’s inherent flaws (tormenting children, molding their targets into loyal-at-all-costs soldiers, murdering their own to cover their tracks, how and why they intervene on behalf of humanity’s supposed protection). Even when it wobbles into clumsy patches, Talamasca‘s strongest qualities deserved more time to secure the show’s identity and accumulate a bigger audience.
Talamasca: The Secret Order
- Release Date
-
2025 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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AMC
- Showrunner
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John Lee Hancock, Mark Lafferty
- Directors
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Eva Sørhaug
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Nicholas Denton
Guy Anatole
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