Heather Graham is about to have quite a spooky couple of months. On October 7, she’ll appear as part of the cast of Mike Flanagan‘s modernized Stephen King adaptation, Carrie, on Prime Video, playing the mother of vicious mean girl Chris Hargensen. Before that, however, the veteran actress of Boogie Nights and Drugstore Cowboy fame is taking on one of the most famous reported cases of paranormal activity in U.S. history. What Happened to Doris? makes its world premiere at the 21st iteration of Fantastic Fest this month and casts Graham as single mother Doris Bither, who was allegedly violently assaulted by an unseen entity in her Culver City home in 1974.

As part of Collider’s Exclusive Preview series, we can share a new image from the horror flick that shows Graham looking deeply uncomfortable in her home. Knowing the reality of what happened there gives the wide shot of her alone at the table, pencil in hand, a sense of dread that this normal home could become a house of horrors at any moment. In the real-life case, also known as the Entity haunting, Bither claimed to have experienced torment from one or more invisible beings escalating to incidents of physical and sexual assault. Enter investigators from UCLA’s parapsychology department, who, over a ten-week period, repeatedly visited the home and documented a series of inexplicable and deeply terrifying events that ranged from reported poltergeist activity to strange, floating lights. Over the years, the findings and Bither’s claims have been subject to heavy scrutiny, though no conclusion has ever been officially reached.

What Happened to Doris? will re-explore the infamous case through the family’s eyes as the supernatural terror unfolds all around them and reckoning with the cost of refusing to believe the victim of it all. Nick Simon, who previously helmed the 2021 horror-comedy Untitled Horror Movie, directed the feature from a screenplay by Thomas Fenton, best known for his work on the story of Saw IV. The cast is led by a 1998 Lost in Space reunion, as Graham is joined by her fellow former Robinson and recent Bosch: Legacy star, Mimi Rogers. Also on board are Absentia alum Morgan Peter Brown, Smile‘s Kevin Keppy, and, in a re-team with Simon after co-writing and starring in Untitled Horror Movie, Luke Baines.

‘What Happened to Doris?’ Builds on a Horror Legacy

The Bither case is already cemented in horror history thanks to Sydney J. Furie‘s 1982 film, The Entity, starring Barbara Hershey. Frank De Felitta adapted the screenplay to the supernatural classic from his own 1978 novel of the same name, which drew heavily on the real-life haunting. Just over ten years ago, it was also close to getting a remake with horror maestro James Wan and producer extraordinaire Roy Lee producing, but nothing ever came of it. While the framework will be similar to the book and film, What Happened to Doris? aims to more faithfully recreate the original story, focusing on the real people victimized and the researchers who found terror in the search for answers.

What Happened to Doris? will world premiere at Fantastic Fest, which runs from September 17 through 24 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas. Check out our exclusive image above and stay tuned here at Collider for more early looks at the genre event’s hottest premieres. Visit the official Fantastic Fest film guide for more information.

The Labor Day weekend is a great time to catch up on some movies you may have missed the first time around — or favorites you want to watch again.

Netflix has plenty of great films that fit that bill, and Watch With Us has three near-perfect flicks to stream over the long weekend.

If you want something fun, funny and frivolous, Neighbors does the trick. The Seth Rogen/Zac Efron comedy is popular for a reason, and it delivers enough laughs to make you forget about your own noisy neighbors.

There are no laughs in Cruel Intentions, only schemes, broken hearts courtesy of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s devious villain and late ‘90s needle drops that still hit that sweet nostalgic spot. (Shout out to The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony”!)

Finally, September is the unofficial start of spooky season, and what better way to begin it than by watching the excellent horror sequel, Smile 2?

‘Neighbors’ (2014)

It’s every homeowner’s worst fear — bad neighbors. And that nightmare becomes a reality for Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne), who are already at their wit’s end raising their newborn daughter. When bros Teddy (Zac Efron) and Pete (Dave Franco) and their fraternity move next door, their all-night partying is too much for the sleep-deprived war. But their innocuous request to Teddy to keep the noise down begins a slow-burning conflict that quickly spirals into all-out war between the two neighbors. Can Mac and Teddy find common ground, or will their differences prevent them from ever enjoying a beautiful — and quiet — day in their neighborhood?

Related: New on Netflix in September 2026 — The Full List of Movies and Shows

September marks the official start of the fall season, and Netflix wants to keep you inside from the colder temperatures. You won’t need much convincing to cozy up in front of the TV due to the sheer amount of great new Netflix movies and TV shows in September. Ryan Murphy returns for another Monster season, […]

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Neighbors is the perfect comedy to watch over the Labor Day weekend. The jokes are universal and effortless, with a good mix of physical comedy and verbal wordplay. Plus, Rogen and Byrne are a good comedy team; to paraphrase a famous quote about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Byrne gives him class, and Rogen gives her enough sex jokes to crack when you least expect it. As the alpha male next door, Efron has fun lampooning his heartthrob image. A slightly inferior yet still fun sequel, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, is also available to stream on Netflix.

Neighbors is streaming on Netflix.

‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999)

Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) has nothing in common with his new stepsister, Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar), except for one thing – they have no morals at all. That allows them to play cruel games on people like Cecile (Selma Blair), but when Kathryn bets Sebastian can’t seduce the virginal Annette (Reese Witherspoon), something changes. Sebastian actually falls in love with Annette, which isn’t part of Kathryn’s plans. She’s willing to do anything to get what she wants, even if that means exposing Sebastian for who he truly is to the gullible Annette.

A loose remake of the French 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cruel Intentions is a sexy and deliberately campy teen drama that does its source material justice. Sebastian and Kathryn’s social scheming is perfect in a high school setting, and the film is the most fun when its two no-good protagonists try to one-up each other in the nasty department. Gellar makes the most of her villainous seductress, while Phillippe and Witherspoon have enough chemistry to make you believe they are a couple in real life. (They married two months after this film came out).

Cruel Intentions is streaming on Netflix.

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‘Smile 2’ (2024)

Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is a pop star on the brink of falling apart. She’s still recovering from her boyfriend’s death in a car accident when she witnesses her drug dealer friend, Lewis (Lukas Gage), kill himself right in front of her. If that wasn’t bad enough, Skye thinks Lewis passed along something to her when he died — something evil. As Skye’s sanity begins to fracture, she becomes increasingly convinced an entity is stalking her and won’t stop until she, too, kills herself.

Of course, we all know Skye is right — she’s the star of Smile 2, the sequel to the 2022 hit about a supernatural entity that can transfer from person to person. Like any good sequel, Smile 2 raises the stakes, with Skye battling the invisible demonic force in increasingly public places like meet-and-greets and even a climactic concert filled with thousands of fans — and potential victims. What makes Smile 2 truly special — and even better than the original — is Scott’s committed, go-for-broke performance. She really convinces you she’s losing her mind, so much so that you want to check on how she’s doing after the film is over. Now that’s good acting!

Smile 2 is streaming on Netflix.

JWoww has shared her first day of school moment with her kids amid her hospitalization for a kidney infection and appendicitis.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Jodeci Singer Mr. Dalvin Asks Fans To Pray For T-Boz As She Reportedly Experiences Sickle Cell Anemia Flare-Up (VIDEO)

JWoww Shares First Day Of School Moment With Kids Amid Hospitalization For Kidney Infection & Appendicitis

On Thursday, September 3, JWoww took to Instagram to share a carousel post with a lengthy caption. In the caption, she wrote, “Not the ‘first day of school’ picture I wanted to post… but then again, I guess we wouldn’t have one. ❤️.”

From there, she went on to explain that the past week had been “one of the hardest weeks” of her life. Furthermore, she explained that she’s spent “every day” fighting a “horrible kidney infection and appendicitis.”

“I want to say it came out of nowhere, but the truth is, I haven’t felt like myself for months. Weight loss, exhaustion, constantly feeling off… and then last Friday, my body finally said, ‘We aren’t making it like this anymore,’” she continued.

At that point, she acknowledged that the first-day routine with her kids wasn’t normal. But they do have a memory they will never forget.

“What I am going through is temporary. For some families, something happened this summer that may have changed their lives forever. Some kids are walking into school carrying grief, illness at home, divorce, financial struggles, a new diagnosis, or something none of us can see… You never know what someone is carrying behind closed doors. Our first-day picture looks a little different this year, but we have one. And right now, I’m incredibly grateful for that. ❤️ Here’s to a new school year. May our kids be safe, successful, and above all else… kind,” she concluded.

Social Media Reacts To Her First Day Of School Moment Amid Kidney Infection & Appendicitis

Social media users reacted to JWoww’s first day of school moment with her kids amid her kidney infection and appendicitis in TSR’s comment section.

JWoww Isn’t The Only Celebrity Current Hospitalized

JWoww isn’t the only celebrity who recently faced hospitalization. As The Shade Room previously reported, Jodeci singer Dalvin DeGrate took to social media earlier this month. This, to share a message with fans. In a video clip, he explained that T-Boz was hospitalized and asked fans to send their prayers.

More recently, a representative for TLC shared a statement about T-Boz’s hospitalization and current condition.

RELATED: UPDATE: TLC Representative Shares Statement Amid T-Boz’s Missed Concerts & Hospitalization For Sickle Cell Anemia Flare-Up

Cami Chan never expected to make a living online. In fact, when she first encountered the world of adult content, she was firmly against the idea. Her route there began somewhere considerably more innocent: cosplay.

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Chan started posting on TikTok in 2019, sharing safe-for-work cosplay content for fun. At the time, she had completed high school, tried studying to become a veterinary technician, and eventually left college while dealing with health problems.

She had also worked at Kroger, an experience she remembers less for the job itself than for how disposable she felt while struggling with her health. “I didn’t really see a direction in my life,” Chan said of that period.

In 2020, after watching other creators experiment with subscription platforms, she decided to try OF herself. What began as an uncertain attempt to find another way forward eventually became a full-time career built around cosplay, social media, and a highly engaged online audience.

Today, Chan says she has more than two million followers across platforms and currently averages around $50,000 a month, with her biggest month reaching $80,000.

Cami Chan Built Her Audience Through Cosplay

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Despite the scale of her online presence, cosplay remains at the center of Chan’s identity as a creator.
She is active across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, X, and Snapchat. TikTok is primarily reserved for safe-for-work cosplay, while Instagram gives her more room for casual content and staged skits. She describes Instagram as her biggest money-making social platform.

Her interest in cosplay is not simply a device for attracting an audience. Chan is an anime fan and gamer herself, particularly drawn to gacha games including Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Many of the characters she dresses as come directly from games she already plays.

For Chan, the appeal is rooted in escapism. “Dressing up as them helps me escape this reality,” she said. “I just like to feel pretty, and like I am that character.”

She believes many cosplay fans are chasing a similar feeling. Rather than viewing their fascination with fictional characters entirely from the outside, she understands it because she has experienced those attachments herself. That authenticity may also help explain the longevity of part of her audience.

Chan says some of her most dedicated followers have been around since 2019, before she ever joined OF. “They’ve seen my personality over the years and realized that I’m a real person with feelings and a goal,” she said.

The Work Behind a Single Costume

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The finished image can make cosplay appear effortless. Chan argues that the reality is considerably less glamorous. A custom request can involve makeup, styling a wig, finding and fitting the outfit, accessories, and then actually producing the content while wearing it.

She says she would charge thousands of dollars for particularly involved custom cosplay work because of the time and effort required. “It’s a lot more work than they realize,” she said.

There is another recurring feature of Chan’s costumes: heels. At 5-foot-1, she originally began wearing dramatic heels because she thought they improved the proportions and overall appearance of her costumes. Over time, followers became increasingly interested in them. She now estimates that she owns close to 100 pairs.

The collection is practical by creator standards. Chan says she generally buys inexpensive pairs rather than spending thousands on designer shoes, even when followers suggest particular styles. Her larger collecting habit is reserved for the fictional worlds behind the costumes.

She says she has spent well over $10,000 on figures from anime and games, alongside a Pokémon card collection that has cost her a few thousand dollars. Much of the money she earns, she said, ultimately goes back into creating content, particularly costumes and accessories.

Millions of Views Can Still Feel Lonely

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Online attention has occasionally arrived in ways even Chan cannot explain. One video from 2023 reached roughly 40 million views before later disappearing from her account, which Chan believes happened after it was flagged. The premise was remarkably simple: while she was driving, her then-boyfriend repeatedly snapped her sock against her thigh as she became visibly annoyed. “I don’t even know,” she recalls of its extraordinary reach.

Yet millions of views and followers have not necessarily produced a large social circle. Chan moved frequently and changed schools during childhood, and says she never developed a lasting friendship group in high school.

Today, almost everyone she knows socially is involved in content creation, but she remains cautious about confusing industry acquaintances with genuine friends. “It is still pretty lonely being a content creator because you don’t know who’s using you for views and followers or who actually views you as a friend,” she said.

For someone whose livelihood depends on being seen, that distinction between visibility and connection has become increasingly important.

When Online Attention Crosses Into Real Life

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There is also a more unsettling consequence to being recognizable online. Chan says she is regularly recognized at anime conventions, but deliberately avoids personal interactions with subscribers when possible because of safety concerns. She says she has experienced stalking, including an incident in which someone managed to identify her family’s home from old cosplay photographs.

The images had been taken when Chan was around 13 or 14 and included recognizable details of the property in the background. She believes someone used those visual clues to locate the address. The person subsequently found her grandmother’s email address and sent her a link to Chan’s Patreon.

The experience changed the stakes of maintaining a public identity. It also explains why Chan draws a clear boundary between the character people encounter online and access to her private life. Even seemingly minor convention interactions can feel different when viewed against that history.

Four Cats and a Life Mostly Lived at Home

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Away from conventions and content shoots, Chan’s preferred lifestyle is considerably quieter than her online reach might suggest. Although she travels around the United States for conventions, she describes herself as a “huge introvert” and prefers being at home in a controlled environment. She lives with four cats, which provide their own form of chaos.”There’s always somebody throwing up,” she joked. “There’s always somebody screaming for food.”

One of her earliest significant purchases after beginning to earn money online was a Ragdoll cat. “I prefer to have him over a Lamborghini,” she said. It is a fitting detail for a career that has rarely followed the obvious route. Chan went from feeling directionless and leaving college to building an audience around the fictional characters, games and costumes she already loved.

The platforms have changed, the audience has grown and the business surrounding the content has become more complicated. But cosplay, the hobby that started the entire journey, is still at the center of Cami Chan’s online world.

Inde Navarrette is continuing her rapid rise in Hollywood, signing on to both star in and executive produce Apple Original Films’ upcoming sci-fi thriller The Waffle House Index.

Apple has acquired the project, which will come from Apple Studios with Plan B Entertainment producing. Louis Paxtonis set to direct from a screenplay written by Andrew Nunnelly.

For Navarrette, the project represents another major step forward following the massive success of Obsession, while also giving the actress a significant role behind the camera as an executive producer.

A Waffle House, Killer Crocodiles and Aliens

Despite its unusual title, The Waffle House Index appears ready to take audiences on an even stranger ride than its name suggests.

The film centers on a Waffle House waitress whose already difficult night takes a dangerous turn when an armed stranger arrives during her shift.

From there, things escalate dramatically.

Inde Navarrette for Schön!

The story reportedly involves a massive flood, killer crocodiles, a nuclear explosion, a mysterious bunker beneath the Waffle House and even aliens, combining elements of disaster movies, survival thrillers and science fiction into one ambitious story.

The title itself is inspired by the real-world “Waffle House Index,” an informal method of measuring the severity of a natural disaster based on whether local Waffle House restaurants are able to remain operational.

The concept generally uses three levels. Green indicates a restaurant is operating normally, yellow signals limited service or supplies, while red means the restaurant has closed entirely and conditions in the surrounding area could be severe.

That real-world concept appears to serve as the jumping-off point for a movie that quickly ventures into much bigger sci-fi territory.

Navarrette’s Breakout Run Continues

The Waffle House Index arrives as Navarrette continues what has become a breakout period in her career.

She currently stars as Nikki Freeman in Obsession, the horror thriller that became a major theatrical success after earning strong attention following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Navarrette’s performance has also generated awards attention, with Focus Features reportedly preparing a Best Actress Oscar campaign for the actress.

Her career is expanding well beyond Obsession.

Navarrette has also landed the role of Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men film and is attached to the upcoming horror project Invertigo.

Before her recent run of major film roles, Navarrette appeared as Estela de la Cruz in 13 Reasons Why and played Sarah Cushing on Superman & Lois. Her other credits include Trap House and Wander Darkly.

Now, The Waffle House Index gives Navarrette the opportunity to take another major step in her career by serving as both the film’s leading star and an executive producer.

Apple has not yet announced a release date for The Waffle House Index.

Tyler Cameron is preparing to test his dance experience against the demands of “Dancing With The Stars.”

The 33-year-old reality star earned a dance minor while attending Wake Forest University. He originally entered dance classes after failing his first semester to help raise his GPA.

Tyler Cameron played college football alongside longtime friend Matt James, who later competed on the dance show himself. He will compete alongside Sharna Burgess on “Dancing With the Stars.”

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Cameron said his dance education began because his grades needed to improve immediately. His coach told him to take dance classes after he failed his first semester of college. His classes included ballet and jazz, despite his insistence that he was not naturally talented.

The dancer joked that he was surrounded by 30 women and compared the experience to becoming the Bachelor early.  “None of the girls paid any interest in me,” He admitted to the podcast host, Amanda Hirsch.

“But I was in there giving maximum effort and giving the worst pirouettes and, like, the worst ballet dances ever,” he added. He revealed he was simply there to have fun rather than pursue professional dance training. The experience 

Improved his GPA. Years later, Cameron returned to dancing through the 2022 series “The Real Dirty Dancing.” The show paired celebrities for ballroom routines inspired by the classic movie. That experience eventually became another part of the dance history he brings to “DWTS.”

The ‘Bachelor Nation’ Star Says His Experience Is Nothing Like ‘The Real Deal’

Cameron doesn’t believe his earlier dance experience should lead fans to assume he is already prepared for “DWTS.” He specifically compared his time on “The Real Dirty Dancing” with the much larger challenge ahead.

According to US Magazine, he said the difference between the two experiences is enormous. “I will say that is like one-fifth of what we’re doing here,” Cameron said on the “Get Real” podcast. He acknowledged that the earlier show was enjoyable and taught him some things about dancing.

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The “Bachelor Nation” fan favorite explained that “The Real Dirty Dancing” lasted only about two weeks. By comparison, “Dancing With the Stars” demands much more of its celebrity contestants.

“That was, like, a two-week show, but this is the real deal,” he declared. Cameron’s comments came shortly after his Season 35 casting was announced. He will compete for the Len Goodman Memorial Mirrorball Trophy alongside professional partner Burgess.

More From The Blast

Jenna Johnson Has A Different Take On The Ringer Debate

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Johnson recently pushed back against the idea that trained contestants automatically enter the competition with an unfair edge. She argued that ballroom presents challenges that previous dance training cannot completely prepare contestants for.

The Professional dancer pointed to the pressure of performing live before millions of viewers as one major obstacle. Contestants also have only a few days to learn ballroom techniques while handling themes, characters, and judges’ expectations.

With no second chances once the cameras roll, she believes every celebrity faces a new experience. Johnson, who debuted on “DWTS” in 2014, said ballroom dancing requires specific techniques and partnering skills that other dance styles may not provide. 

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The choreographer also noted that athletic stamina, acting ability, musicality, and fan support can give contestants different advantages. “I understand when people are like, oh, you know, dance experience, whatever. Who cares!” Johnson said.

“This is the first time they’re ever doing Dancing with the Stars,” she added, stressing that the competition itself remains unfamiliar, as shared by The Blast.

Julia Stiles Of ‘Save The Last Dance’ Comes With Her Dance Experience Too

Stiles is also joining the competition after becoming famous for her role in the dance movie “Save the Last Dance.” She played Sara Johnson, a classically trained ballet dancer who discovers hip-hop while pursuing her dream of attending Juilliard. However, she did not have formal dance training before taking the role.

She had only danced casually and taken brief ballet lessons when she was younger. To portray Sara convincingly, Stiles underwent months of intensive dance training before filming began. She described the choreography as challenging and daunting because she was not a professional dancer.

Stiles later called dancing the best thing about making the movie, despite the difficulty. She also revealed that she has long been a fan of “Dancing With the Stars.”

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In 2025, she called the show her version of Monday Night Football and admitted she had considered participating. As The Blast reported, she had previously worried that living in New York City would make joining the competition difficult.

While Tyler Cameron Is Embracing The Ballroom, Andy Cohen Says No To ‘Dancing With The Stars’

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The Bravo executive, Cohen, revealed that producers previously asked him to join “Dancing With the Stars.” He has remained firmly opposed to turning his dancing into televised entertainment. His comments came after people posted clips of him dancing at Dead shows and mocked his moves on TikTok.

Cohen made his position clear with a simple request. “Let me dance in peace,” Cohen said while explaining why he has no interest in competing. He has spent two decades building his career around the “Real Housewives” franchise and remains more comfortable behind the scenes.

His work involves hosting, reunions, and casting rather than learning choreography and facing elimination. Cohen’s refusal places him among several celebrities who have rejected the ballroom for their own reasons. The Blast also noted that John Stamos has repeatedly declined invitations. 

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“Dancing with the Stars” dance pro Witney Carson is not only a mom with a busy career, but also expecting her third baby with multiple projects heading her way. 

Carson recently teamed up with Chevron ahead of Labor Day, when many take road trips. She sat down with The Blast to share some of her road trip memories, favorite part about the partnership, what it’s like being pregnant for the third time with two little ones at home, and what’s next for her in her career.

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For Carson, many great memories are tied to family road trips, so partnering with Chevron ahead of a long weekend felt like a good fit for her.

“My family and I do a lot of traveling. We do a lot of planes, but when we really want to have an adventure, we do road trips. We rented a jeep in Australia, we took a big road trip up to this cabin in Idaho, and we just took a road trip to Huntington,” Carson told The Blast exclusively. “So for us, it’s really more of an adventure, and so when this opportunity with Chevron came about, it just felt like a very seamless partnership.” 

Carson added that learning about the technology of Techron has been enjoyable for her, and it’s something that impresses her husband.

“The technology is amazing. It actually cleans your engine from low quality fuel over time so it actually helps with your mileage. It also helps the longevity of your cars,” she said. “This has really opened my eyes as well to what I could be doing for my car and for my mileage. And my husband is very impressed. He’s a mechanical engineer so he’s worked on cars his entire life. So it’s been really fun to be able to partner with them and we’re really excited to get people out and about and spending time with their family on road trips.” 

Tips To Make Your Family Road Trips A Little More Adventurous

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When asked for some tips to make a family road trip more fun, Carson said it’s all about making some stops along the way.

“I feel like people are always like, ‘We’re going straight there, no stopping.’ It actually makes it a lot more fun if you do stop. We always try to find cute little cafes or a cute little shop in a random town we’re driving through,” she shared. “And we’ll make a little pit stop and just find fun things along the way to do together as a family making it just that much more fun and makes the adventure.”

A Core Memory For Witney Carson

Carson vividly remembers her childhood family road trips and she’s hoping for the same with her kids. She shared that when she was a child, her parents would wake everyone up in the middle of the night to start their road trip, and that’s become a core memory for Carson.

“They would just pile us in the car, put our blankets on, and drive us to Disneyland,” she said. “So, I want to do that with my kids. They’re still a bit young, but that was my favorite memory growing up – being able to just get on the road, drive to Disneyland in the middle of the night, and then wake up and we were in Disneyland. So, I think that would be fun for my kids to experience, too.” 

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‘Dancing With The Stars’ Memories

Spending more than a decade on “DWTS,” Carson has a lot of great memories. Stepping into “Dancing with the Stars: Next Pro,” she shared why this next chapter has been so special to her.

“It means so much. These contestants and these dancers are so talented. They are beautiful in what they do, and this whole show is incredible,” she told The Blast. “It’s giving someone an opportunity to completely change their lives. It was a big deal for us pros coming in to judge them.”

She explained that while she loves judging and giving feedback, eliminating someone was “really hard” for her. At the end of the day, she said it was “an honor to be part of three episodes.” She also got to co-host the finale. 

When asked if she has a favorite former dance partner from “DWTS,” she said that’s like “picking a favorite sibling.” 

“That is really hard to do,” she said. “I’ve been really lucky that all my partners have been really kind and really amazing. I have my favorites, but I’ll keep that to myself so I don’t get blasted.”

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Advice Witney Carson Would Give Her Younger Self

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From the time Carson started out on “Dancing with the Stars” to now, she’s learned a lot. One piece of advice she would give her younger self now having gone through the full experience is to “embrace the experience and celebrate in the small successes.” 

“When I first started out, it was very much trying to prove something and I was very competitive. I had to prove myself, which is not a bad thing, but I think in some cases, I definitely lost bits of myself in that because I was so focused on winning or getting something,” she said. “So my advice would be just truly embrace the experience and celebrate in the small successes.”

She added that despite the show being all about winning, it goes deeper than that. 

“It’s about growing yourself and helping your partner grow,” she said. “Not only in dance, but also as a person. I’ve learned so much each season. I would truly say just to enjoy the experience instead of only having a winning mentality.”

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Netflix has released plenty of original shows, so many, in fact, that over the years it has been quite hard to say which of the platform’s bounty truly feels essential. Some have grown into massive hits; others have helped define the platform’s status as iconic, while the quieter picks prove that even the most underrated of the streaming service’s options are still necessary must-watches that should be marked down on an avid Netflix fan’s bucket list.

Shows like the underrated sci-fi masterpiece, Sense8, which is truly astonishing for both its story and global setting, and the crime drama Narcos, which is a Netflix original that helped shape the expectations for the platform, are just two examples of the kind of shows subscribers should experience at least once in their lives. Compiled on this list are great series that have proved they are incredibly essential Netflix watches that fans should definitely place on their bucket lists.

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‘Kingdom’ (2019–2020)

Image via Netflix

This underrated Netflix series is one that deserves far more attention than it has received since its release. Set in Korea’s Joseon era, Kingdom follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), who grows suspicious when access to his gravely ill father is blocked, and he is rumored to be dead, only for a resurrection plague to steal his attention while he attempts to save and protect his people.

Kingdom is easily one of Netflix’s greatest international genre discoveries, marking it as a perfect addition to this list of essential watches on the streaming platform. It is no ordinary zombie series; in fact, its undead are not simply monsters dropped into a thrilling period setting, but part of a much larger story about class, inequality, survival, political corruption, and the dangerous lengths humans in power will go to protect their seat high above others. Kingdom is no doubt underwatched and has an extremely short run, but it stands as the perfect obscure masterpiece to add to any fan’s bucket list.

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‘Squid Game’ (2021–2025)

Image via Netflix

Squid Game is a true icon in its own right, with its first season being the head-turning phenomenon that sparked entertaining reality TV adaptations, worldwide fascination, and countless pop-culture references. The show centers around Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who, because of his heavy debt, accepts an invitation to compete with hundreds of other financially struggling strangers in seemingly ordinary children’s games, only to find that though winning brings him closer to a huge cash prize, losing means certain death.

Though there are a lot of mixed feelings about the show’s later seasons, Squid Game is a series that, quite frankly, momentarily broke the world as viewers focused on the captivating and very deadly games featured in the series. It’s the perfect watch for any subscriber’s bucket list because its first season remains one of Netflix’s most-watched non-English television seasons. While Squid Game definitely lost some of its momentum, its visual iconography, scale, and class critiques make it a Netflix bucket list essential.

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‘The Queen’s Gambit’ (2020)

Image via Everett Collection

This limited series belongs on every Netflix fan’s bucket list because it was good enough to spark an intense passion for the game of chess upon its release. The Queen’s Gambit focuses on orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), whose skill brings her fame while her addiction and loneliness threaten to consume her completely.

The Queen’s Gambit has grown increasingly underwatched since its release, but it was once dubbed one of the platform’s most popular dramas. The show artfully takes a subject that could feel pretty cold and distant, and makes it emotional, stylish, and surprisingly suspenseful. The Queen’s Gambit is no doubt one of the most binge-worthy series on Netflix, a seven-episode crowd-pleaser that refuses to flatten tough topics. The epic drama is a true masterpiece that definitely earns its place on this list of fantastic watches.

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‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Image via Netflix

Narcos is a beloved crime drama that feels almost like a requirement to dive into once viewers have access to it. The addictive crime saga follows the rise and fall of drug kingpins, political corruption, law enforcement, and the extreme violence surrounding the cocaine trade. Across its three seasons, the series traces figures such as Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) and the Cali Cartel while following the DEA agents and officials trying to dismantle their sprawling operations.

Narcos is a truly essential crime drama, as it helped define what ambitious Netflix originals could look like on a more international scale. It’s honestly one of the easiest recommendations for lovers of crime television, and with its genuinely cinematic feel, it makes for pretty bingeworthy material. With both its scale and momentum, Narcos’ enticing mix of thriller, crime drama, and historical detail stands as the kind of addictive viewing experience every Netflix fan should dive headfirst into.

6

‘Black Mirror’ (2011–Present)

This iconic sci-fi show is an extremely important addition to any Netflix fan’s bucket list because it definitely changed how viewers think about modern anthology television. Black Mirror offers different stories in each episode, often using the media, surveillance, technology, and digital obsession to reveal something pretty disturbing about humanity as a whole.

Black Mirror is no doubt a rather bleak and disturbing show, but somehow it becomes grossly addictive to most viewers who take a chance on it. The show’s anthology structure permits masterful experiments that more conventional dramas cannot hope to sustain. With the series moving from political satire and horror to romantic drama and detective fiction, the sci-fi phenomenon constantly reinvents itself, ensuring that audiences never grow bored. Bucket lists practically need Black Mirror, because every episode works, and the best ones change how mainstream viewers view themselves and the world around them.

5

‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)

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The Crown is an extremely elegant and expensive-looking Netflix gem that proves how brilliantly the platform can turn history into a truly lavish spectacle. The historical drama follows Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) across decades, exploring monarchy, marriage, duty, public image, and private sacrifice.

What makes The Crown such an essential Netflix series is how brilliantly it balances personal conflict with grandeur. With its impressive settings, lush costumes, and compelling political events, the series wields a captivating quality that makes just one episode simply feel like it could never be enough. The Crown is truly one of the streaming platform’s most polished beauties that has definitely earned its spot at the top of any fan’s bucket list. With its lasting appeal as it transforms modern royal history into a sweeping character study, The Crown easily earns its spot among the other great essentials Netflix watches on this list.

4

‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–2020)

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This beloved animated series is worthy of any Netflix fan’s bucket list because, though it may be bleak, its dark humor, drama, and lessons make it the perfect addition. BoJack Horseman focuses on the washed-up former sitcom star, BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett), who is living comfortably but miserably in Hollywood while he attempts to reignite his fame. Unfortunately, he struggles excessively with addiction, depression, and loneliness, making life seem much harder than it should.

BoJack Horseman is pretty strange, but also impressively entertaining. It may seem like a pretty surreal adult cartoon about a talking horse, but the show’s brilliance truly shines through its exploration of trauma, self-destruction, accountability, and whether people can truly change. Even with its quieter episodes, BoJack Horseman remains a near-perfect series for its use of emotional honesty, sharp humor, and deeply flawed characters, marking it as a memorable animated experience that every fan owes themselves to discover.

3

‘Sense8’ (2015–2018)

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Sense8 is probably one of the quieter necessary watches on this list as it has long since ended, with not too many subscribers knowing it even exists despite the show’s genuinely cinematic status. The sci-fi masterpiece follows eight strangers across the globe who discover they are emotionally and mentally connected, sharing feelings, skills, intimacy, and of course, danger.

Sense8 is one of those series that sticks with its viewers for a very long time after the final credits roll. It’s a true hidden sci-fi gem on the streaming platform that celebrates identity while exploring differences, culture, empathy, sexuality, connection, loneliness, and chosen family. With its incredibly cinematic setting, beloved characters, and drama-filled plot, Sense8 stands as one of Netflix’s most ambitious series that truly belongs on every fan’s bucket list for its extremely emotional storytelling.

2

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

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This meticulously planned sci-fi series begins as a missing-person mystery but seamlessly evolves into a rigorously structured science-fiction family saga. Set in the German town of Winden, Dark follows the disappearance of a child, which forces several families in the town to confront their generational secrets.

Dark is an easy recommendation for any fan’s bucket list because it quite aggressively rewards viewers for paying close attention to detail. The series is seriously complex, and with Ben Frost’s oppressive music and the show’s somber cinematography, the puzzle mechanics never become sterile. Dark is genuinely great: it has a truly unforgettable atmosphere, intricate mysteries, and a carefully constructed timeline that only grows more impressive as the series goes on, marking it a bucket-list-worthy addition for Netflix subscribers.

1

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)

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Stranger Things is an iconic essential Netflix watch that honestly helped define the platform’s entire original series era. Set in 1980s Indiana, the series centers around a group of kids, teens, and adults after the traumatic disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp). When the group of individuals finds themselves facing secret government experiments, a terrifying alternate dimension, and a mysterious girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Will’s disappearance quickly becomes the beginning of many supernatural events to come.

There is definitely a silent requirement for all subscribers to dive headfirst into the five-season series Stranger Things. It’s a genuine phenomenon whose bucket-list status comes from how effectively it delivers horror, adventure, nostalgia, and coming-of-age drama, all without losing the wholesome friendships at its core. Across its run, Stranger Things remains truly entertaining, making the series the perfect sci-fi series to not only add to one’s bucket list but also to binge in a solid week.

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Stranger Things

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Release Date

2016 – 2025-00-00

Network

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Netflix

Directors

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz

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As we head into the final quarter of 2026, film fans and critics have already begun compiling their lists of favorites. So, too, have prognosticators started to whittle away at those films that will likely appear on Oscar shortlists next year, and the biggest box office successes of the year are already becoming clear. Lots of movies, lots of things being said about them.

Between all those blockbusters and critical darlings are lots of other films that no one is talking about. Alternative movies. genre movies, experimental movies, brilliant movies—you name it. These projects somehow failed to capture much of the public imagination but are readily available to watch right now. They may have fallen through the cracks, but these movies released wide in 2026 are brilliant, and no one is talking about them.

‘Blue Film’ (2026)

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Given a proper wide release this year after screening at several festivals in 2025, Blue Film is a small-scale but massively effective character-driven thriller. The title refers to a term used in the 20th century to refer to taboo or pornographic films, and it likewise pushes boundaries and strains the comfort level of the audience. It’s a film made from a distinctly queer point of view and modern context, made all the more powerful because of it.

The film follows Aaron (Kieron Moore), a camboy whose night with an older client takes a turn when it comes to light that they have a shared history. Things go from awkward to disturbing from there. Blue Film digs deep into sexuality, trauma, and even darker subject matter, to great effect. It pushes all the buttons it means to, but not in a manner that is thoughtless or exploitative; rather, it’s thought-provoking and insightful, not to mention eerie. Viewers who haven’t seen Blue Film should do so unspoiled and with an open mind; the experience is worth it.

‘Carolina Caroline’ (2026)

Image via Magnolia Pictures

Another thriller that premiered at film festivals in 2025 before being given a wider release this year, Carolina Caroline is a lovers-on-the-lam throwback. It calls to mind films like Badlands and Bonnie and Clyde, and while it doesn’t break any new ground in the subgenre, it doesn’t need to; instead, it succeeds thanks to the strong performances and dynamic chemistry of its two leads.

Both Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner have carved out their own distinct niches in genre films, especially horror. They are electric together here as a gas station attendant and a con man who ride their own crime wave across the American South. Carolina Caroline has plenty of atmosphere and Southern Gothic thrills, but it’s the connection between Weaving and Gallner that helps it stand tall alongside the great films that preceded it.

‘The Christophers’ (2026)

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Prolific filmmaker Steven Soderbergh seems to always have at least one film a year that flies under the radar, whether it be the 2021 crime thriller No Sudden Move or last year’s ghostly apparition film Presence. This year that film is the darkly comedic The Christophers, which was released back in April to little fanfare. It’s a quiet caper that’s again further proof of Soderbergh’s ability as a genre chameleon.

Julian (Ian McKellen) is a famed but faded artist, whose greedy children hire younger artist Lori (Michaela Coel) to surreptitiously finish his final paintings so they can sell them. The two, however, develop a friendship, leading to unexpected developments. The Christophers is a clever film in that it doesn’t get too clever with its premise, instead offering a cozy, intimate, and honest character piece. Soderbergh has a steady but unshowy hand behind the camera, Ed Solomon’s script has a deft wit, and McKellen and Coel have brilliant chemistry.

‘OBEX’ (2026)

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For something completely different, there’s OBEX, a low-fi sci-fi adventure from surrealist director Albert Birney. The film’s black-and-white meets retro-gaming aesthetic will certainly scratch a certain nostalgic itch for viewers of a certain vintage, but there’s plenty of charm in the film for any age. OBEX operates almost exclusively on vibes, but those vibes have an old-school handmade appeal to them that makes the film an awesome analog adventure.

Set in 1987, the film is low-budget Tron meets Lynchian fantasy as gamer Conor (Birney) is sucked into the world of the titular video game where he must go on a quest to save his dog. Admittedly, OBEX is a movie with a niche appeal, so it’s no wonder that more people haven’t been talking about it, much less actually seen it. Still, it’s got more atmosphere, character, and sheer panache than something like Tron: Ares and 100% less Jared Leto. That alone should be enough to recommend it, especially if you’re into video games, sci-fi, or cinema as a whole.

‘Our Hero, Balthazar’ (2026)

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The appeal of Our Hero, Balthazar isn’t so much niche as it is uncomfortable. A pitch-black satire that takes aim at mass shooters and performative activism, the film is the feature directorial debut of Oscar Boyson, who produced several features by the Safdie Brothers. Its subject matter and tone will make it an abrasive film for many viewers, but the performances by its lead actors should bring them back around.

Balthazar (Jaeden Martell) is a wealthy teen who gets his kicks making faux-emotional posts about gun violence. When he receives a message from Solomon (Asa Butterfield), an aspiring school shooter, he makes a trip to see him. The film is most pointed when taking jabs at toxic masculinity and male loneliness. It’s a black comedy for the perpetually online generation and influencer set. Martell and Butterfield both find enough dimension in their characters to not make them completely reprehensible; the film should likely develop its own cult following.

‘Redux Redux’ (2026)

Image via SXSW

A multiversal revenge thriller, Redux Redux is a true family affair. It’s directed by brothers Kevin and Matthew McManus, who both helmed the equally unique The Block Island Sound, and stars their sister Michaela McManus as a mother seeking retribution for the murder of her daughter. Redux Redux offers a sci-fi variation on a primal premise, using the genre to escalate its cycle of violence.

Irene (McManus) has been hopping between parallel universes, killing every alternate version of the man responsible for her daughter’s murder. Her single-minded, multiversal pursuit of vengeance gets complicated when she saves one of the killer’s would-be victims, and she begins to wrangle with the personal cost of her revenge. Redux Redux is simple but effective, thanks to the collective direction and performance of the McManus family. It’s a throwback to high-concept thrillers that should have more people talking, especially as sci-fi and the multiverse subgenre as a whole are experiencing something of a peak in popularity.

Few stars are more associated with action movies than Jason Statham. The British actor has built a decades-long career in the genre by frequently portraying grizzled, hardened protagonists in a variety of occupations, including “beekeeper” and “mechanic.” In 2018, he was able to add “scuba diver” and “shark killer” to that list of on-screen careers with the release of The Meg. An American and Chinese co-production, The Meg swam to massive international box office success upon its release and is one of the most entertaining films currently available on streaming.

The Meg follows a team of Chinese and American scientists funded by eccentric billionaire Jack Morris (Rainn Wilson) who are attacked by a prehistoric shark called a Megalodon while exploring the Mariana Trench. Expert diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited to rescue the scientists and kill the Megalodon, or “meg”, before it can attack the nearby human population. The film’s success spawned a sequel, Meg 2: The Trench (2023), where Statham reprized his role and must fight for survival against not just one megalodon but three, in addition to other creatures from the deep. With a reliable star, fast-paced plots, and big action, The Meg film series has all the necessities to be your next movie night binge.

‘The Meg’ and ‘Meg 2: The Trench’ Are Wild Rides for Viewers

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Murphy’s law famously states “what can go wrong will go wrong,” and The Meg takes that adage to extremes, ensuring viewers never know what’s coming next. No matter what situation Jonas and the scientists find themselves in, things always seem to go from bad to worse. The scientists’ submarine is attacked by the meg during their dive, trapping them underwater. Jonas is sent to rescue the scientists, but one of them dies in the process. And when Jonas, his love interest, scientist Suyin Zhang (Li Bingbing), and the rest of the team finally fight back and kill the meg, a second meg comes out of the depths and kills more of the crew. These events might spell disaster for the characters, but they’re certainly fun for the audience to watch as they get to see how Jonas and the other characters will make it out of their latest life-or-death scenario.

Meg 2: The Trench is similarly full of unexpected plot developments on an even bigger scale. After the death of Suyin, Jonas has adopted her daughter Meiying (Sophia Cai) and raises her with Suyin’s brother, Jiuming (Wu Jing). The family goes on another exploratory dive and discovers an unsanctioned mining operation led by a mercenary named Montes (Sergio Peris-Mencheta), who sets off an explosion to cover up his illegal activities and damages Jonas’ submersible in the process. Jonas and the team must then use special suits to walk across the ocean floor to an escape vessel, but an attack by a meg, as well as new creatures referred to as “Snappers”, and a betrayal by one of their own results in the deaths of almost the entire crew. Jonas, Meiying, Siuying, and the only other survivor, Mac (Cliff Curtis), do make it to the surface, but so do multiple megs and even a giant octopus thanks to the explosion set off by Montes. The best thrillers keep people on the edge of their seats with twists and turns, and Meg 2 does just that, picking off its cast one by one in the style of the best slasher-thrillers and constantly escalating the already impossible odds that demands to be seen to be believed.

The Action in ‘The Meg’ Series is Ridiculous—And That’s A Good Thing

Image credit via Warner Bros.

When Jason Statham is the lead in an action film, it’s guaranteed to be exciting, and he certainly delivers in The Meg and Meg 2 with some of the most delightfully outlandish feats of his career. The first film’s climax sees Statham driving his submersible directly at the meg before stabbing it with a knife, using the knife as a handhold, and then driving a harpoon into the meg’s eye in midair—all with his bare hands. In the sequel, Statham one-ups himself by going after the megs on a jetski while simultaneously being shot at by mercenaries from the mining operation. He once again uses a harpoon, this time to launch bombs at the megs, until he is forced ashore, where he then uses a helicopter propeller to fatally stab the remaining shark. Are these scenes implausible? Highly. Would a marine biologist recommend this approach? Probably not. But is it highly entertaining? Absolutely. This is the kind of big, ridiculous action that one can only find in films like the Fast and Furious franchise (which Statham also stars in) where the cast and crew are willing to lean in to the absurd and just have fun with it, which in turn lets the audience do the same. While this type of action may not be for everyone, it can’t be denied that it’s incredibly entertaining to watch, whether the audience is smiling along with it or laughing at it.

Furthermore, action sequences like these set The Meg and Meg 2 apart from other shark movies. The franchise never claims to be the next Jaws, and it doesn’t try to be; these movies carve out their own niche in the genre thanks to their over-the-top approach. The Sharknado franchise may have gotten the head start on the comedic possibilities of shark movies, but the action is nowhere near the blockbuster level that The Meg films can provide. Many movies with sharks feature scenes where the human characters must fight off the ocean’s best predators, but The Meg and Meg 2 are some of the very few movies that can provide that thrill without being serious or scary. There are plenty of fish in the sea, but there are only two like The Meg, and they’re well worth a watch.

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Release Date

August 10, 2018

Runtime

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113 minutes

Director

Jon Turteltaub

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Writers

Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber, Dean Georgaris, Steve Alten

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Producers

Belle Avery, Colin Wilson, Lorenzo di Bonaventura

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