Collider is proud to announce that we’re teaming up with IFC to offer Los Angeles an advanced opportunity to see The Stunt Driver, starring Jay Baruchel, ahead of its official release date this month. The movie, which celebrated a premiere as part of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival lineup, reunites Baruchel with Goon writer-director Michael Dowse in a comedy drama based on the true underdog story of Ken Carter (Jay Baruchel), the world champion stunt driver who, in the seventies, tried to jump a mile over the St. Lawrence River in a rocket car.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area or have the means to get there, don’t miss out on this early screening, which is taking place on Thursday, September 17th. The screening is located at the AMC Century City and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Our own Steve Weintraub will moderate the Q&A after the movie. Read on for more information on how you can enter for your chance to win free tickets to this advanced screening and Q&A.

How to Get ‘The Stunt Driver’ Tickets

We guarantee you don’t want to miss out on this special fan event! Come see The Stunt Driver in theaters early, plus an exclusive Q&A conversation with Dowse. This event will go fast, so don’t wait to claim your tickets! For your chance to win free tickets to the event, hit this link to provide us with your email address. The theater will fill up quickly, so grab your seats before they’re gone. Be sure to let us know if you’d like to bring a guest with you, and RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot.

What Is ‘The Stunt Driver’ About?

The Stunt Driver is set in the mid-70s and recounts the true and incredible underdog story of Canada’s Ken Carter, the world champion stunt driver, who battles personal demons and public doubt to attempt what everyone considers impossible — a mile-long jump across the St. Lawrence River in a rocket-powered car. The movie also stars Ed Helms (The Office) as Dick Keller, the car’s designer and technician, and Ben Foster, as Evel Knievel. In the vein of Free Solo or Fitzcarraldo, this is an underdog story about one man’s singular blinding passion to complete the impossible, to finish what he started. What’s both funny and tragic is that his mile-long jump, to anyone with two eyes, is completely impossible.

The Stunt Driver opens in theaters on September 25. Check back with Collider for more special event screenings.

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Release Date

September 25, 2026

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Runtime

99 minutes

Director

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Michael Dowse

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Jenelle Evans says she done “playing games” when it comes to ex David Eason.

“If your ex abandoned his vehicle at your house, get it towed,” Evans, 34, wrote via her Instagram Story on Saturday, September 12, over a photo of a black SUV in her garage.

Eason, 38, was awarded a BMW in his July 2025 divorce settlement with Evans and was ordered to take over any remaining car payments. Three months later, Evans filed for her ex to be held in contempt of court, claiming that he refused to pay the debts he was legally responsible for after their split, including the BMW, The U.S. Sun reported in October 2025.

The Teen Mom alum added on Saturday, “#NotMyProblem.”

Evans also appeared to shout out ex August Keen, whom she dated from August 2024 to early 2025.

Related: Jenelle Evans Clarifies Her Relationship Status With Ex David Eason

Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans is clarifying where she stands with her ex David Eason after the pair were spotted spending time together. “David has been back recently to visit Ensley [their daughter] in Vegas, but now he’s back in North Carolina,” Evans, 34, exclusively told Us Weekly on Saturday, March 7. “I’m in a […]

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“August, is yours next?” she wrote with a laughing emoji.

In a follow-up post, Evans shared a selfie and wrote, “Sooo happy that’s off my ‘to-do’ list.”

Evans previously threw shade at Eason over the BMW in September 2025, writing via X, “I’m not paying to ship a BMW 😂 that’s why he agreed to take it. That’s on him, and it’s in a legal court document, so I suggest he obey by the rules 😊.”

Evans and Eason welcomed daughter Ensley in January 2017 and tied the knot eight months later. The pair later separated in February 2024 after nearly a decade of being on and off.

Months after their divorce was finalized in July 2025, Evans and Eason sparked reconciliation rumors when they were spotted together on multiple occasions earlier this year.

The former reality star clarified where she stands with her ex-husband in a TikTok video earlier this week, explaining that she and Eason are “coparenting” Ensley, 9. (Evans is also a mom to son Jace, 17, with ex Andrew Lewis and son Kaiser, 12, with ex Nathan Griffith.)

Related: Teen Mom 2’s Jenelle Evans and David Eason’s Ups and Downs

Jenelle Evans and her ex-husband, David Eason, have gone through ups and downs over the years. The Teen Mom 2 alum began dating Eason in 2015. Shortly after their September 2017 nuptials, the pair welcomed daughter Ensley in January 2018. (Evans is also the mom of son Jace, whom she shares with ex Andrew Lewis, and son […]

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Evans then acknowledged fans’ concerns about her reuniting with Eason after past legal drama and reassured viewers that she’s “done” with him romantically.

“Everything was nice at first, [he was] very sweet and caring,” Evans said. “He was trying to hold my hand and touch me a lot. That all went away within a month.”

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Evans claimed that Eason developed a new “attitude” and began “name-calling” when he was frustrated.

“That was the s*** I was dealing with for nine years and I refuse to still put up with it now,” she said. “I don’t know if he was being manic at some points but it showed me a lot of red flags I’ve recognized for years.”

Evans noted, “I’m always a believer of second chances, unfortunately. I do that with my exes. That’s my track record. Everybody knows that. This time, at least it only took a few months to see the dramatic change in his behavior. Ladies, don’t put up with that.”

The historical drama genre is gaining traction with hits like Bridgerton and The Gilded Age building huge audiences. Among more recent releases, The Hardacres stands out for its uplifting story and unique perspective, combining the new-money aspect of The Gilded Age with the societal tensions of My Brilliant Career to create something new. The BritBox series, which recently concluded its second season, has endearing characters, an unshakable family bond, and surprising twists that will leave viewers wanting more.

Based on C. L. Skelton‘s novels, The Hardacres follows a family who earns an unexpected fortune in the late 1800s. Rather than being set in their ways or chasing blind ambition, the Hardacres seek to use their new wealth to benefit their community as they adjust to their new lives. Consisting of only 12 episodes so far, The Hardacres is a quick watch, but it’s a heartwarming and surprising story that’s worth every minute.

What Is ‘The Hardacres’ About?

The Hardacres is set in 1890s Yorkshire, where the titular family works as dockworkers, including Sam (Liam McMahon) and Mary (Claire Cooper); their three children, Joe (Adam Little), Liza (Shannon Lavelle), and Harry (Zak Ford-Williams); and Mary’s mother, Ma (Julie Graham). When Sam is injured, the family falls on hard times, forcing them to make tough decisions. The Hardacres not only find a way to survive, but out-earn their previous wages, enabling them to invest their money and, with a stroke of good luck, acquire a fortune that catapults them into a new life. After embracing their new circumstances, they expand their business and buy a manor house, trying to make their way into a society that doesn’t want them. Though the Hardacres’ humble beginnings shock both high society and their new staff alike, the down-to-earth family is undeterred and unwilling to change who they are.

As Sam risks profits to improve working conditions on the docks, Joe struggles to meet his father’s expectations, straining their relationship. Meanwhile, Mary is snubbed by society, while Liza grows close with their new neighbor, Adella Fitzherbert (Holly Sturton), despite her uptight family. The youngest son, Harry, pursues an education, which sends him away for much of Season 1, though he plays a more consistent role in Season 2. The clash between the Hardacres’ past and their new status offers both drama and humor, making the historical drama a must-watch.

‘The Hardacres’ Is a Heartwarming Take on the Period Drama

While there are plenty of rags-to-riches stories, The Hardacres is unique because the central family never forgets where they came from, remaining grounded by trying to improve other people’s lives. Whether through creating healthier working conditions, offering literacy classes, or simply treating their servants as equals, the Hardacres remain humble despite their rise to prominence, which sets the show apart from other series in the genre that often concentrate on societal tensions rather than letting characters bridge those divides.

The Hardacres is a heartwarming story of good fortune and hard work, but the most important part is the characters and the loving family dynamic they share. Whether they face ruin or hold a considerable fortune, the family supports each other, contributing to the series’ positive tone. Too many period dramas get caught up in conflict and don’t offer the same wholesome moments that The Hardacres thrives on. Of course, there are plenty of arguments, from Joe and Sam’s different visions for their business to Mary and Ma’s contrasting opinions of how their lives should look, but when things go awry, the Hardacres ultimately come together as a family. With lovable characters and an uplifting tone, The Hardacres is a show like no other, making it an ideal watch for anyone who enjoys historical dramas.

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Release Date

October 7, 2024

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Channel 5

Directors

Rachel Carey

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Writers

Emma Reeves

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• 
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  Liam McMahon

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  Sam Hardacre

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  Claire Cooper

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Whew, Roommates! Folks online started side-eyeing Boosie after a viral video seemingly showed him walking into a building with a mystery woman following his recent Wichita show in Kansas. The clip immediately had folks asking, “What’s going on here?” especially since fans know the rapper is engaged to Rajel Nelson, the mother of his youngest daughter, Sevyn. But chile, Boosie didn’t let the speculation run for too long! He quickly stepped in to clear the air about the viral clip.

RELATED: Mini Me? Rajel Nelson Sparks Debate Over Whether Baby Sevyn Looks Like Her Or Boosie

Boosie Sets The Record Straight About Viral Clip With Mystery Woman

A video making rounds on social media shows Boosie and a mystery woman hopping out of a vehicle before making their way inside a building. Someone was recording the pair as they walked by, and both Boosie and the woman even looked directly at the camera while a fan yelled, “Good show, Boosie.” It’s unclear where Boosie and the woman were headed, but chile, fans wasted NO time jumping to conclusions about their link-up. As speculation started running wild, Boosie slid straight into The Shade Room’s comment section and made thing VERY clear, telling he “DIDN’T TOUCH HER.” But Boosie’s response didn’t stop the internet from sounding OFF!

Guilty Or NOT Guilty? Fans React To Boosie’s Explanation

Plenty of social media users flooded The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions. Several Roomies said the fact that he and the woman arrived together looked extremely suspect!

Instagram user @1nonlytri wrote, “Y’all he was just helping his cousin her groceries 😂” 

Instagram user @haydiosmioo wrote, “I didn’t touch her in all caps is crazzzzzzy 😂😂😂😂😂” 

While Instagram user @demouryaa wrote, “It says a fan but she went into a place with you. What she do pay you for a day to hangout 😂” 

Then Instagram user @transition_in_process wrote, “his whole walk and body language changed up 😂👌🏾” 

Another Instagram user @reallyher__09 wrote, “He just ain’t expect nobody see him 😂😂😂 and record.” 

Instagram user @sheepasleepa1 wrote, “But did she touch you???? 😂” 

Then another Instagram user @khloewiththegoodhairr wrote, “Why was you with her is the actual question 😂” 

While another Instagram user @_poison_22_ wrote, “Even if he didn’t touch her why she getting out the vehicle with him like they are a couple.” 

Finally, Instagram user @ntunga.abantu wrote, “Guilty AF 😂😂” 

Boosie Pops Out With Rajel Nelson & Their Daughter Sevyn At The LSU Football Game

Despite all the reactions online, Boosie kept doing HIM! On Sunday, September 13, the rapper hit Instagram with some family flicks showing him popping out with Rajel Nelson and their daughter, Sevyn, at the LSU Tigers football game. One photo shows Boosie and Rajel posted up in their game-day fits, while another adorable flick sees baby Sevyn sitting pretty in her stroller while rocking the cutest lil’ cheerleader outfit. Peep the photos below.

RELATED: Boosie Wants To Take It Back To The 80s As He Shares Opinion On Women’s Lack Of Clothing & Fans React (VIDEO) 

Charli XCX has broken her silence over ongoing fan criticism of the limited number of dates on her 2027 UK and European tour.

The “Brat” singer explained that the rigors of touring take a physical and emotional toll, and that she cannot take on the lengthy schedule some fans expect.

Her response comes after she addressed the dissatisfaction many expressed over the lead single from her latest album, “Music, Fashion, Film,” while also revealing that she’s “in the worst place mentally.”

Charli XCX wants fans to cut her some slack following the backlash over the limited number of dates on her upcoming “Music, Fashion, Film” UK and European tour.

The arena tour, announced in support of her latest album, has only six dates for the UK and European leg and kicks off in February next year, Variety reports.

Cities on the itinerary include Dublin, Ireland; Glasgow; Manchester; London; Amsterdam; and Paris.

“Bowling Alley” singer Audrey Hobert will open all dates as a special guest.

Charli XCX Explains Why She Can’t Handle A Lengthy Tour

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However, fans were disappointed by what many called the scant number of shows and didn’t hesitate to share their reactions on social media.

Charli, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, has now responded to the backlash, explaining that she cannot keep up with the physical and emotional toll of handling too many dates.

“I know there’s a lot of frustration in the comments about the fact that I am not doing lots of dates. I am really sorry if you feel disappointed, but I have to honor my truth as an artist: touring is really emotionally and physically hard for me,” she noted, per NME.

The 34-year-old British singer added, “I am not looking for sympathy, and I have a huge amount of respect for artists who can handle it at an intense, lengthy, and high-octane level, but I am just not one of those human beings, and I never have been.”

Charli XCX Apologizes To Fans And Asks Them To Have Fun

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The “Speed Drive” singer is currently on the North American leg of the tour, which kicked off on Friday, September 11, in Philadelphia, PA, and runs through October 23 in Las Vegas, NV.

The 12-date run spans 10 cities and includes two nights at both Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.

In her statement, Charli explained that the toll touring takes on her is also the reason she had to shorten her American run.

“I’m sorry if you feel I am letting you down; I really am. Perhaps one day I will be built for the kind of touring you expect from me, but right now I am not,” she added. “If you’re coming to a show, I hope you have fun and enjoy it, and I will try my best to stay in a healthy and positive mindset and enjoy it too.”

Charli XCX Reveals She’s In The ‘Worst Place Mentally’

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Ahead of the release of her album in June, Charli sat for an interview with Rolling Stone in which she opened up about her mental health struggles, explaining how life sometimes gets too loud for her as a public figure.

“The discourse is loud, and sometimes that can be very overwhelming,” she told the outlet, going on to explain how social media affects her anxiety.

Charli said that although people may not believe her because she used to be very active on social media, she chose to stay more offline to prioritize her peace.

“I recently have been really struggling with my mental health to the point where, if I’m being real, I’m in the worst place mentally that I’ve been in my life,” she added.

Charli XCX Says She Never Promised A Rock Album

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At the time, the “365” singer was dragged into a social media debate over the nature of her new album. Although she’d long stated that she wanted to distance herself from the sound of “Brat,” many people speculated that she was moving further into rock music because of the album’s lead single, “Rock Music.”

The divisive lyrics, in which she declared, “I think the dancefloor is dead, so now we’re making rock music,” drew mixed reactions, notably because it isn’t a rock song.

However, she clarified in her interview with Rolling Stone that she never said she was making a rock album and that the controversial lyrics were “very much about my relationship with [dance-pop album] Brat, and my personal experience with that album.”

“But to be honest, I’ve never thought about genre in a binary way,” she said. “I find that to be a very old-school notion. I don’t even know what the genre is. It’s just me and [producers and co-writers] AG Cook and Finn Keane, doing our thing.”

Naruto and Dragon Ball are two of the most influential and iconic anime series ever released, garnering international recognition and widespread popularity that solidified their status as household names in pop culture. When the late Akira Toriyama first wrote Dragon Ball and its even more popular follow-up, Dragon Ball Z, he pushed the medium of anime to new heights by setting the precedent and blueprint for generations of shōnen that followed. Masashi Kishimoto‘s Naruto was one of the most notable successors to DBZ, becoming one of the “Big Three” manga alongside One Piece and Bleach due to their unmatched commercial success for Shōnen Jump in the 2000s.

The lasting legacy of Dragon Ball can be seen in Naruto, which built off of the foundation set by the earlier anime to continue making innovations in the exciting genre. Though there was never an official crossover between the two series, Kishimoto paid homage to his predecessor and included a surprisingly extensive reference to Dragon Ball in Naruto, writing a character who was directly inspired by Toriyama’s most famous creation. This Dragon Ball allusion was hidden in plain sight without unnecessary attention drawn to it, but was nonetheless a heartwarming and innovative way for Kishimoto to applaud the shōnen series that put anime on television for Western audiences. Kishimoto created a character whose design — from visual aesthetics to naming conventions — was directly inspired by Toriyama and one of the most recognizable heroes in all fiction, Son Goku.

Son Goku Is the Inspiration Behind ‘Naruto’s Four-Tailed Beast

Kishimoto referenced Dragon Ball with his creation of the Four-Tails, one of the most powerful creatures in the entire world of Naruto. The Four-Tails is one of the massive tailed beasts, a kaiju-sized creature possessing unfathomable strength and destructive capabilities made entirely of chakra, the main power source in the series. While a cursory glance at the large red-furred and horned gorilla-like beast with four tails doesn’t immediately draw parallels with the cheerfully energetic Son Goku of Dragon Ball, there are actually several layers to this cross-anime connection. Though their names have been lost to people for generations, each of the tailed beasts has their own unique name that is later revealed to Naruto in Naruto: Shippuden. The Four-Tails’ true name is Son Gokū, which was directly inspired by Son Goku from Dragon Ball, though they can be separately identified thanks to the difference in accents.

In terms of design inspiration, Son Gokū takes two important traits from Goku’s upbringing and family. Kishimoto chose to make Son Gokū a monkey based on the Great Ape form that Saiyans from Dragon Ball can turn into when they see the full moon. It is also specifically important that Son Gokū possesses four tails, which is an allusion to the Four-Star Dragon Ball that Goku’s Grandpa Gohan once possessed. This Dragon Ball was Goku’s prized possession when he was a child, as he believed it to contain his grandfather’s soul, and would later be passed down to his son, Gohan, who was named after the original owner of the ball.

In Naruto, tailed beasts can be sealed within ninja called jinchuriki. The jinchuriki within Son Gokū was named Rōshi, referencing the Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi, from Dragon Ball who trained Goku and Krillin. Master Roshi is one of Goku’s most important teachers, having taught him fundamental training skills and even his signature technique, the Kamehameha

‘Dragon Ball’ and ‘Naruto’ Are Both Heavily Inspired by ‘Journey to the West’

While Son Gokū takes direct inspiration from Dragon Ball’s Goku, both characters find their true origins in the classic Chinese story, Journey to the West. The story follows Sun Wukong, a mythical monkey king with unparalleled strength, knowledge of mystical techniques, and a confident and often mischievous personality. Although many stories draw inspiration from Journey to the West, the connections to Goku are already apparent from those traits alone. However, it’s further confirmed by the existence of the Great Ape form, which was the major mystery with Goku’s character in the original series. Toriyama took heavy inspiration from Journey to the West when writing Dragon Ball, as many of the characters, such as Bulma, Yamcha, and Oolong, are based on characters from the story.

In Naruto, the complete name of the Four-Tails, as it refers to itself, is Seiten Taisei Son Gokū, which translates to “Great Sage Equalling Heaven,” a title originating from Sun Wukong. Naruto also features another reference to Journey to the West with Monkey King: Enma, who was a ninja monkey summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, summoned Enma to combat the First and Second Hokage in the midst of the siege on Konoha during the Chūnin Exams.

The Vampire Diaries is often brushed off as a teen “girly” show, but let’s be honest, it got plenty of guys hooked too. The supernatural vampire drama got us deep into the vampire lore, far beyond what The Twilight Saga ever touched. And then there were the Salvatore brothers, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder), two dangerously attractive vampires who quickly had the ladies swooning over them, and teenage boys who wanted to be as charming and powerful as them.

Watching Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley’s bromance and rivalry onscreen became a guilty pleasure for so many who lived for friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, and every messy trope in between. Over its run, the show gave us every supernatural being that exists: witches, vampires, werewolves, doppelgängers, hybrids, and Originals (the first vampires created almost a thousand years ago). Now, 17 years after its debut, it’s the perfect time to revisit and celebrate some of the best bloodsuckers to ever rule Mystic Falls.

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Lexi Branson

Played by Arielle Kebbel

Image via The CW

Lexi Branson (Arielle Kebbel) doesn’t have the longest screen time in The Vampire Diaries, but she leaves an outsized mark on the show’s emotional quotient. She was introduced in Season 1 as Stefan’s best friend, who brought him warmth and moral clarity in a world dominated by morally gray vampires. She was the only person who stood with Stefan as a rock-solid presence, and her very existence in his life hinted at the special bond the two shared in their early years.

Lexi was witty, easygoing, and humorous, and her unwavering loyalty towards her friends made her a breath of fresh air in the otherwise supernatural world of backstabbers. Her death, at the hands of Damon, was one of the show’s earliest gut punches, but the writers found a way to bring her back through memories and flashbacks. She reappeared in Seasons 4, 5, and 6 to pull Stefan back from the edge whenever he needed her.

9

Rebekah Mikaelson

Played by Claire Holt

Image via The CW

The scream “REBEKAHHHH” still echoes in the ears of TVD fans, years after the show ended. Rebekah Mikaelson (Claire Holt) carried her sass and villainous energy in The Vampire Diaries, but we couldn’t help but feel pity for her occasionally. She was one of the two daughters of the Mikaelson clan, an extremely emotion-driven and impulsive Original vampire who made the wrong choices for love.

She came to Mystic Falls in Season 3, all blonde hair and lethal stilettos, with a confidence that comes from living through a thousand years of family drama, betrayal, and loss. She’s the only Original sibling who openly craves a normal human life — not power, not bloodlust, just a chance to go to school dances, fall in love, and maybe raise a family without dagger-related interruptions. She’s also the only one whose dreams have been interrupted time and again, often by her own brother’s dagger, which left her to spend centuries trapped in an enchanted sleep.

8

Silas

Played by Paul Wesley

Image via The CW

Silas (Wesley) was Stefan’s doppelgänger, who was introduced in Season 4 as the shadowy figure pulling strings long before the audience ever saw his face. He was the world’s first Immortal, with only one desire — to be reunited with his one true love, Amara (Nina Dobrev). But his deep love for Amara didn’t make him a noble hero or a romanticized vampire; instead, he became one of the most manipulative and cunning figures in the series.

Wesley took on a completely different persona with Silas, marking a 180-degree shift from Stefan’s personality. Silas’ charm came with a quirky edge, but it was his psychic abilities, shapeshifting, and immunity to most supernatural weaknesses that made him one of the most elusive and dangerous villains to confront, both literally and morally.

7

Caroline Forbes

Played by Candice King

Image via The CW

Caroline Forbes (Candice King) might have started The Vampire Diaries as the picture of high school insecurity. Competitive, needy, and constantly trying to prove herself. But her transformation into a vampire in Season 2 (due to Katherine’s scheme) made us fall in love with the confident, sharp-witted woman she grew into. Honestly, vampire Caroline had more guts, character, and edge than human Caroline, and her arc became one of the most satisfying in the series.

She mastered control over her bloodlust faster than almost anyone else, excelled at strategic thinking during crises, and often stood there as the emotional anchor for the group when everyone else’s lives were spinning out of control. Even after being a vampire, Caroline remained the most human character in the show, who felt everything deeply — from her friendships to her most complicated relationships.

6

Katherine Pierce

Played by Nina Dobrev

Image via The CW

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Katherine Pierce is as captivating as she is fierce, and The Vampire Diaries wouldn’t have half its intrigue without her constant games of manipulation. Played with razor-sharp charisma by Nina Dobrev, Katherine was Elena Gilbert’s 500-year-old doppelgänger, her darkest self, and a far more adept vampire than Elena ever was; someone who would go to any length to survive.

Katherine lived through half a century not because she was strong, but because of her intelligence, uncanny ability to read a room, and the talent to exploit people’s weaknesses before they even realized they had been played. Every major plotline she touched was turned into an unpredictable tragedy for the good ones around her. Her on-again, off-again alliances with the Salvatore brothers added more mystery and oomph to the storyline, and unlike many villains who fade with time, Katherine stayed relevant by adapting, switching allegiances, and always keeping a backup plan (or three) ready.

5

Elijah Mikaelson

Played by Daniel Gillies

Image via The CW

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Elijah Mikaelson (Daniel Gillies) is one of the most honorable vampires in the TVD universe. What we know about Elijah is that he keeps his word, never turns his back on anyone, and can be ruthless when it comes to his family. As an Original, he’s powerful enough to snap most enemies out of existence without breaking a sweat, yet he carries himself with the restraint and elegance of an old-world gentleman. Always impeccably dressed, with a neatly folded handkerchief in his pocket, Elijah was the most sophisticated brother of the Original family.

He had an ironclad moral code, even when it put him at odds with his own family. His loyalty to his brother, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), despite centuries of betrayal, gave the audience a constant push-and-pull between wanting him to break free and respecting the fact that he never abandons his own. He’s a peacemaker in a world that thrives on war, and when diplomacy fails, he’s as lethal as any other Mikaelson, perhaps, even more so.

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Enzo St. John

Played by Michael Malarkey

Image via The CW

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Enzo St. John (Michael Malarkey) was never meant to be a central figure in The Vampire Diaries, but soon became a loved character as viewers saw his bromance with Damon. Born 170 years ago, he unexpectedly came across the Augustine organization, which tortured and experimented on him for decades. Those early years left him deeply cynical and bitter in conflict, yet beneath the hardened exterior was someone with a soft heart and a strong sense of self-awareness.

Soon after, he fell in love with Bonnie (Kat Graham), and everything shifted. He became more vulnerable and emotional. Another strong bond he shared was his friendship with Damon, which was built on shared drama and gallows humor, though far from perfect. Enzo was unpredictable at all times, capable of brutal decisions one moment and selfless acts the other. This tension made him one of the most human characters in the show, a reminder that even the most damaged people can find something or someone worth living for.

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Stefan Salvatore

Played by Paul Wesley

The good Salvatore brother, Stefan, was over a century-old decent vampire when he was first introduced. A brooding, self-controlled figure who refused to feed on humans and cherished rabbits (as a food). He was the moral compass of the show, but soon met with a transition that gave him a perfect good boy-turned-bad trope. As the series unraveled, it became clear that Stefan’s self-controlled nature wasn’t innate, but it was a fragile dam holding back the “Ripper”, his bloodthirsty alter-ego, who reveled in carnage. This duality gave Stefan a rich arc as a hero constantly at war with the darkest parts of himself.

Stefan lived for the people he loved. His relationship with Elena was a slow, all-consuming kind of love, steady but tangled in secrets. With Damon, he was caught in a constant cycle of rivalry and redemption, each brother pulling the other back from the brink at different times. And with Caroline, he found a quieter, more honest kind of love, more like a partnership built on friendship and mutual respect.

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Klaus Mikaelson

Played by Joseph Morgan

Image via The CW

The man, the myth, the legend — Klaus Mikaelson — was the most feared and powerful creature in The Vampire Diaries. An Original and a hybrid, half-vampire and half-werewolf, he carried the most dangerous abilities of both. Klaus rewrote the rules, bent them to his will, manipulated those around him, and ruthlessly killed anyone who crossed him. Every time he appeared on-screen, there was a sense of unpredictability that anything could happen at any moment. Maybe a peace treaty could be struck over a glass of bourbon, or a massacre could unfold before the ice melted in it.

With time, as Klaus’ vulnerable side revealed, everyone quickly jumped to sympathize with the ultimate bad boy of TVD. He could be cruel enough to dagger his siblings one moment and then fiercely protective of them the next. Just a complicated brother who loved and hated his family at the same time, but would never turn his back on them. His bond with Caroline Forbes was one of the most twisted yet beautiful threads in the series, which revealed a softer and more loving layer, one that everyone longed to see.

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Damon Salvatore

Played by Ian Somerhalder

Image via The CW

Damon Salvatore was the reason the audience tuned in, week after week, long before the plot had even settled in. The ever-charming and charismatic Damon, played by Lost‘s Somerhalder, was the bad Salvatore brother, who could kill with his deadly smirk and a wicked smile. He became our favorite villain of the show, but somewhere along the way, his love for Elena completely changed him and turned him into the ultimate romantic hero of the series.

Damon’s moral compass only pointed north when it suited him, and he had no hesitation about snapping necks if it got him what he wanted. Yet, just as easily, he could switch gears and lay his heart bare in a way that caught you off guard. You could never predict his next move, but you could always know that Damon would go to any length to protect Elena. His redemption arc was as complete as it was unexpected, and by the end, Damon had become the most dangerously compelling presence in the entire series.

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The Vampire Diaries

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Release Date

2009 – 2017-00-00

Network

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The CW

Directors

Chris Grismer, Joshua Butler, Marcos Siega, Kellie Cyrus, J. Miller Tobin, John Behring, Jeffrey G. Hunt, Rob Hardy, Leslie Libman, Paul Wesley, Lance Anderson, Darren Genet, John Dahl, Wendey Stanzler, Jesse Warn, Garreth Stover, Geoff Shotz, Ian Somerhalder, Liz Friedlander, David Von Ancken, Kevin Bray, Mike Karasick, Brad Turner, Carol Banker

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War television has to be compelling without making war itself feel entertaining, and that’s not an easy feat. The audience still needs tension and momentum, but those things can’t come at the expense of reducing real suffering to shallow spectacle. That challenge becomes even harder because, firstly, war is never a single experience. It means different things to different people.

Secondly, history has usually spoiled the ending for every war drama out there. Now, when the audience already knows who won the battle, how does one still make them tune in? The best war miniseries then find their suspense somewhere more personal. These six miniseries understand that responsibility better than most and find completely different but perfect ways.

1

‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

Image via HBO

Band of Brothers is the blueprint for war miniseries, and it’s easy to understand why. The HBO show, based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, follows the men of Easy Company, part of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, from their brutal training at Camp Toccoa through D-Day, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and eventually the end of the war in Europe. The story initially seems to revolve around Richard Winters (Damian Lewis), who gradually becomes one of the company’s most respected leaders, but Band of Brothers never limits the narrative to his perspective.

Different episodes shift the focus to others in the unit, which is one of the smartest decisions the miniseries makes. This turns Easy Company into the real central character while giving individual soldiers’ arcs enough room. The audience gets to understand the company from completely different positions, which adds weight to every loss or win. Band of Brothers completely changed the emotional scale of war.

2

‘The Pacific’ (2010)

Image via HBO

The Pacific had every chance to recreate Band of Brothers, but it delivers a completely different experience. Instead of following one company across the war, the HBO miniseries splits its story between three Marines whose paths keep crossing. The protagonists include writer Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), who initially can’t enlist because of a heart condition, and celebrated hero John Basilone (Jon Seda). Their stories carry the audience through Peleliu, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and some of the most punishing campaigns of the Pacific Theater. What’s interesting is how the war looks completely different based on the man in focus.

The Pacific never paints its characters as invincible, but as men constantly being reshaped by the situations they face. The Pacific keeps showing how the same war can leave completely different marks on the people fighting it, and that is the show’s gripping hook. The final episode sustains this momentum by following the survivors home and showing how just returning to ordinary life is its own struggle. The Pacific is never building toward a clean victory because it wants to ask what exactly is left of these people once the fighting stops.

3

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

Image via HBO

Generation Kill strips away all the shock value audiences normally expect from a war miniseries. The seven-part HBO series, based on Evan Wright’s reporting and book, centers on the journalist, played by Lee Tergesen, as he follows the U.S. Marines of First Recon during the opening weeks of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Most of the story unfolds alongside Marines, including Brad Colbert (Alexander Skarsgård) and his endlessly talkative driver, Ray Person (James Ransone), as their convoy pushes toward Baghdad. The show obviously covers all the action along the way, but it’s actually interested in exploring the logistics of war. Generation Kill features long stretches of driving, petty arguments over equipment, confused radio chatter, and frustrating orders coming from the people in command.

The series makes war feel oddly normal. The Marines can be discussing something completely stupid one minute and suddenly find themselves making a life-or-death decision the next. This tonal whiplash is the point. The series captures how boredom, fear, humor, and danger can all exist within the same context. Generation Kill isn’t the show that wants to manufacture stakes or deliver some inspiring military narrative. In fact, its brutal realism is why it remains a fan favorite to this day.

4

‘We Were the Lucky Ones’ (2024)

Image via Vlad Cioplea/Hulu

We Were the Lucky Ones is another show that approaches World War II on an intimate scale. The Hulu miniseries, based on Georgia Hunter’s novel and inspired by the experiences of her own family, begins with the Kurcs, a Polish-Jewish family, celebrating Passover together in Radom shortly before the war tears their lives apart. The five siblings, Halina (Joey King), Addy (Logan Lerman), Genek (Henry Lloyd-Hughes), Mila (Hadas Yaron), and Jakob (Amit Rahav), are eventually scattered across different countries with almost no way of knowing who in their family is still alive.

The series keeps jumping between the siblings as each of them deals with their fair share of struggles. The reason why this hits so hard is that the audience gets to see the Kurcs together before taking all sense of normality away from them. The larger question then becomes whether these people will ever find one another again. That makes the final episode incredibly rewarding when scattered members of the family finally begin finding each other again, forever changed by the lives they have lived.

5

‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’ (2025)

Image via Prime Video

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a war story that stays with the audience long after the credits roll. Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel, the five-part miniseries follows Australian doctor Dorrigo Evans, played by Jacob Elordi during World War II and Ciarán Hinds decades later. Before leaving for war, Dorrigo begins an affair with Amy Mulvaney (Odessa Young), his uncle’s young wife. Their relationship is cut short when he is deployed and eventually becomes a prisoner of war, forced alongside other Australian soldiers to work on the Burma Railway.

The show tracks how life in the camp completely changes the central character. He is put in impossible situations, with thoughts of Amy being his only comfort, only for that to be taken away as well. The series jumps between Dorrigo’s affair, his captivity, and his life as an older celebrated surgeon. The audience already knows Dorrigo survives, so the suspense comes from discovering what survival actually does to him.

6

‘War and Remembrance’ (1988)

Image Courtesy of ABC

War and Remembrance is about as ambitious as war television gets. The sprawling miniseries, adapted from Herman Wouk’s novel, picks up immediately after Pearl Harbor and follows the extended Henry and Jastrow families through almost the entirety of America’s involvement in World War II. Naval officer Victor “Pug” Henry (Robert Mitchum) is sent from one major assignment to another, while his sons Warren (Michael Woods) and Byron (Hart Bochner) fight in the Pacific. On the other hand, Byron’s wife Natalie (Jane Seymour) is trapped in Europe with her Jewish uncle Aaron Jastrow (John Gielgud) and her young son, desperately searching for a way out as Nazi control closes around them.

That eventually becomes the most devastating part of the narrative. There’s no denying that the enormous scale of War and Remembrance could have easily felt like a dry history lesson, but the Henrys and Jastrows give every new stage of the war a human connection. Major battles and political decisions are constantly happening alongside marriages collapsing, families being separated, and people simply trying to find out if their loved ones are safe. The miniseries truly earns the word epic thanks to how seamlessly it moves between the different storylines it follows while still preserving the sheer magnitude of the war surrounding them.

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War and Remembrance

Release Date

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1988 – 1989-00-00

Writers

Earl W. Wallace

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• 

  Barry Bostwick

  Uncredited

• 

  Clifford Rose

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  Leslie Slote

• 

  David Dukes

  Rudolf Hoess – Commandant K. L. Auschwitz

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  G.W. Bailey

  Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

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There might not be a more consistent director than Hayao Miyazaki, whether you want to talk about directors who are still alive and/or active, or directors of any time in cinema history. Miyazaki’s output has slowed down as he’s gotten older, with an especially long gap between The Wind Rises (2013) and The Boy and the Heron (2023), but a dozen movies released between 1979 and 2023 is still a decent amount.

In other words, it’s not like quantity has been overlooked, but it’s quality that Miyazaki focuses on. And what quality, you know? None of his 12 movies come anywhere close to being bad, so ranking them is always difficult. Just sticking to his first seven doesn’t make things a whole lot easier, but that’s what you’ve got below, in any event: all seven Hayao Miyazaki movies that came out in the 20th century, ranked from good to great.

7

‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988)

Image via Toho

People do really love My Neighbor Totoro, so it being in last place here might seem sacrilegious, but something has to go at the bottom. It just does. Nothing really deserves to be at the bottom, and since My Neighbor Totoro is a Hayao Miyazaki movie, it is, at the very least, quite good, but to be perfectly honest, it just doesn’t have enough going on.

That’s the reason for it being here. It’s slow, and it can be hard to figure out what really feels like the point of this one is, and similarly difficult to work out what it does that appeals to people when everything here is done/explored better in all of Miyazaki’s other movies. You’ve probably quit scrolling at this point, out of frustration, and if not, thank you, and also, apologies. “There are no bad Hayao Miyazaki movies” is the point that should continue to be stressed.

6

‘Porco Rosso’ (1992)

Porco Rosso is about an anthropomorphic pig who can fly planes, and since he gets into some dogfights and the film’s a bit of an adventure one, it’s technically more exciting than My Neighbor Totoro, though it does remain a bit light on plot. There is a goofiness here that’s charming, owing to the premise, and then Porco Rosso does have some emotional moments, or at least reasons to care about what’s going on beyond just enjoying the vibes.

The vibes are the main thing here, though, admittedly. It also feels a bit like Miyazaki’s Ponyo (2009) in the sense that it really doesn’t feel like things were planned out narratively, and the resulting movie (again, like with Ponyo) ends up feeling a bit longer than it is. But things are sometimes fun, occasionally sweet, and always gorgeous to look at (the quality of the animation, as always, is impossible to find fault with), and so even with it being a bit aimless, it’s never unenjoyable to spend that amount of time with.

5

‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ (1989)

Image via Studio Ghibli

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Just one year on from My Neighbor Totoro, Hayao Miyazaki returned to the realm of coming-of-age stories, in turn coming dangerously close to repeating himself. The film that followed so close to My Neighbor Totoro was Kiki’s Delivery Service, but it’s a step forward in the sense that the protagonist here is a little older than either of the two young girls in Miyazaki’s previous film, and the story here also sees her venturing off entirely on her own.

Well, actually, she does have a cat. Not a catbus, but a cat. Kiki’s Delivery Service is about her taking steps to become independent, doing what all witches apparently do when they reach their teenage years. Beyond that premise, there’s not a ton of narrative, and things wrap up especially abruptly once the film’s 100-ish minutes are up, yet it’s still a decently engaging film. Probably goes without saying, but it’s a winner as far as animation and music are concerned, too, as can be said about all of Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli-era movies.

4

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

Image via Toei Company

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There are two movies Hayao Miyazaki directed before Studio Ghibli was officially founded, though of the two, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is the easiest to classify as a Studio Ghibli movie. Maybe it is spiritually, because it’s got a ton of recognizable elements thematically and stylistically, and then it’s also worth singling out that it’s the first Miyazaki film with a score composed by Joe Hisaishi, who’d go on to compose music for the 10 that followed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, too.

This film’s a post-apocalyptic one that combines sci-fi and fantasy elements very effectively, telling a story that’s a bit more interesting than some of the stories found in certain previously mentioned movies, but then also, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind succeeds in terms of having an especially interesting world. It feels like one movie isn’t really enough for all that’s engaging here, which makes sense when you realize that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was originally a manga written by Miyazaki himself (and one that the film couldn’t adapt in its entirety, since it took until 1992 for the manga series to be concluded).

3

‘Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro’ (1979)

Image via Toho

The other Miyazaki movie that pre-dated the formation of Studio Ghibli was Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, which is pretty easy to single out as the most underrated Hayao Miyazaki movie. It’s probably the lack of connection to Studio Ghibli that’s made that happen, and it’s also difficult to mistake this one for a Studio Ghibli movie the way you possibly might’ve with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, outside a castle – or castles – being important (Miyazaki loves his castles).

This one’s incredibly entertaining, and if you want one more bit of hyperbole, it’s also comfortably the funniest Hayao Miyazaki movie. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is about a charismatic and skilled (albeit also unlucky) thief and his partner-in-crime getting wrapped up in a less-selfish-than-usual mission to save a princess from an evil count named Cagliostro, and he does indeed have quite the castle. This movie’s so much fun, and if you’re a fan of Miyazaki’s and have somehow missed out on watching it so far, that’s something you should try to amend as fast as possible.

2

‘Castle in the Sky’ (1986)

Image via Studio Ghibli

Another movie with “Castle” in the title, Castle in the Sky is once more one where it feels tempting to call it underrated, even with the acknowledgment that everyone seems to like and/or love it. But it’s, like, even better than the general consensus. The entertainment value here is important, as it was with Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, because Castle in the Sky is consistently fun, and there’s a story here that gives the feeling of things always going somewhere.

Miyazaki’s first three movies are, overall, a bit more exciting than the next two he’d do: My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service. They feel like better entry points to Miyazaki, or anime generally, than those two other movies, even if those two (and especially My Neighbor Totoro) might be more famous. Castle in the Sky is exciting and never boring, all the while also standing as perhaps Miyazaki’s most ambitious film in terms of genres covered, since this is a bit of an action/adventure/comedy/family/fantasy/sci-fi film, all at once.

1

‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

Image via Toho

Princess Mononoke does absolutely everything right, and the only Hayao Miyazaki movie you’re likely to see most people ranking ahead of it, when they’re trying to go over all his films, would be Spirited Away. For now, it’s easy to call it the best film Miyazaki directed in the 20th century, since Spirited Away came out in 2001. But the gap in quality between these two masterpieces is an incredibly small one.

Narratively and thematically, Princess Mononoke has the most in common with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, since both are heavily about environmental-related conflicts, though Princess Mononoke arguably refines and/or perfects everything that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind already did exceptionally well. It’s such a beautiful and thought-provoking film, animated or otherwise, and more than worthy of its status as an untouchable classic.