Thriller TV shows win over viewers with shocking twists and high-stakes mysteries that the audience wants to try to solve themselves. But, shows like Law & Order: SVU, Poker Face, American Horror Story, Barry and Only Murders In the Building also keep viewers hooked with their celebrity cameos. From A-list actors to people who appeared in the shows before they became famous, thriller series have used guest stars as a major draw for audiences.

Sure, celebrity guest stars can be used as gimmicks by shows to keep viewers engaged, but they can also be a way of bringing new energy or deepening the mystery. They bring a new energy than the series regulars and can leave the audience wondering what the purpose of them being on the show is. Are they a victim? A suspect? A clue to what happened? From long-running network dramas to prestige streaming hits, thriller shows love a good celebrity cameo and these five shows are proof.

5

‘Barry’ (2018)

Image via Merrick Morton / ©HBO / Courtesy Everett Collection

At first, Barry seems like it’s just a dark comedy. But, it’s actually a psychological thriller just masquerading as a comedy. The tension in the show makes celebrity cameos especially effective, although it’s a technique the show really embraced in the fourth season. Unlike some shows that rely heavily on guest stars, Barry used them sparingly and only ramped up the effort in the final season. It makes the appearances even more impactful, even if some people might not have caught them all.

While big names like Jon Hamm and Guillermo del Toro were likely immediately noticeable to viewers, Barry also used a flurry of SNL alumni in the final season, a nod to star Bill Hader’s former home. As a thriller series, Barry proves that fewer celebrity cameos—used strategically—can be far more powerful than constant stunt casting.

4

‘American Horror Story’ (2011)

American Horror Story’s capsule seasons make it the perfect breeding ground for celebrity cameos. Ryan Murphy’s long-running thriller anthology built its reputation on shocking viewers both with the plot lines and headline-grabbing casts. It featured celebrities like Lady Gaga, Adam Levine, Naomi Campbell, Lena Dunham and Kim Kardashian.

As a horror-thriller television series, American Horror Story thrives on the chaos of the season. While some celebrity cameos – like Kardashian and Lady Gaga – were central characters for the entire season, others, like Dunham, were meant to be temporary guest stars that just helped move the season forward for an episode or two. Kardashian and Lady Gaga served as a way to bring viewers in ahead of the seasons, while Dunham and other guest stars often arrived with little warning and disappeared abruptly. They turned the season not only into a conversation about a show, but a pop culture event.

3

‘Poker Face’ (2023)

Image via Peacock

Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is a modern-day mystery-thriller that uses celebrity guest stars similarly to how SVU does, except they’re leaning into big names. Much like Columbo, the show introduces new characters every episode, making it ripe for using celebrity cameos to heighten interest among the audience.

The Peacock thriller stars Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a human lie detector who is constantly coming into contact with a rotating cast of suspicious characters. Over the past two seasons and 22 episodes, audiences have seen over a dozen celebrity guest stars, including Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cynthia Erivo and BJ Novak. Despite the guest appearances happening in capsule episodes, each actor anchors the story. It allows each episode of Poker Face to feel fresh while contributing to the show’s larger arc.

2

‘Only Murders in the Building’ (2021)

Image via Hulu 

Only Murders in the Building may lean comedic, but its murder‑mystery backbone firmly places it among modern thriller TV shows—and its celebrity cameo roster is one of the most impressive on television. The show blends big names as side characters in the show with celebrities playing themselves throughout the seasons. It’s given the show a way of heightening the tension, because viewers aren’t always sure how long a character will be on the show and how important they’ll be to the story.

The show kicks off season one with an all-star celebrity cameo cast with Tina Fey playing true crime podcaster Cindy Canning, and Sting playing himself. Fey plays a central figure to all five seasons of the show, until she meets her untimely demise in the season five finale. While Fey is likely to be a smaller character for season six, her influence will still loom large with Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez working to figure out the circumstances of her death. Sting, however, plays a more fleeting character as a suspect-turned-witness in the investigation of Tim Kono’s death.

Season two brought Amy Schumer, playing herself, and at first, viewers are made to believe that she’ll be central to the investigation. But, time quickly moves beyond Schumer, relegating her to a relatively useless character. Then, in season 3, Matthew Broderick plays the nightmare version of himself as the cast investigate the murder of Paul Rudd. Rudd would later come back as another character in season four and then voice the robot doorman in the latest season.

With some celebrities playing themselves, some playing characters, and all of them having varying levels of importance, the show constantly encourages viewers to question whether a famous face is a joke—or a key clue. By blending mystery, suspense, and star power, Only Murders in the Building has perfected the formula for a thriller series packed with celebrity guest stars.

1

‘Law & Order: SVU’ (1999)

Image via NBC

There’s really no show that comes even close to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit when it comes to the sheer number of celebrity guest appearances. Having been on the air for nearly 30 years, the show has become famous for featuring actors when they were in one of their first few roles or on the verge of stardom. With so many characters needing to be played, celebrity cameos run the gambit in Law & Order: SVU, ranging from kids before they became stars to well-seasoned acting veterans.

What separates SVU from other thriller series is how seriously it treats its guest stars. Since so many of the episodes are capsule stories, guest stars are often the main event. They’re the ones driving the plot lines forward, usually either as victims, suspects or key witnesses. Guest stars like Bradley Cooper, Adam Driver, Pedro Pascal, Sarah Paulson, Mahershala Ali, and Elizabeth Banks all appeared on the show before they were household names, and they all delivered emotionally heavy performances because they were critical for the episode.

While a lot of celebrities on SVU had roles before they were famous, for some, their time on the show came after they were household names. Alec Baldwin, Cynthia Nixon and Carol Burnette all appeared on the show long after they were already famous, giving their episodes an extra level of intrigue for a show that thrives on uncertainty. That unpredictability has made SVU one of the most enduring thriller TV series with celebrity guest stars ever made.

Whether it’s the procedural intensity of Law & Order: SVU, the chaotic horror of American Horror Story, or the playful mystery of Only Murders in the Building, these series understand that celebrity guest stars can elevate suspense rather than undermine it. In an era crowded with streaming content, these shows stand out by combining gripping storytelling with unforgettable performances—proving that sometimes, the most thrilling twist is seeing who shows up next.

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Release Date

September 20, 1999

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Michael S. Chernuchin, David Graziano

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Nick Cannon has revealed that he “f***s with” President Donald Trump and described the Democrats as “the part of the KKK.”

“People don’t know that the Democrats are the party of the KKK [Ku Klux Klan],” Cannon, 45, said in the Friday, March 27, episode of his show Big Drive. “People don’t know that the Republicans are the party that freed the slaves.”

At the time of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln’s Republican Party pushed to abolish slavery. By the 1960s, several notable segregationist “Dixiecrats” — including Senator Strom Thurmond — changed their allegiances from the Democrat Party to the GOP.

The subject came up when Cannon discussed politics with his Big Drive guest Amber Rose, who described herself as a formerly “liberal” Democrat. Rose switched parties to become a Republican in recent years and endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

“Democrats don’t care about Black people,” Rose told Cannon on Big Drive. “They don’t care about people of color and the Republicans do. That’s the misconception.”

“You and I have some conservative views. You’re just a little more outspoken,” Cannon replied. “Honestly, I don’t subscribe to either party. I rock with W.E.B. Du Bois when he said this, ‘There’s no such thing as two parties. It’s just one evil party with two different names.’”

Du Bois was a sociologist and civil rights pioneer who fought for equal rights for Black people in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s. He died at age 95 in 1963 — just a year shy of President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, signing the Civil Rights Act into law. (The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made racial segregation illegal and banned employers from discriminating against job-seekers on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.)

Rose, 42, said that she voted for Trump in 2024 because “we had two options and he was by far the better option.”

“As of now, I agree with a lot of the things he’s doing,” Rose said, with Cannon chiming in, “[He’s] cleaning house. He’s doing what he said he was going to do.”

“I f*** with Trump,” Cannon added later in the interview while praising the president changing the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf America”.

It is unclear exactly when Cannon and Rose’s Big Drive episode was filmed. In February, Trump , 79, caused controversy by sharing an AI-generated video that depicted former president Barack and first lady Michelle Obama as apes during Black History Month.

Related: Nick Cannon Talks Diddy Parties: ‘I Ain’t Got Nothing to Hide’

Nick Cannon spoke openly about his attendance at various parties hosted by the now disgraced Sean “Diddy” Combs on the radio program “The Breakfast Club” on Friday, October 11 — admitting he was a “kid” around “16, 17” the first time he went to one in New York City. “I live my truth,” the father […]

Amid accusations that he was endorsing a blatantly racist video, Trump refused to apologize and told reporters that he “didn’t make a mistake” during a briefing on Air Force One. The White House later blamed a staffer for “erroneously” posting the video and deleted the post entirely.

That same month, Barack, 64, told Brian Tyler Cohen that the scandal was a prime example of “the clown show that’s happening in social media and on television.”

“[Many Americans] find this behavior deeply troubling … There doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office,” Obama argued.

Ever since his screen debut as Jason Ioane in the action series Baywatch: Hawaii, Jason Momoa has slowly worked his way to the very top of Hollywood. Thanks to his performance as the intense Khal Drogo in the first season of the beloved Game of Thrones, Momoa finally made his breakthrough, with his later casting as the DCEU’s Aquaman cementing him as a Hollywood mainstay. Most recently, the Hawaii-born actor’s starring role alongside Dave Bautista in Prime Video’s The Wrecking Crew rose to the top of the streaming charts, with its popularity making a sequel highly likely.

However, as is the case with any popular actor, not all of their films look destined to stand the test of time. One of Momoa’s more forgotten action flicks, and one of his most underrated performances, came in the neo-Western Braven, directed by Lin Oeding and written by Mike Nilon and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett. Sporting a lead turn from Momoa that is surprisingly soft and passive compared to his usual no-nonsense, charismatic performances, Braven deserves more love than it first received when released in early February 2018.

For anyone looking to give Braven a try, you’re in luck, as the film is about to head to a new streamer. Starting April 1, you’ll be able to watch Braven on the free streaming site Tubi, joining the long list of other exciting content joining the platform, including the cult classic fantasy hit I, Frankenstein and Dwayne Johnson‘s straight-to-DVD flick Empire State, and more. A synopsis of Braven reads:

“A logger and his father head to their hunting cabin, hoping for a quiet weekend. Instead, they find themselves in a kill-or-be-killed stand for survival when they encounter a gang of ruthless drug traffickers.”

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What Did Critics Say About ‘Braven’?

Image via Saban Films

Most action flicks lost to time received a poor critical reception. This is not the case with Braven, with the film earning a strong average score of 80% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. One critic wrote, “If you’ve had a hard day and want to watch something to restore your sense of justice in this world, then Braven has all the boxes well and truly ticked,” with another proclaiming that “there’s plenty about this tiny action effort to stand up and cheer.”

Braven is streaming on Plex this April. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

February 2, 2018

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Lin Oeding

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Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, Michael Nilon

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There is a level of finesse and craft that goes into the creation and fundamental strengths of horror filmmaking that have made it such a captivating genre for so many generations. Being able to perfectly balance the classic tenets of cinematic storytelling with sequences oozing with tension that are meant to massively scare the audience can be a daunting task, as many films fail to accomplish such a difficult balance.

However, this also serves to make the films that do accomplish this that much more impactful, as a horror film with absolutely perfect direction for its vision can be one of the most impactful and defining cinematic experiences out there. Scaring the audience in one moment and keeping them massively invested in the characters and story in the next, these horror films go above and beyond in terms of providing sheer cinematic bliss and mastery thanks to the genuine craft and impact of their direction.

10

‘Jaws’ (1975)

Image via Universal Studios

Steven Spielberg continues to stand as one of the most prolific and widely acclaimed directors of all time, with his craft and brilliance behind the camera amplifying the weight of many different cinematic masterpieces over the years. However, his often considered first true blockbuster masterpiece, Jaws, continues to be a landmark title for accessible, electrifying horror that still stands as one of the greatest horror movies of all time thanks to his masterful touch.

The film completely revolutionized the animal attack film, thanks in part to the brilliance and impact of Spielberg’s directing style. It adds emphasis and weight to each terrifying, tension-building moment, creating maximum terror out of a shark that is rarely ever actually seen on-screen. It continues to stand as one of horror’s most well-crafted cinematic achievements, having an undeniable legacy that still lingers in blockbuster filmmaking, horror or otherwise.

9

‘Scream’ (1996)

The slasher genre remains one of the most prolific and widely explored subgenres of horror, as the fear of being chased by a ruthless, manic killer has opened the creative floodgates for many horror filmmakers. It has largely reached a point where even the very notions and conventions of slasher filmmaking can be picked apart and satirized within the film itself, which is at the very core of what makes Scream such a timeless, well-crafted horror thriller.

While many other horror satires are quick to lean much more into comedy than actual horror, the directing and precision from Wes Craven do a brilliant job of keeping the film tense and terrifying, even while the screenplay is as witty and hilarious as possible. It’s this masterful pacing and balancing of distinct tones that helped the film completely revolutionize and reintroduce slashers to the public eye in the ’90s, with its on-screen brilliance still having an impact on slashers to this day.

8

‘Sinners’ (2025)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Immediately making a name for itself as a striking, must-watch original horror film of the modern era, Sinners soars to masterpiece status thanks in great part to the inspired directing and craft from director Ryan Coogler. The film is second-to-none in terms of its pristine combination of layered worldbuilding, mesmerizing cinematography and visual craft, and deep-rooted thematic depth that amplifies the scares and action alike. The film became an unstoppable juggernaut of film culture in 2025 for good reason, as Coogler went all out in directing a new modern classic.

While its story and characters are certainly strong enough on their own to make the film worthwhile, it’s the directing and fine-tuned craft under the vision of Coogler’s directing that truly makes Sinners such a special cinematic experience. He takes what he had learned from high-budget franchise blockbusters like Creed and Black Panther in order to concoct an exceptionally original experience tailor-made for the modern era but distinctly in line with his quirks and personality.

7

‘Evil Dead 2’ (1987)

Image via De Laurentiis Entertainment Group

Sam Raimi‘s original Evil Dead was already a widely celebrated exploration of passionate filmmaking, creating something truly distinct and full of personality with an infamously minuscule budget. However, with more experience and resources available for the sequel, Raimi manages to improve upon the Evil Dead formula in every possible way to make Evil Dead 2 one of the all-time greatest horror comedies. Rarely does something so close to a full-on remake of the original film so massively improve upon the original, but Evil Dead 2 struck while the iron was hot and solidified Evil Dead as a horror staple.

The biggest change and distinction that makes Evil Dead 2 such a more well-crafted and impactful horror film comes down to the confidence in Raimi’s filmmaking as a whole. With a better understanding of how to balance scares and comedy to create a beautiful cacophany of gore and madness, Evil Dead 2 consistently goes all out with its unrestrained vision, unafraid to fully commit itself to madness.

6

‘The Fly’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

The now 40-year-old classic horror remake by legendary master of body horror David Cronenberg, The Fly is still considered to be one of the absolute greats, not just in terms of technical craft and disgustingly perfect visuals, but a pitch-perfect execution from Cronenberg. While the film certainly delivers in terms of the stomach-churning visuals and body horror that Cronenberg is famous for, it’s the slow build into madness and exceptional pacing that sets Cronenberg’s vision apart from any other body horror film.

The film not only improves upon the narrative strength and horror impact of the original sci-fi horror classic, but also implements newfound themes and revelations of depth that only Cronenberg could have brought out of this already classic story. It finds this brilliant balancing act of staying true to what made the original such a classic while also reinventing it for a new audience, amplifying its greatest strengths while still feeling distinctly Cronenberg in nature.

5

‘Halloween’ (1978)

Image via Compass International Pictures

One of the all-time masterpieces of the slasher genre and one of horror’s absolute greatest examples of slow-building tension and dread, Halloween has received a constant stream of adoration and appreciation in the decades since its release. However, among all the strengths and iconic features that have made Halloween such a classic, the most important and defining aspect after all of these years is the exceptional direction by John Carpenter.

Carpenter brings out the tension and scares in Halloween to consistently make it an exploration of true discomfort and impact on the screen. So many of its scares and most impactful moments come directly from the pacing and execution of its directing, even further amplified by Carpenter’s own legendary original score and sound design that adds impact to each moment. While the film has seen a multitude of sequels over the years, the reason why none of them come close to the impact of the original is that they cannot recreate the magic and fine-tuned craft of Carpenter’s perfect directing style.

4

‘The Shining’ (1980)

Image via Warner Bros.

Stanley Kubrick is one of the biggest names in terms of masterpiece filmmaking, spanning all varieties of genres, with his brilliant Stephen King adaptation, The Shining, proving to be one of the all-time horror greats thanks to his masterful directorial vision. Kubrick is the undeniable linchpin that ties all the madness and symbolic brilliance of the film to life, transforming an already great novel into a horror filmmaking masterclass that continues to influence and impact the genre to this day.

Kubrick’s exceptional visual style and camerawork serve to add weight and impact to the already masterful performances in the film, delivering on the strengths of King’s novel while also adding new layers of symbolic depth from Kubrick’s own vision of the story. While the film was wildly divisive when it was first released, it is now widely acclaimed and celebrated as one of the absolute greatest horror films of the ’80s.

3

‘The Sixth Sense’ (1999)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

While M. Night Shyamalan‘s career has certainly been rocky and unpredictable over the years, his masterful work in directing The Sixth Sense and creating a powerful horror mystery masterpiece cannot be taken away from him. The film builds up tension and mystery better than any other horror film of the era, with its exceptional pacing helping create one of the all-time icons of original twists that still shocks audiences over 25 years later.

However, the depth and impact of its story wouldn’t be nearly as effective without the exceptional directing and passion from Shyamalan in every waking moment of the film. He brings out some truly beautiful and layered performances from everyone on-screen, with his signature stylistic choices feeling especially original and unexpected for its era. Even as the allure and charm of Shyamalan’s wild twists have largely worn off for many audiences, The Sixth Sense is still an icon of horror mysteries that is as perfectly directed as it gets.

2

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Image via Orion Pictures

Still standing as the only horror film to this day to actually win the Academy Award for Best Director, The Silence of the Lambs is a masterfully concocted crime procedural horror film whose narrative brilliance is amplified in spades by Jonathan Demme. The film does an exceptional job of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, shocking them with its depraved and sickening concepts, while also balancing this terror with an impassioned side of intellect in its characters and filmmaking.

The definitive ’90s masterpiece took the world by storm in a way few horror films ever could, not shying away from the shocking content of its story while also managing to have mass appeal with general audiences thanks to the perfect execution of its directing. It continues to be celebrated as a pillar of the genre and a frequent display of horror thrillers at their absolute best, being a masterclass of directing and filmmaking even outside the confines of the horror genre.

1

‘Psycho’ (1960)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Alfred Hitchcock‘s overwhelming prowess and legacy as a master of filmmaking precede him, as his signature approach for thrills and tension is unmatched by any other director in film history. Among his legendary filmography of masterpiece after masterpiece, no singular film has had the continued staying power and legacy as his masterful horror icon, Psycho. Psycho continues to stand as the go-to example when considering masterpiece horror classics, with its legacy standing tall thanks entirely to the directing and craft of Hitchcock.

While many film fans will be quick to sing the praises of the film’s infamous shower kill, which became one of the most iconic and influential individual sequences in film history, this manages to do a disservice to the wide array of mastery present within every other aspect of the film. With a generational performance from Anthony Perkins, an unmatched rising tension and dread seeping from the film’s most painful moments, and one of the all-time most iconic endings ever put to film, Psycho will continue to be the blueprint for masterful horror filmmaking that cements Hitchcock as an all-time great.

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Psycho

Release Date

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September 8, 1960

Runtime

109 minutes

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Writers

Joseph Stefano, Robert Bloch

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Thomas Markle is embracing a new chapter in his life after years of a strained relationship with his daughter, Meghan Markle.

The octogenarian, who has faced health struggles in recent years, has revealed his new relationship with a Philippines-based nurse whom he met during his rehabilitation.

While settling into life abroad, Markle still has plans to visit the United States one day with his partner. However, he has made it clear he does not intend to meet up with Meghan Markle, and that he still does not understand why she has cut off contact with him.

The Retired Hollywood Lighting Director Feels Truly Blessed To Find Love Again

Years after a painful estrangement from his daughter, Meghan, the actress’s father, Thomas Markle, has revealed that he has rediscovered “joy” and “happiness” in his life again at 81.

“I never expected to find joy and happiness again at my age,” the retired Hollywood lighting director told the Daily Mail in an interview. “I am enjoying life again.”

His renewed sense of purpose follows major surgery in December that saw his lower left leg get amputated due to complications from a massive blood clot.

However,  it is deeply tied to finding love in the care of a Philippines-based rehabilitation nurse, Rio Canedo. Their bond formed unexpectedly after he met the mother of two at a rehab center while navigating his recovery.

Their romance, according to Markle, has left him feeling “truly blessed,” especially as his new “special” love takes such “good care” of him.

Meghan Markle’s Father Doesn’t Mind That His Relationship May Face Criticism

Given the age gap between Markle and his lover, it was no surprise that he acknowledged that criticism may hit his new romance.

However, he remains unmoved and focused on his own happiness and has no issues sharing his story.

“I know some people will say hurtful things, but I don’t care,” Markle said. “I want to talk about this because I never thought I would ever be happy again.”

It is also his hope that people who had given up on love may see his story as a reason to keep their hopes alive.

“I want people to know you’re never too old to find peace and love,” he continued. “There’s a lot of negative things going on in the world, and if my story can give a little hope to one person, then I’m happy.”

“The haters will hate, but to be honest, I don’t give a damn. Life is for living. There’s nothing more important in life than love,” the 81-year-old further remarked.

Thomas Markle Revealed Why He Moved To The Philippines

Markle’s decision to live in the Philippines is tied to family tensions with his daughter, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

Since her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, their relationship has remained strained, and he has not met her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Seeking distance and a fresh start, the octogenarian relocated in 2025.

His move was also influenced by a serious health setback in 2022, when he suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak for weeks.

Meghan Markle’s Father Says People In The Philippines Are ‘Kind To Each Other’

Markle has since regained his speech after his stroke and is now adjusting to life in his new surroundings.

The former lighting director had nothing but great things to say about life in the Philippines, noting that the people there treat each other kindly and, especially, have great respect for the elderly.

“The Philippines have a gentler way of life,” he shared. “I hardly watch the news. I live in a world where people are kind to each other. The nurses and doctors here in the Philippines are wonderful.”

“People here don’t have all the worldly goods we have in the West, but they respect and care for older people,” he added.

Thomas Markle Won’t Visit Meghan If He Returns To The U.S.

In the near future, Markle hopes to return to the U.S. with his lover to give her a glimpse into the life he lived during his Hollywood heydays.

“I would love to take Rio to Los Angeles and show her all the places in Hollywood where I worked for so many years,” he said.

However, when asked if he would drive up to Montecito to see his daughter, the duchess, Markle, who claimed not to have an idea why she cut him off, answered in the negative despite his strong desire to see his grandkids.

“No, I would never do that. What’s the point?” the octogenarian emphasized.

“I’d love to see my grandkids. It makes me sad that King Charles has only met Archie and Lilibet once or twice,” he continued.

For now, Markle remains only in communication with his son, Tom Markle Jr., and his other daughter, Samantha, whom he welcomed with his first wife, Roslyn Loveless.

In 2027, the ever-brilliant Gerard Butler will be joined by long-time collaborator Cate Blanchett in Universal Pictures’ sequel to one of their biggest hits of last year. Earning just shy of $650 million worldwide at the box office, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake saw Butler reprise his voice role from the animated movies, alongside an all-star cast in a triumph both financially and with critics. It then became a matter of “when” and not “if” How to Train Your Dragon 2 would be confirmed, although news of a long wait until its release left some frustrated.

Butler fans needn’t worry, as his many movies are constantly rotated in the ever-turning revolving door of streaming sites. The latest of these is Gamer, an unfortunate sci-fi flop starring Butler alongside Ludacris, Terry Crews, Logan Lerman, and Michael C. Hall, with the latter in the midst of his hugely successful starring turn on Dexter. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor — who helmed both installments in Jason Statham’s action franchise, Crank — this 2009 experiment failed to hit the mark with theatergoers, scoring just $42 million during its box office run, a figure made all the more disappointing considering the movie’s reported $50 million budget.

However, 17 years later, audiences now know that they made a mistake in their judgment of Gamer. Considered somewhat ahead of its time, considering its discussion of VR and the culture of gaming, this misunderstood sci-fi gem is much better suited to a 2026 audience. Thankfully, you can put that to the test as Gamer heads to a new streamer. Starting April 1, you’ll be able to watch Gamer on the free streaming site Plex.

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‘Gamer’ Also Missed the Mark With Critics

Image via Lionsgate

Dubbed a “miasmic upchuck of techno sludge” by one critic, and “A hostile movie that pretends to contain some semblance of criticism toward escalating video game brutality and social detachment” by another, it’s fair to say that the response from critics to Gamer was far from positive. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie earned 29%, with the consensus on the site reading, “With all of the hyperkinetic action and none of the flair of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s earlier work, Gamer has little replay value.”

Gamer will stream on Plex this April. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

September 3, 2009

Runtime

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95 minutes

Director

Brian Taylor

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Sci-fi television lends itself perfectly to binge-watching in the age of streaming. After all, what can possibly be more immersive than these shows about extraterrestrial worlds and space exploration? What could possibly be more addictive than these tales of technological advancement and futuristic developments? What could possibly demand to be watched in one sitting more than a good sci-fi TV series?

But while some sci-fi shows have hundreds of episodes and are thus perfect for people looking for a binge-watch that will last them several weeks, others are much shorter. Some are so short, in fact, that the committed sci-fi fan can easily binge-watch them in a single week. The best part? They’re pretty much guaranteed to have an amazing time doing it.

10

‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)

Image via HBO Max

Streaming platforms have a controversial history of disrespecting animation, but never have they given fans of the medium the middle finger quite as absurdly as with the Scavengers Reign debacle. This incredible cult classic was cancelled by HBO Max after a single season and then acquired by Netflix, but the streaming giant also chose not to renew it.

It’s a tragedy, though fans (and the show’s creators) are still very strongly holding onto hope for a second season. Mature, visually striking, and full of fascinating world-building, it’s one of the best sci-fi shows for those out of good TV to watch. And since there are only 12 excellent episodes to get through, all less than half an hour long, it’s a show that could even be binge-watched in a single day.

9

‘X-Men ’97’ (2024–Present)

Image via Disney+

X-Men: The Animated Series wasn’t the first animated superhero show, but it utterly revolutionized and greatly popularized the genre. Twenty-seven years after the show’s cancellation due to financial constraints, Disney+ revived it for a new generation with X-Men ’97, far and away one of the greatest TV show revivals in the history of science fiction.

We’re only a single ten-episode season into the run of X-Men ’97, and it’s already one of the best superhero TV shows of all time. It captures the essence and charm of the original with nostalgic perfection, but also adds plenty of its modern spice—including new-and-improved animation that often looks gorgeous. It’s a must-see not just for X-Men fans, but for anyone who enjoys well-made science fiction.

8

‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)

Image via HBO

Critically acclaimed and nominated for seven Emmy Awards, Station Eleven is one of the most perfect miniseries of the last 10 years. Based on Emily St. John Mandel‘s 2014 novel of the same name, it’s one of those sci-fi shows that prove that slow-burns are always worth it. It may not be fast-paced, but Station Eleven is as emotionally satisfying and absolutely fascinating as any sci-fi masterpiece that’s come before or since.

Mandel’s pre-COVID premise of a flu pandemic that wiped out all civilization is as terrifying as it was prophetic, and this post-COVID adaptation makes it seem even scarier. But Station Eleven isn’t a horror show; it’s a thematically rich and deeply human drama that celebrates art and culture in the face of a tragedy. Full of extraordinary actors and great writing, it’s one of the most underrated sci-fi series of the 2020s so far.

7

‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)

Image via Netflix

Everyone familiar with the history of video game adaptations on both the small and big screens knows that they used to have a pretty lousy track record. That has recently started to change, however, and Arcane was an enormous contributor to that shift. Visually stunning, full of engaging characters, and packed with catchy tunes, it’s an animated series that outshines most live-action shows.

Based on League of Legends, its world, and its many characters, Arcane is a must-see not only for fans of the game but for pretty much anyone who loves good animated television. The character arcs and dynamics, the intricate world-building, and the many surprising twists make its 18 episodes incredibly tempting to watch over the course of a single week.

6

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996)

Image via Netflix

It was Neon Genesis Evangelion that cemented Hideaki Anno as the cult-favorite auteur that people know him as today. This classic anime series is more than just the beginning of a hyper-successful franchise; it’s a brilliant deconstruction of the mecha genre and a cleverly philosophical masterpiece that never gets old. It’s probably not the most familiar anime for newcomers to get into the medium, but for the experienced, it’s a must-see.

It’s one of the biggest and most notorious sci-fi anime masterpieces of all time. Getting through the incredibly dense and richly detailed movies that followed the show would probably take a little longer than a week, but watching the original show’s 26 episodes can easily be done in just a few sittings. It’s an addictive, absolutely intoxicating fictional world; however, so it’s unlikely that those who watch it will want to stop at the show’s conclusion.

5

‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)

Image via Universal

Firefly recently made headlines for its return to life, and that only feels fitting. After all, over the course of the last 23 years, this sci-fi Western classic had made itself notorious primarily as one of the most unfairly cancelled TV shows in history. Following a single 14-episode season, Fox put an end to one of the most imaginative and original sci-fi shows the world has ever seen.

But even today, this is still one of those sci-fi Westerns that people shouldn’t sleep on. The cast is legendary, the world-building is enthralling, and the plotting across every single episode is engaging from start to finish. And since it’s so short, one could finish the whole series and then watch the iconic movie that followed it, Serenity, in time for Sunday dinner.

4

‘Severance’ (2022–Present)

Image via Apple TV

After The X-Files and Lost pioneered the genre, mystery box shows have become some of science fiction’s most enthralling. Case in point: Severance, one of those rare thriller shows where every episode is perfect. Like any good mystery series, every time it answers a question, it brings up two more mysteries. That makes it so that, if Apple and the writing team decide that it should continue for another fifteen seasons, fans wouldn’t complain.

For the time being, however, Severance has only put out two seasons and a total of 19 episodes, making it perfectly plausible to watch it over the course of a single week. It’s probably the best way to consume it, anyway, since its mysteries and the consistently wild ways in which it solves them are so addictive that it’s easier to click “next episode” than to turn off the TV.

3

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

Over the course of their illustrious history, HBO has produced many TV dramas where every episode is a masterpiece, but few are as consistently exceptional as The Leftovers. Subtle in its sci-fi elements and immensely powerful in its emotional impact, this show may only last three seasons and 28 episodes, but the effect that it leaves on viewers’ minds lasts a lifetime.

After all, the way the show explores themes of grief, trauma, and how people move on after a tragedy is not only universally resonant but incredibly hard-hitting as well. Purely in terms of emotional and intellectual density, it’s probably not the best show to binge-watch in a single week, but in terms of how addictive its story is, it’s definitely tempting to see it done.

2

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Image via Sunrise

Simultaneously a sci-fi neo-noir and probably the single greatest space Western ever made for the small screen, Cowboy Bebop is a mishmash of genre elements and influences that somehow works flawlessly. It’s a show often praised for having introduced Western audiences to anime television in the early 2000s, and as such, its cultural impact cannot be understated.

The most admirable thing is that Cowboy Bebop did that over the course of just two years and 26 incredibly entertaining episodes, establishing itself as one of those classic anime shows that have aged like fine wine. Unanimously acclaimed for its stylish aesthetics and thrilling tone, it feels like a prophetic show that was lab-designed to be binge-watched over the course of a single week.

1

‘Andor’ (2022–2025)

Image via Disney+

Star Wars has been putting out TV shows since the ’80s, though their live-action offerings have been far more recent, starting with 2019’s The Mandalorian. The question of what the best Star Wars show (live-action or otherwise) is, however, has one abundantly clear answer. The title has to go to Andor, which is the best that the franchise as a whole has been since the Original Trilogy.

It’s one of the best dramas to binge-watch in one week, a thematically layered and emotionally riveting condemnation of fascism and authoritarianism released in an era that needed it desperately. It’s flawless in virtually every way: the writing, the performances, the visuals, the music, the finale. From start to finish, without the need for a single lightsaber battle, Andor‘s two seasons and 24 episodes don’t just merit being watched over the course of a single week—they beg for it.

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Andor

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Release Date

2022 – 2025-00-00

Network

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Disney+

Showrunner

Tony Gilroy

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Directors

Susanna White

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Before Michael Bay became a full franchise machine, he made The Rock, which is still one of the purest examples of what his style can do when everything clicks. It is loud, tense, funny in weird little bursts, and absolutely packed with star power. Nearly 30 years later, it still feels like one of the most entertaining action movies of the 1990s. Now it is getting a new free streaming home, with Tubi adding it on April 1.

Released in 1996, the film follows an FBI chemical weapons expert and a mysterious former British prisoner who are forced to team up after a rogue general takes over Alcatraz and threatens San Francisco. It is part heist movie, part military thriller, and part pure action chaos, and it knows exactly how to keep the energy high from start to finish. The cast includes Nicolas Cage as Stanley Goodspeed, Sean Connery as John Mason, Ed Harris as General Hummel, David Morse as Major Baxter, Michael Biehn as Commander Anderson, and William Forsythe as Special Agent Paxton.

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How Good Is ‘The Rock’?

The legendary Roger Ebert opined that The Rock is a classic example of blockbuster filmmaking done right — loud, chaotic, and packed with familiar elements, but executed with enough style and energy to make it incredibly entertaining. Connery brings a cool, experienced edge to Mason, Cage leans fully into his anxious, fast-talking persona, and Harris adds surprising depth to what could have been a one-note villain. His motivations, while extreme, give the story a bit more weight than expected.

“No matter. Director Michael Bay (Bad Boys) orchestrates the elements into an efficient and exciting movie, with some big laughs, sensational special effects sequences, and sustained suspense. And it’s interesting to see how good actors like Connery, Cage and Harris can find a way to occupy the center of this whirlwind with characters who somehow manage to be quirky and convincing. There are several Identikit Hollywood action stars who can occupy the center of chaos like this, but not many can make it look like they think they’re really there. Watching The Rock, you really care about what happens. You feel silly later for having been sucked in, but that’s part of the ride.”

The Rock will stream on Tubi starting April 1.

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Release Date

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June 7, 1996

Runtime

137 minutes

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Writers

David Weisberg, Douglas S. Cook, Jonathan Hensleigh, Mark Rosner

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IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin miraculously walked away from a scary crash ahead of the Grand Prix of Alabama.

The Team Penske driver, 32, was in the middle of a practice run at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday, March 28, when his car spun out and crashed its rear end through a fence at the edge of the course. Multiple media outlets reported that McLaughlin was not injured despite how frightening the collision seemed.

Shortly after the incident, McLaughlin assured his fans that he will be back on the course for Sunday’s race.

“That one’s on me. P14 for the show tomorrow. Super proud of the #Thirsty3’s and everyone at @team_penske for putting our battery wagon back together,” McLaughlin wrote via Instagram on Saturday night. “She’s still quick, and we’ll be ready to get to work in the morning.”

During live TV coverage, Fox Sports 1 commentators explained to viewers just how close McLaughlin came to a potentially catastrophic situation. A dashcam video showed the driver bringing his hands to his head in order to brace for impact as he turned the car enough so it wouldn’t crash headfirst into the safety barrier.

“That’s got to be a 150 mile-per-hour impact into the tire stack,” a commentator explained, before clarifying that the speed may actually have been closer to 170 miles per hour.

“Guys, at the end of the day, all of this [safety] equipment absolutely did its job,” one of the reporters told viewers. “It slowed the car down.”

His colleague agreed, saying. “[The safety equipment] allowed Scott to slow down and and [be saved] from a horrible impact. A horrible incident out here at Turn One.”

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The FS1 commentary team likened the high-tensile strength safety cables inside McLaughlin’s car to a “resting F14 [fighter jet] on an aircraft carrier.”

“Those cables absolutely kept McLaughlin inside the stadium and not into the parkland,” a reporter explained on air.

Moments after the crash, McLaughlin was shown climbing out of his “totally destroyed” car with assistance from the on-site emergency team. He embraced some of Team Penske pit crew members and ultimately walked away on his own power.

Later in the day, McLaughlin thanked his Team Penske pit crew for helping get his car back into shape for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Alabama.

“So lucky for my team, but not only the #thirsty3s but everyone on the 2 car and the 12 car that pitched in today,” he wrote via Instagram. “Then to build me a whole new car for me to have the confidence to ship in qualifying. Thank you team. Team Sport, this thing is ready to go for tomorrow.”

McLaughlin joined Team Penske’s lineup for the IndyCar Series in 2021, officially making his debut at the Firestone Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, Florida. He later finished third in the IndyCar Series in 2023 and 2024 and had his best showing at the Indy 500 in 2024, where he finished sixth overall.

Earlier this month, during the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, it was the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners that stole the headlines. However, one of the sleeper champions of the 2026 Oscars was Frankenstein, the long-awaited adaptation by Guillermo del Toro​​​​​​. In total, Frankenstein earned three golden statues, just one fewer than Sinners, winning for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.

For months before the film even premiered, Frankenstein was already on many people’s radars to take home technical Academy Awards. This is thanks to the record of its director and the story itself, with its many iterations regularly proving popular with critics. However, some Frankenstein interpretations sadly do not find such gushing praise, with one of the worst-reviewed hailing from director Stuart Beattie.

Scoring just 5% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 2014’s I, Frankenstein was an unmitigated disaster when it debuted over a decade ago, with the consensus on the review site reading, “Loud, incoherent, and dramatically listless, I, Frankenstein is a remarkably dull fantasy adventure that fails to generate much excitement or interest in its characters.” If such a low score sparks your morbid curiosity, you’re in luck, as I, Frankenstein is about to stream for free on Plex, starting April 1.

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‘I, Frankenstein’ Is a Cult Classic

Image via Lionsgate

Starring The Dark Knight‘s Aaron Eckhart as a character based on Mary Shelley‘s 1818 creation, I, Frankenstein has since become a cult classic thanks to its strange, overly ambitious blend of horror and action. Described by some as “steampunk-meets-underworld,” critics may have disliked the film, but it is its enduring reputation that counts the most. I, Frankenstein‘s synopsis reads:

“Two centuries after Dr. Frankenstein assembles and reanimates his creature, Adam is still living. He becomes embroiled in a war between two immortal races: gargoyles, the traditional protectors of mankind, and evil demons. Since Adam is neither human nor demon, gargoyle Queen Leonore and demon Prince Naberius each want him for their own purposes. It is up to Adam to discover his inner humanity and the reason for his continued existence.”

I, Frankenstein is streaming on Plex this April. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

January 24, 2014

Runtime

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92 minutes

Director

Stuart Beattie

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