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10 Sci-Fi Movies That Are About As Good As ‘Blade Runner’

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Godzilla - 1954

Blade Runner is to science fiction what The Godfather is to crime/gangster cinema, sort of. Neither movie invented the genre either belonged to, with great sci-fi movies having existed for decades, and iconic gangster movies becoming popular back in the 1930s, yet both can be seen as redefining what was possible for those respective genres. With Blade Runner, it still holds up tremendously (and especially) well on a technical front, which is handy when it was made about the future.

You have a futuristic movie that ended up being appreciated in the future, to the extent that Blade Runner is actually now set in the past (the year 2019), but it’s still incredible and pretty close to flawless. Therefore, any movie that’s on the same level as Blade Runner is going to be within the realm of masterpiece territory, and that indeed can be said about the following sci-fi movies, most of them older classics that have also stood the test of time.

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‘Blade Runner 2049’ (2017)

Duh. Good to start with the easiest one. Blade Runner 2049 is a pretty fantastic sequel all-around, and so much better than people were probably fearing a Blade Runner sequel might be, back pre-2017. It didn’t seem like a great idea, and maybe in a financial sense, it never was, since Blade Runner 2049 underperformed, though narratively and thematically (and quality-wise), this one did impress.

As the title suggests, it takes place 30 years on from Blade Runner, and depicts the dystopian world as having gotten noticeably worse, while the plot also (eventually) involves the first movie’s protagonist, Rick Deckard (played again by – a surprisingly enthusiastic and not checked-out – Harrison Ford). Visually, Blade Runner 2049 is one of the best-looking sci-fi movies in recent memory, and the fact that it exists as a worthy follow-up to such a legendary film is very much worth celebrating.

‘Godzilla’ (1954)

Godzilla - 1954 Image via Toho
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There are a few Godzilla movies that could be called legendary as far as science fiction cinema’s concerned, but it feels safest to single out the one that started it all. 1954’s Godzilla has a good deal less action than many of its sequels/follow-ups, and a focus on horror, still feeling pretty creepy in that regard, and also remaining relevant with the fears surrounding nuclear weapons that it explores so effectively.

Godzilla (1954) is probably the most thought-provoking film in the series it began, and also the heaviest.

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Other Godzilla movies have social commentary, of course, though Godzilla (1954) probably proves the most thought-provoking and also the heaviest. It stands out in those ways, and for also being so significant for the giant monster movie sub-genre overall. Godzilla Minus One could well be a better starting point if you’ve somehow never seen a Godzilla movie before, just because it’s a little sleeker and more approachable pacing-wise, but historically, and as far as classics go… yeah, it’s got to be the original. Obviously.

‘Alien’ (1979)

Sigourney Weaver as Lieut. Ellen Ripley aboard a spacecraft in the science-fiction–horror film Alien.
Sigourney Weaver as Lieut. Ellen Ripley aboard a spacecraft in the science-fiction–horror film Alien.
Image via 20th Century Studios

It’s tempting to say that it’s obvious Alien would be a sci-fi movie, given it’s called Alien, but then again, Parasite (2019) exists, and that one’s not about a literal parasitic creature or monster the way you’d expect it to be. And with Alien, there is a bit more to it beyond the narrative, which is really just people having to survive on board a small spacecraft where an alien is loose.

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In that sense, Alien is easy to compare to Jaws, which also has a simple title and a straightforward premise, albeit with a little more under the hood if you want to dig into it, in that way. Both movies are amazingly well-crafted, too. Further, with Alien, it’s worth comparing it to Blade Runner and highlighting it as a classic of the sci-fi genre, since Ridley Scott was the director behind both.

‘The Thing’ (1982)

McCready looking ahead in John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)
Kurt Russell in ‘The Thing’
Image via Universal Pictures

The setting is different from Alien, but the premise of The Thing is quite similar. There’s an alien, and people have to fight to stay alive. The Thing takes place on Earth, though it still manages to feel claustrophobic when needed, since it’s more specifically a film that takes place in Antarctica, and the conditions there keep the human characters confined to a research facility while the “thing” that wants to kill them is on the loose.

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It does a lot with a little, and the level of suspense throughout is undeniably high. The Thing is also a bit of a miserable watch, owing to how dark and hopeless it feels for much of its runtime, but it’s a horror movie, so that ends up being a feature rather than a bug and all.

‘WALL·E’ (2008)

Wall-E floating in space in WALL·E (2008)
Wall-E floating in space in WALL·E (2008)
Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Possibly the best family-friendly sci-fi movie of all time, WALL·E is also a highlight within the entirety of Pixar’s output. It is another instance of the studio giving human emotions to things that don’t usually have human emotions, doing so after the first two movies with toys, and that one with the fish, but before there was the exploration of “what if emotions had emotions?”

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And then as far as animated science fiction movies are concerned, they don’t get much better than WALL·E. It’s also a post-apocalyptic movie, in a sense, just a good deal more optimistic than most post-apocalyptic movies. Also, like with Godzilla, the concerns WALL·E is concerned with regarding humanity and its future (or lack thereof) remain relevant, not to mention surprisingly weighty for what might initially look like a kid’s movie.

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Christopher Lloyd holding two booster cables in Back to the Future
Doctor Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) stands holding two jumper leads in front of his face while wearing goggles in ‘Back to the Future’ (1985).
Image via Universal Pictures

Back to the Future is about as comforting and easily approachable as comfort movies get, and so, unsurprisingly, it’s also very nostalgic. And it’s the kind of nostalgic that has that feeling on multiple fronts, as it was made more than four decades ago, and is very of its time stylistically, while the time travel plot also has its teenage protagonist ending up stuck in the past, 30 years earlier, so in that sense, Back to the Future would’ve felt nostalgic back in 1985.

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Going much further than that is hard, discussion-wise. Back to the Future is a classic and one of those movies that’s potentially almost impossible to dislike. Maybe there’s someone out there who just doesn’t like it, and they’re well within their rights to not like it, but also, maybe you’re within your rights to think – ideally just to yourself, in the interest of not being too rude – that there might be something wrong with that particular individual.

‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004)

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet looking at each other in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet looking at each other in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Image via Focus Features

Romance movies focused on break-ups are already a little less common than more conventional (and pleasant) romance movies, but romance movies about break-ups that also count as sci-fi films? That’s an inevitably even smaller camp, and yet it’s a camp that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind belongs to. This one’s about a couple who’ve broken up, and they both choose to have a procedure that deletes all the memories they have of the other person.

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You could play something outlandish like this for laughs, and you throw Jim Carrey into the mix, and you might expect something funny, or maybe more of a dramedy, like The Truman Show, yet that’s really not what you get here. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is heavy-going, and it’s also one of those movies that gets admirably more difficult to watch the older/more heartbroken you get. That might not sell the film particularly well, but it’s what it’s going for and trying to do, so you have to admire it, even if you might not feel particularly keen about having it in rotation among other movies you might consider actually rewatchable.

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)

The Empire Strikes Back - 1980 Image via 20th Century Studios

The first Star Wars might be more historically significant, and potentially also the bigger crowd-pleaser, yet it’s The Empire Strikes Back that’s the overall stronger film. Both films, and most in the Star Wars franchise, are fantasy in space, rather than strict science fiction, but that sub-genre (the space opera) does still require, you know, space and other sci-fi elements, so here The Empire Strikes Back is.

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It’s relentlessly paced and undeniably exciting, even if you enter into it knowing the biggest surprises it has in store, or are otherwise familiar with much of it because it’s been so frequently parodied and referenced by other pieces of media. No matter; The Empire Strikes Back is still a strike. All 10 pins are knocked down. 10 out of 10 pins. Hey, 10 out of 10. What do you know? It’s all coming together, now.

‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)

Astronauts standing on a rocky surface in 2001_ A Space Odyssey Image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

2001: A Space Odyssey is one of those rare movies that’s about almost everything, doing so by covering such a vast expanse of time. You get the early stretch of the movie dealing with humanity’s ancestors, then some stuff in the titular year (which wasn’t the distant future in 1968, but probably still seemed decently far off to most), and things conclude with a more mysterious sequence that seems like it’s taking place extensively into the future, kind of beyond comprehension and stuff.

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Also, 2001: A Space Odyssey does this while being patiently paced, certainly not racing through all the years by any means. It takes its time while taking place over so much time, and that approach, coupled with the undeniable ambition, is one of many reasons why it’s such a fascinating and easy-to-revisit film (and it’s a landmark piece of science fiction in countless other ways, too).

‘Metropolis’ (1927)

A man holding another man in Metropolis Image via Parufamet

As mentioned before, Blade Runner was released far too late to come anywhere close to defining science fiction, as a genre within cinema, but Metropolis, on the other hand… yeah, this one kind of defined science fiction. There were some sci-fi movies released before 1927, with maybe the best known being 1925’s The Lost World, yet not many. And at least as far as feature-length sci-fi movies go, this was probably the first genuinely masterful one.

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So, Metropolis has that going for it, and then visually and thematically, it’s also got quite a bit in it that seems likely to have influenced Blade Runner, plus a good many other sci-fi movies released post-1927. Technically, much of Metropolis still impresses, and it’s also easy to single it out as one of the greatest filmmaking accomplishments of its century, science fiction or otherwise.


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Metropolis


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Release Date

February 6, 1927

Runtime

114 minutes

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Director

Fritz Lang

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Writers

Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang

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Hilary Duff confirms she doesn't speak to her dad often: 'It's hard if a family breaks apart dramatically'

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Hilary Duff’s parents, Robert and Susan Duff, divorced in 2008 after 20 years of marriage.

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Doja Cat Calls Out Timothee Chalamet Over Ballet, Opera Comments

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Doja Cat is weighing in on Timothée Chalamet’s controversial comments about ballet and opera.

Chalamet, 29, recently drew the ire of the theater community after claiming in an interview that “no one cares” about the art forms anymore.

“Opera is 400 years old. Ballet is 500 years old,” Doja, 30, said in a TikTok video on Sunday, March 8, calling Chalamet out by name.

“Somebody named Timothée Chalamet — big guy, by the way — had the nerve to say on camera that nobody cares about it,” the “Paint the Town Red” rapper said. “I’m sure you can walk into an opera theater right now, seats will be filled out, and nobody’s saying a word as the performance is going because everybody has that much respect for it.”

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GettyImages-2213946777 Timothee Chalamet's 'Top-Level' Comments Spark Mixed Fan Reactions


Related: Timothee Chalamet’s ‘Top-Level’ Comments Spark Mixed Fan Reactions

Timothée Chalamet takes pride in his work on the film Marty Supreme, but his latest comments about his performance have left fans divided. “This is probably my best performance, you know, and it’s been, like, seven, eight years that I feel like I’ve been handing in really, really committed, top-of-the-line performances,” Chalamet, 29, said in […]

She continued, “There is an etiquette around opera. There is etiquette around ballet. It’s amazing. It’s an amazing theater medium. It’s f***ing beautiful.”

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Doja went on to praise people who work in ballet and opera for their dedication to their art.

“People go there every day to the dance studio. Dancers show up [at] 8 a.m., 6 a.m. whatever the f*** [time] they show up, and they break and they bleed every single day just because they have respect for it,” she said. “They love it, they love what they do. It doesn’t matter if the industry is having a tough time at any time … a lot of industries have a tough time. Your industry has a tough time. My industry has a tough time. Doesn’t mean people don’t care about it. People care. Dancers care. The singers care. The audience cares.”

“There’s still an audience. People give a f***. You show up in a nice outfit, you sit the f*** down and you shut the f*** up,” she concluded. “That’s the usual etiquette around those things. Maybe learn something from that.”

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Chelsea Handler Slams Timothee Chalamets Marty Supreme Comments


Related: Chelsea Handler Slams Timothee Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’ Comments

Chelsea Handler is not a fan of how Timothée Chalamet handled his Marty Supreme press tour. “He seemed pretty serious about winning and getting acknowledged for his great acting,” the comedian, 50, said of Chalamet, 30, during an appearance on the Tuesday, January 14, episode of Amanda Hirsch’s “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. Ahead of […]

Us Weekly has reached out to Chalamet’s representative for comment.

During an interview with Matthew McConaughey for Variety last month, Chalamet talked about audiences seemingly having shorter attention spans.

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“I admire people [saying], ‘Hey, we gotta keep movie theaters alive. We gotta keep this genre alive,’” he said. “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.’”

The Marty Supreme actor quickly added, “All respect to the ballet and opera people out there,” before saying, “Damn, I just took shots for no reason.”

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The Oscar nominee has previously noted that several members of his family were ballet dancers, including his mom, Nicole Flender.

“My grandmother danced in the New York City Ballet, my mother danced in the New York City Ballet, my sister danced in the New York City Ballet,” he said. “I grew up dreaming big backstage at the Koch Theater in New York.”

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Meghan Markle’s As Ever Says ‘No Decisions’ on Global Expansion

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Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, has responded to a report that she is looking to expand into Australia rather than the U.K.

“This is speculation,” an As Ever spokesperson told Us Weekly on Monday, March 9, in response to a report by ITV News published Sunday, March 8.

“No decisions have been made about when or where international expansion might take place. Entering new markets is a considered process, but it’s something the brand is excited to explore as it continues to grow in this next phase,” the spokesperson added. “Watch this space.”

ITV News royal editor Chris Ship reported on Sunday that Meghan, 44, would be taking private meetings in Australia next month in hopes of launching As Ever internationally. So far, the brand’s products have been available exclusively in the U.S.

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Meghan Markle With Love Meghan


Related: Netflix Ends Deal With Meghan Markle’s Brand: Why They ‘Cut Ties’

Netflix is ending their partnership with Meghan Markle’s As Ever after two seasons of With Love, Meghan, Us Weekly confirms. “Meghan’s passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life,” a […]

According to ITV News, Meghan and husband Prince Harry will visit Australia in mid-April, with the couple’s office telling the outlet that they will partake in “a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements.”

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As Ever launched in the U.S. in April 2025, with Meghan’s initial offering including raspberry jam, honey, flower sprinkles, crepe mix, shortbread cookies and a variety of herbal teas. The products dropped in conjunction with the first season of the Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, on Netflix.

Netflix was an initial investor in the brand but confirmed to Us on Friday, March 6, that it had ended its investment in As Ever.

“Meghan’s passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life,” a Netflix spokesperson told Us. “As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world.”

What Does Meghan Markle As Ever Jam Taste Like Early Reviews Are In
As Ever

An As Ever spokesperson said, “As Ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first year. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to share more.”

Meghan’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, aired for two seasons and a holiday special in 2025. In August 2025, Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Productions signed a new first-look deal with Netflix for film and television projects, extending their partnership with the streaming service.

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Winona Ryder’s Raunchy, R-Rated 80s Comedy Still Shocks Audiences Today

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Winona Ryder's Raunchy, R-Rated 80s Comedy Still Shocks Audiences Today

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Old-timers love to wax philosophic about the good old days of cinema and how modern Hollywood just can’t create anything quite like the hit movies of yesteryear. A frequent theme of these complaints is that certain subjects have become taboo, which is why we no longer get R-rated comedies filled with nudity and transgressive humor. Most of the time, these gripes are overblown. While there are still plenty of transgressive movies out there, studio execs prefer to play it safe with big celebrity films for fear of scaring off the audience.

Back in 1988, though, we got Heathers, a star-studded film that could absolutely never be made today. That’s because this black comedy explores some of the most taboo subjects modern audiences can imagine, including school shootings and teen suicide, and it does so in the funniest possible way. If you’re ready for the most mean-spirited, hilarious movie of the ‘80s, then it’s time to grab your favorite flavor of corn nuts and stream Heathers for free on Tubi.

The ’80s Are Sexier Than Ever

The premise of Heathers is that the high school of a sleepy Ohio suburb is ruled with an iron fist by three popular and ruthless students: the titular Heathers. New girl Veronica desperately wants to join their clique, but her priorities seem to change when she meets a brooding and mysterious transfer student. When he helps her with a prank that turns out to be deadly, it’s soon clear that nobody’s lives will ever be the same.

The young cast of Heathers has some titanic talent, including the late, great Kim Walker (best known outside this film for Say Anything) as the ruthless leader of the Heathers, a shark trawling her high school for prey. That would-be prey includes a character played by ‘80s icon Winona Ryder (best known for Little Women) and a fellow Heather played by ‘90s icon Shannon Doherty (best known for Beverly Hills, 90210). But the real star of this black comedy is Christian Slater (best known for Very Bad Things), who does his best Jack Nicholson impression while creating one of the most compelling villains in cinematic history.

The Film That Blew Critics Away

Even though it was a critical darling (more on this very soon), Heathers was a box office bomb upon release, earning a paltry $1.1 million against its modest budget of $3 million. However, it quickly gained a cult following on home video, and this eventually led to two very different follow-up projects. The first was a short-lived television series that only got 10 episodes, while the second was an immensely successful Broadway musical, which can currently be streamed for free (check it out, it’s weirdly good!) on The Roku Channel.

When Heathers came out, it hit the critical world with all the impact of a bomb blast. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 95 percent, with critics praising the film for its dark humor, cynical characters, and subversive plot line. They also noted that this movie was a serious game-changer, one that left a permanent mark on every teen comedy that followed in Heathers’ bloody footsteps.

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Heads Up, Hollywood: There’s A New Sheriff In Town

Heathers is one of those black comedies that never pulls any punches, and the film is that much stronger for it. It’s a movie where two characters make an accidental murder look like a suicide, and they keep doing so to cut out the worst of the student body like a cancer.

That’s already bleak enough, but the cherry on top is that the idiotic high school leaders assume this is part of a nationwide problem where youngsters view suicide as trendy. In a modern age where influencers can’t even say the word “suicide,” the movie’s in-universe song lyrics “Teenage suicide/ Don’t do it!” are transgressively funnier than ever before.

In the wrong writer’s hands, the ghoulish plot would be as dead as our main characters’ growing number of victims. But the script by first-time screenwriter Daniel Waters (he would go on to write such ‘90s bangers as Batman Returns and Demolition Man) will keep you laughing, even when the subject material is something you’re never supposed to laugh at. Heck, this is a film that dares to transform topics as taboo as school shootings into just another macabre punchline.

You’ll Definitely Preach About This Movie

It helps that Waters has such a solid handle on writing for young characters, and he does a pitch-perfect job of transforming the fictional Heathers high school into something universally recognizable. You might not have had to deal with a literal group of Heathers growing up, but every high school has their imperious, “too cool for school” cliques, just as every high school has a quirky new kid who tries to look like a mysterious rebel. High school is all about trying different identities on for size, and Heathers is shockingly adept at comedically navigating the gap between how we appear today and what we hope to look like tomorrow.  

Of course, this tight script would be nothing without killer performances from actors like Christian Slater, who is at his charismatic best as a new kid out to make his daddy issues everyone else’s problem. Winona Ryder, meanwhile, is perfect as an ingenue who can’t decide whether she wants to join the elites of her high school, or take the time to discover what she really wants (which may or may not involve the cute new boy who keeps causing trouble). But the biggest revelation of this film is the late, great Kim Walker, whose Heather Chandler character is the perfect embodiment of sarcasm, style, and sex appeal (not to mention corn nuts).

Punch It In

With lines like “f*ck me gently with a chainsaw,” Heathers established itself as one of the greatest black comedies ever made. Will you enjoy watching this ‘80s classic, or will it leave you wanting to kill this film and make it look like an accident? The only way to find out is to grab your remote (preferably with a Big Gulp Slurpee from 7-Eleven in your other hand) and stream Heathers for free on Tubi.


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“The View” cohosts slam 'vapid' and 'shallow' Timothée Chalamet over anti-opera comments: 'Be careful, boy'

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Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Sheryl Underwood criticized Chalamet’s controversial comments.

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32 Must-Watch Sitcoms on Hulu Right Now (March 2026)

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32 Must-Watch Sitcoms on Hulu Right Now (March 2026)

After their business manager embezzles all their money away, the wealthy Rose family is forced to relocate to a tiny, remote town called Schitt’s Creek, which the family patriarch, Johnny (Eugene Levy), previously purchased as a joke. The formerly wealthy and fashionable Roses are completely out of their depth in a town with only one coffee shop, but the townspeople welcome them with open arms. 

Eugene Levy and his son Dan Levy, who plays fashionable and uptight David Rose, wrote the show together. Annie Murphy plays flighty socialite Alexis Rose, while Catherine O’Hara is their mother, Moira. Although moving to Schitt’s Creek seems like a nightmare for the Roses, it helps them realize the value of their family and learn how to relate to ordinary people. 

Of course, “ordinary” isn’t exactly the right word to describe the Schitt’s Creek natives — Mayor Roland Schitt (Chris Elliot) is nosy and posturing, his wife Jocelyn (Jennifer Robertson) is perky to the point of airheadedness and clerk Stevie (Emily Hampshire) is about as helpful as the broken sign above the motel the Roses move into. But somehow, they form a community that will move you to tears of laughter and joy.

 

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Beloved Always Sunny Character Announces Long-Awaited Return

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Beloved Always Sunny Character Announces Long-Awaited Return

By TeeJay Small
| Published

FX’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is widely considered to be one of the greatest television comedies of all time. Even though the screwball series began with a rag-tag crew of misfit twenty-somethings who could barely light a soundstage, the show has evolved to have some of the most jaw-dropping moments on television. While it’s been a blast watching the gang lie, cheat, steal, and double cross each other for the past 17 seasons, most fans agree that the show’s biggest draw is its growing rogues gallery of bystanders.

These wacky side characters, most of whom appear significantly worse for wear with each passing appearance on the show, include street urchin Rickety Cricket, Ben the soldier, and the bizarre, incestuous family known as the McPoyle clan. Thanks to a post from Guillermo del Toro on X, we now know that one of the most iconic McPoyles is coming back for Always Sunny‘s 18th season. The character, known as Pappy McPoyle, is a family patriarch, proud bird owner, and occasional eyeball snatcher, who last appeared on the show’s 11th season.

The Pap Is Back!

In case you missed it, legendary filmmaker and three-time Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro is the decorated thespian responsible for bringing Pappy McPoyle to life. You might not recognize him under the billowing beard, Gandalf-length white hair, and dirt that covers his entire face. As the story goes, del Toro first raised the possibility of doing a cameo appearance in Always Sunny while he was working with series star and co-creator Charlie Day on the 2013 film Pacific Rim. As they discussed the role, the Oscar-winner became committed to the idea of playing the most depraved and disgusting character the Sunny crew could conjure, and Pappy was born.

To date, Pappy has made his way onto It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia just twice, though he’s made a big impact on fans even with his limited screen time. He first showed up disheveled and ornery during the events of season 8’s “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre,” and later took the witness stand in season 11’s “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century.” According to the show’s lore, the entire McPoyle crew sprang forth from his mighty loins, along with one unnamed McPoyle who attempted to devour him upon birth. Fear not, intrepid viewer: Pappy ate him first.

Over A Decade In The Making

Last time we saw Pappy McPoyle, he was sicking his Pocono swallow on a courtroom full of unsuspecting people, and demanding that the bird snatch the eyeball of everyone’s favorite Harvard-educated lawyer. The interaction concluded with sweeping pandemonium, leaving fans unsure if Pappy was arrested by the court bailiff, or if he slinked off into the night, content to feast upon his freshly-snatched peeper under the cover of darkness. It’s been over 10 years since that episode aired, so we’ll have a lot of catching up to do once Always Sunny‘s 18th season finally arrives.

Guillermo del Toro’s social media post is quite cryptic. It doesn’t provide much direct information, other than an overt confirmation that Pappy McPoyle will return. For now, we’ll just have to wait for new episodes of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia to release in order to find out where he’s been, where he’s headed, and what avian horrors await under his hat.

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Why Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater Nearly Broke Up

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"Wicked" stars

Rumors swirled for months that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s romance might not survive the intense scrutiny surrounding their relationship.

While the couple never officially split, insiders say their bond was seriously tested behind the scenes.

Now, new details reveal how close they came to walking away before quietly working through their challenges.

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Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater Faced A Rough Patch Behind The Scenes

"Wicked" stars
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Public sightings of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater were scarce for much of last year, sparking speculation that their relationship might be on shaky ground. While the pair never officially broke up, insiders say there was a period when the future of their romance looked uncertain.

“Ariana and Ethan hit a rough patch towards the end of last year,” a source close to Grande’s family told the Daily Mail. “They never broke up, but it was questionable at a point if they were going to continue moving forward.”

Despite the tension, the couple reportedly chose to work through their issues rather than call it quits.

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“They’ve really spent time working on their relationship and are in a much better place. It’s been hard for them with the way their relationship began and they’ve had a lot to work through, but they seem to really, truly love each other,” the insider added.

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The source also pointed to Slater’s presence during some of Grande’s major moments as proof that the relationship remained strong.

They shared, “That’s a huge reason why Ethan was at a lot of Ariana’s Saturday Night Live duties. They also spent the holidays together with her family. Things are strong between them again now.”

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How Grande And Slater First Crossed Paths

Ethan Slater at the Derren Brown: Secret Broadway Opening Night - Arrivals
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Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s love story began in late 2022 while filming the two-part movie musical “Wicked” in the United Kingdom, directed by Jon M. Chu.

At the time, both actors were married. Grande had tied the knot with real estate agent Dalton Gomez in 2021, while Slater was married to singer Lilly Jay.

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Their personal lives shifted dramatically the following year. Court documents show Grande separated from Gomez in February 2023 after two years of marriage.

Around the same time, Slater filed for divorce from Jay in July 2023, shortly after news of his relationship with Grande became public. The Broadway star and his ex-wife share a young son.

The timeline surrounding their relationship drew intense attention online, placing the couple under a microscope from the start.

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Ariana Grande’s Surprising Relationship Preferences

Ariana Grande at the Oscars
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The insider also revealed an unexpected detail about what may have drawn Grande to Slater in the first place.

According to the source, the pop star has a pattern when it comes to her romantic choices.

“Ariana likes to date guys she knows she’s better looking than,” the insider said. “It’s due to her own insecurities.”

While the comment raised eyebrows, it was framed as part of the singer’s personal dynamics rather than a criticism of Slater.

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Slater’s Public Comments About Grande

Ethan Slater's Wife Is Reportedly 'A Wreck' Over His Romance With Ariana Grande
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Ethan Slater has largely stayed quiet about the details of his relationship with Ariana Grande, though he has spoken publicly about her fans.

In September, the Broadway actor praised the singer’s supporters while speaking to PEOPLE after some fans struggled to secure tickets for her Eternal Sunshine tour.

“Ari’s fans are unbelievable and incredible and ferocious in their support of her – and it’s a beautiful thing,” he told the outlet. “And I really hope that there are other opportunities to see her perform.”

However, his reluctance to discuss their romance sparked fresh rumors in November when he appeared on the “Today show.”

When asked about the experience of “working with your girlfriend every day,” Slater avoided the question and instead focused on the film’s ensemble.

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He described the cast as “incredible” and praised Grande as “brilliant,” while also calling co-star Cynthia Erivo “remarkable.”

Slater added that watching the two performers work together “from such a high level up close” was a “pretty special” experience.

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Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater Are Now In A Stronger Place

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A ‘Mindhunter’ Star Makes a Chilling, Tragic Entrance in This Intense Hour

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paradise

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Paradise Season 2 Episode 5.

If Annie Clay’s (Shailene Woodley) death and Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) becoming her newborn daughter’s sworn protector left you shocked, devastated, or both, then hold on tight — Dan Fogelman‘s hit Hulu drama is just getting started on the heartbroken-and-disturbed front. Paradise Season 2’s fifth episode, “The Mailman,” keeps its focus outside the bunker for a second straight hour. This time, writer Katie French and director Liza Johnson shed light on Teri Rogers-Collins’ (Enuka Okuma) side of the story, albeit through someone else’s point of view: Gary Jones (Cameron Britton), the newcomer who self-identified as Teri’s “best friend” and “partner” right before Episode 4 cut to black. Instead of trying to repeat last week’s heightened tragedy, Episode 5 returns to Paradise‘s default atmosphere of restrained tension. French and Johnson set up action items for the last three episodes, resolve a pressing mystery, and present an unsettling variation on Season 2’s prevailing theme thus far: loneliness.

Every person on Gary’s (pre-apocalyptic) mail delivery route maintains their respective habits. The elderly woman greets him with polite small talk, the aggressive dog lunges at him while barking up a storm, and the viciously argumentative mother and father neglect their preteen son, Bean (Benjamin Mackey). Gary follows his routine, too: moving through work on a downcast, taciturn autopilot, then devoting his evenings to online multiplayer video games. A successful combat session with Ennis (Andy McQueen), an extroverted fellow gamer and a professional engineer, leads to their unexpected friendship. Gaining one genuine human connection brightens Gary’s demeanor from someone who seemed resolved to an eternity of emptiness to a happy, fulfilled man who willingly engages with his neighborhood.

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Since they chat about everything under the sun, Ennis loops Gary into a conspiracy theory that’s gathered steam after the thwarted assassination attempt on President Cal Bradford (James Marsden). Ennis dismisses an underground bunker funded by billionaires, for billionaires, as internet nonsense, but Gary’s anxieties quietly mount; he studies disaster prepping podcasts, watches a detailed warning interview with Dr. Louge (Geoffrey Arend), and notices his post office’s sturdy interior walls for the first time. Upon discovering that it’s one of the 1,5000 USPS buildings designed to double as a fallout shelter, Gary pours his pension into stockpiling the basement. Meanwhile, Ennis recruits five people with apocalypse-friendly skills: carpenter Roberto (Alejandro Patiño), mechanic Jackie (Jojo T. Gibbs), gardener Ruth (Karly Rothenberg), survivalist Bob (Steven M. Gagnon), and Crystal (Connie Shi), the nurse Ennis has a crush on.

Gary’s Affection for Teri Has Violent Consequences in ‘Paradise’ Season 2 Episode 5

When The Day they’d hoped was an exaggeration actually strikes, Gary and Ennis speed through town in Gary’s mail van. The former can’t help himself from taking a deadly risk and detouring to check on Bean; finding the boy’s parents overdosed on heroin, Gary offers to take Bean somewhere safe. All hell is breaking loose by the time the trio make their final stop (grabbing as many egg cartons as they can carry), yet it’s Teri, standing alone in the street, phone pressed to her ear, stealing every second of Xavier’s voice she can, who catches Bean’s attention. Gary’s panicked shouts for Bean to return to the car instantly prompt Teri to shield Bean with her body and a comforting hand-hold, but his calmer explanation mollifies Teri into joining them at the post office. She’s far less content to spend three to five years separated from her family while the ash cloud reigns. Viewers know Teri would transform her despondency into action without outside prompting, but Gary’s quiet encouragement — he knows Teri can change people’s lives, whereas Ennis sees an extra mouth to feed — speeds up her timetable.

The rest of the group follows suit. Ennis’ influence makes them a well-oiled machine, while Teri reminds them to cultivate joy; surviving means nothing without communal warmth. For three years, nine people laugh, fall in love (Crystal accepts Jackie’s proposal, much to Ennis’ unrequited dismay), log Bean’s height spurts, and celebrate Christmas with fresh meals and a makeshift tree. Gary builds Teri a radio for that first winter holiday, a gift from which she’ll broadcast her messages for Xavier — and he almost ruins her gratitude by acting on his feelings through a failed kiss. Once Gary apologizes and Teri establishes her steadfast love for Xavier, the duo seal their platonic friendship with a handshake. By the third Christmas, Teri finds her radio smashed. Ennis denies her accusations, even though his frosty resentment makes him a likely culprit.

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Before ‘Paradise’, Shailene Woodley Led This Highly Controversial 5-Part Series

Woodley kick-started her acting career and a new era of teenage television.

The sun’s return ushers in welcome changes: a flourishing outside garden, Crystal and Jackie moving to their own space, and Teri and Bean mapping out their drive to Colorado, Xavier’s last known location. Ennis consoles Gary’s distress over Teri by championing the bittersweet flip side — at least losing both of their unattainable loves means they’ll return to lonely bachelorhood together. Privately, Ennis clears the air with Teri, apologizing for ruining her radio yet clarifying he’s never hated her. He admires her resilient warmth and even admits that the closest his career came to engineering was being an internet technician. He’d seen an opportunity to finally earn other people’s affection, and he built himself up with a lie rather than embrace vulnerable authenticity. Just as Gary’s favorite people acknowledge how much Teri’s imminent departure will harm him, Bean interrupts their sort of truce with news about a stopped train full of armed strangers.

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Ennis and Gary investigate, only to drop their rifles the moment they’re outnumbered by trigger-happy people carrying superior firepower. A stern woman (Rya Kihlstedt) decides the two interlopers pose no threat and invites them inside the train car for coffee. She promises they aren’t interested in causing trouble; they’ve paused en route to Colorado long enough to replenish the train’s supply of renewable diesel. Anyone’s welcome to hitch a free ride or join their larger initiative, overseen by a man called Link (Thomas Doherty), to “restart the world.” Walking back to the post office, Ennis advises his best friend to brace for the reality of losing Teri sooner than planned. Gary shoots Ennis dead with one shot — a terrified Bean witnessing the betrayal from afar.

Gary’s Lies Lead Xavier Toward Danger in ‘Paradise’ Episode 5

Picking up in the present, where Xavier holds Gary at gunpoint, the latter blames Ennis for Teri’s abduction, claiming the other man allied with unidentified strangers who proceeded to kidnap both her and “our boy,” Bean. Xavier assesses the train through binoculars and notes 16 armed guards, because there’s no doubt in his mind “they’re guarding something.” His rescue mission needs the biggest kind of distraction, and before then, the right supplies to create said bomb. Gary escorts Xavier to a local high school gym that the community has revamped into an active trading hub, where they bump into Jackie and Crystal. Furious about their friends’ abduction, the couple reminisce about Teri, secure Xavier the last component he needs, and promise to protect Annie’s daughter until Xavier returns.

Outside once more, Gary can’t keep himself from asking why Xavier rejected Gary’s offer to help with the baby, yet immediately entrusted her to people who aren’t Teri’s closest friends. When their children were young, Xavier explains, Teri refused to let anyone else, even her husband, tell them bedtime stories. The fact that Jackie and Crystal sometimes read aloud to Bean is a double-edged sword: it speaks to her absolute trust in them and confirms Xavier’s suspicions that Gary is withholding information. Gary confesses his unrequited love for Teri and vows to help Xavier rescue her. Unless Xavier’s instincts see through that lie of omission, only the audience knows that Gary murdered Ennis — and only Gary himself is aware of what else he intends to do to keep Teri by his side.

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Release Date

January 26, 2025

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Network

Hulu

Showrunner
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Dan Fogelman

Directors

Gandja Monteiro

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Writers

Jason Wilborn

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Pros & Cons
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  • Enuka Okuma continues to vibrantly bring Teri to life with the longest, most detailed dive into her character yet.
  • Cameron Britton makes his full series debut with a subtly tragic and chilling performance.

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Succession’ Writer’s New Silicon Valley Satire Secures a Rare Pre-Premiere Renewal

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Billy Magnussen screaming in The Audacity

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Despite not airing a single episode yet, AMC has The Audacity to return to Silicon Valley for more drama. Just days before its premiere at SXSW on March 14 and just over a month before its debut on AMC and AMC+ on April 12, the new series starring Billy Magnussen has received a rare early Season 2 order, reflecting a ton of confidence in what series creator Jonathan Glatzer has in store. Preliminary casting is already underway, too, with the sophomore outing also set to have eight episodes. With work ramping up fast, the goal appears to be to get new seasons of the satire out as fast as possible.

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Release Date

April 12, 2026

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Network

AMC

Directors
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Alexander Buono, Daniel Gray Longino, Daniel Sackheim, Lucy Forbes


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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

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