An animated movie gets labeled underrated all the time, but most of those picks are just popular films that people want to sound special about. This list is different. These are the ones that feel quietly perfect and still somehow slip through the cultural cracks, even though they play like total classics. They’re not that popular either. You might not have heard about most of these.
Each pick is a clean 10 out of 10 for me because the craft disappears, and you just feel the story working. Some are funny, some are heavy, and a couple are downright strange, but every one of them has real staying power once you finally press play. So if you’ve been hunting down an animated 10/10 watch, lock in.
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10 ‘April and the Extraordinary World’ (2015)
Image via StudioCanal
April and the Extraordinary World is a pulp adventure that hides a surprisingly sharp idea inside its fun. In this version of history, science keeps vanishing, so Paris feels stuck in a smoky, steampunk limbo while a teen, April Franklin (Marion Cotillard), chases the truth behind her parents’ disappearance. The movie earns your attention fast because every invention feels practical, and every chase has stakes.
As it escalates, it never forgets the emotional core, which is April choosing curiosity over fear. There is a clean sense of momentum to the mystery, and the villains stay unsettling without turning cartoonish. By the time the finale clicks, the story feels complete rather than overexplained, and you realize it pulled off a big, strange premise with real control. It’s a good watch for both children and adults.
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9 ‘The Red Turtle’ (2016)
A man and the turtle from The Red TurtleImage via Toho
The Red Turtle barely uses dialogue, yet it still tells a full life story with clarity. A castaway washes up on an island and keeps trying to escape, until a red turtle blocks him in a way that feels maddening, then meaningful. The film turns survival into a relationship with place, time, and consequence.
What makes it linger is how it keeps changing shape while staying simple. There is no wasted emotional noise, just images that do the work and transitions that feel earned. It’s a 10/10 because it proves animation can hold an entire human life in a handful of images, and somehow make it feel more real than dialogue ever could.
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8 ‘Tokyo Godfathers’ (2003)
A family of three scream in fear and jumps forward to catch a falling baby in Tokyo-Godfathers
Image via Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan
This film starts as a messy night out and turns into a chain of plot turns that never stops paying off. Tokyo Godfathersfollows three homeless friends who find an abandoned baby, and instead of treating it like a cute gimmick, the movie forces them to follow the baby’s trail through Tokyo’s backstreets, debt, family secrets, and bad luck. Hana (Yoshiaki Umegaki) keeps the group moving with stubborn warmth.
The magic is that every “coincidence” hits like life, not writing (and that’s a major problem with most animated films). It is directed by Satoshi Kon, who seems to have kept that feeling checked. The film, therefore, keeps the pacing sharp like a thriller but never loses the bruised humanity underneath the jokes. It’s funny in that painful way where you laugh and immediately feel something catch in your throat. And by the time all the threads collide, you realize the movie wasn’t just about finding where the baby belongs, it was about watching these three people accidentally find their way back to themselves.
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7 ‘Persepolis’ (2007)
Image via Diaphana Distribution
Persepolis is so different. It looks simple on the surface, yet it carries enormous emotional weight without ever getting stiff. It follows Marjane (Chiara Mastroianni) growing up through the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, and the story keeps focus on what that does to a kid’s identity, friendships, and sense of safety.
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That whole premise makes it an excellent film, giving it that rewatchability factor for anyone who clicks with the themes, and how it refuses to flatten anyone into a symbol. You get clear personal stakes in every phase, from teenage rebellion to exile loneliness, and the film never pretends those phases are neat. Any child who feels the same things in their life ends up loving it.
6 ‘Fantastic Planet’ (1973)
Image via New World Pictures
There are animated films that feel whimsical, comforting, even playful, and then there’s this strange, unnerving sci-fi fever dream from 1973 that seems designed to make your skin crawl in the best possible way. Fantastic Planet drops you onto a distant world where humans aren’t heroes or explorers, but tiny, disposable creatures treated like pets (or pests) by towering blue beings called Draags.
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From the very first minutes, the movie radiates imbalance. Everything is off-kilter: the scale, the power, the cruelty baked into everyday life. Terr (Jean Valmont), the human who escapes captivity, isn’t framed as some shiny savior figure. He’s just surviving, learning, resisting, and the film refuses to turn his struggle into a simple fantasy of triumph. The ending doesn’t wrap things up with some satisfying overthrow or blood-soaked payback. Terr doesn’t defeat the Draags. Nobody wins, nobody is redeemed, and that’s why it sticks.
5 ‘Millennium Actress’ (2001)
A woman looking shocked while surrounded by fireImage via Madhouse
Millennium Actress makes memory move like cinema itself — fast, fluid, impossible to hold still. A filmmaker interviews retired legend Chiyoko Fujiwara (Miyoko Shōji), and her answers don’t arrive as neat recollections. They explode into scenes: her life collapsing into the roles she once played until the boundary between performance and reality stops mattering.
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The film jumps across centuries, wars, and romances with dizzying speed, but it never loses its center. Everything is anchored to Chiyoko’s longing, that single emotional current pulling her forward. It qualifies as a 10/10 for me because it frames love not as something she ever has, but something she is always moving toward. The story becomes a chase stretched across an entire lifetime — not for a man exactly, but for the feeling of pursuit itself. By the end, it appears that the blurred timelines were the only honest way to show what she spent her life running after.
4 ‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)
Brendan, a young monk, and Aisling with white hair inside a tree in a forest in The Secret of Kells.Image via Buena Vista International
The Secret of Kells feels like a story carved into illuminated manuscript pages and then brought to life. The plot follows Brendan (Evan McGuire), a young monk in a fortified abbey, and his world is ruled by fear of invasion and strict boundaries. And once he meets Aisling (Christen Mooney), the film shifts into a quest where art becomes the thing worth risking everything for.
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The movie stands out because it commits fully to its visual style. Inside the abbey, everything looks stiff and controlled, straight lines, tight spaces, repeated shapes, which match how Brendan’s life is ruled by rules and fear. Once he goes into the forest with Aisling, the animation changes. The backgrounds get looser, filled with curves and swirling patterns, like the world is opening up. The design is taken directly from the real Book of Kells: flat perspective, heavy outlines, and decorative detail packed into every shot. That’s why the film doesn’t feel like a typical fantasy cartoon.
3 ‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)
Keanu Reeves and Woody Harrelson in A Scanner Darkly (2006)Image via Warner Independent Pictures
A Scanner Darkly uses rotoscope animation to make paranoia feel physical. Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover cop sinking into addiction while spying on his own friends, and the film never gives you a safe viewpoint. Every conversation feels slightly off, like you are listening through a damaged wire. Donna (Winona Ryder) might be honest, or she might be another angle.
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What makes it stick is how it turns comedy into discomfort. The group’s jokes have real nervous energy, and the story keeps tightening until Bob cannot tell what he knows anymore. When the final reveals land, they are brutal because they are quiet, and the movie makes you sit with the cost instead of dressing it up.
2 ‘Ernest & Celestine’ (2012)
Ernest the bear watching the little mouse Celestine painting in ‘Ernest & Celestine’Image via StudioCanal
Ernest & Celestine is one of those rare kids’ films that feels genuinely kind. Celestine (Mackenzie Foy) is a young mouse raised on the idea that bears are basically monsters, and Ernest (Forest Whitaker) is a broke, hungry bear who looks scary on paper but is basically just exhausted and decent. Their friendship doesn’t just “challenge society” in some vague way, it pisses off an entire world built on fear and tradition.
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What I love is how calm the movie is about its message. It doesn’t do big speeches or melodrama. The prejudice is baked into everything: the courtrooms, the rules, the way crowds immediately turn cruel. And the softness of the watercolor animation makes that harshness hit harder, because the world looks gentle even when it’s being unfair. The movie feels like watching two outsiders accidentally expose how ridiculous the whole system is, just by refusing to play along.
1 ‘Song of the Sea’ (2014)
Image via StudioCanal
Song of the Sea is one of the most emotionally wrecking animated films that somehow still looks like a bedtime story. It follows Ben (David Rawle), an angry, shut-down kid who is carrying grief like it’s poison, and Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell), who is quieter, almost otherworldly.
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What makes the film work so well is how tightly the fantasy connects to the family’s emotions. The folklore animation is the movie’s way of showing sadness, memory, and healing without spelling everything out. The story itself, setting off on a quest to liberate the fairies and protect the spirit world from the forces of evil, is just beautiful and makes it an ideal watch for children. It’s like Spirited Away, but at a low heat.
Congresswoman Sarah McBride Here’s the Senator Who’d Win ‘The Traitors’!!!
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Congresswoman Sarah McBride is always looking out for traitors … which is probably why she’s such a fan of “The Traitors” on Peacock — and she tells us the show isn’t all that different from Washington!
We caught up with McBride Tuesday on Capitol Hill, where she described what it’s like working in D.C. … “Sometimes it feels more like ‘Real Housewives,’ sometimes it feels more like ‘Traitors,’ and let’s be honest, there’s a lot of overlap between the two.”
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With the revelation that the Democratic Representative from Delaware is an avid viewer of the reality show, our photog had to ask … how does she rank the political players in D.C.?
Pressed for who’s the most treacherous candidate for Traitor candidacy, McBride wasn’t shy … watch the video to hear her pick!
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Like any good reality show, D.C.’s back-biting and betrayals make for great villains … but McBride also has some thoughts about the most promising Faithfuls in the D.C. fishbowl.
A hoverbike in ‘Mercy’Image via Amazon MGM Studios
The new sci-fi movie Mercy has had a difficult theatrical run so far, having grossed only a third of its reported budget at the domestic box office. Mercy stars Rebecca Ferguson and Chris Pratt in the lead roles and uses the “screenlife” format, in which all the action unfolds on digital screens. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, who has devoted his career to making “screenlife” movies, Mercyreceived poor reviews upon release. While it struggles to recover its reported budget, it can celebrate minor victories, like overtaking similar underperformers on the all-time box office charts. However, Mercy still hasn’t overtaken one of the least memorable horror films from the “found-footage” era of genre filmmaking; in many ways, it was the precursor to the “screenlife” movement we’re seeing now.
Mercy follows a police officer who is accused of murdering his wife, and is given a deadline to prove his innocence before an AI-powered judge. Pratt stars as the protagonist, while Ferguson plays the judge. Both stars have previously experienced major success in the sci-fi space, with Pratt headlining three Jurassic World movies and appearing in a string of Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters, and Ferguson starring in Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune trilogy and the Apple TV series Silo. Mercy represents a new low for them both, with its 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads, “Constricting its two stars inside an airless presentation of a clunky techno-thriller premise, Mercy is tedious enough to make you cry uncle.”
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‘Mercy’ Is Running the Risk of Being Forgotten
The movie has only made $20 million so far domestically, and around $40 million at the worldwide box office. It was produced on a reported budget of $60 million, which would make its break-even point $120 million — studios often estimate break-even at roughly twice the production budget to account for marketing and distribution. With $41 million worldwide, Mercy still trails the 2012 film Chernobyl Diaries, which grossed $42 million in its worldwide run. The found-footage horror movie follows a group of American tourists who find themselves fighting zombies in the Ukrainian town of Pripyat. This is where the Chernobyl disaster took place in the 1980s. Chernobyl Diaries earned poor reviews and is now sitting at an 18% score on Rotten Tomatoes. In his review for Slant Magazine, Nick Schager wrote that it has “the brain of a mushy radioactive mutant zombie.” You can watch Mercy in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
January 19, 2026
Runtime
100 minutes
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Director
Timur Bekmambetov
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Writers
Marco van Belle
Producers
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Charles Roven, Majd Nassif, Robert Amidon, Timur Bekmambetov
Billie Eilish has drawn intense scrutiny following her outspoken Grammy Awards speech condemning U.S. immigration enforcement.
After declaring that “no one is illegal on stolen land” and criticizing ICE, the singer sparked a heated online debate that has continued to grow.
Now, days later, Billie Eilish was spotted out for the first time since her controversial remarks, looking “tense,” as attention shifted from her remarks to questions about her Los Angeles home.
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Billie Eilish Reportedly Had A Tense Look During Her First Sighting Since Her Grammys Speech
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Eilish appeared tense this week as she was seen in public for the first time following backlash over her outspoken remarks at the Grammy Awards.
On Wednesday, the 24-year-old singer was photographed walking her dog, dressed in her trademark oversized and baggy style.
However, as seen in photos obtained by the Daily Mail, observers noted Eilish’s somber demeanor as she had a “tense” look on her face, suggesting the ongoing criticism of her Grammy Awards speech may be weighing heavily on her.
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The Singer Was Accused Of Hypocrisy After Her ‘Stolen Land’ Remark
The controversy surrounding Eilish began on Sunday after the “Bad Guy” hitmaker won Song of the Year and used her acceptance speech to sharply criticize U.S. immigration enforcement.
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During her speech, she declared that “no one is illegal on stolen land” before bluntly adding, “F-CK ICE.”
The statement quickly ignited intense debate across social media. Soon after, social media users began pointing out that Eilish owns a $3 million home in Los Angeles, an area historically tied to the Tongva tribe, the Indigenous people of the greater LA Basin.
As the discussion gained traction, critics accused the artist of hypocrisy and called on her to either return the property or use it to support migrants she has publicly defended.
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Independent journalist Manny Marotta called out the singer on X, claiming, “A gentle reminder that Billie Eilish, worth $50 million, has given $0.00 to the original inhabitants of this ‘stolen land.’”
The backlash stems from a broader wave of political statements at the Grammys, where several celebrities used the event to protest immigration policies.
Figures such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kehlani, and Joni Mitchell wore small “ICE OUT” pins on the red carpet. Eilish’s comments, however, stood out for their intensity.
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Tongva Tribe Confirms Billie Eilish’s Home Sits On Ancestral Land
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A spokesperson for the Tongva tribe later confirmed that Eilish’s residence is indeed located on their “ancestral land.”
While noting that the singer has not personally contacted the tribe, the spokesperson expressed appreciation for her remarks and said the tribe had reached out to her team.
They also emphasized the importance of naming the Tongva people explicitly in conversations about Los Angeles history, adding that the tribe collaborated with the Recording Academy on the official land acknowledgment shared during Grammy week.
“The Recording Academy has been an incredible partner to our tribe, and we look forward to continuing the relationship to ensure the voices of the First People of this land are heard and honored. Ekwa Shem- We are here!” the spokesperson said, reaffirming the tribe’s presence and heritage in the region.
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Billie Eilish Has Faced Security Concerns At Her Home In The Past
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Eilish has previously faced security concerns related to her home.
In 2023, the singer was granted a restraining order against a man she accused of stalking and threatening her, her family, and her friend Zoe Donahoe.
According to court documents cited by TMZ, Shawn Christopher McIntyre was ordered to remain at least 100 yards away from the singer.
The individual was also told to refrain from contacting her, including via social media.
Billie Eilish’s Uncle Defends Her Amid Backlash, Slams Claims Of Hypocrisy
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Despite the growing criticism, Eilish has also received public support from within her family. Her uncle, former U.S. congressman Brian Baird, strongly defended her and criticized the Daily Mail for suggesting she could be viewed as hypocritical if she does not give up her Los Angeles home.
“Oh, please, give me a break! This is disingenuous,” Baird said, pushing back against the narrative.
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The former Democratic representative for Washington’s Third Congressional District insisted that his niece’s activism should not be dismissed so easily, noting that their family has long been involved in supporting immigrant communities.
“As Billie has explained, our family has done a lot for immigrants and their cause,” he said.
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Speaking firmly in her defense, Baird added, “I think Billie is fantastic. Of course, we’re standing behind her.”
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When it comes to glossy, perfectly polished hair, Paris Hilton knows exactly what works. For her Los Angeles Global Premiere of Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir, the beauty icon relied on the Paul Mitchell Texturizing Spray to give her slightly undone style just the right balance of shine, movement and hold. The result? Smooth, camera-ready hair that looked effortless but held up under red-carpet lights.
As a Paul Mitchell Global Ambassador, Hilton’s red-carpet look was built around a deliberately minimal product lineup focused on shine, texture and staying power. A source told Us Weekly Hilton’s hair was styled into a soft, intricately detailed updo that felt polished yet relaxed, with natural separation and movement throughout, all thanks to the Paul Mitchell Texturizing Spray. A final touch of the Super Skinny Serum was used to smooth and gloss the look, enhancing shine without weighing the hair down.
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Get the Paul Mitchell Texturizing Spray for $25 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The texturizing spray is designed to add dimension and control while keeping hair light and touchable. The fine-mist formula builds flexible hold and adds subtle volume, making it especially effective for updos that need structure without rigidity. It also smooths flyaways and imparts a soft, healthy-looking sheen, helping styles photograph cleanly under bright lights.
If you tuned into the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, you may have seen Jessica Biel’s backless gold and black gown and sleek hairstyle grace your screen. From the front, the actress’s hairstyle may have looked simple, but it’s been dubbed the “satin ribbon chignon” by Surface Hair, the brand that made her look happen. The […]
To use it, mist onto dry hair before styling to create grip and definition, then layer as needed while pinning or shaping sections. A final light spray over the finished style helps lock in texture and longevity without weighing hair down, allowing movement and polish to coexist.
One Amazon shopper called it “the best texturizing spray,” noting that it “lifts thinning hair up.” Another reviewer raved that it “doesn’t leave a film on your hair” and that it “really gives body.”
If you’re after that same polished-but-effortless finish, Paul Mitchell’s texturizing volume spray makes it easy to recreate at home. Shop the spray now and get the soft texture, movement and longevity that’ll actually hold up!
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Get the Paul Mitchell Texturizing Spray for $25 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Need a hair refresh ahead of the glitz and glam of the holiday season? Amazon shoppers call this Kyle Richards-loved hair gloss a “total glow-up in a bottle,” swearing it delivers instant shine and that “expensive-glass hair look.” Earlier this year, Richards first raved about the Ouai Hair Gloss during an Amazon livestream. While dishing on […]
Jeffrey Epstein was put on the hot seat during a 2010 deposition over his criminal conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution … but the pedophile financier didn’t have a clue who his victim was, and even asked the lawyer questioning him, “What minor?”
In the stunning clip, Epstein tells the lawyer deposing him that he didn’t know the name of his underage victim, but pled guilty anyway in 2009 to soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He also pleaded guilty to another count of soliciting prostitution and was sentenced to 18 months in jail in Florida under a plea deal with prosecutors.
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The 2010 deposition, released in the latest tranche of Epstein Files, opens with the lawyer repeatedly asking Epstein if any female he interacted with was a prostitute prior to meeting him. Epstein gives the same response each time, saying he pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution. He then falsely claims he never pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from an underage prostitute.
The attorney seems to be taken aback, pointing out that Epstein pled guilty to procuring a minor for the purposes of prostitution, which is a felony. Epstein acknowledges this, prompting the lawyer to ask him if he’s remorseful for his interaction with that minor.
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That’s when Epstein responds, “What minor?”
Check it all out for yourself. The video is quite dramatic, especially when the attorney asks Epstein why he pleaded guilty if he never knew the identity of his underage victim.
“Survivor” is gearing up for season 50, and after more than 25 years on air, host Jeff Probst is thrilled to still be at the helm for its milestone season.
At one point, Probst wanted out of hosting the reality series, but looking back, he’s happy that he stayed and is excited to continue guiding the show into the new chapter.
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Jeff Probst Almost Left The Show After Season 12
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Probst has been synonymous with “Survivor,” and it’s hard to imagine someone else hosting the show. However, that nearly became a reality in 2005 when Probst contemplated leaving.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 64-year-old TV presenter said that gruelling work and stress made him think twice about returning, and that his contract was ending after the filming of season 12 in 2005.
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“There were a period of years on ‘Survivor’ where the travel was pretty extensive, and the time away was a long time away, and the stress to keep the show high in the ratings — all that pressure does have a cumulative effect on you,” he shared.
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Additionally, he felt discouraged by what CBS was paying him compared to other stars on the network, given that “Survivor” was a highly rated program with millions of viewers tuning in weekly.
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He Ultimately Decided To Stay
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Despite the issues he faced, Probst decided to renew his contract. Looking back, he now says that if he did quit, “That would’ve been the single worst decision I could have ever made.”
As he explained, he is now “embarrassed” that he even considered quitting because he was “so tired.” In 2010, CBS announced that, aside from hosting, Probst would also return as an executive producer, a role he has kept since. The added role afforded him the chance to make creative and casting decisions, as well as format changes.
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While his job remained taxing, Probst says the COVID pandemic allowed him to step back from filming “Survivor” for one year. It was a much-needed break that allowed him to reflect on how much he really enjoyed hosting the show. “In that time, I think all of us remembered how much we love this show. We just needed a moment,” he explained.
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How Did Jeff Probst Get The Job?
Prior to being the host of “Survivor,” Probst hosted “Rock & Roll Jeopardy!” and was also an Access Hollywood correspondent. When he heard producer Mark Burnett talking about the concept of “Survivor” on the radio, he called his agent.
He was able to get a meeting with Burnett, but was disappointed when he couldn’t talk himself into being the perfect host for the show. About six months later, however, he got the call that he was in the running to be the host.
As he revealed on “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” the other “Survivor” finalist was Phil Keoghan, who went on to host “The Amazing Race,” which debuted in 2001 and was just renewed for season 39.
How Much Does Jeff Probst Earn?
Hosting a show for more than 25 years and serving as its executive producer have made Probst millions of dollars. His exact salary per season of “Survivor” is not disclosed, but Celebrity Net Worth reports he is worth $50 million.
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The site claims that Probst’s salary is $8 million for “Survivor,” which films two seasons per year. This translates to $4 million per season, an amount Variety also reported in 2016. However, that information is almost 10 years old, which could mean he earns more now.
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Jeff Probst Releases Book And Game Ahead Of Season 50
To celebrate season 50 of “Survivor,” Probst is releasing a book titled “Survivor: Forged By Fire.” It’s a book that big fans of the show will enjoy, featuring never-before-seen photos spanning the years, Probst’s notes from filming, and personal reflections. It will be released on February 24.
Meanwhile, those waiting for “Survivor 50” could try their hand at playing the game from home with the Survivor: Let’s Go to Rocks board game, inspired by the show’s tribal council. The board game is now available on Amazon and Target.
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“Survivor 50” will kick off with a three-hour premiere on CBS on February 25.
Ellen DeGeneres and her partner, Portia de Rossi, recently made a huge real estate purchase, not in the U.K., as one might expect, but in the U.S.
The retired comedian and actress uprooted their lives and made a major move 14 months ago, relocating to the U.S. following Donald Trump’s re-election.
However, reports now suggest that DeGeneres is homesick for the U.S. and is considering returning to America.
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Ellen DeGeneres Is Planning To ‘Split’ Her Time Between The U.K. And Montecito
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DeGeneres’ recent purchase has raised more eyebrows about whether her rumored return to the U.S. might be true.
According to an insider, the comedian and her wife recently bought a home in Montecito. Although no details have been released about the price.
However, that doesn’t mean DeGeneres’ return home is set in stone, as she plans to shuffle between the U.K. and California.
“She’s not moving back to the U.S. but will continue to split her time between both the U.K. and Montecito, [Calif.],” the source told People Magazine.
Another source also shared that DeGeneres and de Rossi are “missing the California weather and horse scene.”
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The couple has not been seen around their Cotswolds estate as frequently as before. According to locals, DeGeneres no longer frequents the local pub she used to visit, leading some to believe she had already moved away.
Another source also noted that the last time they saw the retired comedian was over the summer. Although she appeared friendly, no one approached her.
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Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi Reportedly ‘Miss’ Their Friends
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News of DeGeneres’ latest purchase comes months after they reportedly told their friends they would return to the U.S. “soon.”
According to The Blast, an insider said that although the former talk show host was initially adamant about staying in the UK during Trump’s regime, she may have changed her mind.
“She’s been telling friends they are coming home soon because they miss them and can’t take the winters over there, and Portia wants to act again. They will be here for the holidays and longer by the sound of it,” the informant added.
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The Former TV Host’s Cotswolds Property Was Flooded
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Amid reports that DeGeneres was planning a move back to the U.S., she reportedly listed her Cotswolds property for sale. Notably, she purchased it for about £15 million ($19.8 million) and listed the home for £22.5 million ($29.7 million).
The Blast reported that the property experienced severe flooding after Storm Bert caused a nearby river to overflow. As such, DeGeneres and her partner decided to move to higher ground.
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However, they seemed to have trouble selling off the property. According to an estate agent, the property was listed at “an absolutely crazy price,” which explains the difficulty in selling it.
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DeGeneres Was Sued For Negligence In Car Crash Lawsuit
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Besides real estate problems, DeGeneres is also facing legal issues, as she has been accused of failing to stop at a stop sign and colliding with another vehicle in October 2023.
The woman who sued DeGeneres claimed that she was driving a Tesla in Santa Barbara County when she pulled to a stop at an intersection. After checking for incoming traffic, she moved but was allegedly hit by the comedian’s car.
The victim alleged that she suffered “serious injuries” and business setbacks as a result of the collision and was seeking compensation for her losses.
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According to The Blast, the suit was filed in September 2025, and mediation occurred on December 9.
Ellen DeGeneres’ Defense Team Questioned The Validity Of The Summons In The Lawsuit
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Months after the plaintiff involved in DeGeneres’ lawsuit requested a jury trial, the comedian’s legal team requested that the court invalidate the service of summons.
According to The Blast, this move was made after the summons was improperly served.
Instead of being sent to DeGeneres’ personal residence, they were reportedly sent to her business management firm, NKSFB, LLC, and were left at a reception desk.
Meanwhile, the firm’s partner, Harley Neuman, confirmed in a sworn declaration that DeGeneres does not regularly conduct business in that office space.
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“There was no reason to believe Ms. DeGeneres would be there at all, and especially not on those two random days in January,” the declaration read.
General Hospital puts Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) ready to frame Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) for Drew Cain Quartermaine’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, but new spoilers say in the end it’s all going to blow up in Willow’s face.
General Hospital: Willow Tait Blackmails Alexis Davis Over Visitation Rights
So, this week already, Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) is frustrated that would-be husband killer Willow blackmailed her into representing her in the 5/r= hearing to help Willow get time with her kids. She told Alexis that if she doesn’t help her, then Willow’s not going to let her see Scout Cain (Cosette Abinante). And with Drew not able to run his own life, that leaves his wife in charge.
So, of course, Alexis had to agree. Not only that, but she’s going to have to try her best because if Willow doesn’t get at least some visitation, she’ll probably withhold Scout from Alexis and the rest of the family. Basically, it’s the same deal that Drew forced Alexis to accept. Win in court and you get access to Scout. Lose in court and you’re going to be sorry.
Michael Stands Firm Against Sonny’s Custody Compromise on GH
Also, this week, Willow said she tried to make peace with Michael and it didn’t work. So, it’s time for something stronger. That’s something we saw in the promo. It’s going to come later this week.
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Meanwhile, Sonny Corinthos is (Maurice Benard) actually trying to help Willow’s cause. He asked his brother Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) to help strike a compromise between Michael and Willow on custody. The problem is Michael’s digging in his heels about it.
And I get his point 100%. He knows that Willow tormented Sasha Gilmore (Sofia Mattsson) into leaving town. And Willow is the reason that Michael can’t be with Daisy and he doesn’t want somebody that diabolical around his other kids.
Willow Plans to Frame Michael for Drew Shooting on General Hospital
So, Willow is already cooking up her next strategy. And in a recent interview, Willow actress, Katelyn MacMullen, said that she’s planning to frame Michael for shooting Drew. And she thinks that’s the best plan because Michael is the one obstacle between Willow and her being with her children.
So, the best way for her to remove that obstacle is to frame Michael for Drew’s shooting. But the actress said it’s not going to go as planned. Katelyn MacMullen said that her character is in survival mode and that makes her a bit dangerous. I think she’s more than just a bit dangerous though. And clearly she knows that Michael didn’t shoot Drew because she did it.
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Willow’s Dangerous Custody Strategy and Survival Mode
So, Willow actually doesn’t think Michael is at risk of going to prison because he’s innocent, he’s wealthy. And he has powerful people on his side, including Sonny and the Quartermaines. So, she doesn’t think that the DA can nail him for it.
And Willow thinks framing Michael will help her custody case without him really suffering any lasting consequences like life in prison. But the custody judge learning Willow was acquitted and that Michael’s the new suspect should help her at least get visitation with the kids.
And depending on whether or not the PCPD actually arrest Michael or not, we could see Willow getting joint custody or even sole custody depending on whether Michael is charged with Drew’s attempted murder.
Katelyn MacMullen on Willow’s Twist: Making Michael Walk in Her Shoes on General Hospital
Katey MacMullen also said in that recent interview that Michael having a target on his back will make him understand what Willow has been going through while she was accused of shooting Drew and stood trial for it. Willow basically wants Michael to walk a mile in her shoes to know how she feels.
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But in the end, she thinks Michael will go free and she’ll get access to her kids. Of course, the big difference is that Willow’s guilty and Michael is not. It So, all this crazy in Willow’s head about wanting Michael to understand how it feels to be falsely accused is just claptrap because she wasn’t falsely accused.
Is Willow Using the Gate House Key to Plant Evidence on GH?
But the interview also says that Willow’s new scheme is going to blow up on her and when the truth comes out, it leads to the worst moment of her life. Also this week, Willow has a key in her hand and mischief on her mind on t.
Now, I suspect that could be the house key to the gate house where she used to live with Michael and the kids, even if he has changed the locks. I’m sure that Willow could get a copy of the new key. Or that could be the key to Michael’s work office at ELQ at Aurora. I’m leaning though towards the gate house where he lives.
General Hospital Spoilers: Will Ketamine Be Planted to Frame Michael?
And don’t forget, Willow has access to drugs at General Hospital since I’m sure that’s where she stole the medication that she gave Drew to cause the stroke that left him with locked-in syndrome. So, Willow may, for instance, get some ketamine that she can plant at the gate house since we know Drew was dosed with ketamine.
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And if you remember, he insisted at the time to the police that it was done to him and he didn’t take it willingly or recreationally. And we all know that it was Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) that dosed Drew with ketamine that Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) forced Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) to get her.
But it’s not like Jacinda ever confessed to it. And with her prior criminal record, I don’t think Jacinda will confess to it. And if the police get a warrant for Michael’s house as part of the attempted murder investigation, they could find the ketamine and assume that Michael dosed Drew or got Jacinda to do it and it could make it look like a pattern of criminal behavior to get revenge on Drew.
Who Knows the Truth? Willow’s Lies Begin to Unravel on GH
But as Willow starts this plot against Michael, we’re going to see her operating from a false premise because Willow thinks she got away scot-free with trying to kill Drew and that nobody knows. But that’s not true. She only got away with it in the court of law, in the court of public opinion. And in the court of reality. There are people that know the truth.
Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) knows, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) knows, Alexis, her legal assistant Suzanne knows. And also Diane Miller (Carolyn Hennesy). And I think more people may find out. So, right now, Alexis’s hands are tied and she can’t really say anything to anybody, but it could come out another way.
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Will Tracy Quartermaine Expose Willow’s Crimes on General Hospital?
Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi) or Molly Lansing-Davis (Kristen Vaganos) could overhear Alexis talking about it. There’s a chance that Kai could tell somebody. I suspect he may tell Drew. So, I think this plot to frame Michael is the beginning of the end for Willow. And in the interview, the actress said that in framing Michael, we’re going to see Willow leaving a trail and someone is going to connect the dots back to her.
Even worse, that somebody might be Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), who would absolutely love to throw Willow to the wolves and see her go down for her crimes, especially if it means protecting Michael. So, we could absolutely see Willow exposed for shooting Drew and for framing Michael for her crime.
General Hospital: Willow Tait – Michael Corinthos
The Worst Moment of Willow’s Life on GH: Prison or Shadybrook?
And after that, you know, the worst thing would be that Willow realizes she’s never going to have her kids once the truth comes out. That’s out of the question. Where would she go from there?
You know, I could see Nelle Benson (Chloe Lanier) helping Willow go on the run. She’s got the money to make it happen. Or she might have a breakdown when confronted with the truth and wind up in Shadybrook. She might get busted and sent to Pentonville.
Can Drew Cain Be Redeemed Amid Willow’s Villainous Turn?
However it plays out, I don’t think Michael’s going down for shooting Drew. I feel like with Willow revealed as the shooter and Drew going home with locked-in syndrome, I think we’re going to see Willow tormenting Drew while she’s also trying to torment Michael so she can get her kids back.
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And in the end, I think the reveal of Willow as the villain in all of this could actually help redeem Drew, especially if Willow’s doing horrible things to him while she’s supposed to be taking care of him like a devoted wife. So, it’s kind of scary to think that of the two of them, Nelle Benson might actually turn out to be the less evil twin.
The Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports Darnold is red-hot right now … pointing to the quarterback’s recent year as the biggest reason he’d trust him on football’s biggest stage. Moon says Darnold has been slinging it with confidence, hitting tight windows and — most importantly — taking care of the football.
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“He’s doing it with his arm, he’s running the ball when he needs to and he’s making good decisions right now,” Moon said. “I think it’s going to carry over to the Super Bowl.”
Moon says protecting the football is a massive shift from earlier in Darnold’s career — when turnovers and shaky decision-making held him back. He didn’t hold back when talking about Darnold’s early days, either.
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“If you’re not put into the right situation with the right groups around you, then you might have a tough time with the start of your career,” Moon said. “I think that’s what happened with the Jets, a very dysfunctional organization to this day.”
Moon believes Darnold rebuilt himself once he got into a better system … and now he’s cashing in ahead of Super Bowl LX.
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As for Maye, Moon isn’t writing him off totally. He says the Patriots’ QB hasn’t looked sharp throwing the ball in the playoffs, especially while battling an undisclosed injury and ugly weather conditions. Moon did give Maye props for using his legs to keep drives alive — including stepping up during a snowstorm game in Denver — but says his arm hasn’t been nearly as dangerous.
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Ultimately, Moon thinks Darnold is peaking at exactly the right time … and if his hot streak keeps rolling, he could be the guy stealing the show on Super Bowl Sunday.
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