Entertainment
10 Best Mindless Horror Movies of All Time
A horror movie with substance is a pretty great thing. Take a look at The Substance… maybe? That one is almost mindless, to be honest, with how in-your-face it is, with its satire and what it’s ultimately trying to say, but it is saying a lot. And there are other classic horror movies, naturally, that are about more than just being scary, including the likes of Get Out, The Exorcist, and Hereditary.
For those that aren’t too complicated and are all about delivering scares, or maybe entertainment value, in the case of the ones that are more comedy/horror hybrids, you’ve got a few below. These work as great mindless horror movies, and are the kind you can watch and appreciate with your brain more or less switched off. That’s not to say they’re all completely lacking substance, if you want to dig in, but social commentary and deeper messages don’t really feel like they’re focused on, for the movies below.
10
‘Phenomena’ (1985)
Of all the Dario Argento movies out there, Phenomena is easily one of his more underrated efforts. Yes, Suspiria might be easier to recommend, and something like Deep Red feels more important within the bounds of the horror genre and its history… but Phenomena is really fun. It’s kind of goofy, though it never becomes an outright comedy, so its more bombastic elements end up feeling more endearing than tongue-in-cheek or anything like a horror parody.
It’s about a young girl who can communicate with insects, and then there are ways that ability ultimately allows her to assist in an investigation to catch a killer at large. It’s quintessentially one of those “you just have to roll with it” kind of movies, but if you’re in the mood for something more than a little strange, Phenomena delivers. Also, if you’ve liked any other Argento-directed movies and have overlooked this one, remedy that as soon as you can!
9
‘Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter’ (1984)
Most Friday the 13th movies work as mindless horror films, and that’s okay some of the time, because some of them can be fairly entertaining. You’ve got an almost unstoppable killer, and then a group of (usually young) people who have to try (and usually fail) to survive that killer. It’s not like Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter really goes beyond this sort of simple story, but it executes all the recognizable and expected conventions of the series the best.
There are some decently fun characters/victims, the violent special effects are done well, it’s a frequently entertaining movie, and it being framed as a finale does give it a tiny bit more oomph than most Friday the 13th movies. Of course, it was not genuinely “The Final Chapter,” but it did end up being the best chapter, and perhaps the only Friday the 13th movie that’s an actually essential watch.
8
‘Terrifier 3’ (2024)
All the Terrifier movies are mindless, truth be told, though the second and third ones are a good kind of mindless. The first Terrifier might well be too narrative-free and thrown-together. It’s barely got a story or a reason to watch, beyond Art the Clown having an undeniable presence as a villain, and the violence being consistently grisly and over-the-top. Terrifier 2 and 3, make no mistake, are also very focused on Art the Clown doing his Art the Clown thing, and showcasing grisly sights.
Terrifier 3 has more by way of a reason to care, because there was a bare minimum kind of story in Terrifier 2, and it’s continued well in Terrifier 3 (the whole aftermath of it all). It’s still a very blunt and straightforward affair, and Terrifier 3 is not the kind of thing you can watch unless you, at the very least, don’t mind very in-your-face on-screen violence, but at least it and Terrifier 2 feel more or less like actual movies. Also, Terrifier 3 stands out for being perhaps the grisliest Christmas movie ever made, too.
7
‘House’ (1977)
House is about people going to a house, and then weird things happen to them. It is the set-up for a great many horror stories out there, sure, but very few of them play out with quite the same atmosphere and tone as can be found in House. Most of it’s incredibly silly, though the way it feels a lot like a fever dream can make certain parts perhaps a little eerie.
It’s subjective. Some might watch House and find not one second of it actually frightening, and that’s of course valid, but more than that, it’s also understandable. House is essential, as far as comedy-horror movies go, and it’s so well-regarded and widely discussed as a cult classic that it might well have graduated beyond “cult” status, instead now just existing as a flat-out classic comedy/horror film.
6
‘Evil Dead II’ (1987)
Honestly, any of the Sam Raimi-directed Evil Dead movies could’ve gone here. The first is straightforward and generally a bit more frightening than you might expect a low-budget movie made well over 40 years ago to be. The third, Army of Darkness, is, admittedly, barely a horror movie. Evil Dead II exists rather ideally between those two extremes, and works as both a horror movie and a rather goofy comedy.
The narrative here kind of remixes a lot of what went on in 1981’s The Evil Dead, though with a few new elements to ensure it never runs the risk of feeling like a retread. Even when things are familiar, the goofiness gives it all a whole new flavor. You can find some of it creepy, and then find the rest of it hilarious. Emotionally/viscerally, Evil Dead II is a great and varied ride, and finding deeper meaning here would require some stretching of the sort that would make Mister Fantastic blush.
5
‘The Return of the Living Dead’ (1985)
If you’re talking about mindless horror movies, and you don’t mention anything zombie-related, can you really/honestly say you’re talking about mindless horror movies? It’s more than fitting to talk about something like The Return of the Living Dead here, since zombies themselves are kind of brainless/mindless foes, a lot of the time, and surviving them can be a rather simple affair, at least as far as what the characters have to do is concerned.
Maybe you get some Cold War/nuclear weapons-related paranoia explored in The Return of the Living Dead, but it largely exists to be a zombie-related romp.
The original Dawn of the Dead has a fair bit by way of social commentary, of course, and maybe you get some Cold War/nuclear weapons-related paranoia explored in The Return of the Living Dead, but it largely exists to be a zombie-related romp. Like Evil Dead II, it rides the line between horror and comedy quite well, and it’s certainly an entertaining watch if you like yourself some B-grade (or maybe B-plus-grade? Since it is good) horror.
4
‘Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack’ (2001)
There are certainly Godzilla movies that are more frightening (or at least more intense) than Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, but Godzilla himself is frightening enough here that you can still consider this something of a horror film. He’s unforgiving and driven by vengeful spirits here, with this Godzilla film also having a fantastical/supernatural spin by making Mothra and King Ghidorah legendary/mythical figures.
You get a bit of science fiction here, but less than you usually do with the Godzilla series. Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack is ambitious with the genres it tackles, and is a highlight for the series. It unpacks a little by way of substance, by making the Godzilla series have some ties to folk tale sort of things, and through it exploring certain traumas around World War II that linger, yet it’s also extremely entertaining and approachable (at least as much as the recent Godzilla Minus One, though that one did ultimately have more crossover appeal, internationally speaking).
3
‘Dead Alive’ (1992)
Sam Raimi was mentioned before, as someone who made a fair few great horror movies before moving on to bigger (and maybe not entirely better, aside from Spider-Man 2) things later on. The same can be said for Peter Jackson, whose low-budget horror movies mostly come from his first few years as a feature film director, all before he became legendary to most by helming The Lord of the Rings (2001– 2003).
Of his smaller horror movies, the best is Dead Alive, which is called that in America, but referred to sometimes as Braindead in other parts of the world. If your brain is genuinely dead, then you can’t experience it, sadly. But if you’re more, uh, braintired, then Dead Alive/Braindead is very much worth watching. It is a broadly funny, kind of silly, and very much over-the-top zombie movie that quite gleefully doesn’t try to be much more than sheer entertainment for 103 minutes, which it thankfully very much succeeds at doing.
2
‘Gremlins’ (1984)
The least scary movie here would have to be Gremlins. It would be a bit intense if you watched it when you were a kid, and it is pretty dark how it feels so much like a family movie before things go off the rails. Though if you watch it when you’re an adult, you won’t be too alarmed by it going off the rails. Gremlins is more successful as a comedy than it is a horror movie, because it feels more into being silly.
There is Gremlins 2: The New Batch as well, which feels even less worthy of being called a horror movie. So, Gremlins is being snuck onto here, even with it only just being a little horror-related. It’s a fantastic monster movie where the monsters are much tinier than what you’ll find in the majority of monster movies out there, and it works so well as a Christmas film, too (even more so than the previously-mentioned Terrifier 3).
1
‘Grindhouse’ (2007)
There is another epic-length movie Quentin Tarantino was involved with that’s also kind of two movies in one (Kill Bill), and that whole bloody affair is probably better than Grindhouse, but also, it’s not a horror movie. Grindhouse more or less is, even if Planet Terror (directed by Robert Rodriguez) has more by way of horror elements than Death Proof, which is Quentin Tarantino’s segment.
Death Proof is more of a thriller, and then it’s got one fantastic action sequence near the end, though the central villain there does feel like he’s out of a horror movie. Planet Terror sees Rodriguez doing a tongue-in-cheek and ludicrously gory zombie film (of sorts), and it’s pretty glorious. There are also fake trailers for “horror movies” that didn’t exist, included in the overall cut of Grindhouse, with a bunch of those movies ultimately actually getting made: Machete (2010), Hobo with a Shotgun (2011), and Thanksgiving (2023).
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Low fantasy is a specific subgenre of fantasy that refers to a story in which the real world intersects with monsters or aspects of magic. It’s different from portal fantasy because, instead of featuring a portal to another, more fantastical world, low fantasy seamlessly integrates its more imaginative themes with the banality of everyday life. The whole genre is basically “what if magic actually existed?”
It serves as the antithesis to high fantasy, which is a story that takes place in a completely different world with different rules. Low fantasy is more common amongst younger audiences, but it has still found its appeal among adults, too. Over the years, many low fantasy books have come out, each presenting their daring, unique versions of our world. These are the best low fantasy books of all time, proving that the subgenre has a revered place in pop culture.
10
‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (1997)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone might not be the most well-written or the most inventive low fantasy book ever made, but it still deserves a spot on this list because its legacy is undeniable. This book and its six sequels became a massive cultural phenomenon, spawning a multi-billion dollar franchise. That’s not even scraping the surface of the endless supply of official merchandise. Things like this simply don’t happen unless you’re doing something right.
The story, as many already know, is about Harry, an orphaned British boy who discovers he is a wizard. He travels to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn how to use his talents, discovering an entire magical world hidden away from non-magical folk. While the writing itself might not be anything outstanding, its success likely stems from the fact that it’s just a good story. It’s fascinating and has a cast of lovable and memorable characters, and it feels like a childhood dream in book form. What kid didn’t secretly wish they had magic powers? For the simple fact of how massive it was, it earns its spot on this list.
9
‘Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution’ (2022)
R. F. Kuang has been a massive name in fantasy lately. Some die-hard fans of the genre have turned their noses up at her work, but to casual, less critical readers, she has been a pretty big sensation. Babel is one of her stand-alone novels, which is heavily based on her experience in academia. A post-graduate student and a scholar at heart, Kuang wrote Babel as a sort of deep dive into the dark side of academic institutions.
The story is set in the 1830s and focuses on a fictitious college at Oxford that specializes in capturing magical silver bars, which this version of the British Empire uses as fuel. To give these bars power, the college, nicknamed “Babel,” translates ancient texts to find things that have been lost in translation. With Britain on the brink of war, four new students must decide where their loyalties lie: with the university and the empire, or with the countries that will be affected by this war? A critique of British imperialism and academia’s complacence in it, this book has some important things to say on top of telling a good story, which is why critics loved it so much.
8
‘The Lightning Thief’ (2005)
The Lightning Thief is the first book in Rick Riordan‘s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, which became extremely popular among young adult audiences. Two of the books received (admittedly, terrible) film adaptations, and the series is currently in the middle of a TV adaptation on Disney+. The series is largely focused on Greek myth, with the main character, Percy, being the son of Poseidon, which causes him to be sent to Camp Half-blood, a secluded training camp where other demigods learn to exist in the hidden world of Greek mythology.
In this first installment, Percy takes on a divine quest to recover Zeus’ lightning bolt, which has been stolen. Along the way, Percy comes face-to-face with a bunch of mythological monsters and figures, including Medusa, Ares, and a minotaur. The books still have a massive dedicated fanbase amongst both kids and adults, mainly because they’re good, wholesome adventures that fuse the modern world with the mythology of Ancient Greece, making for a quite fascinating universe. Again, it might not be the best-written low fantasy book of all time, but its cultural impact means it definitely deserves to be included here.
7
‘Pilgrim: A Medieval Horror’ (2023)
Pilgrim: A Medieval Horror is a fantasy book that has unfortunately been forgotten, flying under the radar to the point that it’s considered pretty obscure. Part horror and part fantasy, the series is set in Jerusalem during the Crusades, with the protagonist being a Teutonic knight. After spending seven years fighting in the brutal conflict, he tries to return home, only to be stopped by demons and djinn from Islamic, Christian, and Jewish traditions.
This book isn’t just a dark and fascinating story; it’s also a heavy criticism of the Crusades and how destructive and horrific they actually were. It depicts the Holy Land as being turned into a demonic hellscape, which is a pretty scathing metaphor for how the Knights Templar decimated the region. Yet, it does a very good job with what it has, making for an interesting, depressing, and unnerving story that needs to be read to be believed.
6
‘Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell’ (2004)
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is set during an alternate version of the Napoleonic Wars, which occurred at the turn of the 19th Century. In this version of history, magic is a very real and established force that everybody is aware of. The problem is, it’s still seen as a taboo subject, and it is rarely practiced. Those who do practice it are seen as eccentric, and are given a wide berth by society. The two titular characters are two magicians who have vastly different approaches to their craft: one is more experimental and risky, while the other is more cautious and treats it like an exact science.
This book also received an adaptation in the form of a 2015 miniseries, though it remains highly underrated. The book itself has been a critical smash-hit, with many praising the way it speaks about English cultural intricacies, especially during that time period. On top of that, it’s a stand-alone novel, meaning it doesn’t take a massive amount of commitment to a series. It’s one of the quintessential low fantasy novels, and one that has become a favourite amongst fantasy fans.
5
‘The Magicians’ (2009)
The Magicians is another book that actually received a television adaptation, which ran from 2015 until 2020. The show actually got a proper conclusion, too, which is more than can be said for a lot of TV shows these days. This is the first book in the series, which has captivated millions of readers and become pretty popular.
The story is about a student who goes to study magic at a prestigious university, only to discover that the world from his favourite childhood storybook is very real, and that it is in a spot of peril. Now, he must learn to use magic and figure out how to save this hidden, fantastical world. The Magicians became a hit low fantasy book amongst adults, and spawned numerous sequels. It’s a textbook example of the genre, and one of the finest novels it has to offer.
4
‘Between Two Fires’ (2012)
Between Two Fires is an ideal book for fans of the Dark Souls series of role-playing video games. This stand-alone novel is set in France during the 13th Century, when the Bubonic Plague was decimating Europe. As if that weren’t enough, the Hundred Years’ War is also raging, making it a pretty miserable time to be alive. During this tumultuous period of history, a knight named Thomas saves a little girl from a fate worse than death, promising to see her to safety.
The fantasy aspect comes from the fact that Europe isn’t just a battleground for the armies of humanity, but for the armies of Hell, too. Demons roam the devastated countryside, and Thomas must navigate past them in order to see the young girl to safety. It’s a really dark but incredibly well-written book that blends Medieval history with the Biblical concepts that were so prevalent at the time. It’s truly a singular experience that any fans of grimdark fantasy absolutely need to read.
3
‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (1964)
Written by acclaimed children’s author Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic morality tale about always doing the right thing. The story is about Charlie, a boy who wins a golden ticket to tour an enormous chocolate factory run by an eccentric chocolatier named Willy Wonka. However, this tour is actually an elaborate ploy by Wonka to choose his successor, with four other children also winning tickets.
The fantasy aspect here comes from Wonka’s apparent magical abilities, along with his non-human employees, the Oompa-Loompas. This book was famously adapted for the screen a few times, with Wonka himself being played by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Timothée Chalamet, in that order. This book has stood the test of time because, well, it’s a story about always doing the right thing and not being greedy, which is a message that will never, ever become irrelevant. Its accessibility and universal acclaim make this one of the best low fantasy books ever made.
2
‘Divine Comedy’ (1321)
Divine Comedy is a novel-length trilogy of epic poems written by Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. While the poem was written long before the definitions of high and low fantasy, in hindsight, it absolutely fits the bill. The first poem, Inferno, is by far the most famous, which is about the narrator travelling through the Nine Circles of Hell to save his lost lover. Along the way, he encounters figures from history, terrifying demons, and even Satan himself.
The other two poems, titled Purgatorio and Paradiso, respectively, are more social, religious, and political commentaries, which makes them much more challenging and outdated to read. Still, though, many scholars agree that Divine Comedy is one of the most important texts ever written, a foundational piece that is not only a piece of human history, but that continues to inspire.
1
‘Odyssey’ (c. 8th Century BCE)
Like the Divine Comedy, the Odyssey was written way, way before high and low fantasy were even a thing. In fact, this epic poem was written before novels were even a thing. Yet, if you look at the definition of low fantasy, the Odyssey absolutely fits the bill. It’s a story set in the real world that includes aspects of mythology, so it can be seen as one of the earliest examples of the genre. Written by Homer sometime in the 8th Century BCE, the story tells of Odysseus, a hero who returns from the Trojan War, a process that takes 10 years. During this journey, he encounters various beasts and monsters from Ancient Greek myth.
The poem has been adapted many, many times and has just received a film adaptation by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan. The epic poem is divided into 24 “books,” though these aren’t exactly book-length, and the whole thing is actually only a few hundred pages long. That aside, this is one of the earliest and most legendary examples of low fantasy, as well as one of the most historically important texts ever created, so it definitely deserves to be called the best low fantasy book of all time.
NFL player Dalton Risner and wife, Whitney, have suffered two pregnancy losses in just a few months.
“At 16 weeks, Dalton and I found out we lost our sweet baby boy. I wish I was writing any other post than this right now, “ Whitney, 28, shared via a joint Instagram post with her husband, 31, on Friday, July 17. “I never imagined our journey to starting a family would begin like this. This is our second loss in just a couple of months.”
Whitney, who married the Cincinnati Bengals offensive guard in June 2022, went on to thank her husband for his support amid the couple’s heartbreak. “More than ever, I’ve realized how important it is who you marry and choose to walk through life with. Life is hard in so many different ways. I truly can’t imagine getting through this without my rock and best friend, @dalton_risner66,” she wrote before discussing how her most recent miscarriage has impacted her.
“This loss has introduced me to a depth of pain and heartbreak that I never knew existed. It feels like I’ve lost so much … our precious baby boy, pieces of myself, and the future I had planned out for the past 4 months,” she wrote. “To everyone who has prayed for us, checked in on us, and loved us through this journey to starting a family, thank you. We are so grateful for your kindness.”
Influencer India Batson is opening up about suffering a third pregnancy loss. “My third pregnancy loss 💔,” Batson, 31, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, February 7. “I can’t believe I’m sharing this news this way. Daniel and I were so excited and honestly shocked to find out I was pregnant the very first cycle I […]
The jewelry designer concluded, “If you’re walking this same painful road, I want you to know that you are not alone.”
During a June interview for The Enquirer‘s “Beyond Sunday” podcast, Whitney talked about a collection she had crafted, titled “The Forever Collection,” in light of her pregnancy losses. “My husband and I experienced pregnancy loss this past season, and I was sitting there thinking about having something to show for it,” she told host Kelsey Conway of the pieces designed with a pear-shaped diamond to represent a mother and a round diamond to represent a child. “You go through this really hard, extensive process of not only losing your baby, but things that follow that you have to go through and grasp. And then you’re kind of left with nothing.”
Five months after her miscarriage, Whitney Port gave an update on how she’s healing. “Crazy to think I would have had a newborn within this week too,” the Hills alum captioned a Saturday, June 26, Instagram Story photo of herself holding her newborn nephew. “[My sister] Jade [Port] and I got pregnant at the exact […]
The Risners’ social media announcement of their losses also included photos taken from a pregnancy shoot that was intended to reveal Whitney’s most recent pregnancy.
In the snaps, the couple smiled on a beach with their dog as their furry pet licked at a white celebratory cake.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. https://988lifeline.org/
For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA borrowed a page from the Super Bowl playbook by introducing its first ever World Cup final halftime show.
On paper, the combination of Madonna, Justin Bieber, soccer legends, and surprise celebrity appearances promised an unforgettable spectacle.
Instead, the ambitious production sparked wildly divided reactions, with many viewers questioning whether the historic experiment lived up to the hype as Argentina and Spain battled for the trophy.
Although the World Cup final halftime show featured multiple stars, Bieber quickly found himself at the center of the online debate.
After a playful introduction from Jason Sudeikis in character as Ted Lasso, the singer walked onto the field carrying only a guitar before performing a World Cup-inspired version of his song “Everything Hallelujah.”
Rather than delivering a stadium-sized spectacle, Bieber opted for a stripped-back performance that ended with the lyric, “it’s the World Cup, Hallelujah.”
The understated approach immediately divided viewers. One critic blasted the set, noting per the Daily Mail, “Buzz killer. Totally sucked. Why choose that song that nobody knows. Beyond me.”
Another wrote, “Justin Bieber Hallelujah but this was not the right song choice for the half time show,” while a third simply called it a “terrible song choice.”
Others, however, appreciated Bieber’s decision to slow the pace amid the larger production. “Justin Bieber looked and sounded great at the World Cup halftime show today! Glad he’s cleaned up his act!” one supporter posted.
Another praised the performance by writing, “Best performance. He knows how to switch people’s moods in a second. That’s extremely difficult to do, most performers couldn’t.”
Madonna Helped FIFA Launch A Historic New Tradition
Before Justin Bieber took the stage, Madonna was tasked with opening the World Cup final halftime show.
The pop icon emerged to perform her 2000 hit “Music,” making an entrance alongside Brazilian football legends Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho.
The trio embraced before stepping onto the pitch together, creating one of the evening’s most unexpected crossovers between global music and soccer stars.
Madonna also delivered one of the night’s biggest fashion moments, wearing a Saint Laurent look that featured a pink satin teddy jacket layered over a corset, matching mini shorts, lace-up boots, and stockings.
Cameras later captured the three posing together on the field as thousands inside MetLife Stadium welcomed the tournament’s newest tradition.
While individual performances earned praise, many viewers questioned whether FIFA’s ambitious concept matched the months of anticipation surrounding it.
One disappointed fan wrote, “What a disaster this halftime show was. Pre-recorded stuff, no collaborations or surprising moments. Where was Madonna at the end? She could have sung a few lines with Shakira… everything was so weird. So much hype for nothing.”
Another took aim at the show’s creative direction, joking, “Who was behind the concept for that halftime show? Chat GPT?”
Others found themselves somewhere in the middle, with one viewer commenting, “Madonna’s performance was the strangest thing ever, especially followed by the Muppets. The rest of the show was decent. I thought JB’s performance was the best of them all.”
Not Everyone Thought FIFA’s Gamble Fell Flat
Despite the criticism, many viewers applauded FIFA for trying something different.
One fan admitted, “I dislike a lot of things that FIFA does… but THAT halftime show was pretty spectacular,” while another praised the event’s uplifting tone, writing, “Light, bright, positive energy. We needed that. Really tired of dark and angry performances.”
Another celebrated the international spirit of the show, writing, “It was great! International and diverse, a positive message, family friendly, and soccer legends hanging with Madonna! Ronaldinho and Ronaldo probably couldn’t believe it!”
Wayne Rooney Calls World Cup Final Halftime Show ‘Crap’
While fans continued debating whether FIFA’s first-ever World Cup final halftime show was a success or a flop, Wayne Rooney made it clear which side he was on.
Appearing on the BBC’s post-halftime coverage after the former England captain delivered a brutally honest review when asked for his favorite moment.
“I’ll be honest, mine was when it finished,” Rooney quipped per ESPN, before doubling down with, “I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap. I did, honestly.”
Explaining why the star-studded spectacle failed to impress him, Rooney added, “It just didn’t get me going. I like Bieber. I like Shakira. It was too flat.”
His candid remarks immediately went viral, with many football fans applauding the Manchester United legend for voicing what they felt about FIFA’s ambitious Super Bowl-style halftime experiment.
Long before Disney built stars through High School Musical, Hannah Montana, and Camp Rock, it had a recurring talent pipeline built around young performers who could sing, dance, act, handle comedy sketches, and grow in public. The most famous 1989–1996 generation included Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, and JC Chasez, but the format dates back to Walt Disney’s original 1955 ABC series, which was previously revived in 1977. It’s now reportedly being revived again, and although it’s just one episode for now, the news is still substantial.
At the same time, the performers being pulled now aren’t exactly mainstream actors. Disney’s new attempt is now arriving in a completely different youth-media market, and most of the performers are being pulled from animated movies, shows, and social media footprints from the likes of YouTube and TikTok. The pilot appears designed to reconnect all those fragmented routes and consolidate their audiences. Three cast members — Hudson Stone, Casey Trotter, and Brooklynn Pitts — are already attached to the upcoming Camp Rock 3, while the group also includes Yonas Kibreab from Elio, Erianthe Akaata from Young Rock, Scarlett London Diviney from The Lion King, and Michael Cash from Black Rabbit.
The project is a new Mickey Mouse Club for Disney+, although, as per a new report, it has only received a pilot order for now. Production begins in Los Angeles this month through Fulwell Entertainment, which is the same company behind Hulu’s The Kardashians. The 11-person group is rounded out with Varonica Mitchell, Kauani, Scarlett Grace Petty, and Carter Barnes.
‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ Was Also Revived on Instagram and Facebook in 2017
Although it was short-lived, the franchise had its most recent substantial screen revival for social media audiences on Facebook and Instagram in 2017. That Club Mickey Mouse had a somewhat similar approach in terms of pulling its young performers, but it was a relatively small-sized outing and starred Sean Oliu, Jenna Z. Alvarez, and Brianna Mazzola, among others.
Disney describes the new concept as a showcase where music, innovation, and self-expression take priority. So it’s probably going to be the 2017 approach but in a bigger packet. Ben Winston, Ashley Edens, Emma Conway, and Dave Piendak are all set to executive produce. And if the pilot advances, it would become the franchise’s first substantial screen revival since the short-lived, social-media-focused Club Mickey Mouse of 2017.
There is no expected release window for The Mickey Mouse Club for now. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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1989 – 1996-00-00
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Disney Channel
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Chase Hampton
Self – Host
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Justin Timberlake
Uncredited
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Another science fiction franchise has once again captured audiences, proving there’s still love for the genre. As fantasy and horror now take over the cinema space — with the release of the live-action Moana, The Odyssey, Obsession, and Backrooms — audiences are using streaming services not only as a palate cleanser, but also to revisit some of the genre’s older yet iconic works.
Recently, a variety of science fiction titles have appeared on various streaming charts. Films like 2025’s The Running Man and Pacific Rim have made a streaming resurgence, while Project Hail Mary continues to dominate the Prime Video charts following its theatrical box office success, as well as the new The Ghost in the Shell anime series. But there’s another sci-fi franchise that’s capturing audiences, so much so that all of its entries have landed on the charts.
Men in Black is a sci-fi action comedy trilogy starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agents J and K, two agents of the Men in Black organization who investigate criminal cases involving aliens. Recently, all three films landed on Peacock’s Top 10 Movies in the United States, with Men in Black II at #5, Men in Black III at #6, and Men in Black at #10. All three Men in Black entries grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide and led to a stand-alone sequel in 2019, called Men in Black: International, featuring a new cast.
Is the ‘Men in Black’ Trilogy Worth Watching?
Since its release, the Men in Black trilogy has performed well at the box office, but only the first and third films have been praised by fans and critics alike. Men in Black II received a low 38% critics’ score and a 45% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “forgettable” and “joyless.” In contrast, audiences debated whether it was underrated or simply unenjoyable. The first Men in Black film earned a high 91% critics’ score and an 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising it as comedic, entertaining, and playful. In agreement, audiences called it “rewatchable.” Men In Black 3 was able to redeem itself nearly 10 years later, with a 67% critics’ score and 70% audience score, with critics claiming it was better than the 2002 sequel, that it was close to capturing the spirit of the first movie, and a good summer flick. Audiences said that the third installment brought new life to the franchise and agreed that it was better than the sequel.
The Men in Black trilogy is available to stream on Peacock. Follow Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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July 2, 1997
- Runtime
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98 minutes
- Writers
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Ed Solomon, Lowell Cunningham
- Producers
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Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes
Jason Statham is among the most credible action stars around. From features like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to high-octane franchises like The Fast franchise, The Transporter, The Expendables, to solo adventures like A Working Man, The Mechanic, and more, all are a testament to his immaculate action skills. And when you add a menacing creature to the action spectacle, the mix gets even better.
Among such features is Meg 2: The Trench, a sequel to the iconic The Meg movie that brings him face to face with a prehistoric shark. In the sequel, directed by Ben Wheatley, Statham returns as Jonas Taylor to lead a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage turns into chaos when a mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Stuck between colossal, prehistoric sharks and environmental plunderers, the group must outrun and outswim their predators. Meg 2 garnered mixed reviews and couldn’t compare commercially with its predecessor, earning $397.8 million worldwide in contrast to The Meg’s $529 million box office haul. But the film polarized the critics and the audience, garnering 27% and 72% Rotten Tomatoes scores, respectively. And fans’ love for the feature is showing.
‘Meg 2: The Trench’ Finds Redemption on Streaming
As is the case with many movies nowadays that do not find their audience in the theaters but are a big hit when they drop on streaming, Meg 2 has found its audience on streaming. Meg 2: The Trench has found a spot on Netflix’s global Top 10 charts, as per FlixPatrol. It stands tall among features like the Spanish drama Desire, Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, Robert Downey Jr.’s Due Date, and Netflix original Heartstopper Forever, among others.
While the movie’s pacing and tonal inconsistencies were heavily criticized, check out Meg 2 for its slick action sequences, Statham’s charismatic performance, and the new prehistoric creatures. The feature has some compelling performances from Wu Jing as Jiuming Zhang, Sophia Cai as Meiying, Cliff Curtis as Mac, Page Kennedy as DJ, Sergio Peris Mencheta as Montes, and Skyler Samuels as Jess. Also rounding off the cast are Melissanthi Mahut as Rigas, Whoopie Van Raam as Curtis, Kiran Sonia Sawar as Sal, Felix Mayr as Lance, and Sienna Guillory as Hilary Driscoll.
Check out Meg 2: The Trench on Netflix. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.
- Runtime
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116 minutes
- Writers
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Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber
- Producers
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Belle Avery, E. Bennett Walsh, Gerald R. Molen, Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Erik Howsam, Randy Greenberg, Cate Adams, Ying Xujun
Who doesn’t love a good Letterboxd franchise ranking? Taking a look at the average Letterboxd reviews for movie franchises is a ton of fun, given the fact that the social media platform has some of the more accurate general thoughts from fans and audiences alike. Letterboxd isn’t like Rotten Tomatoes, where there are critic reviews, but it is a platform for the people.
When it comes to rating franchises, it doesn’t get more interesting and divisive than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s one of the longest-running franchises in cinema and has one of the largest numbers of films in a movie series. So, there are a lot of movies to rank, and many that are fan favorites for different people. This makes the MCU a specifically difficult one to put against itself, but Letterboxd should be helpful in discovering the consensus among audiences.
20
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.3/5.0
After the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, it was up in the air whether Marvel Studios could continue to produce the Black Panther franchise. Thanks to the ever-beloved director, Ryan Coogler, though, the sequel managed to work out very well. They didn’t recast T’Challa, but rather had him pass in-universe, which incites a phenomenal character arc for his surviving sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright).
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is one of the most underrated post-Avengers: Endgame MCU films. The character arcs that Shuri, her mother, Ramonda (Angela Bassett), and Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) go through are extremely well-written. This movie is character-first, and that serves it so well, especially given the fact that this is a huge tribute to Boseman and everything he did for not just the MCU, but cinema as a whole.
19
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.3/5.0
The Fantastic Four has needed a win in cinema for quite some time. Always seeming to pull the short end of the superhero movie stick, Marvel’s first family, they finally got a huge win in 2025 with the release of Marvel Studios’ first bout with the team, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While it’s not some perfect film, no, it’s still super entertaining and keeps the audience on their toes.
Set in the 1960s, with a retro-futuristic backdrop, this movie takes so much inspiration from the classic era of Marvel Comics, and it serves it very well. This movie is so inherently The Fantastic Four in every way, and with that, it found a lot of love from fans and, honestly, people simply hoping the movie would turn out alright. Not to mention, Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) totally owns the screen and is the highlight of the film, with a Letterboxd user saying, “invisible woman ALWAYS serves.”
18
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5.0
While the consensus of Phase 4 of Marvel Studios’ MCU doesn’t have as good a reputation as the previous three, one film that absolutely stands out is the likes of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. A huge thanks goes to Andy Cheng from Jackie Chan‘s stunt team, who brought some amazing martial arts to this movie and gave it some of the greatest fight sequences in a Marvel movie.
“[From] me to marvel — don’t forget that you have Shang-Chi,” is an opinion given by one fan on Letterboxd that is often shared by many, with people hoping that the general performance of Phase 4 MCU doesn’t land Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) in a place like the likes of Moon Knight—being discarded for seemingly the rest of time. Thanks to the fact that Simu Liu has been cast in Avengers: Doomsday, it seems like Marvel Studios understands what they had here… Good.
17
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ (2011)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5.0
Captain America: The First Avenger may very well be one of the most underrated Marvel Studios films ever made. Being a period piece, it finds itself being unlike anything found in Phases 1, 2, or 3 (aside from Captain Marvel). It’s a movie about a character that defines what America could and should be, put best by one user: “every unpatriotic cell in my body leaves when I watch this movie.”
While the third act isn’t absolutely perfect, one could argue that the first two are pretty dang close to perfect as one could get. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is easily one of the most well-written characters in the MCU, and it all begins here in his origin film. Captain America: The First Avenger sets the standard for how the character should be brought to life.
16
‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ (2019)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5.0
Spider-Man: Far From Home has plenty of issues with it that many will gladly note—being more of an Avengers: Endgame sequel rather than a Spider-Man: Homecoming one—the movie is still phenomenally entertaining all around. While it struggles in Act Two, Acts One and Three are both genuinely amazing.
Jake Gyllenhaal stands out here as giving one of the best Spider-Man movie performances of all time, solidifying himself as one of the best Spider-Man villains out there. While Spidey fans knew that Mysterio had nefarious things up his sleeve, they didn’t know what exactly it was, and it paid off very well. Hilariously, one Letterboxd user describes the character of Mysterio very well when he said, “Working for Mysterio is what I imagine being friends with a D-List actor is like”. Not to mention, this project features one of the best visual sequences in a modern superhero film as the Wall-Crawler steps up against Mysterio in his “illusion world”.
15
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5.0
The Deadpool franchise has been beloved by people ever since the first film’s release in 2016, thanks to how little it holds its punches, while still having a plethora of heart and soul at the core. While some have complaints about Deadpool 2, the franchise returned to its former glory in the third film, and the first time the 20th Century Fox characters made an appearance in the MCU, Deadpool & Wolverine. One Letterboxd review reads: “It made me laugh quite a bit, and the emotional aspects were much weightier than I had hoped for.”
It was a bold move making Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) of all characters the first X-Men-related character to be introduced in the MCU. While he’s tagged along by Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in this adventure, it’s safe to say that having it be an R-rated title for the X-Men universe of characters’ first debut was risky. However, it paid off extremely well and even went on to be one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. If that isn’t a testament to its quality, there’s not much that is.
14
‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.5/5.0
Doctor Strange is an incredibly underrated superhero origin film, and the people of Letterboxd seem to really recognize that. It’s been pretty forgotten over the years, but the first movie following the Sorcerer Supreme is not bad in the slightest. One Letterboxd user expresses the charm of Doctor Strange in comparison to others when he says, “Doctor Strange is bonkers. It goes to so many weird places.”
That’s right, the world of the Mystic Arts that this movie introduces to the MCU is so funky and unique, which makes what would be seen as a standard and basic origin film into a trippy ride. This flows into the visuals, making Doctor Strange one of the more visually electric MCU movies, as well.
13
‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ (2017)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.5/5.0
In what world does a Spider-Man movie not find itself being successful in one way or another? Not this one, because while there was some anxiety and nervousness surrounding the MCU Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) first solo outing, people ended up loving it (for the most part — looking at you, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.).
Iron Man complaints aside, though, Spider-Man: Homecoming finds itself being adored by many — even being a favorite Spider-Man movie for some, with one user saying, “My favorite Spider-Man.” The decision to bring Spider-Man back to high school and keep him there for the entire first trilogy was abundantly smart on Marvel Studios’ part, and the entire charm of it was established first here.
12
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.6/5.0
One of the most beloved superhero trilogies out there is also one of the most beloved space opera trilogies, too. The second film of said trilogy may not be the best of the trilogy, but there’s no denying that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is still amazing. It has so much heart and soul as it explores the newer corners of the cosmic side of the MCU.
One fan emphasizes one of the best parts of the sequel when they write, “… loved Ego and Peter’s dynamic and story,” in their review of the film. The father-son plot here is one of the beating hearts of the film and serves to be pretty dang relatable to a lot of audience members, keeping this sequel still very adored despite not hitting the same highs as the first and third movies.
11
‘Captain America: Civil War’ (2016)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.6/5.0
Also considered by many fans as “Avengers 2.5,” Captain America: Civil War brings the MCU together once more, but this time, they’re facing each other (for the most part). Adapting one of the most famous comic book storylines of all time, of the same name, this second Joe Russo and Anthony Russo-directed Marvel Studios project is unforgettable for multiple reasons. It also cements the Steve Rogers trilogy as one of the best, similarly claimed by a user when they said, “This film solidified for me that Cap had one of the best trilogies in Marvel, rivaled only by Guardians.”
Not only did this project split the Avengers up in a terrible way before Thanos arrived in the third and fourth The Avengers movies, but it also introduced none other than the MCU’s iteration of the web-slinging wall crawler himself, Spider-Man. This makes Captain America: Civil War not only significant for its quality, performances, and action sequences, but also because of how much it changed the cinematic landscape between studios with the Disney and Sony Pictures Entertainment deal to bring Spidey into the MCU.
Summary
- Collider’s Steven Weintraub talks with Tom Holland, Jon Berthal, and Jacob Batalon for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- Holland discusses how director Destin Daniel Cretton elevates the franchise and his first reaction to the finished film.
- Bernthal discusses how Punisher fits into Spider-Man’s PG-13 without sacrificing the character’s core identity.
It’s been a long time since Tom Holland’s Peter Parker has had that youthful glint in his eye we first saw nearly a decade ago. A lot has transpired in the MCU, from Avengers: Endgame to Spider-Man: No Way Home, but as long as the world keeps spinning, so too does your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s web — even if everyone he’s ever known and loved has completely forgotten he exists. In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter isn’t just facing formidable new adversaries but also a startling new change within himself.
Gone are the days of Stark Industries’ advanced tech and the support of his superpowered friends. Spider-Man is at his lowest, fighting crime full-time, while watching everyone, including his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and even MJ (Zendaya), move on with their lives without him. The isolation has left Peter in unfamiliar territory, and he finds guidance in the last place he’d expect, with Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher. But to make matters worse, this lonely new life has triggered a mutation in Peter’s transformation as he’s trying to fight an enemy he can’t see. Brand New Day also features Sadie Sink in her MCU debut and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk.
In this interview with Collider’s Steven Weintraub, Holland, Bernthal, and Batalon discuss what it was like to work alongside director Destin Daniel Cretton and Marvel’s elite team of creatives, how Cretton’s vision has helped the franchise grow, and Holland’s reaction to seeing the finished film for the first time. Bernthal also talks about the Punisher joining Spider-Man’s PG-13 world, his initial concerns, and why fans of The Punisher: One Last Kill won’t be disappointed.
Tom Holland Was Extremely Impressed With Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Level of Talent” on ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
“He has found a way to grow this franchise and to make the movie feel bigger.”
COLLIDER: How did the finished film compare to what you thought it was going to be when you started filming?
TOM HOLLAND: To be perfectly honest with you, it is above and beyond what I thought it was going to be. I think Destin [Daniel Cretton] is a filmmaker with a level of talent that you rarely come by. I think that he has found a way to grow this franchise and to make the movie feel bigger, and to make the action feel more dangerous, and to make the stakes feel higher without sacrificing the emotion and the heart of what makes these characters tick.
When I watch a movie for the first time, I always ask if I can watch it twice right in a row, because the first time I watch it, it’s so overwhelming. I finished it the first time, and I ran upstairs in Burbank at Marvel Studios, and I was literally jumping up and down with the editing team and Destin.
JACOB BATALON: I was just pleasantly surprised that they let me watch it. [Laughs] No, it was definitely way more than I expected. The script itself was already so great that just seeing it put together was very beautiful. It put a big smile on my face.
JON BERNTHAL: I’ve not seen it, but what he said about Destin and this entire team is how I feel. It felt enormously human. I was very surprised, in the making of it, how much attention to character and, like Tom said, to emotion and just to the fractured human connection between these characters, and how important it is. In the world of something of this size and scope, that that was so vital is beautiful.
How Jon Bernthal Brought Punisher’s R-Rated World Into ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s PG-13 Setting
“I think we explored it fully.”
I was very surprised when Punisher was added to this movie, because Punisher is famously R-rated and Spider-Man is famously PG-13. Talk a little bit about figuring out how far Frank can go in this universe. Is it more about the debate between the two characters about one person saying, “You can’t kill,” and one person saying, “It’s the only way?”
BERNTHAL: Look, I think that’s certainly part of it, but that was an issue, and what I saw was the issue for all of us. I think the goal was, going in, would we buy that he could walk off of One Last Kill and walk into this world, and go back and forth? Would we buy it? And I think we dug into the issue. I think we explored it fully.
Colton Hill, a Green Beret who worked with me on One Last Kill, worked with me also on this and was there every day, and I was really blown away by how open these guys were to really exploring that issue and to diving into it, and not to run away from it or try to avoid it, or just to say it doesn’t matter, because it did. I believe that we were successful.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31.
- Release Date
-
July 31, 2026
- Runtime
-
150 Minutes
- Director
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Destin Daniel Cretton
With Hollywood continuing to revive films decades after their original releases, more movies are getting long-awaited sequels than ever before. While some would welcome a follow-up to “Matilda,” Mara Wilson isn’t convinced the 1996 cult film should follow the trend. The actress recently shared why she has reservations about revisiting the beloved family movie.
“Matilda” was released in 1996, based on the 1988 children’s novel of the same title written by Roald Dahl. It starred Mara Wilson as the titular character and also featured Danny DeVito as her father, Rhea Perlman as her mother, Embeth Davidtz as Matilda’s kind and sweet teacher Ms. Honey, and Pam Ferris as ruthless principal Ms. Trunchbull.
At a Fanboy Expo panel, Wilson shared that she’s often asked about the possibility of a “Matilda” sequel. One of the plots often pushed is about Matilda’s daughter. However, the actress doesn’t think that would work.
Wilson said Matilda overcame adversity in the movie and “found power in educating herself,” adding, “I don’t think Matilda would raise her daughter to be in a position where she developed those powers to protect herself,” per PEOPLE.
The Actress Thinks No One Is Good Enough For Matilda To Marry
Furthermore, Wilson thinks it would be difficult to create a narrative in which Matilda is married and has a family of her own.
“This is a tricky question, but who would Matilda marry? Who’s good enough for Matilda? Matilda’s such an awesome character that I can’t imagine who she would marry and have kids with, you know,” the actress asked the audience.
She continued to say that she used to be bothered by her association with the character. The former child actress appeared in several movies, including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “A Time to Heal,” but for some reason, many identify her with Matilda and even call her by her character’s name.
Wilson came to appreciate it over the years, saying, “You know, Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, she said, ‘I feel like me and Princess Leia have kind of merged over the years.’ And I sort of feel like that too,” she said.
Danny DeVito Expressed His Desire For A Sequel
DeVito, who produced, directed, and co-starred in “Matilda,” voiced his desire to do a sequel in 2019. “I always wanted to do Matilda 2, but when the kid was still a kid,” the actor said. However, he noted that the idea was about 20 to 25 years old. “Maybe Matilda has a kid and we can do something that, I don’t know,” he said, per Comicbook.
In 2025, DeVito shared why he decided to bring Dahl’s story to the big screen. “I wanted to capture that Roald Dahl magic… that balance of dark and light, where even in the bleakest moments, there’s hope and humor,” he explained.
The actor was able to revisit “Matilda” through “Matilda in Concert,” an orchestral screening of the movie. DeVito was heavily involved in the production and said it was a way of introducing new audiences to the decades-old movie. “It brings the story to life in a way that’s both fresh and deeply nostalgic,” he told The Globe and Mail.
Mara Wilson And Danny DeVito Share A Deep Bond
Wilson has fond memories of working on “Matilda,” especially the support she received from DeVito, whom she calls her “favorite uncle.”
During the Fanboy Expo panel, the actress debunked a long-running rumor that the veteran actor legally adopted her. “Danny DeVito did not literally adopt me. That’s a myth. But he did take very good care of my family,” she shared.
Wilson was 8 years old at the time of filming, and her mother was battling breast cancer. She died before the movie’s theatrical release, and the director dedicated the film in her honor. The actress sought comfort in DeVito and Perlman, sharing that they’ve become her “lifelong friends.”
“There were hard days, but there were also days where it felt like summer camp, and I am still friends with the people that I worked on it today,” said Wilson.
‘Matilda’ Grew Into A Beloved Cult Favorite
“Matilda” was released in August 1996 and competed with other big movies such as “Mission: Impossible,” “Independence Day,” and “Twister.” The family film was not a box office success, grossing only $47 million worldwide on a budget of $36 million.
However, it found its audience through home videos and was heavily on rotation on cable TV. Over the years, “Matilda” developed a devoted cult following, with audiences embracing the heartfelt story and memorable characters. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the most beloved family films of the ’90s and continues to resonate with both longtime fans and new viewers.
General Hospital alum Kirsten Storms has issued a public statement about her daughter amid an ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Brandon Barash.
“Please remember that we are people who are divorced and have a child,” Storms, 42, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, July 19. “I appreciate the supportive comments, but now that my daughter is of the age where she will Google her name while riding the bus to school, I’m asking that the speculation on this issue please stop.”
The actress, who split from former costar Barash, 46, in 2016, attracted headlines in April after her ex filed an emergency restraining order against her, per legal documents obtained by Us at the time. The documents showed that Barash also filed for custody of their daughter, Harper Rose, 12, in December 2025. (Prior to the filing, the former couple coparented their child, relocating from California to Tennessee in 2025.)
Storms’ Instagram post also discussed the profound impact that Harper has had on her life. “I had Harper, and how I viewed every single thing in life shifted. I swear I’m not going to continue to bring up my medical situation (I’ll make jokes and it will be awkward), but until I began to understand how precious time is and how what we prioritize becomes ALL we have, there was never a thought that my life would ever change,” she continued, referencing the 2021 brain cyst, 2025 brain aneurysm and subsequent treatments she’s undergone over the years.
Kirsten Storms and Brandon Barash met on the set of General Hospital, eventually sparking a real-life romance. Storms began playing Maxie Jones on and off in 2005, while Barash brought Johnny Zacchara to life from 2007 to 2013. The pair kept their offscreen romance private until August 2013, when news broke that they had secretly […]
The actress also took the opportunity to comment on her current relationship with Barash. “I will briefly acknowledge that there is an ongoing situation with Brandon that will be getting sorted out (soon hopefully),” Storms wrote. “I would appreciate (and encourage) for people … not to worry about me, or think there is something larger going on, other than 2 ex-spouses dealing with a “disagreement” that WILL be resolved.”
Storms and Barash tied the knot in 2013 after falling in love while working together on General Hospital — Storms portrayed Maxie Jones while Barash played Johnny Zacchara.
General Hospital star Kirsten Storms‘ ex-husband, Brandon Barash, was granted a restraining order amid concerns for her mental health. Barash, 46, recently filed for an emergency restraining order, according to TMZ. The request was approved after Barash claimed that his ex-wife is exhibiting concerning behavior and he fears for their 12-year-old daughter’s well-being. In his […]
After welcoming their daughter the following year, Barash told Soap Opera Digest in April 2016 that the pair’s marriage was over. “We are splitting due to the cliché irreconcilable differences, but we’re splitting amicably,” the actor said at the time. “We have every intention of remaining a family through this and coparenting our kid and retaining a friendship in the efforts of raising her in a healthy environment.”
In Barash’s recent legal filing, he requested a change to his and Storms’ initial agreement due to multiple issues that had risen since their cross country move.
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