Original blockbusters have become increasingly rare in modern Hollywood. Nowadays, with studios often prioritizing sequels, reboots, and sprawling cinematic universes, truly fresh ideas can sometimes struggle to reach the same mass audiences. Yet every so often, a film arrives that proves originality and spectacle aren’t mutually exclusive. These movies introduce new worlds, bold concepts, and unforgettable characters while still delivering the scale and excitement viewers expect from a major theatrical event.
And over the past 25 years, several original films have managed to break through the noise and become cultural phenomenons in their own right. Whether through groundbreaking visual effects, inventive storytelling, or genre-defining creativity, these movies captivated audiences without relying on preexisting material.
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‘Spirited Away’ (2001)
Chihiro standing among flowers and looking up in ‘Spirited Away’.Image via Studio Ghibli
When 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) stumbles into a mysterious abandoned theme park while moving to a new town with her parents, she quickly discovers the place is anything but empty. Soon her parents are suddenly transformed into pigs, and Chihiro becomes trapped in a magical spirit world filled with gods, monsters, and eccentric creatures. To survive (and eventually rescue her family), she must take a job at a bathhouse run by a powerful witch.
Hayao Miyazaki‘s masterpiece proves how blockbuster storytelling doesn’t require explosions or massive franchises. In the case of Spirited Away, this film builds an entire universe from imagination alone, filling every frame with intricate detail and surreal wonder. Its blend of the coming-of-age genre, folklore-inspired fantasy, and breathtaking hand-drawn animation captivated audiences around the world, eventually becoming one of the most beloved animated films ever made. Even decades later, its originality and emotional depth continue to make it feel like a singular cinematic experience.
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9
‘Bridesmaids’ (2011)
Image via Universal Pictures
Annie Walker’s (Kristen Wiig) life is quietly falling apart when her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) asks her to be maid of honor at her wedding. But in her effort to prove she’s the perfect choice for the job, Annie becomes entangled in increasingly chaotic situations while competing with Lillian’s wealthy new friend Helen (Rose Byrne)—who’s more than happy to take the title for herself.
While romantic comedies had long been a staple of Hollywood, Bridesmaids felt like a jolt of fresh energy when it arrived. The film combined outrageous humor with a refreshingly honest look at friendship, insecurity, and adulthood. Powered by Wiig’s vulnerable performance and an unforgettable ensemble, it became a massive commercial success while proving that female-led comedies could dominate the box office. Its cultural impact reshaped studio attitudes toward comedy, making it one of the most influential original hits of the century.
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8
‘A Quiet Place’ (2018)
A terrified Evelyn (Emily Blunt) lies in a bathtub, about to give birth in ‘A Quiet Place’Image via Paramount Pictures
In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by blind creatures that hunt by sound, the Abbott family survives by living in near-total silence. Every step, movement, and whisper must be carefully controlled as they navigate daily life on their isolated farm. But when a new baby is on the way, maintaining that silence becomes far more difficult—and far more dangerous.
What makes A Quiet Placeremarkable is how it transforms a simple concept into relentless cinematic tension. John Krasinski makes a stellar directorial debut, stripping the story down to its essentials, allowing silence itself to become the film’s most powerful storytelling tool. The result is a family-rooted blockbuster that feels both intimate and intensely suspenseful, proving that originality and restraint can be just as thrilling as massive spectacle.
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7
‘Get Out’ (2017)
Rose and Chris smiling while looking in the same direction in Get Out 2017Image via Universal Pictures
Chris (Danuel Kaluuya) travels with his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) to meet her seemingly welcoming parents at their lavish countryside estate. At first, the visit appears awkward but harmless. However, as the weekend unfolds, Chris begins noticing unsettling behavior from the household staff and Rose’s family, slowly realizing that something far more sinister is happening beneath the surface.
Jordan Peele’s Get Outreshaped the modern horror landscape by blending psychological thrills with sharp social commentary. The film’s premise is both chilling and brilliantly clever, using genre conventions to explore issues of race, identity, and power in America. Audiences responded immediately, turning the film into a cultural phenomenon and a mega box-office smash. Its success demonstrated that bold, thought-provoking ideas could still thrive within mainstream blockbuster filmmaking, while also elevating the creation of genre films.
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6
‘Knives Out’ (2019)
Daniel Craig talking while Ana de Armas looks at him in the background in ‘Knives Out.’Image via Lionsgate
After the sudden death of wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Chistopher Plummer), the eccentric detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) arrives to investigate what initially appears to be a suicide. But as he questions the author’s dysfunctional family, long-buried resentments and suspicious motives quickly begin to surface. At the center of the mystery? Harlan’s loyal nurse, Marta (Ana de Armas).
There’s no doubt Rian Johnsonrevitalized the classic whodunit with a story that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Indeed, Knives Out delights in its clever plotting, playful tone, and colorful ensemble cast, turning every new revelation into another reason to keep watching. In many ways, the film’s enormous success proved that audiences still crave original mysteries—especially when they’re executed with such wit, style, and storytelling precision. Luckily for fans, the entertainment continues with two well-done sequels.
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5
‘The Incredibles’ (2004)
The Parr family embraces in ‘The Incredibles’ (2004)Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
In a world where superheroes have been forced into hiding, Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson)—once known as Mr. Incredible—now lives a quiet suburban life with his equally gifted family alongside wife, Helen (Holly Hunter)—also once known as Elastigirl. But when he unexpectedly receives a mysterious opportunity to return to hero work, Bob jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, the mission soon draws his entire family into a dangerous confrontation with a powerful new villain of his own making.
Taking the genre to new heights, Brad Bird‘s The Incredibles perfectly combines superhero spectacle with a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics. Instead of focusing solely on action, the film explores themes of identity, purpose, and the challenges of balancing extraordinary abilities with everyday responsibilities. The result is a film that feels both deeply personal and wildly entertaining. In such a case, it’s this originality that helped redefine what animated blockbusters could achieve, especially since it smashed the box-office in 2004.
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4
‘Sinners’ (2025)
Michael B. Jordan as Smoke / Stack, Wunmi Mosakuas as Annie, and Hailee Steinfeld Mary staring through an open door in SinnersImage via Warner Bros
Set in an early 20th century town haunted by its past, Sinners follows former crime-delving twins Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home hoping to start a lively juke joint. But what begins as an attempt to rebuild their lives soon spirals into confronting supernatural forces, violent histories, and buried secrets that threaten to consume the entire community that surrounds them.
Blending Southern gothic atmosphere with horror and historical drama, Sinners quickly established itself as one of the most talked-about films of the decade. Ryan Coogler showcases his genius once again by combining striking visual storytelling with layered themes about identity and legacy, much of which is amplified by the powerhouse performances that illuminate the screen. Audiences quickly turned the movie into a box-office sensation, proving that ambitious, original storytelling could still drive audiences to the cinemas. Its award-season success—including its record-breaking Academy Award nominations—only reinforced its cultural impact.
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3
‘Kill Bil: Volume 1’ (2023)
The Bride (Uma Thurman) surrounded by the Crazy 88 in Kill BillImage via Miramax Film
After surviving a brutal assassination attempt that resulted in the loss of her unborn child, a former assassin known only as The Bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a coma with one goal: revenge. Armed with her katana and an unbreakable determination, she begins tracking down the members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad who betrayed her.
Born out of the mind of Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill: Volume 1 is a stylistic explosion that blends martial arts cinema, spaghetti western influences, and grindhouse aesthetics into something completely unique. Every fight sequence is choreographed with dazzling creativity, turning violence into kinetic visual storytelling. For many, its bold artistic choices and genre-blending approach help cement it as one of the most distinctive action blockbusters of the century.
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2
‘Avatar’ (2009)
Neytiri and Jake in a Pandora forest in Avatar 2009.Image via 20th Century Studios
Paraplegic marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is sent to the distant moon Pandora as part of a human mining operation seeking rare and valuable resources. Using an artificially created Na’vi body known as an avatar, Jake begins interacting with the planet’s indigenous inhabitants. Over time, he becomes increasingly connected to their culture, eventually deciding to join their fight against the human exploitation that plagues them.
If there’s one film that encapsulates the modern blockbuster, it’s James Cameron‘s Avatar, which revolutionized modern filmmaking through groundbreaking visual effects and immersive world-building. Pandora immediately felt like a living, breathing ecosystem, filled with creatures and landscapes unlike anything audiences had seen before. Better still, it was balanced out by heart-wrenching performances and emotionally driven tales of conservation. Such technological achievements and sweeping storytelling are what effectively turned it into a global phenomenon that still is, to this day, the highest-grossing film of all time.
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1
‘Inception’ (2010)
Leonardo DiCaprio and Cillian Murphy in ‘Inception’Image via Warner Bros.
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief who specializes in stealing secrets from within people’s dreams. When he’s offered a chance to finally return to his family, Cobb accepts an impossible assignment: instead of stealing an idea, he must plant one deep within a target’s subconscious. To accomplish this, Cobb assembles a team capable of navigating increasingly complex dream layers where reality itself becomes unstable.
Christopher Nolan is no stranger to breaking the box-office, but it was his work in Inception that truly broke the world. Delivering spectacle while embracing an astonishingly ambitious concept, the film constructs an intricate dream landscape filled with shifting architecture, gravity-defying action, a thrilling ensemble, and deep emotional stakes rooted in character trauma. It’s the rare blockbuster that demands both intellectual engagement and emotional investment, making it a perfect example of how original storytelling can thrive on the biggest cinematic scale.
“Don’t be distracted by the digital soap opera,” she urged her supporters in her first statement following the setback in her case against her former director.
Steven Spielberg on the red carpetImage via DDP/INSTARimages
Every other week, streaming platforms release content aimed directly at dads, be it shows such as Reacherand Bosch, or new spin-offs in Taylor Sheridan‘s Yellowstone universe. Recently, the same demographic has enjoyed the Russell Crowe-led historical drama Nuremberg, which grossed nearly $50 million at the worldwide box office in its theatrical run and then became a word-of-mouth hit at home. The movie holds a phenomenal 95% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. Older male audiences are typically drawn to procedurals and period dramas, which is why movies and shows in which men get the job done perform well on streaming. There is no better example of this sub-category than Steven Spielberg‘s celebrated World War II epic Saving Private Ryan, the ultimate dudes-rock movie.
Released in 1998, the film redefined the genre with its gritty camerawork and sweeping anti-war sentiment. Saving Private Ryan is widely regarded as the greatest World War II movie ever made; it won Spielberg the Best Director Oscar and was nominated alongside fellow WWII epic The Thin Red Line in the Best Picture category. The movie now holds a 94% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus reads, “Anchored by another winning performance from Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg’s unflinchingly realistic war film virtually redefines the genre.” In addition to Hanks, the movie featured a sprawling ensemble including Matt Damon, Edward Burns, and Tom Sizemore.
It’s the last day of March, and the Madness is almost behind us. Huddle up and see what you know about these depictions of basketball on television.
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Here’s Where You Can Watch ‘Saving Private Ryan’
Saving Private Ryan was a massive box-office hit, grossing more than $480 million worldwide against a reported budget of $70 million. This was nearly five times as much as The Thin Red Line. Saving Private Ryan remained the top-grossing WWII movie of all time until it was overtaken by Christopher Nolan‘s Dunkirk, which was subsequently overtaken by Nolan’s own Oppenheimer. Spielberg and Hanks reunited as executive producers on a trio of WWII drama shows inspired by Saving Private Ryan — Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air. Hanks also co-produced and starred in the WWII thriller Greyhound, which is set to receive a sequel. You can watch Saving Private Ryan on Paramount+ this month. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Roommates, y’all already know Claressa Shields does NOT play about Papoose. She dropped some new flicks on social media, and the comments went crazy — but once Papoose slid in with some words, chileeee, everything paused! And of course, Claressa came right back at him with some spicy energy — no filter and no holding back!
Papoose Speaks Up & Claressa Shields Responds With Some HEAT
On Friday, April 3, Claressa Shields popped out on Instagram in some fresh flicks. The Gwoat showed off two looks and had the timeline locked in. Pap clearly felt the vibe, sliding into her comment section and showing love with fire and heart-eye emojis. Claressa made sure to hit reply, telling her man, “ofc you love my pics the most, you got the special ones earlier (.) (.). Love you.” Claressa didn’t stop at showing love to her man in her own comments. She pulled up To The Shade Room and doubled down on him being her number one writing, “My man My man, my man, everyday and 2x on Sunday 🔥 ❤️✌🏾”
Claressa Handles The Comments & Claps Back At Critics
Even though Claressa stayed locked in on the love from Papoose, she still peeped a few other comments. She wasted no time clapping back when one Instagram user wrote, “You and @meekmill can be a power couple,” and she hit them right back with, “that’s my uncle chill out n****h.” When another social media user tried to come for her shoes, Claressa wasn’t having it. She responded back saying, “I’m not gone lie both shoes ate with this fit to me. No shade.”
The Gwoat Shuts Down Narratives That Papoose Is After Her Money
Claressa clapping back and shutting down rumors is nothing new. She recently put the speculation to rest about Pap being with her for her money. During a recent chat with The Breakfast Club, Shields doubled down on her man being solid, saying when it comes to cash, he always has her back. Bills paid, flights booked, hotels secured–nobody is topping him.
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“That’s how they paint out narratives. But I will tell you something, though. Pap pays my mortgage. Pap pays my car insurance, and my car note. And what else does he do? I haven’t paid for a flight or for a hotel in I don’t know how long […] that’s a man right there!”
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There’s nothing more annoying than finally being able to wear your cute new sundress, only to realize — wait — you have no shoes to go with it. Last year’s go-to styles suddenly seem ready for retirement, full of scuffs, dirt and damage you never noticed until now. This spring, we’re saving ourselves some pre-event panic and stocking up on new footwear during Nordstrom’s End of Season sale. Shockingly, the retailer has plenty of cute sandals and sneakers priced under $50, making our mini warm-weather refresh feel totally doable. It’s truly a two-for-the-price-of-one situation!
Since this is a Nordstrom we’re talking about, our favorite discounted picks aren’t from random brands. Our list of must-buy sale shoes includes options from Reebok, Nina, Minnetonka and more labels we’ve loved and trusted for years. However, that also means you won’t want to wait to add ’em to your cart. With designs and prices this good, these sandals and sneakers are bound to sell out soon!
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Under-$50 Sandals and Sneakers on Sale at Nordstrom
1. Everyday Option: A quality, neutral sandal discounted before summer, rather than after? Muk Luks’ slides feel like a rare find! Aside from the versatile light brown colorway, we’re fans of the easy slip-on design, cutout detailing and comfy cushioned soles — was $50, now $40!
2. Expensive-Looking: Maybe it’s the stylish big buckle or the raffia accent, but these Mia sandals look five times their price. They’re the kind of fancy-feeling pair you pack for vacation and end up wearing to dinner every night — was $79, now $50!
3. Trendy With a Twist: Sporty suede kicks are having a moment, and Puma’s Arizona sneaker is leading the pack. While the style is pretty popular, we’re really feeling the rose-quartz colorway, which adds a slight pop of color while still acting as a neutral — was $80, now $48!
4. Designer-Inspired: Simple leather (and faux leather) slides are set to be the ‘It’ shoes of the summer. However, while interlocked designs from high-end brands cost hundreds, this similar Call It Spring option is under $40 — was $55, now $36!
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5. Very Versatile: Sundresses, Bermuda shorts, wide-leg jeans — you’ll have a hard time finding an outfit that won’t work with Comfortview’s gold-toned Alora sandals, which are surprisingly versatile. While they feature a sleek ankle strap, a secret back zipper makes them easy to slide on. And thanks to the skid-resistant outsole, you won’t be sliding as you go about your day — was $57, now $48!
6. Rich Mom Staple: Wealthy women tend to wear shoes that are a step up from simple, and this leather-like sneaker checks all the boxes. The clean white colorway will complement a ton of outfits, but the luxe perforated detailing adds fashionable flair — was $57, now $48!
7. Easy Espadrilles: Espadrille sandals never go out of style, but if you don’t have it in you to wobble around in a wedge, this flat, ankle-strap alternative has a similar vibe — and is way easier to walk in! — was $50, now $35!
8. Fashionable Find: Dare yourself to be different by trading simple white sneakers for a beige pair from Reebok. The bright suede design will quickly enhance all your basic outfits, so even if you’re rocking a white T-shirt and jeans, you’ll look (and feel!) like a street style star — was $60, now $45!
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9. Forever Cool: Consider this your sign to replace the slip-on Vans you’ve owned for years. This blue-and-white checkered pair is 40% off, and for a forever-trendy, celeb-loved shoe, that’s a pretty good deal — was $60, now $36!
10. Event-Ready: If you’ve got a wedding, bridal or baby shower on your calendar, Mango’s ankle-strap sandals are calling your name. The metallic, strappy design makes them feel dressy, while the short, supportive block heel keeps your feet from aching, even after hours of wear — was $80, now $50!
11. Cool Hybrid: Ballet flats or sneakers? With Keds’ Bliss Slip-Ons, you don’t have to choose! The fashion-forward hybrid is the best of both worlds — sweet yet sporty, pretty yet practical — putting it in the running to become your new go-to shoe — was $55, now $39!
12. Understated and Elevated: If you’d rather invest in just one pair of summer-ready shoes, check out Nine West’s Maizy sandals. The brown, strappy design is so sleek and simple, it’ll blend in with every look rather than stand out — was $69, now $50!
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13. Tried-and-True:Dr. Scholl’s Madison Slip-On is a cute yet comfy sneaker that gets tons of praise online — which is why we’re grabbing a pair while it’s on sale. Shoppers swear the machine-washable (!!!) pick offers “great support,” and shockingly, “goes with every outfit” — was $55, now $45!
14. Bitty Bows: Bow details have been trending for a while now, and the embellishment doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Upgrade your sandal collection with some sweet, tied-up slides that also feature a small block heel for added height — was $89, now $45!
15. Ready to Walk: Not all cute sandals are easy to walk in, but somehow LifeStride created something that’s the best of both worlds. The brand’s flashy silver slingbacks provide plenty of support and cushioning, and thanks to sturdy straps, they’ll stay on your feet, even as you trek around town — was $55, now $42!
16. Buckle Up: Double-buckle slides are the warm-weather staple you’ll be seeing everywhere from now through fall. This option isn’t just easy to throw on — the wool-blend upper is softer than plastic alternatives, so you won’t have to worry about nursing painful blisters after you take them off — was $99, now $40!
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17. ’90s Vibes: These low-profile Reeboks were inspired by soccer shoes, but that doesn’t mean you need to wear them with moisture-wicking shorts or other athleisure staples. The chunkier design is ideal for balancing out feminine pieces, and will toughen up A-line skirts or make floaty dresses feel more casual.
The Chosen has found success depicting the life of Jesus Christ on TV — but the show has also taken some liberties with the source material.
“The writers do such a great job of exploring the humanity [of each character] first vs. what they’re known for nowadays,” Joey Vahedi, who plays apostle Thomas on the Prime Video series, told Us Weekly exclusively while reflecting on adapting events from the Bible. “If people were asked who these figures are, they probably automatically think of the stained glass windows that they’ve seen growing up.”
He continued: “But when you actually look at who they were as human beings, Peter is a fisherman who does some not great things. Thomas was trying to make some money and have a successful business. Matthew was someone that’s portrayed as on the spectrum. They come at it from these very human experiences. That’s what makes it so successful. Because people feel like they can relate.”
The historical drama debuted in 2017 and showcases Jesus’ life through the eyes of the people who interacted with him — including his apostles and disciples, Jewish religious leaders, Roman government and military officials and ordinary people.
HBO ; The CW ; Alan Markfield/Netflix ; Courtesy of Amazon Studios Andrew Scott is the original Hot Priest, but there are even more swoon-worthy religious figures for Us to obsess over. Yes, the Irish actor’s Fleabag character — named The Priest — is the blueprint, but there were some clergymen who came before (and […]
In addition to Vahedi, 35, The Chosen stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, George H. Xanthis and more.
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While speaking with Us, Vahedi opened up about how his relationship with faith hasn’t wavered since the show’s first season.
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“I don’t know if it necessarily has [changed], but I always say if it has affected somebody else in that way — if it’s someone who either was already a person of faith and it’s strengthened that for them or if it’s helped them to look at it differently — I think it is really, really important in today’s day and age,” he explained. “We look at it through what the actual meaning is, which is to love one another and care about one another. Or if it’s had people that watch the show who are not people of faith — which I believe is a third of our audience — it’s great in all of those aspects. If it works for people, it works.”
Vahedi reflected on the unique project, adding, “It’s rare that a show has this much impact on people — and for people that are not people of faith. … I encourage everyone to just look at it as a period piece. One of our producers, I remember he once said to me, ‘People don’t believe in dragons, but they watch Game of Thrones and still enjoy it.’ Same thing with this. It’s just about a group of people who are trying to make a difference in the world and they’re being oppressed while they’re doing it.”
The countdown to Easter Sunday is on, and many in Hollywood are celebrating their faith out loud. Whether through social media and podcasts or TV shows and films, several celebrities aren’t afraid to share a glimpse into their spiritual journey with fans. For some religious leaders, it’s a decision that should be met with love […]
“Things are a little more disjointed in the story and people are starting to panic and not know what’s going on. It’s a scary moment for all the disciples,” he teased.
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Season 6 of The Chosen will premiere on November 15 in the U.S. and internationally. Following the first three episodes, the show will air weekly until the season finale, which is a stand-alone theatrical release slated for spring 2027.
“It’s going to be one of the most epic things — cinematically — that we’ve done. … We [might be] coming to the finish line, which makes it bittersweet. Because this has been the greatest gift I could have ever had,” Vahedi told Us. “It’s been such a gift for me to do this. Sometimes chapters do need to come to a close so that way we can appreciate the journey that we went on.”
“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” alum Jen Shah was released from prison in December 2025 after serving over two years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Now, months after her release, not only has she apologized to the victims of the years-long telemarketing scheme, but the “RHOSLC” alum is now opening up about some of the troubles in her marriage.
Shah, 52, has been married to Sharrieff Shah, 55, since August 1994. The “RHOSLC” alums share two children.
Jen Shah Opens Up About The Troubles In Her Marriage
Mayer/MEGA
Shah broke her silence about her life behind bars and the events leading up to it in an interview with PEOPLE. During the emotional conversation, Shah also revealed that she and her longtime husband were edging closer to a divorce amid her legal woes.
The “RHOSLC” alum said, “My husband and I were separated. We were on the verge of a divorce. I was overwhelmed with immense grief from the death of my grandmother, my father, and my aunt, all in a very short period of time. I was spiraling deeper into my previously diagnosed clinical depression.”
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Shah went on to note that making a marriage last for multiple decades is challenging for couples. According to her, “Nobody’s married for 32 years, and it’s all perfect, right? So [I say] we were separated and going towards a divorce because I don’t want our relationship [to look] like, ‘Oh, it’s all perfect.’ We put in hard work to get there.”
She added, “The thing about Coach and I is that our anchor is our faith. And a big part of our faith is the sanctity of marriage. I think people believe the hard thing to do is to get a divorce. The hard thing is to stay together. You have to put real work in.”
The ‘RHOSLC’ Alum Says Her Marriage Is Better Now
Instagram | Jen Shah
Luckily for the Shahs, their marriage has improved after the struggles they faced leading up to her prison stint. She said to the outlet, “He’s one of a kind. Most people would have run away, most people would have left. … I’m so grateful and so blessed that my husband and my children were there for me.”
The mom of two then said, “My family has come closer together through all of this. [My] marriage is stronger than it’s ever been, and my children and I, our family unit as a whole, is just closer than we’ve ever been.”
After that, she shared an adage from their marriage, saying, “Coach has a saying: ‘We’re going to love each other through it. No matter what obstacle we’re facing, no matter what we’re dealing with, I’m just going to love you through it. And we’re going to love each other through it.’ And that’s kind of been our family’s mantra.”
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Fans Are Reacting To Shah’s Post-Prison Interview
Instagram | Jen Shah
Shah has kept a relatively low profile since being released from the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas. Because of this, there has been considerable anticipation for her first public thoughts since being reunited with her family. Regarding the reaction, “RHOSLC” fans are mixed, with some saying she’s not being accountable enough.
First, one person reacted to Shah’s comments about her marriage. They said on X, “Strong love like that doesn’t break; it only gets stronger.”
Someone else reacted to the interview as a whole, writing, “I really don’t think Jen Shah is remorseful or sorry for what she has done. And she just needs to go away. Don’t bring her back to the show.”
Another person reacted to the section of the interview where she discussed the food in prison. They said on X, “Someone should see how well the victims of her crimes are eating. Especially the ones she took everything from, and they ended their lives…freaking sociopath.”
Still, others would like to see her back on “RHOSLC.”
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Jen Shah Posted For Their Anniversary In 2025
Instagram | Jen Shah
Shah was sentenced to 78 months in prison in January 2023. Ultimately, she served 33 months of the lengthy sentence. While behind bars, she managed to retain some connection with the outside world, including statements from her management and various social media posts.
According to PEOPLE, the “RHOSLC” alum posted on Instagram in August 2025 to celebrate her 31st wedding anniversary.
She said in a caption, “Happy 31st Anniversary today to me and my baby. Words cannot express how much I love and appreciate you. You bring so much joy to my life & I am forever thankful for your overwhelming love and support as we approach this next chapter. Thank you for blessing me with two amazing young men.”
Shah continued, “I love you so much & can’t wait to hold you again soon.” Notably, this was before it was announced that she would be released from prison in December.
Heather Gay Accused Shah’s Husband Of Flirting With An ‘RHOSLC’ Co-Star
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Shah was one of the original cast members on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” as was Heather Gay. According to US Weekly, in her 2024 book, “Good Time Girl,” Gay accused Shah’s husband of having tried to kiss Monica Garcia, who appeared on “RHOLSC” following Shah’s exit.
Notably, Garcia was Shah’s assistant, which served as her connection to the group. Following the claim, all involved parties have denied that Shah’s husband attempted to kiss Garcia.
There’s a lot that can be written about Stephen King, but that’s understandable when you consider how much writing there is by Stephen King. He’s been having work published consistently since 1974, which is when Carrie first came out, and it was that book (plus Salem’s Lot and The Shining, released in the following few years) that really helped establish him as a horror author.
His scariest books often remain some of his most popular and enduring, but King’s work is far from just horror-focused, since he’s written his fair share of sci-fi, crime, and fantasy books, too. It’s the fantasy genre that’s going to be focused on below, with some of these admittedly crossing over into the horror genre, to some extent. But if something’s either predominantly fantasy or somewhere between fantasy and horror, it can be counted, for present purposes.
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‘The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger’ (1982)
Image via Donald M. Grant, Publisher
The Dark Tower is going to pop up a few times here, since it’s a book series that encompasses seven main novels, and then one interquel set between books #4 and #5; call it book 4.5, if you want. The whole series is perhaps most easily definable as a dark fantasy one, though there are so many other genres explored throughout, with parts of it being creepy, some chunks of certain books having a particularly strong Western feel, and sci-fi elements ultimately playing a role quite a lot, too.
So, here’s the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, which is a great introduction to the main character, Roland, and his quest to find the titular Dark Tower, alongside the stage being set for the strange world he (initially) inhabits. It’s a weird book, and one that makes more sense the more of the series you read, but the fantastical stuff here is too bold and distinct to not give this first Dark Tower book some recognition here.
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9
‘Insomnia’ (1994)
Insomnia – 1994 – book coverImage via Viking/Stephen King
Very much worth talking about within the context of The Dark Tower series, Insomnia is most interesting for the allusions and references it has to some of the characters (especially of a villainous nature) and concepts from The Dark Tower. Its central premise, though, involves an old man who has the titular condition, and his lack of sleep has him seeing increasingly strange supernatural things.
Those supernatural things are part of a bigger conflict, and as he loses his grip on reality, to some extent, he gains more knowledge of something outside “reality” as it’s understood. The Dark Tower is referenced in plenty of other Stephen King novels and stories, but probably most referenced here, in Insomnia, which makes it a dense and somewhat difficult-to-approach book, albeit a very rewarding one if you’re invested in the whole Stephen King multiverse.
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‘The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla’ (2003)
Image via Donald M. Grant, Publisher
Jumping ahead a little in The Dark Tower series, here’s Wolves of the Calla, which marked the start of a race toward the finish for Stephen King. He had a brush with death in 1999, after being hit and seriously injured by a vehicle, which seemed to inspire King to finish The Dark Tower, which had its first four books published over a fairly long stretch of time (1982 to 1997).
The last three books were all published between 2003 and 2004, with Wolves of the Calla being a bit punchier and more immediate in terms of forwarding things toward a climax. The third and fourth books are well-loved by some King fans, because the third does some great world-building, and then the fourth is instrumental in laying out so much of Roland’s backstory, but they do spin their wheels a bit (and not just because a train is involved near the third book’s end and the fourth’s beginning). Wolves of the Calla says, “Yep, okay, let’s get this done,” having a good deal of action and then a very intense final 50 to 100 pages or so, all of it very important for the final two books in the series.
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‘The Talisman’ (1984)
Shattered glass with text on the book cover for The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub.Image via Viking Press/Stephen King/Peter Straub
Diving into Stephen King’s whole body of work will reveal a few books he’s co-written, with the best of his collaborations to date being with Peter Straub. The two wrote The Talisman in 1984, and then Black House in 2001, with a third book in the series talked about for a while, with its publication seeming less likely after Straub sadly passed away in 2022… but then King finished the third book, Other Worlds Than These, scheduled for release in 2026.
But sticking to The Talisman, it’s a pretty great fantasy/adventure story about a young boy going on a quest to an alternate world/dimension in an attempt to save his mother from dying of lung cancer. It’s a premise King kind of revisited himself, in Fairy Tale, but he does it much better in this book, with Straub. And then, Black House isn’t quite as good, but is still ultimately worthy of a read for anyone who enjoyed what The Talisman was doing.
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‘The Eyes of the Dragon’ (1984)
A dragon on a green background on the cover of the novel The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King.Image via Viking/Stephen King
The Eyes of the Dragon is potentially the gentlest book Stephen King wrote before the 1990s, or maybe even before the 2000s, as he’s gotten a little more sentimental as he’s gotten older (see Lisey’s Story, for a dramatic example). It came out at a time when King was largely known for horror and some science fiction-related stories, most of them pretty heavy on cruelty, suspense, and frequent deaths.
The Eyes of the Dragon is also on the slimmer side of things, by the standards of Stephen King’s novels, which makes it an approachable book.
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You still get conflict with The Eyes of the Dragon, and it’s not that it lacks stakes or anything, but it feels more fantasy than dark fantasy, compared to just about any other fantasy-related book King’s penned. It’s also on the slimmer side of things, by the standards of Stephen King’s novels, which makes it an approachable book, and one that could be read by younger readers more easily than the majority of his other works.
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‘The Green Mile’ (1996)
Image via Signet Books
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Both the book and movie versions of The Green Mile have low-key fantasy elements, compared to most other fantasy stories, but you’ve still got a death row prisoner integral to the narrative who has difficult-to-explain powers of healing. He also seems innocent of the crimes he’s been sentenced to death for, which gets the block supervisor of death row conflicted about what to do regarding what legally has to be carried out.
Stephen King wrote this one in the form of a six-part serial novel, and all the parts add up to something pretty great overall… and it’s easy to call The Green Mile one of King’s most emotional books, too. It’s not full-on fantasy, perhaps more magical realism, and it’s also light on true horror elements, so The Green Mile stands out pretty well within King’s body of work for those reasons (plus the fact that it’s also very good, of course).
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‘The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three’ (1987)
Image via Donald M. Grant, Publisher
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After The Gunslinger served as a good introduction for some things, The Drawing of the Three (book #2 in The Dark Tower series) does so much for introducing even more out-there concepts into the series, and for also giving Roland more by way of compelling supporting characters. The Drawing of the Three also might have one of the greatest opening chapters in literary history, since things get shaken up so intensely, bizarrely, gruesomely, and borderline-recklessly.
But the momentum from the gonzo opening is kept up, and all the jumping between world-related stuff is incredible, and also vital for the rest of the series and how it operates narratively. The Gunslinger is still good, but The Drawing of the Three is where The Dark Tower gets genuinely great, and there’s a very high chance that, should you get to book #2, you’ll be hooked from that point on until book #7.
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‘It’ (1986)
Image via Viking
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It feels a bit more of a horror book than a fantasy one, sure, but it’s sprawling enough to ultimately exist within a few different genres, and one of them is dark fantasy. What you get here is a bunch of kids taking on a horrific entity, and then doing the same as adults, because this particular being is active every 27 years… but structurally, it jumps back and forth between those two timelines.
It’s a dizzying read that proved hard to do justice in either a miniseries or movie duology form, especially because, regarding the latter, quite a few of the more out-there fantastical ideas weren’t really tackled/adapted. The best way to experience the story, by far, is still as a novel, and even if It is an incredibly long novel, it’s ultimately very much worth tackling.
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‘The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower’ (2004)
The most infamous of The Dark Tower books is the seventh, and yet it also might be the best of them. What you definitely get here, for better or worse, is a definitive ending, to the point where a genuine eighth book feels not just unlikely, but wholly unnecessary. It’s also been 20-ish years, and while there’s been that interquel and other stories that reference The Dark Tower, this seventh book feels like a definitive conclusion in every way.
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What are some of those ways? Well, this is one of the easiest to spoil books ever, since you get drama and surprisingly high stakes right from the very first chapter, so alluding to anything that happens here could ruin the book, and also a bunch of the books that came before it, in the series. It’s King just about at his best, though, within the fantasy genre (like, It might be the better book, but The Dark Tower VII is beating it here, partly because The Dark Tower VII is more fantasy heavy).
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‘The Stand’ (1978)
Image via Doubleday
Since it’s a post-apocalyptic book, and particularly heavy on the elements that make up such a genre early on, you might initially feel like The Stand leans a little more into science fiction than fantasy. But as it goes along, the survivors of a massive viral outbreak (the people left after more than 99% of humanity dies) get roped into a battle of good versus evil, and the leaders of both sides have mysterious and fantastical powers.
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It’s all dark fantasy, of course, since The Stand is a pretty bleak book that also finds plenty of time to be frightening, at least when it’s not focused on also being an adventure story, or something a bit more suspense/thrill-heavy. The Stand, in its uncut form, is easily Stephen King’s longest single novel, so there’s ample room here for him to play around and do a bit of everything, and here, he does a bit of everything so incredibly well.
Blake Lively has spoken out after a judge dismissed several of the actress’ claims against her It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni amid their ongoing legal battle.
“I am grateful for the Court’s ruling which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to finally tell my story in full at trial, for my own sake, but also for those who don’t have the same opportunity to … many of whom I have known and loved deeply in my life, and the countless I’ll never know,” Lively, 38, began in a lengthy statement shared via her Instagram Story on Friday, April 3.
The actress continued, “The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continued to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.”
Lively added that she hoped the court’s decision won’t keep others from speaking up. She also shared that while her situation might be labeled as “celebrity drama,” others outside of the spotlight who have endured similar issues can also relate to her story.
Blake Lively’s team has reacted after a U.S. District Court judge ruled to throw out 10 of 13 claims against her It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni amid their ongoing legal battle. “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devasting retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took […]
“The physical pain from digital violence is very real,” she wrote. “It is abuse. And it’s everywhere. Not just in the news, but in your communities and schools.”
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Lively explained that digital violence “affects us all,” including women and children.
“So much critical work has already been done to expose systems, tactics and players who harm. The work to create more safety is in part at trial, but it will also continue far after this trial is over. This is the work I’m most proud of,” she shared. “I couldn’t begin to stand up if not for the countless who’ve gone before me – and the masses who are still around us all — creating laws, social change, sparking conversations, rallying, working privately and publicly, risking and sometimes losing everything for the safety of others in all spaces. Some whose names we know, most we don’t. Thank you. All of you.”
Lively added that she “will never stop doing” her part in the fight to “expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims.”
“I know it’s a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it. Your support keeps me going,” she concluded.
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Lively’s statement comes one day after Judge Lewis Limandismissed 10 out of the 13 claims the actress made against Baldoni in their ongoing legal battle.
Us Weekly has reached out to Baldoni’s team for comment.
Justin Baldoni‘s team has reacted to their partial legal victory in his ongoing lawsuit against Blake Lively. “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” attorneys for the Wayfarer defendants said in a statement to […]
Lively’s statement comes one day after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 out of the 13 claims the actress made against Baldoni in their ongoing legal battle. The allegations that have been dismissed include harassment, defamation and conspiracy. Claims of breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation will proceed to a trial.
“This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial,” Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, told Us Weekly in a statement on Thursday, April 2, in response to the ruling. “For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they’ve targeted. She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
Baldoni’s team also reacted to the ruling in a statement, telling Us, “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel. These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”
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Lively’s legal team also issued a response to the statement from Baldoni’s lawyers.
“What the Court actually decided yesterday is that Blake Lively provided evidence to go to trial on her core claims: that she spoke out against what she believed was sexual harassment on the set, and suffered retaliation that harmed her reputation as a result,” the statement read.“The court held, in painstaking detail, that Ms. Lively provided sufficient evidence of all the following: (1) She privately opposed and negotiated changes to on-set behavior by Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath; (2) She reasonably believed, in good faith, that the behavior she complained about privately was unlawful sexual harassment; (3) Baldoni, Heath, and Wayfarer Studios understood that her claims amounted to sexual harassment allegations; and (4) They crossed the line in response and took steps that harmed her reputation and career.”
Blake Lively is fighting against Justin Baldoni’s request for dismissal. Lively, 38, and her legal team filed a letter on Thursday, March 12, citing a recent federal appeals court ruling that allegedly proves her lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director should not be dismissed. (Lively played Lily in the 2024 film […]
After news broke of Lively’s legal setback, the actress’ agency WME — which also used to represent Baldoni — released a statement of support for the Gossip Girl alum.
“In an industry that too often asks women to absorb the damage and stay quiet, Blake Lively chose to stand up for herself, her castmates, and those without the ability to fight back,” a spokesperson for the agency told Deadline in a statement on Friday. “She has met this moment with courage, moral clarity, and extraordinary determination.”
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Lively and Baldoni’s legal battle began in December 2024. She accused the It Ends With Us star and director of creating a “hostile work environment,” sexual harassment and orchestrating an alleged smear campaign against her.
Baldoni, who has vehemently denied the allegations, countersued Lively, but his lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in June 2025.
Lively’s lawsuit remains ongoing and is scheduled for trial in May.
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