Entertainment
10 Director’s Cuts That Are Far Better Than the Movie Everyone Saw
Sometimes the version of a film that audiences first see isn’t the one the director actually intended. Several factors, including studio interference and runtime constraints, can often shape a movie into something more digestible but less complete. The director’s cut, when it exists, is an attempt to reclaim that lost vision.
With that in mind, this list looks at the most striking cases where the filmmaker’s preferred version was a significant step up from the theatrical release. In some cases, these alternate versions merely add interesting material or improve upon the existing version by adding more details, fleshing out characters, or maybe even reframing the action. In others, they completely transform the movie itself, resulting in something that feels entirely different.
‘Blood Simple’ (1984)
“You’re not that smart, Marty.” In the Coen brothers‘ feature debut, a bar owner (Dan Hedaya) hires a private investigator (M. Emmet Walsh) to kill his wife (Frances McDormand) and her lover (John Getz), setting off a chain of misunderstandings and escalating violence. It’s a noirish, brutal story shot through with delectably dark humor. The original theatrical version is already a tightly wound thriller, but the director’s cut trims and refines key moments.
Unusually, this is an instance where the director’s cut is actually shorter than the original, in this case by 2 minutes and 35 seconds. It nixes some short filler scenes and unnecessary shots and adds in a few extended shots, and also changes one of the songs in the soundtrack. This version shows how small adjustments, like slight edits and subtly restructured sequences, can significantly improve a movie’s flow.
‘Almost Famous’ (2000)
“I am a golden god!” This gem from Cameron Crowe follows William Miller (Patrick Fugit), a teenage journalist who goes on tour with a rising rock band in the 1970s. It’s a funny, touching story populated by complex and vivid characters. The DVD release came with a director’s cut that adds a whopping 40 minutes of additional footage, which most fans consider to be the definitive version.
This extra runtime gives the movie a lot more room to breathe. Characters like Elaine Miller (Frances McDormand), Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), and even the band members themselves gain additional scenes that make them feel more even human and layered. It really adds to the immersion (while also making certain gags even funnier). This cut is less polished than the theatrical release, but that’s part of its charm.
‘Watchmen’ (2009)
“I’m not locked in here with you. You’re locked in here with me!” Zack Snyder‘s name is the first that comes to mind when you think “director’s cut,” most famously with regard to Justice League. However, his preferred version of Watchmen is also superior to the original release. Based on the legendary comics by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the movie follows a group of retired vigilante superheroes investigating the murder of one of their own.
The “Ultimate Cut” version adds a full 53 minutes of content, including the Tales of the Black Freighter animated sequence. This version is truer to the source material and adds new layers to the story, giving us more insight into the characters’ psychology. Sure, casual viewers may find this longer cut overwhelming, but diehard fans are likely to find it more satisfying.
‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ (2021)
“We’re asking people we don’t know to risk their lives.” Justice League sees Batman (Ben Affleck) recruiting Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) to stop the alien conqueror Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) from collecting the Mother Boxes and transforming Earth into a wasteland. Notoriously, the movie was heavily reshaped by Joss Whedon after Snyder stepped away during post-production, with most fans disappointed in the theatrical release.
The Snyder Cut quickly became a Holy Grail among fans, who clamored for its release. Their wishes were granted in 2021, when HBO Max released Snyder’s preferred version, which includes many scenes that Whedon had removed. These add some much-needed world-building and generally expand the film’s mythology. Fans and critics alike preferred this cut, though it’s admittedly pretty long at 242 minutes (the theatrical cut is just 120). The Snyder Cut is among the rare cases when the director’s cut is an outright different movie, and it’s for the best.
‘The Abyss’ (1989)
“You have to look with better eyes than that.” One of James Cameron‘s most underrated movies, The Abyss centers on a team of underwater oil drillers recruited by the U.S. Navy to investigate a sunken submarine, only to encounter something far more mysterious beneath the ocean’s surface. Unfortunately, the original theatrical release was heavily trimmed due to production problems and studio concerns about runtime, weakening the film.
Cameron’s preferred Special Edition was eventually released in 1993, and it’s dramatically better than the theatrical cut. This version is 26 minutes longer and restores some crucial scenes, while also adding great new special effects. It lets the awe and mystery of the underwater environment settle in more deeply instead of constantly rushing toward the next plot beat. Overall, this cut feels much more immersive.
‘Aliens’ (1986)
“They mostly come at night… mostly.” Another banger from Cameron. The original release of Aliens is already a masterclass in tension and action, but the director’s cut enriches it even further. It’s 20 minutes longer, with improved pacing and fan-favorite moments like the sentry gun scenes. Other additions expand the colony’s early moments and the buildup to the disaster. Most importantly, though, this version adds a lot of material involving Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) daughter.
We learn that Ripley’s daughter Amanda (Elizabeth Inglis) grew old and died while Ripley was in hypersleep. She was just 10 years old when they last saw each other. This information changes the emotional meaning of the entire movie and makes Ripley’s relationship with Newt (Carrie Henn) vastly more powerful. All in all, this cut adds more emotion and melancholy to the action-packed spectacle.
‘Brazil’ (1985)
“We’re all in it together, kid.” Terry Gilliam‘s oddball masterpiece features Jonathan Pryce as Sam Lowry, a low-level bureaucrat in a dystopian society dominated by surveillance, endless paperwork, and more than a little absurdity, as he becomes entangled in a case of mistaken identity. The studio-mandated version attempted to impose a more conventional, optimistic structure on the film. The director’s cut rejects this entirely, embracing the story’s darker, more surreal trajectory.
In this version, which was only released in its full director’s preferred iteration in 1999, the satire becomes sharper, and the story ends on a decidedly bleak note. This movie is not meant to be reassuring, so forcing a happy ending to it was a nonsensical creative decision. The studio version undermines Brazil‘s central idea by pretending the nightmare can simply be outrun. Gilliam’s cut, by contrast, offers no escape.
‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (2005)
“What man is a man who does not make the world better?” Audiences’ expectations for Kingdom of Heaven were sky-high, with many hoping it would be a thrilling historical epic like Gladiator. However, the theatrical release drew mixed reviews, with many criticizing its pacing and lack of depth. Released a few months later, the director’s cut totally transformed the movie’s reputation. It adds 45 minutes of footage and, critically, significantly deepens the main characters’ motivations.
We get emotional subplots, fuller backstories, and even more visceral action scenes. In the original, the protagonist Balian (Orlando Bloom) feels passive and underwritten, but the director’s cut helps explain his crisis of faith and his grief over his wife’s death. It makes his gradual evolution from blacksmith to reluctant leader much more impactful, going from being a one-note figure to a genuinely conflicted hero.
‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984)
“I slipped.” Once Upon a Time in America was meant to be Sergio Leone‘s swan song, a sweeping crime opus charting David “Noodles” Aaronson’s (Robert De Niro) rise within the criminal underworld. Sadly, it suffered one of the most infamous studio edits in film history, with its theatrical release drastically restructured and shortened. It chopped the director’s 269-minute version down to a meager 139 minutes, jettisoning so much crucial material.
Needless to say, Leone’s preferred cut is in another league compared to the studio version. It dramatically deepens the relationships between the central gang members, especially Noodles and Max (James Woods). Pacing-wise, Leone’s version allows scenes to unfold slowly, where the theatrical cut tries to force them into a more conventional gangster-film rhythm. The slowness of the director’s cut is essential because the film is fundamentally about time: how decades reshape people, friendships, cities, and dreams.
‘Blade Runner’ (1982)
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe.” Ridley Scott strikes again. His preferred cut of Blade Runner finally came out in 1992, improving the movie in several important ways. Most notably, it leans heavily into the ambiguity of Deckard (Harrison Ford) being a replicant. It does so by removing the protagonist’s voice-over narration and the studio-mandated “happy ending” and adding in the unicorn dream sequence.
The latter scene is perhaps the most famous addition because it radically deepens the film’s central mystery. Indeed, it implies that Deckard’s memories may themselves be artificial. As a result, instead of reassuring the audience, the director’s cut of Blade Runner leaves viewers suspended in uncertainty. That unresolved tension is central to why the film became such a landmark work of science fiction. It restores the movie to the philosophical noir poem it was always meant to be.
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Roommates, it looks like a little family fun and some playful competition might be brewing in the Williams–Herbo household after a recent clip had fans zooming in on a sweet but hilarious father-daughter moment involving Taina Williams, G Herbo, and their baby girl, Emmy.
RELATED: Whew! G Herbo & Taina Williams Disagree After He Gifted Their Son Essex A Toy Firearm (VIDEO)
Emmy Steals Show In Viral Family Moment
This week, G Herbo took to his Instagram Story with footage of him gifting little Emmy a few surprises, and the three-year-old was clearly in her element. Rocking a hot pink shirt, gold necklace, and a big smile, Emmy followed her dad’s directions as he asked her to turn around so the camera could catch her new earrings — and she happily showed them off like she knew she was “that girl.” Her excitement didn’t stop there, as Herbo also asked her to show her nails while both parents hyped her up saying “pretty,” with Emmy then turning to Taina Williams, putting her hands by her ears and jokingly teasing, “nana nana look what I got,” sending Taina into laughter as G Herbo captioned the moment “LOL D*MN THEY HAVING MOMMY DAUGHTER GIFT WARS/BEEF.”
You Already Know Folks Weighed In
Roommates ran straight to The Shade Room’s comment section, and as expected, everybody had something to say about the playful family moment. Some users kept it light, saying the clip was completely innocent and pointing out that Emmy is still just a child enjoying gifts and attention from her parents. Others praised G Herbo for showing up for his daughter. While a few raised concerns, suggesting the “gift wars” jokes could one day make her see her mom as competition.
One Instagram user @shaddaee said, “The people saying not cute are crazy as hell knowing damn well if you had a daughter you would want her to be spoiled just like this! Please cut it out 😂😂”
This Instagram user @ballallsummer2x added, “Please remember she still a baby .. still learning her emotions“
And, Instagram user @rainynyts commented, “Shes too cute yall are trippin. Shes just a Lil daddy’s girl.“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @_nellsseafoodpalace claimed, “So she’s going to grow up thinking her mom is her competition“
While Instagram user @_.keeandmikee shared, “Definition of: Don’t get with a man if he can’t treat you like yo father do!“
Finally, Instagram user @dresuave901 wrote, “Little girls always protective of their father. There is nothing wrong with this. Herbo is setting the standard for how she should be treated when she grows up. This is innocent 💯“
Emmy’s Reaction To Taina’s Mother’s Day Gift Sparks Hoopla
Mother’s Day weekend had social media buzzing after G Herbo, Taina Williams, and their two kids, Essex and Emmy, shared a family moment that quickly turned into online debate, all sparked by a simple reaction at the dinner table. While celebrating, G Herbo presented Taina with a gift as she smiled and unwrapped a white bag filled with blue tissue paper and a box, with Essex jokingly guessing “Chanel” before Herbo shut that down. Ultimately, the gift turned out to be a sparkling diamond necklace.
The moment that really set the internet off came when Taina showed the necklace to Emmy and the camera turned to her sitting with her arms crossed and a pout, where the three-year-old — who turns four later this week — said “no” when asked if she liked her mom’s gift, and that brief reaction is what fueled all the hoopla and commentary online.
RELATED: Aht! Aht! Emily B Addresses Her Granddaughter’s Reaction To G Herbo’s Mother’s Day Gift For Taina Williams (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is finding time among his many duties as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to get his sweat on with none other than Maria Shriver’s ex-husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Senior’s Day, Gold’s Gym in Venice,” RFK Jr., 72, wrote via X on Thursday, May 14, alongside a selfie of the controversial Trump cabinet member posing with Schwarzenegger, 78, and smiling for the camera.
The Secretary of HHS’ post comes amid a fury of controversy and criticism surrounding RFK Jr., his anti-vaccination stance and the looming threat of hantavarius. Many famous Kennedy family members have denounced RFK Jr.’s political aspirations, calling his failed 2024 presidential campaign an “embarrassment” that was potentially dangerous for the country.
“The decision for our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country,” Rory, Kerry, Joseph and Kathleen Kennedy all said in an October 203 statement. “Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgement. Today’s announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.
Weeks after Caroline Kennedy’s daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, died after a brief cancer battle, her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is giving insight into the family members’ estranged relationship. “Everybody’s praying for them,” the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) told People of his family while attending the Starry Night Gala in Palm Desert, […]
Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife Shriver, 70, has also been a vocal critic of RKF Jr. — her cousin — President Donald Trump and his second presidential term. (Shriver and Schwarzenegger were married from 1986 until their separation in 2011. Their divorce was finalized 10 years later in 2021. The pair share four children.)
“We all deserve better, and we all can speak up and demand better,” Shriver wrote via Instagram on March 13 in response to Trump’s, 79, viral feud with Pope Leo XIV amid the ongoing war in Iran.
“The job of President requires composure, compassion, and the ability not to react to anything and everything you do not like,” Shriver continued. “We deserve better!”
Shriver was also an outspoken critic of Trump’s decision to unceremoniously rename the iconic Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center.
“The Kennedy Center was named after my uncle, President John F Kennedy. It was named in his honor,” Shriver said in December 2025. “He was a man who was interested in the arts, interested in the culture, interested in education, language, history. He brought the arts into the White House, and he and my Aunt Jackie amplified the arts, celebrated the arts, stood up for the arts and artists.”
Shriver continued at the time, “It is beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy. It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.”
Months later, in April 2026, Shriver opened up about her family’s tumultuous relationships amid their many political differences.
“I think people all have differences in every family so I think we were raised on family loyalty,” Shriver told people in an April 22 interview. “Daddy [Sargent Shriver] brought people of different faiths to the table, different political parties, different skin colors and was always like, that is the table.”
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There’s nothing better than an outfit that feels as comfortable as pajamas, but still makes you feel confident and put-together. Fortunately, Amazon shoppers have stumbled upon a matching set that does exactly that. The Missactiver 2-Piece Lounge Set is swiftly becoming a bestseller, and given its flattering fit, lightweight feel and clean, streamlined look, it isn’t hard to see why.
Designed with an easy striped top and coordinating shorts, the playful set takes the stress out of getting dressed on hot summer days. It’s breezy and soft enough for lounging while still looking polished enough to wear outside the house without feeling underdressed.
Get the Missactiver 2-Piece Lounge Set for $30 (originally $38) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The Missactiver 2-Piece Lounge Set stands out for its sporty striped details, which are complemented by its relaxed silhouette. It’s more sophisticated than your average off-duty attire, and the light fabric keeps it comfy, even in warmer weather. Plus, the matching pieces instantly make the outfit feel intentional and polished.
Get ready to meet your new rich-girl comfort outfit. From long flights to weekend errands or even just lounging at home with a latte, this outfit delivers that effortless, looks-expensive vibe without a luxury-brand price tag. Whether you’re jetting off for a vacay or just mastering the art of looking put-together while being ridiculously comfy, […]
It’s also surprisingly versatile. You can style with sneakers and a tote bag for running errands or casual coffee dates, or you can slide on sandals for vacation days spent by the beach or out sightseeing. The throw-on-and-go appeal and wide assortment of color options make it the kind of outfit you’ll keep reaching for all season long. You might even end up investing in more than one color so you can keep rotating between them.
“This is my favorite outfit as a mom,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “I have it in 3 colors. The fit is so great, the colors are good, it washes and dries [easily] without shrinking. Very easy to throw on and go and look put together.”
But buyer beware: the compliments will quickly start rolling in from the very first wear. “I wear this nonstop,” said another Amazon reviewer. “Everyone compliments it…everyone! The sales associates at lululemon and the furniture store, [the] Dairy Queen cashier, every single co-worker who saw me wear it . . . they all love it. I don’t remember the last time I got this many compliments on an outfit.”
Ready to give your summer wardrobe a colorful and comfortable refresh, this laid-back Amazon lounge set is a no-brainer. It’s lightweight, flattering and worth adding to your cart ASAP, and at just $30, you might want to splurge on more than one color.
Get the Missactiver 2-Piece Lounge Set for $30 (originally $38) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more 2-piece lounge sets here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
If there’s one thing Amazon shoppers love, it’s calling out a find that looks way more expensive than it actually is — and right now, lounge sets are getting all the hype. Reviewers can’t stop raving about these matching sets that deliver that elevated, off-duty look without feeling overdone. From soft knits to perfectly draped […]
Entertainment
4 Years Later, Tom Cruise’s 10/10 Action Sequel Is Still One of the Biggest Streaming Hits on Paramount+
Mortal Kombat II, the video game adaptation sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway-led The Devil Wears Prada 2, Ryan Gosling‘s new sci-fi masterpiece Project Hail Mary, and Antoine Fuqua’s musical biopic Michael all face 40-year-old competition at this weekend’s box office, as the iconic action blockbuster Top Gun returns to the big screen for its special anniversary. That’s not all; the movie is joined in theaters by its cinema-saving sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, which first debuted in 2022.
Four decades after the late Tony Scott brought the need for speed to global theaters, Maverick (Tom Cruise) and co are flying back to the big screen following the recent news we’d all been waiting for. In mid-April, it was officially announced that a sequel to Top Gun: Maverick is on the way, with a script in development. Of course, Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is ready to return to one of his best roles, although most casting news and any release info is as yet unknown. The one thing we can count on is Top Gun 3 becoming a dominant force at the box office and likely earning over a billion dollars. But can it outperform the all-conquering Maverick?
At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic had left many wondering if cinema could ever be the same again, Top Gun: Maverick arrived and proved so financially successful that the industry was considered saved. Against a reported budget of $177 million, the movie returned a huge $1.45 billion worldwide. Split between a domestic haul of $718.7 million and a further $733.4 million from overseas markets, Maverick became the 15th highest-grossing movie of all time. As it re-enters theaters, the film is proving popular on streaming, officially ranking as one of the ten most-streamed movies on Pluto TV in the U.S.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Is an Academy Award Winner
One of the greatest action movies of this century, Top Gun: Maverick featured the combination of Christopher McQuarrie as writer and F1‘s Joseph Kosinski as director. Cruise was joined in the cast by some fresh faces to the franchise, including Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, and Glen Powell. The film was instantly critically acclaimed and even earned recognition from the Academy, scoring six nominations and winning in the Best Sound category.
Top Gun: Maverick is streaming on Pluto TV. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
- Release Date
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May 27, 2022
- Runtime
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130 Minutes
- Writers
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Ashley Miller, Justin Marks, Peter Craig, Zack Stentz
- Prequel(s)
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Top Gun
Your new favorite binge-watch awaits you on Netflix — you just have to know where to look.
From streaming originals to network and cable classics, the platform has so many incredible shows that it can be difficult to know where to start.
Thankfully, picking the best shows to watch is the Watch With Us team’s bread and butter.
We’ve rounded up a list of five, almost-perfect shows on Netflix that would make for a great binge.
Our first selection is I Think You Should Leave, the popular and widely memed sketch comedy series from SNL alum Tim Robinson.
‘Dark’ (2017-2020)
Louis Hofmann in Dark season 1. Netflix / Courtesy: Everett Collection
A young boy disappears in the small, close-knit German town of Winden while cutting through the dark wilderness with his friends one night; a seemingly cut-and-dry case of a missing child. But in the desperate search to find him, the otherwise normal residents of Winden and their families find their tightly-held secrets being exposed alongside their town’s dark history — a history that connects all of them in a terrifying plot with grave consequences for the world. Past, present and future collide in a supernatural story about trauma and time, as the consequences for the town of Winden bear a mark across generations.
Dark is an incredible blend of crime drama, sci-fi, mystery and family drama, but it’s more than just a compelling and ambitious genre hybrid. The show is a deeply complex puzzle box with twists upon twists that somehow make sense, all tied together by rich thematic explorations. Despite the expansive, time-hopping nature of the narrative, the writers do a terrific job keeping things clear for the audience while casting perfect young and old matches for the various characters. Ultimately, Dark is an atmospheric and philosophical thrill ride that completely pulls you in.
‘I Think You Should Leave’ (2019-Present)
Has this ever happened to you? Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin bring their particular brand of surreal, absurdist comedy to I Think You Should Leave, a sketch show about the most embarrassing situations you can imagine being taken fifty steps too far. From trying to put the perfect denouement on a job interview by following through on an erroneous claim that a door “goes both ways,” to going for broke during a haunted house ghost tour for adults where you can “say whatever you want,” to trying an unorthodox method of keeping yourself from talking about your kids too much at a work function, I Think You Should Leave is all about pushing things to their absolute limits — and then some.
I Think You Should Leave became just about an instant hit on the internet shortly after it debuted in 2019, with images and lines of dialogue from the various absurd sketches being shared as memes on social media ad infinitum. The show hasn’t lost its momentum in the subsequent two seasons, and while a fourth has yet to be greenlit due to the busy schedules of Kanin and Robinson (they now have a hit HBO Max show added to their pedigree), it’s worth returning to the short, six-episode first three seasons again and again. I Think You Should Leave is simply demented, laugh-a-minute perfection.
‘Arrested Development’ (2003-2019)
Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) wants nothing more than to finally cut ties with his dysfunctional family — unfortunately, that’s when they need him the most. His father, George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), has been arrested for white-collar crime, and it’s up to Michael to keep everyone together. Michael’s mother, Lucille (Jessica Walter), is a narcissist, his three siblings (Will Arnett,Portia de Rossi and Tony Hale) are deeply chaotic, and his brother-in-law Tobias (David Cross) is something else entirely. Michael struggles to instill good family values in his son, George Michael (Michael Cera), while cleaning up his family’s mess.
Arrested Development is a defining sitcom of the 2000s, not only frequently considered one of the best comedy shows of all time, but one of the best shows of all time. The Russian nesting doll nature of the show’s densely layered joke-writing warrants repeat viewings, but the fantastic writing wouldn’t be quite the same without the show’s perfect casting. From top to bottom, the comedy performances are brilliant, and you may find yourself torn over who gives the best one (our pick is Cross). But guest stars (including Liza Minnelli, Ed Begley Jr. and Charlize Theron) are just as perfect, too.
‘The Great British Baking Show’ (2010-Present)
Prue Leith, judge Paul Hollywood and contestant Alice Fevronia in The Great British Baking Show. Mark Bourdillon / ©Channel 4 / Courtesy Everett Collection
The Great British Baking Show is the comfort watch of a lifetime, as viewers bear witness to twelve talented amateur bakers going under the hallowed gingham tent and competing in several baking challenges over the course of ten weeks, at the end of which a winner is crowned the Bake-Off champion. The competition is judged by veteran bakers Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith (Leith replaced the show’s original co-judge, Mary Berry, in season 8), while current presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond provide entertaining color commentary and encouragement to the competitors throughout the challenges.
Though Netflix is known for its buzzy mainstream hits like Stranger Things and Bridgerton, there’s more than meets the eye on the popular platform. Netflix has plenty of shows to get into if you’re looking for something a little less flashy. This week, Watch With Us wants to highlight three particularly great, particularly underrated series on the platform […]
The Great British Baking Show provides a cozy and good-natured alternative to the rough rigor of American cooking shows like Top Chef or the abusive vitriol of Gordon Ramsay (who is, ironically, British). If you’re skeptical at first, you will likely find yourself sucked into the show before you know it — the many challenges are mesmerizing to watch, the judges are funny and supportive and the contestants are always fascinating people to get to know. There’s no contrived reality show drama, yet the show is plenty dramatic. Have you ever seen what happens when a whole Baked Alaska gets dumped in the trash?
‘Too Much’ (2025)
Meg Stalter and Will Sharpe in Too Much Netflix
Still coping with the aftermath of her traumatic breakup from ex-boyfriend Zev (Michael Zegen) — who quickly moved on to Instagram model Wendy (Emily Ratajkowski) — commercial producer Jessica Salmon (Meg Stalter) decides that there’s no better time than the present to accept a work transfer to London and completely change everything in her life. But the boy troubles don’t stop in England, and on her first night, she has a sexual encounter with a musician named Felix (Will Sharpe). The one-night stand ends up becoming something more, and a romance starts between them. However, they’ll need to contend with their respective traumas and hangups if they hope to make it work.
Too Much marks the grand return to television for Girls creator Lena Dunham, and this series carries much of the same exceptional narrative and character development that Dunham executed so gracefully on her previous show. Too Much finds the sweet spot between humor, heartache and complete chaos, as Dunham gives Jess such a refreshing and realistic color in how messy and complicated she is. Stalter and Sharpe have great chemistry, but Stalter’s performance in particular shows that she can be more than just a comedy actress.
Roommates, an emotional moment unfolded at Southern University’s commencement ceremony as one family experienced both heartbreak and pride in the same breath. A year after Caleb Wilson’s tragic death shocked the campus community, his loved ones were met with overwhelming support as his name was honored during graduation.
RELATED: Alleged Hazing Death Of Southern University Student Caleb Wilson Results In Five Indictments (VIDEO)
Southern University Honors Caleb Wilson At Commencement Ceremony
Caleb Wilson, a mechanical engineering student at Southern University, died in 2025 following an alleged hazing incident involving members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. During Friday’s commencement ceremony, Caleb’s parents and sister walked across the graduation stage in his honor, drawing cheers and emotional reactions from folks in attendance. Among those watching from the crowd was Zelbra Daniels, whose son was friends with Caleb. Daniels shared that the moment reflected the love and support surrounding the Wilson family. She also claimed people in attendance were essentially telling them, “We got you,” while continuing to pray for their healing.
There was an emotional moment at Southern University’s graduation in Baton Rouge as leaders awarded a posthumous degree to Caleb Wilson.
Wilson died in a suspected hazing incident in 2025. pic.twitter.com/L9iYk0BRQO
— wdsu (@wdsu) May 15, 2026
The Comment Section Shared Nothing But Love
Roommates flooded TSR’s Instagram comment section after seeing Caleb Wilson’s family walk the stage in his honor. And, the reactions quickly turned emotional. Many users shared messages of love and condolences to his family. Others questioned whether the recognition still mattered now that Caleb is gone. While a few people who appeared to know him personally congratulated his loved ones and celebrated the milestone he worked so hard to reach.
One Instagram user @maddikennedi wrote, “SO PROUD OF MY BESTFRIEND YOU DID IT CALEB👼🏽🩵”
This Instagram user @jaistylez commented, “He had so much life ahead 😢🙏🏽❤️”
And, Instagram user @damn.frenchiee shared, “I keep telling ppl fraternities and sororities is a cult 😭”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @__iamterrence claimed, “I really hate this happened to him 🤦🏽♂️💔🕊️”
While Instagram user @coreyborner24 said, “REST IN PEACE. GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN 😢”
Finally, Instagram user @traceys.daughter added, “Black community gotta do better. he should still be alive.“
Students Reflect On Emotional Tribute For Caleb Wilson
Other students also reflected on the emotional tribute, including fellow student Tori Johnson, who said she never personally met Caleb but still felt deeply moved seeing his name acknowledged after everything surrounding the case. Graduate Eryka Jackson added that the atmosphere in the room felt heavy yet unified, sharing that Caleb’s family deserved to experience the moment after all he worked toward during his time at Southern. Reports further state that Caleb was not the only student honored in this way during the ceremony.
New Trial Date Set In Caleb Wilson Hazing Case
Also, there’s another major development in the ongoing case surrounding Caleb Wilson’s tragic death. Officials have set a new trial date for the five suspects accused in the alleged hazing incident that led to the Southern University student’s death in February 2025. Authorities say Wilson, a 20-year-old Kenner native, died after alleged participants punched him in the chest with boxing gloves during an unsanctioned Omega Psi Phi fraternity pledging ritual. Isaiah Smith, Kyle Thurman, Caleb McCray, Winston Sanders, and Jadyn Landrum previously pleaded not guilty to charges connected to the case earlier this year. Since Wilson’s death, Southern University has expelled the fraternity, and officials have scheduled the trial for Aug. 19.
RELATED: Yikes! Boosie Reacts After Louisiana Attorney General Threatens To Sue Him For Using Caleb Wilson’s Name In Event Promo
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
“Top Gun” creators say Tom Cruise 'barfed on himself' during jet ride that sold him on movie: 'They shook him around'
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As the 1986 classic turns 40, co-writer Jack Epps recalled the actor flying with the Blue Angels before officially signing on to the film.
Fresh off the success of Off Campus season 1, Jalen Thomas Brooks is hopeful that one of his fellow members of The Pitt night shift will hit the rink down the line.
“Let’s see, as a rival head coach, I’m going to say Shawn Hatosy,” Brooks, 24, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, May 11, at the Amazon Upfronts in New York City. “That would be insane in, like, he’s intense and scary, but a rival evil head coach as Shawn Hatosy? That’s hot, that’s dope.”
Hatosy, 50, portrays attending Dr. Abbot on HBO Max’s The Pitt, on which Brooks appears as a nurse during the same night shift. In addition to his work on the acclaimed medical drama, Brooks scored a role as collegiate hockey player John Tucker in Off Campus.
Prime Video’s Off Campus was adapted from Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book series about four college-aged hockey players on the fictional Briar University team as they search for love on campus. Season 1 of the TV series took inspiration from The Deal, in which captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) meets Hannah Wells (Ella Bright).
Prime Video’s Off Campus follows different love stories at Briar U — but which couples end up together in the books? Based on the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, the show follows an elite ice hockey team — and the women in their lives — as they “grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery […]
Tucker doesn’t take the lead until the fourth and final book, The Goal. (Logan, played by Antonio Cipriano, is the star of The Mistake, while Stephen Kalyn’s Dean is central to The Score.)
Off Campus has already been renewed for a second season, though it has not been announced which love story will be the focus. Whenever fans finally get to see Tucker meet literary leading lady Sabrina James, Brooks will be ready to step into the spotlight onscreen.
Shawn Hatosy in ‘The Pitt.’ Warrick Page / ©HBO MAX/ Courtesy Everett Collection
“I really enjoyed my time of sitting back and watching Belmont lead by example,” Brooks told Us. “What I’ve been doing this first season, in a sense, is just seeing how people step into leadership positions, and, most importantly, we had a conversation, as the guys in the show, [about] how to treat the crew, the cast, leading by example.”
He continued, “I get the privilege of seeing other people take all the pressure. I don’t have to carry as much weight, so I can just learn and absorb, [which is] something I’ve been able to do my whole career and everything.”
Jalen Thomas Brooks in ‘Off Campus.’ Liane Hentscher / Prime
Brooks’ Tucker is expected to return for season 2, which begins production this summer.
“I’ve gotten the first two scripts,” he teased to Us. “You’re gonna see a lot of Tucker becoming this guy that he’s known to be in the books and everything. I’m excited for audiences to see Tucker, [who is] supposed to creep up on people, you know, and have a little bit of romance.”
Off Campus season 1 is now streaming on Prime Video.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Among older Star Wars fans, there are few (if any) Expanded Universe characters more popular than Mara Jade. Introduced in Timothy Zahn’s amazing Thrawn Trilogy of books, Jade was a character as we had never seen before. A former apprentice of Emperor Palpatine who lost everything when he died, Mara had to rebuild her life, completely from scratch. Thanks to a final Force command from her old mentor, she knew exactly who to blame: Luke Skywalker, the Jedi hero of the Rebellion and the man she was sworn to kill.
Mara Jade is such a cool and original character that fans are always curious about how Zahn managed to come up with her. Did she come to him in a Force vision, or was she maybe inspired by one of his other characters? As it turns out, he was inspired by the coolest plot twist in all of Star Wars. No, not the “I’m your father” bit, but the revelation that Darth Vader wanted Luke Skywalker’s help to defeat the Emperor. According to Zahn, Jade was the answer to a very simple question: what if Palpatine knew that Vader wanted to betray him?
Star Wars Gets Jaded
In the climax of The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader reveals something genuinely horrifying: that he is secretly Luke Skywalker’s father. He then makes a very unexpected sales pitch to the young, would-be Jedi. Vader offers Luke the chance to team up and overthrow the Emperor. Then, as he so memorably says, they “can rule the galaxy together as father and son!” Obviously, Luke refuses the offer, and Palpatine seemingly never learns about Vader’s betrayal. At least, by the time he finally appears in the flesh in Return of the Jedi, he doesn’t openly have a grudge against Vader for the whole planning his murder thing.
Timothy Zahn decided that, one way or another, the most powerful man in the galaxy was going to find out what happened at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. What would happen when Palpatine learned that Darth Vader was plotting to team up with one of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy? Zahn’s answer was that Palpatine would have his own Force-wielding secret agent whom he could dispatch to kill Luke Skywalker before the boy became a larger problem.
Inspired By Star Wars’ Coolest Plot Twist
In an interview with IGN, Timothy Zahn said, “Mara was originally my thought of how Palpatine would have reacted to Vader offering Luke an alliance at the end of The Empire Strikes Back, that he might want to get rid of Luke and send an agent to deal with him when he showed up to rescue Han at Jabba’s.” While her character was not yet fully fleshed out, this intriguing notion “was the nub of an idea that eventually became Mara.”
Zahn retroactively added Mara to Jabba’s Palace during the events of Return of the Jedi, where she was posing as a dancing girl in an attempt to find and kill Luke Skywalker. However, the Hutt refused to let her on his sail barge, and when she tried to use the Force on him, he realized that she wasn’t who she claimed to be. Mara later regrets her failure because this was her last real shot to kill Luke before the death of the Emperor. Years later, they cross paths but are forced to fight against a common enemy (Thrawn), and Mara eventually overcomes her personal demons by fighting and killing a clone of Luke Skywalker (no, really).
From Imperial Assassin To Jedi Wifey
Sadly, Mara Jade was removed from canon when Disney bought the rights to Star Wars. Zahn and other writers have confirmed that, despite intense fan demand, execs have forbidden bringing Mara back into canon. One possible reason for this is that her character has become superfluous. Now, Inquisitors do everything Mara did: they wield immense power, operate autonomously, and hunt down rogue Jedi on behalf of the Emperor. Another possible reason to freeze Mara out is that she married Luke Skywalker in the EU, a plot that is now nearly impossible to fit into modern Star Wars canon.
Long after Mara Jade was introduced to the Expanded Universe, a Star Wars video game expanded major lore about Darth Vader’s intentions towards Palpatine. The Force Unleashed (which is, sadly, no longer canon) revealed that Luke Skywalker wasn’t even the first Jedi that the Sith Lord had tried to recruit. Previously, he recruited Starkiller (real name: Galen Marek) to help assassinate the Emperor and anyone else who gets in the way. In this way, Starkiller was like Vader’s own Mara Jade: a Force-sensitive ace up the sleeve that he could use to dispose of foes halfway across the galaxy.
Suffice it to say that Mara Jade is one of the most popular and influential additions to Star Wars since the Original Trilogy. Timothy Zahn created this fan-favorite character to reveal what Palpatine would do if he knew Vader was scheming against him. This permanently ties her origin to The Empire Strikes Back, the absolute best Star Wars film ever made. Now that her one-time foe Grand Admiral Thrawn has been brought back into the fold, we EU fans can only cross our fingers (or should that be lightsabers?) that she sneaks her way back into canon.
Nobody hates television more than people who write about television for a living. Every year, the same conversation starts up again: audiences are rewarding “slop,” streamers are prioritizing quantity over quality, prestige TV is dead, and attention spans are fried. Then a show like His & Hers comes along and makes the whole debate feel moot because viewers know exactly what they’re getting here.
A six-episode crime drama with stars like Tessa Thompson (who appears tired and suspicious in really nice outfits) and Jon Bernthal (who stumbles around small-town Georgia with stoicism) has plenty of plot twists, enough to keep Netflixplaying until 2 a.m. Critics mostly passed, but audiences could not get enough. According to Nielsen, the show averaged 25.6 million viewers in the first 35 days, making it the biggest show of 2026 thus far.
Audiences Want Television With an Ending Again
For over a decade, streamers trained audiences to think long-term. Every show needed to become a universe, and every hit required a spin-off, an expanded mythology, or a roadmap stretching five seasons into the future. At some point, that stopped feeling exciting. The Nielsen rankings say a lot about where viewers are now. His & Hers finished ahead of Bridgerton, Fallout, and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a prequel attached to one of the biggest television franchises ever made.
People are tired. They don’t want to spend three seasons waiting for a show to find itself or wrap up. There is also, presumably, no real desire from a vast majority of people—though some do love an analysis—to own spreadsheets on fictional bloodlines or rewatch old episodes before a new season drops two years later. Some folks just want to press play, get hooked fast, and reach an ending before the algorithm distracts them with something else. Limited series solve that problem neatly because there’s no commitment anxiety or fear that the show will get canceled on a cliffhanger or sense you’re signing a contract with the streaming service itself.
‘His & Hers’ Didn’t Need To Be Prestigious
Streaming thrillers have figured out something prestige television occasionally forgets: viewers will forgive almost anything except boredom. Plot holes? Fine. Over-the-top twists? Sure. Dialogue that sounds like it was written during a Red Bull binge at 3 a.m.? Audiences can survive that, too, if the pacing works, and it does in this show.
The show constantly throws suspicion around like confetti. Every character looks guilty, every episode ends by yanking the floor out from under the last reveal. It doesn’t really matter whether all the twists hold up under forensic scrutiny afterward. By then, Netflix had already won the weekend. Not every thriller has to arrive announcing itself as Important Television. Sometimes audiences just want a glossy disaster full of beautiful actors accusing each other of murder for six straight hours.
The Streaming Boom Is Fueling a Mini-Series Arms Race
What’s happened with His & Hers also reflects a larger shift inside streaming itself. Executives clearly see the demand, and every platform is hunting for the next twist-heavy adaptation with a recognizable cast and an easy elevator pitch. That explains the flood of shows arriving lately: murder mysteries, suburban secrets, unreliable narrators, missing women, messy marriages, dead teenagers, and suppressed trauma. Most are adapted from bestselling paperbacks somebody finished in two flights and immediately optioned.
Limited thrillers fit streaming better than almost any other format. They provide instant interaction with viewers, encourage binge-watching, and allow quick, short conversations online without needing to plan years in advance. Plus, they are less expensive than an epic fantasy, easier to promote and market than a sitcom or comedy, and can still thrive because of audience curiosity, even if reviewers give mixed reviews. His & Hers may not end up remembered alongside the truly great limited series, and it probably won’t have the legacy of Mare of Easttown or the precision of early Big Little Lies, but it tapped into the exact viewing habit driving streaming television right now.
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