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10 Faith-Based Movies To Watch if You Love ‘King of Kings’

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Jim Caviezel as Jesus talks to other people as they sit at a table together in The Passion of the Christ

Hollywood doesn’t dabble in blockbuster religious epics these days, which means that we’re unlikely to ever get another film like King of Kings in the near future. Directed by Nicholas Ray, the 1961 film is considered by many to be one of the greatest biblical epics ever made, pulling from all four New Testament gospel accounts to compile a large-scale three-hour narrative detailing the life of Jesus Christ, played here by The Searchers star Jeffrey Hunter. But if you’re looking for something along those same lines, then we have some suggestions for you.

In the last 100 years, the biblical epic has come in many forms, beginning in the silent era and moving all the way to the present digital age. From animated pictures to live-action, black-and-white to color, the story of Christ has transcended the pages of the Bible itself and become an important display of subversive heroism, sacrifice, and the miraculous on the big screen. If you’re looking for a powerful religious epic to indulge in this weekend, look no further than these films that echo the greatness of King of Kings.

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10

‘The Passion of the Christ’ (2004)

Jim Caviezel as Jesus talks to other people as they sit at a table together in The Passion of the Christ
Jim Caviezel as Jesus talks to other people as they sit at a table together in The Passion of the Christ
Image via Newmarket Film Group

When it comes to modern takes on the story of Christ, Mel Gibson‘s The Passion of the Christ is the feature film that draws the most attention. Known for its egregiously violent (and yet, historically accurate) trail and crucifixion sequences, Jim Caviezel shines magnificently as Jesus here, emphasizing both his humanity and divinity in a film chronicling Christ’s final days. Well, until the resurrection, that is. In addition to pulling from the biblical gospel accounts, The Passion also relies heavily on Catholic tradition.

With an R rating, The Passion of the Christ is not for the faint of heart. While it’s the type of biblical epic that can live up to King of Kings in scope, it’s a far more intimate picture that highlights what Christ suffered for the sins of the world. To tell the complete story, Gibson is currently working on a two-part sequel, The Resurrection of the Christ, which is set to premiere next Easter.

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9

‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ (1965)

Max von Sydow as Jesus Christ on the cross in 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' (1965)
Max von Sydow as Jesus Christ on the cross in ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ (1965)
Image via United Artists

Off the heels of King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told took bold leaps only four years later to retell the full story of Jesus Christ (here played by Max von Sydow) from birth to the “Great Commission.” Directed by Hollywood heavy George Stevens, the picture is a direct adaptation of the novel of the same name by Fulton Oursler and Henry Denker, though it took clear inspiration from the scriptures as well. With an over three-hour runtime, this is truly a time investment.

The Greatest Story Ever Told brought many Hollywood icons together, and featured appearances of plenty of notable stars including John Wayne, Charlton Heston, Sidney Poitier, Pat Boone, Martin Landau, José Ferrer, and, in their final on-screen roles, Claude Rains and Joseph Schildkraut. Talk about a stacked cast. Although not the most famous film about Christ, The Greatest Story Ever Told does its best to live up to its name.

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8

‘The King of Kings’ (1927)

Jesus Christ (H.B. Warner) encounters the adulterous woman (Viola Louie) surrounded by a crowd in Cecil B. DeMille's 'The King of Kings' (1927)
Jesus Christ (H.B. Warner) encounters the adulterous woman (Viola Louie) surrounded by a crowd in Cecil B. DeMille’s ‘The King of Kings’ (1927)
Image via Pathé Exchange

Did you know that King of Kings is a remake? Well, sort of. It shares a title, at least, with Cecil B. DeMille‘s original silent biblical epic, The King of Kings. The second installment in DeMille’s unofficial silent-to-sound religious epic trilogy that began with his original 1923 The Ten Commandments and concluded in 1932 with The Sign of the Cross, this tale of Christ (who is played by H. B. Warner) runs for over two and a half hours. That’s a lot for a silent picture, but with DeMille’s epic style, who could blame him?

The King of Kings uses direct scripture quotes from the New Testament gospels as intertitles, with DeMille going so far as to include both chapter and verse. It may not be as colorful and visually stunning as the 1961 version, but for all you film history buffs who appreciate the scale of what DeMille was trying to do, it’s a must-watch. As it’s been in the public domain for quite some time, this one is easy enough to find online.

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7

‘Barabbas’ (1961)

Barabbas (Anthony Quinn) in action as a gladiator in 'Barabbas (1961)
Barabbas (Anthony Quinn) in action as a gladiator in ‘Barabbas (1961)
Image via Columbia Pictures

Up to this point, most of these films have centered pretty directly on Christ himself, but Barabbas tells the story of Jesus through the fresh eyes of the murderer whose place he took on the cross: Anthony Quinn‘s Barabbas. After Pontius Pilate (Arthur Kennedy) spares his life, Barabbas witnesses the crucifixion of Christ (played here by an uncredited Roy Mangano) and his whole life begins to change. He wrestles with the man he once was, only to find himself traveling to Rome, where he meets the apostles.

Based on the novel by Pär Lagerkvist, Barabbas is a truly unique take on this story that reframes Christ’s death and resurrection, as well as early Christian persecution, through the eyes of the man whose death may have prevented it all — if not for divine intervention, that is. Quinn’s performance as the title figure has been praised, and the film — directed by Richard Fleischer — remains a favorite of many.

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6

‘Jesus’ (1979)

Jesus Christ (Brian Deacon) looks upward with the Holy Spirit resembling a dove perched on his shoulder in 'Jesus' (1979)
Jesus Christ (Brian Deacon) looks upward with the Holy Spirit resembling a dove perched on his shoulder in ‘Jesus’ (1979)
Image via Warner Bros.

Allegedly the most-watched movie ever made, Jesus (also known as The Jesus Film) is a two-hour biblical drama directed by Peter Sykes and John Krish with funding from the parachurch organization Campus Crusade for Christ. Meant to be an evangelistic tool, the final product is actually quite an accurate depiction of the Gospel of Luke that aims to be as true to the text as possible. Brian Deacon played the title Messiah here in a film that also holds the Guinness World Record for “most translated film.”

While most of the films on this list were shot elsewhere, Jesus was one of the few adaptations of Christ shot on-location in Israel. Between its adherence to the text and fine stained-glass performances, those looking for something a bit more 1:1 with the New Testament will be pleased here. As the movie poster puts it, this is a Jesus “stripped of myth and mystery.”

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5

‘The Gospel According to St. Matthew’ (1964)

Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus Christ carrying his cross in 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew.'
Enrique Irazoqui as Jesus Christ carrying his cross in ‘The Gospel According to St. Matthew.’
Image via Arco Film

Of course, there are three other gospel accounts besides that of Luke, and if you’re looking for something a bit out-of-the-box that follows another, give The Gospel According to St. Matthew a try. Evoking the Italian neo-realist style, director Pier Paolo Pasolini (himself an athiest) took a different approach to Christ (Enrique Irazoqui), shooting the picture almost as if it’s a documentary. In that way, it becomes more intimate than the usual biblical epic, and, interestingly, doesn’t stray much from the text.

Even famed film critic Roger Ebert praised this picture for being “one of the most effective films on a religious theme.” The best Jesus movie according to Rotten Tomatoes, The Gospel According to St. Matthew is a fascinating watch for its unique take on the material that utilizes Byzantine-inspired costuming and support from many Catholic viewers, including the Vatican itself. It was even filmed in some of the same locations that Mel Gibson would use for The Passion of the Christ decades later!

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4

‘Risen’ (2016)

RISEN, l-r: Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, 2016. ©Sony Pictures Releasing/courtesy Everett Collection
RISEN, l-r: Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, 2016. ©Sony Pictures Releasing/courtesy Everett Collection
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing/courtesy Everett Collection

Billed upon release as an “unofficial sequel” to The Passion of the Christ, Risen is a biblical thriller that follows Roman soldier Clavius Aquila Valerius Niger (Joseph Fiennes) after he and his aid Lucius (Tom Felton) are ordered by Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) to find the supposedly stolen body of Yeshua (Cliff Curtis) — Yeshua being the Hebrew name of Jesus Christ. As Clavius investigates the incident, he is lead to the risen Christ and his apostles, and his life will never be the same. It’s certainly a perspective on the events that we don’t typically get.

Directed by Kevin Reynolds, the mind behind The Count of Monte Christo, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and Hatfields & McCoys, Risen is an engaging twist on the historical thriller. As Reynolds’ last picture to date, the filmmaker knows how to draw out the tension and spin a new take on the genre that deserves closer examination, especially considering Curtis’ performance as the risen hero in question. Risen was slept on upon its initial release, but continues to be a hit on streaming.

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3

‘Jesus of Nazareth’ (1977)

Robert Powell as Jesus with crown of thorns in 'Jesus of Nazareth', looking up Image via ITV

Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat because Jesus of Nazareth is not exactly a movie… Although often billed as a film or a made-for-TV feature, the truth is that this Franco Zeffirelli-directed epic is actually a four-part miniseries. With 90-minute installments that detail everything from all four New Testament accounts — The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — this is arguably the most detailed depiction of Jesus’ (Robert Powell) ministry put to the screen without egregious artistic liberty (looking at you, The Chosen).

With a stacked cast that includes the likes of Christopher Plummer, Laurence Olivier, Ernest Borgnine, Anne Bancroft, and James Earl Jones in one of his best television roles, Jesus of Nazareth was a seriously ambitious effort that deserves high marks for first bringing the story of Christ to television with both artistry and authenticity. With an emphasis on Jesus’ divinity, it’s a great complementary piece to King of Kings, even if it runs a few hours longer…

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2

‘The King of Kings’ (2025)

king of kings 14
A still from The King of Kings.

Another picture bearing the King of Kings title, The King of Kings, like the DeMille film before it, is not at all connected to the Nicholas Ray feature. Instead, this truly inspired take on the New Testament story is an animated film directed by Seong-ho Jang and loosely based on The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens. Yes, that Charles Dickens; and true to his written account, the film follows Dickens (Kenneth Branagh) as he recounts the story of Jesus Christ (Oscar Isaac) to his young imaginative son, Walter (Roman Griffin Davis).

Blending the morals of A Christmas Carol (which Dickens is performing when his son interrupts him) with the tale of Christ is quite a creative way to engage with the text. The film also features the vocal talents of Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Forest Whitaker, and James Arnold Taylor. Perfect for all ages, The King of Kings may share a name with the 1927 silent film and the 1961 historical epic, but it couldn’t be farther from them in style.

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1

‘Ben-Hur’ (1959)

Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) comes face-to-face with Jesus (Claude Heater) in 1959's 'Ben-Hur'
Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) comes face-to-face with Jesus (Claude Heater) in 1959’s ‘Ben-Hur’
Image via Loew’s, Inc.

We all knew it was coming. Ben-Hur is the definition of a biblical epic, often considered the greatest religious or historical epic of all time. The William Wyler-directed adaptation of Lew Wallace‘s famous novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who is adopted by a Roman and struggling with his identity. As he returns to Judea at the same time as Jesus’ (Claude Heater) ministry, he finds himself at odds with his childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd), now a Roman tribune.

Although Christ himself doesn’t appear much, part of the brilliance of Ben-Hur is how intertwined the stories of Judah and Jesus truly are. Over the course of this four-hour epic, Ben-Hur immerses you in a tale of revenge and honor that ultimately turns into a vehicle to explore themes of sacrifice, faith, and love. While Ben-Hur had been adapted twice in the silent era and again in 2016, it’s the 1959 version that remains a classic — and no other biblical epic, including King of Kings, holds a candle.













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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country
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Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

☢️Oppenheimer

🐦Birdman

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🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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King of Kings


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Release Date

October 11, 1961

Runtime

171 minutes

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Director

Nicholas Ray

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Entertainment

Which CBS Shows Got Episode Counts Cut Before Fall 2026 Season?

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CBS has cut the episode count for several TV shows ahead of the fall 2026 season.

The network confirmed that Ghosts, Matlock and NCIS: Sydney received a shakeup by having their premieres moved to 2027 for midseason. They will join the new show Einstein, which is finally premiering in 2027 as well.

Matlock’s timeslot will be given to Elsbeth to allow Cupertino to premiere on the same night. NCIS: Sydney, meanwhile, is moving to midseason as NCIS: Origins — which received a shorter episode order — takes over to pair off with NCIS: New York.

In addition to NCIS: Origins, other shows such as Fire Country will see a significantly receded amount of episodes.

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Yellowstone's Marshals Tops Tracker as CBS' Most-Watched Show


Related: Why Are Many CBS Shows Facing Major Shakeups? Fall Lineup Changes Explained

The fall 2026 lineup is going to look a little different for CBS after some shows went through surprising changes. CBS announced its schedule on Wednesday, April 15, with viewers noticing some substantial changes. Ghosts, Matlock and NCIS: Sydney received a shakeup by having their premieres moved to 2027 for midseason. They will join the […]

CBS also found success with new additions such as Yellowstone spinoff Marshals, which was picked up for season 2 after its premiere was watched by 20.6 million viewers within seven days. It marked the most-watched network original series premiere without a football lead-in since 2017.

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“Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV’s most powerful new series,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. “The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold, character-driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes.”

According to a press release, CBS had several wins with Marshals and Justin Hartley‘s Tracker. Both shows came out as the top two most‑watched during their premiere week. The debut of Luke Grimes‘ spinoff, meanwhile, ranked as CBS’ most-streamed episode ever on Paramount+.

Boston Blue and Sheriff Country also scored quick season 2 pickups, with Sheriff Country averaging 7.6 million viewers and Blue Bloods bringing in 8 million viewers and winning “every Friday night in total viewers.”

Keep scrolling for a breakdown of which shows are getting their episode counts cut — and by how much:

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‘Fire Country’

The first responder series will air 13 episodes in season 5, which is down from its usual 20.

‘NCIS: Origins’

The prequel will air 10 episodes are after 20 in prior seasons.

‘NCIS: Sydney’

NCIS’ other spinoff, meanwhile, will roll out 10 episodes instead of 18.

‘Matlock’

The legal drama will air 13 episodes in season 3 after airing 16 this season.

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Sister Wives: Bizarre Stuff Spotted in Background Scenes (PICS)—Accidental or Planned?

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Sister Wives: Robyn Brown Clutter

Sister Wives star Kody Brown is all about keeping his series alive. So did he allow some controversial stuff to show up in the background of the show’s scenes to create a buzz? Or were these mistakes with the camera catching things that were accidentally overlooked? It seems the viewers remain on the fence about these eye-openers appearing on the screen. And many lean towards this being planned.

Sister Wives: Little Things Add Up for Kody Brown

A few seasons back, the Sister Wives fans became appalled at Kody Brown and Robyn Brown‘s housekeeping. Or maybe the lack of housekeeping better describes the scenes.

While fans saw little things in the background of the scenes taken inside their house, it was a lot of these little things that piled up. And this caused chatter across the Sister Wives universe.

First came the bottles holding medications and supplements. Many were within the reach of the kids, with their youngest, Ariella Brown, being about five years old at the time. Fans came down hard on social media about the dangers of medications left within arm’s reach of the kids.

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Sister Wives: Robyn Brown ClutterSister Wives: Robyn Brown Clutter
Sister Wives | TLC

Along with the supplements and medication came all kinds of food and objects, which sat on the countertops. This left very little room in the kitchen for anything else.

As the camera panned their home, it was obvious that all the tabletops, desktops, and even chairs were strewn with objects you’d expect to find in a closet or cabinet stored neatly away. But “neatness” was not a word the Sister Wives fans used to describe what they saw in the background of these scenes.

You Can Only Guess At What Products Kody and Robyn Brown Use…

The Sister Wives crew must have worked overtime turning all the products so that the name brand wasn’t visible on camera. Like many TV shows, a crew makes sure none of the product names are facing the camera.

So, this leaves fans guessing at the brand names spread across the countertops. It is hard to imagine that Kody and Robyn would allow their home to be captured in such a discombobulated state. And it’s even harder to swallow the possibility they staged this on purpose.

But it did cause a stir among fans, who still talk about it years later.

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Sister Wives: Comical Objects in the Background

The screenshot above shows a serious Kody Brown with a cowboy boot lamp in the background. This was taken at Janelle Brown’s house. This one scene, which showed up seasons ago, still sticks in the Sister Wives viewer’s mind.

Sister Wives Kody Brown Boot LampSister Wives Kody Brown Boot Lamp
Sister Wives | TLC

When Janelle started decorating her new Taedem Farms home recently, fans hopped online questioning where she might put this lamp in her new house. Another round of laughter happened in a scene from earlier days while Janelle helped Kody pack for an overnight trip, as seen below.

Sister Wives: Kody Brown - Janelle BrownSister Wives: Kody Brown - Janelle Brown
Sister Wives | TLC

Sister Wives viewers caught something in the background as Janelle helped Kody pack. Fans immediately got online to debate if this bunch of hair, seen over Kody’s shoulder, was his or Janelle’s. The color could go with either one’s blonde locks.

Jaw-Dropping Scene

The topper of the surprises came via an unforgettable Sister Wives background scene like no other. This is the one scene that fans seem to remember most. And it was from a very early Sister Wives season. The four wives toured their personal bedrooms that they shared with Kody Brown. This was a segment for the show.

The four brides considered their own bedroom a sacred place. So, it was uncomfortable for the ladies to see the rooms where Kody slept with his other wives. But this scene caused a stir that is still talked about today. When they came to Robyn Brown’s turn and the bedroom she shared with Kody, jaws dropped.

Some very alert fans caught what Kody left behind in the background of this scene. There on Robyn Brown’s nightstand was what appeared to be an empty condom wrapper. The other wives seemed uncomfortable at the time they toured the room, so many fans thought this was the reason that their comfort level seemed to tank.

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Sister Wives: What Was This All About?

The Sister Wives fans also came out of the woodwork when Kody and Robyn allowed their daughter, Ariella Brown, to be filmed for the show with a pacifier in her mouth. She was about five years old at the time when seen for a fleeting moment with the device in her mouth.

Fans asked “why” they would allow this on camera. Kody and Robyn had to know they’d get backlash from the fans over this.

A lot of work goes into making the background camera-ready, and fans can’t believe all the things that slipped by. But even after Ariella was filmed, fans suggested they should have asked to have her edited out while using her pink pacifier.

Sister Wives | TLC - Ariella Brown with Pacifier - Meri BrownSister Wives | TLC - Ariella Brown with Pacifier - Meri Brown
Sister Wives | TLC

Before the cameras film, the crew makes a sweep of the surroundings. That suggests that Kody, Robyn, and the other three wives know when the cameras will be there.

So how come all of the above slipped by? Many of the show’s fans believe these background “mistakes” are not mistakes at all.

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Instead, they think it is all part of Kody’s plan to keep the drama going and the fans coming back to watch. After all, the Sister Wives made it through 19 seasons so far, with no news yet of it getting pulled off the air. Even though this show about polygamy no longer has a polygamous family, viewers return.

Plenty of Time to Fix It…

From the beginning of this show, Kody Brown was referred to as the patriarch of the family. He also made it clear throughout the seasons that his family follows his lead, leaving the viewers to believe he was in charge.

So, it would likely fall to Kody Brown to decide what is too risque, too silly, or too embarrassing to show up on camera. The Sister Wives fans bashed Robyn for her lack of housework and for letting Ariella walk around with a pacifier in her mouth for the world to see.

They also blamed her for the surprise that the camera captured on her bedroom nightstand. She knew the cameras would be rolling, so fans suggest she had plenty of time to clean up, and especially remove that controversial object in her bedroom. So, it looks like the jury is still out on whether Kody Brown’s family flubs on camera were really flubs at all.

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Head back to Soap Dirt for the latest buzz on Sister Wives.

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12 Best HBO Max Sports Documentaries on Right Now (May 2026)

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If you’re looking for the best quality sports documentaries, HBO Max is the place to go.

The top streamer’s sports documentary content is easily just as good as their prestige narrative shows. The platform features fascinating stories about legends like Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods and Serena Williams.

This May, Watch With Us has added two excellent new sports docuseries to our list.

Our first pick is Born to Bowl, which chronicles the fascinating and eccentric world of professional bowling.

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We also recommend The Dark Wizard, centering on the shocking physical feats of daredevil Dean Potter.

Lena Headey in Dredd


Related: One of the Best Sci-Fi Remakes Ever Made Is Leaving HBO Max Soon

At the end of January, Dredd will be leaving HBO Max, and if you love action, this is one movie you’re not going to want to miss. This is the second adaptation of the British comic book Judge Dredd, following the 1995 film starring Sylvester Stallone. The earlier film clearly had a much bigger budget […]

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‘Born to Bowl’ (2026)

Born to Bowl follows five stars of professional bowling: Kyle Troup, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, Cameron Crowe and Jason Belmonte, who are each striving for glory and prize money while competing on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the five-part series travels from event to event alongside these five bowlers, showcasing their expertise, struggles, and the many colorful personalities that come with a life enmeshed in the world of pro bowling.

Born to Bowl offers an inside glimpse at a less mainstream sport that is no less fascinating — perhaps even more so. As with any sport, there’s plenty of high-stakes drama and engaging characters, and the series does an excellent job of toeing the line between expressing genuine affection for bowling and not taking itself too seriously. Born to Bowl manages to be an excellent sports documentary for both those familiar with the subject matter and those who are totally new to it.

‘The Dark Wizard’ (2026)

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Notorious thrill-seeker and extreme athlete Dean Potter had always walked a fine line between life and death through his various stunts, from free-soloing to BASE jumping and highlining — until Potter could no longer get away with cheating death, and tragically passed away in 2015 after attempting a proximity wingsuit flight. The Dark Wizard examines Potter’s life as an impossible athlete while also taking a look at his haunted interior life, plagued by complicated relationships and psychological struggles that contributed to his dangerous obsession with testing the limits of human physicality.

This compelling four-part documentary isn’t just a great sports documentary: it’s a raw, intimate portrait of mental health struggles, obsession, talent and self-destruction. The series does an excellent job exploring Potter’s motivations through his journals, archival footage and interviews with friends and fellow climbers to paint an image of a man who felt a strong and deadly compulsion to come as close to death as possible.

‘BS High’ (2023)

In August 2021, a blowout loss of 58-0 between IMG Academy and a Columbus, Ohio, high school football team called the Bishop Sycamore Centurions was televised nationally on ESPN, a loss so preposterous it led to an investigation into the so-called Bishop Sycamore High School. After a three-year investigation, it was ultimately uncovered that Bishop Sycamore High School was, in fact, a scam. The aptly named BS High chronicles this shocking scandal, with appearances from journalists, former players, school sports investigator Ben Ferree, the infamous Centurions coach Roy Johnson and Johnson’s former colleagues.

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BS High is a fascinating, frustrating examination of fraud, exploitation and the people who commit it, allowing the perpetrators to speak out and lay out in explicit terms why they did what they did. The film isn’t just about sports, but about how a confident conman deluded primarily Black American men into believing that their football dreams were not yet far gone — and how even after he was caught, he hardly shows any remorse for what he did.

‘The Day Sports Stood Still’ (2021)

The Day Sports Stood Still takes a look at the unprecedented shutdown of American college and professional sports back in March 2020 and the immediate fallout. Chiefly, it examines the many high-profile athletes who became outspoken critics of the police while advocating for other social justice issues, following the multiple, highly publicized instances of racial injustice that occurred within the country over the ensuing months. Emmy-winning director Antoine Fuqua (who also helmed What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali) guides audiences through this riveting story.

This documentary captures with vivid detail the emotional, political and social upheaval that took place during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide shutdown. Fuqua does a fantastic job of centering the athletes’ perspectives, which allows for their raw insights on the pandemic and their involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement. The Day Sports Stood Still is both a gripping and necessary time capsule into a historic moment in American history.

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‘LFG’ (2021)

Three months before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a lawsuit was leveled against the U.S. Soccer Federation by the players for pay discrimination. LFG (which stands for the US women’s soccer team’s rallying cry, “Let’s f–king go”) follows Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Sam Mewis and Julie Foudy as they seek to gain equal pay, while the documentary interweaves their demanding and impressive athletic careers in addition to their record-breaking 2019 World Cup victory. However, these ladies have plenty of courage and resilience in addition to physical strength, and LFG explores what it’s like for them to be at the center of radical social change.

Whether you’re a soccer fan or you aren’t, LFG is a captivating documentary about a fascinating piece of modern sports history. The movie is as charismatic as the courageous women at the center of the narrative, and while the film careens towards an unavoidably frustrating conclusion, the path to getting there is riveting and invigorating. The film features exciting sports footage, news coverage and revealing interviews with the players themselves.

‘Being Serena’ (2018)

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Serena Williams is a living legend on the tennis court, having won four Olympic gold medals, 39 Grand Slam titles and the most women’s singles matches in Grand Slam history. However, the celebrity athlete had managed to keep coverage around her private life relatively low-key until she announced the pregnancy of her first child in 2017 with then-fiancé Alex Ohanian. Thus, the five-part Being Serena gives viewers an intimate look at Williams like never before, exploring her pregnancy, motherhood and marriage, which she somehow manages to balance with being a sports icon and businesswoman.

Being Serena is an engrossing and refreshingly “warts and all” portrait of a star athlete learning to find herself again in her new identity. The film features intimate footage of Williams adapting to being a wife and mother after mounting an incredible career in sports. However, Being Serena is also honest about the immense struggles that Williams faced during her traumatic pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but ultimately she defied the odds and mounted a successful comeback merely ten months after the birth of her daughter, Alexis.

‘Alex vs. ARod’ (2025)

The polarizing career of baseball’s Alex Rodriguez is told in this riveting, three-part documentary comprised of intimate interviews with Rodriguez himself. At only 18 years old when he was drafted, Rodriguez soon seemed poised to take over the game of baseball when he hit the majors in 1994. He signed a record-high contract to join the Texas Rangers in 2000, but turned to steroids after he joined the Yankees in 2004. When it was discovered, he was exiled — though not without trying to lie his way out first.

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A self-described “recovering narcissist,” Alex vs. ARod is a very honest interrogation of Rodriguez’s drug use and public deception as opposed to a sterling celebration of his career highlights. With the needling of director Gotham Chopra, Rodriguez ultimately gets refreshingly candid about his choices and where they stemmed from. Alex vs. ARod is a fascinating and illuminating look at failure and recovery.

‘Charlie Hustle and the Matter of Pete Rose’ (2024)

Baseball player Pete Rose was banned from Major League Baseball in 1989, when it was discovered he was betting on games while he was the manager for the Cincinnati Reds. Since then, Rose has attempted to lobby against his ban but has not seemed penitent for his actions. Charlie Hustle and the Matter of Pete Rose is an illuminating look at the star and all-time hits leader’s career in the sport while it searches for Rose’s own path to redemption.

This four-part documentary includes never-before-seen interviews with the late Rose that depict him as a man who is still far too unwilling to atone for his sins even over thirty years later, and director Mark Monroe catches him in several lies, going as far as to interrogate him over his statutory rape allegation. It’s a sobering, but compelling, portrait of fame, desperation and denial.

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‘What’s My Name: Muhammad Ali’ (2019)

Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), this documentary chronicles the life and legacy of boxing star Muhammad Ali. The film charts Ali’s rise to heavyweight greatness, through the height of his career as a champion boxer and leading into his later life as an icon and social activist. Through his many challenges, clashes, victories and setbacks, Fuqua paints a portrait of a man who became a legend and ultimately a symbol of humanity and peace.

Despite being nearly three hours, the film never feels excessive. Using archival footage, Ali is allowed to tell his own story through numerous interviews, which plainly reveal the professional and personal contradictions of a man who is easy to mythologize, but was ultimately just a man — and one whose ego occasionally threatened to overtake him. Thus, his larger-than-life status is both humanized and immortalized in this engaging story of a captivating life.

‘Tiger’ (2021)

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Based on the 2018 biography Tiger Woods, Tiger is a two-part miniseries that examines the iconic golfer’s rise, fall and ultimate return to the green. The documentary examines Tiger Woods’ relationship with his father and how it affected his career, as well as his 2009 cheating scandal. Tiger paints a portrait of a gifted athlete whose dedication and craft brought him untold fame and also untold excess, leading him down a dark spiral that he managed to triumphantly return from with his win at the 2019 Masters.

Instead of featuring testimony and perspective from the man himself, Tiger utilizes interviews with people in Woods’ orbit. This includes his former caddie Steve Williams, his ex-girlfriend, Bryant Gumbel, Nick Faldo, and even Rachel Uchitel — the journalist and media personality involved in Woods’ cheating scandal. Even though Tiger lacks Woods’ voice, it is no less an exceedingly in-depth and revealing look at the golf celebrity, one that reveals his flaws in a way that exposes his own humanity.

‘Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals’ (2010)

Beginning at the 1979 NCAA championship game, star athletes Magic Johnson and Larry Bird established their years-spanning rivalry. After Johnson’s team, the Michigan State Spartans, defeated Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores in 1979, Johnson got drafted to play with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bird went to the Boston Celtics, eventually clinching the “Rookie of the Year” title. For years, the Celtics and the Lakers tossed the NBA Championship title back and forth between each other.

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Ultimately, both men’s careers would be cut short by physical ailments: an HIV diagnosis for Johnson and a back injury for Bird. Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals charts the two athletes’ rise to fame and competition with one another to their retirement and current status as real-life friends. The Peabody Award-winning documentary examines their heydays as well as the racial tensions that bolstered the rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers, crafting a riveting story of two men vying for greatness, both ultimately undone by their own vices.

‘Fists of Freedom: The Story of The ’68 Summer Games’ (1999)

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This sports documentary from 1999 surrounds the 1968 Olympic Games that took place in Mexico City, one of America’s most culturally and socially important moments. With racial tensions flaring from a year that took the lives of both Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, the games culminated with the historic “Black Power” salutes by winning athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos while on their victory stand.

Jerry West in Jerry West: The Logo


Related: 15 Best Prime Video Sports Documentaries on Right Now (April 2026)

After a few quiet months in 2026, Amazon Prime Video is finally giving sports fans the big-name documentaries that they deserve. NBA fans have already flocked to Jerry West: The Logo, a retrospective about one of the greatest players to ever grace the league. Even golf fans have reason to celebrate with the recent premiere […]

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Using rare archival footage in addition to interviews with Smith and other athletes like Lee Evans and George Foreman, plus activist Harry Edwards, Fists of Freedom: The Story of The ’68 Summer Games takes viewers back in time to a pivotal moment in the 20th century, and the events both before and afterwards. In the end, the two men were not welcomed back home after their defiant gesture, and it endures as a revealing portrait of respectability politics and civil rights issues that are still ongoing to this day.

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Survivor 50 Star Predicted His MrBeast Moment Four Years Ago

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Survivor 50 Star Predicted His MrBeast Moment Four Years Ago

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans made not only Survivor history but also some really great dramatic TV with its nefarious MrBeast appearance, which aired on April 29, 2026. Even the recap was an awesome mini-movie of the drama and conflict from the previous episode, in which Christian Hubicki was voted out.

Rick Devens, under fire after his and Christian’s fake idol antics, made an alliance with Emily Flippen, who is Kaos Kass 2.0 (referring to Kass McQuillen of Survivor: Cagayun and Survivor: Cambodia). What kind of craziness will ensue from a pairing like that? He also came clean to the tribe about the fake idol he used to bluff votes away from him and toward Christy and Coach at the pairs Tribal. This impressed Joe Hunter, who admitted out loud that was a good move.

Return Of The Survivor Auction

Then it’s time for an event, but it’s not a competition. It’s auction time! The show put a new twist on this classic Survivor challenge by making its theme Comfort or Chaos. That meant that some of the “winning” bids would lead to chaotic challenges that harken back to the days of eating gross foods like bugs and worms. Aubry Bracco, whose tagline this season has been “I’m a psycho!”, asked Jeff how many things were going up to auction, causing Jeff to quip, “Since when am I the giver of information?”

The first few items were comfort foods like French fries and milkshakes, but finally, Jeff put two items up, with the caveat that there was a catch to it. Comfort or chaos? Psycho Aubry lived up to her name by winning the bid. She practically enjoyed the grub she had to eat. It won her and Rizo Velovic chocolate chip cookies and milk to kill the taste of those yucky, meaty worms. Jonathan also had to eat a sea slug, and the shocked and disgusted look on his face upon the first bite was priceless, but he did it and won Ozzy fried chicken and mashed potatoes. He made up for it with a PBJ while poor Cirie Fields couldn’t hold her stomach.

Finally, at the end of the auction, came the momentous MrBeast appearance. He actually acted sort of like a person and less like Pinocchio before the Blue Fairy got hold of him; unleashing the fateful Beware advantage without telling anyone what it was. Suddenly, there was no more auction; it became an immunity challenge.

The Immunity Challenge On Not Crossbows

There were crossbows… wait, they were not crossbows, they were those curved rockers with the ball on top. Balance the ball on the rocker, and you win. The banter referred to “Survivor’s favorite news anchor, Rick Devens” as he tried to keep his balance in the challenge (Rizo: “Take that, Savannah Louie.” Well, she’s an ex-newscaster, so it’s okay, she’s still a Survivor favorite.). Jonathan Young did a ballerina dance when he fell off. Powerhouse Tiffany Ervin won.

Tiffany has been a sleeper with not many confessionals, but I think that is more because her domination has been in her athleticism and interactions with others, rather than in her private thoughts. People have complained Tiffany hasn’t gotten a lot of edits, and she was nearly invisible early game, but only because she has been flying under the radar until the Kamila vote, quietly attacking challenges with gusto and forging relationships that have kept the target off of her, even while her allies have been made Public Enemy Number One.

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Chaos At Camp

Right now, though, Ozzy Lusth seemed like Public Enemy Number One. Jonathan tried to leverage him out with negotiations around camp, but told Devens, who told Emily. We all know how that can go already, but multiply it by the impish pair being a secret alliance. As they said, “We should not be allowed to play this game… Certainly not together!”

Stephenie got pushy in her part in it, and then transferred the attention to Cirie, since Ozzy has an idol. While this worked in Devens’ favor after his antics with the fake immunity idol, it was still chaotic as no plan survived the field of battle. And, oh yeah, did we forget that Aubry, the Psycho, is also aligned with Crazy Devens and Kaos Emily? Is this the Insanity Alliance?

Tribal Council Explodes In Accusations

Discussion during Tribal Council was explosive. Doing his best Emily imitation, Devens revealed that Steph had a steal-a-vote.

Truth bombs blew up in Tribal as Jonathan and Steph were called out for targeting Ozzy. Rizo showed off how smart and analytical he is, both reasons he got so far in both 49 and 50, by demanding of Steph that she own her actions when she denied having dropped people’s names, because it’s Survivor, and if you aren’t dropping a name to vote out, you’re not playing the game. This all took place with almost 30 minutes left to the episode, heralding the events that would follow and how complicated the game was about to become.

MrBeast Reveals His Beware Advantage

MrBeast returned and explained his Beware advantage: a coin flip, where heads would provide an immunity idol and double the jackpot while tails would send the “advantage holder” home. Crazy Devens took a big swing and took the challenge.

Once again, Pinocchio acted like a real boy as MrBeast was even more excited, having been a long-time fan. He came up with this challenge, and it made for some momentous television, especially since Devens knows how to make great TV from his off-Survivor career as a news anchor (“Take that, Savannah Louie.”).

Rick Devens Flips A Coin And Wins Big

Even the jury (Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Chrissy Hofbeck, Dee Valaderes, and Christian Hubicki) was eating popcorn like Michael Jackson watching Thriller, and to top it off, the coin took a suspenseful roll before it landed: heads. Devens wins. The entire competition has now doubled. As Rizo would say, “Cinema.”

To top it off, a Survivor fan shared an old tweet from Devens:

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Well, Jack, MrBeast is about to change your life. Congratulations on a lifelong dream fulfilled.

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The End Of Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick’s Survivor Run

With the stakes of the game now doubled for everyone and Devens in possession of a real immunity idol, Tribal Council immediately turned live as everyone scrambled to decide who to vote for. Stephenie’s name started blowing up as no one believed Jonathan had campaigned for Ozzy (despite him talking to all of them), so she played her steal-a-vote on Devens. Rizo even admitted that he had nothing to say when writing his vote, which, coming from this constant talker, only proves how shocking the coin flip was for the tribe.

The votes fell against Stephenie, with Aubry as the only other person to receive any, which was somewhat out of left field given the episode’s events and the targets of debate. In fact, the only votes that weren’t for Steph were from her own steal-a-vote.

MrBeast Delivered Big For Survivor

There was a lot of skepticism about the MrBeast episode. He is a personality that most people either love or hate, and I admit I’m in the latter camp. So when I say that this episode was not only compelling television thanks to his twist, that is a huge concession on my part.

As a long-time Survivor fan who hasn’t decided yet who my favorite player is in this gripping season, to have the stakes raised for some of the greatest returning personalities to be put together for the show since Heroes versus Villains only elevates this season for me. Sure, the advantages have been excessive and weird, and I am still never going to forgive Jimmy Fallon for his role in Christian’s elimination, but for drama and gameplay, this season has delivered on the promise that Survivor made to its fans when it introduced its first cutthroat season.

Catch up on all the action on Paramount Plus, which has every episode of every season of Survivor, and join the battle over the title of Sole Survivor on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. EST.

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10 Greatest Epistolary Books, Ranked

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The Handmaid's Tale Book cover

“Epistolary” refers to a work of fiction told through documents, primarily letters, diary entries, emails, or newspaper clippings. When handled well, this structure can add a lot to a book. There’s an immediacy and an intimacy to it, a sense that you’re reading private thoughts never meant for you, piecing together truth from incomplete perspectives.

Epistolary books thrive on subjectivity: unreliable voices, shifting timelines, broken memories, and gaps in the record that force us to read between the lines. In this unique sense, the best epistolary novels simulate the act of remembering, with all the messiness and bias that entails.











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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Personality Quiz
Which Sci-Fi Hero Are You Most Like?
Paul Atreides · Captain Kirk · Princess Leia · Ellen Ripley · Max Rockatansky
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Five iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.

🏜️Paul Atreides

🖖Capt. Kirk

Princess Leia

🔦Ellen Ripley

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🔥Max Rockatansky

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01

How do you lead when the stakes couldn’t be higher?
The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you.





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02

What is your greatest strength in a crisis?
The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.





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03

What is the thing you’d sacrifice everything else for?
Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.





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04

How do you relate to the people around you?
Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.





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05

You’re facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do?
How you respond when you’re the only one who sees it defines everything.





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06

What has your heroism cost you personally?
Every hero pays. The question is what — and whether they’d pay it again.





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07

How do you feel about the rules of the world you’re in?
Every hero has a relationship with the system. What’s yours?





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08

When everything is on the line, what keeps you going?
The answer is the most honest thing about you.





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Your Hero Has Been Identified
Your Sci-Fi Hero Is…

Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.

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Arrakis · Dune

Paul Atreides

You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you’re capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.

  • You see further ahead than others and you plan accordingly, even when the vision frightens you.
  • You are driven by loyalty to your people and a sense of destiny you didn’t ask for but can’t escape.
  • Paul Atreides is not simply a hero — he is someone who understands the cost of power and chooses to bear it anyway.
  • That gravity, that willingness to carry what others won’t, is exactly you.

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USS Enterprise · Star Trek

Captain Kirk

You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you’ve always believed there’s a third option nobody else has thought of yet.

  • You take the mission seriously without ever taking yourself too seriously.
  • Your crew would follow you anywhere, not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it.
  • Kirk’s genius isn’t tactical — it’s human. He reads people, bends rules with purpose, and wills outcomes into existence through sheer conviction.
  • That combination of warmth, audacity, and relentless optimism is unmistakably yours.

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The Rebellion · Star Wars

Princess Leia

You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you’re fearless, but because giving up simply isn’t something you’re capable of.

  • You lead through conviction. Your voice carries because your belief is unshakeable.
  • You gave up everything ordinary the moment you chose the cause, and you’ve never looked back.
  • Leia is not a supporting character in her own story — she is the moral centre of the entire rebellion.
  • That same fierce, principled, unbreakable core is what defines you.

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The Nostromo · Alien

Ellen Ripley

You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone’s hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.

  • You see threats clearly, you document the truth even when no one listens, and when the time comes you handle it yourself.
  • Ripley’s heroism is earned, not performed. She doesn’t have a speech — she has a flamethrower and a plan.
  • You share her composure under the worst possible pressure, and her refusal to pretend the monster isn’t there.
  • When it counts, you don’t flinch. That’s everything.

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The Wasteland · Mad Max

Max Rockatansky

You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.

  • You don’t ask for help, don’t need validation, and don’t wait for anyone to tell you the rules no longer apply.
  • Your loyalty, when it finally arrives, is absolute — but it’s earned in silence and tested in action, not in words.
  • Max is not a nihilist. He is someone who lost everything and found, against his will, that he still has something worth protecting.
  • That bruised, stubborn, ultimately human core is exactly yours.
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10

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (1985)

The Handmaid's Tale Book cover Image via Anchor Books
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“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” The Handmaid’s Tale presents itself as a reconstructed narrative, pieced together from tapes and partial records of a woman’s life under the totalitarian regime of Gilead. Offred, stripped of her identity and reduced to her reproductive function, recounts her existence in a society built on surveillance and control. She’s leaving behind her story for someone to find in the future.

Gaps in her story become as important as what is revealed, forcing the reader to draw some of their own conclusions. Plus, because everything is filtered through Offred’s perspective, the reader is drawn into her interior life in a way that feels confessional. Finally, the novel’s “Historical Notes” section reframes Offred’s account as a recovered document. That shift highlights one of the book’s central concerns: how stories survive, and how they are interpreted once they’re removed from the context in which they were created.

9

‘The Sufferings of Young Werther’ (1774)

The Sufferings of Young Werther book cover Image via Random House
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“What is the human heart!” This one’s a classic by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German literature’s preeminent figure. The Sufferings of Young Werther unfolds entirely through letters written by the title character, a young man consumed by unrequited love. Addressed to his friend Wilhelm, the letters trace his emotional descent, really capturing the intensity of his feelings. His despair eventually becomes overwhelming, and the epistolary format is crucial to conveying it.

There’s no external perspective or calm counterbalance, only Werther’s voice, growing increasingly unstable. His perception becomes reality, his emotions shaping the narrative itself. As his situation worsens, the letters begin to feel less like correspondence and more like a private outlet, an attempt to impose order on feelings that are slipping beyond his control. This structure was revolutionary in its time, and hugely influenced practically every epistolary book that has followed.

8

‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ (1999)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book cover Image via MTV Books
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“I feel infinite.” The Perks of Being a Wallflower started as a novel, published more than a decade before writer Stephen Chbosky adapted it into a movie. In it, Charlie, an introverted high school student, writes to an anonymous recipient, documenting his experiences with friendship, love, trauma, and self-discovery. His observations are direct, often naive, but gradually deepen as he becomes more aware of himself and the world around him.

Key aspects of Charlie’s past emerge slowly, often indirectly, allowing the reader to piece together the truth alongside him. This format also gives us a front-row seat into the character’s personality quirks, thought processes, and interests; he brings up references to other coming-of-age stories like This Side of Paradise and Catcher in the Rye. On top of being a solid character study, the book also makes for an interesting snapshot of the early ’90s.

7

‘The Color Purple’ (1982)

The Color Purple Book cover Image via Penguin Books
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“Dear God.” Told through letters written by Celie, first to God and later to her sister, The Color Purple traces the protagonist’s journey from abuse and silence to self-assertion and connection. The epistolary form allows Celie’s voice to evolve over time. Early letters are fragmented, tentative, reflecting her limited sense of self. The writing is simple, sometimes almost broken. But as the narrative progresses, her language becomes more confident and expressive.

The act of writing becomes a way for Celie to reclaim her voice, to define herself outside of the constraints imposed on her. In other words, the letters aren’t just a narrative device but a key part of the character’s survival. In the second half, the dual correspondence between Celie and Nettie expands the scope of the story further, touching on larger historical and cultural forces.

6

‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ (2003)

We Need To Talk About Kevin Book cover Image via Serpent’s Tail
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“I used to think I preferred the quiet of my own company.” Another powerful book that served as the basis for a strong film. We Need to Talk About Kevin unfolds through a series of letters written by Eva to her absent husband, attempting to make sense of their son Kevin’s actions. As we read on, it becomes clear that Kevin has committed a horrific act, and Eva is left to reconstruct the path that led there.

Indeed, the main themes here are guilt and the possibility of redemption. The epistolary format creates a sense of unease. Eva’s account is detailed, reflective, yet clearly shaped by guilt and self-justification. The reader is constantly questioning her perspective, trying to discern truth from interpretation. Each letter adds a new layer, gradually reshaping the reader’s understanding of Kevin and his relationship with his mother.

5

‘What We Can Know’ (2025)

What We Can Know Book cover Image via Jonathan Cape
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“I am writing this down so that it cannot disappear.” While the epistolary elements in this one are more limited than those of the other books on this list, this new novel from Atonement‘s Ian McEwan is just so good that it deserves a shout-out. The story takes place in the year 2119 in a UK that has been partially flooded due to rising sea levels. It’s presented as the academic research of a scholar searching for a missing poem that was once recited at a dinner party back in 2014.

While the narrator writes from the future, the focus is really on the present. The book is a sharp portrait of the 2010s and 2020s, touching on everything from climate change and political polarization to A.I. and even nuclear war. Along the way, the mysterious poem becomes a potent symbol for cultural loss.

4

‘House of Leaves’ (2000)

house-of-leaves-book-cover Image via Pantheon
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“This is not for you.” House of Leaves pushes the epistolary form to its absolute limits. Structurally, it’s one of the most ambitious horror stories ever. Presented as a collection of manuscripts, footnotes, transcripts, and annotations, the novel follows the story of a house that is larger on the inside than it is on the outside, a space that defies logic and grows increasingly dangerous. Layers of narration overlap and contradict one another, creating a sense of instability that mirrors the building itself.

The reader is constantly navigating between voices, trying to determine what is real. The physical layout of the text becomes part of the experience, with pages shifting in form and direction, forcing the reader to engage with the story in a non-linear way. Ultimately, while the book is strange and challenging, it rewards those who get on its wavelength.

3

‘Frankenstein’ (1818)

The cover of the book Frankenstein Image via Penguin Classics
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“I am malicious because I am miserable.” Frankenstein is world-famous for its simple, striking premise: a scientist creates life, only to be horrified by it. However, the structure was also very bold and innovative in its day. The book unfolds through nested narratives: letters from an explorer, Victor Frankenstein’s account, and the creature’s own perspective. This nesting of perspectives turns the book into a chain of testimonies, each one shaped by its teller.

The creature’s voice, in particular, adds depth, transforming him from a simple antagonist into something far more complex. The epistolary form resists simple answers, allowing each account to challenge the others. Is Victor a tragic overreacher or a reckless creator? Is the Creature a monster or a victim of abandonment? This structure also complements the themes around the limits of knowledge and the responsibilities that come with it.

2

‘Carrie’ (1974)

Carrie - book cover - 1974 Image via Doubleday
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“They’re all going to laugh at you!” Stephen King‘s debut horror novel is lean and punchy, clocking in at just 199 pages. Carrie White, a socially isolated teenager with telekinetic abilities, becomes the center of a story that escalates from bullying to catastrophe. Structurally, Carrie combines traditional narrative with a collage of documents, including news reports, interviews, and excerpts from books about a high school tragedy.

The epistolary elements were added later, as the original version of the manuscript was too short, but they create an interesting tension, as we know that something awful will happen; we’re just not yet sure what. They also reinforce the novel’s themes of misunderstanding and marginalization. Carrie is never fully understood by the people around her, and even after the fact, the documents struggle to capture the reality of her experience.

1

‘Dracula’ (1897)

Dracula 1st edition Book cover Image via Constable & Robinson Ltd.
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“The blood is the life.” Dracula is perhaps the definitive epistolary novel. The plot follows Count Dracula’s attempt to spread his influence beyond Transylvania, and the group of individuals who come together to stop him. Bram Stoker constructs this dark tale from multiple viewpoints, cobbled together from letters (particularly those by Jonathan Harker and Mina), diary entries, ship logs, and newspaper clippings. Early entries hint at danger without fully revealing it; later ones confirm fears and escalate the stakes.

This structure significantly adds to the realism, too. By presenting the story through “documents,” Stoker creates the illusion that these events have been recorded and preserved. The inclusion of mundane details like dates, locations, and daily routines grounds the supernatural elements in a recognizable world. This approach is perfect for a story about the clash between modernity and the shadowy past.

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Big Lex & Tavii Babii Pop Out Together After Viral ‘Baddies’ Fight

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All Good Now? ‘Baddies’ Stars Big Lex And Tavii Babii Reunite To Celebrate Tavii’s Birthday After Last Year’s Fight (VIDEO)

Whew, chile! It looks like there’s no bad blood left between ‘Baddies’ stars Big Lex and Tavii Babii. The two castmates were recently seen celebrating Tavii’s birthday following their explosive physical altercation on her birthday one year prior.

Related: No More Big 3? ‘Baddies’ Star Big Lex Seemingly Closes The Chapter With Summer None Other & Bad Dolly

Big Lex And Tavii Babii Celebrate Together In Birthday Post

On Saturday, May 2, fans were caught off guard after Big Lex took to Instagram to publicly wish her co-star Tavii Babii a happy birthday. In the video, the two reality stars were seen partying together at a club, appearing happy and in good spirits. At one point, Lex turned the camera toward Tavii, offering her birthday wishes, as both women smiled and hugged. In the caption, Big Lex wrote, “Happy Birthday 🫶🏽💕,” followed by, “came a long way 🤣🎂,” hinting at their rocky history.

Previous Birthday Fight on ‘Baddies Africa’ Sparked Feud

Just one year ago, the two were far from friendly, which is why their recent link-up has surprised many fans. During the 2025 season of ‘Baddies Africa,’ tensions between Big Lex and Tavii Babii escalated, ultimately leading to a physical fight, which notably took place on Tavii’s birthday. The moment quickly became one of the season’s most talked-about incidents. Following the altercation, Big Lex addressed the situation in a confessional, saying, “F your birthday,” a quote that circulated widely online and fueled ongoing fan discourse about their feud.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users quickly flooded The Shade Room Teens’ comment section with reactions:

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Instagram user @inamamadina wrote, “Oh so she don’t get punched for her birthday this year? Love to see it fr 😭💯”

Another Instagram user @notbriannamyaaa wrote, “No shade if you give me a black eye on my birthday I’ll be damned if I’m buddy buddy with you on the next one 😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @thedollx___ wrote, “That’s hilarious last year on her bday she got done up by Lex 😂”

Instagram user @msjassmariee wrote, “Tavii been wanting to be Lex friend tho fr Lex was holding the beef fr tavii be wanting to be a girls girl with everyone fr idk”

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Another Instagram user @iamyanidadon wrote, “GROWTH! Their beef wasn’t even that deep anyways 🤷🏽‍♀️”

While Instagram user @aysishx wrote, “Tavi just need friends so bad cause girl please”

Instagram user @doitlikeday_ wrote, “if you can’t beat em friend em huh 😭”

Another Instagram user @_n.ukiyoz wrote, “A year ago since she got beat on her birthday huh”

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While Instagram user @tharlnae wrote, “Lex the birthday, Tavi the piñata 😂”

Related: Jaidyn Alexis Clowns ‘Baddies’ Chain After Natalie Nunn Calls Her The “Biggest Disappointment” In The Series (WATCH)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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‘Jersey Shore’ Fans Slam Ronnie Ortiz Over Viral Video

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Ronnie Ortiz, Jersey Shore star.

Jersey Shore” fans don’t appear moved by a recent video showing veteran cast member Ronnie Ortiz nodding off. On social media, viewers are slamming the 40-year-old after his co-star, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, offered his perspective on the matter. But that’s not all. Other watchers are also chiming in, citing Ortiz’s past personal struggles as the reason for their apathy.

In a recent interview, Ortiz, who first appeared on MTV’s “Jersey Shore” in 2009, was surrounded by his co-stars, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, Deena Nicole Cortese, Vinny Gaudagnino, Sammi Giancola, Angelina Pivarnick, and Sorrentino, while promoting the final season of the long-running television program.

The interview sparked concern among viewers and social media users, however, because during it, Ortiz appeared to struggle to stay present, nodding off and dozing in and out while his co-stars promoted the upcoming season, which is airing on May 7.

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Ortiz’s behavior garnered much attention, so much so that his co-star, Sorrentino, released a statement about the moment, saying that he is “not responsible for the actions of any other cast member.”

Sorrentino, who’s faced trouble of his own over the years, continued, “At the same time, my heart is heavy seeing what Ron, a grown adult, chose to present during press. This situation is still developing, and while I do not know the full extent of what he may be going through, I do know it is separate from my path.”

Viewers were unfazed by Sorrentino’s message and appeared uninterested in giving Ortiz any grace. One user on Reddit wrote, “Sad for whom? He’s an opiate addict just like a ton of other (less famous) Americans that are a lot more admirable than he ever was.”

Another user wrote, “I don’t feel bad for him,” while a third posted, “Quit giving idiots money.”

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Ortiz Returned To The Show After Taking A Season Off

Ronnie Ortiz, Jersey Shore star.
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The commentary surrounding Ortiz comes several years after the father of one returned to the MTV series after taking a year off.

“After talking to the team at MTV, we have mutually agreed that I will step away from the show while I seek medical treatment for mental health issues that I’ve ignored for too long,” Ortiz said about his departure in 2021, according to PEOPLE. “My number one goal now is facing my struggles head on.”

Fast-forward to 2023, Ortiz filmed the first scene of his return with Sorrentino, during which he spoke candidly about his addiction struggles.

“It’s been a long year,” he said. “It’s been a lot of just doing the right thing, being a full-time dad, and being sober. I’m living the best life I can, one day at a time.”

Elsewhere during the episode, Ortiz admitted to battling “some sh-t.” He went on to say that although he knew he’d face setbacks, the most important part of his journey was to get through it.

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Sorrentino Celebrated 10 Years Of Sobriety

Mike Sorrentino posing on the red carpet.
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Sorrentino is on a journey similar to his co-star’s, having recently reached his own milestone of 10 years of sobriety. According to The Blast, the outspoken television personality opened up about the exciting moment on his Instagram, thanking his support system for believing in him.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Sorrentino battled substance abuse for years and even admitted to spending more than six figures on his addiction.

Additionally, the reality star spent eight months in federal prison in 2019 for tax evasion after pleading guilty to concealing income and filing false tax returns.

‘Jersey Shore’ Is Taking Its Final Bow

Jersey Shore cast.
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The upcoming season of “Jersey Shore” will be its last. After more than 15 years on the air, the group of Italian Stallions will take their final bow.

According to The Blast, MTV is pulling the plug on the series as the network continues to rebrand itself.

The series is being called the “last hurrah for a cultural icon” and teases a jam-packed batch of episodes full of dramatic highs and devastating lows.

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But until the new season airs, “Jersey Shore” loyalists can stream previous seasons of the OG series and the spin-off on Paramount+.

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“Saturday Night Live” recap: Olivia Rodrigo doubles as host and musical guest

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The “Drop Dead” singer makes her hosting debut, with surprise cameos from Aziz Ansari, Debbie Harry, and Connor Storrie.

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Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez Plan Invite-Only Met Gala Bash

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Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2026

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are turning up the heat ahead of the Met Gala 2026, and it’s starting before the red carpet even rolls out. The power couple is reportedly taking their Met Gala involvement to the next level by hosting a private, invite-only pre-party in the days leading up to fashion’s biggest night.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2026
LISA OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

According to reports, invitations have already been sent out for the ultra-exclusive event, though key details, including the guest list and location, are being kept tightly under wraps. That secrecy is only adding to the intrigue, with insiders already buzzing about what could become one of the most talked-about gatherings of the weekend.

Bezos and Sánchez aren’t just throwing parties, but they’re playing a major role in the 2026 event itself. The duo is serving as lead sponsors and honorary co-chairs, placing them at the center of both the glamour and the growing controversy surrounding this year’s Met Gala. Much of the criticism centers around the couple’s roles, with some questioning how much influence they may have over one of fashion’s most influential fundraisers.

Bezos’ Met Gala Ties Spark Backlash As Protest Posters Call Out Amazon’s Alleged Practices

Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA

Adding to the tension are Amazon’s broader political and business ties, including reported connections to Donald Trump’s administration, a point that has sparked debate within both the fashion world and beyond.

In the weeks leading up to the event, protest posters have appeared across New York City calling for a boycott of the gala. The messaging references allegations about working conditions in Amazon fulfillment centers and claims about the company’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allegations Amazon has denied.

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“The Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation,” one poster read, while another claimed the 2026 event was “brought to you by the firm that powers ICE.”

NYC Mayor Skips Met Gala 2026 Amid Jeff Bezos Backlash, Cites Focus On Affordability

Jeff Bezos at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2026
LISA OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

The controversy surrounding Bezos and Sánchez’ involvement in the Met Gala 2026 is even spilling into local politics. Zohran Mamdani revealed he plans to skip this year’s event altogether, citing a desire to focus on more pressing issues affecting New Yorkers. “That’s what I’m looking to spend a lot of my time focused on,” he said, referring to affordability concerns in the city.

According to reports, Mamdani emphasized that his priority remains tackling the rising cost of living, rather than attending one of the most exclusive nights in fashion.

Zendaya To Skip Met Gala 2026

Zendaya seen attending the 2024 Met Gala this evening in New York City
Eric Kowalsky / MEGA

Zendaya will reportedly sit out the Met Gala 2026, marking a noticeable absence from one of fashion’s most high-profile nights. According to reports, the decision is tied to her packed schedule and a desire to step back from constant public appearances during an especially busy stretch in her career.

The Met Gala, hosted annually by The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, has long been a major moment on the global fashion calendar, making her absence all the more notable. Still, her decision hasn’t stopped speculation. Some online chatter has suggested her absence could be linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos’ involvement in this year’s event, though there has been no confirmation of that connection.

Meryl Streep Also Reportedly Skipping Met Gala 2026

Meryl Streep at 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA

Meryl Streep is another major name rumored to be sitting out the Met Gala 2026, though her absence may not come as a surprise. A representative for the “Mamma Mia!” star said, “Meryl has been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended. While she appreciates Vogue, Anna, and her incredible imagination and stamina, it has never quite been her scene.”

The statement comes amid speculation that Streep was invited to take on a larger role this year, with reports suggesting she was asked to co-chair the event but declined. Some have linked that decision to the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos’ involvement, though that has not been confirmed.

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The 2026 Met Gala takes place on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

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7 Most Universally Beloved Jason Statham Movies of All Time, Ranked

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Jason Statham as Adam Clay in 'The Beekeeper.'

Some of the most popular actors of all time are action stars, such as Tom Cruise and Arnold Schawrzaneggar, and these icons feature in some of the most universally beloved films ever, such as Mission: Impossible and The Terminator. However, among the modern-day action legends, Jason Statham stands out as a definitive actor with some of the most entertaining action movies under his belt. Delivering hard-hitting, gritty action with a pinch of witty remarks, fans can never get enough Statham.

Statham has an extensive filmography with many beloved classics, mostly action movies that get the adrenaline pumping. Despite being an incredible actor, not everyone is a fan of every single movie of his, which is why this list will rank his seven most universally beloved films. Based on entertainment value, pacing, broad appeal, comedy, originality, acting, directing, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these films are masterpieces that almost everyone can agree are fantastic movies.

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7

‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw’ (2019)

The Fast & Furious franchise is one of the highest-grossing cinematic universes ever, and while Statham isn’t a main character, he has appeared in a handful, including Furious 7, which was left out of this list, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. Shaw (Statham) is a rogue operative, but he must work with lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) when a new threat arises, a cybernetically advanced anarchist who has access to one of the most powerful weapons in the world.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw may not be the most Statham-esque film, but its broad appeal makes it much more widely appreciated than his other films. By reaching into a new demographic, this movie introduced a whole new side of Statham while maintaining his grizzled action star style and dry humor. The buddy cop dynamic between Statham and Johnson is electrifying, which sets up this popcorn blockbuster perfectly. With over-the-top set pieces and adrenaline-fueled action, watching these two heavyweights on screen with each other is an absolute delight.

6

‘The Beekeeper’ (2024)

Jason Statham as Adam Clay in 'The Beekeeper.'
Jason Statham as Adam Clay in ‘The Beekeeper.’
Image via MGM
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Most of Statham’s defining works are from the 2000s, but he has a handful of modern hits that are sure to get the blood pumping, including the newest entry on this list, The Beekeeper. Statham plays Adam Clay, a simple man working as a beekeeper. But when he learns that his neighbor killed themselves because of a scummy fraudster, he suits up to get revenge. Revealing his identity as a former special operative, he becomes a one-man army hellbent on taking down this phishing scam and paying them back tenfold.

It hasn’t had as much time as his other iconic films to make a name for itself, but this modern action sensation was the sleeper hit of the decade, providing a surprisingly entertaining and engaging action film. Action movies are full of CGI nowadays, which makes The Beekeeper a fresh change of pace that keeps Statham’s grim determination and unrelenting presence. This cathartic action movie is an explosion of drama and thrilling fight scenes, which helped it be one of Statham’s biggest box office successes, so much so that The Beekeeper 2 is planned for 2027.

5

‘The Bank Job’ (2008)

Jason Statham looking to the distance in The Bank Job
Jason Statham in The Bank Job
Image via Lionsgate
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After the success of The Italian Job, which isn’t featured on this list, Statham returns in The Bank Job, which isn’t a sequel, but delivers the same feeling, but bigger and better. Based on the real-life robbery of 1971 Baker Street, a struggling car dealer gets his chance to strike it rich with a heist. However, he realizes he hasn’t just stolen millions of dollars, but scandalous secrets of powerful figures that underground organizations and the Royal British Family would kill to retrieve.

Most fans love Statham because of his intense action movies featuring roundhouse kicks and exhilarating car chases, but The Bank Job remains a beloved movie despite lacking those aspects. With good ratings across the board, fans and critics can agree that this story gave Statham time to flex his dramatic acting chops, proving he is a versatile actor who can do action, drama, and comedy. Statham plays a vulnerable protagonist in this heist thriller, making The Bank Job a fun departure from his typical films.

4

‘Crank’ (2006)

Jason Statham aims a weapon near Amy Smart in Crank: High Voltage
Jason Statham in Crank: High Voltage
Image via Lionsgate
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Out of all the movies on this list, The Bank Job and Crank are two of his lesser-known masterpieces, but they are still defining works that are important to his career. Chev (Statham) is a hitman who wakes up to learn that he has been injected with a poison that will immediately kill him if his heart rate drops below a certain level. Needing to keep moving and the adrenaline pumping, Chev sets out on a fast-paced quest for revenge, taking his rampage all throughout Los Angeles.

Crank has been forgotten by many, but diehard fans universally agree that this is one of Statham’s best movies, featuring high-adrenaline action. It doesn’t get more exhilarating than this, providing non-stop high-octane action with a relentless pace of drama, absurdity, and chaos. As opposed to his gritty and grounded films, Crank is unapologetically crazy, using its B-movie premise to the fullest with an execution that can only be achieved by Statham.





















































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Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz
Which Taylor Sheridan
Show Do You Belong In?

Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown

Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.

🤠Yellowstone

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🛢️Landman

👑Tulsa King

⚖️Mayor of Kingstown

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01

Where does your power come from?
In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.




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02

Who do you put first, no matter what?
Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.




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03

Someone crosses a line. How do you respond?
Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.




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04

Where do you feel most in your element?
Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.




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05

How do you feel about operating in the grey?
Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.




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06

What are you actually fighting to hold onto?
Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.




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07

How do you lead?
Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.




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08

Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction?
Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.




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09

What has your position cost you?
Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.




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10

When it’s over, what do you want people to say?
Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.




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Sheridan Has Spoken
You Belong In…

The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.

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🤠
Yellowstone

🛢️
Landman

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👑
Tulsa King

⚖️
Mayor of Kingstown

You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.

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You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.

You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.

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You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.

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3

‘Spy’ (2015)

Susan and Rick Ford walking into a fancy party in Spy
Melissa McCarthy and Jason Statham walking into a room in Spy (2015)
Image via 20th Century Studios
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A lot of these movies feel like a Statham film, but one of his most unique departures is Spy, where he gives up the leading role to Melissa McCarthy to play the charming side character. After a top CIA agent is compromised, an unassuming desk worker volunteers to go deep undercover. However, getting in her way is Rick Ford (Statham), an overly arrogant and incompetent rogue agent who wants to do everything his way.

This departure from his typical style is another welcome experience, creating his funniest movie with excellent chemistry with McCarthy. Spy is also his highest-rated movie, so critics seem to think that it is his most universally beloved film. A mainstream audience can finally experience Statham’s charm and wit in full force, parodying his own tough-guy persona, which creates a hilarious spy comedy that is perfect from start to finish.

2

‘Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998)

Jason Flemyng, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran chat in a bar, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Jason Flemyng, Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran chat in a bar, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Images via Gramercy Pictures
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Guy Ritchie and Statham are an undefeated duo, with the top two movies on this list being from the pair, starting with Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. After a group of friends loses a bunch of money to a high-ranking crime boss in a high-stakes game of poker, they only have one week to collect 500,000 GBP. Their plan is to rob a ruthless gang of thieves, which will only get them into more trouble.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is what kick-started Statham’s career, and watching his first defining work is truly a spectacle to see how far he has evolved. Still, this film is a staple of his filmography and a beloved picture by all of his fans. He wasn’t always an invincible, gritty action hero, and this movie shows that his rapid-fire wit and charming style are just as entertaining. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is a gritty and raw gangster thriller that is a cult classic among Statham fans.

1

‘Snatch’ (2000)

Jason Statham as Turkish in Snatch giving a fist bump while looking at the camera.
Jason Statham as Turkish in Snatch giving a fist bump while looking at the camera.
Image via Columbia Pictures
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Ritchie and Statham have collaborated five times, but their best was with Snatch. On one side of the story, there is the search for a stolen 86-carat diamond, and on the other is a boxing promoter, Turkish (Statham), who must find a new boxer after his prized fighter was knocked out before his match. Chaos ensues when these two stories collide, pitting a star-studded cast against each other that features Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, Steven Graham, and Vinnie Jones.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch could be interchangeable, as both are early, yet unforgettable performances from Statham. But the latter wins out because more fans seem to appreciate the dynamics of some of the greatest actors alive. Universally beloved for its kinetic directing style and Statham’s dry narration, this chaotic crime film is a great thriller and comedy. Snatch is Statham’s most important film, and that legacy has made it a revered classic that defines his filmography.


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Snatch

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Release Date

January 19, 2001

Runtime
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102 minutes


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