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The 2020s have been an interesting period when it comes to animated shows. Following the second golden age of the 2010s, this decade has seen a shift nearly exclusively to streaming services over network television, resulting in fewer seasons to fit with binge-watching. That said, streaming companies have been putting a fair bit of money into their production, and some have even picked up shows that began life from independent creators on the internet.
The last five years have seen the release of a fair few high-quality shows, in particular. Praises have been given for their stellar writing and, of course, the animation, which tends to be as varied as the creativity behind each show.
The interstellar cargo ship Demeter 227 crash-lands on the alien planet Vesta. The surviving crew members are scattered from one another and must make their way towards the wrecked ship while looking for one another. However, the planet’s wildlife proves to be as complex and deadly as it is varied and beautiful.
Scavengers Reign more than succeeds in transporting the audience to an alien planet thanks to its gorgeous animation, which makes you feel like you’re watching a nature documentary at times due to the intricate details and lush colors that bring the environment to life. It’s also an effective survival mystery, especially when the characters are separated and doing what they can to stay alive. Sadly, the show wasn’t picked up after it hopped from HBO to Netflix, but what we did get is still a solid example of 2020s animation.
While the rest of the world goes about their lives in ignorance, a collection of shadow organizations that represent every major conspiracy secretly controls everything. One group is Cognito, Inc., based in Washington DC, whose job is to cover up conspiracies and manipulate global events to suit the shadow government’s plans. Their primary team is led by Dr. Reagan Ridley (Lizzy Caplan), the brilliant but socially awkward daughter of Cognito’s co-founder, Randall (Christian Slater), who is partnered with good-looking yes man Brett Hand (Clark Duke) to lead her dysfunctional teammates.
Inside Job combines the comedy found in an office sitcom with every single conspiracy theory you can think of. The result is one of the funniest shows to come from Netflix, with lots of fast-paced jokes, plenty of social commentary, and characters with strong personalities and dynamics. Sadly, it fell victim to Netflix’s habit of canceling shows early, meaning that it ended with more than a few cliffhangers.
Meet the Schwoopers, a middle-class family made up of Elliot Cooper (Paul Reiser), his wife Naomi Schwartz (Lisa Edelstein), and their kids Avi (Ben Feldman), Shira (Abbi Jacobson), and Yoshi (Max Greenfield). Like any family, their lives go through numerous periods of ups and downs, especially as the kids grow older, become more independent, and start families of their own. To the viewer, their story is told out of chronological order, allowing them to see how some events have a habit of returning years later.
Long Story Short comes from the mind of BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and contains much of the same clever wordplay and relatability that made that show so beloved. It’s easy to relate to the Schwoopers because, at some point in our lives, we’ve been in one of their shoes, whether it’s standing up for ourselves or trying to navigate awkward life situations. It also helps that the characters in Long Story Short are really well constructed, with realistic flaws and strengths, and dialogue that sounds exactly like what you’d expect a dysfunctional family to say.
Set in the same dystopian universe as the video game Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners became one of the biggest animated hits of the decade almost overnight. The acclaimed animated cyberpunk series follows David Martinez, a gifted but struggling teenager living in Night City, whose life spirals after a personal tragedy pushes him into the violent world of mercenaries known as edgerunners. Alongside the netrunner Lucy, David becomes consumed by cybernetic enhancements and survival in a city that destroys almost everyone who dares to dream big.
Edgerunners‘ hyper-stylized animation immediately made it stand out among Netflix’s catalog. It’s chaotic, explosive, and downright disturbing at times. The spectacle never overpowers the underlying tragic story, however, which is surprisingly emotionally devastating as the main characters’ arcs and relationships are fully fleshed out.
One year after Professor Charles Xavier’s (Ross Marquand) near-assassination, his X-Men struggle to keep his dream of a world where humans and mutants co-exist peacefully alive. They face obstacles from the UN, which has sanctioned the X-Men, and an increase in anti-mutant groups. Most shocking of all, the X-Men learn that Xavier’s will specifies that everything he owned, including the X-Men and his school, now belongs to his old friend Magneto (Matthew Waterson).
X-Men ’97 is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series, one of the best superhero shows ever made, and it proves itself a worthy successor. It keeps the original’s mix of superhero action and effective melodrama while also updating the visuals to match the fact that its audience has grown up. This allows the show to get even darker and bloodier in places than the original series while not smothering its identity.
The Kingdom of Tal’Dorei is beset by a new threat that has wiped out numerous experienced adventuring parties. Thus, the realm turns to Vox Machina, consisting of the half-giant Grog Strongjaw (Travis Willingham), human Percival de Rolo (Taliesin Jaffe), half-elves Vex’ahlia (Laura Bailey), Vax’ildan (Liam O’Brien), and Keyleth (Marisha Ray), and gnomes Pike Trickfoot (Ashley Johnson) and Scanlan Shorthalt (Sam Riegel). Though at first glance they seem like a dysfunctional band of assholes and screw-ups, they are given the chance to rise to the occasion as greater threats emerge.
The Legend of Vox Machina takes all the laughs and epic moments found in Critical Role‘s famous live-plays of Dungeons & Dragons and brings them to life with a beautiful mix of 2D and 3D animation. Vox Machina keeps all the major beats from the campaign while changing things here and there, either to get rid of copyrighted material or streamline it for a television series. The result is a fun, epic fantasy show that doesn’t shy away from blood and guts, while also containing complex characters and some of the best dragon designs in fantasy TV.
East of Tal’Dorei, on the continent of Wildemount, a war is brewing between the Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty following the theft of a Kryn artifact called the Luxon Beacon. Beauregard Lionett (Marisha Ray) of the Cobalt Soul does some investigating and learns that the theft of the beacon is tied to Trent Ikithon (Mark Strong), the Empire’s archmage. She runs into six other individuals: Fjord (Travis Willingham), a sailor with mysterious powers; Caleb (Liam O’Brien), a former pupil of Trent’s now on the run; Nott the Brave (Sam Riegel), a goblin thief; Jester (Laura Bailey), a mischievous cleric to an unknown god; Mollymauk Tealeaf (Taliesin Jaffe), a flamboyant fortune-teller with an unknown past; and Yasha (Ashley Johnson), a deadly barbarian known as the Orphan Maker.
The Mighty Nein has longer episodes than The Legend of Vox Machina, which goes a long way in improving the storytelling and character work. Scenes can have more time to breathe between the action set pieces, which results in deeper character moments. The show is also much darker than its sister series, with more emphasis on complex politics than high fantasy adventures, and plenty of gruesome deaths and horrific experiments that lead to a good dose of body horror.
Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and her younger sister Powder (Mia Sinclair Jenness and Ella Purnell) lost their parents when the undercity of Zaun tried to rebel against the oppressive metropolis of Piltover, and were taken in by Vander (JB Blanc), one of the leaders of the resistance. Years later, they steal a magic crystal from an up-and-coming inventor named Jayce (Faustino Duran and Kevin Alejandro), which starts a chain reaction that sees Vi arrested and Powder falling in with Silco (Jason Spisak), Vander’s former partner, turned a ruthless crime baron. Meanwhile, Jayce teams up with the equally brilliant but physically frail Viktor (Edan Hayhurst and Harry Lloyd), and the two work towards the creation of new technology that harnesses arcane power.
Arcane‘s first season received near-universal acclaim, and while the second season was more divisive, it wasn’t enough to take from the show’s highest highs. Even people who have never heard of League of Legends found themselves enamored by the rich worldbuilding and complex character writing, with highlights being seen in the falling out between Vi and Powder (now called Jinx), Jayce’s attempts to keep to his original vision as he is pulled into the ugly world of politics, and Silco’s dilemma between Zaun independence and his growing fatherly love for Jinx. The animation is also stellar, lending itself to intense emotional moments between characters and stylistic action sequences.
While exploring an abandoned building, a woman puts on a video-game helmet and finds her consciousness transported into a jester’s body in the Amazing Digital Circus, a virtual world run by an AI named Caine (Alex Rochon). He gives her the name Pomni (Lizzie Freeman) since she has forgotten her original, and introduces her to other humans stuck in the circus: a friendly ragdoll named Ragatha (Amanda Hufford); a depressed ribbon with comedy and tragedy masks named Gangle (Marissa Lenti); a person made up of interchangeable parts named Zooble (Ashley Nichols); a cynical cartoon rabbit named Jax (Michael Kovach); and an eccentric and forgetful chess piece named Kinger (Sean Chiplock). To prevent themselves from abstracting into glitch-like monsters like previous players, the humans go along with numerous adventures created by Caine, while also hoping to find a way out.
The Amazing Digital Circus began as a pilot posted on YouTube, but quickly gained traction thanks to its high quality, and Netflix picked up the show for streaming. Despite its bright colors and silly aesthetic, the show is a dark, existential character study inspired by I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, with plenty of deep moments that strip the characters down to the marrow of their being. It’s still got plenty of humor in between these moments, thankfully, which helps maintain a sense of levity.
Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) is a young man living in a world dominated by superheroes and monsters, who has just inherited superpowers from his father, Nolan (J. K. Simmons), who is a powerful alien called a Viltrumite. Mark dubs himself Invincible and becomes a crime fighter himself, though he quickly discovers that it’s a lot more dangerous than his dad makes it seem. Speaking of Nolan, he becomes the subject of investigation by Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins), director of the Global Defense Agency, after he was found to be the only survivor of a massacre of the Earth’s best heroes, the Guardians of the Globe.
Invincible is both an homage and a satire to superhero tropes that explores how terrifying a world full of heroes, villains, and monsters would be. It goes all out during its action sequences, displaying immense levels of brutality with mass destruction and gore, which really hammers home the sheer power on display. Character-wise, lots of time is given to showing the stress of this lifestyle, especially as the stakes escalate, which leads to phenomenal vocal performances from Yeun, Simmons, and Sandra Oh as Mark’s human mother, Debbie.
We turn on television comedies to laugh. And in this day and age, we search for things that we can get the best bang for our buck. While comedies will likely keep you laughing from start to finish, which shows actually have the most laughs per minute? While maybe not scientifically speaking, the 10 shows on this list have a high volume of jokes within their given runtime.
The comedies listed below are some of the greatest series thanks to their brilliant writing and top-tier acting. It’s through this dynamic combo that those jokes land and leave us wanting more. There’s a reason these shows with high joke counts also happen to be among the most rewatchable in television history. From workplace sitcoms to tear-inducing mockumentaries, these comedies will always be funny, no matter how many times you hear the jokes.
One of the most popular series to ever air on CBS is The Big Bang Theory. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, the series follows four socially awkward, genius scientists — Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) — and their free-spirited neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco). Blending traditional sitcom comedy with geek culture, The Big Bang Theory delights by showing how these brilliant minds navigate romance, career ambitions, and everyday social situations. Utilizing the desire to keep the live studio audience howling, The Big Bang Theory‘s rapid-fire jokes set against the contrast of character types lead to the hilarity of the fish-out-of-water dynamic.
Though the show may be a bit cringeworthy in the early seasons due to the kinds of jokes the writers went for, it never deterred the devoted fan base from tuning in. Running for 12 seasons and launching three spin-off shows, The Big Bang Theory‘s comedy experiment resulted in profound success. The Big Bang Theory may have been niche, but to the fans who got it, they never stopped laughing. In the age of the beauty-and-geek genre, The Big Bang Theory played on those tropes, and the audience related to the situations. At the end of the day, the appeal was how geek and nerd culture would be infused into the comedy.
The epitome of ’90s comedy was Friends. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Friends followed six close-knit twenty-somethings — Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), her roommate Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Monica’s brother Ross (David Schwimmer), his friend Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), his roommate Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). Across 10 beloved seasons, Friends chronicled their lives as they navigated love, professional careers, and growing up. Each episode featured a litany of hilarious jokes, humorous situations, and quotable lines that proved Friends simply dominated in the comedy department.
Friends used accessibility to capture relatable work woes, dating anxieties, and ordinary moments of adulting into rapid-fire laughs. With six very distinct characters, they each had their own humorous vocabulary that worked individually, as well as as a unit. Friends flourished with high-octane one-liners and situations, many of which led to iconic catchphrases. If someone were to mention words such as “pivot” or “unagi,” Friends will pop into your mind. Say “we were on a break,” and once again, it’s Friends. These bits became permanent fixtures in the comedy hall of fame. Not many comedies can be quoted at such a frequency as Friends. That’s a mark of successful humor.
If you’ve reached this entry and are perplexed as to why you never heard of this show, it’s understandable. Angie Tribeca was a TBS show, so there’s that. But once you watch, you’ll be sorely disappointed that you missed a perfectly hilarious comedy. Created by Steve and Nancy Carell (yes, you read that right), Angie Tribeca follows Rashida Jones in the titular role. A lone-wolf veteran of the LAPD’s RHCU, or Really Heinous Crimes Unit, Angie, her partner J. Geills (Hayes MacArthur), and her squad investigate ridiculous, highly specific crimes, ranging from the murder of a ventriloquist to a string of baker suicides. Avoiding realistic police work in favor of pure, unadulterated silliness, Angie Tribeca paired its high-energy pacing with whip-smart writing and deadpan delivery.
Angie Tribeca was a parody police procedural in the same vein as The Naked Gun. In that capacity, everything was meant to be a joke. From names to observational humor, Angie Tribeca was a non-stop laugh riot. The high density of jokes was intentional as the writers jam-packed the script with wit through sight gags, puns, and absurdity. The thing about this style of comedy is that there are jokes that will not reach everyone on time, so when they land, it might be because you’re on a 10-second joke delay. That’s just a notch into the brilliance of the writing. A sincerely underrated comedy, Angie Tribeca deserves to be in the same conversation as the other single-cam greats of the time.
During the golden age of single-camera workplace comedies, one of the top-tier entries came from Dan Goor and Michael Schur. That show was Brooklyn Nine-Nine. A star vehicle for Saturday Night Live alumni Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the eccentric, lovable, and diverse group of detectives working in the fictional 99th Precinct in Brooklyn. The show centers around the dynamic between Detective Jake Peralta (Samberg), a brilliant but immature and carefree hotshot, and Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), a stern, no-nonsense commanding officer on a mission to whip the precinct into shape. Featuring a large ensemble of eccentric characters, Brooklyn Nine-Nine brilliantly subverted sitcom and police tropes, balancing fast-paced humor with genuinely heartwarming ensemble chemistry.
With many cop programs going the dark and gritty route, Brooklyn Nine-Nine flipped that around for a colorful and ridiculous romp. The cops spend as much time solving crimes as they do playing office pranks and simply being immature. That’s the draw and allure of the sitcom. As one of the wordiest comedies around, Brooklyn Nine-Nine relied heavily on witty banter and endless humor to keep the comedy alive. Brooklyn Nine-Nine never punched down. The workplace setting saw the co-workers largely as equals, showing respect and support despite their ribbing. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which ran for eight seasons, was unique in that it gave its characters room to grow, avoiding the trap of being stuck in an archetype box. Through that, the humor evolved, keeping the comedy fresh.
The world of sitcoms changed when multi-camera shows gave way to single-camera series. In exchange for laugh tracks and a live studio audience came dry humor that relied on the audience to decide when they wanted to laugh. Perhaps the most beloved and iconic example of this was The Office. Based on the British version created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the Greg Daniels-adapted series followed the daily lives of the employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s Scranton branch. Across nine dynamic seasons, The Office captures the hilarious workplace dynamics, awkward romances, and cringe-worthy encounters led by their highly inappropriate but well-meaning boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Boasting one of the greatest large ensembles, The Office masterfully balanced absurdity and laugh-out-loud humor with heartfelt moments and genuine relationships. The Office took the mundane and made it hilarious.
What the series did excruciatingly well was take the smallest moments and turn them into the biggest events. In turn, it led to comedy unlike anything you’d seen before. The mockumentary style gave way to cringe humor through its filming style. Through the interview-style format, the characters had the freedom to narrate the action and allow their true feelings to emerge. Whether it’s nervously checking in to see if anyone else is in on the absurdity or simply fueling the fire of the awkwardness, The Office‘s unique style allowed for laughs beyond the actual situation. Between recurring bits, including Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Dwight Schrute’s (Rainn Wilson) endless prank war, the bumbling antics of Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner), or just how ridiculous office romances can get, The Office was never afraid to go to extremes, even when it was intended to make you uncomfortable. The cinéma vérité format became a television game-changer that we’re forever grateful for.
Fish-out-of-water stories are often perfect entries into hilarity. They’re made even better when it’s paired with a schadenfreude appeal. The Bluths were a family that was created for you to laugh at their misfortunes. That’s what made Arrested Development so great. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, the satirical sitcom follows the formerly wealthy, wildly dysfunctional Bluth clan. When the family patriarch, George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for white-collar fraud, it’s up to his level-headed son Michael (Jason Bateman) to take over the family’s faltering real estate business while keeping his incredibly self-absorbed family in line and out of trouble. Relying heavily on complex, interconnected storylines, recurring bits and gags, and absolutely insane situations, Arrested Development balanced documentary-style visual gags with multi-layered humor to capture the flaws that only we could laugh at.
During its initial FOX run, Arrested Development was a product of its time, but when it made the move to Netflix, the series had more freedom to explore and play. It even experimented with an entire season in which you could binge the episodes in any order, in which everything is connected, but how you consumed it led to a different delivery of humor. It was through those risks that Arrested Development stood out as a titan of comedy. What Arrested Development flourished with was its characters and the brilliant acting company that portrayed them. Save for Bateman’s Michael, who served as the story’s straight man, nearly every word that the characters uttered was unintentionally hilarious. From the quote machine that was Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) to the clueless GOB (Will Arnett), the physical humor out of Buster (Tony Hale) to the cringeness of Tobias Fünke (David Cross), Arrested Development shone through character work. As one of the greatest shows for callbacks, Arrested Development set the tone for the century. You simply cannot stop smiling while watching this show.
The combined forces of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur gave the world one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, Parks and Recreation. The hit series follows the eccentric and perfectly optimistic Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who serves as the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Leading a quirky team of less-than-enthusiastic coworkers, Parks and Recreation crafted a brilliant world filled with colorful characters who favor warmth over cringe. Layered with running gags and distinct dynamics, Parks and Recreation was, and still is, a breath of fresh air in the world of comedy.
A great sitcom rewards its viewers. Parks and Recreation did that and then some. The sharply written sitcom literally allows its fans to “treat yo self.” Between Andy Dwyer’s (Chris Pratt) recurring Burt Macklin and the infamous Lil Sebastian, Parks and Recreation rewards its viewers with continuity that gets funnier over time. As far as characters are concerned, each individual has their own quirks, so when they find themselves next to someone different, a specific dynamic is formed. And each dynamic is uniquely funny. Leslie and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) couldn’t be more opposite, but as a duo, they bring out some of the best comedic moments. Then, pair Ron with April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), and their eerily too similar dry wit becomes equally hilarious. A wonderfully endearing workplace comedy, Parks and Recreation sparks joy as it leaves you laughing.
This one might surprise you, but if the unscientific survey from The Atlantic is accurate, New Girl is packed with quite a few jokes per minute. Perhaps a more wholesome and real-world accurate comedy, New Girl’s humor resonates in a manner that reflects reality. Brought to life by Elizabeth Meriweather, New Girl follows Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel), a quirky, bubbly teacher who moves into a Los Angeles loft with three single guys after her bad breakup. Sharing a home with cynical bartender Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), over-the-top marketing professional Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and highly competitive athlete-turned-cop Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris), Jess and the boys form an unlikely bond as they navigate careers, dating, and adulthood side-by-side. Through a wonderful blend of absurd physical comedy, emotional vulnerability, and fast-paced humor, New Girl captures a core cast of characters that teach us to embrace eccentricities.
New Girl is a celebration of a found family. This helps to elevate the humor of the series. They may not be blood-related, but they certainly can rip and rib on one another for a laugh. After you’ve cried your eyes out from laughter, once the tear ducts have been replenished, you’ll weep at just how genuine they are, pulling at your heartstrings in the process. The roommates in Loft 4D are completely unhinged in their own special way, but together, they complete a perfectly quirky puzzle. The contrasting personalities often led to hilarious friction. Through that friction, brazen hijinks helped the show run for seven triumphant seasons. New Girl is proof that modern-day non-mockumentary style shows can flourish without a laugh track.
And now for something a little bit different. When it comes to history, it’s not necessarily meant to be funny, but with Philomena Cunk at the helm, you’ll be left laughing until the episode ends. Created by Charlie Brooker and starring Diane Morgan, the brilliant Cunk on Earth is a satirical mockumentary that uses its five episodes to parody historical documentaries. Hosted by the delightfully clueless and deliciously deadpan journalist Cunk, Cunk on Earth traces the entire history of human civilization while interviewing real-life experts who must be prepared to answer a litany of absurd, wildly uninformed questions. With non-stop sight gags, literal interpretations, rapid-fire gimmicks, and one-liners that will leave you breathless, Cunk on Earth asks the questions you were too afraid to.
Though mockumentary-style sitcoms have filled the airwaves, this one spins the perspective and makes the documentarian the butt of the joke. Cunk on Earth makes you ponder which is more significant, the Renaissance or Beyoncé. You’re forced to wonder if Jesus Christ was the first victim of cancel culture. And Cunk will beg for an answer on whether or not King Arthur came a lot. Cunk on Earth gets you cackling as the experts are rendered baffled. Mirroring a BBC documentary — sweeping, lush landscapes, drone shots, and all — Cunk on Earth features razor-sharp writing with a standout performance that has left fans eager for more.
Leave it to one of the greatest writers of Saturday Night Live to deliver the most jokes per minute of any comedy. 30 Rock proves that a satirical surrealist sitcom is what audiences desperately crave. Created and starring Tina Fey, the hit seven-season favorite follows the chaotic behind-the-scenes production of a fictional sketch comedy series. Inspired by her time at SNL, Liz Lemon must handle the eccentric lineup of writers, actors, and executives while managing her own messy personal life. With rapid-fire humor, physical gags, and meta pop culture references, 30 Rock‘s dialogue, physical humor, and visual gags have made it a relentlessly absurd satire with nonstop laughs.
Between Liz’s self-deprecating tone set against the brazen egos of our counterparts, 30 Rock‘s comedy aims to get its viewers cracking up at literally everything. And if you’re not laughing out loud, you’re likely smirking, groaning, or rolling your eyes in delight. As one of the strongest written comedies of the 21st century, 30 Rock‘s eclectic mix of callbacks, absurd cutaways, and classic comedy set it apart from anything else that was on the air. Though it may be a tad uncouth by today’s standards, it’s due to the sheer brilliance the writers took with risky humor and on-the-nose observations. Many shows have attempted to replicate 30 Rock‘s immense success, but none have ever come close.
Whether you thought its time had come or you were desperately pleading for it not to end, nothing changes the fact that the hit Prime Video superhero series The Boys officially came to an explosive end earlier this month. Eric Kripke‘s beloved series faced a shaky reception to its fourth installment, so its fifth and final season had a lot to make up for. Luckily, one more outing for Karl Urban‘s Billy Butcher, Jack Quaid‘s Hughie Campbell, Antony Starr‘s Homelander, and co made the desired impact, albeit still with its share of issues.
So how do you fill the hole in your viewing habits left by the end of The Boys? How about another thrilling slice of Urban action? Next month, the 2012 sci-fi effort Dredd is heading to a surprise new streamer. Directed by Pete Travis (Vantage Point) and written by Alex Garland (28 Years Later), this now cult hit marked the second time the character had been adapted in feature form, with a 1995 version starring action icon Sylvester Stallone (Tulsa King) slammed by both critics and fans.
The Boys favorite Urban filled Stallone’s shoes in 2012 as Judge Dredd, supported by an ensemble that included Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Wood Harris, Domhnall Gleeson, Warrick Grier, DeObia Oparei, and more. Although a relative hit with critics at the time, the film only earned just over $40 million at the box office worldwide, and was unable to return its reported $45 million budget. Dredd’s status today is much greater than it was 14 years ago, with its distinct visual style and gritty storytelling a breath of fresh air in the current crowded comic-book adaptation market. If you’d like to try it for yourself, you’re in luck, as Dredd will be available to stream on Plex starting June 1, 2026.
All rise for the return of the Judge. Back in 2025, it was announced that John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra‘s comic book stories would be adapted for a third time on-screen, with director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) taking the reins. Drew Pearce, known for penning the likes of Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, will take charge of the script, with the hope that this upcoming adaptation could launch an entire cinematic universe, as is the trend in the 2020s.
Dredd will be available to stream on Plex starting June 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
September 21, 2012
95 minutes
Pete Travis, Alex Garland
Alex Garland
Alex Garland, Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald, Deepak Nayar, Stuart Ford, Michael Elson, Chris Kingsley
Olivia Thirlby
Cassandra Anderson
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We love white and pink, too, but let’s be real: they lean basic. If you want a summery pop of color that’s equally luxe yet much more unique, Jennifer Lopez has the solution. Her sunny yellow dress style screams ‘rich mom,’ and we found the expensive look for just $40 on Amazon!
Instead of fussing with structured waistlines and stiff fabrics, Lopez showed up in Las Vegas wearing a loose maxi dress in a fresh, fun, summer-friendly color. While J.Lo’s $9,190 Chloé design is definitely an investment, it’s possible to recreate the classy, comfy look without spending thousands, thanks to this budget-friendly lookalike.
Get the Wenrine Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Dress for $40 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
This Wenrine Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Dress has the same sunny energy and drapey, boho-inspired silhouette that Lopez went with for her Meet & Greet. It even has adjustable spaghetti straps to tweak the fit, and features a flattering square neckline and pleated detailing for an elevated touch. Plus, there are real, functional pockets.
This vibrant sundress is also lightweight, breathable and wrinkle-resistant, which means you can pack it in a carry-on and toss it on without ironing. It’s a dress that works for beach club lunches, rooftop dinners and long walks through European piazzas, if that’s your thing.
Although this chic dress recently dropped on Amazon, it’s already amassing a fanbase. One happy shopper wrote, “I would give this dress a 10/5 if I could, it’s that good! It’s cute, flowy, flattering, and so feminine . . . This dress is perfect for an upscale summer dinner or a night walking along the beach. I can’t wait to wear it on my cruise because it feels like the ideal vacation dress!”
Another five-star reviewer shared, “The fabric is lightweight and flowy, the fit is super comfortable and the dress’s shape is flattering for so many body types.”
Toss on a stack of gold bangles and some woven flat sandals for daytime, then swap in strappy heels and a clutch when the sun goes down. This breezy piece reads high-end without requiring a single luxury label, and we can thank J.Lo for the inspiration.
Get the Wenrine Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Dress for $40 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Not what you’re looking for? Shop other summer dresses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Late NHL star Claude Lemieux’s family confirmed that they will donate his brain for research into the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
“Claude was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and teammate. To the hockey world, he was one of the game’s most unforgettable competitors: a four-time Stanley Cup champion, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and one of the great playoff performers of all time,” his family said in a statement on Saturday, May 30. “To his family, he was more than a hero: he was loyal, loving, funny, protective, and generous. He was stubborn, and he was completely devoted to the people he loved. He was adored by his family in turn.”
Their statement continued, “Claude was a passionate man. He brought that passion to the rink, to his work, to his friendships, and most of all to his family. He was fierce on the ice because he cared so deeply about winning, about his teammates, and about never giving less than everything he had. Away from the game, he was tender, loyal and full of life. He made us laugh, he showed up for us, and he loved his children and grandchildren with his whole heart.”
Claude’s death was confirmed to Us Weekly by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office on Thursday, May 28. Lemieux died by suicide at age 60 and his body was found by one of his sons at a Florida warehouse.
His death stunned the sports world as Lemieux appeared as a torchbearer at the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes in Montreal on Monday, May 25.
As part of Saturday’s statement, the Lemieux family announced that they would donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center for research into “the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury.”
(Per Mayo Clinic, CTE is a brain disease that is linked to repeated head injuries, which can cause “the death of nerve cells in the brain.” The clinic notes that CTE is “rare and not well understood” but it is frequently associated with athletes or combat veterans.)

Claude Lemieux in April 2002. Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images/NHLI
“Claude dedicated his post-play career to helping the next generation,” his family said on Saturday. “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations, and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”
The Lemieuxs said they consider their donation to the Boston University CTE Center to be “a gift to science, to athletes and to future generations of families seeking answers.” Their statement also addressed speculation about the “circumstances of Claude’s death.”
“Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who lost him,” they asked.
The family confirmed that details about a memorial service will be released “at a later date.”
Saturday’s statement was released first by Brendan Lemieux, who was previously the first member of the family to break their silence about Claude’s death. (Claude and his wife, Deborah, shared four children: sons Christopher, Michael and Brendan as well as daughter Claudia.)
“I love you dad!” Brendan, 30, wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you ♥️.”
His sister, Claudia, shared her own emotional memorial post that same day, writing via Instagram, “No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl 💔”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Remember how Oasis didn’t exist in the world of Danny Boyle‘s Yesterday because the Beatles weren’t around to influence them? It’s possible that David Fincher would have a very different career were it not for a serial killer movie — perhaps the best one ever made — released in 1955. Fincher has directed some of the best serial killer films of all time — Zodiac, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Se7en, and even The Killer. Not to mention his Netflix series Mindhunter. Each of these titles owes a creative debt to the 1955 classic, which has also influenced the work of Martin Scorsese, the Coen Brothers, Spike Lee, and Guillermo del Toro.
Here’s the good news: the classic film is going to become very easy to access in June, which is when it lands on Prime Video. Directed by Charles Laughton, the movie follows a serial killer who arrives in a small town, posing as a preacher. The movie was inspired by a real-life killer named Harry Powers, who murdered his victims for money after luring them via newspaper ads. His life inspired a 1953 novel, which in turn inspired Laughton’s movie. It’s now considered one of the greatest movies ever made, in addition to being arguably the best serial killer film and the finest Southern Gothic thriller of all time.
We’re talking, of course, about The Night of the Hunter. It features one of that era’s landmark performances, delivered by Robert Mitchum as the central serial killer. Interestingly, The Night of the Hunter was the only movie where Laughton, better known as an actor, was solely credited as the director. Because it underperformed at the box office, the follow-up feature that Laughton was developing as a potential directorial vehicle was handed over to someone else. The movie’s critical response at the time wasn’t very positive. “Seldom has so much ugliness been put into one movie, some of it dragged in for no apparent reason,” wrote the Chicago Tribune. However, it was re-appraised a few years later, evolving from a cult classic to a stone-cold masterpiece over the decades. It now holds a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch the film on Prime Video from June 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
August 26, 1955
93 Minutes
Charles Laughton
Davis Grubb, James Agee, Charles Laughton
Robert Mitchum
Preacher Harry Powell
In the second half of 2026, Dwayne Johnson is cooking up a storm in theaters, with a pair of big family-friendly blockbusters on their way. First, on July 10, 2026, the long-awaited live-action Moana remake sets sail, with Johnson starring as Maui alongside Catherine Laga’aia as the titular daughter of Motunui’s chief. Marking the directorial debut of Thomas Kail, who is a Tony winner for his work on Hamilton, this musical is not to be missed, especially considering the inclusion of music from Mark Mancina, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Opetaia Foa’i.
Johnson will then follow that with an exciting Christmas treat, as Jumanji 3 premieres on December 25, after previously being scheduled for December 11. Johnson will re-team with Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black for his sequel to 2019’s Jumanji: The Next Level, which also stars Danny DeVito, Nick Jonas, Marin Hinkle, Bebe Neuwirth, Lamorne Morris, and Rhys Darby. To help get you in the mood for Johnson’s next big-budget projects, one of his lesser-spotted action flicks is about to be available to stream for free.
The film in question is Empire State, a straight-to-DVD release that debuted in 2013 and starred Johnson as a veteran NYPD officer who is tasked with investigating a huge heist. In fact, the movie is based on the true story of a 1982 armored car company robbery in New York City, which is colloquially known as the “Sentry Armored Car Courier Company theft.” The film, directed by Dito Montiel (Fighting), starred Johnson alongside an eye-catching cast, which included Liam Hemsworth, Emma Roberts, Nikki Reed, Chris Diamantopoulos, James Ransone, Shenae Grimes, and Jerry Ferrara. If an easy-viewing action flick is what you want, then you’re in luck, as Empire State will be available to stream for free on Plex starting June 1, 2026.
Although it received a small theatrical run consisting of an international release in three countries and under $200,000 in total ticket sales, it was always hoped that Empire State would earn back its reported $11 million production budget via DVD and VOD sales. Sadly, the film only made roughly $4 million, rendering it a flop both commercially and critically, with reviewers scoring the film terribly upon release.
Empire State will be available to stream on Plex starting June 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
September 3, 2013
94 minutes
Dito Montiel
Adam Mazer
George Furla, Randall Emmett, Sandy Kyrkostas
Among the most audacious feature directorial debuts of the last decade is a dark comedy that somehow combined the tone of American Psycho and Mean Girls. This is a difficult tightrope to walk, but director Cory Finley pulled it off with flying colors. Finley’s first movie was a grand showcase for his already identifiable filmmaking style, which he evolved ever so slightly with his follow-up feature, Bad Education. His most recent movie was the equally ambitious sci-fi satire Landscape with Invisible Hand. Finley has yet to experience commercial success, with Bad Education being released directly on HBO and Landscape with Invisible Hand barely getting a theatrical run. Despite excellent reviews, his first film underperformed at the box office as well. But there’s an opportunity for audiences to set things right when it debuts on Prime Video soon.
The film in question was released theatrically in 2018 after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival a year prior. Focus Features acquired the film’s domestic distribution rights following its premiere at Sundance. The indie distributor is currently enjoying the landmark success of Curry Barker‘s horror film Obsession, which was picked up for a reported $15 million after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Barker’s next two movies are locked, and it was recently reported that his first post-Obsession deal could lead to a bidding war amounting to $20 million. Finley’s most mainstream project yet, on the other hand, was the Apple TV series WeCrashed, starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway.
He’s no stranger to collaborating with stars; Bad Education was headlined by Hugh Jackman, while his debut feature, Thoroughbreds, starred Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke. Both actors went on to appear in blockbuster franchise projects, but Thoroughbreds remains their earliest calling card. The movie grossed $3 million against a reported budget of $5 million, but it holds a “Certified Fresh” 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregator website’s consensus reads, “Thoroughbreds juggles genres with panache, delivering a well-written and refreshingly unpredictable entry in the teen thriller genre.” The movie will be made available to a wider audience on Prime Video starting June 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
March 9, 2018
92 Minutes
Cory Finley
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Styles come and go, but a sleek black bag isn’t going anywhere. Just ask Nicole Kidman, who proved that the right black crossbody goes beyond trends, and makes any outfit appear expensive. Her exact bag is in the five-figure price range, but we found the look for just $23 — and it’s selling out.
Kidman arrived at a pre-Met Gala dinner looking like she stepped out of a Parisian fashion magazine. Her all-black getup was classy, but the real scene-stealer was her Chanel 2.55 purse. This $23 black crossbody bag similarly has quilted fabric, a gold chain, rectangular silhouette and structured top flap, however, it might be even more versatile than Kidman’s.
Get the Sg Sugu Quilted Crossbody Bag for $23 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
What’s clever about this Amazon lookalike is the chain itself. Wear it long, and you’ve got Kidman’s crossbody vibe. But if you loop it shorter, this pick suddenly turns into a chic shoulder bag that sits at the hip. No matter how you carry it, the gold-tone chain and hardware accents give the bag that glinting, luxe quality you’d expect from an expensive designer.
Made with buttery-smooth vegan leather, this mini purse can resist scratches and tears with ease. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to wipe clean. One fan shared, “I’ve had this purse for two years now and it’s in the same amazing quality [as when] I first bought it.”
Another shopper said that the bag “has the feel and aesthetic of a Chanel bag” and that the strap “gives it an elevated feel while adding a little sparkle to a plain dress.” They even shared that they “couldn’t be more obsessed, and want it in more colors!”
The interior is just as noteworthy, featuring a spacious main compartment with organization for cards, as well as a clasp to keep everything secure.
Kidman’s Met Gala appearance was a reminder that the richest moms aren’t chasing trends, but rather collecting capsule pieces that never go out of fashion. This quilted bag style has been a wardrobe anchor for decades, and with Kidman’s stamp of approval, it’ll be just as chic for decades to come.
Get the Sg Sugu Quilted Crossbody Bag for $23 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Not what you’re looking for? Shop other crossbody bags and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Reality TV star-turned-hopeful politician Spencer Pratt is responding to Hacks star Hannah Einbinder after the comedian slammed his surging mayoral campaign.
“She says from a literal red carpet, surrounded by armed security, completely insulated from the horrors on our streets that Angelenos and their kids have to suffer through every day,” Pratt, 42, wrote via X on Friday, May 29. “I’m glad she doesn’t have to suffer the consequences of Karen [Bass] and Nithya’s [Raman] failures, but she’s in an elite minority and the rest of us want change.”
Earlier on Friday, Einbinder, 31, spoke out against Pratt’s mayoral run while attending the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television in Los Angeles.
“There’s a lot of wealth in this city and I think that there are a lot of people who masquerade as Democrats or people on the left, but really, money is their key issue and that’s what lead them to vote for people like Spencer Pratt — who is endorsed by Donald Trump,” she told Variety’s Marc Malkin while walking the event’s red carpet. “It’s important to resist that.”
She continued, “It’s very complicated. No one is perfect, there are no perfect candidates. I’m overwhelmed in a lot of ways but I have made the choice to put Nithya down, and that’s what we’re doing girls!”

The former The Hills villain announced his run for L.A. mayor against Democratic incumbent Mayor Bass and a slew of other hopefuls — including Raman, Adam Miller and others — on the one-year anniversary of the deadly L.A. wildfires that destroyed his home. Despite being a registered Republican with many ties to the conservative, right-wing and MAGA media spheres and personalities, Pratt claims he’s running for office as an “independent community advocate.”
“The reason why I’m resonating across the country, and even outside of the country, is because all I focus on is the truth,” Pratt claimed during a Thursday, May 28, appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends program. “I’m the look-around candidate. I do basics. I don’t do national politics. I don’t do parties. I just say, ‘Hey, look, they’re stealing all of our tax money to give it to drug addicts to have needles and tourniquets and they’re even selling the drugs to these addicts to let these people die on our sidewalks. I want to be the compassionate one, get these people mandatory treatment, medical treatment with doctors who help them get off fentanyl and super meth and that’s what people actually want.”
The mayoral hopeful added, “People want an outsider who is not a politician, who is just saying the facts. The truth.”
When Variety’s Malkin told Einbinder some people would like to see her run for office, she dismissed the proposal while siding with Lisa Rinna and comments the reality TV star made about celebrities becoming politicians.
“You don’t and neither do I,” Einbinder quipped. “No! Spencer shouldn’t [run for office] and neither should I, OK? I’m with Lisa Rinna. I stand with Lisa Rinna.”
While attending the American Music Awards at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on Monday, May 25, Rinna denounced Pratt’s campaign while claiming that no reality TV star should be running for political office.
“Not a reality star,” she said, before evoking President Donald Trump, another reality TV star-turned-politician. “I love him [Pratt], but we’ve already done that. We’re not going to do that again. You got me, because listen, I’m a reality person. I wouldn’t want me as mayor, really. I mean, let’s just face it, I love him [Pratt]. I think he’s amazing. I just think we did that.”
For better or for worse, Zack Snyder has made a name for himself with films that have impressive visuals, meticulous montages, and unforgettable soundtracks. Though sometimes an acquired taste, all of these elements came together magnificently in the 2009 feature film adaptation of Watchmen. An ambitious film for any director, Watchmen was adapted from Alan Moore’s graphic novel that questions fascism and the hero worship of superheroes in a complex and immersive tome. Adapting one of the best graphic novels to date would be a high order for anyone, which could have been the reason that Watchmen didn’t find its audience early on. In recent years, however, the film has become more embraced by audiences who were admittedly too hard on it at first.
Snyder practically splashed Moore’s visuals onto the big screen in a world where vigilante justice became the norm. In an alternate universe where America won Vietnam and Nixon was elected for three terms, the titular Watchmen were a group of costumed heroes who, for a time, protected the world from evil. Vietnam was won thanks to Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) and his limitless powers. But while Marvel revels in otherworldly archetypes who save the world on the regular, Snyder’s film showed what the real-life ramifications of this could be.
Dr. Manhattan had no checks and balances to his power, and though at first he had good intentions, he slowly lost his empathy for humans. On the other side of the spectrum was The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who reveled in his abuse of power, which he used to assault women and commit violence. These themes that were so prevalent in the graphic novel were present in Snyder’s adaptation, which fans can now watch for free.
Before Damon Lindelof set to work creating a sequel to Alan Moore’s graphic novel, Zack Snyder developed an adaptation that was as faithful as anyone would expect. His film contains the important themes, eloquently communicated in a just question: “Who watches the Watchmen?” People with unchecked power often don’t make the right decisions, which is what led to the group and other vigilantes effectively being outlawed.
Only when the Watchmen start to be murdered do the remaining members band together to solve the crime. The Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and Night Owl (Patrick Wilson) spearhead this new initiative only to realize that there is corruption in their own ranks. All of this transpires quite faithfully with the source material, until the end, which was perhaps too weird for Hollywood at the time. In the book, the conflict gets resolved when a giant squid is dropped on Manhattan, causing the world to band together and find world peace. Snyder elected not to go this route, which was admittedly a shame for book readers. However, this was rectified in Lindelof’s HBO series, which followed these events precisely and had the perfect ending.
This allowed Snyder’s Watchmen to exist as a joyful celebration of the graphic novel, even if all the events didn’t line up exactly. The roles were largely well cast, and the music was iconic. There is no question that the Dawn of the Dead director spins a good yarn when it comes to visuals. Viewers can revisit a film that has gotten better with age by streaming it on HBO Max.
March 6, 2009
163 minutes
Zack Synder
Alex Tse, David Hayter, Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
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