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The neo-noir genre is a modernized version of the classic film noir genre that initially reached its peak of popularity during the 1960s and was established by hit movies such as Cape Fear starring Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, Martin Scorsese‘s Taxi Driver, and L.A. Confidential. As neo-noir films were favored well by audiences around the world, the genre inevitably made a name for itself on the small screen with shows like Showtime’s Dexter and A&E’s Bates Motel, and continues to be a frequent favorite in the world of television.
Over the years, there have been a slew of successful neo-noir shows that are worthy contributions to the genre, but some series, including David Lynch‘s Twin Peaks, Better Call Saul, and Ray Donovan, embody the core elements and traditional tropes of the neo-noir genre. From the marginalized miniseries, Monsieur Spade starring Clive Owen, to the critically acclaimed anthology crime series, True Detective, these are the greatest neo-noir television shows of all time, ranked.
Clive Owen stars as Dashiell Hammett‘s private eye, Sam Spade, in the neo-noir miniseries, Monsieur Spade, which takes place twenty years after the events of The Maltese Falcon. The series follows Spade as he travels to France with Brigid O’Shaughnessy’s daughter, Teresa (Cara Bossom), in an attempt to find her father, but what was intended to be a brief trip turns into a permanent stay after Spade falls in love with a local woman. As Spade puts his detective days behind him, his peaceful life is interrupted by the return of Teresa’s father and a series of murders, ultimately forcing Spade out of retirement.
Monsieur Spade is based on Hammett’s novel, Sam Spade, and is a thrilling must-see neo-noir series that takes viewers through a labyrinth of a whodunit mystery. It’s safe to assume that the majority of people are familiar with Spade, who was originally popularized by Humphrey Bogart in one of the best detective film noir movies, The Maltese Falcon. Bogie’s portrayal of Spade presents Owen with some big shoes to fill, but he manages to deliver a sensational performance that effectively aligns with Bogie’s take on Spade while still forging his own interpretation of the legendary private eye.
Based on Stephen King‘s novel trilogy series, Brendan Gleeson stars in the gripping neo-noir series Mr. Mercedes as Bill Hodges, a retired Ohio detective who, after being taunted by a serial killer online, finds himself in a tedious game of cat and mouse. As Hodges tries to stay two steps ahead of his tormentor, he soon realizes that his search for the killer comes with a dangerous price that puts everyone he loves in jeopardy.
Mr. Mercedes is a highly overlooked series that embodies the neo-noir genre with a touch of King’s signature madness. Gleeson gives an outstanding performance as a man haunted by his past and forced to come to terms with his personal and professional failures, presenting an underlying mystery to the main plot. The show ran for three successful seasons, but in 2020, it was unexpectedly discontinued with no indication of it being canceled. While the fate of the series still hangs in the balance, Mr. Mercedes still ranks as a top series that every diehard noir fan should check out.
Colin Farrell stars in Apple TV’s neo-noir series, Sugar, as a private investigator, John Sugar, who is hired by a Hollywood producer, Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell), to find his beloved granddaughter, Olivia (Sydney Chandler), whom he believes is missing. As Sugar talks to Olivia’s family and friends, his investigation eventually leads him to uncover family secrets and scandals within the Siegel dynasty as well as crucial information about a mystery from his past.
Sugar is a unique neo-noir series with an unexpected blend of genres and a captivating performance by Farrell that ultimately sets it apart from other shows in the genre. Unlike the majority of other neo-noir series, Sugar features frequent cutaways to clips from classic film noir movies and key props, which contribute to the series’ classic noir aesthetics. One of the most significant references in the show is Sugar’s Chevy Sting Ray, which is the same car Ralph Meeker‘s Mike Hammer drives in the noir classic, Kiss Me Deadly.
Bates Motel is a modern prequel and reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock‘s classic thriller, Psycho, which is based on Robert Bloch‘s 1959 horror novel of the same name. Freddie Highmore stars as a young Norman Bates who, after the death of his father, moves with his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga), to the seaside town of White Pine Bay, where they purchase and run a local motel. They quickly learn that White Pine Bay is far from what it appears to be, and while Norma tries to get the motel up and running, Norman begins to experience strange behavior that his mother tries to keep a secret from their new community.
Aside from its modernized setting, Bates Motel is a clever neo-noir drama that features exceptional performances by the overall cast as well as subtle references to Hitchcock’s film, which give the show a nostalgic touch. Unlike Psycho, Bates Motel provides an intriguing insight into Norman’s mindset and how it is influenced by the puzzling details surrounding his unusually close relationship with his mother. Although the show takes some creative liberties and tailors the story for a more contemporary audience, Bates Motel is still a riveting revival and character study of Norman Bates, who is one of the most fascinating characters in entertainment history.
Liev Schreiber stars in Showtime’s Ray Donovan in the title role as a former Boston thug turned notorious “fixer” for Hollywood’s elite and the go-to guy for anyone who wants to make something or someone disappear. While Donovan has carved out a new life for himself in Los Angeles, he soon realizes that he can’t run away from his past after his recently paroled father, Mickey (Jon Voight), arrives in town to try and reconnect with him.
Even though it shifts between several different genres, Ray Donovan stays consistently within the realm of the neo-noir genre with a gritty blend of family drama and personal high-stakes that ultimately earns the series a spot on the list. Schreiber and Voight are absolute gold together, but both deliver enthralling performances that make the series all worthwhile. Throughout its solid season run, Ray Donovan received an abundance of nominations and awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for Voight. Unlike other shows, Ray Donovan concluded in 2022 with Ray Donovan: The Movie, bringing this epic neo-noir gem to a fitting end.
Colin Farrell reprises his role as Oz Cobblepot in HBO’s The Penguin, which picks up after the events of Matt Reeves‘ 2022 movie, The Batman. With Gotham in utter disarray and ruin, Carmine Falcone’s son takes over as head of the family, but when he suddenly goes missing, his sister and former patient at Arkham Asylum, Sofia (Cristin Milioti), suspects that Oz is somehow responsible for his disappearance. As Oz meticulously pits the Falcone family against their rivals, the Maroni family, he gradually begins his journey into becoming one of Gotham City’s most notorious villains.
The Penguin is an edgy neo-noir miniseries that features unbelievable performances by Farrell and The Sopranos alumni, Milioti, whose personal vendetta against Oz adds emotional depth and drama to the villain’s origin story. While some may think the show is only appealing to fans of DC Comics, the Batman comics have always been deeply rooted in the world of noir and feature traditional tropes of the genre, such as political corruption, seedy characters, and a crime-ridden city, which are apparent in The Penguin and ultimately solidifies it as a top-notch neo-noir series.
Showtime’s Dexter is a twisted neo-noir crime drama starring Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department who not only helps to solve homicides but also commits them. Unlike other serial killers, Dexter sees himself as a vigilante and justifies his sadistic behavior by only killing people who are guilty of unspeakable crimes or slip through the cracks of the justice system.
Dexter puts a gruesome contemporary spin on the classic cynical lawman who, like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe (minus the murdering part), has a status of legal authority that helps him carry out his own unique brand of justice. Throughout the show’s eight seasons, Dexter won four of its twenty-four Primetime Emmy nominations as well as two Golden Globes in 2010 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama for Hall and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for John Lithgow. Despite the show concluding in 2013, there have been several successful spin-off series, including Dexter: New Blood and Dexter: Resurrection, and most recently, Dexter: Original Sin, which is a fascinating prequel series that brings Dexter’s life full circle.
Bob Odenkirk reprises his Breaking Bad role as the unscrupulous lawyer and con artist, Saul Goodman, in Better Call Saul, a legal neo-noir series that alternates between Goodman’s life on the run and his past as Jimmy McGill and the pivotal events that led him to become an attorney for the criminal underworld. Even though the series fills in the blanks for fans about Goodman’s fate after Breaking Bad, it primarily focuses on the character’s past and provides crucial pieces that shed light on Goodman’s former life.
Odenkirk’s performance as Goodman in Breaking Bad is exceptional, but he absolutely shines in Better Call Saul, delivering a complex portrait of vulnerability and ingenuity that, for the first time, puts the misunderstood character in a humanizing light. Character tropes aside, Better Call Saul is engulfed in visual elements and characteristics of the noir genre, utilizing the work of legendary cinematographer John F. Seitz, and the ingenious use of black-and-white, which not only distinguishes between Goodman’s past and present but also establishes a spellbinding and wistful tone.
Nic Pizzolatto‘s True Detective is a heart-pounding neo-noir anthology series and one of the best Southern gothic shows that follows police detectives as they work on solving unsettling crimes while also struggling with their own personal demons and problems behind closed doors. Out of the show’s four seasons, the first, starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, is by far the best as it effortlessly captivates viewers with its intriguing poetic dialogue, horrific series of murders, and two mesmerizing characters who have their share of flaws and secrets.
True Detective brilliantly incorporates an abundance of neo-noir elements, such as moral ambiguity and imperfect characters, as well as following complex narratives within an atmospheric setting, conveying a tone of intensity and uncertainty. Even though the reception of each season has varied, True Detective does keep things interesting with its vastly different cast of characters and premises, effectively remaining true to Pizzolatto’s original story structure while also distinctly setting each season into its own vision of a detective neo-noir.
Kyle MacLachlan stars in David Lynch’s surrealist neo-noir series, Twin Peaks, as a special agent for the FBI, Dale Cooper, who is leading the investigation into the brutal murder of a teenage girl in the fictional town of Twin Peaks. Although the series incorporates characteristics from other genres, the narrative is derived from the traditional detective fiction that essentially inspired the classic film noir genre, cementing Twin Peaks as the all-time best neo-noir television show.
Lynch defied the world of television with his innovative neo-noir series, Twin Peaks, which takes a traditional murder mystery and heightens it with an array of characteristics from polar opposite genres that only a visionary talent like Lynch could successfully achieve. MacLachlan, who had previously worked with Lynch on one of the director’s definitive masterpieces, Blue Velvet, gives a compelling performance as a vividly eccentric character whose quirky mannerisms and unconventional techniques set him apart from the more traditional detectives of the neo-noir genre.
1990 – 1991-00-00
Lesli Linka Glatter, Caleb Deschanel, Duwayne Dunham, Tim Hunter, Todd Holland, Tina Rathborne, Diane Keaton, Graeme Clifford, James Foley, Jonathan Sanger, Mark Frost, Stephen Gyllenhaal
While impressive new shows are coming out all the time, many series that have already completed their run are impossible to beat. Fortunately, in the age of binge-watching, streaming services allow subscribers to access and fall in love with shows long after their conclusion. This enables such shows to remain relevant and, in some cases, gain an entirely new audience. The phenomenon can be seen in the reemergence of series like Gilmore Girls, Suits, and, more recently, Las Vegas has joined this group. The NBC series may be 23 years old, but even after all that time, it is a popular purchase on the Apple Store, proving that this five-season show has a lot to offer.
The comedy-drama is NBC’s most ambitious story, as seen by the massive cost of the pilot alone. Premiering in 2003, Las Vegas explores the staff of a fictional casino in the famed city. The series initially met strong viewership, but that gradually declined throughout its run. However, Las Vegas has received a second chance through streaming, opening itself up to a new audience who can enjoy all the shocks and drama of the series despite the decades since its release.
There are many shows about a workplace, but Las Vegas is unique because its setting offers a rare level of drama. The series follows the security team of the Montecito Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. As you would guess, the glamorous background of Sin City makes for plenty of stories, as the characters deal with everything from power outages to rival casinos to bomb threats. While this concept has potential on its own, the characters and the constant drama in their lives make it that much better. Las Vegas primarily follows the head of security and surveillance, Ed Deline (James Caan), and his protégé, Danny McCoy (Josh Duhamel). As the former director of counterintelligence for the CIA, Ed can be strict, but he’s also a father figure to his employees, particularly Danny, who has his own past as a U.S. Marine. With exciting character backstories and pasts that always seem to resurface, Las Vegas creates an endearing cast.
Part of what makes Las Vegas such a memorable series is the constant drama between the characters. Danny is often the center of this as he develops an on-and-off romance with his coworker and childhood friend, Mary (Nikki Cox), and also a similar dynamic with Delinda (Molly Sims), Ed’s daughter. These relationships add plenty of drama to the already fast-paced story, but that isn’t the only source of tension. Throughout its run, Las Vegas takes several shocking twists, ranging from the hotel changing owners to murder cases. Though it occasionally ventures into soap opera-like territory, Las Vegas‘ exciting story and lovable characters make for the perfect guilty pleasure watch.
NBC’s Underrated ‘True Blood’ Replacement Deserves a Revival
We’re leaving Bon Temps and headed for Texas…
Its five-season run and recent streaming success prove that Las Vegas was a good idea, but the series was a risky move for NBC. The pilot was an expensive endeavor, costing the network five million dollars for just one episode. With the advent of streaming, TV series have become more costly, but at the time, this expense made Las Vegas NBC’s priciest pilot (though it has since been dethroned). Ultimately, that risk paid off, delivering an exciting show, until it was canceled rather abruptly. Though declining ratings, high production costs, cast departures, and the 2008 Writers’ Strike ended the series too soon, Las Vegas is still worth watching, as many are discovering.
Las Vegas is available to purchase on Apple TV, and it is gaining attention there, and rightfully so. With its lovable characters, shocking twists, and constant drama, the 2003 series is a perfect binge-watch. There is no show quite like Las Vegas, and that’s why it has stood the test of time, remaining relevant 23 years later.
Las Vegas is available to buy on Apple TV in the U.S.
2003 – 2008-00-00
Gary Scott Thompson
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As an avid traveler, I’ve been to Greek, Italian and Spanish beaches, but this year I’m venturing to the British coast — specifically Cornwall. My packing list looks a bit different from my previous European summer vacations. Rather than party-ready ensembles, I’m folding breezy linen sets, elegant dresses and even some lightweight sweaters into my suitcase, similarly to how I’d pack for Cape Cod.
Every beach destination has a different uniform, so if you’re also heading to the laidback shores of the UK — or just want to look like you are — you’ll want to shop this curated list of everything I’ll be wearing. With these picks, you’ll be confused for a local in one of Britain’s greatest treasures, and have everyone complimenting your easy-chic summer style.
1. A Bit of Blue: The water in Cornwall is crystal clear and disappears into a blue horizon. I plan on matching the ocean with a flowing maxi dress. The contrast detailing reminds me of the waves.
2. Keep It Simple: Every coastal trip requires a pristine white dress (I don’t make the rules!). This casual pick, with its tiered skirt, is perfect for waterside strolls.
3. Polka Dot Dreams: Navy and white are classic maritime colors, but instead of opting for nautical stripes, the hues get a trendy upgrade with Beach Riot’s linen and cotton polka dot maxi.
4. Pretty Pattern: Leaning into the seaside vibes, this striped dress embellished with beachy motifs — like beach chairs, lobsters and clams — is simply too cute not to pack.
5. One of Each: This 100% linen dress is so flattering and simple, I admittedly bought it in four colors, including navy, moonstone blue, gingham and olive.
6. Coverup and More: I originally bought Quince’s button-up linen shirt dress to wear as a coverup, but I find myself using it for more. It even comes in handy when I don’t know what to throw on after showering.
7. Easy Breezy: Since Europe is in the middle of a heatwave, this linen pants set will keep me cool, and I love that I can get more wear out of it by pairing the top and bottoms with different pieces.
8. Coastal Chic: Any trip to the seaside calls for a striped set. This tank and shorts combo takes the nautical vibe to new levels with the rope-drawstring bottoms.
9. The Trendy Pick: Gingham prints are unavoidable this summer. PrettyGarden’s green gingham pant set feels calmer than the traditional red hue and will blend right in with the soft color scheme of coastal England.
10. Dress It Up: For special nights out, I’m pulling out all the stops — while still evoking an effortless vibe — with this vest halter top and palazzo pants set. The orange hue will look amazing against the sunset.
11. Feelin’ Blue: When I’m wandering around the coast, I’ll be wearing this embroidered blue and cream shorts set. The detail is impeccable for the price.
12. Out of Office: Trousers aren’t just for the office anymore. This linen pair exudes a beachy aura that feels more relaxed than similar tailored styles.
13. Whimsical Vibes: One thing’s for sure — I can’t wait to frolic in the sand as this billowing linen and cotton skirt flows behind me like in the movies.
14. In Transit: My favorite thing about the 100% European Linen Pants from Quince? They’re the ultimate travel bottoms. Soft, stretchy and oh-so-comfy, I wear them on the plane and once I reach my destination.
15. Low Rise: Embrace the low-rise trend with some relaxed linen pants that won’t pinch or pull on your midsection.
16. Little Secret: Skorts are the ultimate bottoms to pack while traveling. The undershorts are hidden in Open Edit’s asymmetrical style, making it easier to dress up.
17. Cutest Coverup: I love how this crocheted sweater doubles as a beach coverup for the chillier days I still want to spend beside the water.
18. Double Trouble: Be ready for any weather — warm or cold — with this convenient two-in-one cable knit sweater. It comes with a spaghetti strap tank and a cardigan embroidered with roses.
19. Fight the Breeze: Boat rides are always windy. Instead of bearing through the chill, I’m packing a batwing cardigan for instant warmth.
20. Casually Cool: Forget what your grandma told you, this slightly slouchy sweater doesn’t look frumpy. It’s actually the key to looking effortlessly chic, especially while on the Cornish coast.
21. Sneaky Hack: I’ve always struggled to pull off a sweater draped over my shoulder. This handy shawl helps me master the preppy coastal look.
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Show of hands, who cheated while playing Battleship? If your hand is down, you’re lying. Cheating your friends playing Battleship is a rite of passage which is why, somehow, Hasbro thought it would be the perfect property to cash in on the rise of Transformers back in 2012. 14 years later and it’s one of the top streaming movies on Amazon Prime, finally achieving its destiny: guilty pleasure Dad movie.

You can tell Battleship is from the early 2010’s because it stars Taylor Kitsch back when Hollywood was trying to make him the next big action star. If John Carter received the support it needed, it could have worked, but instead he starred in one box office bomb after another through no fault of his own. As Naval Officer Alex Hopper, Kitsch does a great job channeling Tom Cruise’s Maverick in Battleship, right down to trying to impress the Admiral’s daughter.
Where Battleship gets weird is when the alien spaceships land and isolate Hawaii from the rest of the world under an impenetrable force field. That and the alien weapons look a lot like the pegs from the game Battleship. Outgunned, outmanned, and with no one coming to save them, it’s up to Alex to lead the survivors of the American and Japanese Pacific Fleets against the alien invasion. And by now you’re wondering how this corny sounding sci-fi movie is a massive streaming hit, well, it’s because of what comes next.

For the entire first two-thirds of Battleship it’s an incredibly corny movie where everyone, from Liam Neeson as the Admiral to Jesse Plemons and Rami Malek as sailors, understood the assignment and is chewing up every bit of scenery. Then, with no ship left, Alex says “we have a battleship,” and the camera pans to the U.S.S. Missouri docked at Pearl Harbor. In case you’re wondering what makes this a modern classic Dad movie, it’s this scene. Get your parents, get your grandparents, have them watch the movie, and wait until they reach the Missouri.
Onboard the ship-turned-historical museum, the survivors have no idea how to run an analog, old-school ship. That’s when the veterans appear, one by one. Played by the real veterans of the Missouri and other ships of the era (there’s a U.S.S. Carolina cap in there too!), the veterans get to work teaching the kids how the ship works, all set to the sounds of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” This is catnip for boomers, and if you know any old seaman who haven’t watched this, you owe it to them to share it.

Battleship may be one of the biggest box office flops in history, losing both Hasbro and Universal roughly $150 million each after earning only $300 million at the box office, which after theatrical cuts and marketing, wasn’t enough for anything resembling a profit. It’s also one of the greatest streaming success stories in history. Every time Battleship arrives on a streaming service, it’s in the top 10 for weeks. No one wants to admit they love this movie, but it’s okay, you can admit that once “Thunderstruck” hits you are locked in.
When the final battle hits, if you aren’t having the time of your life with Battleship, you don’t love movies. Find a boomer, sit down, stream it on Amazon Prime, and remember how much fun you can have when a movie doesn’t take itself seriously.
Over the course of 50 years, 25 movies, and seven different actors, the adventures of James Bond have been a constant on the silver screen. But Bond’s also seen plenty of competition in the action world, whether it’s the brutal beat downs of the John Wick franchise or the cold, calculated carnage of The Equalizer trilogy. Luckily, Netflix has the perfect movie for fans of both approaches, as it not only features enough bloodshed to rival Wick’s exploits but also stars a Bond alum. It’s also a breezy 90 minutes, making it the perfect pick for a weekend watch.
What movie might this be? Fast Charlie. Based on the novel Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler, Fast Charlie stars Pierce Brosnan as highly skilled mob fixer Charlie Swift. A job gone wrong brings him into the orbit of Marcie Kramer (Morena Baccarin), who also happens to be the ex-wife of his target, Rollo. While sparks fly between the two, they find themselves on the run when up-and-coming crime boss Beggar (Gbenga Akinnagbe) starts murdering all of Charlie’s old acquaintances. What follows is a white-knuckle game of cat and mouse as Charlie and Marcie try to stay one step ahead of Beggar’s forces while finding out why he wanted Rollo dead.
To bring Charlie Swift’s tale to life, Fast Charlie couldn’t just rely on a star-studded cast but also on a crew experienced in delivering the kind of blood-soaked, mile-a-minute storytelling that comes with the crime genre. It lucked out with both its director and writer, as Phillip Noyce helmed the movie while Richard Wenk penned the screenplay. Both men are experts in crafting action-packed stories, as Noyce directed the iconic Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, both starring Harrison Ford and adapting Tom Clancy‘s titular novels. Wenk is best known for penning every installment of the Equalizer trilogy, as well as the Jason Statham action vehicle The Mechanic and Antoine Fuqua‘s remake of The Magnificent Seven.
Together, Noyce and Wenk craft a movie that’s one part mystery, one part action thriller, and one part love story. Most of Fast Charlie is dedicated to Charlie avenging his fallen comrades, while also trying to figure out why Beggar wanted him dead. He also starts to connect more with Marcie, and the two both realize they could have a life together rather than just trying to survive alone. Noyce and Wenk also know when to time their action sequences for maximum impact, including a moment where Charlie gets the drop on two assassins sent to take him out. They also don’t shy away from the bloodshed; bullets pierce through brain matter and nearly everything gets turned into a weapon, with gruesome results.
The best reason to watch Fast Charlie, other than the carefully crafted story or the action sequences, is Pierce Brosnan’s performance as the titular character. Brosnan brings plenty of the charm and calculating menace that defined his role as James Bond, especially when facing off against people he wants to kill or who want to kill him. A great example comes early in the movie, when Charlie meets Beggar; from the start, you can tell there’s no love lost between them, thanks to the thinly veiled disgust that crosses Brosnan’s face. Brosnan also has electric chemistry with Baccarin, and some warmer moments with James Caan, who plays Charlie’s old boss Stan. Given that this was Caan’s final movie role before he passed away in 2022, the moments between Charlie and Stan hit harder than expected.
Netflix viewers also seem to be taking to Fast Charlie, as it made its way onto Netflix’s Top 10 list earlier this month. Whether you’re a fan of Brosnan’s turn as Bond or like a breezy, bloody crime thriller, Fast Charlie should definitely be on your watchlist. It’s proof that even though he’s hung up Bond’s tuxedo, Brosnan can still play a charming yet dangerous antihero.
December 8, 2023
90 Minutes
The 1980s gave horror fans slashers, splatter, video-store trash, punk energy, monster suits, synth dread, practical-effects miracles, and the kind of cheap weirdness that can make a terrible movie lovable. So when an ’80s horror movie actually turned out bad, it had committed a special crime.
It had the easiest decade in horror history to be entertainingly stupid and still found a way to be dead air. The movies on this list, therefore, are not the fun-bad legends you defend at 2 a.m. with pizza and friends. These are the ones that test your soul, your patience, your eyesight, your hearing, and occasionally your belief in editing as a human invention.
Monster Dog is basically Vince Raven (Alice Cooper) starring in a werewolf-adjacent horror and that should be impossible to fully waste. Give him fog, dogs, a cursed family past, a creepy mansion, and a music-video mood, and even a weak movie should at least stumble into cult pleasure. But Monster Dog, oh boy. It somehow takes all of that and makes it feel like someone left a haunted-house attraction running after the staff went home.
The strangest thing is how little danger seems to live inside the frame. Cooper has presence, obviously, but the movie keeps trapping him in scenes that move like wet cardboard. The dubbing gives everyone that disconnected dream-mouth quality where emotions seem to be happening three rooms away from the actors. The dog attacks rarely have bite. The mystery feels like it was assembled from leftover Gothic scraps. Even the rock-star angle barely gives the movie juice, which feels insane considering the man at the center literally built a career out of theatrical horror. The movie is sleepy, murky, and weirdly allergic to its own best selling point.
This movie feels like a slasher made by people who heard about suspense from a guy at a gas station. Don’t Go in the Woods follows a group of campers wandering through the wilderness while a wild killer picks off random people, and that sounds like perfectly usable early-’80s forest-horror material. Woods, screams, isolation, bad decisions, cheap gore, lost hikers, dirtbag survival panic; the genre practically builds itself.
Then the movie starts moving, and the whole thing becomes a punishment hike. Characters appear with the personality of disposable paper plates. Victims seem dropped into the film just so the body count can keep coughing. The killer has none of the creepy backwoods presence that makes this kind of thing work. The editing feels allergic to geography, so the forest never becomes a place, just a pile of trees the movie keeps pointing at. There is a strange anti-rhythm to it, like every scare happens half a thought after it should. Even the title starts to feel less like a warning and more like a review: don’t go in the woods, and maybe don’t press play either.
Some movies are amateur in a charming way. Blood Lake is amateur in the way a family vacation tape becomes unbearable after the fourth minute and then somehow keeps going. The setup promises lake-house slasher trash, the kind of thing where teens drink, flirt, water-ski, ignore obvious danger, and eventually learn that cheap summer freedom comes with a body count. That is a perfectly fine formula. Horror fans have forgiven much worse when the vibe has a pulse.
The problem is that Blood Lake has the dramatic urgency of people waiting for someone’s uncle to fix the boat motor. Scenes sag. Conversations stretch into nothing. The characters talk like the script was discovered under a cooler. The lake barely feels threatening, the killer barely feels present, and the horror barely feels like a priority. It is one of those movies where the dead space becomes the main character. You keep waiting for the grimy home-video texture to become part of the charm, but charm requires at least a little rhythm, a little madness, a little accidental poetry.
A zombie revenge movie with Adam West (Adam West), Tia Carrere (Tia Carrere), a heavy-metal soundtrack, and a dead man rising to punish the punks who killed him should be gloriously dumb. That combination should deliver at least one perfect video-store fever dream. Instead, Zombie Nightmare has the energy of a movie that keeps forgetting revenge is supposed to feel satisfying.
Tony (Jon Mikl Thor) is a good-hearted muscle guy whose death leads to voodoo resurrection and shambling payback. On paper, beautiful nonsense. On screen, the zombie lumbering is so stiff, so slow, so weirdly unthreatening that every kill feels less like supernatural justice and more like someone missed their bus and decided to murder time. West wanders through the police material with the glazed confidence of a man who knows nobody can hurt his legacy now. The soundtrack keeps trying to pump blood into a corpse the movie itself has already abandoned. It has metal. It has zombies. It has revenge. It has almost no pleasure in any of those things. That is unforgivable.
Things is the kind of movie that makes you question whether cinema was a mistake. Calling it badly made almost feels too polite, because “badly made” suggests recognizable pieces failing to connect. This thing feels transmitted from a cursed basement through damaged cables into the softest part of your brain.
There is a plot somewhere involving an experimental fertility procedure, disgusting little creatures, and people trapped in a house, but plot becomes irrelevant once the movie starts attacking basic human comprehension. The sound is legendary for all the wrong reasons. People speak like their dialogue was recorded inside a shoebox during a power outage. No dig intended at technological limitations of that time (think about The Godfather that came 17 years before it). Scenes drag past the point of awkwardness into a new emotional climate. The creatures look absurd, but the real horror is the dead time between them. Then there is the random newswoman material, the endless wandering, the feeling that every cut is a cry for help. Most bad horror movies fail to scare. Things feels like it was made by fear itself, specifically the fear of being trapped forever in a conversation you cannot hear properly.
Hobgoblins is the grand champion on this list because it manages to be cheap, ugly, irritating, unfunny, lifeless, and smug about its own nonsense at the same time. Little alien creatures escape from a film studio vault and mess with people by making their fantasies come true in dangerous ways. That concept could have been nasty fun: fake glamour, sleazy dreams, puppet chaos, ’80s trash culture eating itself. Give that premise to the right maniacs and you get a filthy little cult gem.
Hobgoblins gives you puppets that look like carpet samples with eyes, characters who make every room worse by entering it, and comedy that lands with the force of a damp sock. The nightclub scenes feel like time has been legally frozen. The phone-sex subplot is painful in a way that bypasses laughter and goes directly into spiritual fatigue. The creatures barely function as monsters, yet the humans are so unbearable that rooting for anyone becomes work. Plenty of bad horror movies are incompetent. This one feels like it is actively wasting the viewer’s night while grinning from behind a pile of lint. A true 0/10. No scare. No fun. No mercy.
Millennials showed up to theaters for a dose of nostalgia this week with Jackass: Best and Last debuting to solid reviews. However, the numbers simply weren’t there for the slapstick, stunt-based comedy sequel. The new movie grossed less than one-fifth of the franchise’s high-water mark, set by the third installment over a decade ago. The Jackass franchise, which began as an MTV series in the early aughts and branched off to the big screen not long afterward, has relied on nostalgia since the third installment’s release in 2012. You’d have to wonder how many times audiences can be courted with the promise of one last ride. The new movie makes this assertion in the title and brings back franchise veterans Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O, although a key member of the group, Bam Margera, is missing for the second time in a row.
Jackass: Best and Last holds a stellar 88% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, which is currently the highest for any installment of the franchise. By comparison, Jackass Forever holds an 86% score, while Jackass 3 is sitting at a 67% score and Jackass Number Two has a 66% score. Jackass: The Movie is the only installment not rated “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. The fifth movie also earned an A- grade from CinemaScore audiences — the best since the original film, which was released nearly 25 years ago.
Jackass: Best and Last grossed a little more than $8 million in its domestic debut, which is the worst bow in the franchise’s history. It’s also far lower than the franchise-record haul of $50 million set by Jackass 3. That film ended up grossing more than $170 million worldwide, also a franchise record. Jackass Forever grossed $23 million in its opening weekend, Jackass Number Two grossed $29 million in its first three days, and Jackass: The Movie earned $22 million in its domestic debut. Even the spin-off, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, grossed more than $100 million domestically and more than $160 million worldwide. Every installment of the franchise has been directed by Jeff Tremaine, with Oscar-winner Spike Jonze serving as a writer and producer. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
June 26, 2026
Jeff Tremaine
Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuña, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey, Preston Lacy, Trip Taylor, Eric Manaka, Zach Holmes, Rachel Wolfson, Jasper Dolphin, Tory Belleci, J.P. Blackmon, Sean Cliver, Dimitry Elyashkevich, Johnny Knoxville, Knate Lee, Sean McInerney, Chris Pontius, Steve-O, Jeff Tremaine, Davon Wilson
Steve-O
Self (as ‘Danger Efren’ McGhehey)
Chris Pontius
Self (archive footage)
Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuña
Self (as Sean ‘Poopies’ McInerney)
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Summer outfit ruts are real. After months of reaching for the same tees and tanks, it’s easy to start craving something that feels a little more special without sacrificing comfort. A pretty, boutique-looking blouse provides that perfect happy medium, completely refreshing your wardrobe with minimal effort.
That’s the reason why the Sampeel 3/4 Length Sleeve Lace Eyelet Blouse keeps landing in carts. With more than 1,300 five-star ratings on Amazon, it’s the kind of high-end-looking piece that doesn’t carry a boutique price tag. Right now it’s marked down by 45% for Prime Day, which makes grabbing a couple of colors feel like a small indulgence rather than a splurge.
Get the Sampeel 3/4 Length Sleeve Lace Eyelet Blouse for $14 (Was $26) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The eyelet-lace floral design is what sets it apart from your standard summer top, and the 3/4-sleeve length hits a flattering spot on the arm. It’s made from a cotton blend that breathes well in warm weather, and its crew neck pairs well under blazers or on its own with jeans. Sizes run from S to XXL, and the color range is generous: crisp white, soft light blue, magenta pink and several more.
The details aren’t the only thing shoppers love. One reviewer praised the flattering fit, adding that “the fabric feels luxurious and high-quality.” Another shopper called it a versatile closet staple, writing, “It can be worn everywhere. Daytime to work, evening out to dinner,” and even admitted they were “thinking of buying in more colors.”
That kind of versatility is rare at this price point. Pair it with white denim and sandals for brunch, tuck it into a pencil skirt for the office or layer it under a cardigan once the weather turns. The eyelet detail does the styling work for you, so you don’t have to pile on accessories to feel pulled together.
A final reviewer summed up the appeal best: “This is so cute and so comfortable.” According to the shopper, they’ve worn it twice already and “got a lot of compliments” each time.
At just $15 during Prime Day, it’s hard to argue with picking up two. Whether you’re tired of basic tees or simply looking for an easy way to make everyday outfits feel a little prettier, this bestselling blouse delivers the boutique look without the boutique price tag.
Get the Sampeel 3/4 Length Sleeve Lace Eyelet Blouse for $14 (Was $26) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Sampeel here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Roomies, A$AP Rocky has the internet talking again after a recent tour stop sparked a wave of reactions online—and this time, he used the moment to directly respond to the ongoing chatter surrounding him. The Harlem rapper paused during his ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ tour performance to address several rumors and narratives that have followed him throughout his rollout, making it clear he was ready to set the record straight.
During the show, Rocky called out critics over a string of viral topics that have circulated online in recent weeks. He pushed back on claims about his wardrobe, ticket sales, and personal life, telling the crowd he feels frustrated with the constant speculation surrounding him. “Fuck the internet,” Rocky told the audience. “First they was saying n***a was wearing thongs, then they was saying n***as show wasn’t selling out, nobody wasn’t coming, then they saying I’m disrespectful to my wife. Suck my d**k, n***a.“
A$AP Rocky goes off on the internet 👀
“F*ck the internet. First they was saying I was wearing thongs, then they was saying the show wasn’t selling out, nobody wasn’t coming, then they saying I’m disrespectful to my wife… suck my d*ck.” pic.twitter.com/ZZFK8TGL0F
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) June 27, 2026
Now, A$AP Rocky had the internet in a frenzy after a viral clip from his tour sparked wild speculation about what fans thought they saw on stage. The conversation quickly spiraled online, but Rocky and his creative agency AWGE wasted no time flipping the narrative right back on everyone.
After the footage began circulating, showing what some users believed was a fashion choice involving thong underwear, AWGE stepped in with a sharp response and turned the moment into a marketing play instead. The label teased its own branded line of thongs while shutting down the rumors, writing, “Don’t be dumb you played yaself,” and adding that what people saw was simply a mic pack. In true Rocky fashion, he and his team flip the situation back onto the internet, spark debate among fans, and reject claims of confusion.
What Do You Think Roomies?
The momentum that Apple TV has accumulated with a series of hit shows in the last few months isn’t slowing down, with another sure-fire winner around the corner. Apple’s streak began with the comedy-drama Margo’s Got Money Problems, and continued with the sci-fi series Star City, the humorous crime thriller Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, and the horror comedy Widow’s Bay. Each of these titles is “Certified Fresh” on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with Widow’s Bay emerging as a bona fide cultural phenomenon. Even Cape Fear, arguably Apple’s biggest bet this summer, received positive reviews despite not hitting the viewership benchmarks it was projected to. This streak will continue when one of the most acclaimed sci-fi shows on Apple returns with a new season this week.
The show in question debuted in 2023 and returned with a second season in 2024. Over that period, Apple has cemented itself as the go-to hub for sci-fi content, thanks to shows such as Severance, Foundation, and more recently, Pluribus. Don’t forget, the streamer’s longest-running series is the sci-fi hit For All Mankind, which will conclude its six-season run next year. The 2023 series, created by Graham Yost, has already been renewed for a fourth and final season, which will be released in 2027. The show stars Rebecca Ferguson in the lead role, with Tim Robbins, Steve Zahn, and Jessica Henwick in supporting roles.
We’re talking, of course, about Silo. The show holds an overall 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with both previous seasons being “Certified Fresh” on the aggregator. The show’s third season is set to premiere on July 3. A new episode will be released weekly, with the 10-episode season coming to an end on September 4. The show is based on a series of dystopian novels by Hugh Howey, which take place in a future where humankind lives in underground silos with their own social hierarchies. Ferguson plays an engineer who becomes entangled in the many conspiracies surrounding the survival and subjugation of humanity. Think of it as a combination of Snowpiercer and Apple’s own Severance. You can watch the show on Apple TV, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
May 5, 2023
Apple TV
Graham Yost
Morten Tyldum, David Semel, Michael Dinner, Aric Avelino
Graham Yost, Hugh Howey, Jeffery Wang, Lekethia Dalcoe
Jennifer Lopez is officially getting ready for an empty nest as she took to social media to share a series of wholesome photos from the high school graduation of her twins, Max and Emme [also known as Oskar].
Last month, the singer was full of pride when she revealed that her twins got into all five colleges they applied for with scholarships.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez’s ex-husband, Marc Anthony, has been MIA, and she didn’t hesitate to throw shades at him on how she raised them “with very little help.”
Lopez is seemingly reminiscing on how things have been on the home front as she took to her Instagram account to share several photos that include some from her children’s graduation.
Beginning with photos of herself posing on a couch and another close to a bathtub, the post also featured one where she’s seen tightly embracing Max while closing her eyes and resting her hand on his cheeks.
Another photo sees her child, Oskar, sit in front of a sign that reads, “Class of 2026.”
One other slide captured a close-up photo of Oskar’s graduation cap, which read, “Not my first rodeo,” while another had several graduation-themed cupcakes.
“They say I got lucky… and I don’t disagree… Just this feeling,” Lopez captioned the post.

In the comment section of Lopez’s new post, fans were full of praise for the singer while congratulating her twins.
A person wrote, “I love you all!! Congratulations to the coconuts! So happy for them. You are a wonderful mother at all times.”
Another fan noted, “Congratulations to Emme and Max!!! So proud of them & their hard-earned work and future success!!”
The celebrations mark a phase of major transitions for the family, as it comes after a social media post revealed that Lopez’s child, Emme, is now going by the name “Oskar Muñiz.”
The now-deleted post, which announced that the student in question was going to study theater and visual arts at Sarah Lawrence College, tagged Oskar’s Instagram account, which has a profile picture of Lopez’s child.
In the post, Emme was not only referred to as Oskar but was also described using he/him pronouns.

Meanwhile, Max has yet to share his preferred college destination, unlike his twin sibling, who is likely going to Sarah Lawrence College.
Earlier this month, the “Maid In Manhattan” actress attended his graduation and struggled to keep the tears from flowing down her face as she watched him graduate.
Photos obtained by Page Six showed her Lopez emotional as she hugged him tightly in another wholesome shot.
At the event, she was in the company of her parents, Guadalupe Rodríguez and David Lopez, manager Benny Medina, and Oskar.

The “Ain’t Your Mama” singer has been beaming with pride on the stellar academic performance of her children so far.
During a May appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” she revealed that she has been a major figure in their transition to college life and has been helping them arrange their stuff.
“I do all the things,” she told Kimmel. “We have sheets at the house. We’re gonna pack up their rooms here, and they’re going to take all the things that they want to take to their dorms.”
Lopez then shared that she was going to miss them and hoped they wouldn’t stay away for too long.
“Then, they’re gonna get there and realize their dorms are too small,” she stated. “They’re going to miss home, I hope and want to come back real soon. That’s my plan.”

The road to graduation wasn’t without its own challenges. The singer recently opened up about how proud she is of both of them for overcoming academic hurdles related to ADHD and getting into all 5 universities they applied to with scholarships.
She made the remark in a chat with Extra, saying she’s so proud of them as they’ve seemingly achieved their set goals.
“They all got into all five colleges that they applied to. They both got a scholarship, you know, one scholarship to each. Each one got a scholarship to a school. And I just felt like they work so hard,” she said.
“I watched how hard they worked, from the time they were like… when school gets serious in the fifth grade, and they just worked hard,” she continued. “They have ADHD, and so they need to learn differently, and there were struggles and times, and I’m just so proud of them because they did what they said they were going to do, and they’re good people.”

Lopez recently took a subtle dig at her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, who has notably been absent from graduation photos of the twins.
During an appearance on the “SmartLess” podcast, she dished on how she has become increasingly “emotional” as they prepare to leave for college.
“It’s crazy. And now I can really look at my life, appreciate it for what it is and what I’ve created for myself and be really happy,” she told hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
She continued, “Both my kids got into all their colleges, and they both got scholarships, and they’re going where they want to go.”
“It’s just … I was like, ‘You did that sh-t all by yourself.’ That’s great. Like, ‘You had very little help,’ you know?” Lopez added.
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