The 21st century has revolutionized cinema. With advances in technology and storytelling, the way consumers view movies has changed significantly. Whether you’re heading to the theaters for a big blockbuster or watching the latest film on your favorite streamer, what hasn’t changed is the desire to be entertained. And nothing is as entertaining as a juicy thriller.
Over the past 25 years, filmmakers have brought audiences on extraordinary rides through mystery and action, the dreamworld and reality. Critically acclaimed and audience-revered, these 10 films have had such an enduring impact that they are the best thrillers so far this century. From visionary directors and award-winning actors, if you seek a thrill, these flicks are mandatory viewing.
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1
‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)
Image via Miramax/ courtesy Everett Collection
Very few directors know how to make an atmosphere a thrill in and of itself quite like Joel and Ethan Coen. With a brilliant resume behind them, they made their mark in the 2000s with their neo-Western crime thriller No Country for Old Men. Based on Cormac McCarthy‘s 2005 novel, the film brings audiences to the desert landscape of 1980 West Texas. The story follows a trio of men: Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a Vietnam War veteran and welder who stumbles upon a large sum of money in the desert, Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a hitman who is sent to recover the money, and Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), a sheriff investigating the crime while battling a changing world he feels ill-equipped to handle. Through the ideals of pessimism and nihilism, and through fate and circumstance, the story isn’t about who ends up with the loot; It’s about the chase between the hunt and the hunted, a role each of the main characters adopts throughout the film.
A well-received film that added quite a lot of accolades to the Coens’ mantle, No Country for Old Men has been regarded as the Coen Brothers’ “magnum opus.” Technically brilliant with masterful storytelling and profound exploration of morality and relentless evil, No Country for Old Men was a thriller like never before. In fact, it was only the fourth Western to win the top prize at the Academy Awards. Both Jones and Brolin brought their A-game to the film, but it was Bardem who completely stole the picture, turning Anton Chigurh into a newfound villain who embodied an almost cosmic evil. No Country for Old Men is a gripping story that’s suspenseful and one of the most defining films of the century.
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2
‘Parasite’ (2020)
Parasite – 2019, Song-Kang-ho eating with family upstairs in the fancy houseImage via CJ Entertainment
Films about class can be touch-and-go, as they’re bound to strike a chord, but the way Bong Joon Ho brought those themes to life was truly captivating. The South Korean black comedy thriller follows the Kims, a poor family who cunningly infiltrate the lives and home of the wealthy Park family by posing as unrelated, highly qualified employees. Diving deep into the themes of class struggle, greed, and social inequality, Parasite pushes the individuals to dark, chaotic, and tragic consequences that redefine how the desperate poor fight amongst themselves for scraps from the rich.
A juicy long con story, Parasite symbolized class warfare in an entertaining manner that offered a raw peek into the reality of many. Though set in South Korea, the socioeconomic divides depicted between the Kims and the Parks could be found in any country in the world. A story about the haves and the have-nots, Parasite‘s universal themes helped the film reach mainstream audiences, and it won Best Picture at the Oscars, making it the first non-English-language film to do so. A near-flawless entry, the film is predictably stressful. You know there simply can’t be a happy ending, yet you can’t help but look anyway to figure out how you get to the tragic end. A staircase thriller, Parasite is Downton Abbey in another country during its darkest timeline. Parasite is a groundbreaking film that helped Western audiences truly appreciate the brilliance of South Korean cinema.
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3
‘Memento’ (2000)
Guy Pearce as Leonard Shelby in MementoImage via Newmarket Films
Perhaps a film ahead of its time, Memento gave audiences a reason to pay attention to every detail of the film they’re watching. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, from a short story by his brother, Jonathan Nolan, the film follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia, which causes short-term memory loss and an inability to form new memories. Using an elaborate system of photographs, handwritten notes, and tattoos, Leonard attempts to uncover the perpetrator who killed his wife and caused him to sustain his condition. The entrancing mystery keeps audiences on their toes as they work alongside the protagonist to discover exactly who “John G.” is.
Through two different filming approaches — the black-and-white story in chronological order and the color sequences in reverse order — it puts the audience directly into Leonard’s perspective. Nolan’s expert storytelling devises all the elements that allow Memento to stand on its own, while pushing the noir genre to new places. By the point that the story converges, audiences will be left with their jaws on the floor thanks to a twist they never saw coming. With truth and illusion at the forefront of the script, Memento is intricately told, proving thrillers don’t need to follow a cookie-cutter mold. Had it not been for Memento, perhaps the setup for Nolan becoming one of the world’s greatest directors never would have happened.
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Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
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Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
🎖️Rambo
🍸James Bond
🏺Indiana Jones
🔧John McClane
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🎭Ethan Hunt
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01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
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02
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.
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03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
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04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
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05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
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06
Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.
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07
Things go badly wrong and you’re captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.
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08
What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn’t replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn’t know you had.
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09
Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.
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10
It’s the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.
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Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…
Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.
Rambo
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Your partner doesn’t talk much, doesn’t need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you’ve finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You’ll never need to ask if he has your back. You’ll just know.
James Bond
Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it’ll take you a moment to remember what’s actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You’ll never be bored. You’ll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.
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Indiana Jones
Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar’s eye and a brawler’s instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn’t matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you’ll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.
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John McClane
Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren’t so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.
Ethan Hunt
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Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you’ve finished reading the briefing, and the plan he’s settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn’t exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.
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4
‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001)
Image via Studiocanal
Many individuals have attempted to capture the allure of surrealistic filmmaking reminiscent of David Lynch. But as much as filmmakers try to infuse their work with Lynchian themes, no one will ever be quite like him. Perhaps his greatest film is 2001’s Mulholland Drive. The neo-noir mystery thriller follows an aspiring actress (Naomi Watts) who arrives in Los Angeles and befriends a woman (Laura Harring) suffering from amnesia after a car accident. With the tagline, “A love story in the city of dreams,” Mulholland Drive blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, leaving audiences interpreting the film for the rest of eternity, just as Lynch would want it.
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Breaking down the appeal of Los Angeles by exposing the dark, nightmarish side of Hollywood, Mulholland Drive‘s ambition watches as Lynch plays with illusion and image through shifting identities, reflecting the nature of fame and the perception of persona in the industry. Playing with dreams and alternate realities, Mulholland Drive provides the interpretation that fits your needs. Because of the Lynchian intricacies, symbolism, and visuals, Mulholland Drive is not necessarily a film you can grasp on first watch. Nor should it be. The rewatchability of Mulholland Drive has made it a timeless work of art.
5
‘Inception’ (2010)
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Almost a decade later, it was now Nolan who was playing in the world of dreams with the exceptionally daring Inception. Grasping the plot of Nolan’s intricate science fiction thriller is not for the casual viewer. The world Nolan crafts is mindblowing, thanks in part to its strong ensemble and captivating script. Dense and layered, Inception follows Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a professional thief who steals corporate secrets by infiltrating the subconscious of his target. He’s offered a chance to have his criminal history erased as payment for the implantation of another person’s idea into a target’s subconscious. Tackling themes of memory, grief, and the perception of reality, Inception is one of the most fascinating sci-fi thrillers of all time.
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With a masterful philosophical question at its heart, Inception is the kind of film that forces you to think while you’re engaged by its exceptional action. From a cinematic standpoint, it’s Nolan at his finest. From a cultural perspective, we’ve literally incepted Inception as the title has been colloquialized. A unique spin on the heist thriller, Inception goes beyond the norms of typical crime films to craft its own identity. Through that, Nolan’s ability to visually structure a world of dreams and illusions allows for some mind-blowing cinematic moments. If you’re a fan of Nolan’s epics, you must take a moment to relive the brilliance of Inception.
6
‘The Departed’ (2006)
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed, looking shady with gunImage via Warner Bros. Pictures
There are many things you relate to The Departed: the giant all-star cast with their attempts at Boston accents, the usage of Dropkick Murphy‘s “Shipping Up to Boston,” and Martin Scorsese finally winning his only Oscar for Best Director to date. Not a bad trio of things! The Departed follows Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), an undercover Massachusetts State Police trooper, who infiltrates mob boss Frank Costello’s (Jack Nicholson) organization, while a criminal named Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) simultaneously infiltrates the state police to work as Costello’s informant. Both men become consumed by their double lives, and when their respective organizations become aware of a mole, each must race to uncover the other’s identity before they are exposed. A remake of the Hong Kong film Internal Affairs and using the real-life Boston Winter Hill Gang as a basis, The Departed made it clear that Scorsese was maintaining his hold on exceptional filmmaking in the 21st century.
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A deadly cat-and-mouse game where moles are a-plenty, The Departed is a gritty portrayal of betrayal, identity, and morality through the complex relationship between cops and criminals. An engrossing gangster drama with edge and grit, The Departed was more than just a thrilling film; it was a look at the tragedy of America. With a wide-spanning cast, including Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, and Anthony Anderson, The Departed is a masterclass on all fronts. Whether you consider it his crowning achievement or not, this is the film that afforded Scorsese a chance to give an acceptance speech, so it’s special nevertheless.
7
‘Mystic River’ (2003)
Having a brilliant career in front and behind the camera, Clint Eastwood has an innate ability to bring out captivating performances from his actors. Perhaps the best example of this is the 2003 neo-noir mystery thriller Mystic River. Based on the 2001 novel by Dennis Lehane, Mystic River starts in the past in 1975, as three friends, Jimmy Markum (Jason Kelly), Sean Devine (Conor Paolo), and Dave Boyle (Cameron Bowen), are playing when Dave is abducted by two men posing as police officers. Dave escapes after several days of abuse, but the incident leaves him deeply scarred and affects his relationships for decades. Years later, Jimmy’s (Sean Penn) 19-year-old daughter, Katie (Emmy Rossum), is murdered. Sean (Kevin Bacon) is now a homicide detective assigned to the case, and Jimmy is the grieving, vengeful father. Dave (Tim Robinson), the last person to see Katie alive, becomes a prime suspect. A character-driven thriller, Mystic River is a haunting look into trauma, revenge, and guilt.
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A somber yet visceral story, Mystic River delivered powerhouse performances that truly made you feel every drop of emotion. The well-crafted film should be considered Eastwood’s greatest directorial achievement. It’s more than just a self-explanatory whodunit police procedural — Mystic River‘s ability to connect the past to the present while still making you question the actions showcases why Eastwood’s masterful direction elevated the source material. Though neither the film nor Eastwood was victorious at the Academy Awards, Penn and Robbins deserved their awards for their sensational, career-defining turns.
8
‘Gone Girl’ (2014)
Image via 20th Century Studios
Gillian Flynn‘s novels are more than just juicy beach reads and book club suggestions — they’re escapism at its finest. Serving as the first film or television adaptation of her novels, Gone Girlleft audiences wanting more Flynn on the screen. Directed by David Fincher, Gone Girl is the twisted story of Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) as he becomes the prime suspect in the sudden disappearance of his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), on the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary. Nick’s public image deteriorates through the ongoing media frenzy, and police pressure mounts. As he attempts to clear his name and prove his innocence, the truth about Amy is brewing beneath the surface, leading to a shocking outcome that inspired real-life traps.
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A cult postmodern mystery, audiences flocked to the theaters to see Gone Girl. Perhaps in hopes of not being spoiled or simply being part of the hype, Gone Girl inspired future mystery thrillers by adopting a dark, intelligent, and stylistic approach that went beyond the simple. Gone Girl led audiences to seek out complex, unsettling thrillers. Affleck and Pike are a dynamic duo, with the latter earning great praise for her performance.Gone Girl is a brilliant examination of how reality and perception go hand in hand, but the truth can alter everything. If you’re still stuck on that shocking twist, believe me, you’re not alone.
9
‘Get Out’ (2017)
Image via Universal Pictures
Jordan Peele was best known as the guy from Mad TV and his long-running collaboration with Keegan-Michael Key. Then it was all thrown out the window thanks to 2017’s exceptional horror thriller, Get Out. Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a young Black man, and his girlfriend, Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), a white woman, go upstate to visit her parents for the weekend. At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as a nervous attempt to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries leads him to a truth that he never could have imagined. A shocking film that is an unwavering exposé of the lie of post-racial America, Get Out not only reshaped the genre’s diversity but also gave audiences a new respect for Peele’s brilliance.
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A unique and effective blend of horror and social commentary, Get Out is meant to be uncomfortable. Because of Peele’s ability to infuse heavy-handed truths in exchange for subtlety, the conversations that abound become essential to the horrors audiences are witnessing. The way in which the Armitage family and their group display performative acceptance should scare anyone watching about the perceived actions of those around them. Is it a cheery facade, or a long con with predatory intentions? Subverting horror forever, Get Out is one of the most impactful and crucial masterpieces ever crafted. By spanning genres, Get Out became a game-changer in Hollywood.
10
‘Zodiac’ (2007)
Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith in Zodiac.Image via Paramount Pictures
We have a potentially unhealthy fascination with true-crime stories. Perhaps it’s our affinity to try to solve them. Before podcasting was even a possibility, true-crime fans sought out their favorite stories through film and television. If there’s one serial killer who’s continued to mesmerize audiences because their identity is still unknown, it’s the Zodiac killer. The unsolved mystery has inspired many adaptations, but perhaps the greatest of them all is Fincher’s Zodiac. Focusing on the individuals obsessed with bringing the killer down — cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), detective Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo), and reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) — Zodiac follows as they are taunted by letters, bloodstained clothing, and ciphers mailed to newspapers.
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Rather than focusing on the gory details, Fincher perfectly provides the atmosphere surrounding the killings. The fear of the unknown is the film’s most captivating torment. The detail and care that the filmmakers took to ensure that the reality of the manhunt was unparalleled. They embarked on their own 18-month investigation to grasp the nature of the case for the individuals involved. By diving deep into the attention to detail and accuracy of both the real-life investigation and the obsession around it, the film made them central. The main ensemble plays well together as they explore the intricate nuances of their characters, hoping to solve the compulsive puzzle.
Hannah and Garrett at a themed birthday party in ‘Off Campus’ Season 1, Episode 2Image via Prime Video
After establishing itself as a hub for content aimed at older male viewers with hits such as Reacher and Bosch, Prime Video is proving to be just as adept at entertaining Gen Z audiences. The streamer witnessed tremendous success with The Summer I Turned Pretty, which concluded its three-season run in 2025 and is set to return with a feature-length final chapter. Prime Video recently premiered an even bigger hit, a romance drama that delivered the streamer’s third-biggest debut of all time. It attracted 36 million viewers in the first 12 days of release, trailing only the first seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Fallout on the all-time Prime Video rankings. Most importantly, it delivered the streamer’s biggest-ever debut for the all-important 18-34 age demographic, beating out The Summer I Turned Pretty.
According to the latest Nielsen streaming report, which tracks viewership across platforms from the week of May 18 to May 24, the Prime Video title saw a massive 34% increase in viewership in its second week. It generated 690 million minutes watched, placing fifth on Nielsen’s list of the top 10 original streaming series. The list was topped by Netflix’s Nemesis, which generated 1.3 billion minutes watched during the same week. Only one other Prime Video title found a spot on the list: The Boys, which concluded its five-season run on May 20.
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Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw
Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it’s your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
🦁Gryffindor
🐍Slytherin
🦡Hufflepuff
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🦅Ravenclaw
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01
What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.
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02
A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.
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03
What does success look like to you? What you’re working toward defines who you’re becoming.
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04
What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.
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05
The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.
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06
What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.
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07
You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.
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08
The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: “You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?” This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.
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The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen
After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.
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Gryffindor Tower · Scarlet & Gold
🦁 Gryffindor
You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you’re terrified — especially then.
Gryffindors don’t act because they’re fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
You charge toward what’s right even when the odds are terrible.
Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts’s greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.
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Slytherin Dungeon · Emerald & Silver
🐍 Slytherin
You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.
Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.
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Hufflepuff Basement · Yellow & Black
🦡 Hufflepuff
You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.
Hufflepuff is not the “safe” house or the “leftover” house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
You show up. You work hard. You don’t need glory or recognition — you do what’s right because it’s right.
Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world’s finest. And now you join them.
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Ravenclaw Tower · Blue & Bronze
🦅 Ravenclaw
Your mind is your greatest gift, and you’ve always known it.
Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it’s about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don’t know something yet.
You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.
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Prime Video’s Record-Breaking Romance Series Received Critical Acclaim
The romance series we’re talking about, of course, is Off Campus. Based on a series of books by Elle Kennedy, the series was created by Louisa Levy. It stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli as a music major and the hockey captain at the fictional Briar University. Off Campus received high critical praise in addition to being wholeheartedly embraced by its target audience. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 91% critics’ score and an 88% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Off Campus thrives on titillation and the deliberate excavation of relationship dynamics in a whirlwind romance novel adaptation that genuinely cares for the genre and all its pleasurable trappings.” In her review, Collider’s Therese Lacson described the show as “the perfect blend of sizzling romance and soapy drama.” Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
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Release Date
May 13, 2026
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Network
Prime Video
Directors
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Dawn Wilkinson, Erica Dunton, Silver Tree, Sam Bailey
It’s been more than 20 years since The Princess Diaries hit theaters, but fans will never get tired of the Disney movie’s royal charm.
Released in August 2001, Anne Hathaway made her film debut as Mia Thermopolis, a San Francisco teen who discovers she is a princess of the fictional country of Genovia. Julie Andrews starred alongside Hathaway as Mia’s grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi.
The duo returned for the film’s 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, alongside fellow original stars Heather Matarazzo, Hector Elizondo and Caroline Goodall.
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Much to the delight of fans, Hathaway announced in October 2024 that she is reprising her role for the upcoming Princess Diaries 3.
“Miracles happen ✨👑 Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures,” she teased via Instagram. “The fairy tale continues ❤️🔥.”
Scroll down to see where the cast of The Princess Diaries is now:
Video games are the future of storytelling, with their immersive narratives and gameplay gaining millions of fans around the world. As titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI and Resident Evil continue to push the medium forward, more and more fans share their opinions on these games, some good, and some bad. It is impossible to please everyone, but a select few games are universally beloved.
The best reception a game can get is universal acclaim with no hate, but that is nearly impossible, especially with such a polarizing fan base. However, some games achieve that feat, which is why this list will rank the ten most universally beloved video games of all time. Based on aspects such as design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, polish, influence, originality, widespread appeal, fan love, lack of hate, and overall quality, everyone loves these ten games.
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10
‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)
‘Red Dead Redemption 2’Image via Rockstar Games
Rockstar is one of the most prolific video game studios, with their next masterpiece that could be on this list coming out in November 2026. But for now, their best game is Red Dead Redemption 2, which follows Arthur Morgan in the dying age of the Wild West. However, he goes on one last adventure to come to terms with his humanity and a last chance at redemption.
The 2018 Game of the Year winner was so controversial because Red Dead Redemption 2 didn’t win, which was, and still is, one of the most popular video games. The life-like realism of not only the visuals but also the details and minor mechanics builds an immersive Wild West experience. However, everyone loves Red Dead Redemption 2 for its award-winning narrative that has the best character arc in video game history.
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9
‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)
Stardew-Valley-EmilyImage via Proprietary Engine
It is extremely difficult for an indie game to get popular, but if it does, it will become a beloved classic. This is what happened with Stardew Valley. After inheriting the titular land, players are tasked with rebuilding the surrounding area by exploring caverns, managing residents and resources, and farming to build the economy.
There are many beloved indies, but that is because they only have a cult fan base. Stardew Valley, on the other hand, is an indie sensation, not only being popular but also establishing itself as a comfort classic. The addictive gameplay loop and cozy atmosphere deliver low-stress entertainment that connects perfectly with so many players.
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8
‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ (1998)
This list features some of the biggest video game franchises, but none are as iconic as The Legend of Zelda, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still the best of the series. After the evil Gerudo king, Ganondorf, kidnaps Princess Zelda, a forest boy named Link must travel through the present and future in order to wake up the sages and stop Ganondorf’s plan.
When a video game is dubbed the greatest of all time, it usually means most people like it. But it also opens itself up to hate since it is the best. Despite that, Ocarina of Time still holds that legacy, proving that love outweighs hate. Every Zelda game is a masterpiece, but Ocarina of Time is another level of influential, arguably being the most important video game of all time.
7
‘Minecraft’ (2011)
Steve from Minecraft holding an iron pickaxe while being followed by mobsImage via Mojang
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The most popular video games are popular for a reason, but some, like Fortnite, have just as much hate as love. Minecraft, on the other hand, beats those allegations. Players are given unlimited freedom as they can mine, build, craft, and explore, doing whatever they want in survival or creative mode with friends, or by themselves.
Minecraft does have some haters, but the hate those gamers feel pales in comparison to the love the fans have. Minecraft is the biggest game for a reason, and that is, fans have been playing it for years, and with new content added periodically, the game remains fresh. Some players hold a special nostalgic place in their hearts for Minecraft; others still enjoy it today, but either way, everyone loves it.
6
‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)
Image via Capcom
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The introduction mentioned Resident Evil, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, highlighting its ninth game. However, nothing beats Resident Evil 4, which follows Leon S. Kennedy, a special operative sent to Spain in order to save the president’s daughter from an evil cult infected by a zombie-like parasite.
In a beloved video game franchise home to the greatest horror experiences in gaming history, Resident Evil 4 is the definitive entry. This game revolutionized the genre and franchise by shifting its focus to thrilling action-horror gameplay. From overly dramatic backflips to intense shootouts, this invigorating video game wormed its way into everyone’s hearts.
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Collider Exclusive · Universe Personality Quiz Which Iconic Universe Do You Belong in the Most? Star Wars · Lord of the Rings · Harry Potter · Game of Thrones · Star Trek
Five legendary universes. Five completely different visions of what the world could be — or already was. One of them is the world your instincts, your values, and your particular way of existing were built for. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🚀Star Wars
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💍Lord of the Rings
🧙Harry Potter
👑Game of Thrones
🖖Star Trek
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01
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What gives your life its deepest sense of meaning? Every universe is built around a different answer to this question.
02
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Which kind of world do you most want to inhabit? The environment shapes who you become. Choose carefully.
03
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How do you prefer your conflicts resolved? The shape of a world’s conflicts tells you everything about its soul.
04
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Who do you want beside you when things get difficult? Your ideal companions reveal the world you were made for.
05
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What is your relationship with power? How you seek, wield, or resist power is the map of who you are.
06
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How does your universe treat good and evil? A world’s moral architecture tells you more about it than any map.
07
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What role would you naturally fall into? Every universe has archetypes. Which one fits you without trying?
08
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What do you ultimately believe about the future? The answer to this is the clearest window into which universe already lives inside you.
Your Universe Has Been Chosen You Belong In…
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Your answers point to the iconic universe your values, your instincts, and your particular way of seeing the world were built for. This is where you would find your people — and your purpose.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
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Star Wars
You believe in the cause — in the idea that freedom is worth fighting for even when the odds are impossible and the empire is vast.
You are drawn to the moral clarity of a universe where hope itself is a form of resistance.
You’d find your people in the Rebellion — a ragtag coalition of true believers held together by conviction more than resources.
Star Wars is fundamentally a story about ordinary people choosing to matter in an extraordinary conflict — and that is exactly your kind of story.
The Force may or may not be with you. But the will to use it for something larger than yourself certainly is.
Middle-earth
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Lord of the Rings
You understand, in the deepest part of yourself, that the journey matters as much as the destination — and that the world’s beauty is worth protecting even at great cost.
Middle-earth is a world of ancient wonder, deep friendship, and a darkness that only retreats when enough small acts of courage accumulate.
You would thrive here because you value the fellowship more than the glory — the road more than the arrival.
Tolkien’s universe rewards patience, loyalty, and the willingness to carry something heavy across a very long distance.
Those are not burdens to you. They are simply how you move through the world.
The Wizarding World
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Harry Potter
You believe that love, loyalty, and doing what’s right are not naive sentiments — they are the most powerful forces in any world, magical or otherwise.
The Wizarding World is a place of wonder hidden in plain sight, where learning is transformative and the bonds you form at school follow you into every battle.
You would flourish here because you take both the magic and the friendships seriously — and you understand that one without the other is incomplete.
Harry Potter’s universe ultimately rewards those who choose to stand for something even when standing is terrifying.
That choice — made quietly, without guarantee — is something you understand completely.
Westeros · The Known World
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Game of Thrones
You see the world clearly — its power structures, its hypocrisies, its brutal arithmetic — and you are not paralysed by that clarity. You use it.
Westeros is a world that rewards intelligence, adaptability, and the willingness to understand that every alliance is also a negotiation.
You would survive here — possibly thrive here — because you don’t confuse the world as it is with the world as you’d like it to be.
Game of Thrones is a story about what happens when the idealists and the realists collide. You are sharp enough to know which one lasts longer.
Winter always comes. You are already prepared.
The United Federation of Planets
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Star Trek
You believe the future is worth building — that curiosity, cooperation, and the expansion of understanding are not just ideals but the most practical path forward for any civilisation.
Star Trek is a universe where the questions matter as much as the answers, and where encountering something utterly alien is cause for wonder rather than fear.
You would belong here because you are fundamentally optimistic about what intelligence and decency can achieve — while being honest about how hard that achievement is.
The Federation is the universe’s most ambitious thought experiment: what if we actually got better?
You don’t just hope that’s possible. You think it’s the only thing worth working toward.
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5
‘Fallout: New Vegas’ (2010)
The North Gate of the Strip in ‘Fallout: New Vegas.’Image via Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda doesn’t have a good track record anymore after a couple of misses, but at the very least, they have Fallout: New Vegas. Instead of controlling a vault dweller, players are a courier in the Mojave Desert, tasked with delivering a package to the New Vegas Strip. But things quickly spiral out of control as a turf war between two factions rages.
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Players love agency, and when a game like Fallout: New Vegas gives players the complete freedom they’ve been craving, it instantly becomes a fan-favorite. With a plethora of engaging side quests and eccentric characters everywhere, this game is a worldbuilding masterclass. With so many aspects to love, it is no wonder that Fallout: New Vegas is a universally beloved video game.
4
‘Nintendogs’ (2005)
Two guys walking dogs and waving to each other in NintendogsImage via Nintendo
Nintendo is known for having some of the most beloved video games because of their casual appeal and family fun, and the game that fits the bill the most is Nintendogs. Selecting from a variety of dog breeds, gamers care for their pups by playing with them, grooming them, giving them food, and simply having a good time with their digital dogs.
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Fans are still praying for a new Nintendogs game on the Nintendo Switch 2, and that is because the franchise is a beloved icon. Literally no one can hate a game about caring for puppies. It has such a wholesome premise and fans form right bonds with their dogs, further cementing the joy and love while playing Nintendogs, making it universally beloved.
3
‘Elden Ring’ (2022)
an image from Elden RingImage via Bandai Namco Entertainment
Beloved video games are usually comforting and timeless titles, and while Elden Ring isn’t comforting, it is definitely timeless. After the titular object is broken into multiple pieces, the children of Aueen Marika claim them. However, the player arises as the Tarnished, sent to defeat the demigod children, claim the shards, restore the ring, and become the Elden Lord.
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Combining FromSoftware’s staple dark fantasy combat and challenging, yet rewarding gameplay with George R.R. Martin’s worldbuilding and lore, Elden Ring became an instant classic. This definitive fantasy masterpiece is a new age phenomenon, boasting one of the greatest video game narratives alongside a magnificent sense of exploration, which meld into a video game unlike anything ever made.
2
‘Portal 2’ (2011)
Portal 2Image via Valve
Valve unfortunately doesn’t make video games anymore, which is truly sad because gamers won’t get a sequel to Portal 2. Years after the first game, players wake up in the same scientific facility, but this time it is abandoned. Trying to escape with the help of Wheatley, players accidentally awaken GLaDOS, who wants revenge for the last time, forcing them to undergo ruthless experiments.
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Portal 2 has remained without controversy for decades, and that is because there is nothing to hate about a perfectly crafted masterpiece. The witty dialogue and charming characters create an endearing narrative that complements the vibe and gameplay, working together to build a succinct experience. Portal 2 has innovative mechanics and intricate puzzles that challenge the mind, making those who hate it the ones unable to solve the puzzles.
1
‘Wii Sports’ (2006)
Dodging Matt from Wii Sports in boxingImage via Nintendo
Being universally beloved is no easy feat, especially in the video game industry, but one way to earn goodwill is by giving fans a video game for free. Wii Sports was a free game everyone got with a purchase of the Wii, offering a handful of sports such as golf, tennis, boxing, bowling, and baseball. With intuitive motion controls, gamers felt like they were really playing these sports.
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Wii Sports is a simple game, but that is all players need to have fun. The intuitive controls made it so anyone could play, and everyone did, from grandparents to children.Wii Sports is a video game for all gamers, boasting a whimsical style and customizable Miis, which added a layer of immersion on top of the motion controls. Every game has its haters, but Wii Sports is as close as it comes to a perfect, universally beloved video game.
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If you thought Jennifer Lawrence‘s cool style was only reserved for the red carpet, think again. The actress was recently spotted carrying the Cyklar Perfume Oil in Modern Patchouli on her keychain, proving you can easily touch up your scent throughout the day. At just $24, the perfume oil is an affordable way to channel a warm, sophisticated scent that feels anything but basic.
Unlike traditional patchouli fragrances that can lean heavy or overpowering, Cyklar Perfume Oil takes a fresher approach, balancing earthy patchouli with soft woody notes and subtle hints of warmth, creating an overall scent that feels clean, skin-like and super wearable. The oil features top notes of coconut water and pistachio, middle notes of mimosa and dry notes of vanilla absolute and patchouli for a well-rounded scent that yields compliments.
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Get the Cyklar Perfume Oil for $24 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Because oils don’t contain alcohol, they tend to wear closer to the skin and can feel better than traditional sprays. As the perfume oil warms on the skin, the fragrance unfolds gradually, allowing different notes to emerge rather than disappearing after a few hours. The small applicator also makes it easy to target pulse points throughout the day, making it perfect when you’re heading from meeting to date night, or if you’re simply looking for a quick refresh after running errands.
Floral perfumes for spring may be far from groundbreaking, but Pamela Anderson doesn’t mind. The affordable garden-fresh scent she loves earns her plenty of compliments, so it’s no surprise it’s become one of her signature scents. The Kai Perfume Oil is one of those rare fragrances that seems to subtly garner everyone’s attention. At least, that’s […]
Another standout feature is the travel-friendly design. The compact bottle is small enough to slip into a clutch, pocket or makeup bag, or you could make like Lawrence and carry it on your keychain so you never forget to reapply. It’s perfect for those who prefer convenience over carrying a bulky perfume bottle. Your signature scent will be within arm’s reach no matter where the day takes you.
One Amazon user called it a “smooth fragrance” that makes you “smell fresh all day.” Another shopper said it’s very “long-lasting” and “sophisticated.”
If you’re looking to upgrade your fragrance wardrobe without spending a fortune, this is a chic celebrity-approved pick worth considering. Head to Amazon and grab Cyklar Perfume Oil while it’s still just $24!
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Get the Cyklar Perfume Oil for $24 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Spring is the time to switch out your heavy winter products for light and airy formulas. I’m not just talking about skincare, either. The same goes for body care and fragrances — and Jennifer Garner’s favorite body oil is a springtime must-have. The actress has waxed poetic about the Kai Body Glow for how “fresh […]
Love Island USA’s Bryce Alakai Dettloff got a compliment on his penis size from Zach Georgiou following a surprise “girth check.”
Bryce flashed Zach during the Friday, June 19, episode of the show. Later that day, Zach brought it up, saying, “That f**king snake you got down there.”
After Bryce asked for Zach’s opinion on his anatomy, his friend called it “long.”
“It is nearly my f**king boner, that was. I am not going to lie,” Zach added. “That was good s***.”
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Love Island USA follows a group of singles who must pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa. The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and earn a shot at the $100,000 prize.
While the islanders are filming nonstop for weeks, viewers are watching daily episodes and casting votes that affect the couples and the fate of the contestants.
While the Islanders paired off during Day 1, it didn’t take long for those bonds to shift. There was also the arrival of bombshells, who tempted several Islanders to reconsider their connections.
Before viewers tuned in, Peacock issued a message to remind the audience to be kind.
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“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected,” read their statement. “This is a space for fun, not negativity – so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”
Host Ariana Madix has also had to previously issue a message for those Love Island USA viewers who are taking things too far when expressing their frustrations with the show.
“I do want to say something to some of those people who are online,” she said during a June 2025 episode of Aftersun. “Don’t be contacting people’s families. Don’t be doxxing people.”
“Don’t be going on islanders’ pages and saying rude things. You still have time to delete all of that because the islanders don’t have their phones,” she noted. “So we are giving you a chance because this is a fun, amazing and beautiful show. We should be thanking each one of these islanders every single day for giving us themselves.”
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
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Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
Bryson Bryant, the son of Real Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes, has been arrested after reportedly violating his probation.
According to jail records obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, June 19, Bryant has been held in a Georgia jail since May 1 after being booked for allegedly failing to meet the terms of his probation, failing to pay child support and “failing to appear”. (TMZ was the first to report the news.)
The probation violation is in relation to his July 2023 arrest, when he was found with fentanyl in his possession.
According to documents obtained by Us Weekly at the time, Bryant was booked on multiple charges in Lawrenceville, Georgia, including violating probation, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, loitering/prowling and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer after he allegedly told police he was his younger half-brother, Brentt Leakes.
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Bryant’s drug charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. However, he was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine, complete 40 hours of community service and submit to random drug testing.
According to court documents obtained, Bryant failed to fulfill any of the conditions of his probation.
Us Weekly has reached out to Leakes’ representative for comment.
In the episode, Leakes, 58, told podcast host Carlos King that Bryant “needs rehabilitation” and “a lot of counseling,”
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“He has an addiction. He’s been struggling with it for years,” she explained, adding that her son has been to rehab and relapsed multiple times. “As a mom, just to watch it is — my hands are tied. You know, he’s 31 years old, he’s an adult. He has three children, three beautiful children who I adore. He has a wife. [There’s] not much that I can do.”
Leakes also stressed that recovery ultimately comes down to the individual struggling with addiction, noting that no family member or loved one can make that decision for them.
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“I have spent so much money to get Bryson where he needs to be, but every time I sent him off, I said, ‘You are giving your ass up and we are sending you off.’ But I learned through counseling myself that he has to say, ‘I am ready to go,’ not me making him go,” she continued. “So until Bryson is ready to make a change, there’s nothing I can do.”
During the Friday, June 19, episode of the Peacock show, the men in the villa questioned why the women sent Gabriel home — despite him having a connection with Jen Terry. Their reasoning didn’t clear up their decision and led to more fighting between the group.
“They are basically just saying, ‘We think Gabe is a f***boy,” Zach Georgiou told the rest of the guys.
Bryce Alakai Dettloff agreed with that assessment, saying, “Just because he is promiscuous doesn’t mean he is not capable of loving somebody. That is the most slut-shaming s*** I have ever seen in my life.”
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Gabriel’s elimination was met with backlash off screen following a group vote. Host Ariana Madix had to speak out after viewers claimed the voting process is rigged.
The host, 40, replied to an Instagram comment after Caleb McDaniel and Sol Dean were not announced as a top couple during the Thursday, June 18, episode of the show — despite an online campaign for the season 8 bombshells.
“Unfortunately, they were not in the top 4,” Ariana wrote in response to a message that read, “They @loveislandusa messing up the show.” Ariana also “liked” a comment which stated that “legally” production “can’t tamper with results” despite the speculation on social media.
This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in to debunk rumors. In June 2025, Ariana slammed the insinuation that the show was “rigged,” telling The Wrap, “You can have whatever opinions you want to have about the show itself, but I will tell you: Don’t you start making up conspiracies.”
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She continued: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, so I’m the debunker.”
“As much as someone might try to gamify the show for themselves while they’re in there as an Islander, you cannot for 24 hours a day,” she added. “It’s nearly impossible to really be able to fully keep that mask on at all times.”
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Ariana encouraged viewers to show their enthusiasm by voting, saying, “If America does feel a certain way about certain Islanders, they do get their say. So if someone is trying to super gamify everything, and if they find out that they’re in the bottom, they’ll be like, ‘Wait, oh.’”
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
Jelly Rollis sharing an update with fans after filing for divorce from Bunnie Xo after 10 years of marriage.
The “Save Me” singer, 41, posted a video titled “The Divorce Vlog” via YouTube on Friday, June 19, after news of his marriage breakdown became public earlier this week.
“What’s up YouTube, guess who’s back?” Jelly Roll said as he introduced the Vlog. “Y’all didn’t think you were going to hear from me this week did you? I bet y’all were like, ‘There’s no way we’re gonna hear from Jelly Roll this week. He’s in the middle of a divorce. There’s no way we’re gonna hear.’”
Confirming he would address his split, he added, “You’re gonna hear about the divorce at the end of this Vlog.”
Jelly Roll has filed for divorce from Bunnie Xo after nearly a decade of marriage. The rapper (real name Jason Bradley DeFord) quietly submitted a divorce petition to a Tennessee court on May 18, Us Weekly can confirm. Us has reached out to representatives for both stars for comment. Hours before news of the split […]
Jelly Roll doubled down in the Vlog’s caption, vowing to clear up any misconceptions surrounding his relationship with Bunnie.
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“Welp. I got divorced,” he wrote in the caption. “Y’all have seen the headlines. Heard the rumors. Read whatever your cousin’s friend’s coworker said on Facebook. I’m not gonna sit here and pretend none of it happened — but I also think y’all deserve to hear it straight instead of through fifteen rounds of telephone. So okay, y’all — let’s finally talk about this.”
After sharing behind-the-scenes footage from his music career, Jelly Roll made good on his promise to mention his and Bunnie’s breakup at the end of the video.
Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo.(Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP)
“Alright y’all, I told ya I was going to give you y’all the piping hot tea about the divorce. I know ya’ll been waiting. You ready for it?” the musician teased.
Jelly Roll, who had a phone in his hand, then revealed Bunnie at the end of the line.
“Mama bear, tell them where to find it,” he told her, before she gave a plug for her podcast.
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“Alright guys, head over to my YouTube, ‘Dumb Blonde’ pod, watch ‘The Divorce’ podcast. All of your questions will be answered,” Bunnie, 46, said.
Jelly Roll then joked, “Yeah, y’all thought we were going to hate each other didn’t you? Plot twist, bitches!”
Bunnie Xo clapped back at rumors that her marriage was troubled less than a year before her estranged husband Jelly Roll filed for divorce. “Someone said the other day, ‘They used to always be together, and now you never see them together,’” Bunnie, 46, said in an August 2025 episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast. […]
After promoting Bunnie’s podcast, the pair ended the call by telling each other they loved one another.
In Bunnie’s podcast episode, which was released on Thursday, June 18, she shared candid details of the reasons behind their separation and shot down speculation the marriage ended due to infidelity.
“On Mother’s Day, we had a little bit of an argument, which I don’t think the details are necessary,” she explained. “And, in that argument, I was so fed up and so tired that I just looked at him and said, ‘Well, then file the f***ing divorce papers.’”
“Me and my wife are best friends. We will always be best friends. We just got off the phone earlier today,” he said. “Nobody cheated on nobody. She just did a whole podcast about it. You can go watch it. Every word of it is the truth.”
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Jelly Roll quietly filed for divorce from Bunnie in Tennessee on May 18, Us Weekly confirmed on Monday, June 15.
Apple TVhas become known for prestige hits like Severance, Slow Horses, and Silo, but not every ambitious series has found the same audience. Suspicion was one of the streamer’s first original productions, featuring a star-studded cast and an interesting concept, and it was full of all the elements of a nail-biting conspiracy thriller, but just as quickly as it came, it disappeared.
The eight episodes featured a diverse cast, including Uma Thurman, Kunal Nayyar, Georgina Campbell, Elizabeth Henstridge, Elyes Gabel, and Noah Emmerich. Although it received mixed reviews, it was ultimately canceled after just one season. Many critics blamed the mystery’s increasingly convoluted nature for their frustration with the show’s pace. However, four years later, Suspicion can be appreciated for what it is: a fun, binge-worthy ride that features plenty of twists, many secrets, and sufficient paranoia throughout the series to keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end of each episode.
Suspicion begins with a striking setup. Leo Newman (Gerran Howell), the son of Communications executive Katherine Newman (Thurman), was abducted from a hotel in New York City by assailants wearing masks of British Royal Family members. When the security camera footage of the kidnapping goes viral, investigators narrow their search to five British guests who were at the hotel.
None of these British guests seems to have anything in common. Natalie Thompson (Campbell) is getting ready for her wedding, Aadesh Chopra (Nayyar) is a frustrated cybersecurity expert stuck working for his family, Tara McAllister (Henstridge) is an Oxford academic juggling professional and personal problems, Eddie Walker (Tom Rhys Harries) is a wealthy university student, and Sean Tilson (Gabel) may be hiding way more secrets than anyone. While authorities in the USA and the UK try to solve the case, the five suspects are becoming ensnared in a web of increasingly complex lies, misleading information, and hidden agendas.
From the premise alone, Suspicion was reminiscent of some 80s conspiracy-type thrillers that were based on a lack of trust and constant changing alliances. The premise naturally invited comparisons to Homeland, especially given that both series originated from Israeli productions developed by Keshet, and despiteSuspicion never reaching those heights, it always had enough momentum to keep the story moving.
Despite its promising setup, Suspicion struggled to generate much enthusiasm among critics. Reviewers frequently praised the cast and slick production values, but many felt the mystery became too convoluted and that some of its biggest stars, particularly Thurman, were underused.
Weekly releases may not have helped either. The series depended heavily on cliffhangers and steadily unfolding revelations, which meant viewers often spent more time waiting for answers than receiving them. By the time major pieces of the puzzle fell into place, some audiences had already checked out.
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Apple officially canceled the series in 2023, ending any hopes for a second season. The decision wasn’t particularly surprising. Streaming services have become increasingly selective about which shows receive additional seasons, and Suspicion never developed the kind of cultural momentum enjoyed by some of Apple TV’s biggest successes. Still, cancellation doesn’t necessarily mean a show has nothing to offer.
‘Suspicion’ Works Better as a Binge Than It Did as a Weekly Series
Watching Suspicion four years later reveals something many viewers may have missed during its original run. The series functions far better when consumed over a few days rather than over two months. Without weeklong gaps between episodes, the increasingly tangled story becomes easier to follow, and plot twists feel less frustrating because the answers arrive quickly. Even some of the show’s more outrageous developments become part of the fun. That’s especially true for viewers who simply want an old-fashioned thriller. Suspicion doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it embraces many of its most enjoyable elements. There are double crosses, secret identities, international intrigue, corrupt institutions, and enough unexpected turns to make every episode end with the urge to immediately start the next one.
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At times, the mystery becomes too complicated to follow, and those who might be looking forward to a star-studded performance by Thurman might be disappointed when they see very little of her in the series. Some twists are more satisfying than others, and although the series evokes the classics of its genre, it never quite reaches its artistic heights.
Not every canceled program is misunderstood or a work of art, but there is still merit in watching a series given a second chance. Sometimes a series just shows up at the wrong time, or its story requires viewers to invest fully before it can be fully understood. After four years on the platform, Suspicion continues to be an excellent thriller filled with twists, and it is precisely what conspiracy fans are looking for, and it can give you satisfaction and require less of your time than solving the mystery does.
Ivanka Trump is embracing her post-White House chapter by giving a rare glimpse of her bikini body.
After stepping away from politics, Ivanka, 44, showed followers a peek into her sun-soaked lifestyle via Instagram on Friday, June 19, sharing a carousel of photos that showcased everything from tropical scenery to her vacation wardrobe.
“A strong finish to spring,” she captioned her post. “Summer, we’re ready for you!”
In one snap, Ivanka posed against a palm tree while showing off her toned midriff in a black bikini layered beneath a navy mesh crop top with flared sleeves. She completed the beach-ready look with coordinating mesh pants, black sunglasses and a delicate necklace.
The next generation! Donald Trump and ex-wife Ivana Trump’s three children — Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump — maintain busy business and political careers while raising kids at home. “If I’m working on a big deal and need to be in the office, I’m in the office. If [my daughter] Arabella needs me, I better […]
For the occasion, she wore a silk mini dress by Donde Esteban, which featured a leg-baring hemline that highlighted her toned figure. The designer piece retails for $695.
There were also photos of her dad, President Donald Trump, celebrating his 80th birthday with her 14–year–old daughter Arabella and images of her sons Joseph, 12, and Theodore, 10, whom she shares with husband Jared Kushner.
Ivanka Trump(Photo courtesy of Ivanka Trump/Instagram)
Years before her father first became President in 2016, Ivanka and Kushner tied the knot at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey in October 2009.
The pair first met in 2007 after being introduced by a mutual friend during a business lunch.
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“They very innocently set us up thinking that our only interest in one another would be transactional,” Ivanka recalled in an interview with Vogue in 2015. “Whenever we see them, we’re like, ‘The best deal we ever made!’”
Reflecting on their relationship, Ivanka praised her husband’s calm demeanor and unwavering support.
“His own dreams are bold, and I love that in someone, but he’s incredibly relaxed and calm,” she told Vogue at the time. “The world could be collapsing around him, and nothing fazes him. He’s very solution oriented. Plus, it was nice finding someone who is a genuinely good person. I don’t take that for granted.”
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