It’s time to say “Bye, Bye, Bye” to boring cocktails because two ’NSync heartthrobs are officially serving up something new for fans.

Lance Bass and Joey Fatone are back together, shaking things up as the hosts of E!’s new series Cocktail Wars, judging amateur bartenders battling it out one splash, muddle and sip at a time. But the hosts aren’t just handing out judgment — they’re picking up on a few lessons of their own.

“We thought we knew cocktails until we started doing this show.” Bass, 47, exclusively told Us during the premiere of the cocktail competition. “By the end of the season we knew something,” Fatone added, with Bass summing up their expertise as merely the two being “fake experts”.

While the world memorized their harmonies and choreography (frosted tips and goatees included), Bass and Fatone say they were also learning their way around a cocktail menu while on the road with the band. “We’ve toured around the world, gone to many different states in America as well, and tried a lot of cocktails,” Fatone said, reminiscing about the time spent sampling favorites and flops along the way. “We had our fair share of other different cocktails, what we like, what we didn’t like.”

But one particular spirit the singer says he couldn’t quite get behind was gin. Fatone revealed that he spent most of his life avoiding the tipple entirely, only to have a change of heart while filming the show. “I would never really drink gin. I never liked [it]” Fatone, 49, told Us. “But a lot of the actual drinks that people have made in this competition, I like gin 1786802597, crazy.”

Turns out he’s not the only one who underwent a gin conversion on set. Professional mixologist Melissa Brooke, who joined the host on the season’s challenges, revealed she’s responsible for turning Bass into a fan of the liquor, adding that Fatone also picked up on an “affinity” for blackberry whiskey during filming.

Their taste in spirits isn’t the only thing that has evolved. Back on tour, Fatone says he would keep his order simple with a rum and Coke, and Bass admits he was loyal to Jack and Coke — but these days they say it’s less about the order and more about the ritual behind it. “I think I enjoy the experience of getting with friends and having a cocktail, and just that experience is different now at an older age than just being young and just being like ‘get me drunk!’” Bass told Us.

For Fatone, observing competitors on the show has made him something of an amateur mixologist. “There’s a lot of science to a lot of this stuff,” he said. “Now I’m like literally going to the bar going ‘Do I taste that?’, ‘Excuse me, is there a wash line?’, ‘What are they using in there?’ [and] ‘What is that’?”

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Each episode of Cocktail Wars brings in a batch of mixologists who go head-to-head in themed challenges, with a $10,000 prize on the line and judges weighing in on creativity and presentation as much as taste. For Brooke, who has led Michelin-starred restaurants with her bartending talents, admitted she even found the competition to be fierce. “I don’t know that I would want to be a contestant on the show,” she told Us, singling out the season’s stencil challenge as one she wouldn’t dare attempt despite years of professional experience. “I even further recognize 1786802597 how difficult the job is that I do for a living,” she added.

Among this season’s guest judges, drag icon Peppermint said stepping into the competition alongside the hosts was an easy yes, but when it came to judging, she made her standards clear almost immediately. “I’d rather the drink look good and taste bad than taste good and look horrible,” she told Us.

Cocktail Wars premieres August 18 at 10 P.M. ET/PT on E! and features a rotating cast of famous faces joining Bass, Fatone, and Brooke as guest judges, including political commentator Rachel Maddow, RHONJ star Melissa Gorga, actor Seth Green, and RHONY alums Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer.

A truly great children’s game respects the child holding the controller. It teaches through play, rewards curiosity, and provides enough flexibility for different ages to enjoy the same world. Easy entry helps. Lasting depth is even better. Parents should also know where cooperation is equal, where reading support may be needed, and where online features deserve supervision.

These eight games cover mischief, platforming, racing, building, exploration, and peaceful daily routines. Some help children learn movement and timing. Others develop planning, creativity, patience, or problem-solving. Every choice can entertain adults too, which is important when the same game occupies the television for the hundredth time.

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‘Untitled Goose Game’ (2019)

Image via House House

A quiet English village becomes a playground for one deeply committed troublemaker in Untitled Goose Game. Children control a goose and complete small objectives by observing routines, stealing objects, distracting residents, and combining simple actions into elaborate pranks. Nobody gets seriously hurt, failure carries little punishment, and the dedicated honk button communicates everything a goose could possibly need to say. The whole campaign also supports two-player cooperation, allowing a pair of geese to ruin everyone’s afternoon together. The ESRB rates it E for Everyone with no content descriptors. Innocence has feathers.

Its puzzle design encourages experimentation rather than demanding fast reflexes. A child may need help reading the task list or understanding a less obvious chain of actions, though solving those problems together becomes part of the fun. The compact village also makes navigation manageable for inexperienced players. Older children can chase faster solutions while younger ones enjoy carrying boots into ponds and honking at gardeners. It is short compared with the larger games below, which limits its staying power. For a first taste of stealth, cause and effect, and cooperative chaos, few games are this welcoming.

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‘Sackboy: A Big Adventure’ (2020)

Image via Sumo Digital

PlayStation families looking for a proper couch adventure should begin with Sackboy: A Big Adventure. The fabric hero travels across Craftworld to rescue the Sackfolk from Vex, moving through handcrafted mountains, jungles, underwater areas, and space colonies. Up to four players can join locally or online, and the colorful 3D stages mix jumping, grabbing, throwing, collecting, and light combat. The ESRB gives it an E rating for mild cartoon violence and mild lyrics. Soft materials. Serious platforming.

The early worlds teach their ideas clearly, then later stages ask for sharper timing and better teamwork. That progression makes Sackboy useful for families with children at different skill levels since stronger players can help carry the group through difficult sections. Musical stages synchronize platforms and obstacles with licensed songs, while costumes provide a constant stream of rewards that children can actually use. Some multiplayer situations become gloriously disorganized when everyone grabs the wrong person. That is family bonding. The campaign is substantial, visually readable, and varied enough to avoid feeling like an extended tutorial for adults trapped on the second controller.

6

‘LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’ (2022)

Image via Traveller’s Tales

All nine central Star Wars films become one enormous toy box in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Children can begin with any trilogy, revisit major movie scenes, explore more than 20 planets, fly spacecraft, solve environmental puzzles, and unlock over 300 characters. Jedi, droids, bounty hunters, villains, and heroes use different abilities, giving players reasons to return to completed locations after gaining new characters. Combat includes lightsabers, blasters, explosions, and LEGO figures breaking into pieces, which earned the game an E10+ rating for cartoon violence and comic mischief. Very dramatic. Still plastic.

Its greatest strength for children is freedom. The main missions provide direction, while open areas allow wandering, collecting Kyber Bricks, testing vehicles, and completing short side activities without heavy consequences. Local cooperative play lets an adult or sibling handle trickier combat and puzzles, although split-screen exploration can become visually busy. The amount of content may also overwhelm children who need a clearer objective, so selecting one film and progressing steadily usually works better than chasing every icon. Star Wars knowledge adds pleasure without becoming an entry requirement. The jokes explain the mood. The lightsabers handle the rest.

5

‘Kirby and the Forgotten Land’ (2022)

Image via Nintendo

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Kirby enters a fully three-dimensional adventure in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, exploring the abandoned remains of a mysterious civilization while rescuing captured Waddle Dees. His traditional Copy Abilities return, allowing him to gain powers by inhaling enemies, while Mouthful Mode lets him transform around cars, vending machines, traffic cones, and other oversized objects. It sounds ridiculous. It works beautifully. A second local player can control Bandana Waddle Dee throughout the journey.

Nintendo built two difficulty settings into the game. Spring-Breeze Mode gives Kirby more health and makes enemies easier, while Wild Mode increases danger and rewards, letting a player choose the appropriate pressure without changing the adventure itself. Copy Abilities can also be evolved into stronger forms, adding progression for children who enjoy upgrading favorite powers. Player two has fewer abilities than Kirby, so the cooperative roles are unequal, though that can help when a younger sibling wants to participate without managing every system. The stages are cheerful, clearly designed, and packed with optional objectives for confident players. Then the bosses start getting surprisingly intense. Kirby contains multitudes.

4

‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ (2020)

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives children a deserted island and asks them to build a life at their own pace. There are no enemies to defeat or races to win. Players gather materials, craft furniture, catch insects, fish, dig up fossils, decorate homes, plant flowers, and form friendships with animal residents. Days follow a real-time clock, while seasons change the wildlife and activities available across the year. The ESRB rates it E for comic mischief and mild fantasy violence.

The game quietly exercises planning, reading, organization, and creative decision-making. Children learn that resources take time to gather and that large projects are completed gradually. Families should understand its shared-island structure before buying it. Up to eight residents can live on one island, and as many as four can play together on one system, though later residents join a community initially established by the first player. Online visits expand the social side and should be limited to trusted people for younger children. Animal Crossing feels gentle without becoming empty. A child may spend an hour designing a bedroom, donating fossils, or trying to catch one stubborn fish. Productive? Debatable. Peaceful? Absolutely.

3

‘Minecraft’ (2011)

Image via Mojang

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Minecraft gives children a procedurally generated world made of blocks and lets them decide what kind of experience it becomes. Creative Mode offers unlimited materials, flight, instant block removal, and freedom from death. Survival Mode requires gathering resources, crafting tools, building shelter, managing health and hunger, and defending against creatures. Four difficulty options allow parents to reduce or increase pressure, including Peaceful Mode for a calmer introduction to Survival.

Its educational value comes from systems rather than lessons. A simple house introduces shape and spatial planning. Redstone machinery encourages logic. Large collaborative builds demand communication and task division. Survival teaches preparation after the first avoidable disaster. Every Minecraft player has one. The ESRB rates the game E10+ for fantasy violence, and official guidance notes that multiplayer can include interaction with other users, so private family worlds or approved friends are the sensible starting point for younger children. Few games grow with a child this effectively. They may begin by stacking blocks into a crooked tower and eventually construct a working city.

2

‘Super Mario Odyssey’ (2017)

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Mario travels across a chain of wildly different kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey, chasing Bowser and collecting Power Moons with help from a living cap named Cappy. Throwing Cappy lets Mario attack enemies, extend jumps, and capture creatures or objects with useful abilities. A frog can leap high. A Bullet Bill can cross gaps. A Tyrannosaurus rex can destroy almost everything in sight. Childhood improves immediately. The game marked Mario’s return to sandbox-style 3D exploration and received an E10+ rating for cartoon violence and comic mischief.

Its kingdoms provide obvious objectives for beginners and deeper movement challenges for experienced players. A child can gather enough Moons to continue by completing straightforward tasks, while optional races, hidden areas, and precision jumps keep older players occupied. The controls also reward gradual mastery since Mario’s basic run and jump are easy to understand while Cappy combinations create advanced possibilities. Two-player mode allows another person to control Cappy, though the supporting role offers less independence than controlling Mario. Super Mario Odyssey is generous, inventive, and almost constantly introducing a new idea. Let children wander. They will probably discover something before you do.

1

‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ (2017)

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No game on this list brings children, parents, siblings, casual guests, and competitive players together as quickly as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Up to four people can race on one system, eight can connect through local wireless, and online races support as many as 12 players. Tracks move underwater, through the air, and across anti-gravity sections, while items keep weaker racers involved and prevent the leader from becoming too comfortable.

It earns first place because the assistance options solve one of family gaming’s hardest problems. Smart Steering helps novice racers stay on the course, while Auto-Accelerate removes the need to hold the gas button constantly. Young children can finish races instead of spending three laps facing the wrong wall, then disable those aids as their control improves. The ESRB rates it E for comic mischief, with its shells, fireballs, bombs, and explosions presented as colorful racing interference. Grand Prix events provide progression, Battle Mode changes the competition, and faster classes give practiced players years of room to improve. One race takes minutes. “One more” can consume the evening. That is the family-game gold standard but also kid-friendly foundation, if need be.

If you blinked at any point this week, you may have missed the latest in celebrity news. But don’t worry! We spent the last seven days tracking every headline so you don’t have to. In our debut edition, we’re breaking down the absolute biggest stories dominating your feeds right now: Luigi Mangione’s stunning court appearance, fresh updates on Brad Pitt, and all the Hollywood drama unfolding behind closed doors. Here is everything you actually need to know from the past week.

Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty In Court

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On August 14, Luigi Mangione admitted to fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges and confessed that he targeted Thompson outside a New York City hotel on December 4, 2024.

“I shot Mr Thompson, and he died,” Mangione told the judge. “I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death of bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.”

See more about his latest court appearance here or read about why Emma Stone was slammed over remarks about the alleged killer.

Brad Pitt Is ‘Back Off The Wagon’

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Actor Brad Pitt admitted that he has started drinking again. “No, I got — I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon. Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities,” he told Esquire earlier this week.  

The actor previously told PEOPLE magazine that he joined a 12-step program in 2016 and started attending AA meetings. “You had all these men sitting around being open and honest in a way I have never heard,” he said at the time. “It was this safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself.”

See why the actor’s return to alcohol has some AA friends concerned or read the bizarre reason he can’t watch adult content.

Ariana Grande Steps Out Following Break From The Spotlight

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Although she plans to take a break from the spotlight after her tour comes to an end, Ariana Grande was seen out and about in New York City following increased scrutiny about her appearance.

She isn’t the only one who has faced backlash over her looks. Actress Jenna Ortega was recently called out for being “unhealthily skinny” as fans raised concern over her well-being.

Did David Foster Snub Meghan Markle?

Both David Foster and Meghan Markle made headlines this week after there was speculation that he refused to greet her on the red carpet.

Although the moment went viral online, one source told the Daily Mail that Foster “genuinely just didn’t see” her.

“He’s always been a big fan of Diana and he’d never snub either of them,” the source said, referring to Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. The insider called it “a genuine moment where he didn’t see them and nobody really thought much of it. It’s nothing.”

Still, this hasn’t been a great week for Meghan. “Cookie Queens” received a harsh review, and she seems to be drawing the ire of Martha Stewart.

Nicole Kidman Is Moving On From Keith Urban

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Nicole Kidman’s love life has been in the news a lot this week! She recently opened up about “embracing love” again following her shocking divorce from Keith Urban.

She also revealed the ominous warning that she was given against marrying Tom Cruise at the age of 23. And that’s not all! The Blast also did a deep dive into her budding romance with financier Michael Reinstein.

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The stars of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” traded their signature Orange County glam for feathers, rhinestones, and the high-energy world of Las Vegas showgirls while filming a scene at Showgirl Bootcamp Experience. 

The reality stars got an up-close look at the iconic Vegas tradition, stepping into the showgirl experience and giving viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at one of Sin City’s most uniquely glamorous attractions. 

Click here to see the exclusive photos! Or click here to see how Las Vegas showgirl Kelsie McNutt owns her look!

And for all you sports fans, take a look inside the Raiders Training Camp and get a first look at what’s ahead this season!

If you haven’t been to Palm Tree Beach Club yet, here’s the short version: it’s a 60,000-square-foot, 3,000-person playground built by Tao Group Hospitality in partnership with Kygo’s Palm Tree Crew, dropped right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip at MGM Grand. Rockwell Group designed the space, and it shows — a saltwater pool ringed by twelve bungalows and ten cabanas, a stage set at ground level so the DJ booth practically melts into the crowd, and a production rig loud enough to turn a Tuesday afternoon into a full-blown festival moment. It’s less “hotel pool” and more “someone smuggled Tulum onto Las Vegas Boulevard.”

And this August, Palm Tree Beach Club isn’t just showing up for summer — it’s closing it out in style.

The Lineup Doing All the Talking

Scroll through the August calendar and it reads less like a pool schedule and more like a festival poster. Zedd headlines not once but twice, on August 8th and again on August 22nd, bookending a month that also features Tiësto tearing up the decks on the 15th, Lost Frequencies the very next day, and R3hab bringing the bass on the 23rd. Then, just when you think the month can’t escalate further, Chris Lake closes it out on the 29th before the whole thing wraps with Reggaetonlandia on the 30th — a genre-bending sendoff stacked with DJ Luian, 2Deep, Aristeo, and Krucial turning the last Sunday of summer into a full reggaetón takeover.

Oh, and somewhere in the middle of all that house and techno royalty, DJ Pauly D shows up on the 9th to remind everyone that Palm Tree Beach Club can flex pop-culture star power just as easily as EDM heavyweights.

That’s the headliner tier. But the real flex is what’s happening underneath it.

Every Single Day Has a Vibe

This is the part that separates a good pool party from an actual institution: Palm Tree Beach Club doesn’t just save the talent for Saturday. The whole week has a personality.

Drift Wednesdays kick things off with local specials and a rotating cast of homegrown talent — D-Miles, Lucky Lou, Paradice, and Eric Remy all get their moment on the decks throughout the month, proving the venue is just as invested in Vegas’s local DJ scene as it is in flying in the A-listers. Thursdays keep the momentum going with Mondo (twice!), Mikey Francis, and Ross. Then Good Life Fridays turn up the energy heading into the weekend with Sourmilk, E-Rock, Eric Dlux, and Four Color Zack setting the tone before the Saturday headliners take over.

By the time Saturday and Sunday roll around, the buildup pays off — which is exactly how you end up with a run like Zedd, DJ Pauly D, Lucky Lou, Tiësto, Lost Frequencies, Zedd (again), R3hab, Chris Lake, and Reggaetonlandia all inside a single 30-day stretch.

Why It Actually Matters

Vegas has no shortage of pools claiming to be “the party.” What makes Palm Tree Beach Club different is the intentionality behind it — the Kygo-backed Palm Tree Crew DNA baked into the branding, the ground-level stage that erases the barrier between artist and crowd, the saltwater pool that somehow makes a Strip dayclub feel more beach than casino. It’s a space engineered for the exact kind of chaos that makes a great pool party story, and this August’s booking sheet is basically daring you to have one.

Wednesday through Sunday, all month long, Palm Tree Beach Club isn’t asking to be part of the summer conversation in Vegas. With a lineup like this, it is the conversation.

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Palm Tree Beach Club is located at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, 3799 S Las Vegas Blvd, and is open Wednesday through Sunday through the summer season.

As a shopping editor, I spend a good portion of my day browsing fashion must-haves. I’ve tried hard to train myself not to buy every cute item I see, but this faux leather tote is looking pretty tempting — especially since the designer-like pick is priced at just $39.

Between busy workdays and outings with my toddler, I often rely on a large bag to store all my essentials — makeup, books, snacks, maybe a toy or two. And while I’ve admittedly reached for canvas options one too many times, this luxe-looking tote is just as roomy and a million times more elevated. I’m actually surprised it isn’t triple the price!

Get the PU Leather Tote Bag for $39 (was $51) at UsNow! 

Complete with two thin straps and a snap closure, the PU Leather Tote Bag is simple in the best way. Whether you choose the cream or black colorway, it’s endlessly versatile, able to be paired with casual T-shirt dresses, structured staples and everything in between. It’s just as sleek as it is convenient, making it the perfect grab-and-go option to wear every day.

Related: Eva Longoria’s Designer Tote Bag Has a Lookalike on Sale for $31

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Eva Longoria doesn’t shy away from sequined red carpet gowns, but even during her downtime, the actress, producer and director has proven she’s earned her style icon status. She often relies on sleek staples for a laid-back luxe aesthetic, and although her everyday bag is pretty pricey, it’s not impossible to copy the look — especially when […]

It also doesn’t hurt that this bag gets you the celebrity look for way less. Stars like Naomi Campbell, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lawrence all carry ‘rich mom’ totes that look super similar but cost thousands. Plus, with this more affordable alternative, I won’t cry too hard when it inevitably encounters food, liquid or dirt. Heck, the price is so good, I might buy a backup, just in case!

If you’re a gal on the go like me and want to look a bit more polished during your morning commute or errand runs, grab this bag while it’s on sale. Not only is the deal good, but unlike that elaborate top you bought on impulse, it’s something you’ll actually use — and often!

Get the PU Leather Tote Bag for $39 (was $51) at UsNow! 

Related: Dreaming of Naomi Campbell’s $2,300 Bordeaux Tote? Copy It for $18

Not everyone can say they’ve been a true fashion influencer for most of their lives, but Naomi Campbell has more than earned the title. The supermodel has been serving looks and inspiring outfits since at least the ’80s. So when she stepped out carrying a large bordeaux suede tote, it was only a matter of time […]

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Dolly Parton was forced to pull the plug on attending a Dollywood event in person due to ongoing health woes.

The singer, 80, had planned to appear at the opening of the theme park’s new roller coaster, NightFlight Expedition, on Friday, August 13, but was forced to skip the occasion at the last minute on doctor’s orders.

Instead, Parton made a virtual appearance at the opening ceremony, according to multiple media outlets.

“I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,” Parton said in the video.

Related: Dolly Parton’s Health Updates: Everything She Has Said About Her Illness

Dolly Parton has been recovering from some health issues. In September 2025, Parton surprised fans when she missed a scheduled visit to her Dollywood theme park to celebrate the new Night Flight Expedition Ride. Instead, the country singer appeared in a prerecorded video message played for the crowd. “Hello Dollywood! It’s me,” Parton said in […]

“I’m supposed to be there in person, like we planned,” she said. “Now I’ve told you before, all my fans, that I have had a few little health issues. And sometimes I get a little dizzy, and I get dehydrated.”

The “Jolene” singer, who was wearing fairy wings, continued, “And I’m dehydrated. And so my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, saying you ain’t traveling this week.”

She concluded, “So I guess if your doctor tells you you ain’t traveling this week, you ain’t traveling this week.”

Parton promised to keep her fans updated after missing the Dollywood event, which was located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — a three-hour drive from Nashville.

In June, Parton made a rare public appearance at the opening of her Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop after previously sharing details of her health struggles.

The Grammy winner announced in May that she was postponing her Las Vegas residency over health concerns.

“I am here to give you an update on a few things going on in my life,” she began in a social media video shared last month. “First, it’s concerning my health. And I have some good news and a little bad news. The good news is I’m responding really well to meds and treatments and I’m improving every day.”

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Related: Dolly Parton Details Recent Health Issues in Rare Public Appearance

Dolly Parton made a rare public appearance at Dollywood following her recent health scares. “I’ve been up to a lot. I’ve not been touring, as you know. I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them,” Parton, 80, told fans on Friday, March 13, while celebrating a new season of […]

The singer continued, “Now, the bad news is, it’s gonna take me a little while before I’m up to stage performance level. Because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swimmy-headed, as my grandma used to say. And of course, I can’t be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on five-inch heels.”

Parton jokingly described herself as a “classic car” that needed some restoration and said she was determined to be back “better than ever” after her recovery.

“When they raised the hood on this old antique, they realized that I need to rebuild my engine and that my transmission is slipping, my oil pan is leaking, my muffler is busted and my shocks and pistons need to be replaced, and for sure, my spark plugs need to be changed,” Parton said. “My immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past couple three years, and they’re working real hard on rebuilding and strengthening those and hopefully I’ll be up to snuff again soon.”

With John Patton Ford’s 2026 How to Make a Killing, Glen Powell was given the chance to really stretch his acting range, as the film placed the good-guy star in an environment where he is rarely found: the world of morbid dark comedy. Playing a dispossessed man going on a killing spree, murdering his own family members in search of a fortune he feels he’s owed, Powell veered far away from his cool, competent screen persona (even his role as philosophy professor in 2024’s Hit Man still gave him some familiar beats to play). But it also represented some of his most rewarding work yet.

It’s one thing to see an actor who is best known for darker roles killing characters off — it’s very different when it’s somebody audiences tend to like. Because of this, the actor gave Ford’s film (a loose remake of the 1949 British comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets) an earnestness that brushed up directly against the movie’s old-money elite aesthetic. It also made the darkness of the dark comedy hit even harder.

While Hit Man (a movie Powell co-wrote) suggested a wide variety of actorly avenues for him to pursue, he is still best-regarded for his charismatic turns in Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters. Both of those movies let Powell be the most competent and laid-back man in the room, so How to Make a Killing, in which he played a neurotic striver with a murderous gleam in his eye, was a left-field turn that could have led to audiences feeling like he was miscast. However, Powell’s good looks and physical control actually made him a perfect fit for the role of Becket Redfellow. Like Hit Man, the movie lets him be a master of disguise, somebody who is capable of blending into a room and deceiving anybody, even people who should know better.

You Want to Root for Glen Powell’s Murderous Character in ‘How to Make a Killing’

Image via A24

John Patton Ford’s approach to telling this story is to put audiences on Becket’s side from the very beginning, an action which may have become easier due to casting of Powell. We first see him in jail, awaiting execution, and then see the circumstances (his mother’s teen pregnancy) that led to his being removed from the family fortune, as well as the childhood love Julia (Margaret Qualley) who instilled in him a desire for the finer things in life. But with the whole movie being a confession to a priest, we gradually see the holes in Becket’s side, with a sense of rich sociopath tunnel vision like Wolf of Wall Street. There’s no room for victim consideration in Becket’s calculus.

For as much contempt as Wolf had for the ultrarich, How to Make a Killing takes it a step further by giving them satisfying slapstick death scenes. As a worker at a high-end suit shop, Becket spends his life serving the rich while hungering for the luxuries that he has been denied. The only way forward: hunting for his fortune at the cost of his soul by systematically killing the heirs to the family fortune who have priority over him. Due to a loophole in the will, if he is the last man standing, he’ll get the fortune he feels he is owed. Powell uses this opportunity to play up the charm, undergoing an American Psycho-esque transformation that lets his good looks mask something darker and more bloodthirsty underneath.

‘Killing’ Depends On Glen Powell’s Double Life

Becket is torn between two poles, represented by wealth-oriented Julia and idealistic Ruth (Jessica Henwick). Julia’s moneyed upbringing positions her as a sign of every desire just out of reach for Becket — though he begins ascending the ladder when his cousin-murdering ironically leads to his finding a good job for Uncle Warren (Bill Camp). Becket is often rewarded in roundabout ways for his murders — see Ruth, the girlfriend of murdered cousin Noah (Zach Woods), who is now conveniently single and interested in Becket. She is much more skeptical of the whole money thing and can’t see past her new boyfriend’s layers of deception.

The double life that Becket lives throughout the movie yields some of Glen Powell’s best work as an actor. If the greatest tell of an actor’s talent is their ability to portray lying, How to Make a Killing casts Powell as the ultimate fraud, someone who envied the rich and now gets to cosplay as one of them. While the movie’s satirical take on rich kids (who grow into one-dimensionally evil rich adult selves) is a little broad, particularly Topher Grace‘s megachurch pastor character, Powell’s navigation of the line between good and evil is nuanced.

The best part is that he doesn’t play the conflict up much, because Becket’s concern is less about guilt and more about being found out. Becket isn’t quite as complicated as the heroine of John Patton Ford’s previous film, Emily the Criminal, but it’s pretty close.

How to Make a Killing is streaming on HBO Max.

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Release Date

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February 16, 2026

Runtime

105 minutes

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Director

John Patton Ford

Writers

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John Patton Ford

Producers

Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin

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The six thrillers on this list are stories of systems turning hungry. Rules become loopholes, routines become rituals, and ordinary ambitions begin demanding sacrifices their owners never expected to make. And at their core, that depth is exactly what makes a thriller thrill.

Their methods vary though. One may tighten around the viewer almost imperceptibly, while another arrives already breathless and stays that way. What connects them is the cruel precision of their design. Each film finds the pressure point in its protagonist’s life and keeps pressing until profession, desire, and identity collapse into the same problem. Every institution in these films makes a promise. Let’s dig in.

6

‘Nightcrawler’ (2014)

Image via Open Road Films

Los Angeles after midnight becomes a marketplace in Nightcrawler, where Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) discovers that freelance camera crews can sell footage of crashes, fires, and murders to local television stations. Lou has no journalism experience and even less empathy. He does possess ambition, discipline, and an alarming talent for learning exactly how close he can get to suffering before anyone stops him. News director Nina Romina (Rene Russo) rewards the ugliest footage, giving Lou a customer who understands that frightened viewers are excellent for ratings.

Lou is terrifying since he speaks the language of self-improvement while treating every person around him as equipment. Compliments sound rehearsed. Negotiations become threats with good posture. His employee Rick (Riz Ahmed) slowly realizes that working for Lou means entering a business where basic decency counts as a competitive disadvantage. Dan Gilroy’s screenplay received an Academy Award nomination, and its attack on sensationalist news has only grown sharper in an age built around engagement at any cost. Put this on after midnight. The city will look slightly hungrier afterward.

5

‘Sicario’ (2015)

Image via Lionsgate

Sicario places FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) inside a government operation targeting a major drug cartel along the United States, Mexico border. Kate joins expecting a difficult law-enforcement mission. She quickly discovers that task-force leader Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and mysterious consultant Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro) follow rules she has never been allowed to read. Her credentials get her through the door. They do very little once the operation begins moving.

The border convoy establishes the film’s entire power structure through glances, traffic, and armed men waiting for permission to react. Kate is capable, alert, and increasingly aware that her presence may serve a purpose unrelated to her expertise. The film is written by Taylor Sheridan, and it entered competition at Cannes and later received Academy Award nominations for cinematography, original score, and sound editing.

4

‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)

Image via A24

One enormous bet is never enough for Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) in Uncut Gems. He runs a jewelry store in New York’s Diamond District, owes money to dangerous people, and keeps moving valuables between customers, relatives, pawnbrokers, and lenders to create another chance at a life-changing score. An Ethiopian black opal and a visit from basketball star Kevin Garnett appear to offer the breakthrough Howard has been chasing. He immediately finds several ways to make the situation riskier.

Howard is intelligent enough to understand every deal and addicted enough to ignore the total picture. Success calms him for seconds before producing a larger appetite. The overlapping conversations, cramped rooms, buzzing phones, locked security doors, and electronic score make daily business feel like a citywide panic attack. Kevin Garnett appears as himself, and his belief in the opal becomes another variable inside Howard’s increasingly fragile calculations. The astonishing part is how often you begin believing his next move could actually solve everything. Then he starts talking again.

3

‘Prisoners’ (2013)

Image via Summit Entertainment

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A Thanksgiving gathering becomes every parent’s nightmare in Prisoners when two young girls disappear from a Pennsylvania neighborhood. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) follows the available evidence, beginning with an RV seen nearby. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), the father of one missing child, decides the official investigation is moving too slowly and takes control of the main suspect himself. From there, the search becomes two stories about certainty. One man needs proof. The other believes fear has given him permission to act without it.

Keller’s choices create the film’s most uncomfortable question. How much cruelty will an audience tolerate from someone whose desperation feels understandable? Loki keeps encountering mazes, damaged witnesses, old crimes, and leads that seem meaningful until examined from another angle. The cold November landscape traps everyone beneath gray skies and constant rain, with homes offering almost no sense of safety. The film’s sole Academy Award nomination recognized the cinematography of Roger Deakins. Few missing-person thrillers sustain this much moral pressure for this long.

2

‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)

Image via Amazon Studios

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Set in Korea during Japanese colonial rule, The Handmaiden begins with pickpocket Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) entering the secluded estate of Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). She has been hired as Hideko’s maid while secretly helping a con man, Count Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo), who plans to marry the heiress and steal her fortune. The scheme looks carefully designed. The estate contains its own systems of control, and Hideko understands far more about captivity than her new handmaiden initially realizes.

The source is Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, originally set in Victorian England. Relocating the story to 1930s Korea adds colonial identity, language, architecture, and cultural performance to an already elaborate con. The three-part structure revisits crucial events from new perspectives, transforming gestures that appeared innocent, calculated, or cruel. Its production design blends Japanese and British influences inside a house that feels beautiful, divided, and deeply unhealthy. The film competed at Cannes and later won the BAFTA for Film Not in the English Language.

1

‘Parasite’ (2019)

Image via NEON

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Parasite begins with the unemployed Kim family living together in a cramped semi-basement apartment in Seoul. When son Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) gets an opportunity to tutor the daughter of the wealthy Park family, the Kims recognize an opening. One position inside the Park household gradually leads to another, and the family builds an elegant plan around forged qualifications, social confidence, and the Parks’ inability to imagine how carefully they are being studied.

The class argument is built into physical space. The Parks live behind walls and above the city in sunlight. The Kims climb stairs to reach them, then descend through Seoul whenever wealth sends them home. Comedy, con-game tension, domestic drama, and horror move together so naturally that the genre seems to change before the viewer notices. Its Cannes Palme d’Or began an extraordinary awards run, followed by Oscars for Best Picture, directing, original screenplay, and international feature. It became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture. No thriller since 2010 has balanced entertainment, craft, anger, and emotional damage this completely.

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Parasite

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Release Date

May 30, 2019

Runtime

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133 minutes

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• 
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  Lee Sun-kyun

  Park Dong-ik

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Arie Luyendyk Jr. is putting an end to his baby-making chapter..

The Bachelor alum, 44, documented his trip to the doctor’s office on Friday, August 14, after he decided to get his second vasectomy.

“Today’s a good day to get a vasectomy,” Arie wrote via his Instagram Story. “Hope laughing gas is FUN!”

The former reality star — who shares four kids with wife Lauren Burnham Luyendyk — explained to his followers that he was doing things a little differently this time around. For starters, he was keeping the mother of his children far away from the appointment.

Related: Bachelor’s Arie Luyendyk and Wife Lauren’s Relationship Timeline

Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham are beating the reality TV odds. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Deal of the Day Color Crush! These […]

“Alright, I just pulled into an office. I’m going at it alone this time,” he explained. “The first time was a little traumatic, and Lauren being there felt a little weird. She was literally in the room.”

Arie continued, “The second time when I got the reversal, I was out cold. Now this time, I’ve gone to a new doctor who does laughing gas, so I’m hoping this goes a little smoother.”

Although the former race car driver appeared a little anxious for the minor surgery, he was quick to remind himself that it’s nothing compared to what moms endure.

“Honestly, I can’t complain,” he said. “This doesn’t hold a candle to giving birth. Wish me luck.”

During this minor surgery, a surgeon cuts and seals the tubes that carry sperm, according to the Mayo Clinic, .

Although it’s possible to reverse a vasectomy, the surgery is meant to be a form of birth control that lasts for life.

In less than a couple of hours, Arie’s procedure was complete and he was on his way home wearing an “All Juice, No Seed” T-shirt.

“Today, my husband is getting his second vasectomy, so I’m going to make him a little care package,” Lauren, 34, shared via her Instagram Story on Friday. “I got so much stuff.”

As soon as Arie got home, he was treated to an American Girl basket filled with his favorite snacks, including Sour Patch Kids, Twinkies, Milk Duds, Nutty Buddys and frozen peas.

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Arie and Lauren first met on season 22 of The Bachelor in 2018 before getting married in January 2019.

They primarily live in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they raise their four kids. They also own a second home in Maui, Hawaii, which they use as a beach getaway.

“This summer just felt different,” Lauren wrote via Instagram on August 1 while in the Aloha state. “Maybe it’s because our babies are growing up…maybe we are too. It just felt like we needed one last hoorah before heading home and starting another school year🥹.”