Some movies should employ a bit of subtlety in order to work properly. On the other hand, some films should stay as far away from subtlety as humanly possible, and this franchise is the exact kind of series that needs the deft hand of a sledgehammer. If you like watching action stars blow stuff up, exchange quips, and shoot big-ass guns, this is the one for you. Just one problem: The clock is ticking.

Netflix is losing all four Expendables movies on June 20, meaning subscribers don’t have much longer to stream the billion-dollar action saga. The series began in 2010 with Sylvester Stallone putting together a cavalcade of past and present action stars as a team of elite mercenaries taking on dangerous missions around the world. Over the next three sequels, the cast kept growing, pulling in more legends, more villains, and increasingly nonsensical assignments. And that’s exactly why we love it.

The Expendables movies star Stallone (First Blood) as Barney Ross, the leader of the mercenary team; Jason Statham (The Beekeeper) as Lee Christmas, Barney’s knife-wielding right-hand man; Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV) as Gunner Jensen, the team’s unstable heavy hitter; Randy Couture (Setup) as Toll Road, the crew’s demolitions expert; Terry Crews (White Chicks) as Hale Caesar, the team’s weapons specialist; Jet Li (Hero) as Yin Yang, one of the original team members; Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator 2: Judgment Day) as Trench, Barney’s rival and ally; Bruce Willis (Die Hard) as Mr. Church, a CIA figure; Jean-Claude Van Damme (Timecop) as Jean Vilain, a ruthless enemy.

Were the ‘Expendables’ Movies Successful?

The series started out like a house on fire, with the first one grossing $268 million worldwide against an $82 million budget, while The Expendables 2 did even better with about $312 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Then things started slipping with the third outing, which grossed $209 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Not a nightmare by any means, but there’s a clear drop in interest, especially domestically, where it only took in about $39 million. Then Expend4bles pretty much died on arrival. This was a full-blown box office bomb, as it cost around $100 million and grossed only about $51 million worldwide.

The Expendables, The Expendables 2, The Expendables 3, and Expend4bles leave Netflix on June 20.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

August 13, 2010

Runtime

103 minutes

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

While it may feel like your options for a lightweight spring jacket are endless, none is as tried-and-true as a simple trench coat. Even statement lovers like Blake Lively are fans of the classic piece. In fact, the actress just wore the timeless layer for her latest night out — and it’s a style that you can add to your closet for just $35.

While attending Fendi’s Baguette handbag relaunch party in New York City, Lively dressed down in a black tank top and high-waisted jeans. Her casual look was instantly dressed up, however, with a versatile beige trench coat that she nonchalantly draped over her shoulders. The collared outerwear featured a double-breasted silhouette with glossy black buttons and adjustable buckled cuffs, a look also seen in a similar budget-friendly style from Walmart.

Get the Canis Long-Sleeve Trench Coat for $35 at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The crisp, clean silhouette of the sharp jacket style is known for its versatility and ease. Light, thin textures and subtle accents allow the piece to be worn with virtually any outfit, no matter how formal or casual. Plus, a smooth finish makes the piece windproof — a practical detail that will keep you protected on gusty spring and summer days.

Related: Taylor Swift Wore the ‘It’ Girl Leather Trench Coat Style of Our Dreams

Advertisement

You can always count on leather jackets to bring a cool factor to any look — just ask Taylor Swift. The star’s latest date-night outfit included a sophisticated take on the rugged outer layer, which we duplicated with a budget-friendly style for less than $32. During an evening in London with fiancé Travis Kelce, Swift […]

Trench coats’ layering potential also makes the classic outerwear style perfect for color-blocking or framing your outfits. Lively used her piece as a lighter contrast to darker staples, which she spices up with black patent leather pumps, colorful rings, sparkling earrings, a gleaming gold watch and a diamond collar necklace. Of course, the Gossip Girl star also carried a black version of Fendi’s iconic Baguette shoulder bag, which was covered in small, rounded mirrors for a high-shine finish.

As Lively proved, there’s no outfit too casual to pair with a streamlined trench coat. Like the actress, you can easily wear the piece with basics or a denim silhouette. Still, the style looks especially chic when paired with a knee-length or mini dress, and while pumps will certainly match the sophisticated feel, classic penny loafers or low-heeled boots provide an elegant complement. Low-top sneakers are also perfect for adding a cool, carefree finish to more casual trench ensembles.

Aside from its fashionable elements, a crisp trench coat is a practical piece you’ll reach for constantly. As seen on Lively, the style’s sharp details and classic silhouette make it an elevated addition to any look. Truly, there’s no limit to the layering abilities a trench coat can bring to your wardrobe this season.

Get the Canis Long-Sleeve Trench Coat for $35 at Walmart! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Related: Blake Lively’s Outer Layer Is Perfect for Casual Nights

Even stars need a casual outing now and then, including Blake Lively. While on a rare off-duty outing, the actress layered a casual outfit with a soft jacket style we instantly loved — and found a similar take for less than $35. While stopping by the newly opened Go Greek Yogurt in New York City, […]

Advertisement

Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and Kaybrie Patterson have tied the knot.

In a joint point shared via Instagram on Thursday, May 28, the couple announced they have officially married just two months after debuting their romance on social media in March.

The couple announced they were engaged on May 2, while their wedding took place just days later on May 5.

Patterson, 19, explained in Thursday’s post that she and Bates, 22, were compelled to bring forward their wedding, which was originally slated for September, so that her late father could attend the nuptials before he died of Stage IV colon cancer.

Related: Bringing Up Bates’ Warden Engaged Nearly 2 Months After Debuting Courtship

Bringing Up Bates alum Warden Bates and his girlfriend, Kaybrie Patterson, are engaged after a whirlwind courtship. “The easiest yes 🤍💍,” the couple captioned joint proposal photos via Instagram on Saturday, May 2. Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love […]

“I am learning that even in the midst of sorrow, there can be joy. I don’t think I ever truly understood that until recently,” she wrote.

Patterson shared that her dad had been diagnosed with the disease three years ago and fought to survive until treatment “was no longer an option.”

“And yet, right in the middle of all that heartbreak, one of the happiest moments of my life happened. I got engaged to the love of my life, and we began planning our big wedding celebration for this September,” she wrote.

Patterson continued, “As my dad continued to decline and we were faced with the reality of hospice care, I came face to face with something I had never allowed myself to imagine. I could not picture a life where my dad was not the one to walk me down the aisle. So we decided to gather our immediate families and share a small, private ceremony together while we still could.”

Patterson shared her gratitude that she was able to include her father in her special day before his death, creating a “beautiful” memory that will last a lifetime.

“On May 5th, my dad walked me down the aisle. It was simple, emotional and beautiful in a way I will spend the rest of my life trying to find words for,” she wrote. “The next day he became unresponsive, and three days later he went home to be with the Lord.”

Patterson added that she and Bates plan to still hold a bigger wedding celebration in September, knowing that her dad will be looking down on them.

Bates and Patterson announced their engagement on May 2 by sharing joint proposal photos via Instagram. The post was captioned, “The easiest yes 🤍💍.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Patterson shared more photos from the romantic moment via her Instagram Stories, writing, “I cannot wait to be your wife. I love you more than words.”

Warden is one of the 19 children of Bringing Up Bates couple Gil and Kelly Jo Bates.

Following their son’s engagement, the proud parents wrote via Instagram, “We’re beyond thrilled to see the smiles they’ve brought each other, & we’ve already all fallen in love with Kaybrie’s sweet, fun, enthusiastic personality! Couldn’t feel more blessed!”

The fantasy genre has long been a fan-favorite, providing escapism for those who want a momentary reprieve from the mundane and predictable. For fantasy fans ready to step beyond the ordinary into places where magic hangs in the air, Netflix might be the gateway, especially as it is packed with more than a handful of series that spark the adventurer, dreamer, and curious seeker in all of us.

These shows, whether they are ethereal animation works or Gothic mysteries, offer a dazzling escape into worlds both familiar and strange. So, whether you crave something majestic and poetic or perhaps darker and more intense, these binge-worthy Netflix shows are guaranteed to cast you under their spell. Join us as we unlock the doors to eight of the most binge-worthy fantasy series streaming now.

1

‘The Sandman’ (2022–2025)

Image via Netflix

While only two seasons long, The Sandman is arguably one of the most exciting and visually stunning fantasy shows currently streaming. This dark fantasy epic, based on Neil Gaiman‘s comic series, follows the enigmatic Lord of Dreams — portrayed by Tom Sturridge, the personification of dreams and nightmares and ruler of the dreaming — as he breaks free from capture that lasts 106 years and embarks on a quest to restore order to his kingdom.

Far from just your regular fantasy show, The Sandman is an evocative experience that delves into existential themes such as faith, desire, death, and identity, compelling character dynamics, and enchanting production design. From the richly imaginative realm of the dreaming to the blending of historical and supernatural elements, this visual feast is guaranteed to keep audiences of all ages stunned throughout. In addition to its breathtaking cinematography, what arguably distinguishes it from other shows of the genre is its almost poetic storytelling and philosophical approach.

2

‘Locke & Key’ (2020–2022)

Image via Netflix

Locke & Key is what you get when you imagine moving to an ancient ancestral mansion that holds magical keys, each with a unique power, and discover that you’re suddenly part of a centuries-old battle between light and darkness. Equal parts family drama, dark mystery, and thrilling treasure hunt, this Netflix series keeps audiences hooked from the beginning. At its center is the Locke family: mother Nina (Darby Stanchfield) and her three children, Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott). After the murder of patriarch Randall, the family relocates to their colonial-era home in Massachusetts, where Bode soon stumbles upon a hidden magical world inside the house.

Locke & Key draws the excitement and creativity of children’s fantasy classics but also explores mature themes such as healing, family dynamics, and loss, which help elevate it from a mere supernatural romp to something with heart and capable of touching audiences. For viewers who are into beautifully shot Gothic shows, this dark fantasy might be the right pick (though arguably not the eeriest of the genre). While there has been some criticism regarding its pacing, it’s safe to say that Locke & Key has generally earned praise for its creative concept, engaging storytelling, and even character chemistry, making it a bingeable, heartfelt journey.

3

‘Sweet Tooth’ (2021–2024)

Image via Netflix

Sweet Tooth is the pick-me-up for viewers who want to watch a fantasy show that feels like a warm embrace, even amid all the chaos. Based on Jeff Lemire‘s comic, Sweet Tooth whisks audiences into a post-apocalyptic America where hybrid children, part human and part animal, struggle to survive in a fractured world. Specifically, the story follows Guz, played by Nixon Bingley, a sweet and curious boy with fierce antlers who lives in a hidden sanctuary with his protective father before tragedy forces him into the wider, dangerous world.

Sweet Tooth shines in its ability to blend childlike wonder and the grimness of reality, featuring a heartwarming central relationship between Guz and Tommy (Nonso Anozie), a good-hearted loner who becomes both protector and surrogate father figure. The kind of show that will make you laugh one minute, cry the other, and cheer for hope all in one episode, Sweet Tooth does not shy away from exploring weighty issues such as environmental collapse, fear of the unknown, and the question of what it means to be human — yet, it approaches them with a delicate and gentle touch, remaining optmistic without ever feeling naive.

4

‘Shadow and Bone’ (2021–2023)

Image via Netflix

Based on Leigh Bardugo‘s fan-favorite Grishaverse novels, this Netflix adaptation puts everything on the table: epic battles, forbidden magic, and electric love triangles, encapsulating all these elements into a narrative that’s as sprawling as it is intimate. At its center is Alina Starkov, played by Jessie Mei Li, an orphan and mapmaker thrust into the brutal world of the Grisha, powerful magical warriors, after discovering a rare light power that could be the key to saving her war-torn country. Alongside her, of course, are an ensemble of unforgettable characters, including the brooding and dangerously charming Darkling, brought to life by Ben Barnes.

Beyond its well-written characters, what catapults Shadow and Bone above many fantasy adaptations is, of course, its ambitious Russia-inspired universe. Central to its charm, too, is the incredible chemistry between the characters and its approach to interweaving multiple storylines (something that doesn’t happen in the book), dueling the novels into a cohesive narrative and balancing action sequences with character-driven drama that persuades audiences to care for its characters. Despite its cancellation, it’s fantasy done right: large in vision, rich in characters, and brimming with magic.

5

‘One Piece’ (2023–Present)

Image via Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection

You’ve probably heard of Eiichiro Oda‘s legendary, generation-defining manga and anime, and the Netflix live-action take has propelled it into even greater recognition. At its center is Monkey D. Luffy, played by Iñaki Godoy, a boy blessed with the powers of the Gomu Gomu fruit, which renders his body rubbery and practically indestructible. Luffy’s dream? Why, of course, to find the elusive One Piece treasure and become the Pirate King, a title that promises ultimate freedom. Alongside him is a vibrant crew of friends, each with tangled pasts and hopes. Their journey is an entertaining blend of drama, humor, and intense battles in a fantastical ocean.

Keeping the spirit alive while carving a fresh course for newcomers and devoted fans alike, One Piece‘s live-action brilliance lies in how it manages to capture the fantastical whimsy and emotional heft of Oda’s sprawling universe without losing its soul to excess. It is visually striking, with amazing practical stunt work and chemistry. And despite walking a delicate line by adapting decades of beloved anime lore, One Piece has impressed critics and fans alike for its faithfulness to the source material, strong performances, and overall joyous spirit. It’s no wonder, then, that it makes for a fun, binge-worthy show.

6

‘The Witcher’ (2019–Present)

Image via Netflix

If swords, sorcery, and swagger are your fantasy essentials, chances are you’re familiar with this Netflix original, based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s beloved book series and popular games. The Witcher plunges viewers into a world both brutal and beautiful, where choices are grim and consequences are deadly. At the center is Geralt of Rivia, played by Henry Cavill (a role that was passed down to Liam Hemsworth in the upcoming season), a monster hunter genetically enhanced to slay terrifying beasts. Along the way, Geralt finds his path intertwined with the destinies of Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful sorceress with a tragic past, played by Anya Chalotra, and Ciri, a princess with a mysterious destiny that could change the fate of the world, brought to life by Freya Allen.

The Witcher fascinates by boasting lush cinematography with dark forests, medieval castles, and brutal battlefields that feel lived-in and palpable. Anchored by Cavill’s beloved portrayal of Geralt — equal parts stoic and subtly humorous, with vulnerability hiding behind his tough exterior — the series also thrives on a multi-timeline narrative that weaves present and past seamlessly, gradually revealing character backstories and motivations. Add in incredible chemistry between the three lead characters, and it’s no wonder that the series has earned tremendous praise for strong performances, action sequences, and sprawling worldbuilding. Still, Cavill’s departure has cast uncertainty over the series’ future.

7

‘Wednesday’ (2022–Present)

Image via Netflix

When it comes to recent fantasy must-sees, Wednesday takes the crown. This Gothic Tim Burton-directed series invites audiences to step into the shadowy corridors of Nevermore Academy — a school that welcomes outcasts, monsters, and misfits — providing a strikingly fresh take on a classic character who’s been stealing scenes and hearts for generations. With Jenna Ortega‘s incredible performance at its center, Wednesday is an immersive dive into mystery, wit, and supernatural high school drama, all laced with the unique depth and charm of the iconic Addams Family character. In the show, Wednesday not only hones her psychic abilities but also tackles a slew of mysteries, from local murders to her own family’s enigmatic past.

What makes Wednesday binge-worthy is its amazing blend of horror, humor, and heartfelt coming-of-age moments. It is also a visual feast: stunning architecture, shadowy forests, and quirky supernatural elements are wrapped in cinematic and stylish cinematography. It’s no wonder, then, that Wednesday, with its witty writing that dances effortlessly between creepy trills and sharp comedy, has become a fan and critic favorite. In true Tim Burton-esque fashion, it not only perfectly captures the spirit of an iconic character but also makes her fresh, funny, and utterly fascinating for a whole new generation.

8

‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)

Image via Netflix

If Wednesday takes home the award for the most binge-worthy Gothic fantasy series in recent memory, Arcane is the animation king of streaming. Inspired by the popular video game League of Legends, it rises beyond just a cartoon show: it’s an epic visual symphony that redefines what fantasy animation can be, plunging viewers into the divided world of Piltover and Zaun, where cities are locked in a delicate yet dangerous dance between technical marvel and gritty survival. At its heart are sisters Vi and Jinx, whose complicated relationship sets the emotional core of the series.

Arcane provides audiences with breathtaking artistry and storytelling sophistication, marrying hand-painted textures with 3D modeling in a way that feels almost painterly and undeniably alive. It isn’t just eye candy, though — narrative-wise, it’s a tour de force that explores memorable characters, moral ambiguity, and even social tension. Plus, it delves into hardship, loyalty, and revolution, resonating with mature audiences while maintaining accessibility for newcomers. For those who appreciate animated TV as an art form, the groundbreaking show is a dazzling and heart-pounding journey.

Advertisement

Release Date

Advertisement

2021 – 2024

Network

Netflix

Advertisement

Showrunner

Christian Linke

Advertisement

Directors

Barth Maunoury, Marietta Ren, Christelle Abgrall

Writers

Advertisement

Amanda Overton, Nick Luddington, Mollie Bickley St. John, Ben St. John, Giovanna Sarquis, Henry G.M. Jones

Franchise(s)

League of Legends

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Erotic cinema gets flattened more cruelly than almost any other kind of film. If it is explicit, people reduce it to heat. If it is elegant, people call it stylish and move on. If it is dangerous, they remember the scandal more than the craft. And if it is genuinely great, if it uses desire to expose grief, class shame, self-invention, power, loneliness, rot, fantasy, or the humiliating distance between what people want and what they can safely admit they want, it still somehow ends up being treated like a side corridor of film history instead of one of the genre spaces where filmmakers have often been bravest.

That is why lists like this matter. Not because these films need pity. They do not. They are alive. They are sharp. They are often smarter than the movies that overshadowed them. But they do need rescuing from the lazy idea that erotic films are only about surface. These 10 films are erotic and they’re actually great with substance and plot and everything. Lock in.

10

‘White Palace’ (1990)

Image via Universal Pictures

What I love about White Palace is that it understands sex as class collision before it understands it as romance. That is the thing people miss when they treat it like some vaguely “unlikely couple” drama. Max Baron (James Spader) is grief-stricken, polished, educated, younger, and moving through a world of upper-middle-class taste and coded restraint. Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon) is older, rougher, louder, more direct, more alive in a way that threatens every defensive layer he has built around his bereavement and his social identity.

When they come together, the film is asking whether he can survive being stripped of the superiority and control his whole emotional life is leaning on. And Sarandon is extraordinary because she never lets Nora become a fantasy of earthy authenticity for some younger man’s awakening. She is sexual, yes, but also embarrassed, proud, wounded, funny, defensive, and fully alert to how the world judges her body, her age, her background, her appetite. That makes the film much more painful than its premise sounds. Every tender moment is brushing up against humiliation or social violence or the possibility that attraction is not enough to bridge the lives around it. White Palace matters because it knows desire does not level class and shame. It exposes them.

9

‘Dream Lover’ (1993)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

This is one of those erotic thrillers that feels like it should be mentioned much more often than it is, because Dream Lover understands the core pleasure of the form better than a lot of bigger titles do. It is not only about sex, and it is not only about deception. It is about how erotic obsession makes people willingly unreadable to themselves. Ray Reardon (James Spader) falls for Lena Mathers (Mädchen Amick) with the exact kind of hungry certainty that thrillers like this need. He wants her quickly, confidently, and with just enough self-satisfaction to make the audience nervous on his behalf. That nervousness is where the movie lives.

And then Amick starts doing the real work. The film keeps letting Lena stay slightly ahead of definition, in a way that makes desire itself feel complicit. Ray keeps treating intimacy as knowledge, as if sleeping with someone, marrying them, possessing access to them, must eventually stabilize who they are. Dream Lover knows that is fantasy. It keeps turning marriage into a hall of mirrors where sex, money, suspicion, and self-invention get knotted together until trust itself starts looking like an erotic mistake.

8

‘Sirens’ (1994)

Image via Roadshow Film Distributors

There is a softness to Sirens that makes people underestimate how sly it really is. On the surface it is all sun, skin, art, teasing, pre-Raphaelite beauty, and social comedy. A young clergyman and his wife visit an eccentric painter in Australia and step into this sensual, half-mocking, half-seducing world built around the body and image and temptation. That sounds light, and in some ways it is. But the film’s intelligence is in how it turns erotic energy into a test of temperament rather than a cheap moral provocation. Everyone is exposed differently by the atmosphere of the place.

Estella Campion (Tara Fitzgerald)’s awakening feels like the film recognizes that repression and innocence are not the same thing, and that beauty can destabilize people not because beauty is evil but because it reveals how frightened they are of desire once it stops being abstract. The painter’s household has this languid, unserious surface, though the movie is quietly doing something deeper underneath, asking what forms of purity are actually just fear in ceremonial clothing. Sirens seduces and laughs at the same time. That is a hard balance, and it makes the film linger.

7

‘The Duke of Burgundy’ (2014)

Image via Artificial Eye

This is one of the most exquisitely made erotic films of the last few decades because it understands that ritual can be both erotic structure and emotional prison. The setup sounds simple enough, a relationship between two women involving elaborate dominance-and-submission routines, but the film is so much more than a “BDSM drama.” It is about repetition. It is about maintenance. It is about how desire can remain real while the performance of desire starts exhausting the person trying to keep another person’s fantasy alive. That is such a sad, adult thing for an erotic film to understand.

And because the movie is so beautifully tactile, the fabrics, the rooms, the sounds, the little ceremonial humiliations and corrections, the ache gets stronger, not softer. Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Evelyn (Chiara D’Anna) negotiating love through power, and those negotiations are full of disappointment, tenderness, resentment, caretaking, longing, and the unbearable knowledge that what turns one person on may be what quietly tires another person out. The Duke of Burgundy is erotic in the deepest sense because it treats desire as a pattern with emotional consequences. That addition gives it depth.

6

‘Swimming Pool’ (2003)

Image via Focus Features

This is one of those films where the erotic charge is inseparable from authorship and envy, which is exactly why it is so rich. Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) arrives in France blocked, controlled, chilly, and faintly contemptuous, a writer whose relationship to sex seems more observational than lived. Then Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) blows into the house like a deliberate disruption, all appetite, noise, danger, body confidence, and narrative instability.

The obvious reading is older woman versus younger woman, repression versus freedom, watcher versus exhibitionist. The film keeps giving you that material and then making it slipperier every minute. What I adore is how mercilessly Swimming Pool links erotic fascination to creative theft. Sarah is magnetized by Julie. She watches, judges, absorbs, rearranges. The sexual atmosphere becomes inseparable from the artistic one. Is Julie a real person? A projection? A fantasy of everything Sarah cannot admit she wants, fears, or envies? The movie never locks the door neatly, and that ambiguity is the whole seduction.

5

‘In the Cut’ (2003)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing 

I will defend In the Cut forever because it is one epic New York erotic thriller and was punished, in part, for how completely it refused to flatter anybody. Jane Campion made the city feel bruised, sweaty, literate, dangerous, and uncomfortably intimate. Frannie Avery (Meg Ryan) is not written as a glossy thriller heroine drifting through a sexy mystery. She is solitary, observant, turned on by danger in ways she does not fully respect in herself, and moving through a story where language, violence, and eroticism keep sticking together in ways that feel dirty rather than sleek. That dirtiness is the point.

What makes the film so good is how little distance it puts between desire and vulnerability. Frannie’s attraction to Giovanni Malloy (Mark Ruffalo) is not romanticized as “bad-boy chemistry” in the cheap sense. It feels like compulsion mixed with curiosity mixed with self-endangerment. Ruffalo gives him exactly the right kind of rough, unreadable pull, and the movie keeps asking whether Frannie is moving toward him because she sees something true in him or because truth itself has become erotically fused with threat. The murder plot matters, yes, but less than the atmosphere of female subjectivity under siege by its own appetite. In the Cut is messy, feverish, and emotionally exposing. That is why it is great.

4

‘Damage’ (1992)

Image via Entertainment Film Distributors

This film is so punishing and so elegant that watching it can feel like being trapped inside a confession somebody should never have made out loud. Louis Malle strips the affair down to something almost ceremonial in its inevitability. Stephen Fleming (Jeremy Irons) and Anna Barton (Juliette Binoche) are not simply in love and not simply behaving recklessly. The movie treats their desire like a force that humiliates ordinary language. Politics, family, adulthood, social roles, parental obligation, all of it starts looking flimsy the moment they enter a room together.

That kind of fatal eroticism is very hard to pull off without becoming ridiculous. Damage pulls it off because it never blinks from the destruction. Anna is not a simple temptress figure and not a solved psychological profile. She carries silence like a weapon, and the film is wise enough to let that silence keep its danger. Irons, meanwhile, understands Stephen’s collapse not as romantic liberation but as something much more degrading. He becomes smaller under the appetite, less articulate, less dignified, more frighteningly willing to destroy everything that once told him who he was. That is what makes Damage so powerful. It does not treat passion as noble.

3

‘The Last Seduction’ (1994)

Image via October Films

This is one of the sharpest erotic thrillers ever made. This film, for once, shows that sex and intellect can be fused into the same predatory style without softening either one. Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino) is the center of everything, of course, and she is so good that she almost broke the category around her. She does not play femme fatale as some old-school decorative danger but like an appetite armed with contempt. Bridget is always reading people, always measuring weakness, always two moves ahead, and the movie’s whole pleasure lies in how ruthlessly it lets her stay that way.

What makes the film more than just a deliciously evil ride is the precision of its social understanding. Men keep misreading Bridget because they want to, because desire flatters them into believing they are the one player in the room who cannot possibly be handled. That makes their downfall feel less like plot mechanics and more like character truth. The eroticism in The Last Seduction is inseparable from power’s theater. That is hard, bright, vicious filmmaking.

2

‘Bound’ (1996)

Image via Gramercy Pictures

I love Bound because it is one of the sexiest films ever made about competence. Not just bodies, though it has plenty of charge there. Competence. The Wachowskis probably understood that erotic thrillers become transcendent when desire and plotting start feeding each other, and Bound does that with an almost impossible amount of confidence. Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet (Jennifer Tilly) are hot together, obviously, but what makes the movie truly intoxicating is the way attraction sharpens into strategy. Every glance becomes a transfer of information. Every seduction becomes a practical maneuver. Every intimate moment deepens the con. That is movie pleasure at a very high level.

And the film is so beautifully engineered. The apartment geography matters. The money matters. The mob pressure matters. Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) is all sweat and unraveling masculine panic, which gives the film this deliciously claustrophobic counterpoint to the cool, lucid charge between Corky and Violet. One is grounded, tensile, built for action-space. The other is breathy, performative, slippery, and much smarter than the performance first suggests. Bound is one of the purest examples of how sex, suspense, and formal precision can make each other smarter.

1

‘Exotica’ (1994)

Image via Alliance Communications Corporation

Atom Egoyan’s Exotica is not great for an erotic film. It is just great. Full stop. The club itself is one of the most beautiful and sorrowful locations in modern cinema, all ritualized desire, repeated music, controlled fantasy, and private damage humming under every performance. People go there to look, yes, but also to mourn, to displace, to rehearse, to punish themselves, to sit inside longing without naming what the longing is really for. That is such a devastating thing for a movie to understand.

And the film’s whole structure deepens that insight. Christina (Mia Kirshner) is not just an object of desire. Francis (Bruce Greenwood) is not just a lonely man with an obsession. Eric (Elias Koteas) is not just a jealous DJ. Thomas (Don McKellar) is not just a pet-shop owner with his own clandestine life. Everybody in Exotica is trying to manage pain through ritual, and the erotic atmosphere makes that pain visible rather than hiding it. The film keeps rearranging who knows what, who wants what, and why desire in this world is so knotted up with memory and guilt. It makes erotic performance feel unbearably sad without draining it of its charge. That is true magic. That is why it belongs at number one.

Advertisement

Exotica

Advertisement

Release Date

March 24, 1995

Director

Advertisement

Atom Egoyan

Writers

Atom Egoyan

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The anime community as a whole cannot decide on the best anime, which is only natural since everyone has different tastes and preferences. However, one of the most popular anime series ever is One Piece, which still hasn’t hit its peak at over a thousand episodes. The anime still has a bunch of time left with plenty of storytelling potential, but its expansive world, engaging characters, intriguing themes, creativity, and entertainment value have established it as an anime juggernaut.

One Piece may be a lot of fans’ favorite anime, but it isn’t the best, and while others think there are many better series than it, there may only be 8 anime shows better than One Piece. This list will highlight anime series that most fans can agree are better than the biggest thing on TV based on writing, animation, originality, lack of flaws, popularity, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality.

Image via Bones Inc.

Let’s get the obvious entry out of the way, because many consider Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood the best anime of all time, and therefore, it is most likely better than One Piece. After Ed and Al lose parts or all of their bodies in a taboo experiment, they go on a quest to restore these lost parts with the philosopher’s stone. However, when they uncover a government conspiracy, they must now stop it before it consumes the entire world.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is hailed as the best anime ever because of its wide appeal, from the engaging characters, riveting story, mystery, lore, worldbuilding, comedy, drama, romance, and action. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood didn’t need thousands of episodes to create a magnificent world that is ripe with well-written characters and profound themes. Only a series such as this can compete with One Piece, and in this case, excel above it.

7

‘Steins;Gate’ (2011)

Image via Whit Fox

This list tries to feature anime that are similar to One Piece so that they can easily be compared, but certain series are so good that they had to be featured here, including Steins;Gate. When a self-proclaimed mad scientist accidentally creates a machine that can send texts into the past, he and his friends must now correct the timeline before it collapses on itself, while also battling a secret organization.

Steins;Gate and One Piece don’t have much in common, with each having its own strengths. However, the former is tightly written with no plot holes, and that is rare when dealing with time travel. Steins;Gate is a psychological masterpiece and a profound thriller that delves into the philosophical side of time travel. Its narrative structure is phenomenal, and the direction is incredible, creating an all-time great that is better than most shows, proving to be a genre-defining anime series.

6

‘Gintama’ (2006–2021)

Image via Bandai Namco

There are a decent number of long-running shōnen anime on this list, and one of the most underrated is Gintama. Set in an alternate universe in feudal Japan where aliens have taken over the world, Gintoki is a former samurai who now works odd jobs to keep the lights on. Alongside Kagura and Shinpachi, the trio take on whatever job comes their way, whether it involves aliens, terrorists, police, or space pirates.

Gintama takes a very different approach to other anime, focusing mostly on episodic comedy episodes. However, the handful of times it had a serious arc, Gintama wowed with its marvellous storytelling, fantastic fights, and renowned cast of characters. Gintama excels at keeping its characters relevant, with plenty of side adventures and serious plot lines, handling those aspects much better than One Piece.

5

‘Mob Psycho 100’ (2016–2022)

Image via Bones

ONE is an iconic author who has made a couple of the best manga and anime series in the world, including Mob Psycho 100. Shigeo is the world’s strongest psychic, but he only wants an average life and to impress his crush. Unfortunately, because he suppresses his emotions, they come out through an explosion of uncontrollable psychic powers, which makes life difficult for him, his friends, and his enemies.

Mob Psycho 100 is one of the best anime of all time, and it does this by creating a gorgeous character study where each episode is a different descent into the ego and self-improvement. From some of the best characters in anime to top-tier humor, incredible rewatchability, remarkable animation, and riveting fight scenes, Mob Psycho 100 is better than almost every single anime out there, not just One Piece.

4

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Image via Sunrise

Advertisement

As mentioned, not every anime on this list is like One Piece, and Cowboy Bebop is another distinct masterpiece that has cemented itself in history. Spike Spiegel and his crew of bounty hunters make a living by cleaning up the scum of the galaxy, taking jobs every day that lead them into danger. However, when his dark past catches up with him, Spike must face it or risk losing everything.

Cowboy Bebop uses its unique blend of noir, jazz, and lived-in sci-fi to create a philosophical space adventure. Each episode is a masterpiece in this series, creating a distinct aesthetic and narrative architecture that is much better than what One Piece has built. It is hard to compare the two, but Cowboy Bebop has a lasting legacy and made Westerners realize that anime has rich storytelling potential.

3

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011–2014)

Image via Madhouse

Advertisement

One Piece is a legendary series, and therefore, there are a lot of series that will feel similar to it. One of the most similar anime series to One Piece is Hunter x Hunter, which follows Gon, an optimistic child who wants to find his father. To do so, he follows his father’s path, going on an adventure to become a hunter. Little does he know that this journey will put him through hell and back.

Like Eiichiro Oda, Yoshihiro Togashi is a legendary manga author, and these two series go hand in hand as some of the best series ever. Hunter x Hunter is also a master of worldbuilding, and while it may not reach the heights of One Piece, it has plenty of other aspects that rise above it, including pacing, character development, tight storytelling, and memorable moments. Hunter x Hunter has a grand sense of adventure that explores the world and the characters inside of it.

2

‘Monster’ (2004–2005)

Image via Madhouse

Advertisement

Naoki Urasawa is a prolific author with some of the best manga mysteries of all time, and his magnum opus is Monster. Tenma is a surgeon who chooses to save the life of a child instead of the mayor. However, when that same child becomes a serial killer, Tenma takes matters into his own hands. But will he be able to kill Johan when he learns of his dark past?

No anime creates as big a mystery and rising tension as Monster, which uses its slow-burning, suspenseful story to ignite an inferno of a writing masterclass. This philosophical battle between humanism and nihilism creates an unwavering triumph of narrative prowess that no shōnen anime can compare to. Monster is better at most things than most anime, and One Piece is no different.

1

‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ (2012–Present)

Image via Warner Bros. Japan

Advertisement

For some fans, there are a lot of anime better than One Piece, and for others, there are none, but either way, viewers can acknowledge a series such as JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure for its creativity. Each part follows a new character in the Joestar lineage, fighting a variety of villains with varying goals, from becoming a vampire to taking over the world.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s best attribute is its variety, using new protagonists, side casts, and villains to create a new spice every season. Whether it focuses on a globe-trotting adventure with engaging fight scenes or finding a serial killer in a small town, each journey is magnificent. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a tense and wildly imaginative series that mixes storytelling with absolute surrealism, making the new season one of the best anime of 2026.

Bear Brown has shared details of his brother Matt Brown’s past struggles amid the Alaskan Bush People alum’s disappearance.

Posting via TikTok on Thursday, May 28, Bear, 38, claimed that Matt, 43, had been grappling with some tough situations in his personal life.

“He has been struggling for a long time, you know, with alcohol and with drugs and stuff,” Bear claimed. “He has other issues and stuff, too. He has done a lot of stuff that people like, don’t even know about.”

In the video, Bear recalled the last interaction he had with his sibling, explaining that he ran into Matt at a Walmart and they spoke for a few minutes.

“That was the last time I saw him, you know, and he called me after that, and he said that he had fallen off the wagon, and I was like, ‘Well, get back on it, man, you know, everybody falls off, you know, just get back on it, rehab if you’ve got to, you’ve got this, you fought it a lot before,’, and that was the last call I had with him, and that was a little bit ago.”

Bear added that Matt had also been dealing with a relationship breakdown at the time.

“He was going through like a really bad breakup, apparently,” Bear said. “There was this girl that he really liked, and I guess they, like, broke up, and I guess he’d been drinking too much and stuff, and I don’t know all the details to it.”

There are grave fears for Matt’s wellbeing after witnesses claimed that they had seen Matt floating in a river. Bear addressed these claims in the TikTok video, clarifying that he couldn’t confirm the speculation was “100%” accurate but it was “likely.”

TMZ reported that the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous call on Wednesday, regarding a man sitting in the shallow waters of the Okanogan River in Washington. The caller claimed to see the man lying face down in the river and being swept away by the current. Emergency responders searched the area but have yet to find a body.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Related: Bear Brown Condemns ‘Hateful‘ Comments Amid Fears for Brother Matt

Advertisement

Bear Brown slammed people leaving disrespectful comments about brother Matt Bear amid the family’s concerns for his well-being. “First off, I’m not just making a video on rumors. It’s a very, very, very, very small chance it’s not him. It’s like 99 percent him,” Bear, 38, said of the family’s fear for Matt, 43, in […]

A source close to the Brown family told Us Weekly, “The family is not sure what to believe right now. They are not sure where Matt is but they are hoping that he is OK and that the information is wrong. They are all in contact and speaking to police and waiting to hear. They have had their issues [with Matt] and Gabe has been the person most in contact with him.”

Bear and Matt both appeared on the Discovery show Alaskan Bush People. The series aired from 2014 to 2022. Matt quietly exited the reality show in 2019.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

After Gone Girl arrived like a whirling dervish and messed up viewers all over the place, studios were desperate for the next big “there’s a woman in trouble and she may be an unreliable narrator” thriller. This particular film arrived right in the middle of that wave, and while it never became quite as memorable as some of the more successful movies of that time, it’s the perfect kind of movie you’d stick on late at night on a Saturday with a glass of wine and end up hooked. And nobody would argue with that for a review.

The Girl on the Train is pulling into the Netflix station on June 1. The film is based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel, and follows Rachel Watson, a recently divorced woman who becomes obsessively fixated on a seemingly perfect couple she sees during her daily train ride. But when the woman she has been watching goes missing, Rachel becomes far too entangled in the investigation, even though her own memory is all over the place, and her connection to the case is far messier than anyone could possibly imagine.

The Girl on the Train stars Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place) as Rachel Watson; Rebecca Ferguson (Dune) as Anna Watson, Rachel’s ex-husband’s new wife; Haley Bennett (The Magnificent Seven) as Megan Hipwell, the missing woman; Justin Theroux (Mulholland Drive) as Tom Watson, Rachel’s ex-husband; Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast) as Scott Hipwell, Megan’s husband; Allison Janney (I, Tonya) as Detective Riley, the investigator on the case; Édgar Ramírez (Carlos) as Dr. Kamal Abdic, Megan’s therapist; and Lisa Kudrow (Friends) as Martha, a woman from Rachel and Tom’s past.

Was ‘The Girl on the Train’ Successful?

Commercially, it was a big hit, which is no surprise because the book upon which it was based was a runaway success. It grossed about $173.2 million worldwide against a reported $45 million budget, including $75.4 million domestic and $97.8 million international, so financially it did well. It also opened at No. 1 in North America with around $24.5 million, which was a great result for an adult psychological thriller in general. Critics did not dig it though. The movie has a 44% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48/100 on Metacritic. While critics thought Blunt was outstanding, they thought the film was too melodramatic and not as sharp as the original novel.

The Girl on the Train comes to Netflix on June 1.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

October 5, 2016

Runtime

112 minutes

Advertisement

Writers

Erin Cressida Wilson

Advertisement

Producers

Celia D. Costas, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Marc Platt

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement