Entertainment
20 Movies To Watch if You Love ‘Saving Private Ryan’
An epic war-scale movie about courage, bravery, and sacrifice, Saving Private Ryan is arguably one of the best epic war films around. While it has one of the most emotional opening scenes in film, the narrative is still one viewers were eager to watch, as a squadron of soldiers led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) goes behind enemy lines in World War II with orders to save Private James Ryan (Matt Damon). It is a brutal telling of one of the deadliest wars in history, taking viewers into a violent and bloody battle where no one is safe.
From the eagerness of Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) in All Quiet on the Western Front to the last stand seen in Fury, Saving Private Ryan isn’t the only film that will have viewers on the edge of their seats. These films are fast-paced and filled with action and consequences arising from various military operations. So, for viewers who enjoy intense fight sequences, interesting characters, and powerful stories, check out these movies that are similar to the ferocity seen in Saving Private Ryan.
Stanley Kubrick‘s Full Metal Jacket is a gripping war movie set during the Vietnam War and stars Matthew Modine as Private James “Joker” Davis who, along with Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence (Vincent D’Onofrio), are sent to boot camp where they endure intense psychological and physical abuse under a brutal drill instructor, shaping them into soldiers while pushing some to the breaking point. After graduating from the Marine Corps, Davis is sent to Vietnam, where he navigates the absurdity, violence, and moral confusion of the brutal warfare.
While Saving Private Ryan focuses on the chaos and sacrifice of combat, Full Metal Jacket explores how soldiers are psychologically shaped before battle and how that conditioning affects them in war. It offers a darker, more satirical take on military life, with unforgettable characters, sharp dialogue, and a deep focus on dehumanization and moral conflict. Full Metal Jacket ultimately conveys and explores the unsettling understanding of what war does to people—both on the battlefield and inside their minds. —Andrea Ciriaco
19
‘The Hurt Locker’ (2008)
The Oscar-winning war movie, The Hurt Locker, is recognized as one of the best war films of the 21st century and takes place during the Iraq War. Following the death of their Staff Sergeant, a bomb squad is assigned a new leader, Staff Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner), who has a reputation for taking risks and seems to thrive on war. While the squad tries to adapt to James’ different kind of leadership, they can’t deny that the man has an uncanny talent for defusing bombs.
The Hurt Locker delivers the same intense realism and tension as Saving Private Ryan, but in a more modern-day war setting. The Hurt Locker zooms in on the moment-to-moment psychological stress of combat, showing how war becomes addictive and isolating. Its handheld style and focus on a small unit make the danger feel immediate and personal, while exploring how soldiers struggle to function both in war and away from it. The Hurt Locker is less about missions and more about the mental cost of surviving them, which pairs naturally with what Saving Private Ryan does so powerfully. —Andrea Ciriaco
18
‘Platoon’ (1986)
Charlie Sheen stars in Oliver Stone‘s 1986 war drama, Platoon, as Chris Taylor, who, in 1967, abandons college and enlists to serve during the Vietnam War. When Taylor finally lands in the middle of the battleground in Vietnam, his idealism begins to fade, and the reality of combat shakes him to the core. As Taylor fights to survive, in-house fighting between his hardened superiors and sympathetic comrades pits everyone in his unit against each other as well as against enemy troops.
While Saving Private Ryan shows the chaos and heroism of battle, Platoon dives into the personal toll of war, including fear, guilt, and ethical dilemmas that many veterans struggled to cope with after the war. Its gritty realism, intense firefights, and portrayal of the bond and tension between soldiers make it emotionally powerful and a must-see for anyone who loves war films. Both films present audiences with a raw, immersive look at combat, but Platoon has a heavier psychological focus on the morality and mentality of soldiers, ultimately setting it apart from other war movies. —Andrea Ciriaco
17
‘Braveheart’ (1995)
Braveheart is an epic historical war drama directed by and starring Mel Gibson as William Wallace, a Medieval Scottsman who revolts against the English after the love of his life is brutally murdered. After Wallace recruits his own army of men, he leads them into battle and eventually sparks an all-out war that threatens England, making him a wanted man, but before he is captured and executed for his actions, Wallace becomes an immortal symbol of freedom and hope for his beloved country of Scotland.
Braveheart features a brutal depiction of battle and embodies the emotional weight of fighting for something bigger than yourself. The movie explores the personal courage, sacrifice, and leadership of one man rallying people against overwhelming odds, effectively capturing the chaos, fear, and heroism of combat. Braveheart received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Screenplay and Best Costume Design, and went on to win five of its nominations, notably for Best Picture and Best Director. —Andrea Ciriaco
16
‘Flags of Our Fathers’ (2006)
Clint Eastwood‘s Flags of Our Fathers is an intimate glimpse into the lives of five Marines and a Navy corpsman who were involved in planting the American flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. A photo of the servicemen and their display of patriotism becomes an iconic symbol of victory for Americans, inadvertently making the men heroes, but despite the notoriety and glory, each of them still has to live with the traumatic aftermath and lasting effects of being on the battlefield.
Flags of Our Fathers explores the human stories behind the historical Battle of Iwo Jima, and examines the personal cost of heroism, the pressure of public expectation, and the emotional aftermath of war. The film is a thoughtful, realistic look at how ordinary soldiers endure extraordinary circumstances and the complex ways society honors or misunderstands those who put their lives on the line for their country. Unlike the majority of other war movies, Flags of Our Fathers tells the events of Iwo Jima through the American perspective, while its companion, Letters from Iwo Jima, provides the Japanese perspective of the battle, making Flags of Our Fathers a unique and fascinating war movie. —Andrea Ciriaco
15
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
Gladiator follows the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), taking viewers back to the time of Ancient Rome and gladiators fighting in an arena for the entertainment of the empire. Once an honored general for Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), Maximus soon finds himself bound in chains after the Emperor’s son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), murders his father. Jealous that his father wanted Maximus to be his successor, Commodus frames him. Maximus’ family is eventually sold to Proximo (Oliver Reed), a gladiator trainer. It isn’t long before Maximus is thrown into Rome’s Colosseum, fighting for his life and, eventually, taking on Commodus and killing him for the spectators.
While Ridley Scott’s historical epic is set in ancient times, it is still a compelling tale of strength and honor. Like Saving Private Ryan, it moves at just the right pace, so when the action sequences do happen, they are all out entertaining, if not wildly violent. Crowe’s performance as Maximus is magnificent, creating a quiet yet strong-willed person who wants revenge for the murders of his family while still wanting to fight for the freedom of himself and the other gladiators forced into slavery. Visually stunning and electric, Gladiator won five Oscars at the 73rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.
14
‘Narvik’ (2022)
A suspenseful tale of the true events that happened during the Battles of Narvik from April 9, 1940, to June 8, 1940, Narvik brings viewers into the tiny Norwegian port town as German forces are invading the country, intent on taking over the iron ore exports the village is known for. The movie follows Ingrid Tofte (Kristine Hartgen) and Corporal Gunnar Tofte (Carl Martin Eggesbø), a married couple who want nothing more than to live a normal life and to keep their family safe, even though they are now caught up in a war.
The film brings into question what a person will do under extreme duress if they are willing to stand up and fight for what they believe in. An emotional and impactful movie, Narvik has a way of making every decision made by the characters feel as though it is life or death, a moral obligation, and less of a strategic way of taking on the encroaching German forces. It is interesting to watch, as viewers aren’t sure if the characters are going to break under the emotional turmoil or continue to fight for their town.
13
‘The Patriot’ (2000)
Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is a widowed farmer living in Berkeley, South Carolina, and a French Indian War veteran who wants nothing more than to stay out of another war, even though the British are coming and the American Revolutionary War is on his doorstep. But when British Troops come and disrupt his life, killing one of his sons, Thomas (Gregory Smith), he joins the ranks. Getting to one of the American camps, Benjamin meets up with Colonel Harry Burwell (Chris Cooper), who, knowing Benjamin’s fighting skills, tasks him with creating a militia unit and engaging in guerrilla warfare. Benjamin fights alongside his son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), who is eventually killed, and does his best to win the war, one bloody battle after another.
The Patriot is like Saving Private Ryan as it is a war film filled with violent battles, hand-to-hand combat, and emotionally draining death scenes, just with an eccentric villain in Jason Isaacs’ Colonel William Tavington, who viewers can’t help but hate to love with his zero-remorse and guilt-free attitude. While it is not as thought-provoking as the squadron tasked with saving another soldier’s life, it is still wildly entertaining, with incredible acting and a strange juxtaposition of sentiment and brutality, a similar theme seen in Saving Private Ryan.
12
‘The Thin Red Line’ (1998)
Based on James Jones’ 1962 novel of the same name, The Thin Red Line brings viewers into the Pacific Theater of World War II and the Battle of Mount Austen, part of the Guadalcanal Campaign. The film looks into the lives of different United States soldiers from C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, including Private Witt (Jim Caviezel), who went AWOL, and Sargeant. Welsh (Sean Penn), the commanding officer who found him and returned Witt to active duty, training for the battle to come.
From there, soldiers gear up for the Battle of Mount Austen, showcasing a violent war field full of machine guns, death, and a squadron who need to figure out their respective attitudes in life or death situations and war as a whole. The Thin Red Line is an emotional tale about a group of men who find love in unlikely places, namely in each other, as they try to overrun a Japanese bunker during the battle. It is powerful and takes viewers on a journey through an intense battle and sequences of bloodshed that are nothing short of heart-piercing moments.
11
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (2022)
All Quiet on the Western Front is based on the 1929 Erich Maria Remarque novel of the same name and brings viewers back to the start of World War I in 1914 Germany. It follows the story of Paul Bäumer, a young German man who, alongside his friends, enlists in the army. The film is interesting, as it shows Paul as an excited young man, ready to go to the front lines for his country and become a decorated war hero. He sensationalizes being a soldier but is quickly struck by the realities of warfare, the death and destruction it causes, and the body count growing every hour of every day. Instead of becoming the hero he dreamed of being, all Paul wants to do is survive and make it back home to his family.
The film shows the personal development of Kammerer’s character, first, as a young schoolboy who thinks it would be glorious and an honor to die for his country, and then realizes the truth, conditions, and horrific nature of where he is. It is a harrowing portrayal of soldiers and war, a grueling and emotionally taxing film that is as visually appealing as it is compelling. Like Saving Private Ryan, All Quiet on the Western Front explores the notion that war is something else altogether for those actually fighting and how the experience isn’t an adventure but something that will stay with you forever.
Entertainment
Justin Bieber gives sneak preview of upcoming Coachella performance
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The singer-songwriter performed a private show with three sets in West Hollywood, saying it was a tease for his first major concert in four years.
Entertainment
Anna Faris finally speaks out about “Toy Story 5” casting rumors
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There were reports last year that Faris would be joining the voice cast of the beloved Pixar franchise.
Entertainment
7 actors who lost out on roles for seriously bizarre reasons
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Talent doesn’t always guarantee a gig in Tinseltown.
Entertainment
A CW Show’s Best Episode Is Responsible For Star Wars’ Worst Movie
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Supernatural felt like it was on the air forever, 15 seasons and 327 episodes is an incredible run, but it’s even more impressive for a genre show. That’s why it’s hard to remember, but way back in the second episode, “Wendigo,” Alden Ehrenreich made his acting debut as the young Ben Collins, and while he’d go on to star in Weapons, Ironheart, and Beautiful Creatures, his most infamous role was no fault of his own. Ehrenreich starred as young Han Solo in Solo, the most unneeded prequel of all time, and a film that destroyed the entire Star Wars side-story project Disney had been pursuing, which is a little ironic, as his very on-screen role was so good, it helped turn Supernatural into the juggernaut it would become.
Sam And Dean Take On One Of Supernatural’s Best Monsters

“Wendigo” is the second episode of Supernatural. which means it had the task of setting the tone and format for the rest of the series. The pilot introduced characters, set up the world, and established stakes, but “Wendigo” was the first real Monster of the Week episode. Back before it was a battle against demons and angels, the show mined folklore and urban legends for its villains, and the Algonquian legend of the Wiindigoo, a ravenous, gigantic, emaciated cannibal, made for the perfect introduction to the Winchesters.
Alden Ehrenreich’s Ben Collins is wandering in the wilderness with his older sister, Hayley, as they try to find their other brother, Tommy, who went missing. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) find the siblings, and thanks to their dad’s journal, deduce it was a Wendigo that took Tommy. The Wendigo they find isn’t a furry, bestial monster, instead it’s closer to the actual tradition, a strange-looking, gaunt, humanoid that has more in common with Slender Man than Big Foot, but it’s also one of the best-looking monsters of Season 1.

The episode plays out as you’d expect, with Sam and Dean losing horribly to the beast before they outsmart it and snatch victory from its ravenous jaws of defeat. Supernatural eventually got stuck in a rut with subsequent episodes playing out in the same fashion, but given its later seasons’ emphasis on the mythology arc, it’s refreshing to go back and see such a simple Monster of the Week story that lets Sam and Dean be, well, Sam and Dean, going up against a beast from classic folklore.
From All-Time Great To All-Time Flop
Following the success of “Wendigo,” Supernatural became a hit, and Alden Ehrenreich hasn’t had to stop working yet. Supernatural fans should at least check out Beautiful Creatures, based on the young adult novel of the same name, where he plays a teen who falls in love with a young witch. It’s Southern Gothic, giving it a sense of style and charm that what should have been his breakout film, Solo, completely lacks.

It’s not Ehrenreich’s fault that Solo was a failure. Asking him to play one of the most iconic roles in movie history that made Harrison Ford a movie star was an impossible task. The fact that he does as well as he does is a testament to his acting ability and his own natural charm. Solo was the victim of studio interference.
Supernatural had to overcome its own periods of studio interference, and its spin-off, The Winchesters, also had a rough start to production. Years after it finally came to an end, it’s fun to look back at the saga of Sam and Dean and realize how good we had it. Two brothers, a 1967 Chevy Impala, and a Monster of the Week became one of the greatest genre shows in history.
Entertainment
Everything to Know About RHOSLC Alum Jen Shah’s Legal Drama
Jen Shah was indicted for her alleged role in a long-running telemarketing scheme while filming season 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
Bravo viewers met Shah during season 1 of RHOSLC, which filmed in 2019 and aired in 2020. She quickly became a polarizing character on the franchise, with fans questioning her job and need for several assistants.
“People will come to me and I’ll invest in their companies, so we have got a lot of different investments, all different kinds of things,” Shah said of her career on Access Hollywood’s “Housewives Nightcap” in November 2020. “I’ve been able to do it because what I’ve been able to carve out, the niche I’ve been able to carve out in the direct response marketing world.”
Not long after production began on season 2 of RHOSLC — which also starred Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow and Mary Cosby — news broke on March 30, 2021, that Shah and one of her assistants who appeared on the show, Stuart Smith, were arrested in Utah.
Every defendant in the case has pleaded guilty to their respective charges as of July 2022, when Shah became the final defendant to change her plea. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a plea deal. After Shah was convicted, she was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison. Shah reported to prison in 2023, and was later released in December 2025.
Scroll through for a breakdown of the charges and everything we know about Shah’s legal drama:
This is an ongoing article that was originally published in March 2021 and last updated on April 1, 2026.
Entertainment
Rashad Scroggins Confirms Their Breakup (Video)
Brittany Renner seemingly wants all the smoke behind Paul Jermaine Washington III, her son with PJ Washington. She went from jokingly defending him a couple of days ago to blasting his parental involvement. Things escalated when PJ seemingly took sides in the internet beef between Renner and his wife, Alisah Chanel. Meanwhile, some internet users found themselves on Rashad Scroggins‘ Instagram page.
After photos of their friends-to-lovers journey disappeared from their IG feeds, the people had questions under his other posts. This time, the internet clocked it. Scroggins told his followers he’s single and “dodged a missile.”
RELATED: Oop! Brittany Renner Drops SPICY Reply To PJ Washington’s Wife Alisah Chanel Over Her Reaction To A Joke
Brittany Reacts To PJ Washington’s Selfie With His Wife Alisah
After Brittany and Alisah’s back and forth on IG Stories and in The Shade Room’s comment section, PJ Washington seemingly stepped in. He reminded the public via his IG Stories that Alisah is the one — the ring is secured! After TSR posted the sweet selfie, Brittany hopped on her IG Stories to clock PJ about not replying to a message about their son, Paul. She had texted him, “What are your plans after the season ends? Did you have dates in mind you wanted to get Paul?” Washington seemingly hadn’t responded and the timestamps suggest Renner texted him a few days prior.
“Despite the dead eyes, I am glad to see your thumbs aren’t broken and you’re alive and well. While we have a moment, can we get back to the question at hand @pjwashington,” Renner wrote in her post.
Social Media Users Flood Brittany Renner’s Recent Boo With Breakup Comments
Brittany’s internet tussle with Alisah and PJ had folks on social media asking about her own love life. She and Rashad Scroggins debuted their relationship earlier this year. Last TSR reported, he had shared a post about their mountain trip in late December. Their sweet, and often joint, posts continued through Valentine’s Day. He was even in the podcast episode where she revealed she had dropped her child-related case in California against PJ Washington.
That podcast page is gone now. Also, sometime this week, their couples’ posts disappeared from their pages. And fans noticed. Two days he shared photos of himself on IG with the caption, “Everything should be cool.” Since then, the comment section has been flooded in with breakup speculation.
@juricafit wrote, “Big bro. She don’t want to be saved. Cole told us.”
“What happened? I liked you 2 together 😢,” @exceptionalerin added.
“Tell the truth, you knew what you were signing up for G 😅,” @earthtola_ commented.
“Why you deleted the pics of yall together?” @reginajackk asked.
@damsel_not_distressed added, “You got out in time! She’s already back to the messiness 🙄.”
“Females don’t understand that men get tired and fed up too! A man with boundaries is a different beast! 💪🏼,” @oohkathylee commented.
@gannicus_kd_wilson wrote, “U can’t call the girl trash now my n*gga the world tried to warn u and tried post how much u was in love naw take that L now @rashadscroggins.”
Rashad Scroggins Confirms He’s “Single,” Says He “Dodged A Missile”
Rashad Scroggins left his comment sections scrambled. Looking for answers. He even kept his cone of silence amid Brittany Renner blasting her ex-boyfriend and his wife. Then, on Tuesday (March 31), he finally spoke out on video and in the comment section.
In videos on IG Stories, Rashad shared a general message about life being “full of surprises and interesting at the same time.” Then, he admitted that he was “really loud before,” and it’s a switch-up to go quiet. To him, though, “some stuff is not worth you going forward it.”
“When you take that step back and there’s still chaos around the corner. When you enter somebody’s life, you hope to change, you hope to grow, you hope to make it better. I want to be better as a person, but some people, they just want to do the same thing over and over and over…they’re stuck in a loop and they can’t figure out that I need to do something different.”
He then told his viewers to never get stuck in life, and to keep moving forward. Up to that point, he hadn’t dropped any names and he kept the same energy in follow-up clips.
“I’m a big believer that idle time is the Devil’s playground. If you want to be a stay-at-home wife or you don’t want to work, you’re going to have issues. You have to do something with your time. I’m not saying stay-at-home wife is out, but you have to do something productive with your time. I pray for everybody, I hope they get happy.”
Rashad also acknowledged that he’s speaking in riddles and refused to get into specifics. He added:
“Mannnn, everybody told me,” before laughing. “My God look out for me man…I dodged a motherfing missile, do you hear me? I dodged all the ruckus…Thank you, thank you.”
RELATED: Issa New Couple? Social Media Reacts As Mystery Man Shares Mountain Trip Memories With Brittany Renner (VIDEOS)
In his follow-up, Scroggins said that people have to pay attention to what they have, including their own skills, rather than trying to eat off of what someone else has.
“Life is still gonna require you to do something or you’re going to feel an internal, deep hole that nobody’s gonna be able to fill. You’re going to think you need money, a jet, Rolls Royce, a chef, whatever you think that you need, it ain’t gonna be it. You need to figure out your purpose,” he said while filming outside. Adding, “To be clear, I’m single. I’m chilling, safe. Peaceful. Listening to birds. Just calm. Yes, that’s the story.”
Rashad said a lot of things transpired in a couple of days, but he didn’t go into details about what. Again, he never name-dropped Brittany Renner, but later made a reference to her. After defending the expression of his feelings, he said he was “kinda scared” to speak out because he wants “no smoke” with “her.” He said, “I just wish the best for her…but two things could be true.”
Rashad Scroggins announces that he’s single. As previously reported, he was linked to Brittany Renner last December as they shared moments from a trip to the mountains. (📸: @gettyimages) ✍🏾: #TSRStaffJW pic.twitter.com/D7a4tjwRle
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) April 1, 2026
RELATED: Brittany Renner Reacts After Alisah Chanel Alleges She’s Pregnant, Refused To Let PJ Washington See His Son And Begged For $150
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Supergirl Goes Full-On John Wick In New Trailer
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published

The latest trailer for Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, Jason Momoa, and Eve Ridley, has been released, and I take back everything I said about the previous teaser trailer. Everything about the old trailer indicated a disrespect for the Superman source material and a rebellious girl-boss operating under the slogan, “Truth. Justice. Whatever.”
Yet the new trailer, released March 31, 2026, reveals a lot more about the plot and the source of Supergirl’s anger. A story that was indicated to be about Kara, aka Supergirl, helping an alien girl named Ruthye avenge the death of her father becomes much more poignant when you know that the murderer has also poisoned Krypto, Supergirl’s faithful canine that she’s had since her days on Krypton.
Supergirl’s John Wick Arc
The dog is all she has left of her former home, since Kal-El is more like a human from living on Earth since infancy. Kara is a young girl grieving and literally the only person she knows who remembers her planet. Under those circumstances, she’d probably tell us to get over any problems we might have with her rebelliousness, and her John Wick reaction is just as forgivable as with the Keanu Reeves hitman.
The girl power theme from the previous trailer can now be forgiven now that we know the director is Craig Gillespie, famous for The Powerpuff Girls. Supergirl seems to ask the question, “What if Buttercup from The Powerpuff Girls grew up, lost everything in Townsville, and is now in a race against time to save her beloved pet?” Ruthye seems to stand in as a demure Blossom, and there’s probably enough of Bubbles to go around for both of them. The style of the movie is signature Gillespie, a live-action rendering of his cartoon universes.
Jason Momoa Brings The Boom

There’s also plenty of room for the boys. Superman makes an actual appearance this time, rather than having his picture peed on by Krypto, and it is clear that he is worried about his cousin. He wants her to embrace the planet as he has, but she isn’t having any of it because she is too bitter about losing Krypton.
However, the objective highlight of the trailer is Jason Momoa as Lobo. If there was any actor born to play this role, it was Momoa, who looks exactly like his comic book counterpart. His perfectly fitting appearance is nothing compared to what we get to see of his performance during this trailer as he rolls in on his skull-adorned chopper to trade barbs with the movie’s heroine. If this trailer is any indication of what his performance is going to be like, it won’t be long before fans are clamoring for a stand-alone spinoff movie centered on Lobo.

Filled with color that hasn’t been dampened by sepia, bright explosions, and really cool outer space scenes, Supergirl looks a lot more promising the second time around than it did the first. Hopefully, it delivers on the promises of its trailer.
Entertainment
If You’re Worried About The New Harry Potter, Tubi Has Something Much Worse
By Robert Scucci
| Published

With all the Harry Potter buzz lately, everybody’s writing about the franchise, its future, J.K. Rowling, and so on. I don’t really have anything new to add to the conversation, so this is my warped way of inserting myself into it. I’ve read the books and seen the films. They didn’t define my childhood, but I remember enjoying them. They’re fine, but they were one-and-done for me. I’ve never been big on young adult fantasy, but sometimes it’s nice to feel like you’re part of the zeitgeist, so you play along to understand the references.
This line of thinking led me to Tubi (home of Amityville Death Toilet), where you can stream The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens. This movie falls into the “mockbuster” category, meaning it was produced to capitalize on the success of the wildly popular Harry Potter franchise, and for no other reason.

This movie, in so many words, is a blatant Harry Potter knockoff that hasn’t publicly disclosed its finances, but I’ll describe as hilariously low budget. It’s filmed in Canadian strip malls, you can spot crew members reflected in mirrors, and the CGI looks like something anybody could throw together after a day or two button-mashing in Blender. Oh yeah, and Roddy Piper is basically a Hagrid/Dumbledore stand-in, so on all fronts this cinematic experiment is something you need to know about.
Codex! Scriptoria! Please!
The entirety of The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens is narrated by Mandy Finch (Ciara O’Hanlon), the bookworm of the group, basically functioning as Hermione in this universe (yes, there’s a sequel, Billy Owens and the Secret of the Runes). Mandy recalls the events we’re about to witness, which immediately tells me they all lived to see another day, otherwise somebody else would be narrating.

We’re introduced to our hero, Willard “Billy” Owens (Dalton Mugridge), who, on his eleventh birthday, realizes he’s a wizard after buying a magic wand from Roddy Piper’s William Thurgood for $11.
Billy Owens learns that the magic word is “please.” Roddy Piper uses what looks like Microsoft PowerPoint technology to spell words like “Codex” and “Scriptoria” in his antique shop. There’s another kid named Devon (Christopher Fazio), who’s clearly meant to be a Ron Weasley surrogate, but his presence is so inconsequential that I’m only mentioning it to prove I actually sat through this entire movie to impress you. And I did without bumping it up to 1.5x speed for reasons I’ll never fully understand.

The kids learn that Sumerian prankster god Loki is going to seize their small town of Spirit River if they don’t intervene, so naturally, they go to the library, where they try to hide from a security guard by talking loudly and waving their flashlights around. There’s a CGI fire at William’s shop, and then there’s a dragon.
At one point, because there’s clearly no budget, Billy tries to get out of doing chores by waving the wand at his parents. You think something cool is about to happen, but instead his father just looks the other way and Billy hides under a coat. Everybody saves the day, and we get one of those “To Be Continued” cards, threatening us with a sequel.
You Have To Be A Special Kind Of Person To Subject Yourself To This

The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens is hardly a movie. Though its runtime is 84 minutes, the last 10 are bloopers and credits. The amount of nothing that happens here is insane, and the little effort that went into it is still disproportionate to the story it’s trying to tell. If you’re wondering who movies like this are made for, the answer is me. It’s so stupid that I can’t help myself.
Actually, now that I think about it, this movie does serve a purpose. If you’re one of the millions of people upset about the new Harry Potter trailer, just fire up The Mystical Adventures of Billy Owens on Tubi to remind yourself that it could be so much worse.


Entertainment
The Valley’s Zack Warns There’s More Amanda, West Drama
The Valley‘s Zack Wickham teased more might be revealed about Amanda Batula and West Wilson‘s shocking romance.
“Well, I will say that one of our friends’ cousins was on a vacation,” Zack said on the Tuesday, March 31, episode of SiriusXM’s Smith Sisters Live. “And met [Summer House star] Jesse Solomon and he just told her everything and then she told me.”
Zack continued: “So, I’m like, if what he told her is real, then brace yourselves, America. Sorry Jesse, I didn’t mean to throw you under the bus. I’m not saying anything publicly, but oh, my God.”
Rumors swirled that Amanda, 34, and West, 31, were hooking up shortly after she announced her split from husband Kyle Cooke in January. (West, for his part, has had an on-and-off connection with costar Ciara Miller since 2023.)
Earlier this month, Amanda denied having any potential involvement with another costar. “It’s not going to happen. I’m not touching any of my cast members,” she said on the “Trading Secrets” podcast. “Love them dearly, but I’m good.”
West later said he was “just hanging out” with Amanda on an episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
“She’s single now,” he noted. “That’s [a] very important person to me and I care about her a lot. That’s a friend.”
As the rumors progressed, Amanda and West confirmed on Tuesday that their relationship status changed.
“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” read a joint social media statement. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”
Amanda and West broke down how their connection evolved from friendship to more.
“We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected,” they continued. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
The statement concluded: “As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling. We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless. We truly appreciate the understanding and respect as we navigate this.”
After news of their romance broke, a source exclusively told Us Weekly, that Ciara, 30, is “heartbroken by this,” adding, “Her and Amanda were very close and she feels more betrayed than ever by both of them.”
A second source told Us, “Ciara cut off both Amanda and West after finding out.”
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