Entertainment

30 Years Later, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Forgotten Action Thriller Hits Harder Than Ever [Exclusive]

Published

4 hours ago

20 June 2026

Thirty years on, Eraser is one of those fantastic 1990s action thrillers that feels like it could only have been made in that period of time. During the heyday of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the film took the action icon and threw him into a world of corporate conspiracy, witness protection, alligators, parachutes, and sci-fi weapons that wouldn’t look out of place in a video game like Halo. Yet it works because of how much the film commits to the bit. Eraser was helmed with precision by veteran director Chuck Russell. I spoke with Russell to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary as part of our retrospective series Collider Rewind. Together, we took a stroll down memory lane as he discussed pushing the action as far as it could go, giving Schwarzenegger a more grounded performance and, interestingly, why those sci-fi railguns were more real than you’d have thought.

During our conversation, he also discussed working with Schwarzenegger at a fascinating point in his career, surrounding him with actors like James Caan, Vanessa Williams, and James Coburn, and finding the balance between spectacle and story before CGI took over. Across the conversation, Russell also looked back on his wider career, from betting on Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz in The Mask to helping launch Dwayne Johnson as a leading man in The Scorpion King, and making horror audiences feel unsafe with The Blob and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. But when it comes to Eraser, one thing becomes very clear: Russell knew he was taking it to the limit. You can read our full conversation below.

Chuck Russell Wanted To Bring Out a More Grounded Side of Arnold Schwarzenegger

COLLIDER: First and foremost, I watched the movie last night for the first time in, I want to say, 20 years. I was far too young to watch it when it first came out, but then it was one of those video store movies I would always see the cover of and think, “I want to watch that,” and I was never allowed to because I was too young. I adore ‘90s action movies, and it’s got the alligators, the witness protection, railguns, and everything. Was there a moment when you were filming it that you thought, “Even I’m finding this insane right now?”

CHUCK RUSSELL: Oh, no. I knew I was taking it to the limit. There are moments in that film where I’m like, “How can I top him jumping out of an airplane to catch a parachute? Oh, if Jimmy [Caan] makes the pilot turn the plane around and take him out of the parachute, how can I top that? What if Arnold just has the balls to pull out a gun and shoot the cockpit?” So, I kept upping the stakes, and I always assumed in post we can see where I went too far, but we kept everything. The audience got a kick out of it.

Arnold was an icon by this point, but until he starts shooting the cockpit, it kind of feels like a more grounded role for him than we were used to. Was there anything you wanted to bring out of him in that performance that audiences hadn’t quite seen?

RUSSELL: Yes. You have to understand, it was after True Lies, which I’m a big fan of. I needed to do something a little different with Arnold, even if it’s subtly different, because I want to improve his brand, if anything, and that was to surround him with more grounded actors, Jimmy Caan being one of the best examples, and Vanessa Williams, and James Coburn, who is his own action icon from the previous era. Vanessa’s charm and intelligence, and the fact that she could handle a gun and take care of herself, were refreshing in the ‘90s at that point, and not making it a traditional action romance was something I wanted to do.

So, I think we upped Arnold’s game and performance, and I’m very pleased you mentioned it felt a little more grounded because I tried to keep the government story grounded, and the real guns are actually real technology. They were unknown at the time, but they’re more commonly known now. Guns that can look through walls and see a cat were science fiction then, but I kind of knew we had them already. So, I enjoyed taking the action as far as I could, but keeping the story grounded. When you have a big studio show like that, as a director, one of the most important things is [to] keep the micro focus on [the] cast, on the performance, on storytelling. Don’t let it all get swept away with large set pieces. So, you try to keep a balance there, and I think we achieved it. I think Arnold, as the protector, was unique in that role.

Chuck Russell Says Modern Action Can Lose Suspense When Anything Is Possible

What I liked about it, as well, was that you have the element of science fiction to it with the futuristic weapons and whatnot, but there’s never really any point where it feels like, “Oh, I’m watching a movie that’s set 50 or 60 years in the future.” It feels almost like an alternative reality, just with technology caught up ever so slightly. Did you have much discussion in terms of the weapons that were used, like making them feel futuristic, but they still have to feel physical enough, because it’s an Arnold movie?

RUSSELL: Correct. We did unending designs on that gun, and my production team was very patient with me until we found what we all considered the right thing. I was obsessed with, “It has to have a battery pack, or I don’t believe how powerful it is.” We were downsizing from guns that only appeared as cannons on battleships at the time, and so we wanted to keep some real tech, but it had to be fun, or what’s the point? It’s really meant to be a big entertainment more than anything else. So, I allowed myself a little fantasy, a little near-future sci-fi, wrapped around a great action story. That was the recipe.

I find myself, when I’m writing, using this expression more and more often, but they don’t make them like this anymore, and I got that feeling with Eraser, as well. Do you think a movie like this can be made the same way today, or with the machinery around action filmmaking — the emphasis on “everything has to be stunts, everything has to be CG” — do you think that would be too important in the background?

RUSSELL: I would still make it roughly this way. Some of the franchises need to outdo themselves, beyond Michael Bay elements. There’s an old saying by one of the original science fiction writers of all, which is H.G. Wells, who said, “When anything is possible, nothing is interesting.” So, if you keep topping your stunts to the point where it’s just ridiculous, because you could do it in CGI or now AI, you can go too far and sort of lose suspense. If there’s no suspense, action movies are kind of fun to watch, but they’re not really driving entertainment, in my opinion, anyway.

So, there was kind of a reboot of Eraser. I didn’t see it. I saw part of it. It didn’t seem like they nailed what they wanted to with it, but the heart of that film is having a strong core story and then progressively taking the action to an extent that matches the tone of the movie. So it’s still suspenseful. I want the audience to think, “What would I do?” We see Vanessa’s character stuck in a zoo with really bad things happening. I want the audience to relate. “What would my move be?” So, I try to keep pace and a tone in that neck of the woods. Anyway, thank you for enjoying the film. I rediscovered it myself. I hadn’t seen it in years, and I liked it. It was really cool.

Oh, it’s great to find these movies again, because the last time I watched, I would’ve been a teenager, and you watch these movies with your new eyes when you’re older. You can appreciate the filmmaking and the performances. I went through a stint in my teenage years where I was watching Arnold movies because it’s Arnold being Arnold, but now I can watch it and appreciate that he’s a really good actor, and I don’t think that’s appreciated as much because we see him as an action hero.

RUSSELL: Look, I tried to up his game on that particular show, and I think we succeeded, and Arnold became more and more focused on his performance, I think, ever since. Look, action is character. I think critics underrate that Shakespeare had sword fights in most of his plays. I mean, it is really no greater height of drama than one man trying to destroy another, or one woman trying to destroy another, as long as the story supports it.

So, the skills that people like Arnold and Dwayne Johnson have are rare, to convincingly be athletic enough to do a physical fight, but in the face… Bruce Lee was the first one I noticed as a kid when he would kill an adversary; the performance was amazing. His face would shake, and the hands would fist, and he’d have that yell. It was a remarkable performance, not just action. So, I still believe part of that performance is [to] kill your adversary with your heart. Why is your heart into this? What has he done to you that you have to destroy him if we’re at that point in a fight scene, or something bigger, like an airplane scene?

Chuck Russell Knew Dwayne Johnson Could Become a Movie Star

You mentioned Dwayne Johnson there. I was and remain, but especially when I was younger, an insanely big WWF, WWE fan, and so I was at The Scorpion King on day one.

RUSSELL: Oh, great.

Because to me, this was my Arnold Schwarzenegger here. When you’re directing him in his first leading role, did you see something in that performance, and when you were with him, that you thought, “This guy can go all the way. There’s something special here?”

RUSSELL: Oh, I knew that just meeting him for the first time. He was very passionate about doing a great job. Dwayne is a real champ. He’s a sweetheart. Everyone will tell you that. Even at this point in his career, he has big heart. I can’t say enough good things. Also about Arnold. Arnold’s more naturally competitive. [Laughs] It’s true. Look at his documentaries and things: that’s Arnold. Dwayne is an incredibly passionate actor and performer. He’s got a very good heart. He always has time for everybody on a set.

So, we were doing rehearsals, Dwayne and I, just in a conference room, “What will it be like when red ants are coming at you?” He would literally do these crazy improvs with me. I just wanted to warm him up, and “This is what we’re doing.” The truth is, what he was doing for WWE, or WWF at the time, was so dramatically performative — his monologues were mind-blowing — so I knew he was capable. And the fact that he had a desire to be a good actor and a good lead actor in a movie, I was very confident in him, and he lived up to it 100%.

Chuck Russell “Bet the Farm” on Jim Carrey in ‘The Mask’

Jim Carrey as Stanley Ipkiss and Cameron Diaz as Tina Carlyle dancing together in The Mask

I wanted to touch on another ‘90s film, which I adore. I lost my mother a few months ago, and when we were clearing her house out, I found pictures of myself as a child, and one of them was me at Halloween, when I must have been five or six, and I was dressed as The Mask.

RUSSELL: Oh, wonderful. That’s a nice touch. And I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I’m sorry to hear that.

Thank you very much. It was a really nice surprise to find that photo. I had the fedora on with the feather and everything. She’d clearly gone to a lot of trouble to make sure it worked. It was one of my favorite films growing up, and I feel like it’s one of those lightning-in-a-bottle, a-movie-star-is-born movies with Jim [Carrey]. Did you know that while you were shooting it? I read that you’d seen him at a comedy club.

RUSSELL: Yeah. So I’m at The Comedy Store, and I realized what he’d been doing in In Living Color, that I’d also been watching, was [what] he could do live. I talked to him about it while we were filming The Mask, and he said, “If I can imagine it, Chuck, I can physically do it. It’s wild.” He is a Charlie Chaplin. I knew, “This guy’s a comedy genius,” literally. I bet the farm on Jim Carrey being a great movie star, and New Line finally agreed.

The other person that I really saw ahead of time was Cameron Diaz, who had never acted before at all. So, the studio took quite a risk with me, and my encouragement on, first of all, letting that be a comedy instead of a horror film, which was originally how they conceived it, and letting me make it a vehicle for Jim and Cameron. It was kind of risk-reward. We made a movie that was unlike anything that had been seen prior. I wanted to make a literally joyful movie. I’d lost my father not long before I got to make The Mask, and I just said, “I’m going to have a good time, and I’m going to make sure the audiences have a good time. Let’s get this movie made with Jim Carrey.”

What you said about Cameron Diaz, that’s also one of the great first-time movie star entrances, her coming into the bank. I think the casting for that film was one of the strengths of it, and it’s funny how, even maybe not as quite a big name, Peter Greene is one of those villains I’ll always remember because he just has that nasty face about him in that movie. It’s so effective.

RUSSELL: He was an edgy guy. He passed away not long ago. But I knew The Mask was going to float away in fantasy and comedy if I didn’t have a great villain, so Peter Greene had been in an independent film where he was so frigging scary as a murderer, and I thought, “It’s like a chemistry set. What’s going to happen if I toss this guy into the mix with Jim and Cameron?” And the result we got was a good amount of suspense for a comedy. You have to be careful the comedy doesn’t just float away, but you want to put the lead characters in jeopardy so the audience cares for them, and Peter did a fantastic job. He was really fun to work with, too.

How ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Led to ‘The Blob’

One of my colleagues at Collider is a huge horror fan, and he said The Blob is one of the nastiest and meanest movies he’s ever seen, and that’s why he loves it. This character should be untouchable in any movie. They get blobbed left and right. Was there any pushback from the studio on all the characters getting blobbled left, right, and center?

RUSSELL: Everyone kept asking me, “Who’s going to play Steve McQueen in your remake of The Blob?” So I realized while we were writing the script, the first thing I’m going to do is kill the Steve McQueen character. [Laughs] I literally saw Kevin Dillon for the first time in years just yesterday, by coincidence, and we were telling fantastic stories about the fun we had making that movie.

Look, I am a horror fan, and I wanted to go all the way with the horror. I really did. And we had characters you can love that survived, but my intention was to make sure the audience didn’t trust the filmmaker. I wanted to kill important people early. Hitchcock did this in Psycho. Famously, he killed Janet Leigh, who was the biggest star at the time, in the first 20 minutes of his film, in “the scariest movie ever made,” because the audience said, “Well, if you’re going to kill the lead lady, every one of these characters is in jeopardy.” So, it’s a device that some of us have used, and I found very effective in The Blob.

But the studio, we funded it independently, and it was TriStar, but no one was really complaining because I’d already done Elm Street 3, and it was the biggest independently-made hit at the time. So, they backed me. People that first watched it were a little shocked, and I felt, “Have I gone too far? Well, it’s too late. The movie’s done.” But it worked out. It worked out well.

Did you think that the co-writing Dreamscape, which also had a knife-fingered, dream-invading villain, had anything to do with you being hired for that?

RUSSELL: I think it definitely did. It very specifically did. Bob Shaye liked it a lot. At the time, it was a first-time directing gig for me, so I got The Blob rights in order to get the right to direct it, and I brought that to New Line. New Line said, “Well, we don’t really want to make The Blob, but we need to do Elm Street 3,” and the second Elm Street hadn’t done that well. They weren’t sure they were going to carry on with the series, and they said if [Frank] Darabont and I could fix the script, they would let me direct the movie. So, The Blob brought me Elm Street, and then I finished Elm Street and returned to The Blob.

Chuck Russell on the Actors Who Surprised Him Most

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vanessa Williams in Eraser

It’s a great run, and it’s great fun for you to have, just horrifying audiences. It’s the best way to go about things. I’d like to finish with one question. I’ll bring it back to Arnold, as well. This involves Arnold and a few others. You’ve obviously had the chance to work with some of the biggest action and comedy stars in the world. I know that you worked with Bruce Willis on one of his last films, as well. Having directed these actors at various stages of their careers, who surprised you the most when the camera started rolling?

RUSSELL: When the cameras started rolling? Look, I come from theater, so I have a great love of actors. As a young man, I was acting, so I was always debating in my early 20s, did I want to act or did I want to direct? And I enjoy directing more. So I have a great love, and they all thrill me.

I think Jim’s energy, there was always something surprising that was happening that was better than what we were writing. On the other hand, Dwayne Johnson surprised me when he cried watching his brother die because he went all the way, and he was basically a wrestler. He really broke his heart. And then John Travolta surprised me because he’s one of the greatest pros I ever worked with. I did two movies with John. He’s just a fabulous pro, and I enjoy directing him, but I also enjoy watching him work. He’s very good.

So, different actors at different times. Patricia Arquette, on Elm Street, hadn’t really acted before, I don’t think, but she’s from an acting family, and she carries that movie. If you look back at it to this day, she’s just wonderful, and she has this ethereal performance. She’s very vulnerable on camera. So frankly, they all surprise me, but for different reasons and in different ways.

Eraser 30th Anniversary Edition is available to purchase now on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. You can watch our full interview with Russell above.

Release Date: June 21, 1996
Runtime: 115 Minutes

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Tom Hanks’ WWII Epic Returns With a Tense New Dictator Showdown

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10 minutes ago

20 June 2026

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With the sleeper hit drama-thriller film Pressure debuting on the PVOD market this week, fans of WWII-era storytelling are spoiled for choice. Pressure entered its home video era after having overtaken the 2025 movie Nuremberg at the domestic box office. It will now compete for attention with an epic new documentary series that’s nearing the halfway mark of its 20-episode run. The show is executive-produced by arguably the most popular WWII aficionado in the world, the Oscar-winning movie star Tom Hanks, who has headlined popular WWII movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Greyhound over the course of his career. Along with director Steven Spielberg, Hanks has also executive-produced three landmark narrative series centered on the conflict.

The most recent of these three series, Masters of the Air, had a reported price tag of $250 million and was released on Apple TV in 2024. It was released over a decade after The Pacific, which was released on HBO in 2010. The first, and arguably most acclaimed series that Hanks and Spielberg produced was Band of Brothers, which was also released on HBO. It served as a companion piece to Saving Private Ryan, which had swept the Oscars only a few years prior. Hanks’ latest WWII project is unlike anything he has ever done in the genre. We’re talking, of course, about World War II with Tom Hanks, the documentary series on the History Channel.

Here’s What Fans Can Expect from the 9th Episode of Tom Hanks’ Documentary Series

It premiered with three episodes on Memorial Day, and released episodes 7 and 8 on June 15. The show will return with its ninth episode on June 22. The episode will focus on Adolf Hitler‘s continued expansion into Joseph Stalin‘s Soviet territory after Operation Barbarossa, which was documented in the third episode. The official logline for the upcoming episode on the History Channel website reads, “The German Army fights to take Soviet oil fields and the city of Stalingrad.” New episodes of World War II with Tom Hanks are made available on the PVOD market a day after their premiere on the History Channel. According to FlixPatrol, the series is among the most popular titles right now on the domestic iTunes chart. Hanks is also working on the long-awaited sequel to Greyhound, while his son, Colin Hanks, is set to star in the WWII movie Lucky Strike later this month. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Release Date: Advertisement

July 24, 1998
Runtime: 169 minutes
Writers: Robert Rodat
Producers: Advertisement

Gary Levinsohn, Ian Bryce

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“Will & Grace” stars Debra Messing and Eric McCormick remember James Burrows: 'Thank you for everything you gave us'

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23 minutes ago

20 June 2026

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Burrows, who directed every episode of ‘Will & Grace,’ died on Friday at age 85.

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The Book Every ‘Backrooms’ Fan Needs to Read ASAP

Published

36 minutes ago

20 June 2026

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At the time of writing, the most interesting movies of 2026 so far have belonged to the horror genre… and, technically, one noteworthy release often gets called a 2025 film (Obsession), since that’s when it premiered. Still, most people saw it in 2026, and it came out pretty close to Backrooms, with both getting attention for doing a lot with modest budgets, and raising the profiles of the two up-and-coming directors behind them: Curry Barker for Obsession, and Kane Parsons for Backrooms. Both had made videos online, though, before directing these highly successful theatrical releases, with Parsons having most of his pre-Backrooms (2026) work also related to Backrooms, since that’s the name of the web series he created and directed, with most of its episodes being released in 2022.

Backrooms, both the movie and the series, are about The Backrooms, which is a concept that originated from a post on 4chan. Someone posted a photo of an unsettling image, and then someone else commented about it being “The Backrooms,” which is – to quote this anonymous person – “approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms to be trapped in.” People ran with it, and built certain mythological concepts to go in it, with Parsons finding the most success, in this regard. The horror of this concept is fresh, but also not entirely unheard of, since there are other works of horror that have played around with the idea of liminal and unknown spaces, and House of Leaves, a novel from 2000 written by Mark Z. Danielewski, might well exemplify it the best.

The Plots of ‘House of Leaves’ and ‘Backrooms’

The world of Backrooms is complex, but the premise of the 2026 film (as it currently exists, without follow-ups/sequels) is quite simple. There isn’t much of a plot there, because a man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discovers an entrance to the titular Backrooms, and is then driven mad by how enormous, eerie, and otherworldly it is. His therapist (Renate Reinsve) eventually sets out to find him and discovers the realm herself. That’s about it, plus some other side characters who are brought in to document an exploration of the Backrooms, which is where the movie gets to become a found footage film, and it’s that stretch of Backrooms that is probably the strongest. It’s worth mentioning the found footage part, because House of Leaves incorporates something like that, too.

Also, House of Leaves is much more complex to try to break down. At its center, there is a documentary that was made about a house that appears to be bigger on the inside than on the outside, while also containing the entrance to some sort of impossibly limitless realm. A man named Zampanò spent the last stage of his life looking into and analyzing this documentary, with another man, Johnny Truant, documenting and analyzing Zampanò’s analysis. There are a couple more layers beyond this, so it’s all quite dizzying to break down and process in its entirety. But, the in-universe documentary, “The Navidson Record” (which might not even actually exist within the main universe of House of Leaves, whatever that universe is), is the part that’s reminiscent of Backrooms, so it’s best to focus on that for now.

How ‘House of Leaves’ Manages To Be So Scary

Even if you don’t find liminal spaces particularly scary (somehow), the madness of House of Leaves – and the madness it aims to inspire – will likely prove unsettling. There are things it does with its formatting and overall style that make you feel like you’re part of that chain of people mentioned before; like you’ve stumbled upon an analysis of an analysis of a documentary, and that you might also lose your grip on reality like all those people before you did. It does all come back to the house and what’s somehow contained in it, though. It’s hard to describe, and that’s part of what makes various people who don’t actually perish within the horrific maze (that it more or less is) go kind of mad, in the end. Capturing it all with filming/recording equipment is not enough, and proves challenging in unforeseen ways.

The layering makes it feel like waking up from a nightmare, and then still being in another nightmare that you subsequently wake up from, and then you’re not sure if you’re really awake, or if the nightmares are still going.

There’s no reality there, and it would be scary enough to have the story just be the events of The Navidson Record, but it’s the layering that helps. The layering makes it feel like waking up from a nightmare, and then still being in another nightmare that you subsequently wake up from, and then you’re not sure if you’re really awake, or if the nightmares are still going. In this sense, the horror hits a little harder, or cuts a little deeper, than what you get in Backrooms (2026). Then again, that is just one movie, and not a particularly long one at that, while House of Leaves is dense, lengthy, and something that’ll likely take most people a good deal of time to get through and properly digest.

The Ways ‘House of Leaves’ Can Only Work as a Book

This is all scratching the surface of House of Leaves, but that’s hopefully forgivable, because there is so much here that can only be appreciated if you sit down and read the thing. Also, you really have to literally sit down and read it, because the formatting, (sometimes trippy) footnotes, and some of the unusual creative choices throughout House of Leaves make the idea of an audiobook version (at least of the entire text) pretty much impossible. There are even things in the book that make the idea of a Kindle/digital version hard to imagine, at least one that captures everything in the physical version.

It’s the ambition and borderline-insanity of it all that really makes it a special book, though. House of Leaves is easy to recommend, if you liked the Backrooms movie or the sort of horror that Backrooms (2026) explores. House of Leaves goes a bit beyond “just” liminal horror in some surprising and inventive ways, but those things are best left up to each individual person to explore. Even if you’re not wild about reading, and find the idea of a 700+ page-long book intimidating, House of Leaves is well worth giving a shot and getting (so very) lost in.

Backrooms

Release Date: May 27, 2026
Runtime: 110 minutes
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Director: Kane Parsons
Writers: Will Soodik

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‘Stranger Things’ Creators’ Netflix Sci-Fi Series Cancelled Despite 1.2 Billion Minutes Watched

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49 minutes ago

20 June 2026

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In a rather controversial move this past week, Netflix canceled a high-profile new sci-fi series executive-produced by the Duffer Brothers just a month after its release. During this month, the series in question accumulated more than 20 million views on the platform, which typically waits at least three months before deciding whether to push ahead with a given title. This time, however, four weeks was enough. Not long after the shock cancellation, a report illustrated the many reasons why Netflix made the decision. One of the reasons offered was the Duffers’ exiting Netflix and beginning a creative partnership at Paramount, where they’ll be able to make theatrical movies in addition to linear television and streaming shows. Netflix’s decision, according to the report, came mere days after the deadline to extend deals with the series’ cast ended, and days before Emmy voting closed.

It was also reported that the show cost more than $10 million per episode, which puts the price tag for the eight-episode season at under $100 million. The cancellation happened shortly after Netflix shared its latest batch of viewership data, where the show in question pulled 2 million views. It garnered 5.6 million views in its first week, 9.5 million views in its second week, and 3.7 million views in its third. The most surprising piece of information, however, came a day after the show’s cancellation, when Nielsen reported viewership numbers from a month ago. Nielsen typically shares streaming data a few weeks after the fact, and the latest report tracks the week of May 18 to May 24. The Duffers’ sci-fi show premiered on May 21.

Netflix’s Abruptly Canceled Series Garnered Millions of Viewers and Received Critical Acclaim

According to Nielsen, it accumulated 1.2 billion minutes watched during its premiere week, finishing second on the top 10 list behind Netflix’s own Nemesis, which garnered 1.3 billion minutes viewed. We’re talking, of course, about The Boroughs. The series stars Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, and Jena Malone. In addition to these strong viewership figures, the show also received high critical acclaim. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 97% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “The Boroughs exudes excellence through its wonderfully plotted sci-fi trappings, star-studded cast, heartfelt narrative, and genuine ingenuity; a new classic through-and-through.” The Duffers have more projects in development at Netflix, and their mysterious event movie at Paramount was recently dated for November 2028. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Release Date: May 21, 2026
Network: Netflix
Showrunner: Advertisement

Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews
Directors: Augustine Frizzell, Kyle Patrick Alvarez
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Writers: James Schamus, Jose Molina, Julie Siege, Tom Hanada

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20 classic Nickelodeon shows you forgot about, from “Gullah Gullah Island” to “ChalkZone”

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1 hour ago

20 June 2026

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The network has been producing classic kids’ shows for decades.

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17 Swimsuit Cover-Ups That Look Way Too Chic To Be Under $30

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1 hour ago

20 June 2026

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Young woman on swimming pool at house back yard

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Sure, you could throw on a tee and a pair of shorts over your one-piece, but there’s something about a swimsuit cover-up that makes it feel like you’re on vacation. Amazon is making sure you’re not breaking the bank by providing plenty of options for under $30. They’re so good that we’re confused how they’re still in stock!

Like everything you wear in the summer or on vacation, you want it to be lightweight and breathable, which is what we focused on when choosing our favorite styles. Quick-drying fabric is also a plus, because who wants to sit in a damp dress at lunch? Shoppers have given their stamps of approval on these swimsuit cover-ups, so you know they’re well worth their reasonable price tags.

17 Swimsuit Cover-Ups That Look Way Too Chic To Be Under $30

1. Our Favorite: This shirt-style cover-up pick is a bit sheer and features fun tassels at the hem. It comes in solid color and pattern options to match your personal style.

2. Cool Crochet: With thousands of five-star ratings, shoppers love this drapey crochet cover-up. The all-over cutouts are sure to dry before you even make your way to the boardwalk.

3. Serious Sun Protection: The summer sun is no joke, and this zip-up hooded cover-up offers ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50 that’ll save your skin. It has large side pockets to carry your essentials, too.

4. Buttoned Beauty: Your favorite button-down shirt just got a beachy upgrade with this oversized collared option. It allows you to wear it open, closed or somewhere in between.

5. Collared Cutie: This all-over crochet style is made a bit more polished with a collar. It comes in a range of colors, including neutral beige and bright lime green.

6. Sweetly Sheer: If this chiffon-like swimsuit cover-up wasn’t sheer, it would make the cutest dress ever. The adjustable drawstring waist gives you some shape for a style you’ll want to live in.

7. Cinched-In Style: This high-low swimsuit cover-up has a drawstring waist, but we’re really wowed by the crochet neckline. It finds the balance of being simple yet vacation-ready.

8. Nice Knot: You can’t go wrong with this $10 short-sleeve cover-up that has a knot detail at the hem. It has a textured feel, too, so even if you get a solid color, it’s not such a simple look.

9. Must-Have Midi: You’ll look like you belong at a five-star resort in this sleeveless midi cover-up. The knit look makes it hard to believe that it’s only $15.

10. Radiant Ruffles: No sheer material here! This to-the-knee swimsuit cover-up features ruffles on the sleeves and hem for a feminine touch.

11. Bell-Sleeve Babe: There’s so much to love about this short, long-sleeve cover-up. It has dramatic bell sleeves and crystal embellishments for an option you can wear to the beach club.

12. Lovely Lace: Amazon shoppers appreciate that this one-size-fits-most cover-up pick is flattering on a range of bodies. It’s super lightweight and airy, which is exactly what you want in a summer piece.

13. Pretty Pleats: Keep it simple with a tank top-style cover-up that features pleats across the chest. If you really needed to, you could wear it to dinner if you don’t have time to change.

14. Flowy Find: It doesn’t get much more breezy than this short spaghetti-strap find that was meant to flow in the wind. It has cutout details that give it a vacation-ready vibe.

15. Eyes on Eyelet: We love the adjustable waist on this short swimsuit cover-up, but our favorite detail is on the neckline. The unique circular cutouts add that breezy element that’s made for summer.

16. Lively Long-Sleeve: People will think you got this knit swimsuit cover-up at a boutique, as it has a cute cutout held together with a touch of golden hardware. It’ll be tough to choose among the 14 colors, though.

17. Polished and Pocketed: With waffle-knit texture, this tank top-style cover-up is simple, not boring. And we always appreciate functional pockets to carry the essentials.

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Prime Video’s Steamy ‘Heated Rivalry’ Replacement Soars With Huge Week 2 Viewership Jump

Published

2 hours ago

20 June 2026

NewsAdmin

Hannah and Garrett at a themed birthday party in 'Off Campus' Season 1, Episode 2

After establishing itself as a hub for content aimed at older male viewers with hits such as Reacher and Bosch, Prime Video is proving to be just as adept at entertaining Gen Z audiences. The streamer witnessed tremendous success with The Summer I Turned Pretty, which concluded its three-season run in 2025 and is set to return with a feature-length final chapter. Prime Video recently premiered an even bigger hit, a romance drama that delivered the streamer’s third-biggest debut of all time. It attracted 36 million viewers in the first 12 days of release, trailing only the first seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Fallout on the all-time Prime Video rankings. Most importantly, it delivered the streamer’s biggest-ever debut for the all-important 18-34 age demographic, beating out The Summer I Turned Pretty.

According to the latest Nielsen streaming report, which tracks viewership across platforms from the week of May 18 to May 24, the Prime Video title saw a massive 34% increase in viewership in its second week. It generated 690 million minutes watched, placing fifth on Nielsen’s list of the top 10 original streaming series. The list was topped by Netflix’s Nemesis, which generated 1.3 billion minutes watched during the same week. Only one other Prime Video title found a spot on the list: The Boys, which concluded its five-season run on May 20.

Prime Video’s Record-Breaking Romance Series Received Critical Acclaim

The romance series we’re talking about, of course, is Off Campus. Based on a series of books by Elle Kennedy, the series was created by Louisa Levy. It stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli as a music major and the hockey captain at the fictional Briar University. Off Campus received high critical praise in addition to being wholeheartedly embraced by its target audience. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 91% critics’ score and an 88% audience score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Off Campus thrives on titillation and the deliberate excavation of relationship dynamics in a whirlwind romance novel adaptation that genuinely cares for the genre and all its pleasurable trappings.” In her review, Collider’s Therese Lacson described the show as “the perfect blend of sizzling romance and soapy drama.” Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Release Date: May 13, 2026
Network: Prime Video
Directors: Advertisement

Dawn Wilkinson, Erica Dunton, Silver Tree, Sam Bailey
Writers: Emmy St. Pierre
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The Princess Diaries Cast: Where Are They Now?

Published

2 hours ago

20 June 2026

NewsAdmin

It’s been more than 20 years since The Princess Diaries hit theaters, but fans will never get tired of the Disney movie’s royal charm.

Released in August 2001, Anne Hathaway made her film debut as Mia Thermopolis, a San Francisco teen who discovers she is a princess of the fictional country of Genovia. Julie Andrews starred alongside Hathaway as Mia’s grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi.

The duo returned for the film’s 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, alongside fellow original stars Heather Matarazzo, Hector Elizondo and Caroline Goodall.

Much to the delight of fans, Hathaway announced in October 2024 that she is reprising her role for the upcoming Princess Diaries 3.

“Miracles happen ✨👑 Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures,” she teased via Instagram. “The fairy tale continues ❤️‍🔥.”

Scroll down to see where the cast of The Princess Diaries is now:

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10 Most Universally Beloved Video Games of All Time

Published

2 hours ago

20 June 2026

NewsAdmin

A man on horseback in the forest in Red Dead Redemption 2

Video games are the future of storytelling, with their immersive narratives and gameplay gaining millions of fans around the world. As titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI and Resident Evil continue to push the medium forward, more and more fans share their opinions on these games, some good, and some bad. It is impossible to please everyone, but a select few games are universally beloved.

The best reception a game can get is universal acclaim with no hate, but that is nearly impossible, especially with such a polarizing fan base. However, some games achieve that feat, which is why this list will rank the ten most universally beloved video games of all time. Based on aspects such as design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, polish, influence, originality, widespread appeal, fan love, lack of hate, and overall quality, everyone loves these ten games.

10

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Rockstar is one of the most prolific video game studios, with their next masterpiece that could be on this list coming out in November 2026. But for now, their best game is Red Dead Redemption 2, which follows Arthur Morgan in the dying age of the Wild West. However, he goes on one last adventure to come to terms with his humanity and a last chance at redemption.

The 2018 Game of the Year winner was so controversial because Red Dead Redemption 2 didn’t win, which was, and still is, one of the most popular video games. The life-like realism of not only the visuals but also the details and minor mechanics builds an immersive Wild West experience. However, everyone loves Red Dead Redemption 2 for its award-winning narrative that has the best character arc in video game history.

9

‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)

Emily's dialogue box in the video game Stardew-Valley — Stardew-Valley-Emily

It is extremely difficult for an indie game to get popular, but if it does, it will become a beloved classic. This is what happened with Stardew Valley. After inheriting the titular land, players are tasked with rebuilding the surrounding area by exploring caverns, managing residents and resources, and farming to build the economy.

There are many beloved indies, but that is because they only have a cult fan base. Stardew Valley, on the other hand, is an indie sensation, not only being popular but also establishing itself as a comfort classic. The addictive gameplay loop and cozy atmosphere deliver low-stress entertainment that connects perfectly with so many players.

8

‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ (1998)

This list features some of the biggest video game franchises, but none are as iconic as The Legend of Zelda, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still the best of the series. After the evil Gerudo king, Ganondorf, kidnaps Princess Zelda, a forest boy named Link must travel through the present and future in order to wake up the sages and stop Ganondorf’s plan.

When a video game is dubbed the greatest of all time, it usually means most people like it. But it also opens itself up to hate since it is the best. Despite that, Ocarina of Time still holds that legacy, proving that love outweighs hate. Every Zelda game is a masterpiece, but Ocarina of Time is another level of influential, arguably being the most important video game of all time.

7

‘Minecraft’ (2011)

Steve from Minecraft holding an iron pickaxe while being followed by mobs

The most popular video games are popular for a reason, but some, like Fortnite, have just as much hate as love. Minecraft, on the other hand, beats those allegations. Players are given unlimited freedom as they can mine, build, craft, and explore, doing whatever they want in survival or creative mode with friends, or by themselves.

Minecraft does have some haters, but the hate those gamers feel pales in comparison to the love the fans have. Minecraft is the biggest game for a reason, and that is, fans have been playing it for years, and with new content added periodically, the game remains fresh. Some players hold a special nostalgic place in their hearts for Minecraft; others still enjoy it today, but either way, everyone loves it.

6

‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)

The introduction mentioned Resident Evil, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, highlighting its ninth game. However, nothing beats Resident Evil 4, which follows Leon S. Kennedy, a special operative sent to Spain in order to save the president’s daughter from an evil cult infected by a zombie-like parasite.

In a beloved video game franchise home to the greatest horror experiences in gaming history, Resident Evil 4 is the definitive entry. This game revolutionized the genre and franchise by shifting its focus to thrilling action-horror gameplay. From overly dramatic backflips to intense shootouts, this invigorating video game wormed its way into everyone’s hearts.

5

‘Fallout: New Vegas’ (2010)

The North Gate of the Strip in 'Fallout: New Vegas.' — The North Gate of the Strip in ‘Fallout: New Vegas.’

Bethesda doesn’t have a good track record anymore after a couple of misses, but at the very least, they have Fallout: New Vegas. Instead of controlling a vault dweller, players are a courier in the Mojave Desert, tasked with delivering a package to the New Vegas Strip. But things quickly spiral out of control as a turf war between two factions rages.

Players love agency, and when a game like Fallout: New Vegas gives players the complete freedom they’ve been craving, it instantly becomes a fan-favorite. With a plethora of engaging side quests and eccentric characters everywhere, this game is a worldbuilding masterclass. With so many aspects to love, it is no wonder that Fallout: New Vegas is a universally beloved video game.

4

‘Nintendogs’ (2005)

Two guys walking dogs and waving to each other in Nintendogs

Nintendo is known for having some of the most beloved video games because of their casual appeal and family fun, and the game that fits the bill the most is Nintendogs. Selecting from a variety of dog breeds, gamers care for their pups by playing with them, grooming them, giving them food, and simply having a good time with their digital dogs.

Fans are still praying for a new Nintendogs game on the Nintendo Switch 2, and that is because the franchise is a beloved icon. Literally no one can hate a game about caring for puppies. It has such a wholesome premise and fans form right bonds with their dogs, further cementing the joy and love while playing Nintendogs, making it universally beloved.

3

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

A man on horseback fighting a creature in Elden Ring — an image from Elden Ring

Beloved video games are usually comforting and timeless titles, and while Elden Ring isn’t comforting, it is definitely timeless. After the titular object is broken into multiple pieces, the children of Aueen Marika claim them. However, the player arises as the Tarnished, sent to defeat the demigod children, claim the shards, restore the ring, and become the Elden Lord.

Combining FromSoftware’s staple dark fantasy combat and challenging, yet rewarding gameplay with George R.R. Martin’s worldbuilding and lore, Elden Ring became an instant classic. This definitive fantasy masterpiece is a new age phenomenon, boasting one of the greatest video game narratives alongside a magnificent sense of exploration, which meld into a video game unlike anything ever made.

2

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

A robot jumping between portals in Portal 2 — Portal 2

Valve unfortunately doesn’t make video games anymore, which is truly sad because gamers won’t get a sequel to Portal 2. Years after the first game, players wake up in the same scientific facility, but this time it is abandoned. Trying to escape with the help of Wheatley, players accidentally awaken GLaDOS, who wants revenge for the last time, forcing them to undergo ruthless experiments.

Portal 2 has remained without controversy for decades, and that is because there is nothing to hate about a perfectly crafted masterpiece. The witty dialogue and charming characters create an endearing narrative that complements the vibe and gameplay, working together to build a succinct experience. Portal 2 has innovative mechanics and intricate puzzles that challenge the mind, making those who hate it the ones unable to solve the puzzles.

1

‘Wii Sports’ (2006)

Being universally beloved is no easy feat, especially in the video game industry, but one way to earn goodwill is by giving fans a video game for free. Wii Sports was a free game everyone got with a purchase of the Wii, offering a handful of sports such as golf, tennis, boxing, bowling, and baseball. With intuitive motion controls, gamers felt like they were really playing these sports.

Wii Sports is a simple game, but that is all players need to have fun. The intuitive controls made it so anyone could play, and everyone did, from grandparents to children. Wii Sports is a video game for all gamers, boasting a whimsical style and customizable Miis, which added a layer of immersion on top of the motion controls. Every game has its haters, but Wii Sports is as close as it comes to a perfect, universally beloved video game.

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Jennifer Lawrence’s Perfume Oil Is the Fragrance of Summer

Published

2 hours ago

20 June 2026

NewsAdmin

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Pamela Anderson attends

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If you thought Jennifer Lawrence‘s cool style was only reserved for the red carpet, think again. The actress was recently spotted carrying the Cyklar Perfume Oil in Modern Patchouli on her keychain, proving you can easily touch up your scent throughout the day. At just $24, the perfume oil is an affordable way to channel a warm, sophisticated scent that feels anything but basic.

Unlike traditional patchouli fragrances that can lean heavy or overpowering, Cyklar Perfume Oil takes a fresher approach, balancing earthy patchouli with soft woody notes and subtle hints of warmth, creating an overall scent that feels clean, skin-like and super wearable. The oil features top notes of coconut water and pistachio, middle notes of mimosa and dry notes of vanilla absolute and patchouli for a well-rounded scent that yields compliments.

Get the Cyklar Perfume Oil for $24 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Because oils don’t contain alcohol, they tend to wear closer to the skin and can feel better than traditional sprays. As the perfume oil warms on the skin, the fragrance unfolds gradually, allowing different notes to emerge rather than disappearing after a few hours. The small applicator also makes it easy to target pulse points throughout the day, making it perfect when you’re heading from meeting to date night, or if you’re simply looking for a quick refresh after running errands.

Another standout feature is the travel-friendly design. The compact bottle is small enough to slip into a clutch, pocket or makeup bag, or you could make like Lawrence and carry it on your keychain so you never forget to reapply. It’s perfect for those who prefer convenience over carrying a bulky perfume bottle. Your signature scent will be within arm’s reach no matter where the day takes you.

One Amazon user called it a “smooth fragrance” that makes you “smell fresh all day.” Another shopper said it’s very “long-lasting” and “sophisticated.”

If you’re looking to upgrade your fragrance wardrobe without spending a fortune, this is a chic celebrity-approved pick worth considering. Head to Amazon and grab Cyklar Perfume Oil while it’s still just $24!

Get the Cyklar Perfume Oil for $24 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more perfume oils here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!