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5 Fantasy Books You Need To Read Before Their TV Adaptations Premiere

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A tall tower with infinite winding stairs on the cover for Katabasis by R.F. Kuang.

The book-to-television pipeline is very much alive. From the steamy hockey sensation Heated Rivalry to the recent heist hit Lucky, many of today’s hit TV shows wouldn’t exist without the books that became their foundations. The same is true for fantasy, a genre that has long been a goldmine for some of television’s biggest successes.

George R. R. Martin‘s world continues to come alive with House of the Dragon, while J. R. R. Tolkien‘s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is still going strong. But those are far from the only fantasy stories making the jump to the small screen. From a trip through academic hell to a deadly, video game-inspired dungeon crawl, here are the fantasy books to read before their TV adaptations arrive.

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‘Katabasis’ (2025)

A tall tower with infinite winding stairs on the cover for Katabasis by R.F. Kuang.
A tall tower with infinite winding stairs on the cover for Katabasis by R.F. Kuang.
Image via Harper Voyager

Grad school’s a living hell, and it’s even worse when the devil’s got your doctorate. Katabasis follows Alice Law, a Cambridge postgraduate who practices a dangerous form of magic. After a botched spell seemingly kills her adviser, Professor Jacob Grimes, and sends his soul to Hell, Alice sacrifices half her remaining lifespan to journey into the underworld and bring him back—all while hoping to secure the recommendation letter she desperately needs. Things only get more complicated when her academic rival, Peter Murdoch, insists on tagging along for the same reason.

Academia is one tough avenue, but it’s especially exhausting in graduate school. For those trying to make it in academia, people know all too well the validation required from senior researchers and professors that could make or break your name in an already competitive department. Katabasis, then, is a critique of these intellectual institutions. There is a glorification of giving your all to intellectual pursuits, but when the pursuit of knowledge isn’t paired with soul or ethos, that endeavor only eats you alive. As of now, Katabasis is currently in development at Amazon MGM Studios, with The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang attached as the project’s showrunner and writer.

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‘The Dark Tower’ series (1982–2012)

The Dark Tower VII - book cover - 2004
The Dark Tower VII – book cover – 2004
Image via Donald M. Grant, Publisher

Often described as Stephen King‘s answer to The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Tower saga follows the legendary gunslinger Roland Deschain as he journeys across the magical realm of Mid-World in search of the mysterious Dark Tower, the structure said to hold the multiverse together. In this reality, time is non-linear, and it’s the reason why nations vanish without a trace. Running across eight novels, it’s arguably one of King’s most experimental works — a cornucopia of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and American Old West elements. The Dark Tower would ultimately serve as a foundation that connects other works in the Kingverse, including Salem’s Lot, Cujo, and IT.

After years of failed attempts to bring The Dark Tower to television, Mike Flanagan‘s adaptation is finally picking up steam. Earlier versions from J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and later Prime Video with The Walking Dead‘s Glen Mazzara all fell through, but Flanagan explained that the project is “moving,” that “We’ve got a lot of scripts done for it,” and that it’s now “a priority.” That’s especially exciting because The Dark Tower is the one series that truly ties everything together. Those who want to understand the world of King can read The Dark Tower series as a starting point into the author’s already intimidatingly massive writing portfolio.

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‘The Atlas Six’ (2020)

An eye and sword illustration on the cover for The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake.
An eye and sword illustration on the cover for The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake.
Image via Tor Books

The first in the BookTok dark academia trilogy, The Atlas Six follows six exceptionally gifted magicians, handpicked by Atlas Blakely, to compete for a place in the Alexandrian Society, the world’s most prestigious secret organization. Reminiscent of The Umbrella Academy, they live together in a secluded London estate for a year, studying lost magical knowledge and the mysteries of space, time, and consciousness while proving they deserve initiation. However, the candidates soon discover a shocking truth: only five of them can join the Society, meaning one must be eliminated. While that’s happening, a rival faction called the Forum is determined to make the Society’s closely guarded knowledge available to the world.

The competitive nature of The Atlas Six turns the story into a ticking pressure cooker where everyone is trying to prove they’re the best of the best. While each magician has incredible powers, those abilities aren’t the only weapons in their arsenal. Every conversation is loaded with hidden agendas, mind games, and shifting alliances, making it hard to tell who can actually be trusted. But beneath all that rivalry is a group of people who were gifted—or maybe cursed—with extraordinary abilities, and the one thing they all crave is genuine human connection. Instead, their powers only push them further apart. On top of that, the book keeps you wondering whether the Alexandrian Society really wants to help these magicians reach their full potential or if it only sees them as tools to further its own elitist intellectual agenda.











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Collider Exclusive · Game of Thrones Personality Quiz
Which Game of Thrones House Do You Belong To?
Stark · Lannister · Targaryen · Baratheon · Tyrell
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Five great houses. Five completely different answers to the same question: how do you hold power in a world that will take it from you the moment you stop paying attention? Eight questions will determine where your loyalties — and your nature — truly lie.

🐺Stark

🦁Lannister

🐉Targaryen

🦌Baratheon

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🌹Tyrell

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01

Someone powerful is acting dishonourably and everyone knows it. What do you do?
In Westeros, the answer to this question has ended more than one great house.





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02

What is the source of your power?
Every house endures because of something. What is it for yours?





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03

Who do you truly fight for?
Strip away the banners and the words. The honest answer tells you everything.





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04

How do you deal with your enemies?
A house’s method reveals its character as clearly as its words ever could.





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05

What kind of ruler do you believe in?
Westeros is full of answers to this question. Most of them end badly.





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06

You suffer a devastating loss. How does your house respond?
How a house handles defeat tells you more about it than how it handles victory.





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07

Which of these truths about Westeros do you most believe?
Every house has a philosophy. This is yours.





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08

The Iron Throne is within reach. What do you do?
The answer reveals not just your ambition — but your character.





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The Maester Has Spoken
Your House Is…

Your answers point to the great house whose words, values, and way of surviving in Westeros match your own. Bend the knee — or don’t. That’s very much up to you.

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Winterfell · The North

🐺 House Stark

Winter is Coming — and you have always known it. You prepare not out of fear but out of duty, because the people who depend on you deserve someone who takes the long view.

  • You lead with honour even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built on integrity is the only one worth having.
  • Your loyalty to family and people runs deep — not as sentiment but as a code that doesn’t bend when things get difficult.
  • The North endures because Starks endure — not by being the cleverest players in the game, but by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold.
  • You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf dies. You already know which one you are.

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Casterly Rock · The Westerlands

🦁 House Lannister

You understand the game — its rules, its exceptions, and exactly when the rules become the exception. You play it without illusions and without apology.

  • You are sharper than most people realise, and you have learned to use that gap to your advantage.
  • A Lannister always pays their debts — and you always keep your word, because your word is an instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order.
  • You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do it anyway.
  • The lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.

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Dragonstone · The Iron Throne

🐉 House Targaryen

You carry a sense of destiny that is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore — the feeling that you are not simply participating in the world but meant to reshape it.

  • You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your greatest strength and your most dangerous quality.
  • Fire and blood are not just words to you — they are a philosophy about what change requires and what it costs.
  • The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the limits of what anyone thought possible.
  • At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.

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Storm’s End · The Stormlands

🦌 House Baratheon

You are a force — direct, powerful, and difficult to ignore when you enter a room or a conflict. You do not negotiate with challenges. You meet them.

  • Ours is the fury — and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and occasionally fear from those who underestimate what’s behind it.
  • You value strength and straight dealing. You’d rather know where you stand in a fight than navigate a web of courtly whispers.
  • The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in Westerosi history — and then struggled with what came after.
  • The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are learning that too.

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Highgarden · The Reach

🌹 House Tyrell

You understand that power does not always announce itself — that sometimes it arrives with flowers, good wine, and a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes.

  • Growing strong is your house’s motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts.
  • You are charming by choice and calculating by nature — a combination that makes you one of the most effective players in any room you enter.
  • The Tyrells fed King’s Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron Throne — and they were arguably more powerful for it.
  • You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know where the food is.
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‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ (2020)

the front cover of "Dungeon Crawler Carl' by Matt Dinniman
the front cover of “Dungeon Crawler Carl’ by Matt Dinniman
Image via Ace Books
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Nothing screams fantasy more than Dungeon Crawler Carl, which completely revolutionizes the modern literary format in the age of video games. The self-published work follows former Coast Guard veteran Carl and Princess Donut, his ex-girlfriend’s pampered cat, after Earth is destroyed by a powerful interstellar corporation. As two of the few survivors, they are forced into the World Dungeon, an eighteen-level death game akin to The Hunger Games or Squid Game, where every battle is livestreamed across the galaxy for entertainment. Along the way, the pair fight monsters, bosses, and even gods while leveling up, collecting loot, and completing quests.

There’s much to boast about with Dungeon Crawler Carl. For starters, the book series popularized LitRPG, a literary genre that incorporates traditional storytelling with video game mechanics like experience points, level progression, inventory systems, and quest logs. Even if audiences aren’t fans of video games, anyone can relate to the main character’s struggle as he is trapped in a sick system that feeds off human suffering as someone else’s entertainment. The only way to rebel is by showing compassion, which is exactly what Carl does for the other survivors he meets along the way. Set for adaptation under the guidance of Seth MacFarlane, and having amassed 14 million readers, it wouldn’t be surprising if Dungeon Crawler Carl would be a massive TV hit.

‘Fourth Wing’ (2023)

Small dragons amid scrollwork on the cover art for Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
Small dragons amid scrollwork on the cover art for Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
Image via Red Tower Books
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An 18-week New York Times bestseller, Fourth Wing is a must-read for fans of House of the Dragon. The story follows Violet Sorrengail, a frail 20-year-old who has spent her life training to become a scribe until her tough mother orders her to join Basgiath War College’s deadly Riders Quadrant instead. Surrounded by cadets who see her as an easy target, Violet has to rely on her wit to stay alive. Against all odds, she bonds with not one but two dragons, unlocking incredible powers. But as she discovers long-buried secrets about her kingdom, Violet must question everything she thought she knew before war changes her world forever.

In true Hunger Games fashion, Violet and the cadets of Basgiath War College are thrown into a brutal, win-or-die environment. But while she lacks physical strength, she more than makes up for it with her intelligence and quick thinking. With Prime Video officially adapting Fourth Wing into a series, produced by Michael B. Jordan‘s Outlier Society, there’s never been a better time to dive in. Jordan has already promised fans that they’re “making sure that this is going to be an exciting show that delivers on all of the things the fans want and some of the things that they won’t be expecting either.”


Fourth Wing temp tv series book poster
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Fourth Wing

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Network

Prime Video

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Showrunner

Meredith Averill

Directors
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Lisa Joy


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Isabel Roloff Claps Back at Audrey’s Farm Saving Comments

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Isabel Roloff Claps Back at Audrey’s Farm Saving Comments

Little People, Big World alum Isabel Roloff is addressing her sister-in-law Audrey Roloff’s social media post about salvaging the family farm.

Isabel, 30, took to TikTok on Wednesday, August 5, to answer a fan’s question on the matter after seeing Audrey’s recent post. “How do you feel about your sister-in-law saying they’re still trying to ‘save’ Roloff Farms?” the social media user asked.

Isabel candidly replied in her caption, “Honestly? It feels incredibly disappointing.”

She continued, “They have never talked to us about it. We don’t have the money to ‘save’ it but we are here, every day, showing up, working it. We tend to the plants and animals and the land of this place.”

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Isabel, who tied the knot with Jacob Roloff in 2019, explained that her family has tried to “figure out a way to authentically save it” for four years now. “At the end of the day? You just need money,” she added.

“I just get a bad taste in my mouth that they talk about it like they would be the ones to come in and save the day when we’re here, wishing we could find a way to make it work. They never asked if we wanted to work together,” she vented.

Isabel Roloff Claps Back at Audrey’s Farm Saving Comments
Courtesy of Audrey Roloff/Instagram

Isabel spoke out hours after Audrey, 35, who married Jeremy Roloff in 2014, shared life updates via Instagram. “We went blackberry picking at Roloff Farms,” Audrey captioned a pic of herself holding her daughter Mirabella, 2. “A couple months ago we had the opportunity to revisit purchasing the farm but we ultimately decided not to.”

Audrey continued, “However, every time we go there, we can’t help but wonder if there is a way to still buy it through some creative means. Not necessarily live on it, but to use it for business, ministry, and/or a place for goodness and beauty to multiply. I still just have this hunch that a God might make a way.”

In June, family patriarch Matt Roloff relisted 16 acres of the 109-acre property for $2.6 million. He originally listed the land, in Helvetia, Oregon, for $4 million in 2022. That same year, Matt, 64, offered the house as a short-term vacation rental. He then took it off the market and relisted it in August 2025 for $2.8 million.

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Jeremy lived on the farm with his twin Zach, brother Jacob, 29, and sister Molly, 32, as well as his dad and mom Amy Roloff. When Amy, 63, and Matt separated in 2015, she sold her half of the property to Matt.

Jeremy and Audrey previously opened up about potentially purchasing the farm in March.

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“Things my February content didn’t tell you about my February,” she wrote in an Instagram recap. “Jer’s dad told the kids he was going to list Roloff Farms for sale again. It has been on and off the market over the last six years since we tried to buy it in 2020.”

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3 Addictive Netflix Series to Binge This Weekend (Aug 8-9)

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you-poster.jpg

The eyes of the world are currently on the theater. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which debuted last weekend, has followed in the footsteps of another Tom Holland movie, Christopher Nolan‘s epic adaptation of Homer‘s The Odyssey, in smashing box office records. Brand New Day has earned the biggest opening weekend in domestic cinema history, edging past the $357 million earned by Avengers: Endgame to take top spot. It has also already surpassed the billion-dollar mark in almost record speed and is looking to make even more history this weekend. But what if you’ve already watched Brand New Day? What should you binge this weekend? To help you decide, here’s a list of three shows you should binge-watch on Netflix.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

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1

‘My Life With the Walter Boys’ (2023–Present)

Rotten Tomatoes: 56% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Of the many shows returning to streaming this weekend, the most enticing on Netflix is the perfect YA replacement for the recent Paramount+ smash Dutton Ranch. My Life With the Walter Boys, often likened to Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, follows Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) as she finds herself stuck in a tricky love triangle with brothers Cole (Noah LaLonde) and Alex Walter (Ashby Gentry).

The first season of My Life With the Walter Boys was one of Netflix’s best sleeper hits of 2023, with Season 2 propelled to new heights thanks to better exposure. With the series going from strength to strength, this third season is set to be the most unmissable yet, as more indulgent drama unfolds in rural Colorado. The series has already been renewed for a fourth installment.













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Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz
Which Taylor Sheridan
Show Do You Belong In?

Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown
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Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.

🤠Yellowstone

🛢️Landman

👑Tulsa King

⚖️Mayor of Kingstown

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01

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Where does your power come from?
In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.




02

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Who do you put first, no matter what?
Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.




03

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Someone crosses a line. How do you respond?
Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.




04

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Where do you feel most in your element?
Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.




05

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How do you feel about operating in the grey?
Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.




06

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What are you actually fighting to hold onto?
Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.




07

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How do you lead?
Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.




08

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Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction?
Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.




09

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What has your position cost you?
Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.




10

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When it’s over, what do you want people to say?
Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.




Sheridan Has Spoken
You Belong In…
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The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.

🤠
Yellowstone

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🛢️
Landman

👑
Tulsa King

⚖️
Mayor of Kingstown

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You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.

You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.

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You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.

You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.

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2

‘Alley Cats’ (2026)

Fans of adult animation are in for a treat this weekend, as British comedic favorite Ricky Gervais finally returns with his latest Netflix project. Alley Cats, produced by Blink Industries, follows an irreverent group of feral cats as they deal with the trials and tribulations of their difficult lives, causing mayhem and fighting back in a human world.

Gervais has never been one to hide from his own musings on modern society, and this isn’t expected to be any different. The likes of Diane Morgan, Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, and Kerry Godliman all lend their voices alongside Gervais in the series, which is already expected to be one of the late-summer gems in the Netflix library. For some thought-provoking humor this weekend, don’t miss Alley Cats.

3

‘You’ (2018–2025)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 7.6/10

If you’re looking for an already established Netflix smash hit this weekend, then look no further than one of the biggest shows of 2025: You. Based on Caroline Kepnes’ novel series, the series follows charismatic serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) as he inserts himself seamlessly into the lives of women who capture his intense attention.

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Utterly gripping and easily binge-watched, this thrilling dark romance has long been heralded as a favorite of many Netflix subscribers, and now that it has come to an end after seven years, it’s ready and waiting to be discovered in its entirety by those few yet to fall under its spell. It might not be perfect, but You is so addictive that you’ll find yourself forgiving glaring plot holes in the name of must-watch drama.


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Release Date
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2018 – 2025-00-00

Directors

Marcos Siega, Lee Toland Krieger, Cherie Nowlan, DeMane Davis, Kellie Cyrus, Marta Cunningham, Martha Mitchell, Victoria Mahoney, Erin Feeley

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Writers

Justin W. Lo

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Celebs With Out-of-the-Box Manicures: Vanessa Hudgens, More

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Everything to Know About RHOSLC Alum Jen Shah's Legal Drama

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10 Video Game Masterpieces That Are Perfectly Written

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Alistair fighting an ogre in Dragon Age: Origins

Video games have come a long way since their inception in the 1970s. The first video games were very simplistic in concept, owing to the limited technology at the time. Now, though, video game developers are able to craft actual narratives in their projects, coming up with a storyline and a script as if it were a movie or a play. Like any other storytelling medium, the writing can really make or break something and is a crucial part of things.

Over the years, many video games from all genres have gained critical acclaim for how well-written they are. Whether it’s because of the layered narrative, the unexpected comedy, or the story itself, there are numerous ways in which a game might exceed expectations in the writing department. These are the most perfectly written video game masterpieces of all time, in no particular order.

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‘Dragon Age: Origins’ (2009)

Alistair fighting an ogre in Dragon Age: Origins Image via BioWare

Dragon Age: Origins is a BioWare role-playing game set in the land of Ferelden. Ferelden is faced with peril as a cataclysmic event known as the Blight begins, meaning the Darkspawn that prowl the underground network of tunnels called the Deep Roads have started reaching the surface. Their intent is to destroy the kingdoms of humans, elves, and dwarves, prompting the revival of an ancient order known as the Grey Wardens.

In this game, players can choose their origin story, with six different opening quests to choose from. Players can also choose their party members, and must strategize to create the most efficient group of fighters possible. The story feels simple, but the dialogue is fantastic. There are so many sarcastic remarks and quips you can make, and which other characters might deliver right back. All the party members have such unique personalities and are so much fun to interact with. The depth and design of the characters in this game are absolutely unparalleled, making it one of the finest RPGs ever made.

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‘The Stanley Parable’ (2013)

A computer sitting atop a desk in a dark office in the game The Stanley Parable.
A computer sitting atop a desk in a dark office in the game The Stanley Parable.
Image via Galactic Cafe

The Stanley Parable is a walking simulator game that can be completed in just a couple of hours, all told. Or at least, the original version can. The 2022 remake added a substantial amount of content to the game. Anyway, the game is about Stanley, an office worker who gets up from his computer one day to find that the entire building is empty. He is also accompanied by an unseen narrator, who will give instructions as if he were telling someone else a story.

You don’t have to follow the narrator’s every word, though. If you decide to defy his orders, he will adjust his dialogue accordingly. The narrator’s dialogue is excellent: snarky, clever, and often hilarious, and it’s easily the best part of the game. The narrator became the driving force for why many consider this game to be a perfect example of good writing, especially in the world of video games. The story itself is one thing, but making dialogue this consistently funny is really tough to do.

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‘SOMA’ (2015)

A corpse is found with a messy, biomechanical growth growing from it Image via Frictional Games

SOMA is a horror video game created by the same developers as the Outlast series. In this game, you play as Simon, a Canadian man living in Toronto who signs up for a brain experiment. He falls asleep during the procedure and wakes up centuries in the future, in a hidden laboratory miles beneath the surface of the Atlantic. Stranger still, he has a shiny new robot body that he didn’t have previously. Not knowing where he is or why, Simon must escape the facility while avoiding the corrupted robots prowling the corridors.

The game seems simple, but it has a lot to say. It dives heavily into concepts of consciousness and existentialism, leaving us with one of the most profound and jaw-dropping endings in any video game ever made. The setting is unique enough, and the horror does a good job, but the dialogue and complex story are where the game is at its best. Very few other games can inspire such a sense of existential dread as this game can. The ending will leave you sitting in silence for a while, that’s for sure.

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‘Spec Ops: The Line’ (2012)

Adams and Walker sitting on the sand, looking depleted in Spec Ops: The Line
Adams and Walker sitting on the sand, looking depleted in Spec Ops: The Line
Image via Darkside Game Studios

Spec Ops: The Line is actually an adaptation of Heart of Darkness, the 1899 novella by Joseph Conrad that also inspired Apocalypse Now. The original book is about Belgian colonialism in the Congo region, but Spec Ops is about American military intervention in the Middle East. Following a natural disaster, an American officer is sent into Dubai to organize the city. Instead, he implements martial law and turns the city into a war zone. Sent in to stop him is Delta Force operator Martin Walker.

The game begins like an ordinary third-person shooter, but quickly evolves into a deeply profound experience. Everything about the story is meant to horrify the player and shock them into the realities of war, unlike many video games which glorify violence. Even the loading screen tips are meticulously reasoned, posing existential questions and criticizing the player towards the end. The story emphasizes the effects of war and the trauma it breeds in individuals, critiquing imperialism. The script and story are highly detailed, all in an effort to make the game as uncomfortable as possible.

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‘Batman: Arkham City’ (2011)

Batman looking to the distance in Batman Arkham City
Batman in Batman Arkham City
Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Batman: Arkham City picks up where Arkham Asylum left off. The asylum has shut down due to the incident, forcing the newly appointed Mayor, Quincy Sharp, to authorize the construction of Arkham City. Run by Professor Hugo Strange, a small section of Gotham City is cordoned off behind walls and barbed wire, serving as a mega prison for all of Gotham’s inmates. However, trouble is brewing, as is expected when all the city’s supervillains are confined together, and Batman is intent on stopping it.

The dialogue is pretty good, made better with the return of veteran voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The side quests are interesting, and there are plenty of familiar faces, as well as some new ones. Where the game really shines is in its overall story. Batman is pushed to his absolute limits here, and the game ends with a really gutsy death scene that nobody could have anticipated. The game also bears a plot twist that makes perfect sense and doesn’t come completely out of nowhere. In fact, keen-eyed players can even figure it out in advance if they pay attention. The game’s story is masterfully crafted, dark, gritty, and everything that fans love about the Caped Crusader.

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‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (2013)

Michael sitting on a car in 'Grand theft Auto V'
Michael sitting on a car in Grand theft Auto V
Image via Rockstar Games

Grand Theft Auto V is an enormously popular game due to its fun gameplay, but it also excels in the writing department, especially when it comes to its single-player story mode. The plot follows former bank robbers Michael de Santa and Trevor Phillips, who reunite to continue their crime spree in an effort to save Michael from death at the hands of a cartel leader. They are aided by a young upstart named Franklin Clinton, a former gang member and talented pupil.

Grand Theft Auto V is known for its comedy, especially when it comes to Trevor Phillips, described by netizens as a sociopath who commits a lot of heinous crimes just for the heck of it. He’s a fantastic character that’s never boring to watch. The other characters are pretty good too, though, especially when it comes to Michael’s dysfunctional family and Franklin’s interactions with his friend Lamar. The writing couldn’t have been more brilliant if they tried.

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‘Oxenfree’ (2016)

Jonas and Alex stand in a cave and stare in awe at the triangular temporal rift that has just opened above their heads Image via Night School Studio

Oxenfree is a side-scrolling psychological thriller adventure about five teenagers living in Washington State. During the summer, they take a trip to a remote island off the coast of their hometown to spend a night or two on the beach. While there, they hear a rumor stating that portable radios tuned to specific frequencies cause strange events in certain places. They decide to test this rumor for themselves, only to unleash temporal beings beyond their understanding.

The cast of teens is very memorable, each with a distinct personality, which is made even better by their dialogue. The dialogue in this game fully fleshes out each character, reflecting a lot about their deep-seated insecurities and their hopes and dreams for after graduation. The story is complex and intricate, as well as a little bit tragic. It’s a phenomenal game with some of the most impeccable writing in the medium.

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Naked Snake looking out at The Boss (off-screen) in a field in Metal Gear Solid 3
Naked Snake looking out at The Boss (off-screen) in a field in Metal Gear Solid 3
Image via Konami

The Metal Gear series is known for having one of the most complicated narratives in all of gaming, but it’s arguably at its best with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This game is chronologically the first in the saga, taking place in the 1960s. At the height of the Cold War, an agent of FOX codenamed Naked Snake is sent in to prevent the Soviets from constructing a nuclear-equipped superweapon known as the Shagohod.

Like the other games in the series, the game explores the individuality of soldiers and how world governments use living, breathing humans as pawns in their war machine. Though the story is more in line with science fiction rather than reality, the message remains the same. This game is by far the most emotional in the series, with a heartbreaking ending and one of the most devastating plot twists ever conceived. Snake Eater is the best that the Metal Gear series has to offer, especially in the writing department.

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‘Until Dawn’ (2015)

Hayden Panettiere as Sam Giddings relaxing with her eyes closed while a murderer lurks behind her
Hayden Panettiere as Sam Giddings relaxing with her eyes closed while a creepy murderer lurks behind her in Until Dawn video game
Image via Supermassive Games

Until Dawn is a visual novel game, so the writing has to be excellent, or else it’ll ruin the whole experience. Fortunately, the writers absolutely nailed it. The story follows eight young adults who travel to a ski lodge in Alberta, Canada, for their annual getaway. Things start normally until a masked killer begins stalking them, luring them into deathtraps and striking from the shadows. Each and every choice in this game matters and can drastically affect the fate of each character.

The writing is absolutely on point. The dialogue actually sounds realistic, which is made better by the performances of the actors, including Rami Malek. The story itself is brilliant, with a massive bombshell of a plot twist about midway through the game that floors the audience easily and is a testament to how good everything else about the game is. Considering it’s a visual novel, there isn’t a whole lot of input from the player, yet Until Dawn is still a masterpiece for the fact that the writing keeps things consistently exciting.

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‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)

Elizabeth in Bioshock Infinite
Elizabeth in Bioshock Infinite
Image via Irrational Games

BioShock Infinite is the third and final installment in the BioShock series, though it is chronologically the first. Instead of taking players to the underwater city of Rapture, it takes players above the clouds to the flying city of Columbia. Unlike Rapture, Columbia is still thriving and populated, though many dark secrets lurk beneath the surface. The protagonist is Booker DeWitt, a detective sent to investigate the disappearance of a woman named Elizabeth Comstock.

Like the others in the franchise, Infinite is an FPS with a magical twist. Not only can players use firearms, but they can also use Vigors, which function like spells. The plot is similarly psychological to the rest of the franchise, but the game does a bit of a better job with its dialogue since you are always accompanied by Elizabeth and are rarely alone. Booker is also capable of talking, unlike the previous two silent protagonists. The story bears many twists and turns, most of them jaw-dropping, and the game goes above and beyond with its worldbuilding, both literally and figuratively. It’s one of the most well-written games of all time, period.


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BioShock Infinite
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Released

March 26, 2013

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ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

Developer(s)
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Irrational Games

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Love Katie Holmes’ Red Tote? Get the Look for Just $18

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Courteney Cox attends the premiere of STARZ

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Katie Holmes has a knack for making even the simplest accessories feel like the only thing worth shopping. Whether she’s grabbing coffee, running errands or heading across town, the actress always seems to find one standout piece that quietly steals the show. This time, it’s a roomy cherry red tote that instantly makes every neutral outfit look expensive.

Holmes was spotted in New York City on July 31 carrying a cherry red tote, which she paired with a breezy collared button-down, light-wash jeans and a Louis Vuitton bag. While her exact carryall is a $725 Mansur Gavriel style, you don’t need to spend hundreds to channel the same effortlessly polished vibe. Amazon has a strikingly similar lookalike for just $18.

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Get the Dreubea Faux Leather Tote Bag for $18 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The Dreubea Faux Leather Tote Bag delivers the same slouchy silhouette, rich cherry red hue and oversized shape that make Holmes’ bag so eye-catching. It also comes in olive green, light blue, cream and several other shades, but the cherry red version is the one that captures the star’s look best. Better yet, the alternative is roomy enough for everyday life without sacrificing style.

Courteney Cox attends the premiere of STARZ


Related: Courteney Cox’s Woven Crossbody Is a Go-With-Everything Staple

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Some handbags only work with certain outfits. However, there are styles that you instinctively reach for day after day because they look good with literally everything. Courteney Cox reminded Us why a woven crossbody bag belongs in the second category. The actress was seen last week carrying the effortlessly chic style with one of her […]

Made from soft faux leather, this tote features a magnetic snap closure, a subtle tassel accent and a spacious interior that can hold everything from a laptop and water bottle to a sweater and daily essentials. There’s also a smaller interior pocket for keeping your phone, keys or lip gloss within easy reach. It’s the kind of bag that works just as well for the office as it does for weekend errands.

Shoppers are just as impressed with the bag as we are. With more than 25,400 five-star ratings, it’s clearly become an Amazon favorite.  One reviewer called it “extremely roomy,” noting that it “will hold all your day-to-day necessities.” Another buyer said it looks “expensive and elegant,” sharing that they “received lots of compliments” each time they’ve carried it.

If you’ve been eyeing Holmes’ cherry red tote but couldn’t justify the designer price tag, this $18 Amazon find is an easy alternative. It delivers the same bold pop of color, the same roomy silhouette and the same effortlessly chic energy for a fraction of the cost. Since it’s just as cute as it is practical, it might just become the hardest-working bag in your closet!

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Get the Dreubea Faux Leather Tote Bag for $18 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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

UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping

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Jennifer Aniston attends a special screening of Apple's "The Morning Show" at The Ham Yard Hotel on November 1, 2019 in London, England.


Related: Jennifer Aniston’s Vacation Flip-Flops Have a $15 Lookalike on Amazon

Jennifer Aniston has a knack for making the simplest vacation outfits feel incredibly chic. During a recent getaway, the actress reminded us that you don’t need designer accessories or over-the-top trends to look polished — sometimes all it takes is a simple pair of black flip-flops. Even better, recreating the look costs just $15. The […]

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The 67-Year-Old Western That Quentin Tarantino Called “The Greatest Hangout Movie” Is Officially Leaving Streaming

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John T. Chance (John Wayne) and Feathers (Angie Dickinson) stand in a hotel room of a saloon in 'Rio Bravo' (1959)

One of the most influential filmmakers of his generation, Quentin Tarantino certainly doesn’t mince his words when it comes to movies. For instance, he has said he could appreciate only a handful of recent films — Joe Carnahan‘s Netflix crime-thriller The Rip, Kevin Costner‘s passion project Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1, and Steven Spielberg‘s critically acclaimed box-office misfire West Side Story. Tarantino is much more passionate about older films, especially the Westerns he grew up on. Tarantino has called The Good, the Bad and the Ugly “the best-directed film in the history of cinema,” while making it clear that he has a “hatred” for director John Ford. This has put Tarantino in an awkward position, because Ford worked extensively with one of his favorite Western stars, John Wayne.

One of Wayne’s most popular Westerns, Tarantino feels, is among the greatest hangout movies of all time.” While introducing a screening of the film, Tarantino recalled watching it for the first time as a five-year-old, his love only growing over the decades. It is said that Wayne made the movie as a response to High Noon, which he thoroughly despised for its cynical worldview and less-than-favorable portrayal of American society. But Tarantino doesn’t appreciate the movie for its politics; he loves hanging out with the characters, and even considers it a perfect date movie. He once told Vanity Fair that when he’s “getting serious about a girl,” he shows her the film as a compatibility test.

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Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz
Which Taylor Sheridan
Show Do You Belong In?

Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown

Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.

🤠Yellowstone

🛢️Landman

👑Tulsa King

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⚖️Mayor of Kingstown

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01

Where does your power come from?
In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.




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02

Who do you put first, no matter what?
Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.




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03

Someone crosses a line. How do you respond?
Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.




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04

Where do you feel most in your element?
Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.




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05

How do you feel about operating in the grey?
Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.




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06

What are you actually fighting to hold onto?
Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.




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07

How do you lead?
Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.




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08

Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction?
Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.




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09

What has your position cost you?
Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.




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10

When it’s over, what do you want people to say?
Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.




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Sheridan Has Spoken
You Belong In…

The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.

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🤠
Yellowstone

🛢️
Landman

👑
Tulsa King

⚖️
Mayor of Kingstown

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You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.

You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.

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You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.

You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.

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Here’s How Long You Have Left to Watch the Western Classic

We’re talking about the 1959 classic Rio Bravo. Directed by Howard Hawks, the movie was an instant hit, grossing over $5 million at the box office. It now holds a “Certified Fresh” 96% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Rio Bravo finds director Howard Hawks — and his stellar ensemble cast — working at peak performance, and the end result is a towering classic of the Western genre.” Tarantino is now putting together what he claims will be his final feature film, but he will begin working on the project in earnest after he completes his commitments to his first stage production. Rio Bravo is currently streaming in the United States on Fawesome, but it’ll be removed from the platform on August 30.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.


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Release Date

March 18, 1959

Runtime
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141 minutes

Director

Howard Hawks

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Writers

Jules Furthman, Leigh Brackett

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Ariana Grande Reflects On End Of Tour With Candid Post

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'Wicked: For Good' European Premiere In London, UK

Singer Ariana Grande is reflecting on the end of the North American leg of her “Eternal Sunshine Tour” in a heartwarming Instagram post. Her post comes days after her representative revealed that she will be taking a step back from the public eye after her European leg concludes in early September 2026.

Grande shared a slideshow of images on her Instagram with pictures from the “Eternal Sunshine Tour.” In the caption, she reflected on the performances and revealed that she had been changed for the better.

“I love you … I cannot believe that this concludes the North American leg of the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” she wrote. “I am overwhelmed with love and the deepest gratitude. thank you endlessly for the most special, beautiful, joyful and deeply fulfilling few months.”

According to Grande, she will “cherish every moment of this time” with her most loyal fans. “Thank you,” she finished, before telling the UK that she was beyond excited to see them in the coming days.

Ariana Grande Stepping Away From The Public Eye

'Wicked: For Good' European Premiere In London, UK
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Grande’s statement comes less than a week after her representative said she was stepping away from the public eye at the end of her European leg in early September after the ongoing scrutiny about her body.

“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” the rep said, according to The Blast. “This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”

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Ariana Grande Says Her Upcoming Retreat Was Intentional

Grande addressed the crowd at her Chicago show after the announcement about her upcoming retreat with a handwritten note, revealing her decision to step away was deliberate.

“It is something that I had decided to plan,” she said. “The announcement that was made yesterday is not a reactive or impulsive thing. It’s a decision that came from a thoughtful and empowered place.”

She also appeared to clap back at the onslaught of critical comments she’s received about her health. “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me as this love that we share,” she said.

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Grande Gets Support From This Celebrity

Amid the ongoing discussion about her body, Grande has received support from various public figures, including British TV personality Piers Morgan.

“I’ve no idea what’s going on with @arianagrande, but I do know, after spending a random evening with her in a Beverly Hills restaurant a few years ago, that she’s a genuinely great person: intelligent, funny, engaging, and of course, supremely talented,” he wrote online, per The Blast.

He went on to say that people should be kinder to people in the spotlight, noting that fame and notoriety can be a lonely place for some.

“So, I urge all the trolls currently making her life a misery with this constant chuntering about her appearance to back off and give her the space she needs to sort herself out,” he finished.

Grande’s Family Reportedly Asked Her To Take A Break

Ariana Grande at Oscars 2025
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

According to another report from The Blast, Grande’s planned break also comes after her family reportedly “begged” her to slow down to care for herself.

“We have asked her to take a break. Actually, we’ve begged her, like a lot. A lot, a lot,” an insider said. “Not like a day or two, but a break break. She is not well. She is anxious and unhappy. She doesn’t sleep enough, doesn’t eat enough.”

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The insider went on to say that Grande’s closest family and friends were concerned and worried about her safety, adding that they want the “Victorious” alum to focus on herself to get back to a “happy and healthy” place.

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One of the Greatest WWII Movies of All Time Is Waiting To Be Rediscovered on Free Streaming

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The best World War II movies of the last century typically feature heroic stories of battle and conquest, survival despite insurmountable challenges, and honorable figures fighting against injustice. And it’s no surprise that Richard Attenborough‘s 1977 war drama A Bridge Too Far stands out as one of the most realistic and ambitious World War II films ever made, and now it’s streaming on Tubi and Pluto. Upon its release, however, it was not universally lauded. In his scathing review, Roger Ebert asks, “Why make a movie about total defeat and stupidity?” And yet, that is the reason why A Bridge Too Far stands out among the rest. The film captures the scale, complexity, and failure of an operation by the Allied forces to surprise their enemies.

A Bridge Too Far did not match the success of Steven Spielberg‘s seminal classic Saving Private Ryan, but its epic storytelling, nuanced perspectives, and historical authenticity ensure its place among the greats. It’s an unapologetic tale of the triumphs and failures of war with a commitment to depicting war’s horrors. These are portrayed by a massive ensemble cast of A-list stars of its time, drawn from Europe and the United States. And now you can watch it for free on Tubi.

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‘A Bridge Too Far’ Is Based on the True Story of the Allied Forces’ Botched Operation

Adapted from historian Cornelius Ryan‘s book of the same name, A Bridge Too Far is about the Allied forces’ ambitious, ill-fated Operation Market Garden, a plan designed to end World War II by capturing key bridges in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. Executed in September 1944, the operation was the largest airborne assault in history, with 35,000 soldiers being flown from England and dropped behind enemy lines. Attenborough’s picture faithfully reconstructs this strategy through three main perspectives: the Allied forces, comprising the British, American, Dutch, and Polish paratroopers; Dutch civilians; and German soldiers. The film is an interplay of hope and chaos in war. The confidence of the military generals led by the British General Montgomery fails to align with the realities of those on the frontlines. William Goldman‘s screenplay highlights how these top soldiers ignored intelligence and underrated their opponents, leading to the total disaster that Roger Ebert terms “stupidity.”































































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Collider Exclusive · Oscar Best Picture Quiz
Which Oscar Best Picture
Is Your Perfect Movie?

Parasite · Everything Everywhere · Oppenheimer · Birdman · No Country

Five Oscar Best Picture winners. Five completely different visions of what cinema can be — and what it can do to you. One of them is the film that was made for the way your mind works. Ten questions will figure out which one.

🪜Parasite

🌀Everything Everywhere

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☢️Oppenheimer

🐦Birdman

🪙No Country for Old Men

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01

What kind of film experience do you actually want?
The best movies don’t just entertain — they leave something behind.





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02

Which idea grabs you most in a film?
Great films are driven by a central obsession. What’s yours?





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03

How do you like your story told?
Form is content. The way a story is shaped changes what it means.





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04

What makes a truly great antagonist?
The opposition defines the protagonist. What kind of opposition fascinates you?





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05

What do you want from a film’s ending?
The final note is the one that lingers. What do you want it to sound like?





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06

Which setting pulls you in most?
Where a film takes place shapes everything — mood, stakes, what’s even possible.





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07

What cinematic craft impresses you most?
Every great film has a signature — a technical or artistic element that makes it unmistakable.





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08

What kind of main character do you root for?
The protagonist is the lens. Who you choose to follow says something about you.





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09

How do you feel about a film that takes its time?
Pace is a choice. Some films sprint; others let tension accumulate slowly, deliberately.





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10

What do you want to feel walking out of the cinema?
The best films leave a mark. What kind of mark do you want?





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The Academy Has Decided
Your Perfect Film Is…

Your answers have pointed to one Oscar Best Picture winner above all others. This is the film that was made for the way your mind works.

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Parasite

You are drawn to films that operate on multiple levels simultaneously — that begin in one genre and quietly, brilliantly migrate into another. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is a film about class, desire, and the architecture of inequality that manages to be darkly funny, deeply suspenseful, and genuinely shocking across a single extraordinary running time. Your instinct is for cinema that hides its true intentions until the moment it’s ready to reveal them. Parasite is exactly that — a film that rewards close attention and punishes assumptions, right up to its devastating final image.

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Everything Everywhere All at Once

You want it all — and this film gives you all of it. The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the most maximalist films ever made: action comedy, multiverse sci-fi, family drama, existential crisis, and a genuinely earned emotional core that sneaks up on you amid the chaos. You are someone who responds to ambition, who doesn’t want cinema to choose between being entertaining and being meaningful. This film refuses that choice entirely. It is overwhelming by design, and its overwhelming nature is precisely the point — because the feeling of being crushed by infinite possibility is exactly what it’s about.

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Oppenheimer

You are drawn to cinema on a grand scale — films that understand history not as a backdrop but as a force, and that place their characters inside that force and watch what happens. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a film about the terrifying gap between what we can do and what we should do, told with the full weight of one of the most consequential moments in human history behind it. You want your films to feel important without feeling self-important — to earn their ambition through sheer craft and the gravity of their subject. Oppenheimer does exactly that. It is enormous, complicated, and refuses easy comfort.

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Birdman

You are drawn to films that foreground their own construction — that make the how of the filmmaking part of the what it’s about. Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman, shot to appear as a single continuous take, is cinema examining itself through the cracked mirror of a fading actor’s ego. You respond to formal daring, to the feeling that a film is doing something that probably shouldn’t be possible. Michael Keaton’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s restless camera create something genuinely unlike anything else — a film that is simultaneously about creativity, relevance, self-destruction, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing if your work means anything at all.

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No Country for Old Men

You are drawn to cinema that trusts silence, that refuses to explain itself, and that treats dread as a form of meaning. The Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is a film about the arrival of a new kind of evil — implacable, arbitrary, and utterly indifferent to the moral frameworks we use to make sense of the world. It is one of the most formally controlled films ever made, and its controlled restraint is what makes it so terrifying. You want your films to haunt you, not comfort you. You are not interested in resolution if resolution would be dishonest. No Country for Old Men is honest in a way that most cinema never dares to be.

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With a star-studded ensemble cast that mirrors the film’s sprawling narrative, including Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, and Gene Hackman, A Bridge Too Far is a history class that shows that war is not only horrific for soldiers but also takes a toll on civilians as well. For instance, a moment in the movie shows a woman going about her business when she suddenly has unexpected soldiers as guests, with one telling her, “I’m awfully sorry, but I’m afraid we’re going to have to occupy your house.” Other scenes depict civilians caught in the line of fire, as well as the carnage of soldiers on the ground. It’s unflinching in its portrayal of war, with graphic images that leave an impression. Upon its release, it had to be edited in some destinations before being screened.

‘A Bridge Too Far’ Is a Cinematic Triumph Despite Its Flaws

Filmed on location in the Netherlands, A Bridge Too Far is a visual triumph that succeeds in part due to its effort at being authentic. Germans speak German, the Dutch speak Dutch, and even the Americans and the British are distinct in their speeches and accents (including Sean Connery in his Scottish accent). Attenborough’s attention to detail, like having tens of airplanes in the sky and thousands of parachutes with stuntmen dropping, makes the film breathtaking. While it has been criticized for some of its aged, bland effects, the battle sequences are gritty and immersive. In its near-three-hour length, criticized by some, it transports you to the chaos of the battlefield. This realism wasn’t lost on veterans and critics alike, many of whom praised its accurate portrayal of the operation’s scale and its complexity.

Comparable to Christopher Nolan‘s Dunkirk, the film rarely gives the impression of a central character leading the plot. A Bridge Too Far eschews traditional lead characters for ensemble storytelling that reflects the collective effort and sacrifice of war. General Montgomery, who developed the strategy, for instance, is a physically absent character in the film. Each of the many other characters seems to be fighting individual wars that only converge on the bigger war at hand. However, unlike Dunkirk, which condenses its narrative into a tense and focused runtime, A Bridge Too Far is focused on the failed operation’s epic scale. This approach, while it may not be emotionally stimulating, depicts the rawness of war itself.

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Decades after its release, A Bridge Too Far demands patience but rewards viewers with an unparalleled depiction of WWII’s triumphs and tragedies. It’s a film that doesn’t glorify war but instead captures its chaos, futility, and humanity. If you are a fan of sprawling combat, this is definitely your movie.


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A Bridge Too Far


Release Date
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June 15, 1977

Runtime

175 Minutes

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Writers

William Goldman, Cornelius Ryan

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Joan Jett Cancels Shows After Undergoing Back Surgery

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Pink Rang in New Year's Eve 2026 With a Neck Surgery: What to Know About Cervical Disc Replacement

Joan Jett is canceling multiple concerts amid her recovery from back surgery.

“Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has undergone orthopedic surgery on a fractured vertebrae and will begin the necessary healing process,” read a statement shared via the rocker’s Instagram Story on Wednesday, August 5.

After speaking with her doctors, Jett, 67, will no longer be able to perform at her two September show dates: one in Costa Mesa, California, on September 5 and the other in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 24th.

“While Joan hates to disappoint fans, she will be taking this time to focus on physical therapy and healing,” the statement continued. “She’s looking forward to delivering tremendous concerts for many years to come.”

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According to the Cleveland Clinic, a fractured vertebrae — also known as a fractured spine — is when a break or collapse occurs in one of the 33 bones making up the spinal column. In some cases, a fractured spine can be caused by major trauma from a fall or car crash or from weakened bone density due to osteoporosis. Jett did not reveal any details about what caused her injury.

Recovery time for a spinal fracture is three months without surgery. For those who get the procedure, the recovery time is longer. It can take six weeks just to recover from the surgery plus an additional few months for the spine to heal, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Jett has been on the road since May. The rockstar recently finished up multiple shows in Europe and was gearing up to return stateside.

“Thanks for the summer love Europe, can’t wait to come back 🖤,” she wrote via Instagram on August 3 alongside a compilation of videos from her various shows.

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Pink Rang in New Year's Eve 2026 With a Neck Surgery: What to Know About Cervical Disc Replacement


Related: Pink Rang in 2026 From a Hospital Bed After Neck Surgery: What to Know

Pink rang in 2026 from a hospital bed, sharing on Instagram that she was getting “two new shiny discs in my neck” and that “rock ‘n’ roll is a contact sport.” This appears to be the second time the 46-year-old has had the procedure. In a February 2023 Variety interview ahead of her Trustfall album, […]

Earlier this year, Jett opened up about how it has been challenging to recover from touring as she’s gotten older.

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“[I’ve been touring] every year of my life since I’ve been in a band,” she said in a June interview with The Telegraph. “So the touring I don’t mind. It’s the traveling that’s an ass-kicker, I’ll tell you. As I get older, it’s not easy to recuperate as when I was in my 20s.”

Jett added that connecting with fans has been a main reason why she keeps performing.

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“Especially these days, [when] we need it more than ever … We can all finally be one for a moment, as clichéd as that sounds. But it’s true,” she reflected. “When you can lose yourself in that moment… it’s not about thinking about what’s going to happen. You just do it. You just be it.”

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Jake T. Austin ‘Disappointed’ About ‘Wizards’ Reboot

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Former Disney star Jake T. Austin recently informed his Instagram followers that he was disappointed he wasn’t invited to be part of the “Wizards of Waverly Place” reboot alongside Selena Gomez and David Henrie.

His statement comes days after Disney revealed that the sequel, “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” which premiered in 2024, would conclude after its third season concluded in August 2026.

Austin, who played Max Russo in the original series, said that he was first asked to reprise his role in a “Wizards” reboot back in 2020.

He explained that he was “100% in.” However, “the powers that be” decided to go in a different direction.

“To all the Wizards fans, just wanted to say for the record how disappointed I am to have not been included in the spinoff,” he wrote online.

The “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” reboot focused primarily on David Henrie’s character, Justin Russo, and his family. In the series, he welcomes a young wizard into his home and helps her learn more about magic and controlling her powers.

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Austin said that while he wasn’t involved in the series, he wasn’t holding on to any hard feelings.

“Even though I wasn’t involved, I still have nothing but love for my former castmates and wish them continued success. Thank you to all the fans who watched over the years. The show wouldn’t be what it is without your endless support,” he finished.

David DeLuise Throws Shade After Learning ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Is Concluding

Austin wasn’t the only original cast member with something to say about the ending of the show.

On Instagram, David DeLuise, who played Max, Alex, and Justin Russo’s father in the original series, commented on a clip and appeared to throw a bit of shade.

“It would not be over the OG wizards were really there,” he wrote. “Missed opportunity.”

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In addition to DeLuise, Dan Benson, who played Zeke during the show’s first run, also voiced his disappointment about the reboot and slammed Henrie for ruining the series.

“It’s just heartbreaking because there was so much potential for a Wizards reboot and it turned into the failed David Henrie show,” he wrote. “People say I’m just bitter I didn’t get invited back, but I’m actually just sad for the fans. WoWP changed my life forever; I’ll always be grateful.”

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Jennifer Stone Didn’t Believe She’d Appear In The ‘Wizards’ Reboot

Jennifer Stone, who played Harper in the original series, makes a cameo in the series finale of “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.” And while she was happy to have a small role in the series, she revealed that she was caught off guard when she was asked to return.

“When Wizards Beyond first came out, I had a conversation with David, and he was kind of like, ‘Hey, if it makes sense down the line, maybe you’ll be on for an episode.’ So I kind of, to be honest, mourned it and was like, ‘Okay, I put Harper to bed like 15 years ago. She can live back in the original show,’” Stone told Deadline. “I was pleasantly surprised when I got the call to come back.”

Harper shared that Henrie, who reportedly had a lot of creative control over the series, didn’t want to dwell in the past by having previous characters return, adding that the focus was on a new family and a new generation of Wizards.

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So, learning that her character would appear in the series, even if it were for a limited part, was “so cool on multiple levels.”

“One, it got to entertain the ‘what if’ in this alternate reality, if that had happened. And, two, I love that not only have the characters matured, but the relationship has, too,” she said.

Henrie Was Excited To Reunite With Selena Gomez For A Reboot

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Back in 2024, Henrie revealed he’d be more than willing to partner with Gomez, who was the lead of the OG series in the early 2000s, to bring “Wizards” back to the small screen.

According to a previous report from The Blast, he said that the cast was like “family” off-camera, so reuniting would feel natural. “I would love to do a reboot. I think it’s just about the idea and the when and how and all of that,” he said.

Disney Has Rebooted Other Shows As Well

Kyla Pratt at BET Awards 2025
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Disney’s “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” reboot isn’t the first early-2000s sitcom that the network has brought back to life.

Before the new magical series, Raven-Symoné led the “That’s So Raven” spinoff “Raven’s Home,” while Kyla Pratt starred in the “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” reboot on Disney+.

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